showerball

02/21/2007
Meshoppen prototype heads to QVC
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DIXIE CASSELBURY , Wyoming County Press Examiner

An area inventor who created a prototype of a product in Meshoppen that will soon be mass merchandised on cable television said his amazing journey was an epiphany of sorts.
Paul O'Brien said that the thought of appearing on the Quality Value Convenience (QVC) show to market his invention, the ShowerBall, has been difficult to put in words.

Inventor Paul O’Brien shows off his invention, the ShowerBall, which will be sold on the QVC channel in the near future.

Inventor Paul O’Brien hopes that his invention, the ShowerBall, which combines the aroma of shower salts to a pulsating flow of water during a shower will be a must have in homes across the globe.

Although he has not yet been contacted by QVC about a specific airtime, he does know that he will soon have eight minutes to convince open-pocketed shoppers that the ShowerBall should be a product found in their home.

His entrepreneurial spirits also led him to launch General Inventors Group LLC. Along with owning a building used to prototype his product along Rt. 6 in Meshoppen Borough (known as the old dress factory), the group has also partnered with five factories in China to handle accelerated production. He said he sees the globalization of commerce as an opportunity and believes speed and efficiency is what is required in introducing new products to the market place.

In 2002, O'Brien began developing the ShowerBall shower therapeutic system with the purpose of designing and manufacturing a product that provides a relaxing shower and rejuvenating aromatherapy experience.
Currently he is working on 15 new products and hopes that they also will in turn gain the attention of investors, retailers and consumers who are willing to believe in the products that he and his team has strived so hard to perfect.

Growing up on Lake Wallenpaupack, near Hawley, PA., O'Brien said he never realized that he had a knack for unearthing creative ideas.
"The one weird thing I remember about my childhood was that I was amazed with nuts and bolts and specifically how they worked together but other than that I wouldn't describe myself as anything other than a normal kid - whatever that means," O'Brien said.

"I guess the one thing you could say about my mind - and trust me when I say I don't think I'm a genius is that I think I see things differently. I mean I do a lot of double takes and envision things working different - better - faster - easier. Well that and insomnia," and the lust of unrealistic optimism, he added.
It takes believing in the product and the willingness to lose everything to see your idea on store shelves.

In retrospect O'Brien said he realizes now that this is where he is supposed to be in life. So many flukes and signs brought him to this place in life, he said, and now that he has finally learned to open his mind to the freedom of creativity, his inspirations are slowly becoming realities. He said he believes Jesus Christ has been with him every step of the way.

Idea takes hold

"For instance, our water has sulfur in it. Now sulfur water in itself is actually good for your skin but the smell is not so appealing. So one night when I couldn't sleep I hooked up a container of Miracle Grow to the shower. It was that concept that brought about the ShowerBall. Instead of the pressure of the water forcing Miracle Grow out - I replaced the Miracle Grow with four different smells of shower salts that I invented," he explained.
After a lot of research the product was designed, patented and then O'Brien looked for investors and ways of marketing his invention. "That's just how it happens - nothing Einstein - just finding solutions," O'Brien said.

Inventor Paul O’Brien hopes that his invention, the ShowerBall, which combines the aroma of shower salts to a pulsating flow of water during a shower will be a must have in homes across the globe.

O'Brien added that he always felt like there was something else out there for himself, his wife of 16 years, Katharine, and their four sons.

After quitting school, O'Brien joined the U.S. Air Force where he earned the recognition of being the youngest crew chief for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress by age 17. But his passion for flying would take him to another branch of the military where he pursued his interest in helicopters with U.S. Army.

"Once the idea came and I quit fighting with my inner-self - weird things started to come my way," he said.
"When I bought the place in Meshoppen I didn't realize nor did I know that it was already equipped with injection molding machinery that would be an absolute must in prototyping the ShowerBall," he went on, noting that within days after finally deciding to launch his idea he found a person that knew everything about injection molding.

Then he met Bill Reidsema of Tunkhannock who turned out to be a catalyst to a lot of the research that was needed in order to get things started.
"I didn't have a choice - it was going to be whether I liked it or not," he stated.

In order to be considered for airtime on QVC, O'Brien said he had to first have his products approved and then to see to it that a generous supply of ShowerBalls would be ready to be shipped when the orders started coming in. "There have been a lot of ups and downs but all and all the whole thing has been a lot like the Olympics. You work and work for that one day that can make you or break you," O'Brien added.

The Lemon Township entrepreneur said he could not have made it this far without the love of his wife, his children and his right hand man and senior vice-president of operations, Don Catlett.
"I don't know how these people put up with me," he added with a smile.
"My ultimate dream is to provide good paying jobs - specifically to single mothers in the area," O'Brien added.

He also said that he would love to have one of his inventions become a huge success and donate the proceeds to charity.
O'Brien said that the one lesson of life that he continues to believe in is the commitment of philanthropic assistance through his innovations. He lives life by the motto 'to whom much is given, much will be required.'

QVC is aired on channel 39 for Blue Ridge Communications customers, channel 226 for Dish Network customers and DirecTv users can tune in to channel 317.

To find out more about the ShowerBall, find them online at showerballUSA.com.

©The New Age Examiner 2007