How about investment opportunities....seriously.

How to handle products that don’t seem like they will meet threshold and associated consequences. IP reverts back to originator, $100.00 back?, etc.?

How the meeting with Compass Marketing went on April 16th.

I would suggest that the discussion about the open business model come first. I think just about everything else on the agenda is influenced by the model, so it might be useful for everyone to already understand it as we discuss the other stuff.

I'm not sure if this is included in development/design, but I would like to discuss Influence:
1) evaluation of amounts of influence given in the various rounds
2) Influence given for helpful/insightful comments
3) Influence given to multiple entries in Industrial design so that we can evaluate separate mechanisms with everyone rewarded appropriately

There seem to be some emerging concerns about production quality and product value. Do we want to get into either one of those concerns?

how many time will this take? i see concerns that it would take hours each. I dont think this will be the last QTM.
-Naming process
-tagline process
- video process
-2 rounds on everything process
- investment process
- graveyard process

I think Clinton is right. Without discussing the model first, its gonna be a mess.

Changing Names and tag lines: Why can't we have an opportunity to change names or tag lines ? I would like to be able to change a name or tag line. Why ? Because another name or tag line comes to mind. This is a catch 22 issue. 1.) There is a race to enter a name or tag line that you think is great at the time and want to submit prior to someone else coming up with it. 2.) There is a good chance that after the 2 submittals are entered another idea will pop up. I would think that this would not be a problem to incorporate any more than voting changes since the bottom line is to submit the best possible contributions. If a name or tag line gets pulled prior to selection, the originator releases all influence to quirky or a subsequent submittal by a quirk.

It may be beneficial to discuss revision of the submission process from small things like suggesting a patent search on the Best Practices page to bigger things like sponsored submissions (which I would love to see - and throw a couple bucks at).

The submission page should link to the Best Practices page, by the way.

Definitely how the Compass meeting went last Friday!

Friday nights are bad for me, so, unfortunately won't make it. Hopefully you might do another one on a Sunday or Monday night later on, then I'd join in the fun.

I will unfortunately be in the middle of my drive home. When I get home then the family time begins. It would be easier for me at work around 3pm.

I'd like to know if you will be providing the transcripts and video for those of us unable to join live?

I would love to hear about web site improvements:

• How to improve on the web site speed
• Store - PreSales, Sales and in-stock Sales. I think we need better labels and easy ways to sell or commit. The ad to cart icons are miss leading. I had several people complain to me about those "add to cart" icons when the item is not in stock.
A BUY NOW option needs to be on the products which we have in stock for faster purchase. People on the web are focus on completing a task (for instance, buying or answering a question they have) Make it Easier and faster!!!
• Changing the method of submitting and voting. One time frame for submitting then a time frame for voting.
• Ways to update/delete our own submissions, tag line/logo/name/etc.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the whole product process as it pertains to the roles of "quirky/Ideator/Community."

Now, I think some in the community might say that by pulling the Ideator out like that I am already viewing the process incorrectly. I think some view the role of the Ideator of the product itself as a person who pitches it, does all they can to get it through product evaluation ... and then should let go of it. Some believe that THAT is the Ideator’s role, and that is the quirky Process. Obviously I disagree with that and I think that in the light of the forums, that is not how Ideator’s think about themselves.

I think that an Ideator should be allowed to advocate and support their product just like a parent (has the responsibility to) advocates for their child. When they are mature, they let them go out into the world, checking back on them of course, but letting them go once they are an adult. I think the same is true between an Ideator and their product idea. But in the end, I'd like to know what quirky thinks on this relationship.

This line of thought brings up two observations/suggestions that might be good discussion points as well:

First, regarding Product Communication: After the initial product evaluation stage, direct, linear communication about the product gets lost or diluted at best. Yes, the Overview page is still live but conversations drop off quickly there and seem to be more of a home for "johnny-come-lately's" to post their quick critique or last minute non-submission. There is simply not a real HOME for discussion about the product or the stage the product is in. Thus, the forums light up. The forum is a great place for specific conversations, but they soon wander too and are separate from the product completely. Is there some way to encourage and fold all communication about the evolution of a product into a logical, organized place that the community and the staff can follow?

My second thought is in regard to the use of the forums and the role of the Ideator. Obviously I think the Ideator is a very important role and one that should not fall away after the first stage. Currently the only way an ideator can REALLY make a difference or voice their opinion (their true influence) AFTER the first stage is through the forums. This has happened a lot lately with cradle/digits/wrapster, etc. I think a lot of these long and deep threads could be avoided completely if the Ideator had another option. What if the Ideator of a selected product had some sort of access to a quirky staff "hotline" of sorts? This would not be a babysitting hotline but an ability to cut to the chase on a burning issue before it became a burning COMMUNITY issue. Face it, who is the most vocal person about a product? TYPICALLY it is the Ideator. Why saddle Jess or Ben or random quirky staff with the communication of big questions and answers? Let the Ideator have deeper contact with quirky and let them distribute the information.

For example: what if at the end of the original ID stage for cradle I had this type of access? Instead of a very confused, frustrated forum thread, the communication would have gone like this:

HOTLINE: ring, ring

QH: Hello?

Hans: Hey, it's Hans, the winning QDS design doesn't appear to incorporate any of the ideas that won the eval stage. What gives?

QH: Oh, sorry dude. We're going to incorporate the swivel into the final design, we just didn't note it when we put up the ID project. Our bad.

Hans: Okay, cool. Was really concerned with that.

QH: No worries, we're excited about it!

Hans: Me too!!

HOTLINE: click

Over and out. The forum note may have been something simple like: Clarification: Product 039 will incorporate the swivel into the QDS design. Done.

This could cover so many different issues so much more quickly and without having to go to the community, which is currently the only REAL recourse for an Ideator.

Beyond this, I think that nurturing the relationship with the original Ideator is a good thing for quirky to do. I'm not talking roses, dinner and a date, but an official, elevated and ordained ability to communicate with quirky New York would go a long way for communication about the product and the agility of the process. I think this takes on even more weight when you consider that the Ideator usually changes hats late in the process to being the "lead product evangelist."

Anyway, just my thoughts. I'd love to hear this addressed, but most specifically how does quirky view the "quirky/Ideator/Community" relationship and are there expectations there that we just don't realize or understand?

Thanks!

- Hans