Anyone here ever brought a hw product to market?

[rsocor01]

Hi Hank,

I think the hardest part of selling a product is advertising it, getting people to know your product. There are many well known companies that sell products designed by somebody else. For instance, Sparkfun.com is always adding new products to their webpage. You can send them a prototype and maybe they like your idea, just a thought . On the downside, I personally would be worry of somebody else stealing my ideas . Patenting a design costs a lot of money and many times it is not worth it.

Robert

[ronsimpson]

Marketing is most important.
1) The best product for a very low price and no one knows about it.
2) A piece of junk all over TV and the internet, great made- up reviews, 1-800-SEND-MONEY, with a actor saying “you got to get this”. We have all seen this one and yes we bought it.
I have put into production too many products. When someone comes to me with a “great ides…make a million”, I want to see a line from here to money. Who will send money? Why do they want this? How will they see this? I don’t want to see the idea until these questions are resolved!

[Jerson]

I found this video blog very helpful. Maybe some of you know these tricks, but, for the others, look here



http://www.youtube.com/user/EEVblog#p/u/4/VXE_dh38HjU

[Charles Linquis]

You probably won't make any money selling low-priced items. There are exceptions, but if you develop a great little product that sells for $50, and you make it for $20, you would have to sell 2 or 3 thousand a year to make any money. And then there would be support. And documentation. And promotion.

If you *REALLY* have a hot item, it will eventually get the attention of a larger company and they would make something similar in China. They could sell it at $25 and still make decent money.

You are better off finding a niche industrial market and selling 10 products for $5K each and $40K NRE.