Did you know that over 330,000 patents were granted in the USA in 2019 alone? Entrepreneurs and businesses everywhere are taking advantage of emerging technologies and developing new products every day.
If you have a product that you would like to put on the market, there may seem to be an endless number of steps to take before your product hits the market. For instance, you will want to know how to find a manufacturer for your product? After all, the reputation of your company rests on its quality.
Why not follow our in-depth guide below regarding how you can find a manufacturer for your product.
1. Domestic or Overseas Manufacturer?
When deciding whether to have your product manufactured domestically or overseas it is good to consider all the factors. Whilst there is a significant financial saving when manufacturing abroad, there are also some serious cons.
One of the major benefits of domestic manufacturers is quite simply their location. You can communicate with the manufacturer easily because they are in the same or very similar timezone to you.
There are no shipping costs or delays on goods that are shipped to you. Often when goods are manufactured abroad, the cost of handling and customs fees add a hike to the cost of the product.
When you employ a domestic manufacturer, such as this manufacturing comany, the public perception is that the product will be of a higher standard. Correctly or incorrectly there is a perception amongst many that the more distant the location of manufacturing the fewer quality controls are carried out.
2. Where to Locate Manufacturers
Once you decide where the product will be manufactured, you have to decide who will manufacture it. This involves approaching manufacturers themselves.
The advantage of choosing a domestic manufacturer is that you can quickly visit multiple manufacturers to assess their capability. You can do internet research to find the closest manufacturers that specialize in your field.
3. Setting Up Meetings
The moment you approach a manufacturer, negotiations begin. You will need to very well prepared to ensure that you can accurately communicate your needs and expectations regarding prices. You should include the following subjects in your preparation.
- Create a list of product specifications.
- Draw up a list of questions to ask the manufacturers regarding their production capability.
- Set up face-to-face meetings.
- Tour the facilities, and ask your questions, take a lot of notes.
While you may be able to accomplish some of these goal over video conference meetings, you will be limited regarding how well you can investigate their factory premises.
4. Samples are Key
After creating a short-list of manufacturers, you should ask them for proof of their manufacturing quality. Ask for a range of sample materials that are similar in design and purpose to yours.
You can also purchase sample items from retails stores that were manufactured by each company. By doing this you can see the difference between the samples and the reality.
5. Build a Relationship
Your product is new and it may be difficult for a manufacturer to understand exactly how the final product should be. Especially if the design changes during the manufacturing stages.
For this reason, it is good to persist and build a relationship with manufacturer if possible. Over time they will get a better idea of what exactly you are aiming for and your standards.
How to Find a Manufacturer and Much More
If you have a great product idea, now is a great time to start production and get it on to the market. Knowing the steps to take may not be easy. Finalizing the design, knowing how to find a manufacturer and marketing all take time. However, when your product is out there and selling, it will be all worthwhile.
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