Create products to sell.

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I'm just wondering if anyone has created a product to mass sell. Alot of products now of days are cheap plastic , and is impossible to compete against Chinese prices. Any thoughts on this.
Reply:I design products on a daily basis that are sold to the masses.I work for an ATV/UTV accessories manufacturer as the head R&D Fabricator. One of the last products that I designed has been one of our best selling/highest profit products to date.We manufacture that and a couple hundred other part numbers in our 50,000sq/ft manufacturing facility in Riverside, CA. It is a constant struggle to remain competitive these days and it is what I deal with the most in R&D, how to make the best parts possible while making them affordable.I think your question depends a lot on what level of design. fabrication, and manufacturing that you are talking about. Someone in their garage making a widget to hopefully sell to the masses, or a manufacturing facility designed to mass produce, or something in between?http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Originally Posted by BikespotI'm just wondering if anyone has created a product to mass sell. Alot of products now of days are cheap plastic , and is impossible to compete against Chinese prices. Any thoughts on this.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabI design products on a daily basis that are sold to the masses.I work for an ATV/UTV accessories manufacturer as the head R&D Fabricator. One of the last products that I designed has been one of our best selling/highest profit products to date.We manufacture that and a couple hundred other part numbers in our 50,000sq/ft manufacturing facility in Riverside, CA. It is a constant struggle to remain competitive these days and it is what I deal with the most in R&D, how to make the best parts possible while making them affordable.I think your question depends a lot on what level of design. fabrication, and manufacturing that you are talking about. Someone in their garage making a widget to hopefully sell to the masses, or a manufacturing facility designed to mass produce, or something in between?
Reply:The key is to be able to make this cost efectively. Someone not long ago was interested in building sheperds hooks for plants. It was pointed out that at something like $5-8 each at WalMart there's not really any room after materials to make any money. Contrast that to the blacksmith I watched at the Grange Fair 2 weeks ago. He was making hand forged wall hooks and selling them at $20 each usually as soon as he finished making one to those watching. His little jewlery rack went for something like $80.People are willing to pay for certain things, and not for others.  I doubt that blacksmith would have gotten $5 each for the hooks if he hadn't been making them right in front of the customers.Even if the product you make is "better" will people pay the extra money for it? Look at how many here buy a "cheap" machine even when people give solid reasons not to. Can you cover materials, tooling, electric, overhead (even if it is your garage) consumables (grinding disks, saw blades, drill bits etc.) and still have room left over to pay yourself more than $5/hr? If someone else is going to market it, is there room in that price for them to make money? I've run into this with some of the dive items I make. At the retail level the mark up is high. I can price the item so that it sells for what similar items of lower quality sells for, but only if the retailer is willing to make 1/3 what they would for the similar "cheap" product. Even at that I barely make anything for myself, the retailer usually make at least 3x more that I do. Most of the time I usually end up making the items special order for those who want something different/ custom. It's not worth the hassle other wise..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:First and foremost you have to do market research and find the market area you want to be in.  Many folks when undertaking a venture often choose a market they are familiar with, for instance a hobby.  Being familiar with the products/accessories and tools associated with the hobby let's one understand what items are wanted, needed and could be produced better than the dime-a-dozen item that's currently offered.    Market research - do you want to open a bikini surf shop in Antarctica?  I'm in the leather business.  It started out as a hobby - I built an item I needed.  Then I built more items for friends.  It turned out the quality of my items was pretty good and word got out.  In this business people will pay 2-5 times as much for these items and wait months to get them in order to have the best on the market, instead of some cheapie generic item they can grab off the shelf just passing through a store. As for who wouldn't by my item?  A big segment of the population!!  You have to find the market or else the venture is doomed.  Also on a personal note, do what you enjoy.  You won't build things half as good as they could be if you don't care about the product.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPeople are willing to pay for certain things, and not for others.  I doubt that blacksmith would have gotten $5 each for the hooks if he hadn't been making them right in front of the customers.
Reply:Originally Posted by BikespotDidnt you have your own shop before.I was thinking more of one or two man thing , not a huge mass operation. Just taking a product out there , making it better and selling it. Something i could do at home. I had an idea for a product , and even made one for my self . I'm just not sure if ppl would actually buy it or how i get started. Im guessing i could talk to some shops that sell this sort of stuff and ask them if they would like to sell my product. But then theres all that re design work , some math for earnings ect...Mainly worried about selling and having satisfied customers.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabYes, I have owned my own shop for nearly a decade and it is a constant struggle to remain competitively priced and make a living while covering the overhead. Building custom cars and off-road vehicles is a fun business but it is very hard to be profitable, even more so with high operating costs. In '07 I downsized my shop to 1/3 of it's size and cut my overhead tremendously by using the small shop behind my house. Ultimately, a customer wanted to hire me full time to run their R&D department and it made more sense to work for them then to struggle every month.As mentioned by others, finding a "niche" and doing plenty of market research to find out what that is will help tremendously. Simplifying your operations, buying materials in bulk, and keeping your operating costs low are absolute musts to even have a chance at success.Enjoy what you do but understand that it is a business. Don't dismiss the administrative work that is involved with running one, paperwork, taxes, licenses, etc. Get behind on this stuff and you will fail, guaranteed.  Have a complete understanding of what it costs you to run your business and what it costs to make each product. Without the basics being covered, you might as well keep it as a hobby.
Reply:Mom and Pop biz can be done pretty easily, it's a good way to go.  Let it be CUSTOMER driven... I wouldn't dream up a product and see if someone will buy it; plenty of time for that IF you are successful.  Rather, just let your talents be known to the world, (volunteering by making useful products for charities, park benches for old folks etc.)  and let the customer come and ask you to make something, or do something for them. Hopefully, there will be a long line after you build the first widget right.  This method uses less energy, wastes less time on buying un-needed tools and materials and makes good use of your time.   If you live near the ocean, maybe boat or fishing stuff, if you live in Yuma, maybe ATV or Polaris accesories for ex.  I was trained in Aviation Electronics by the U.,S.N., then one day many years later,  a friend had a tube amp that was crapping out on him.  I opened it, found a bad filter cap, replaced it and a few questionable resistors.  He played it in church,  and I had 1/2 dozen guys wanting me to fix their amps.  About then a guy sold me a bass and his little amp for $200.  My wife questioned the wisdom in that buy.  TWO hours later a fella wandered in to get a quote to fix his amp. He saw the bass sitting there,  he set the price and bought the bass guitar for $200 with the gig bag.  I accepted. Later,  my wife asked me "How much is the amp worth you think?"  I answered " Maybe another $200?"  She replied " this isn't a real bad business is it?"   We bought an old building, eventually got hooked to Fender and sold guitars for quite awhile.  I loved the work, I knew how to do the service, and I'm not a bad salesman.  Use your talents, YOU got 'em, figure that part out and use them. enjoyLast edited by PapaLion; 09-05-2010 at 03:13 PM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Small shops will never be competitive with factories when sell to the masses, let alone chinese factories. Factories will never be competive with small shops for repair work, 1 off custom work, and moble onsite work.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiSmall shops will never be competitive with factories when sell to the masses, let alone chinese factories. Factories will never be competive with small shops for repair work, 1 off custom work, and moble onsite work.