About Fast Crab

From Dream to Reality

One day my uncle and I were enjoying some good Louisiana boiled crabs, and of course, as is the usual case when we Cajuns get together for a crab boil, the talk got around to us wishing there was an easier way to peel crabs. We talked about various ways to do this – like using a ringer-type washing machine roller – or a wedge-type system that would compress the meat out of the shell. Then my uncle looked at me and said, “You know, Godfrey, with the training and experience you have, you should be able to come up with something.”

So off to the drawing board I went. I tried a variety of things but nothing worked. Until one day fiddling in my shop, I got an idea. I played around with this idea, adjusting here, fine tuning there, until I came up with something I was satisfied with – my first crab peeler.

Little did I know at the time, but inventing my crab peeler was the easy part of this long path I was about to take. Could I sell this invention? Doing a quick search on the internet, I found nothing in comparison to my product. I did an abstract which I was pleased with, so the next step was to find a patent attorney. Luckily, I found one that I felt comfortable with and trusted.

At this stage of the game, I learned two things: Whatever you do, don’t commit to something you’re unsure of - and listen to everyone, because they may have a few good ideas you didn’t think of.

Also, don’t think invention companies are your friend – they cost me a lot of money and did nothing for me. The best thing to do is for YOU to grab the bull by the horns and run with it. Once you get a workable unit, look at what design advantages your product has. Then work on design features that make your product special. The next step is target the markets where you think your product will sell.

Get as much help from as many people as you can. All the people that I met working on this project, I met through others. The Manager Joey Duplantis of South Louisiana Bank set up a meeting with Chuck Weaver President of South Louisiana Bank and Wes Hull, the Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Nicholls State University (LSBDC). The support he gave me was great and he has been a big inspiration in keeping me going.

A brief meeting with Rouse’s Supermarkets led to a demonstration and letter of recommendation. Then the Governor’s office contacted me about my project and offered their assistance.

Once I made the contacts, everything started falling into place.

A good patent attorney is a must. I met with marketers who gave me advice on preparing my product for market. This is where the real work began – graphics for packaging, UPC codes, instructions, warning labels.

One of the best contacts I ever made was Progressive Brokers – they have 266 stores that Associated Grocers delivers to. Then South Louisiana Bank asked me to be a guest speaker at the Rotary Club meeting which netted me a contact with a radio announcer who will talk about my product on his show.

Remember this, never give up, never turn down any help, never burn any bridges behind you, and always be open-minded to other ideas that others have. Here is an example: Sue Arcement at the LSBDC came up with the name Fast Crab after looking at a picture of the unit. The name stuck with me. Mr. Wes referred me to a graphic designer who put a logo to it. The graphic designer referred me to Mark Whitney, who designed my packaging. My CPA referred me to an attorney to form Fast Crab, LLC. Sue and Mr. Wes recommended my website designer, Ryan Hutchinson. Everyone who helped me on my project was met by talking to others. If I was to say that I could have found everyone in a 15-mile radius, I would have to say it would be impossible. Not so, even my camera guy was a local guy. Again, word of mouth, his name was Jamie Johnson with Eager Eagle.