Marketing for a commission???

[Bulletbobber]

Where does a little guy with a little patented invention and a website but no money or time for marketing find a company to do marketing for a commission? Are there any companies that will do this???

Here is what I can offer:

I am willing to provide sole rights to a marketing company if we can agree on reasonable quotas. This company can run the campaign however they want using email list, phone calls, snail mail, print media, TV or attending trade shows. I can pay a 35% commission and arm the company with a 15% discount code for retail and wholesale. The discount code will be used to track sales and the commission paid weekly.

I hope some will find the flaws in my approach (hopefully no fatal flaws) and others will make some good suggestions how to shore up the idea if there are any marketing companies that will work for a %.

[veikoh]

That's an affiliate program in internet so I would recommend:
1. Setup affiliate software to track affiliates.
2. Promote your program in affiliate directories.
Two level affiliate programs are most common in the internet, where first level gets 30% and second level usually 10%-15% so by recruiting new sales persons I will get also profits from their sales.
What kind of product we are talking here?

[The Stealthy One]

Bulletbobber,

You can license your patent to a manufacturer, who will literally take care of every aspect of this for you. It sounds like that is going to be your best bet, based on what you've stated in your post. Check out these links for more information:

License an Invention - Basics on a Patent License
NATIONAL INVENTOR FRAUD CENTER, INC. -- EDUCATING INVENTORS ABOUT INVENTION MARKETING AND PATENTS
How to License Your Product

You can Google for many more of these.

[pentupentropy]

That bobber is awesome. I never use bobebrs myself, but I have kids, so when I take them we use em. Why are you not beating the pavement and going sport shop to sport shop and calling on some touristy fishing destinations? I live in the catskills, so I guess it's easy for me to say because all the tourists come here for hunting and fishing.

My dad used to get tons of parts catalogs for fishing stuff because he made all of his own stuff (spinners and cranks, jigs, etc). Would it be applicable to bass fishing at all with jigs and such? I only know bass fishing and fly fishing. never did much of anything else but I love bass fishing. OK, OK... I do a little muskie fishing when I get a chance. ALRIGHT. I'm an addict. I just love fishing. =)

Off track... do you have enough money to maybe buy some display boxes? You could print out a simple color sign to put on the display panel of the box and just do them on consignment. Online isn't going to sell those for you as well as being in someone's face with the product. You could get 100 or so boxes made up for about $50.00 if you did it right, then just work on selling your first 1000 bobbers and reinvesting all that in marketing, so you can increase and buy 200 boxes. Now you have 300 placed and if it does well next maybe you'll have almost 1000 displays, which will cost time and gas and a little pocket change.

[Bulletbobber]

I'll say it again!
I have no time or money for marketing.
I want someone to run Marketing.
I have folks in place to handle shipping.
The website can take retail orders and process wholesale orders.

Selling on Ebay - sometimes I will get 20 bids but many times none.
These the packages I offered on Ebay
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7914.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...ob/ProPack.jpg

I have 3 styles of packaging for retailers.
These have UPC
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7300.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...SlideCards.jpg
Bulk display boxes do not UPC.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7905.jpg

I really believe I am providing a good opportunity for someone or a company.

[pentupentropy]

i have to agree with TSO then. You need to find a distributor or manufacturer to license to.

[The Stealthy One]

I'll say it again!
I have no time or money for marketing.
I want someone to run Marketing.
I have folks in place to handle shipping.
The website can take retail orders and process wholesale orders.

Selling on Ebay - sometimes I will get 20 bids but many times none.
These the packages I offered on Ebay
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7914.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...ob/ProPack.jpg

I have 3 styles of packaging for retailers.
These have UPC
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7300.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...SlideCards.jpg
Bulk display boxes do not UPC.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...b/Dscf7905.jpg

I really believe I am providing a good opportunity for someone or a company.

There is a chasm between what you believe you are providing and what you are actually providing. No company is going to want to just market your stuff, when you are in control of customer service and shipping. Here's why: any service failures on your part reflect bad on the marketing company, and this is a risk they do not wish to take. This is not to say that a manufacturer's risk tolerance is at the same level: when assuming all aspects of the production and sale of your product, the risk is worth the reward.

So, again, I stand by my recommendation that you just license your product to a manufacturer. If you truly have no time or money, this is the best route to go, for you and the other party involved.

[EasyAutoSales]

I'll say it again!
I have no time or money for marketing.
I want someone to run Marketing.
I have folks in place to handle shipping.
The website can take retail orders and process wholesale orders.

No offense, but what's the point of spending money setting everything else up if you're vehemently against putting resources to marketing? That's like creating a baby without a mouth... how do you expect it to grow?

[Bulletbobber]

Why would I risk messing up filling orders? I am not self destructive.

Licensing is an option I have been pursuing with no luck.

I have tried all options and I'm spinning my wheels here.

I will even sell the patent for $2M. If you can afford that you can afford to do it right and make $100M a year with infomercials.

[rogercbryan]

Bullet- I'm still working on a package for you. I have a few projects ahead of you. Don't lose patience with me. Once I commit to something I follow through. I’ve already put the word out to a few different people and they are looking for contacts with the right vendors. Give me about 30 days…

[The Stealthy One]

Why would I risk messing up filling orders? I am not self destructive.

Licensing is an option I have been pursuing with no luck.

I have tried all options and I'm spinning my wheels here.

I will even sell the patent for $2M. If you can afford that you can afford to do it right and make $100M a year with infomercials.

Paul,

I think you misunderstood me. I am not at all implying that you are irresponsible, or that you run your company in an irresponsible manner. However, I am saying that a manufacturer will not know this, and would not want to accept the risk that it might be true.

[DPayne]

I suggest you read a book called "Guerilla Marketing" by Jay Levinson. It will change the way you view marketing, along with give you a plethora of low budget marketing ideas. It is a must read for any small business owner.

[pentupentropy]

the site advertised here... partnerup.com is a good place to reach out to people. I signed up, looked around it some, and I think you may find more help there.

PartnerUp - Find Business Partners, Commercial Real Estate, and Business Resources

[Bulletbobber]

You offer up a marketing job and all you get is advice.
I am a product designer - that is what I do.
35% sales, sole rights, long term - what does it take to get a marketer do what they do!

[The Stealthy One]

Perhaps you are looking in the wrong place? Also, understand that licensing to a manufacturer does not mean you have to stop designing products. On the contrary, you'll have more time to develop more products.

But, I see you have your way, and won't consider another way. Knowing that, I think you're still going to have to look elsewhere for someone who actually wants to do this. Again, there is a lot of risk involved (even if you cannot see it) in taking on just the marketing aspect of your product.