How to approach manufacturers about creating a product?

[vtek]

I build and design toy cars and remote control cars. I have built a very unique remote control car which took me almost 8 months to build. I want to make a huge quantity of my car available for sale in stores but how do I go about contacting manufacturers? What do I need to do? What questions should I ask? How do I make sure they do not steal my model and sell it on their own? Also how would they get paid? Would they reproduce my design and sell it in stores and I get a percentage or the other way around? I have so many questions regarding producing my design and selling it in stores and how to work with manufacturing companies. If anyone knows any websites with good information or if you can answer my questions, it would mean a great deal to me. Thanks!

[rpermana]

You can try http://quirky.com/.
They will help to manufacture your material and help to sell it. If only your products are interesting enough to win votes

[allrelative]

quirky is a great place to have your ideas produced but i dont think the same applies for his r/c cars.
quirky products are more basic and mostly produced in plastic from molds.

what type of r/c car have you developed?
obviously you have to blue print each part to be manufactured then have a blue print to have it assembled.
i know there are contract manufactures that do such a thing and they will even reverse engineer your product to produce on a mass scale. ill get that to you once i find it in my book marks.
i am however curious to see what you have developed...
my email is adrianadrineda@gmail.com

[bizdev]

This website might be a good starting point:
Radio Control Toys - Radio Control Toys and more

To protect your idea you need to have the manufacturer sign a non disclosure form.

You can find a manufacturer that is willing to license your design. In essence they buy your idea and take on all the risk and cost to produce and market. You get a percentage of sales. Usually 5% is the most you will get.

Or you get a manufacturer to simply produce your design. You pay for the cost to produce and then you are fully responsible to get it to market.

[alcglobalpartners]

My company might be able to help you approach factories in China. I own a sourcing consultancy and we are unique in making all factories that make samples for our clients sign confidentiality agreements. I also have staff in China would would be able to supervise production and negociate fair prices. If any of this sounds interesting to you, feel free to write me an email or visit my website [see link below] and we can have a conversation.

Good luck with your new product! It sounds very interesting!

[JBSurfs]

I have no experience in this, but one word of warning if you end up getting someone to manufacture this for you. In the US, get some kind of non-compete clause put in. If you go to China, that won't really hold up, so outsource different parts to different companies and assemble here. If it is all made at the same place, they will just start making it under their name and selling it here too.

[alcglobalpartners]

I agree with JBSurfs that sometimes it is better to assemble the final product in the West, but this really depends on the budget of the company. It can be done successfully in Asia if you are willing to invest the time and research upfront to make sure you are dealing with a respectable company.

[MandyHarveyMusic]

You might want to surf the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers. Call them up, and when you negotiate a deal with them, strictly hold them to a confidentiality agreement. Remember, you're the one in power, not them.