Hearthlist Digest #178 - Friday, July 31, 1998
 
Suggestions Needed on Clean-Up Product
  by "Dustless Ash Remover" <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: Suggestions Needed on Clean-Up Product
From: Dustless Ash Remover <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 22:53:46 -0500
 
 
I have been "lurking" on this list for several weeks and have soaked
up some helpful information here.  I'm hoping that some of you
seasoned hearth folks could give me some input on a product I may try
to sell in the near future.
 
About 18 years ago my father invented and patented a product for
cleaning ashes from fireplaces and woodstoves without all the dust,
but he didn't have the resources or time to market extensively.
Brookstone catalog bought a batch of them, and some were sold through
a few trade shows and by word-of-mouth advertising.  But now there are
about 1500 units just sitting in storage, where they have been for the
last 15 or so years.  The device is quite practical, and I've looked
at a number of web sites specializing in hearth products over the last
few months and haven't seen anything similar so far.
 
I would like to be able to revive this product, but I am at a real
loss on where to begin or whether to begin at all.  I currently have
no experience in the hearth industry, and I have no idea if there
would be demand for something like this now.  When the product was
first developed, everyone we knew was buying an insert.  Your
businesses are obviously thriving, so that means wood heat was not
just a trend and that folks are still doing it.
 
I would appreciate any input from those of you who see and sell to the
public every day on whether you think people would be willing to pay
for a product to remove ashes without dust, or whether they are
perfectly happy with a shovel and bucket.  Also, are any of you aware
of any products on the market now specifically for ash cleanup?  I
haven't seen any during my recent shopping, but I know that doesn't
necessarily mean they don't exist.
 
Any input you have about this would be very much appreciated.  I hate
seeing those units just sitting in storage, because I think the
product itself is effective, and I think it could sell if the demand
was there.
 
Dana T. Crist
 
 
==
Tyndall Enterprises, Inc.
Louie Tyndall, inventor
Ayden, North Carolina
 
[email protected]
 
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