Possible Chicken and the egg problem

[stoodonhead]

I have an idea for a muse that needs to be manufactured. There are close approximations for the product I'm looking for but I still need someone to custom make something for myself.
However, as advised by Tim, I should test my product idea before investing in it. I dont see how I can auction on ebay to test the idea without pictures of the product, which still doesnt exist. And I'm not about to commission designers without finding out if the idea works.

Thoughts anybody?

[luv2trvl1]

For starters can you take one of the "close approximations" and modify it at home? Cut it up, drill holes in it, repaint it, do whatever is needed to have at least a non-functioning mockup that you can show people/photograph?

If that's not possible, find your target market, in person or on the web and try to descibe your new product and how it is different from the close approximations. Get their feedback on features, price, usablity, etc.

Basicly, do your market research. Get real VOC (voice of customer) into your thinking. You might find a way to improve your product concept or find a different product need to fill. Who knows? But everytime I think I have a solid muse idea all sorted out in my head and then go test concept with real potental customers, I am surprised by the outcome.

Good luck

[Michael]

I'd say it really depends on if the "product" is actually revolutionary or extremely different from the close approximations you've already found available.

If you can categorize the new product as a new invention, for example, I would seek out one or more private investors that would be willing to expend the capital required to develop and create a prototype of the product and then do sufficient testing and consumer feedback.

Otherwise, if your product is just slightly different from what is already available on the market, I would make contact with whoever is already manufacturing the product and see if they are open to some innovation to their existing product. It might also present you with an opportunity to private label their product for your own marketing & distribution (depending on whether your specific product is the right type for private labeling).

Feel free to PM me or e-mail me at michael@halfhourworkweek.com if you want to discuss further and perhaps clarify what type of product you are thinking about.

[Marcie]

If you know the keywords relevant to your product, you can do a "pre-test" using Google's estimator. It will tell you how much traffic is out there & how many people are clicking on ads for each keyword.

[stoodonhead]

The idea is to manufacture a lightbox for arts or crafts. To anyone that doesnt know(unlikely) its a box with a light source that shines through a translucent top plane, so you can do tracings easily. They are often expensive things, costing from 100 dollars and above. Most artists, especially illustrators and comic artists need lightboxes but cant justify the cost of one, since its just a light in a box. Sometimes artists make their own, or they buy cheaper homemade ones from ebay. In any case, lightboxes are often bulky, to accomodate the fluorescent light source, and homemade ones tend to heat up pretty quickly.

My way of differentiating myself and justifying the cost is to make a premium lightbox, one thats ultra thin, with low heat output. I did some research and the close approximations I found were ultra slim lightboxes for display signs. http://www.ultraslimlightbox.co.uk/
They use CCL tubes, the backlighting used for laptops. So the tech is easily there, and its already a box, but I cant use it as is.