The United States government has released their three staged plan for re-opening the country. There are certain criteria and preparedness that are required prior to the beginning of the first re-opening phase. Included with the release of the re-opening plan are guidelines for individuals, employers, and specific places for each phase. As well, the US government has released public sanitization guidance that can be found here. This document specifies cleaning and disinfecting regulations for public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes.  

Ultra Beauty, an American beauty salon retailer, has released their plan for re-opening stores. In fact, in several states in which salons, barbershops, and spas are already open, Ultra Beauty has begun re-opening their stores as well. Their re-opening strategies are based on advice and guidelines from governments, health sources, and Retail Industry Leaders Association. Associates of the establishments must wear masks, gloves, and undergo a mandatory wellness check prior to their shift. The customer experience will be different as well as they are encouraged to wear masks, perform social distancing, and book appointments for salon services. The store has removed all product samplers/testers and has provided hand sanitizer throughout the store.  

Makeup may not be the first priority for some customers as society opens; their priority will be their hair. In fact, Kantar Research identified that beauty therapy, such as barbers and salons, will experience the highest activity during re-opening. Salons and barbers are theorized to be in higher demand than even restaurants and socializing establishments. Luckily, L’Oréal collaborated with Nation Hair and Beauty Federation and British Beauty Council to release a support guide for barbers which follows United Kingdom guidelines. The guide advises business owners on how to organize bookings, payments, and how to ensure proper sanitization practices are performed, such as tool disinfecting. L’Oréal believes that these new measures will not only increase safety for employees and customers, but it will also promote a supportive and connected workplace for staff.  

Practices such as these will likely become very common in society as countries re-open. However daunting these practices seem, they are necessary and helpful for protecting the wellbeing of society while attempting to maintain a successful economy. These practices seem achievable with policies, guidelines, and examples such as Ultra Beauty and L’Oréal to help guide us through the re-opening of the cosmetic and beauty industry into this new normal.  

For more information, please contact Focal Point Research Inc. We are leading North American Regulatory and New Product Consultants for Medical Devices, Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA. 

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Patent protection is often considered the Holy Grail of innovation. If you have a shiny new invention, it will benefit from long-term protection. A patent can allow you to build your business and hopefully sell it and make you very rich. But like most things, there are shades of grey.

Say you are able to get a patent. How strong is it? Can a smart person work around it? And even if your patent is rock solid, that does not stop copycats. A patent only allows you to sue them for infringement. That’s a huge misunderstanding for many new innovators. What if you launch and five copycats appear on the market? You need deep pockets and a talented legal team to deal with this. I have seen innovators abandon their patents because they didn’t have the funds or stamina for the litigation.

Going back to the entrepreneur with an old molecule. Many of the regulatory hurdles had been overcome by previous innovators. The few remaining ones seemed surmountable. I have seen projects like this become hugely successful with rapid scale up and sales execution. If copycats arrive, the entrepreneurs continued to innovate with product improvements, line extensions, and new sales and distribution channels.

Sure, a rock-solid patent is great to have but it’s not the only option to make you a successful innovator.

Our YouTube Channel showcases our Lectures on Innovation Series featuring our “Patents” video, which continues this article in more depth. Watch it here.

For more information, please contact Focal Point Research Inc. We are leading North American Regulatory and New Product Consultants for Medical Devices, Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA .

Rob Fichtner, October, 2019

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When it comes to complaints, these are things I look at:

1. The seriousness of the complaints. In my world of regulated products, these usually pertain to adverse reactions, issues of health and safety etc.

2. The percent of complaints to units sold.

3. Trends. Are complaints going up, down, sideways?

In the case of my recent sleepless entrepreneur, none of the complaints was particularly serious. In terms of the absolute number, a dozen seemed like a catastrophe. But it turns out that there were over half a million units sold; the complaint rate was about 0.002%, miniscule. In terms of trends, it was a predictable steady growth of complaints as the business expanded. Time for a good night’s sleep!

The other advice I give to entrepreneurs is if you are not getting complaints or at least some type of feedback, I would be concerned. Unless you are an absolute genius, your product will launch with further optimization needed. All within reason of course. So I say, embrace your complaints. Master dealing with them. And use them as learning for your next generation innovation.

