Next up in our series of interviews with Walmart’s Get on the Shelf contestants is Greg Sanchez, inventor of the Coverlugg.
What product did you submit to Walmart’s Get on the Shelf contest?
Our product is called Coverlugg. It is a unique neoprene cover that simply slides over the top of your existing luggage that allows you to secure, protect and identify your bag.
Where’d the idea come from?
I thought of the idea on a recent business trip when I was trying to locate my bag among a sea of black bags going around and around the carousel. I thought to myself, there has got to be a better way!
What’s your background (and or day job)?
I own a small advertising agency in Arizona but now my full time job is selling and marketing the Coverlugg!
What difficulties did you have creating the product?
We really haven’t run into any difficulties in creating the product. Our struggle has been getting customers to find us. With a limited marketing budget we have to get creative and hopefully this will help 🙂
Have you sold any? (or is the product currently for sale somewhere already?)
We just received our product in November, 2011 and have already sold the product into over 150 luggage specialty shops across the U.S. We have also sold product to retailers located in Japan, Australia, UK, New Zealand and the world famous retail store, Harrod’s of London has placed their first order as well.
Do you have any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Don’t give up, remain persistence and figure on spending 4x the amount of money you have budgeted to launch your product.
His GOTS video is below and his link is getontheshelf.com/product/597/Coverlugg-&-Luggage-Jers
Coverlugg will also be on Shark Tank this season. Their audition video is below. (Although it looks similar to their GOTS video, it includes a lot more information.)
Good luck Greg, both with Get on the Shelf and Shark Tank!