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Question: I've drawn up sketches of blue jeans, andnow I'm satisfied with one I think the public would rush topurchase. How do I proceed with manufacturing and finding abuyer?
Name withheld
Answer: Some business experts might consider a solonovice designer going head-to-head in a highly competitive field ofgiants like Levi's and Lee a pipe dream. But we've seen toomany people defy the odds to discourage you from proceeding--ifyou're sufficiently passionate, committed and determined.
The fledgling designers we've seen succeed have done so bycarving out a niche, such as designing specialized clothing forYoga devotees, orthodox Jewish professional women or those withphysical disabilities. Or, if they have a mainstream item likejeans, they usually succeed by starting very small and building anavid following for a unique design that makes their line desirableto reps and retail stores.
So before leaping into mass production, we suggest offering yourjeans directly to your target market by making several dozenprototypes and selling them yourself. You can do this at swap meetsor sidewalk booths (like Ash Hudson did with his wildly popularConart T-shirts) or by placing them in a few select boutiques (asAnna and Sarah Levinson did with their Ripe Inc. nail polishes).Once your jeans start attracting customers, you'll be ready toarrange for mass production and to contact buyers--if theyhaven't sought you out already.
You can contact reps through the Manufacturers' AgentsNational Association, P.O. Box 3467, Laguna Hills, CA 92654,(949) 859-4040, http://www.manaonline.org.
Patent Check
My inventions demand attention!
Question: I want to sell my patented ideas to companiesthat manufacture similar products. But since I don't have a lotof disposable income or collateral, how do I finance my patentsearches and applications? Also, when I write to companies about myideas, I get rejection letters or no response at all. How can I getthem interested in my ideas?
Robert D. Brown, Randleman, North Carolina
Answer: Patent attorney David Pressman, author ofPatent It Yourself (Nolo Press), recommends waiting beforesending letters to manufacturers until you've completed athorough patent search and submitted your patent application. Itcosts around $300 to hire someone to conduct a patent search, butyou can do your own search by following the recommendations inPressman's book.
You can begin your search on the Internet at http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.htmland gain helpful tips in books like Patent Searching MadeEasy (Nolo Press) by David Hitchcock. Although the informationon the Internet only dates back to 1976, you can search data priorto that time by visiting a Patent and Trademark Depository Librarynear you.
Expect to incur some expenses, however, because once you'vecompleted your search, each patent application fee costs up to$400. After you file an application, Pressman recommends writing tosuitable companies. He reports most will respond with a form letterasking you to sign an enclosed waiver form. The interest inproceeding will depend on finding a match between your idea and acompany's current objectives. Although some inventors do offerto sell their patented idea for a lump sum, most seek to licensetheir idea, typically for about 5 per-cent of sales.
A word of caution: Avoid invention-development companies, whichoffer to review your idea and then charge an inflated price tocomplete a search for you.
For additional information on obtaining a patent, contact theU.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Washington, DC 20231,(800) PTO-9199, http://www.uspto.gov.
If you have a question regarding a start-up business issue,contact Paul and Sarah Edwards at http://www.paulandsarah.com orsend it to "What's Your Problem?" in care ofEntrepreneur.
