...designed or created a product before. Not wanting to let my grandmother down, I set out to do whatever I could. I spent a month or two working on these designs but couldn’t make it happen.”
Sometimes frustration can lead to things like inspiration and innovation.
“What I did learn was invaluable because I began seeing everything through a new set of lenses," Major said. "Everything I saw I wanted to redesign to see if I could make it better.
"That’s when I began thinking about a better sanding block at work. I bought all the blocks I could track down for collision or restoration, but I wasn’t happy with anything I found. I started making versions of my own and testing different materials. This went on for a few months and I started to notice how well these blocks worked.”
Major knew he had something unique, but wasn’t sure about the next step.
“I was afraid to bring my designs to a company and lose control of it. So, I did some research and learned how to retain this invention as my own.
"One of the most difficult parts of this process was teaching myself the patent process and how to effectively write patents," he said. "I then needed to move forward with finding a manufacturer who would work with an individual not attached to a large company, which is not easy. I spoke with more than 50 manufacturers before I could find a good fit.
"Once I found a manufacturer, we began working together to bring my very rough designs to 3D renderings and injection molded prototypes. This took months of testing different variations that finally led us to the combination we have today.”
To get the seed money for Fast Blocks, Major sold his beloved 1965 Lincoln, a car he worked on for more than eight years, he said.
“I worked with one manufacturer for more than a year, and then the COVID hit, and the deal disappeared," Major said. "It was sink or swim time, so I...
Ed Attanasio