Method and system for acquiring branded promotional products

• US 7,127,415 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Verchere
• Original Assignee: Regency Ventures Ltd.
• Inventors: Verchere, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/441,204
• Time in Patent Office: 2,534 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method and system allows users to purchase branded promotional products over the Internet through a central, real-time exchange process. Users may include customers, resellers, vendor partners, business service partners and medial partners. This system provides a core foundation of services for use over the Internet that facilitates business transactions thereby providing a single point of contact for all branded promotional industry needs. A comprehensive solution is presented for all members of the promotional products industry where high quality products, current and accurate information, and support services with the result that the end user has a consistent, reliable and productive experience are made available.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for acquiring branded promotional products comprising:

a database containing product information wherein the product information comprises product data and imprinting data related to a plurality of branded promotional products;

a products interface where a customer or a reseller accesses the products interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

a reseller showcase interface where a customer accesses the reseller showcase interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

a vendor showcase interface where a reseller accesses the vendor showcase interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

a front office interface for providing purchase order information and marketing information and receiving at least one order from one or more resellers or customers wherein the at least one order is related to the plurality of branded promotional products;

a bidding interface for enabling at least one or more resellers or customers to present at least one order and enabling at least one vendor to bid on the presented order wherein the at least one order is related to the plurality of branded promotional products;

an artwork library interface for storing customer'"'"'s logo and branding artwork associated with the plurality of branded promotional products; and

a processor for processing orders received from the front office interface;

wherein the database, the products interface, the reseller showcase interface, the vendor showcase interface, the front office interface, the bidding interface, the artwork library interface and the processor are interoperably connected.

2. A computer implemented method for acquiring branded promotional products comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database containing product information wherein the product information comprises product data and imprinting data related to a plurality of branded promotional products;

implementing a products interface where a customer or a reseller accesses the products interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

implementing a reseller showcase interface where a customer accesses the reseller showcase interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

implementing a vendor showcase interface where a reseller accesses the vendor showcase interface to acquire at least one branded promotional products;

implementing a front office interface for providing purchase order information and marketing information and receiving at least one order from one or more resellers or customers wherein the at least one order is related to the plurality of branded promotional products;

implementing a bidding interface for enabling at least one or more resellers or customers to present at least one order and enabling at least one vendor to bid on the presented order wherein the at least one order is related to the plurality of branded promotional products;

implementing an artwork library interface for storing customer'"'"'s logo and branding artwork associated with the plurality of branded promotional products; and

processing orders for products received from the front office interface through a processor.

3. A computer implemented system for providing a central exchange of data associated with branded promotional products, the computer implemented system comprising:

a product database for storing data related to a plurality of products, the data including at least pricing data and imprinting data related to the plurality of products;

a vendor entry point interface for enabling a vendor to enter at least one product data specifics to the product database, the at least one product data specifics comprising one or more of imprinting data, display data, accurate detailed pricing data and product placement data;

a vendor showcase interface for displaying product data and providing ordering access to one or more resellers at a reseller entry point interface, wherein the vendor showcase interface is customized for a particular vendor;

a branded promotional products interface for providing a plurality of promotional products to one or more of customers and resellers and receiving at least one order for one or more promotional products;

a reseller showcase interface for displaying products selected by the reseller for resale to a reseller group of customers selected by the reseller where the reseller group of customers accesses the reseller showcase interface at a reseller customer entry point interface; and

a company logo store interface for displaying products selected by the reseller for resale to a group of customers associated with a company, wherein the company logo store interface is customized for the company;

wherein customers comprise users who buy products from the branded promotional products interface;

resellers comprise users who resell products to customers; and

vendors comprise users who supply one or more of products and imprinting services;

wherein the product database, the vendor entry point interface;

the vendor showcase interface, the branded promotional products interface, the reseller showcase interface, the company logo store interface are interoperably connected.

4. The system of claim 3, further enabling one or more customers to schedule reminders for a recurring event related to ordering promotional products.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a back office interface for processing the orders for the plurality of promotional products.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a front interface for providing one or more of order status data, historical information related to orders and market information services wherein the market information services comprise one or more of account summary options and web hits habit reports.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a bidding interface for enabling one or more of resellers and customers to present at least one order and enabling a plurality of vendors to bid on the presented at least one order.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the resellers comprise distributors and the vendors comprise suppliers.

9. The system of claim 3, further comprising an artwork library interface for storing artwork associated with at least one of the plurality of products.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one order is tracked and order status data is provided.

11. A computer implemented method for providing a central exchange of data associated with branded promotional products, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

storing data related to a plurality of products, the data including at least pricing data and imprinting data related to the plurality of products at one or more product databases;

enabling a vendor to enter at least one product data specifics at a vendor entry point interface, the at least one product data specifics comprising one or more of imprinting data, display data, accurate detailed pricing data and product placement data;

displaying product data and providing ordering access at a vendor showcase interface to one or more resellers at a reseller entry point interface, wherein the product data is customized for a particular vendor;

providing a plurality of promotional products to one or more of customers and resellers and receiving at least one order for one or more promotional products at a branded promotional products interface;

displaying products selected by the reseller at a reseller showcase interface for resale to a reseller group of customers selected by the reseller where the reseller group of customer accesses the reseller showcase interface at a reseller customer entry point interface; and

displaying products selected by the reseller for resale to a group of customers associated with a company at a company logo store interface, wherein the products are customized for the company;

wherein customers comprise users who buy products from the branded promotional products interface;

resellers comprise users who resell products to customers; and

vendors comprise users who supply one or more of products and imprinting services.

12. The method of claim 11, further enabling one or more customers to schedule reminders for a recurring event related to ordering promotional products.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

processing the orders for the plurality of promotional products.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

providing one or more of order status data, historical information related to orders and market information services wherein the market information services comprise one or more of account summary options and web hits habit reports.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

enabling one or more of resellers and customers to present at least one order and enabling a plurality of vendors to bid on the presented at least one order.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the resellers comprise distributors and the vendors comprise suppliers.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

implementing an artwork library interface for storing artwork associated with at least one of the plurality of products.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one order is tracked and order status data is provided.