Help with an idea in its infancy

**mysterui** · 06-17-2008 10:57 AM

Hey all,
I'm very new to these boards, but I wanted to ask opinions about an idea that I've been toying with for awhile. It's fairly low-risk, low-reward but as an 19-year-old college student, I'm just trying to wet my feet in the entrepreneurial world. That said, here's my idea:

I'm an avid tennis player, and I've noticed that the racquets can be kind of dull. Last summer, I came up with the idea of creating stencils of various designs that can be put on the racquet strings with stencil ink. I am unable to post links yet, but just imagine a tennis racquet with the Wilson logo painted on, but instead of a Wilson logo, they'd have, say, a smiley face or a bulldog.

My short term goal is to go around to local high schools and obtaining a contract with each of them to paint their school logo on the team racquets, as well as going to local stringing shops and obtaining a contract with them to get them to ask their clients if they would be interested in spicing up their racquets. I plan on having a catalogue of designs that clients would be able to choose from.

Long term goals include selling my catalogue of designs, as well as ink to various stringing shops around the country.

All of that, however, is still pretty distant in the future. Right now, I need to do some initial market research, and I need to know what the right questions to ask are. Here are some of my thoughts:

1) Would you be interested in the idea?
2) If yes, how much would you be willing to pay?
3) Would a website where you could view the designs be appealing to you?
4) What would be your main concerns with the product be?

I know for a fact that some of the stencil ink DOES come off on the tennis balls, but it doesn't hamper play at all. Still, this could be a concern to those that play competitively (such as high schools)

Your thoughts?

**Gaulkin** · 06-17-2008 11:00 AM

The problem with that is its an art and once people find out about it there is nothing you can do, the market will become flooded with millions of designs and you'll take the back seat to no where.

**mysterui** · 06-17-2008 11:04 AM

I realize that, but for a short term side project, it should do fairly well... I'm not looking to be the next huge thing or anything. I would probably do it until it's no longer profitable, and then just bow out

**Gaulkin** · 06-17-2008 11:24 AM

Could work but why waste your time if you know its going to only last a little while. Turn your attention to something solid that will be profitable forever.

**BusinessAdviser** · 06-17-2008 11:25 AM

I think it's a great idea. Is it not already being done? And how will you be doing it? If you could find a way to do it quickly and inexpensively (i.e., by automated process rather than by hand), I think you could do well.

**MattV** · 06-17-2008 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Gaulkin

The problem with that is its an art and once people find out about it there is nothing you can do, the market will become flooded with millions of designs and you'll take the back seat to no where.

That's why the idea (if properly executed) is so great!
You should start a Cafepress service where you can harness the diversity of designs that would appear.
Naturally a racquet is a bit more complex than a coffee mug so you'll have to directly partner with Wilson or other.

As a short term small scale biz, I'm skeptik, I'd say Raise your Stakes!

I used to play Tennis too, miss it.

**mysterui** · 06-17-2008 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by ADVERTISE HERE!

I think it's a great idea. Is it not already being done? And how will you be doing it? If you could find a way to do it quickly and inexpensively (i.e., by automated process rather than by hand), I think you could do well.

I've been doing some precursory research online, and it's not currently being done. I've read about people who do it, but not as any sort of business. Also, I've read that if you email the big companies (Yonex, Prince, Wilson, etc...) they'll generally send you a free stencil and free ink (!!!). To me, that means that they'd be okay with me using their logos as well.

As for automated process... I'm fairly skeptical. The biggest problem is the variance in head sizes of tennis racquets. If all of them were the same size, then it would be no problem. Still, it only takes about 2 minutes to do it by hand...

And Matt, I'm interested in this Cafepress thing. Can you elaborate?

**fwn122** · 06-17-2008 11:55 AM

I think thats a great idea and I don't see why it would only last a short time. It has a lot of potential.

**chanson** · 06-17-2008 12:10 PM

Good idea bud, and dont listen to these guys preachign about long term or nothing. SHort term quick kills for profit is just as good. Its like day trading get in and get out make as much as you can once its an exhausted idea dotn try to push the envelope! If every business int he world based themselves on longterm "forever" we would still have alot of products floating around that do not get used.. like a butter churn... Good businesses evolve and adapt.

I think you have a great idea and you should go for it!

**ChosenList.com** · 06-17-2008 12:11 PM

Great idea. I think a website would help in the future. The best advice I could give you is just start doing it... Thats how you are going to learn. Market research is all good but go do some friends raquets, go to the local tennis and raquetball clubs and put up flyers for your service, just get it going. By the way I think the raquetball community would be all over this. They tend to be a little wild and crazy.

This idea reminds me a lot of Welcome to Sassy Sashes - Custom Made Sashes for Special Occasions. I met the founder last week and she is doing TONS of business and she makes all the sashes herself by hand... It takes her 7-10 minutes to make one. She is currently looking for ways to expand her business and start a bigger operation but she does hardly any marketing and its all just been word of mouth.

I would pay $10-$20 to have some crazy design on a raquet. Make sure you use an ink that is going to last as long as possible. Thats one place I wouldnt be cheap in because its an integral part of your marketing.

Those small niche communities like the tennis community allows for great word of mouth potential and viral growth. When one player sees a unique design and asks where they got it you are in business. Just start doing raquets, the high schools and tennis shops are a great idea once you get the process down.

**Gaulkin** · 06-17-2008 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by ducriscorp

Good idea bud, and dont listen to these guys preachign about long term or nothing. SHort term quick kills for profit is just as good. Its like day trading get in and get out make as much as you can once its an exhausted idea dotn try to push the envelope! If every business int he world based themselves on longterm "forever" we would still have alot of products floating around that do not get used.. like a butter churn... Good businesses evolve and adapt.

I think you have a great idea and you should go for it!

That makes sense, suck it dry so when it comes to selling the company you get nothing. I didnt say long term or nothing, i said its a short term gain before the market gets saturated with the same type of companies.