After a whirlwind marketing tour across the USA, successful Philadelphia inventor Barbara Bigford will share her fascinating and uplifting story with the public at the Franklin Institute on Sept 17th at 7:00pm. Barbara’s “Beach Pockets® Umbrellas” have been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal and other national newspapers; shown on CBS News, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, sold at QVC, Wal-Mart, ACME, Lilly Pulitzer and hundreds of retailers across the country.

Barbara's motivating success story is not only about inventing, but also about not giving up. From the beginning concept all the way to landing appointments with buyers of major retailers and finally seeing the designs on the store shelves, Barbara’s story is a roadmap of what it takes to succeed for anyone who has had an idea. "Getting an idea from your head to the store shelf is a huge undertaking," says Barbara. "Stay focused and tenacious about figuring out the next step, and you’ll find that no matter how difficult the challenge is, you can get there. Just don't give up even if mistakes are made... and trust me, mistakes will be made!"

Barbara is a member of The American Society of Inventors (ASI), the nonprofit organization that hosts free presentations to help Philadelphia area inventors such as Barbara. She will discuss the many aspects of her experience including dealing with adversity and unscrupulous partners, and answer your questions.

Before the 7:00pm presentation, the ASI will be offering an Inventors Social event for adults and kids with ideas. The Inventor’s Social buffet starts at 5:00pm at Friday’s Restaurant on Logan Square, 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City Philadelphia. ASI Board members will be on hand to offer FREE advice to inventors at any stage of their inventing process. While Barbara’s presentation at 7:00pm at The Franklin is free, the buffet costs a reasonable $15 per person.

The American Society of Inventors is the oldest continuously-operating inventor organization in the U.S. A not-for-profit educational foundation based in Philadelphia, the group focuses on educating the independent inventor, and presents a variety of speakers on all aspects of inventing. Meetings are always FREE and various topics are presented five or six times a year. In addition to the public forums and networking events, the ASI Board of Directors assembles monthly to provide FREE invention evaluations for its members. Find them on the web at www.asoi.org, or call (215) 546-6601.

The Franklin Institute Science Museum is located in Center City Philadelphia, at the intersection of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Museum's parking garage entrance is located behind the building at the intersection of 21st Street and Winter Street. Note that oversized vehicles will not fit into the garage. The height limit is 6'5". Directions: http://www2.fi.edu/visitor-guide/directions.php