Telebrands
If you can get the attention of a direct-response marketer like Telebrands, you're pretty much guaranteed to make millions. CEO and founder A.J. Khubani, the originator of the ubiquitous "As Seen on TV" logo, says the minimum five products they launch each year are always hits, and that 2011 will be a record-breaking sales year for the company, in the hundreds of millions. If you don't make the cut for Telebrands' new TV show--"a cross between American Idol and Shark Tank," here's what to do:
Process: Submit your idea to InventorsDay@Telebrands.com. If it's good enough, you'll be invited to give a five-minute pitch at an Inventors Day, which is held in various cities every six to eight weeks. "It's like a book deal," Khubani says. "We're the publisher, the inventor is the author. If we like your idea, we'll contact you." Royalties differ depending on patents, uniqueness and other variables. You keep the rights, but Telebrands licenses them until the contract expires.
Products: Telebrands test-markets dozens of products--items that solve everyday problems, retail between $10 and $20 and have a "wow" or "aha" reaction--and whittles it down to the five best. That takes a few months, and then it can take up to a year to ramp up manufacturing. Recent hit: the PedEgg, a "revolutionary" egg-shaped foot file, with more than 45 million units sold to date.
Alibaba
If you want to just DIY and keep all the intellectual property (and profits) for yourself, Alibaba is another way to go. With 65 million users in 240 countries, it's the world's largest e-commerce platform. And, according to Annie Xu, the general manager of Alibaba Americas, the company helps connect inventors with factories and manufacturers of every product imaginable, so you don't have to go abroad or deal with agents. "We put power in inventors' hands," she says. "Doing comparison shopping online and going through the research process gives them more knowledge of the supply chain so they can make the best decisions."
Process: Go to Alibaba.com to look for a manufacturer for your Big Idea. Generally, it involves sending out e-mails to potential suppliers, outlining what you want and sifting through replies from vendors. Pick your favorite, get a few samples, place an initial order--and repeat and expand as necessary.
Products: Alibaba has listings for manufacturers of almost anything. Xu says it takes an average of three or four months for inventors to source from a supplier on their own, but with Alibaba's database, it can take as little as a week. A few (of many) business success stories: CitySlips, those ballet flats that fit into a purse; Sole Bicycles, affordable fixie bikes popular with the hipster crowd; and Eat Cleaner, an all-natural food wash.
Afingo
Fashion is one of the most accessible arenas for co-creation, and with Afingo, which launched its designer-factory matching service in June, it's easier than ever to get stuff made. Liza Deyrmenjian, co-founder and CEO, has a database of qualified vendors, so you don't need to hire an expensive consultant to make sure you don't get ripped off--or, alternatively, falsely accuse someone of charging you too much. "We're taking the guesswork out of the experience," she says.
Process: Think Alibaba's service, but specifically for the fashion industry, with more educational components. Pay $899 for three carefully curated factory matches by listing what you want to make, where you are located, how many units you plan to produce and your level of experience. More tools are being rolled out, including a cost calculator, a global manufacturing calendar and online support. You take it from there.
Products: There aren't any testimonials yet, but the idea is to digitize Deyrmenjian's expertise in helping designers with the technical aspects of production, including sourcing fabric and identifying a pattern maker and factory. Don't worry, her track record is good: She helped Rochelle Behrens, the designer of "The Shirt," which was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
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This article was originally published in the August 2011 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Other Ways to Get Stuff Made.
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Comments:
Inventions often extend the boundaries of human knowledge, experience or capability. An invention that is novel and not obvious to others skilled in the same field may be able to obtain the legal protection of a patent.
What is needed for Telebrands? A patent? A physical Concept or just an idea ?
whats your point?
Indians are making noise , cars, cigarettes , hooting, smokes from roasted chicken spicy, British eating these, Coffee high in Caffeine, more than 125 mg per day can kill you ,”, you told them to close the shops and they quietly closed and retired sent lots of cash to India and are living on UK pension schemes PUN YES No you complain about these in India. Why Why cannot we live and let live? I am driving the fast car to the EU. I see many people on the roads and I say, “You are stopping me to the EU conference that has a conflict. Is it 17 or 27 members.” So I tell one man, you should be shot down on the street” He feels bad and throws few stones at my car I just bought from the Toyota green cars show rooms. I am annoyed very annoyed as the King says nothing on the economy and Sarkozy Meets Zuckerberg - Mark Zuckerberg threw on a suit to meet the French president. But then, about an hour later, he was photographed in his usual. I see Obama lighting the Christmas tree now. Are we on 25th December? I have no idea. May be someone out there will help me. Jeremy Clarkson is paid by the BBC? We pay for the BBC! We have no choice if we own a television. So Mr Clarkson should have to watch what he says at work! If the people who strike were to say what they thought all the time they'd get sacked! Why this should overpaid, under talented 'presenter' get away with it! I'm self employed and cant voice my true feelings all the time. This is not an issue of free speech, it’s of responsibility, and appropriateness of what a BBC presenter (although he was trying to sell a #$%$ book, DVD, or whatever) should say at 7pm. I thank you Firozali A.Mulla DBA
Keep in mind, most people put too much emphasis on developing their product or idea ,and not enough on Marketing. If you have a new invention: 2% of your challenge – Protecting your Idea (Patent, Trademark, Copyright) 8% of your challenge – Is it a valid idea or product? 90% of your challenge – What is your Marketing Plan? Most people spend too much initial time, energy and money protecting their idea rather than selling or marketing it.The first and easiest step is to contact friends, business associates, former clients, customers and anyone else you know to see if they can recommend someone they trust. Finding a trustworthy manufacturer can take time. If these associates can shorten the process, all the better. Your next step is to contact trade associations. Generally, if a manufacturer is a member of a trade association (or its local chamber of commerce), it at least wants to be viewed as reputable. Associationsthat will provide you with information on their members tend to screen them and weed out those with poor reputations or unscrupulous business practices. The American Electronics Association, for example, produces a roster of its members and cross-indexes them by type of business. To find the appropriatetrade association for your needs, most libraries have two reference books: the National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States (Columbia Books Publishers) and the Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the U.S. (Gale Research).
"If you want to just DIY and keep all the intellectual property (and profits) for yourself, Alibaba is another way to go. Do you know, It would never have occured to me to use Alibaba to actually have goods made. I've been using it to find suppliers overseas for ages but nothing much beyond that. Well, that said, that's probably because I'll never have any need to have anything made from scratch, certainly nothing I'd designed myself. I can't say I'd ever make much of an inventor. The staff from my secondary school's technology department are probably still looking for me to be honest....