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Ferguson Containers is a corrugated box plant located in Alpha, NJ. We design and manufacture corrugated shippers, interiors and displays. Our mission is to deliver these products per spec, on time, no excuses. The late Thomas G. Ferguson founded the company in 1958. In 1993, four Ferguson brothers and several key employees began building on his legacy. Twenty-five years later, we still see the need for a service oriented corrugated supplier in the tri state area – while recognizing the many changes that have and will occur in the industry. Innovation Needs 1. Through this search we are hoping to find designs for: a) Reusable corrugated containers for grocery shopping. We are trying to reduce plastic packaging as it relates to grocery customers bringing in their own containers to shop. Most of these carry bags and containers are made of plastics that are difficult to recycle once they are worn out. b) Corrugated furniture and storage systems for small, urban settings. Pulling heavy furniture up multiple flights of stairs is no fun. Also, looking for design help with corrugated storage systems to help maximize space in apartments. Visual appeal will be a key factor.
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Question... so this is to create a new design using cardboard box product...correct?
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Reusable corrugated containers for grocery shopping - this looks interesting but to make them completely cardboard and collapsible requires thinking outside the box even if it means exaggeration of some features
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Yes , when I first saw this, I sort of turned away. But today a great idea came to mind, but a collapsible feature may be a tough part to deal with/ We will see what happens!!!!!
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Hope your idea is a good one barry. I've been keeping this search in the back of my mind. Hoping I can offer up at least one idea.
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@Sylvain, that's how I read it.
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This is a tough one. I've heard of furniture from wooden pallets, but not corrugated cardboard. Interesting. Thinking cap is on...
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Would this sponsor be interested in ideas that incorporated connectors that were made out of plastic, i.e. a method of connecting two cardboard components together?
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Hey Jamie - think I heard that you got your answer from our EN Support Team, but wanted to share that info here as well in the forum thread: Ferguson Containers will consider those ideas that may involve plastic connectors (for example), and will likely contemplate if the connector could potentially be made through corrugate as well. I do know from discussions with them, that 100% corrugate is ideal situation, BUT that considerations will be given for other minor elements.
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Kim - here is a good example from Australia of corrugate furniture: https://kartongroup.com.au/
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Good morning Scott. Thank you for the additional info. It's certainly helpful.
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How interesting! I'm assuming that's Australian $, so I don't know how that equates to US $ - hopefully it's less expensive than it sounds. Cardboard can be quite stiff and heavy, so I suppose it would hold up well in many situations. I just wonder how it would do in coastal areas with the high humidity. Thanks for the link!
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htts://m.youtube/watch?v=zwMZMYf3NXO corrugated stuff somewhere in te middle OOPPS... my mistake, it #9
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I think I know the answer to this because of the emphasis on reducing plastic use, but is PLASTIC corrugated material - typically made from recyclable polypropylene - in the mix for this search? (e.g., the plastic corrugate used for things like yard signs and USPS mail totes). I'm guessing Ferguson deals exclusively in *cardboard* (i.e., lignocellulosic material/fiberboard) corrugates but I thought I'd check since the word "cardboard" isn't actually used in the search description.
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Robert - Focus is corrugate/non-plastic...so yes, think "cardboard"
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11 hours to go. I got two submissions in. They are both somewhere between groceries containers and furniture. Anybody else ?
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Yes :) I submitted an idea today! this is my 1st customer search entry. - best of luck to all! Rod
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I'm in at G2. Let's stay green :) Best of Luck to all in this search!
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Way to go Jose, Rodney, and Kathy. My brain is doing some last minute crunching on this one.
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I am in this search too. We are all so fortunate to to have this chance. Good luck everyone.
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I am in with one submission
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Hello again everybody. I mentioned in my previous post, that this is my 1st "customer focused" search entry. I was wondering in these instances if the inventor is able to pitch thier idea to other companys? My current understanding is that you are allowed to do so within standard EN searchs up until a point of "exclusivity". Does this rule hold true within customer/client searchs ? Thanks
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@Rodney the best thing EN can do is not have inventors have a conversation with the licensors. Let them pitch the idea. If you want to be part of it , make a short demo video and attach it to the submission.
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Thx Jim, sounds like solid advice! Learning as I go........
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There was some movement last week. One of my two submissions went to red, the other went to stage 4. Is there any connection between Chris Ferguson, the Edison Nation CEO and Ferguson Containers ? I was away from EN for a few months and it seems a lot has been happening.
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Jose On the Ferguson Container website they state that they are now a part of Edison Nation.
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I am not sure if Mr. Ferguson had any prior connection to Ferguson Containers.
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D'OH ! You may have pointed it out too soon. But EN knows their community is smart.
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Hello EN Community! There have been a couple releases about all the growing within EN, all of which enables us to provide even better resources to our amazing community of innovators! Check out our YouTube for Louis' introduction of Chris!
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Congrats Terence, way to go.
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I am also in the hunt with a G7. Fingers crossed here! Best of luck to All!
