Just so you all know, we truly appreciate the continued support.
We are currently and have been for sometime, installing Nichia CS LEDs in all Ergo and Elite models - they come that way - no special ordering or extra charge. We also offer BLASTER (16 LED) versions of the EliteMax for an extra $10 when you order an EliteMax (CPF members only) - of course battery life is reduce to 1/4. As for why there are no further innovations? Let me explain:
When we first produced the EternaLight in early 1998, we were picked up by a catalog company which ordered many of them. After they finally placed their largest order, they BK'd and we got $400 out of $18,000. That slowed our startup operation down. Later, we had finally found an investor who had the foresight and money to accelerate our company. Unfortuantely, he had a bad fall down some stairs and died.
Not too long after that, another catalog company, Gadget Universe, placed a large Christmas order with us. They paid for it a bad check. Our check along with about another $19 million to other vendors remains owed by that company's president to the LA county DA. The company's president resides in Greece where he continues to operate the company comfortably without bars.
I have more black cloud stories than these. I was at one time thinking of changing the company name to "Black Cloud Ventures". Had we had a little more luck, we may have been able to grow to the size we needed to take the next step but that just didn't happen.
The product was starting to mature so we knew we had to get into the mass market. We developed the Derringer specifically for this. Mass market means Target, K-Mart, WalMart and only a few others now. After a few offers to play with these boys we determined we would have had to been able and willing to risk up $1.5 million on the first sample orders. We were neither. I have been unfortunate enough to not have anyone of any wealth in my family so every penny I've had to make from scratch. Derringers can sell for as little as $4.99 retail in WalMart quantities. Ergo's could go for $14.99 and EliteMax could probably sell for $24.99 at Walmart quantities. It's not that we're ripping people off, but we're not producing them in WalMart size quantities. We had a facility at one time capable of more quantities but still nothing even close to what those stores require. And now, it's pretty hard to do those quantities out of our garage. Buyer's in these big companies are not FlashaHolics. In fact, most of them are just $15/hr morons. If you're not already a big name with a big game good luck even getting an appointment those guys. So, maybe you can understand why new product development is a turn-off. We spent over $100,000 developing just the Ergo. We made it back and then some but given today's market and competition, new product development is just too risky without a big seller as your partner. We have prototype eternalight luxeons, and other products. We even developed the CobraLight for another company. But find me the money to push this thing into the hands of the masses and I'll show you the light.
In the meantime - we are what we are - working stiffs, making and selling lights in our spare time. It's hard to sell the average consumer on the benefits of the EternaLight unless you already own one. Many of you can probably relate. I've seen quite a few comments on here in the past from people who thought the EternaLight was waste of money until they got their hands on one.
About once a week I'll search on here for "eternaLight" and see who's posting what. You guys keep us alive, you really do. Thank you!