Page 96 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

Step 5: Manufacture You r Idea into a Product 87

How to Choose the Right Mate rials for the Final Product

Your initial round of research calls about the pros and cons of
different materials can be very enlightening. You can make just
about anything these days, so don't be deterred without a full
investigation.

Also, keep in mind that slight variations in materials can make a
big difference to a final, finished product. Try to make your product
in various materials and see the di fferences yourself.

Once you've done your homework, it's time to make some excit­
ing decisions. And remember, though you may be committing to
these materials for a certain production run, you could change
them later if you learn something different about your product.
Right now, it's important to move ahead.

DHIllon A s you discuss pricing with manufacturers, ask for quantity
doll'll
11,..,.n"on!·c: so as you grow you will have pricing incentives
TIP
in. Pricing usually lowers considerably once you reach

qu antities of 2,500, 5,000, and 1 0,000, so ask for prices at

those quantities early on. Expect to pay higher prices initially
and for small runs.

Making the Prototype

Once you find the materials that consensus has shown are the best
for your product, make a more accurate prototype than your initial
made-at-home sample.

Who Will Make It?

In a best-case scenario, you have been able to make final pro­
totypes yourself (for example, if you're making candles in your
kitchen). If your rough samples are good enough, you've saved
yourself a step. But keep in mind that you need the prototypes to