Bob Merrick successfully developed and marketed his own inventions for more than twenty-five years. He did this as head of Merrick Industries, Inc., a six-employee company in Sunnyvale, California. The company did no manufacturing in-house; rather, it outsourced all production, and concentrated on marketing. Merrick maintains that simplicity is the key element in all of his inventing, and the reason for its success. Today his retail products are sold nationally in such stores as Office Depot, Staples and Office Max. Merrick Industries also conducted business-to-business marketing of promotional advertising products.

Frequently, Merrick is an invited guest speaker at government and university-sponsored seminars and workshops. He is also in demand as a consultant. Merrick's background includes a BA degree in communications from the University of California at Berkeley, four years active duty as a naval officer, including a tour as an adviser in Vietnam, six years as advertising manager at Fairchild Semiconductor Corp., and three years as a partner in the Hal Lawrence Advertising and Public Relations agency in Palo Alto. In addition to running his company, he is active in real estate development and management. He served 10 years as a founder and director of Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan of San Jose. He was president of the nonprofit California Inventors Council and a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. He has three grown children, and four grandchildren. His hobbies are tennis, paddle tennis, golf and travel. He lives in Monta Vista, CA.

Expert's Reviews For Bob's  Book"Stand Alone, Inventor!"
 

"Bob's book brilliantly presents creative ideas for launching new products. If you plan to profit with your new invention, start by reading this book."

David Pressman Author of the best seller Patent It Yourself !

"Written by one of the most savvy guys I know on the subject of entrepreneurial inventing. Bob's book does a terrific job of verbalizing inside information on how to succeed with simple inventions"

Michael M. Scott, The first President of Apple Computer, (From1977 to 1981)

"Hopefully, among the readers of this book will be those thousands who never thought of themselves as inventors or entrepreneurs, but once learning how it's done, will be passionately inspired, and successfully motivated."

Don Kelly, Director, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC, Author & lecturer on invention and intellectual property protection & renowned champion of independent inventors.

"What this country needs is more stand-alone inventors like Bob Merrick, who find out how to create their own job, and go on to create jobs for others. He teaches his readers how they can succeed and make a difference, if they assume responsibility for their inventions and for themselves."

Joanne Hayes-Rines, Editor,Inventor's Digest Magazine.

"Bob Merrick's story of how he achieved invention success is a facinating read, plus good guidance for how entrepreneurs can do it themselves."

Dr. Rick Crandall Ph.D., Author of the best seller How_To_Market_Your Services: For People who hate to sell, and founder of The Community Entrepreneurs Organization.

"We always said Bob wrote the book on how to make it big with simple inventions - and now it's true. This is must reading for anyone who ever dreamed of making a difference in the world by adding something to it."

George Coakley, Chairman, Polytracker MLS, marketing genious behind the Pet Rock® and originator of musical greeting cards.