Bring it to Market, But HOW ?

[khoog]

How does the song go?

"Most people just sit on their butts,
They've got the dream but not the guts"

Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, Joe, but ideas and inventions are a dime a dozen. Most successful products don't start out that way (bottom up). They start with a market niche and an existing product with some weaknesses.

If you start with this "top down" approach, you will already know who your customers are and how to sell to them. Only then should you "invent" something.

Unless you have a clear track record of your ideas making other people rich, you're probably better off buying lottery tickets than trying to sell just an idea.

Also, you're wrong about patents. If you have nothing else. a patent gives you some credibility and shows that you are at least somewhat serious about your product.

[Archangel]

How does the song go?

"Most people just sit on their butts,
They've got the dream but not the guts"

Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, Joe, but ideas and inventions are a dime a dozen. Most successful products don't start out that way (bottom up). They start with a market niche and an existing product with some weaknesses.

If you start with this "top down" approach, you will already know who your customers are and how to sell to them. Only then should you "invent" something.

Unless you have a clear track record of your ideas making other people rich, you're probably better off buying lottery tickets than trying to sell just an idea.

Also, you're wrong about patents. If you have nothing else. a patent gives you some credibility and shows that you are at least somewhat serious about your product.

Thank You for your comments,
I agree Ideas are a dime a dozen, I want those dimes !
As for Wrong about patents . . been wrong before, will be again I am sure, I do have some pretty good company on this issue, Including Mr. Ciarca, and Mr. Lancaster, to name 2. Nevertheless, the whole purpose of this thread is to solicit arguments to EVERY position, in order to become better informed, so even though your post does not agree with every opinion of mine, or maybe because it does not agree, I find it valuable. As for bursting my bubble . . . ugh uh, no bubble to burst, this is not a dream, it's research. Thanks again, if you have additional thoughts, please feel free to share them.

[rmteo]

....Unless you have a clear track record of your ideas making other people rich, you're probably better off buying lottery tickets than trying to sell just an idea.

Couldn't agree more more with that statement. People aren't interested in paying or investing money in ideas/designs/inventions. What they want to see is a well researched (and documented) business plan that will give them a clear picture of how/when/how much money (or return) they can get for their investment. Even with a business plan in hand (which involves a lot more than coming up with an idea and getting it to work - I would say that the idea/design/prototype phase accounts for maybe 5-10% of the total), be prepared for a large number of rejections before anyone will bite - if at all. Sounds like you are placing too much faith in the "build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door" concept, Joe.

[cncmachineguy]

Sounds like you are placing too much faith in the "build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door" concept

I think the point of this thread is Joe has no concept - at least not that he has disclosed. This is a concept development thread of sorts. At least thats how I read it.

[rsocor01]

Joe,

I think the better way to get started is with some kind of idea related to an industry that you are already very familiar with. You said that you have worked for 40 years. Let's say for example that you have spent many many years working in the bike industry. Then, building some kind of device that benefits the bikers would be your best bet. Because you have so many years working for this industry you will probably know very important people related to the bike business, and things will be a lot easier for you.

I am sure that if cncmachineguy comes up with a clever idea to use with CNC machines he could make tons of money . Well, you got my idea.

Robert

[rmteo]

I think the point of this thread is Joe has no concept - at least not that he has disclosed. This is a concept development thread of sorts. At least thats how I read it.

Obviously, I do not possess your mind reading capabilities. My comment is based on this statement that Joe made about selling ideas/designs in his original post:

I know I am not alone here, in having some (a few) Great Ideas for commercial products. Each and every one of you have at least one. I can think them up, I can usually prototype them, and make them work. At some level I could probably manufacture them. How the heck do you sell an Idea / Product ?

[cncmachineguy]

Obviously, I do not possess your mind reading capabilities.

Comes from Years of trying with the wife. As you can see, I still don't have it right. neither with her or on the forum.

As for using my machines? I have been working at it for 22 years, still just make parts per customer drawings.

[Archangel]

Hello ! and Thank Each of You for your comments !
I MUST STATE, I opened this thread to solicit comments and ideas, not to start fights, so please, go easy on one another, I can handle any jabs that come my way.
As for having no concept . . . hmmm that depends upon the context it is stated in.

Ok in 2 of my products, 1 has been prototyped, 1 is in design, I have in mind exactly who I might sell or license them too. Is that concept?
Or does Joe has no concept mean I am clueless ? I have a Mechanical Engineer as a Partner of sorts, I currently do work for him in his business. He agrees with khoog RE: patents. I actually see merit to both arguments.
I have experience in manufacturing, automotive, supervision, and know how to move "projects" along. It is selling where I have no experience. I think this area is where the majority of us here in this forum are lacking, but the thing is, NOT Everyone here lacks that experience. And those of you Who Do Have this knowledge would be doing Me / Others Like Me, a great service, if you chime in here.
"Thank You for Your Support"
JS

[cncmachineguy]

Oh My!! I think I have yet again only said part of what I was thinking. First, I have taken nothing as a jab nor ment any.

Joe, I seem to have left the context for "concept" out of my post. I never ment to imply (although I think I did just that) that you have no concept. I ment to say the way I read this thread is you have started it with the hopes of gaining tips and/or knowledge from folks that have already tried one thing or another. As such, my thought was more you have an open mind to how the path my go, depending on feedback from here and also your own expereinces. Therefore no hardfast preconcivied concept.

At any rate, I DO hope I have made myself more clear. No attempt was made on my part to jab at anyone, other then myself in my last post. Cuz how silly of me when I re-read it.

Sorry all

[rmteo]

Joe, exactly what are you trying to sell? Do you have a product line (something that you already have in production and are looking to expand its market) or are you wanting to sell an idea/product design? Sounds to me like it is the latter. As khoog put it very succintly and I quoted in a prior post.

Unless you have a clear track record of your ideas making other people rich, you're probably better off buying lottery tickets than trying to sell just an idea.

[rmteo]

Ok in 2 of my products, 1 has been prototyped, 1 is in design, I have in mind exactly who I might sell or license them too. Is that concept?

JS

How is this coming along?

[rmteo]

...Also, you're wrong about patents. If you have nothing else, a patent gives you some credibility and shows that you are at least somewhat serious about your product.

Couldn't agree more. Here my recent patent http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20101...0100320666.php