Nature has given us many great gifts.  One of them is copper.

I learned about the health aspects of this gift in 2012 when I stumbled across new research that proved pure copper kills germs, just by touch.  The research gave me another gift – the idea of using copper to stop colds and other illnesses.

That idea has been such a great gift to me for my own health that I felt compelled to share it.  So I set out to tell the world and provide everyone with a practical germ-killing device.

I thought it would be easy.  Boy was I wrong!

First I learned that pure copper is very hard to work into the right shape.  Machines make it so hot it turns gummy and won’t hold a shape. 

Copper also wears down steel tools fast because it’s denser than steel.  Manufacturers I approached did not want to mess with pure copper.

Then I got still another gift – a skilled machine operator I knew figured out how to overcome the problems.  We developed a process of 14 steps using various machines to get the shape and the texture right.  All those steps have a high cost in labor, but the result works.

Second I learned that marketing CopperZap was even harder.  People’s natural skepticism means we have to get the word out to a great many people to reach the few that can understand the concept and are willing to try it. 

That’s when I got yet another gift – an elderly journalist showed me a better way to publicize the concept.  The marketing cost is still super high, but his basic idea worked.

It is still very expensive to make and to market, but many more gifts – reviews from our wonderful customers – have helped tremendously.

We received many other gifts, too, in the form of wonderful employees, great suppliers and communications experts, and helpful feedback from users.

When I consider Nature’s great gift of pure copper, plus the gifts of all the terrific people who are turning it into a useful device, publicizing it, offering feedback, and spreading the word, I am proud to be part of it.

I think all these gifts are fortunate for the world!

                Doug Cornell, PhD