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Help manufacturing an offline physical product

by danielgb123
12 replies
Hi guys,

My girlfriend and I have been working on a business plan for a craft business for quite a while now, and we're ready to begin looking at suppliers/manufacturers.

I've worked online for many years, but never created my own unique physical product.

The materials we will primarily be using to create our products are silicon (for moulds); plastic (for cutters) and various wood related items (handles, storage boxes, etc).

Ideally, we'd like to create a much better product than competitors, and as such, we'd like to etch/print our branding on each product, and give a really professional feel ad look to these products which others haven't yet done.

Just looking for some pointers as to how we can go about finding a manufacturer/supplier to work with. We're contemplating a trip to China down the line, but obviously we're taking this in steps.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!
#manufacturing #offline #physical #product
  • Profile picture of the author starvedseo
    You will need a huge budget to get a manufacturer to materialize your concepts. Do you have ideas in manufacturing them?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by starvedseo View Post

      You will need a huge budget
      Are you speaking from experience, or just guessing here, Starvedseo?

      (I ask because I know someone who successfully started a similar business with only a smallish 4-figure budget.)

      .
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Ray
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Are you speaking from experience, or just guessing here, Starvedseo?

        (I ask because I know someone who successfully started a similar business with only a smallish 4-figure budget.)

        .
        I have a company in Hong Kong and in Taiwan and we are associated with some companies who are manufacturing product in Mainland China.

        I hate to tell you this but a "smallish 4-figure budget" what you mentioned in your post is not realistic. Even a 5-figure budget won't get you too far when it comes to making a deal with any of the factories.

        Hope that helps.

        Good luck with your project!
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    • Profile picture of the author danielgb123
      Originally Posted by starvedseo View Post

      You will need a huge budget to get a manufacturer to materialize your concepts. Do you have ideas in manufacturing them?
      I definitely have ideas - my next step is finding a reliable 3D designer from here to bring those ideas to virtual reality.

      Originally Posted by eac113 View Post

      I would definitely find someone who has done what you are wanting to do and either work for/with them or develop a relationship that allows you to get the low down on what the steps are to do what you want and probably more importantly what NOT to do.
      Yes, that's definitely another way to look at it (in a JV).

      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      You do not need a huge budget to start. If you're smart your experience will be just the opposite.

      The first thing you should do is a local search for wholesale products. You might be surprised, as I was, to find everything you need is already nearby. The last couple of years I've been selling stuff on eBay for some pretty decent money though it was a challenge to keep getting quality used merchandise.

      So I did a local search for wholesale and imported products in a city with a population of around 100,000. There were six companies that had an excellent selection of various inventories. I easily picked up several hot sellers and paid about 1/4 of the retail price with relatively small buys.

      I strongly suggest you do something like this before looking to establish a connection with an import/export broker or an overseas factory. You'll pay a bit more but it will allow you to test your market and your materials without a lot of money up front.

      Then, when you see what's going to work for you and know you can actually make sales, you can seek relationships with suppliers closer to the actual source, which is most likely to be China. Good luck.
      Thing is; I'm looking to better existing products within the niche; to give you an idea of the industry:
      - Majority of sellers simply resell products via an e-commerce store; and have solid success
      - A couple of sellers produce their own unique products which sell like hotcakes - however, these companies couple be improved upon by bettering the quality of the product, packaging, etc

      I need to enter the industry with a strong brand presence, I'd like to etch/print my logo on the products which isn't something people are doing. I want to create very high quality products within this niche, that are unique (not reselling existing products under my own brand).

      This is the toughest part and makes it difficult to use Alibaba/DHGate and the like because I am after a uniquely made solution.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by danielgb123 View Post

        I definitely have ideas - my next step is finding a reliable 3D designer from here to bring those ideas to virtual reality.


        Yes, that's definitely another way to look at it (in a JV).


        Thing is; I'm looking to better existing products within the niche; to give you an idea of the industry:
        - Majority of sellers simply resell products via an e-commerce store; and have solid success
        - A couple of sellers produce their own unique products which sell like hotcakes - however, these companies couple be improved upon by bettering the quality of the product, packaging, etc

        I need to enter the industry with a strong brand presence, I'd like to etch/print my logo on the products which isn't something people are doing. I want to create very high quality products within this niche, that are unique (not reselling existing products under my own brand).

        This is the toughest part and makes it difficult to use Alibaba/DHGate and the like because I am after a uniquely made solution.
        Well, it's hard to comment without knowing more about what you're doing. The individual I do business with has several import/export agents in China. She has had dozens of products produced there via these contacts.

