how?

[pcbres16]

Okay, I have a new idea, for a new peice of school supplies. Now, if I build it and patent and all that stuff, what is the best way to sell it? Should I pitch the idea to the major school supplies ditributors (Ie. Mead 5 star) or go on my own, find a factory to produce them and make my own brand? What is the easier way and the method to gain the most profit?

~Thanks

[mthomas]

It depends on how you are measuring "easy".

If you are wondering which of these two options would be the easiest to start, I'd say finding your own manufacturer and selling it yourself would be easiest. Trying to get a company like mead to buy your idea will take a lot of cold calling to these companies. They get a lot of calls like this to begin with, so it might be difficult to get their attention.

If you are wondering which of these two options would be easiest to maintain as a business, it would be selling the idea to mead (or the like) since you can just sit back and collect royalties as they manufacture and sell the product.

Which is more profitable? Well on one hand you get all the profits if you sell the product yourself (instead of royalties), but you also incur all of the expenses. It would really depend on the expenses and overhead associated with producing the product yourself to determine which would be the more profitable alternative. I'd be willing to guess that producing yourself would be more profitable, as you have more control over the pricing and you can produce products at a later time that may go with this one.

[pcbres16]

Thats what i thought too... I can find a factory in China to produce it for me and only need to pay export and import fees, plus then I can find a distributor and then start collecting profits.

[DannyKelman SoW]

i would do it on my own.

to be honest no major company wants to give you the credit you deserve it's just how people are and they are very bad on seeing potential they didn't create. Do it yourself untill they see the value and give you an offer, then turn them down. Allow them to come back to you several times before you even think of saying yes, then accept a check....walking down the street merrily whistling!

[Shadesz]

i would do it on my own.

to be honest no major company wants to give you the credit you deserve it's just how people are and they are very bad on seeing potential they didn't create. Do it yourself untill they see the value and give you an offer, then turn them down. Allow them to come back to you several times before you even think of saying yes, then accept a check....walking down the street merrily whistling!

Agreed...

Akio Morita was a true marketing pioneer who was instrumental in making Sony a household name all over the world. He was determined to establish the Sony brand. In fact, he turned down an order of 100,000 radios from Bulova because they wanted the radios to carry Bulova’s name. Morita responded to Bulova saying, "Fifty years from now, I promise you that our name will be just as famous as your company name today." His words could not have been more prophetic.

The Sony Brand