Trademarks Made Easy

Gary Huang has found himself at the center of the hottest topic in private label selling, and the business world in general: The US-China Trade War.

In this second part of his debut interview for Trademarks Made Easy, Gary gives us a glimpse into the ways the Trade War is affecting private label sellers and what the smartest folks in the industry are doing about it.

From regional sourcing alternatives for manufacturing, to ways to take advantage of markets and products not yet touched by tariffs, Gary and Suzi bring you so much info in this interview that it became TWO episodes. Make sure you have heard part one in episode 16!

Find Gary’s company at https://www.8020sourcing.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

Gary Huang has found himself at the center of the hottest topic in private label selling, and the business world in general: The US-China Trade War.

In this first interview for Trademarks Made Easy, Gary gives us a bird's eye view of the factors that led us to our current climate, as well as the responses that giant companies and smart small business are already making to save themselves time and money no matter the exact outcomes of the current trade war.

From regional sourcing alternatives for manufacturing, to ways to take advantage of markets and products not yet touched by tariffs, Gary and Suzi bring you so much info in this interview that it became TWO episodes. Stay tuned next Friday for part two!

One great takeaway from this episode? Search Customs and Border Patrol records to help identify options for sourcing:

https://www.junglescout.com https://panjiva.com https://www.importgenius.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

You can learn more about Gary and his work at www.8020sourcing.com

When you are coming up with the perfect trademark, it's also a good idea to ensure your products (both present and future) will align well with that brand name.

Suzi Hixon talks about the importance of product selection and how it goes hand-in-hand with establishing a strong private label business.

In particular, Suzi helps you position yourself for early expansion that won't cost you more money in trademark protection, but can put more money back into your business, sooner rather than later!

To ensure you're building a brand with room under the umbrella for a few other products, use the Nice classification found here: https://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/nclpub/en/fr/

Also, don't miss out on The Private Label Lawyer's special FREE Trademark Quickstart: www.TrademarkQuickstart.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

One of the questions Suzi gets asked all the time is, "Should I even bother protecting my trademark in China?" While the conception is that standard protections won't hold in this market, there are many reasons to consider filing, primarily the sheer size of the market itself.

Suzi Hixon, the Private Label Lawyer, lays out the 5 primary reasons you have to at least give some consideration to trademark protection in China. Among them? China's "1st to File" policy which means that trademark owners should file for protection in China BEFORE they begin selling under that label.

It's not ALL bad news though, as Suzi includes some ongoing changes to the Chinese Trademark office that should make international sellers smile wherever they are starting in late 2019.

Suzi also discusses the pros and cons of filing directly or through the Madrid Protocol as well as what you'll need TO file in China.

Access the Nice Classification: https://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/nclpub/en/fr/

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

Uniqueness. Catchiness. Simplicity. Relatability. These are the four quadrants you should use when choosing a brand name. But even with the best of names, how do you ensure that your brand grows in awareness and value over time? You prepare for what's possible and work with what's reality today.

Today, Amazon is the leading retail platform, and will inherently form the center of your business, but in this episode Suzi Hixon lays out steps to ensure that you can put your brand's best foot forward today on Amazon and be ready for whatever the future of the marketplace might look like.

Full of actionable, easy to follow advice, this is one episode no private label seller will want to miss!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

Creating an original trademark that is both valuable as a marketing tool for the sale and promotion of your product AND legally valid as a unique and defensible trademark isn't magic, but it is absolutely both an art and a science. Suzi Hixon helps us ensure that our education is well-rounded covering both areas as we achieve that balance and find your new trademark.

With a little bit of knowledge, creative thinking and guidance you can select the perfect trademark to fit your newest private label product line WITHOUT being an attorney or a marketing mastermind.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

When do you know it's time to change? Your brand name is one of the cornerstones of your entire business. So how do you know when you've chosen the wrong one?

Suzi Hixon covers the pros and cons of a brand name change. Will current customers be able to find you? What potential gains could you make with a change? How extensively would the name change affect your business? Answers to all these questions and more in this episode of Trademarks Made Easy!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

With billions of potential customers and clients, the Amazon Marketplace is THE opportunity for private label sellers. But how do you stand out amongst the pack and protect yourself and your brand from counterfeiters and copycats? Today Suzi Hixon, The Private Label Lawyer, brings you three simple action points to properly position yourself and your brand in the Amazon Marketplace.

1. What's YOUR selling point? - Understand your target audience and ensure that your audience understands your brand, your vision and your business. 2. Tell your story - Connect with your customers. No two stories are the same, and that brand story is nearly impossible to copy. 3. Be Proactive - Register Your Brand name with the USPTO (and perhaps internationally with the Madrid Protocol as discussed in episode 9).

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

Save time AND money on your International Trademark filings with these tips from Suzi Hixon. While Amazon's Brand Registry 2.0 program makes this a more pressing or priority item, International Trademark registry is a good move for your brand if you plan to sell your products globally, even if Amazon ceases to exist tomorrow.

The Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, or The Madrid Protocol for short, is an international treaty that allows trademark owners to obtain registration in up to 116 countries by filing one application and paying one set of fees. And Canada is joining the treaty in 2019, so 117 soon enough!

Why use the Madrid Protocol Filing? File one application, in YOUR language, pay in YOUR currency. No translators, no foreign lawyers' fees.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.

Suzi Hixon breaks down the differences between the Principal and Trademark Register of the USPTO, and how NOT understanding these can harm your brand and business!

Wherever you find yourself in this process, keep these highlights in mind:

1. Choose a strong trademark at the outset, one that ISN'T descriptive

2. Beware of am-mending a trademark application to the supplemental register

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to get a new episode of Trademarks Made Easy every Friday, and visit https://www.theprivatelabellawyer.com for show notes and more info.