Who are BIG's inventors?
Our 13,000 inventors range from mechanical engineers and industrial designers to soccer Moms, teachers, entrepreneurs, and everything in between. We also recruit channel specialists to complement our consumer-inventors. Through monthly invention-review Roadshows, we have met and evaluated hundreds of inventors and continue to recruit new contributors to our network on a daily basis. On average, we receive 200 idea submissions each month from our inventors.
Who are the members of BIG’s marketing network?
BIG’s network includes a variety of creatives, with different talents, experiences, and backgrounds. As a member of WPP, we have connections with a number of agencies. Berlin Cameron, Looney, Graj + Gustavsen, and the Wonderfactory are a few of the agencies in our marketing network. BIG has also actively recruited hot independent agencies, freelancers, and design students.
What do inventors submit? What is the quality and level of refinement of the ideas received?
We receive a wide range of ideas in terms of both quality and refinement. We always consider the root value of the invention, and don't automatically dismiss a concept because it's poorly or incompletely articulated. If an idea has great promise, we invest the extra needed to refine it before we present it to you. At a minimum, we do ask all inventors to submit a complete description of the new product or service and strongly recommend visuals. Some inventors also submit prototypes and competitive or IP information. While we generally don't require that inventions have IP protection (since many concepts are often being created for clients on short notice), our evaluations do take into consideration the defensibility of the product. Bottom line: Our job is to present you with the best concepts, clearly and concisely explained and compellingly positioned.
What do marketing creatives submit? What is the quality and level of refinement of the concepts submitted?
What creatives submit is largely dependent on the type of proposal and what the client desires. Typically, clients request and creatives submit illustrated PowerPoint presentations, 15 pages or less. While most presentations are of high quality, we don’t automatically dismiss those that lack polish. As with our Innovation Hunts, we’re looking for great concepts that powerfully and uniquely address the client’s objectives. Also, it’s understood that most concepts presented will be at the rough stage. Post-Hunt, the client can negotiate with the winning participant to further develop the work or turn development over to other creatives.
Do you partner with agencies?
Yes, we work with agencies in our Innovation and Marketing Hunts—both as clients and participants. Our marketing network includes Graj + Gustavsen, The Wonderfactory, Berlin Cameron, and Looney, along with talented independents, freelancers, and students.
How are inventors compensated?
Inventors are typically compensated with licensing contracts (receiving a royalty or a percentage of sales) or upfront buyouts. BIG splits all inventor fees 50/50 with inventors (this is fully disclosed to them).
How are marketing creatives compensated?
Marketing professionals receive a licensing or buyout deal. BIG splits backend earnings with participants 50/50.
How do you recruit communities?
Communities are recruited based on the profile of your target. Some clients want us to use communities of existing customers, while others look to BIG to find the target participants. BIG recruits some communities directly and/or leverages partners, depending on the profile.
Who owns the insights and information generated by the community?
Our clients own the insights and information generated by the community. Our community members agree to a set of agreements—confidentiality and terms of participation—before they are included in the Club.
How do you manage confidentiality?
Our participants—community members, inventors, and marketing creatives—all agree to confidentiality terms when participating in one of our programs. Even given this confidentiality, some clients choose to remain anonymous and don't share insights with community members or disclose identity to our inventors. Others let us use their name, brands, and learnings to help generate greater participant excitement and insight into the project. It can work both ways, but we prefer to be able to share the company, brands, and community contributions whenever possible.
Who will be working on my business? What are the qualifications of BIG's staff?
When you work with BIG, you get a team of professionals with relevant experience for your brand and category, coupled with unique expertise in innovation services. Our people are experts in food and beverage, consumer products, financial services, personal media, online media, telecommunications, technology, children's products, business services, and a range of other B2B and B2C categories.
Beyond our business vertical know-how, each of our team members has more than 10 years of experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Identifying innovation opportunities and soliciting
and evaluating innovations
- Innovation development and management
(including licensing and IP)
- Product sourcing and manufacturing
- Launching successful new products and services
- Launching and managing entrepreneurial businesses
(from software to restaurants)
- Creating and managing customer communities
- Building and managing creative networks
- Marketing, creative, research, and Web services
- Client services and project management
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