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Congrat's to you as well Rodney.
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I’m also with one at G7 . Good luck all. !!
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I've been a little AWOL from inventing and the forum due to health problems in the family and work pressures but I'm still in this search with one G7 (furniture/storage).
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Congrats Rob. I figured you must be G7 in this one because I saw your point total jump up all of a sudden.
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I have five R4s and four G7s. Hoping at least one will stick
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Whoa Jim! Thats outstanding. Good luck!
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Wow Jim. Sounds like this search was definitely in your wheelhouse!!!
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Thanks @Derrick - I've been struggling to keep up my inventing efforts lately and had the one submission to this search that I was luckily able to flesh out late in the process, otherwise it would have likely been rejected for lack of clarity.
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Fantastic Jim. Curious: of those 9 submissions how many were "grocery" and how many "furniture"?
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Hi Robert, one was for grocery R4.
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Is this Ferguson Containers search still open for
submissions? If so, where does one
submit?
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Hi Judy. This search closed on 7/1 per below link.
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Oops. I originally posted the link, but it didn't appear to work any longer so I deleted it, but forgot to delete the "per below link" from my previous post. I'll post the link anyway. https://app.edisonnation.com/live_product_searches/FC604 Just tried it.........what do you know..........it does work!!!
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you must be tired... take a nap Derrick, take a nap. LoLoL
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I wonder how the presentation went?
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When was the presentation, does anyone know?
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Hi Terence. Just a helpful hint......there is an edit button next to your post, so that you can just add to your post to avoid having to make multiple consecutive posts in a short period. No big deal, but just an FYI. There is an edit time-limit, but I'm not sure how long it is. Maybe a couple of hours?? The presentation this search was on Wednesday, July 24th. If you go to your dashboard and click on your submission, immediately to the left or your progress meter is a field with the following information: Title, Completed On, Status, Next Step, and finally, Presentation, which is where the date is noted.
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Awesome, thanks for bringing it up Jim/Terrece/Derrick. The presentation occurred last week, on July-24 !!! Good luck all !
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Now that the presentation date for Ferguson has come and gone, how long will it take to know the outcome? I assume Ferguson is given a deadline to make their decision.
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Hey James. Technically, the sponsor has up to six months to make final decisions concerning the ideas presented to them. However, it is rare that they take this long. You can find this statement by going to your dashboard and clicking on the progress bar of one of your submission in question. Then on the left side of the page, hover over the date of the presentation and a message stating what I summarized above will appear.
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Hi Derrick, Thanks for the tips and info. I appreciate it. Terry
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Good morning all - We have started to update dashboards this morning as the Ferguson Team has begun providing their detailed feedback on ideas, including those ideas that will remain under further consideration.
Their team post the presentation began early stage discussions of the manufacturing aspects of the concepts, highlighting issues or posing aspects that need to be further investigated. We will be updating the dashboards over the next couple of days and will try to advise through this forum thread when ALL have been processed that are going to be processed for now. On some we may be reaching out with additional questions, or requesting the sending of existing prototypes/or files for further review. Best of luck to all involved !!
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Sorry to hear that Terence. It always hurts to get to the last stage in the 8 stage process only to see the dreaded R8. Keep marching forward.
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I’m still with one at G7. Didn’t want to jinx it so kept from posting :)... However, I had a terrible day Today, so I don’t care anymore Anyone out there still hanging ?
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Hi Jose. I do not want to jinx out either! But, I am still in with one G7. I also wonder how many G7s remain??
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Sorry you had a terrible day yesterday Jose. As Thom stated, the good thing about bad days is that they will soon be history. I know that's oversimplifying things, because problems don't just disappear with the setting of the sun. However, the rising of the sun the next day signifies the newness of another day. Even if the problems are still there, we can have a fresh new attitude toward them, and sometimes that makes all the difference. Well, I'm NOT a psychologist, so I'll stop now :) Glad you are still green in this search. Glad you are also still green Rodney.
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I'm also still in with one G7. Good luck to all!
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Im still in. We are all holding on to hope.
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Derrick, I agree with your Psychology. I got a new attitude!!!
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Well, I recieved another R8. yuk :). With that being said, I also want to say I have had a very positive EN experience over the past 9 months. I am feeling very encouraged with insider feedback and the overall process in general So.....2020 here we come ! All the best to those still in search ! Rod
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Great attitude Rod. That's a good reminder for all of us to maintain a good attitude and positive outlook, even in the face of an R8. All the best going forward.
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Hi Derrick. Thank you for the kind words sir! I just think an attitude of gratitude goes a long way. Even though I recieved the R8 there is still plenty opportunity here to be grateful for. I am going to keep working at it, hope you do too.
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I'm also out guys. Good luck to the remaining !
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Rodney - will you perhaps consider opting in for another search? Maybe your concept still has legs beyond what Ferguson are looking for? :)
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Thats GOOD to hear Jim! Hope this is the BIG one , I am rooting for ya!
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Glad you are still in the running Jim. Hope you get the G8.
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