The Invention Stories Podcast

One Million Dollars…Leslie Adami and Shoe In …Episode 42


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One Million Dollars
Leslie Adami invented the Shoe In.  She never sold a single unit.  Leslie Adami sold her patent to a sold to a large mid-western industrial boot/shoe company for One Million Dollars. We invite you to listen to this episode of the Invention Stories Podcast to learn how.
 
Buy the Shoe In
Buy the Shoe In
 
 
The Invention Stories Podcast Episode 42 Recap:
Leslie Adami grew up as a tomboy.  She loved playing sports and didn’t get into inventing until much later.  Leslie has always been a very creative thinker.

Leslie attended Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia.  She was a pretty good student but felt she could’ve done better had she stayed more focused.  Leslie was a liberal arts major who believed that fate would become her destiny.

Leslie owned the Forerunner Ski Shop with her then husband for 20 years. There were 10 other ski shops in the area but the competition wasn’t fierce.  Each ski shopped develop their own niche.  The Forerunner Ski Shop was known for selling clothing from Europe.

Inventing
One day while skiing, Leslie was eating lunch and noticed every table was filled with gear the skiers had removed so they could eat.  She believed there had to be a better way.  So Leslie designed a mesh bag that was able to clip on pretty much any chair.  This would allow you to put your glasses, goggles, hat, gloves, scarf, etc. in them instead of on the table while you ate.  She sold a few hundred but the idea just sort of fizzled out.
 
 
One Million Dollar Idea

Living in Vermont can be very harsh.  Every time Leslie needed to go grocery shopping or get the mail she would have to change her footwear. She felt for a variety of reasons that this process should be improved.  It was especially frustrating removing your shoes in mud and snow.

The Shoe In was her answer.  She designed it to clip on your existing footwear.  This would allow your shoes stay to remain on warmly your feet.  She created  open toes , close toes , and a spike version (for ice).
 three separate versions.  You just set your shoe into the Shoe In.  This allowed you to clip into the Shoe In. No hands required. No Velcro required and nothing to tie. Just Kick and kick out.

Leslie believes that dollar stores are a great place to find material for your prototype.  She developed 4 different sizes for her Shoe In.  So there is no left, no right…The Shoe Ins fits either foot.

Leslie shared some of the challenges she faced during patent process.  When her patent paperwork was completer, she had an uneasy feeling.  Acting on her instincts, she sought advice from a more established patent attorney.  The paperwork that she filled out she thought was too ambiguous. So she ended up having her patent paperwork re-written more...
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The Invention Stories PodcastBy The Invention Stories Podcast