        Still, if I were in your shoes I would at least try to get the raw materials first through a local vendor. That would save you from having to buy the massive quantities you'd need to engage an agent or to deal with the factory. Couldn't you bring in enough of the materials to get started and have the custom (branding stuff) work done locally?
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        • Profile picture of the author danielgb123
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          Well, it's hard to comment without knowing more about what you're doing. The individual I do business with has several import/export agents in China. She has had dozens of products produced there via these contacts.

          Still, if I were in your shoes I would at least try to get the raw materials first through a local vendor. That would save you from having to buy the massive quantities you'd need to engage an agent or to deal with the factory. Couldn't you bring in enough of the materials to get started and have the custom (branding stuff) work done locally?
          I suppose I could; just haven't looked into it.

          That; and I'd need someone very good with silicone/plastic to shape the patterns.

          I guess I should start looking for a 3D designer that can give me a better visual idea of what I am doing.
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          • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
            Your largest cost can often be getting the molds made. From there the cost is not bad at all. If you do not know how to work with Autocad programs then that might get a little pricey as well. It is something that you could have done on elance though based on a drawing and specs. Another option would be to go to any local college and find someone in any design program or industrial program.

            To be honest it would be cheaper to have it all done in China, but you also lose the ability to have changes made quickly and convenience. They can have it all done for you much cheaper than can be done in most western countries.

            I am guessing this is molded plastic and not 3D printed.
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            • Profile picture of the author danielgb123
              Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

              Well, it's hard to comment without knowing more about what you're doing. The individual I do business with has several import/export agents in China. She has had dozens of products produced there via these contacts.

              Still, if I were in your shoes I would at least try to get the raw materials first through a local vendor. That would save you from having to buy the massive quantities you'd need to engage an agent or to deal with the factory. Couldn't you bring in enough of the materials to get started and have the custom (branding stuff) work done locally?
              Originally Posted by Jason Freeman View Post

              Your largest cost can often be getting the molds made. From there the cost is not bad at all. If you do not know how to work with Autocad programs then that might get a little pricey as well. It is something that you could have done on elance though based on a drawing and specs. Another option would be to go to any local college and find someone in any design program or industrial program.

              To be honest it would be cheaper to have it all done in China, but you also lose the ability to have changes made quickly and convenience. They can have it all done for you much cheaper than can be done in most western countries.

              I am guessing this is molded plastic and not 3D printed.
              Thanks for the help Jason.

              I'm currently on the look out for a 3D/CAD designer that can help with the virtual representations.

              I'm unsure as to how developed the 3D printing scene is, I've looked at getting my own machine but it would take far too long to produce even one example - I imagine that have huge industrial machines that can design quickly, however. I haven't gone as far as to decide how I will have the items made just yet.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
      Originally Posted by starvedseo View Post

      You will need a huge budget to get a manufacturer to materialize your concepts. Do you have ideas in manufacturing them?
      Not necessarily, there are a lot of factors that can go into the cost of manufacturing products. Contract manufacturers can often make products very cheaply once design and mold costs are done. Labor is often the largest expense which is why a lot of that has gone overseas.
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  • Profile picture of the author eac113
    I would definitely find someone who has done what you are wanting to do and either work for/with them or develop a relationship that allows you to get the low down on what the steps are to do what you want and probably more importantly what NOT to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author owenlee
    You can try alibaba.com or aliexpress.com

    Both of them are the same, just that aliexpress let you buy in a lower quantity.

    You may find a few suppliers and buy some samples from them first.
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    You do not need a huge budget to start. If you're smart your experience will be just the opposite.

    The first thing you should do is a local search for wholesale products. You might be surprised, as I was, to find everything you need is already nearby. The last couple of years I've been selling stuff on eBay for some pretty decent money though it was a challenge to keep getting quality used merchandise.

    So I did a local search for wholesale and imported products in a city with a population of around 100,000. There were six companies that had an excellent selection of various inventories. I easily picked up several hot sellers and paid about 1/4 of the retail price with relatively small buys.

    I strongly suggest you do something like this before looking to establish a connection with an import/export broker or an overseas factory. You'll pay a bit more but it will allow you to test your market and your materials without a lot of money up front.

    Then, when you see what's going to work for you and know you can actually make sales, you can seek relationships with suppliers closer to the actual source, which is most likely to be China. Good luck.
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