Laurie wrote, “We had many quizzical expressions coming from those who came to the registration counter and there were some funny comments too. I had the Oven Claw Pro on the table at the registration counter with the fliers. I announced the door prize asking everyone to put their business card into the bowl for the door prize drawing. At first glance, some asked if it was a back scratcher, others said it could be used as a weapon in case of intruders. When I explained its use and also that it is a great marketing tool to give to clients, I could see the light bulb effect go off. During the call to order at the meeting, the board president did not have his gavel, so we improvised using the Oven Claw Pro as our gavel. It got some more laughs as we said not only is this a handy tool in the kitchen but equally effective to call a meeting to order.”

We here at Leikam Enterprises, LLC also thank all those who contributed with their ideas as to what we could do to improve our exposure. We have taken action on several ideas and intend to follow through with others. A few examples of these contributions are:

1. Contact appliance manufacturers to see if they would be interested in your product as an add-on sale or even as an item that comes with a purchase.
2. Why not have Appliance Distributors, Kitchen & Bath Dealers be able to buy a small quantity of these and give them away as door prizes, or small gifts.
3. Home Shows
4. Put them on consignment to local dealers
5. Appliance centers. Show people how it works, maybe even give a few away.
6. Set up at kitchen and bath trade shows.
7. Rent a small area from a major appliance booth at a trade show.

You might be able to use some of these ideas too.

With manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas along with American dollars, the Oven Claw™ is one product that will remain manufactured in the United States by American workers. Although the Oven Claw™ could be produced in China or Mexico for far less than the cost of American production, Bill Leikam, President and owner of Leikam Enterprises will ensure that the Oven Claw™ is produced in the U.S.A. In a recent interview, he said, “Our consultants have encouraged us to outsource our product to ‘ensure a better return on your investment’ but we refused.” Additionally, “I think more and more companies are beginning to see the light. We want to be part of the solution to America’s distress not another part of the problem.”

Although oven rack pullers have been around for years, the Oven Claw Pro™ is the highest quality kitchen tool of its type on the market today and woodworkers employed by US companies make them. At 18 inches, made of sturdy maple, the Oven Claw™ allows a kitchen chef to securely retrieve large meals such as a 15 pound turkey or goose from the oven. Russ Zipkin owner of Select Appliance and designer of the Russell Range said, “This strong wooden oven rack puller/pusher is perfect for all ovens, especially those large heavy duty racks found in high-end professional style stoves. Many cheaply made imitations simply won’t work.”

When asked the President of Leikam Enterprises what makes the Oven Claw Pro™ better than all of the rest, he said, “Its length and strength are ideal for people who are handicapped such as people confined to wheelchairs. The Oven Claw Pro’s™ 18 inch length allows a person to reach across the oven’s door without having to reach into the oven, withdraw the oven rack to a safe distance and then remove the hot food. In short it extends one’s arm. No other oven rack puller can do all of those things with such ease and confidence.” He added, “We are excited about our new product and look forward to being part of the solution to jobs in America.”

Bill Leikam

Are you looking for something to spice up your kitchen?

Do you tend to hide your kitchen utensils in a drawer because they are just utilitarian?

Do you have a kitchen gadget container on your counter where you tuck all of your frequently used utensils?

Are you looking for a bargain?

If your answer is yes to the above, the Oven Claw™ will add a nice touch of elegance to your kitchen and you’ll proudly display this tool. The Oven Claw™ is designed to hang near your oven where it’s easy to reach. Then, when you use it, you’ll be virtually safe when you remove your food from the hot oven. In most cases it will cost less than $20.00.

And

The Oven Claw™ is for you if you’re sick and tired of accidently burning your arm when you reach into the oven to withdraw your food.

The Oven Claw™ keeps you away from that blast of hot air when checking your food.

The Oven Claw™ is ideal for children who are new to using the oven to cook. Parents have said that when their kids first begin using the oven they are often afraid because of their fear of being burned.

The Oven Claw™ makes cooking safer for the frail and elderly.

The Oven Claw™ is ideal for cooks who have palsy. You’ll find it a God-send because it keeps you away from hot areas of the oven that can burn you.

The Oven Claw™ is useful for people who have injured their hand or arm because the hot oven rack can be withdrawn to a safe distance with one hand.  

Think Oven Claw™ one of the few hot oven rack pullers made in the U.S.A. from fine hardwood. It’s sturdy and will last for years to come. It’s a must have.

When I began to design the Oven Claw, I didn’t even know what it was called. I had seen one being used but Tanya didn’t know. It was simply their Oven Buddy. She knew that it was a great tool that kept her from burning her arms or hands when she needed to withdraw hot food from the oven. She swore by it. As time went on I described it to friends and acquaintances and asked them what it was called but interestingly enough, no one knew. I thought, “Well, if no one knows what this thing is called, maybe it’s not that widely known or widely used.” That led me to think that just maybe there was a market for it. Out of such ignorance, I decided to carve one of my own designs from soft pine. That version didn’t impress me but it did form the first rough pattern that I then worked from.

I continued to be bothered by the fact that I still had no generic name for it. Finding out what it was called, took a lot of digging but I finally discovered that it was called an oven rack puller / pusher. With that, I searched the internet and found eight to ten different designs; a few good looking ones, the rest almost toy-like. What most struck me, however, was how similar in design they were and how flimsy some of them looked. At that point, I hadn’t yet developed the design as it presently stands but I did think that whatever emerged my hot oven rack puller had to be sturdy enough to withdraw a hot oven rack laden with a large turkey. It needed to be elegant so that it would fit in a modern, high-end kitchen. Additionally, I understood two things:

1. Develop my hot oven rack puller into a well known oven utensil and
2. Create one that would virally sell in the high-end marketplace.

By that time my design had begun to emerge and soon I came to the point where I needed to take it to a woodturner to turn the first prototype. I was excited by the outcome. I showed it to friends and they were impressed and said that they wanted one. Since the first wood worker was not equipped to turn a larger number of them, he referred me to someone who was a professional woodturner. It was then that I had twenty five of them made and gave them away as Christmas gifts. Along with the gift, I included a brief letter asking for honest and clear feedback. Several people replied that they were happy to receive it but that they wouldn’t change from using their oven mitts. (Habit is sometimes hard to break.) Many more replied with very positive feedback, loving its design, loving its usefulness. One person replied that she had wanted something like this because she was tired of having burnt, dirty mittens lying around. It was enough to urge me onward. (Next installment – The Oven Claw Goes to Market – Part II)