Virtual tradeshow
How a 3D model of your invention becomes a listing in a tradeshow that’s open every day of the year.
This page explains how it works. The tradeshow itself is run by For Sale By Inventor, our sister company.
Why a virtual presentation matters
A patent protects an idea, but it doesn’t make anyone aware of it. Patent drawings are written for examiners, not buyers, and buyers decide from what they can see.
Physical vs. virtual tradeshow
| Compared on | Physical tradeshow | Virtual tradeshow |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Typically $20,000+ for a smaller booth at a major-city show | A listing built from the 3D model (pricing) |
| Duration | A weekend | Every day of the year |
| Location | One city | Online, anywhere |
| Audience | Attendees who walk past | Any visitor, any time zone |
| Your time | Travel, setup, staffing | None |
| Changes | Reprint and reship | Update the file or page |
| Follow-up | Business cards | Inquiries through the listing; visits can be tracked |
| What it can’t do | Nothing replaces a handshake | Visitors can’t pick the product up, and some buyers will still ask for a sample |
Booth costs (booth, shipping, travel, staff) vary by city, show and booth. A typical starting point, not a quote.
Prototype vs. 3D model
| Compared on | Prototype / production | 3D model and renders |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Commonly $100,000+ to start a product business (tooling, minimum orders, packaging, inventory, shipping) | $3,999 to $9,999 by package (pricing) |
| Time | Months | Stills 1 to 2 weeks, animation 2 to 4 weeks, brand and web 3 to 6 weeks (services, process) |
| Changes | New samples or tooling | Edit the model and re-render |
| Finish | Rough until the final run | Intended finish, color and packaging |
| Sharing | One sample at a time | A link or file, to anyone |
| Formats | One object | Stills, animation, interactive 3D, web files |
| Risk | Inventory before you know demand | Fixed fee, no inventory |
| What it can’t do | It’s the real product, and testing needs it | It isn’t a working unit. Function, safety and manufacturability still have to be proven |
Renders show what the finished product is intended to look like. They are not a claim that it can be made at that cost or that it works as shown.
How it connects to the patent
The patent drawings and dimensions can be the starting point for the model, so the picture matches what’s protected and the work isn’t paid for twice. Talk to your patent attorney about timing before anything is made public.
3D VR Studio is not a law firm. Packages don’t include patent preparation or filing, and nothing here is legal advice.
How it reaches the virtual tradeshow
The tradeshow itself is on the For Sale By Inventor site.
- Model and renders are approved. The files are yours.
- A listing is built from the images, animation and a short description.
- It stays open every day of the year. No booth fees, no event dates.
- Visitors look, ask questions and, if you choose, place pre-orders.
- Visits and inquiries can be tracked.
A listing puts the invention in front of people. It does not guarantee views, inquiries, pre-orders or a licensing deal.
The 7 P’s of marketing
| P | The question | How the virtual presentation helps |
|---|---|---|
| Product | What is it? | Form, finish, packaging and function in one consistent set of images |
| Price | What will people pay? | Pre-orders and inquiries give early evidence, not a forecast |
| Place | Where can people find it? | The virtual tradeshow, open every day of the year |
| Promotion | How do people hear about it? | Renders and animation for the listing, outreach and social posts |
| People | Who’s involved, and who’s it for? | Inventor, studio and patent attorney each have a role; the audience is the buyers browsing the showcase |
| Process | How does it get done? | Scope, model, look, produce, deliver, then the listing (process) |
| Physical evidence | What can a buyer judge? | With no product made yet, realistic images and an interactive model are what a buyer can judge |
Price, People and Process also depend on your choices. The model supports them; it doesn’t do them.
