After watching dozens of inventors pitch their products over the past few days at the International Home + Housewares Show, we’ve picked up some key pointers that every aspiring pitcher should hear. Whether you’re presenting at a trade show, pitching to a marketing company, or trying to land a deal with a retailer, these tips can make the difference between a “no thanks” and a “let’s do this.”

First and foremost: know your product inside and out, and be able to explain it in 30 seconds or less. The best pitchers we saw this week could hook you with a single sentence. Second, show don’t tell — if your product does something amazing, demonstrate it live. Nothing beats a live demo for getting people excited. And finally, know your numbers. Investors and marketing partners want to hear about your market size, your cost of goods, and your retail price point.

We see hundreds of product pitches every year at Livemercial, and the inventors who succeed are the ones who come prepared, stay passionate, and remain open to feedback. The housewares show has been an incredible showcase of talent this week, and we hope these pointers help the next wave of inventors put their best foot forward.