“This product started with a scream,” Scott Putnam said, remembering the distinctive sound any parent can recognize. “As a dad with two young daughters that hate bugs, they would do that scream that’s a different decibel. It’s like, ‘Ooh, okay, that’s the bug scream.’”
For many inventors, solving a household problem might lead to a single product. For Dubuque-based Putnam, it sparked a transformation from solving his daughters’ bug fears to helping other inventors navigate the path from idea to successful business.
His invention, the Swat-N-Scoop, emerged from countless late-night experiments and prototypes. After watching his daughters’ reluctance to kill insects, Putnam focused on creating a heavy-duty swatter with a scoop, that can also be used to catch and release bugs. “I thought, why isn’t there a product that does this? Just quickly removes whatever bug made its way into the home, get it outside quickly and easily,” he said.
Putnam started small in the Amazon store, testing the viability of Swat-N-Scoop with a few hundred units in 2022. The response surprised him. Customer reviews began rolling in, validating both his design and market need. “There was that moment where other people were really loving this and they’re using it and it’s helping them make their life better,” Putnam said. “As an inventor, that is magic. That’s what every inventor wants.”
As sales began to grow, so did Putnam’s understanding of Amazon’s tools for sellers. He used A+ Content, which allowed him to enhance his product page with rich images and detailed descriptions, helping customers better understand why his product was different from the average fly swatter. Brand Registry provided trademark protection and brand-building tools.
But the real breakthrough came when Putnam discovered Supply Chain by Amazon, which streamlined his product’s journey from overseas manufacturers to U.S. fulfillment centers. “The shipping was way cheaper,” Putnam noted. “We saved a lot of money on freight.”
To further streamline his business, Putnam adopted Amazon Warehouse Distribution, which simplified inventory management by allowing him to send products to a single warehouse. It’s a service now used by more than 300,000 independent sellers worldwide.
With a growing customer base and efficient operations in place, Putnam recognized an opportunity to help other inventors. In November, he launched Inventor’s Edge, a consulting firm where he guides others through the process of bringing their ideas to life.
For Putnam, the Amazon store provides the perfect testing ground for new products. It’s why, he said, he recommends it to his clients once they’re ready to start selling their inventions. “We can be more nimble and change our product based on feedback,” he said. “It’s lower risk to go into the Amazon store and test a product line, than it is to build your own website and start advertising before your first sale.” This ability to start small and learn from customer feedback, combined with tools like Brand Registry and Supply Chain by Amazon, helps inventors focus on building successful products.
“As an entrepreneur, you are kind of flying solo and until you have your network built, you’re whacking your way through the weeds, trying to figure everything out and gather information on your own,” he said. “But once I was ready to start selling, the feeling was like, Amazon’s trying to help me, which was great.”