I have the same question as everyone else!

**Bugman** · 09-21-2010 09:58 AM

I have a product idea I am going to pursue and try to take to market. I have no interest in going through some 'inventor's club' where they take all the money. How do I go about finding a manufacturer to produce my product? Cold calls after googling for manufacturers?

I have just decided to do this so I have no prototype yet, but it is very similar to an existing product, which the manufacturer of has gotten cheap on and it is no longer a viable product. I would like to make it out of stainless steel and it would be about the size of a shoe box with a few moving parts and gears, but all in all it is a very simple device.

Also, any ideas as to what the setup cost would be and how many units would be a typical minimum order?

**AndyMc** · 09-23-2010 02:08 PM

If you want to do it domestically, you would have to cold call or Google for factories. Look for Mold makers, fabricators, etc.
Or if you want to do it overseas, I suggest you do Alibaba.com . If you sign online around 5pm PST onto their site, you will most likely be able to find someone from the factory online directly to chat with.

If your looking to do just a few pieces to start off with, go domestic. Easier to control, but prices may be a bit higher.
Going overseas is cheaper, but requires more time, patience and you have to be crystal clear with your manufactures... language gaps can kill you.

**Bugman** · 09-26-2010 05:07 PM

Thanks for the tips. I'm talking to an engineer to draw a working model for me.

**CenterlineModels** · 12-08-2010 10:37 AM

It is typically easier to find a manufacturer if you are able to show a visual or functional model. Talking to an engineer to draw a model is a decent first step. But, I would recommend calling a model shop. Model shops typically have the ability to create files, and have the experience to know to draw the product with production in mind. A lot of times engineers will draw a part with no consideration to how it is going to be formed, so it ends up having to be re-drawn. Not too big of a deal, just a bit of wasted time and money.

Let us know if we can help.

**Milkerz** · 01-14-2011 09:54 AM

Alibaba.com is a good website to use but I would always google the name of the company before dealing with them as they definitely have some dodgy companies listed on there!

**SocEntrepreneur** · 01-16-2011 10:51 AM

Particularly if this is your first time, be sure to develop a strong personal relationship with all of the manufacturers that you work with. Remember- something is bound to go wrong as you experiment, and you want them to be understanding about it

**experimentjon** · 01-23-2011 09:09 PM

Take a look at the Product Life Cycle Theory. People in this thread have all been alluding to aspects of it. The first step is generally to manufacture close to home until you get the design standardized. And you also avoid the language barriers, and sometimes iffy quality of manufacturing overseas. This saves you a lot of trouble, and can save your company from marring its reputation when the new product launches and is riddled with problems.

**dallus** · 01-24-2011 04:29 PM

I know someone who did this, and what he had to do was write a letter to all the companies he thought may be interested in manufacturing his product, and the first letter did not tell them what it was. It was a introductory letter asking them if they would be interested manufacturing a product that was new, and if they were interested there was a none discloser agreement in with the letter that they had to sign and send back before he would give them any information.