Crossroads of Product Development

[SirSkankin DBA]

So, as very few know, I have developed an armor system that was originally suited to be customized to any type of riding one does, but quickly realized that it could have far more uses than i imagined.

The crossroads I am at is I can either: A) try to do a kickstarter campaign and build it into my own brand, which I have a second product designed, if this one was to take off. or B) Try to reach out to other armor manufacturers and offer to design one for them using their existing hardware.

The problem with b, is a lot of the companies will probably respond with something like "we do all our design in house, so we aren't interested." as well, problems with A, is finding manufacturing, etc etc. Now, I am not afraid of either, my utmost concern is trying to get my product out to market because I think the versatility and modularity would breath new life into market, as well as it would be the closest thing that i am aware of, to custom fit armor.

Any ideas or suggestions? For what it is worth, I do have a fully functional prototype that I have been riding with on and off for form, fit, etc....

Oh, and if I did post in the wrong forum, please feel free to move.

 

[KrustyKruser]

I like the idea of option A, but it would take lots of money and time to get the product going. My worry would be finally getting my product to market and how long it will take competitors to make something comparable at half the price and taking your business. I would be interested to see what you come out making.

 

[Wicked4Racin]

maybe cycle gear will buy it and label it BUILT

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

Krusty - It has been an interesting road...and that is one of my concerns as well. Luckily, with a brother that deals in high level i.p. law, I found that there are ways of protecting the design aspect, because that is where the important stuff is. But, also, I have done an estimated cost analysis, and the credible players would all be roughly in the same ball park. Or at least I hope so, so there couldnt be too much under cutting.

Wicked- I have actually considered it, but realized it would probably be out of their price point...but sedici on the other hand. hahaha.

 

[Wicked4Racin]

lol, all you can do is try. after a close friend of mine passed away at the sea otter, we continued to try and sell his bike chain guide system to syncros/ritchy and at the time the price of production was too high. times have come around some since then so it opens up the door for more companies being able to invest in new ideas. all you can do is keep trying until you either throw in the towel or begin to store your $$$ in your car trunk like 50 cent did!

 

[gixxerjeff]

All I can say is be careful.
I came up with an idea for a tool. I made a prototype, shopped it around and found some interest.
Long story short, I ran out of money part way through.
About 3 years later, my friend/co-worker threw the new Snap-On catalogue on my workbench telling me "Whatever you do, don't look at page 134."
There it was. :mad

 

[KrustyKruser]

All I can say is be careful.
I came up with an idea for a tool. I made a prototype, shopped it around and found some interest.
Long story short, I ran out of money part way through.
About 3 years later, my friend/co-worker threw the new Snap-On catalogue on my workbench telling me "Whatever you do, don't look at page 134."
There it was. :mad

Yes. This is my worry for the OP as well. I have read similar stories and the Loggerhead tools scenario with craftsman rings a bell.

 

[Wicked4Racin]

"patent", but i think we had over $30k in ours before we called it quits.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

All I can say is be careful.
I came up with an idea for a tool. I made a prototype, shopped it around and found some interest.
Long story short, I ran out of money part way through.
About 3 years later, my friend/co-worker threw the new Snap-On catalogue on my workbench telling me "Whatever you do, don't look at page 134."
There it was. :mad

Yes. This is my worry for the OP as well. I have read similar stories and the Loggerhead tools scenario with craftsman rings a bell.

Most definitely. I had a friend that designed the light fixtures and tables, etc. for Starbucks. They fired him from the job, altered the designs by something like a 1/4 inch and said it was theirs.

I realize that even with all that is out there; patents, proof of concept/use, etc., that we are very limited in our own protection against unlimited funds and that is where the idea came to try to design them for the companies using their existing stuff. Because then each company would have almost a one off.

 

[NoobCorpse]

All I can say is be careful.
I came up with an idea for a tool. I made a prototype, shopped it around and found some interest.
Long story short, I ran out of money part way through.
About 3 years later, my friend/co-worker threw the new Snap-On catalogue on my workbench telling me "Whatever you do, don't look at page 134."
There it was. :mad

What was the tool? And would you have been covered if there was any patent or copyright in place, or is it too broad to be covered under that?

 

[gixxerjeff]

What was the tool? And would you have been covered if there was any patent or copyright in place, or is it too broad to be covered under that?

It was a spring loaded impact socket that would accept and hold lug nuts like a cartridge.
Admittedly, I dropped the ball. There is a lot I could have done to protect myself. I didn't because I was young, trusting and enthusiastic (I am none of those things anymore) which is the reasoning for my cautionary post.
There are a lot of things in my life I wish I had done differently.
This is just one of them.

 

[LikeWaah]

First thing I would do is protect your IP. After that, I would look for VCs that would be interested in non-controlling interests and attempt to build my own brand. If not that, then try and license your concept to a manufacturer who has the brand and manufacturing experience to leverage your design fully and collect royalties.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

It was a spring loaded impact socket that would accept and hold lug nuts like a cartridge.
Admittedly, I dropped the ball. There is a lot I could have done to protect myself. I didn't because I was young, trusting and enthusiastic (I am none of those things anymore) which is the reasoning for my cautionary post.
There are a lot of things in my life I wish I had done differently.
This is just one of them.

Yeah, luckily (because of school among past lives) I have had some knowledge in this area. IF I go to production with this or pitching it to companies, I have a couple fail safes in place to cover my I.P.

 

[xgambit]

make it look like iron man armor and we will throw our money at you

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

well, it does have similar characteristics to the Extremis Armor. hahahaha

 

[V4]

Contact parts unlimited, western powersports, tucker rocky, etc...and other distributors..

Major mc companies love looking through the catalogs to see their own stuff as well as the competition...

Usually the smaller companies are open to new stuff than the established ones, ie dianese astar...american brands are always looking for new ideas to compete against the euro brands...joe rocket, icon, ss, shift, etc..and easier to approach..

Contact some moto mags for reviews and passout some samples to barfers...never know who is in the crowd listening..

Gluck

 

[V4]

Contact parts unlimited, western powersports, tucker rocky, etc...and other distributors..

Major mc companies love looking through the catalogs to see their own stuff as well as the competition...

Usually the smaller companies are open to new stuff than the established ones, ie dianese astar...american brands are always looking for new ideas to compete against the euro brands...joe rocket, icon, ss, shift, etc..and easier to approach..

Contact some moto mags for reviews and passout some samples to barfers...never know who is in the crowd listening..also, put ads in those mags...a small space can grow to a full page to a whole section in a catalog...seen this happen

Gluck

 

[V4]

What may not catch on here in the states can become popular in other countries...and then become popular here even if it started from here...seen that cycle..

Russia is a growing market for mc stuff...:teeth

 

[V4]

And stickers with a cool logo and design...

You can be good with just stickers before you have the product...

 

[channelcat]

a crowded market. I am sure its a great product. Package the language to protect your return, sell it to Cycle Gear as per previous post, and swallow the bile when you see BILT on it..KISS:teeth
FWIW, I was familiar with the fellow who was developing the patents for 3D printing. The idea was for turbine blades. I read today Rolls Royce wants to use it for brackets in their jet engine modules,etc.Thats where my understanding comes from. Too bad my familiar drank himself to death before he could finish his work..
Divorce yourself from your product that you put so much care into..your money will come from how well you parlay the language you create to protect your idea. JMHO

That said, rock on, dude. F**kin go for it.