So, you’ve got a great idea for a product? You will no doubt be brimming with excitement and raring to go in your mission to turn your flash of inspiration into something that is very real.
But many turning your concepts into something that people can go out and buy is quite a challenge. There are a number of steps that you will need to make on the way. While you may just want to skip to the end and reap the rewards for your genius, the simple fact of the matter is that you will need to be entrepreneurial and hardworking in order to find success. Nobody will magically take you idea off you and develop it for you. Before you even take it to the type of people that could bring your product to market, you will still need to put in the groundwork.
Do Your Research
Before you run around town trying to sell your idea to everyone else, you will need to know whether it is original, and what else there might be out there that is similar. You may be stepping into an uncharted marketplace where the appeal of your product may be hard to measure. Or, you might be about to enter a saturated market where you will have a vast amount of competition.
From a marketing perspective, both have their advantages and challenges. An alien concept can be hard to bring people around to, but if it is completely unlike anything else, then it would naturally be able to lead that market. But how much that market is worth will be completely unknown. The other side of the coin is that you enter a market place that is well known, and you vie for position alongside some tried and tested brands and products.
Doing thorough market research is vital, as well as finding out what other products are similar to yours.
Protecting Your Idea
Taking your product to companies that may be in a position to develop your product and take it to market is ideal. They will be able to invest in R&D along with developing a marketing strategy around your product.
But before you enter a room with any interested parties, you need to make sure you have your IP and Patent management in line. Understanding patents and your rights as the owner will be crucial, and you should consult a lawyer during the process of brokering a deal.
Developing Your Idea
An initial concept may be quite rough, and you should invest as much time in developing your ideas as possible. This may involve getting factories to make prototypes that you can put through rigorous testing. Think about every plausible angle when it comes to product development. The product’s usability and any aspects relating to safety, as well as whether there are any ways of keeping customers buying further products in the future. Understanding your product from every angle will make it a more investable prospect.