Our YouTube Channel showcases our Lectures on Innovation Series featuring our “Complaints” video, which continues this article in more depth. Watch it here.

For more information, please contact Focal Point Research Inc. We are leading North American Regulatory and New Product Consultants for Medical Devices, Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA .

Rob Fichtner, October, 2019

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The factors for success and failure are complex. Some pertain to sales and marketing which are not in my wheelhouse. What has interested me my entire career are the scientific, engineering and related technical aspects of innovation and new product development that contribute to success or failure.

I set out to produce this very brief series of videos after witnessing yet again, a number of innovations going seriously off the rails. Like in any profession, after almost 40 years, you can almost smell trouble as you walk in the room. My goal with these lectures was not to be comprehensive, not by any means. I simply wanted to site some basic examples of mistakes that have been sadly made by all manner of companies, big and small.

I have worked for large multinationals, with innovators in their basements, and everything in between. What I know is that mistakes made by innovators have nothing to do with company size. It has been breathtaking to watch some very large and smart companies make some of the most foolish and avoidable mistakes. The only difference is the amount of money that goes up in smoke.

I’ll end with a few disclaimers. For innovators developing information technology products and services, parts of my commentary will not be as relevant. My life has been in regulated products, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, natural health products and foods and beverages.

Secondly, I don’t believe there is any quick fix or magical solution for successful innovation. The intent of these lectures is to highlight some landmines that have destroyed the dreams and fortunes of some very promising innovators.

Finally, I don’t want to discourage entrepreneurs or innovators. The world needs you. But most importantly, the world needs you to succeed. If these lectures were to help even a single innovator avoid catastrophe, I would consider this to have been a success. Thank you for watching.

For more information, please contact Focal Point Research Inc. We are leading North American Regulatory and New Product Consultants for Medical Devices, Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA

Rob Fichtner, August, 2019

The post Why I Developed Lectures On Innovation appeared first on Focal Point.

The plant was originally shut down due to an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency finding of high levels of ethylene oxide emissions, which are carcinogenic and linked to breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. Approximately half of all medical devices use a method of sterilization that uses ethylene oxide emissions. Until alternative methods are developed, the medical device industry has been actively lobbying the government to allow access to ethylene oxide as a sterilant. However, the Food and Drug Administration has recently launched two innovation challenges to promote the development of alternative sterilization methods.

Under the agreement, ethylene oxide use for sterilization would not be allowed for commercial purposes until Sterigenics implements new emission control systems that capture 100% of the gas in the facility. The efficiency of these systems would have to be 99.9% and must be approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency before the Willowbrook operations are permitted to resume.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which creates a path for our Willowbrook facility to resume its safe operation and includes no finding of wrongdoing on the company’s part nor the imposition of any financial penalties,” said Sterigenics President Philip Mcnabb.

For more information, please contact Focal Point Research Inc.  We are leading North American Regulatory and New Product Consultants for Medical Devices, Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada and the U.S. FDA.

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“FPR has provided me with on outstanding co-op experience through the work, skills, and contacts I have had an opportunity to develop. I was able to expand the skills I developed during past work terms by taking the lead on certain projects and managing many time sensitive projects in different areas of the business has given me greater confidence in the workplace. I was given the opportunity to participate in meetings with material suppliers, industry consultants, and patent lawyers, helping me to make many valuable contacts for the future. Exposure to a variety of fields and working closely with people with extensive backgrounds in these areas has broadened my view of possible career paths. Focal Point Research Inc. is an exceptional employer in the work experience they provide, as well as the friendly and supportive environment.”                                                              -Excerpt from nomination package

Focal Point Research Inc. has hired 15 co-op students over the past 7 years from several post-secondary institutions. These students have come from the academic fields of Toxicology, Biochemistry, Biological & Medical Physics, as well as Post Graduate studies.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of Co-op programs.

Focal Point Research Inc is a leading North American Consultant for Natural Health Products, OTC Drugs, Cosmetics, Medical Devices and other consumer products regulated by Health Canada or the U.S. FDA. FPR also provides training, formulation and packaging development services. From concept to product launch and beyond, we are the scientific consultants with the expertise to put your product safely in the hands of consumers.

Click here to contact us today!

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