Ron Meritt knows what it takes to make it big in the global market after inventing the Video Traveler — the original portable car video player — and starting his own company, called Meritt International.

Instead of cranking out his own inventions today, Meritt is using his experience to study other people's inventions and decide whether they are ready for market.

"If there is an opportunity in the market to take something expensive and make it very inexpensive, you're probably going to have a home run," said Meritt, who spoke Thursday night in Oxnard at a program sponsored by the World Affairs Council of America, California Central Coast, and the Center for International Trade Development.

If the product can be used for a lot of different applications or sold through many different channels, then it will be an even bigger hit, added Meritt, who lives in Pismo Beach.

During the past two years, Meritt has engineered, manufactured and distributed about a dozen products, including an MP3 recorder and a bathroom fan. Usually one out of 25 inventions he sees meets the key criteria for a successful product.

The first thing Meritt looks for is that the invention has a huge market potential with a chance to be in every home. Another ideal factor is that it has a long shelf life.

Meritt also likes good promotional items. For example, vehicle manufacturer DaimlerChrysler used the Video Traveler as a promotional product.

An inventor also should have a patent and working prototype for proof of concept.

"I would prefer to see something that's closer to something real than something that just proves to me Yeah, maybe it could work,' because that translates to more time and more engineering money," Meritt said.

Finally, Meritt also looks for people with whom he can see himself working. "If I can see I'm going to have to be pulling this person kicking and dragging the whole way, I don't care how cool their invention is," he said.

A lot of being an entrepreneur is having a vision and a lot of tenacity, said Ray Bowman, executive director for WACA, California Central Coast.

Entrepreneurs also have to be nice and likeable people, he added.

"If people don't buy into your vision into what you want to do, you won't be successful," said Bowman, noting that something Meritt has done that a lot of entrepreneurs do not do is approach situations from a practical standpoint.

Meritt's products are mostly engineered in Taiwan and manufactured in China. He said many people believe the process should be done in the United States.

"I agree, we should, but the fact is that it is a global world, and we can't compete with people who are getting paid $80 a month," he said. "If I make my product here, two months after it's made here, somebody will be making it in China, they'll rip me off, and they'll take the market."

Once the product is manufactured and engineered, Meritt said, one of the keys to success is to take the product globally because a lot of the money is channeled back to the U.S.

"Sometimes that means changing it (the product) a little," Meritt said. "What sells good here may not or may not sell well in another country, so it's important to understand what's important in those cultures."

New products should be taken to avenues that have higher margins first, leaving big retailers like Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's Club last, Meritt said. Of all the inventions Meritt has come across, he said it is difficult to pick a favorite because all the ones he has on the shelf right now are "really good."

However, he had no problem listing a couple goofy inventions he has come across, including a "flexible bolt" and a "spring-loaded telescopic golf tee."

"I almost want to put a sign on my door with a golf club, a red circle and a line," Meritt said. "I don't even want to see them. There are so many bad golf inventions."