A product invented in Greater Sudbury currently available in more than 200 stores is about to more than double its distribution across the country.
Sean Dubé created SmartCap about five years ago. Since then, his “idea” has evolved into a product that will be on the shelves of more than 500 stores across Canada in October 2011.
“We just recently scored a big deal with Canadian Tire,” Dubé said. “(They’re) putting the product in all stores, Canada-wide.”
He said he’s also working to have the product be sold in other “major box stores” across the country.
SmartCap is a small, reusable cap that prevents tubes of caulking from drying out.
“I was just absolutely tired of going to use leftover tubes of caulking (and having it be) rock solid,” he said. “It just prevents your tubes of caulking from drying out.”
Dubé also recently acquired a patent on the product and said he’s working on getting a trademark on the name.
This is Dubé’s first invention.
“It feels great to start off with absolutely nothing of a product ... and get to the point of marketing, packaging and seeing it in the stores,” he said.
Dubé said the invention of the product has not cost him a lot of money, only the tubes of caulking and material for SmartCap.
He said the most “challenging” part of the process was testing the product in its early stages to see how long the tube of caulking would remain usable. So far, he’s had a tube of caulking, capped with SmartCap, for 30 months and the caulking still flows freely from the tube.
“I think the SmartCap will outlast the shelf life of a regular tube of acrylic caulking,” he said.
SmartCap is made, processed, packaged and manufactured in southern Ontario, and Dubé said he’s proud the Smart Cap is “100 per cent Canadian.”
He said his message to other aspiring inventors would be to research product or service ideas first to see if there is competition.
“See what limitations can or could be placed on your product,” he said. “Cost involvement and local resources are important.”
He also said inventors shouldn’t “overextend” themselves on the financial aspect of creating the product. “Stay focused and one day it might pay off,” he said.
-Posted by Heather Green-Oliver
