How do I research the manufacturing of a handbag?
August 27, 2013 1:47 PM Subscribe
I want to research the possibility of having a certain design of handbag made, in quantity, to sell. It's a large version of a tiny handbag I see in a number of stores. What's the way to start on this path?
The tiny ones I see are sold by many stores and manufactured in China. I don't know how to find out who actually makes them. Would there be some form of copyright on the design itself? (I'm not posting a picture because even I am wary of somebody copying ME.)
The handbag I want to make would really be large. I don't see any metal frame made exactly like the one I would need. The rest of the purse would be a soft jellylike silicon.
I don't know how to draw anything that would make sense to anybody who would make a prototype (I guess making a prototype is what people do first?) Do I go to somebody who makes the little frames and ask if they'd make a giant one and how much it would cost? Would that person be in the US? How would I coordinate the metal frame part, which would presumably be made by a metal-frame-making person, with the silicone body of the purse, which would presumably be made by a silicon-making person?
I guess I have an advantage in that what I want to make is a giant Something-That's-Already-In-Existence (except for the copying part, which I'm not sure is legal/ethical).
I've never done anything like this before. I wonder what the cost would be to have them manufactured, and if people first have a bunch made and then try to sell them, or take orders first and then angst about getting the factory to manufacture them to make delivery dates?
Are there any sources on the internet where some of this information is spelled out in a logical sequence for anyone to read?
It always amazes me when I find out that somebody is "in" handbags, or nuts and bolts, or remote controls, or...anything. How did they figure out how to do this? Especially when the factories that do this kind of thing are probably going to be in China.
I really would be grateful for any assistance in this research. One thing is I am pretty passionate about the cleverness of this design, and I hear you're supposed to be "passionate" when you start a business.
I'm thinking it would be a very expensive proposition to do what I want, so it occurred to me that, once I had the prototype and some manufacturing plans in place, maybe this could be a Kickstarter project.
So, again, thanks for any thoughts.
The tiny ones I see are sold by many stores and manufactured in China. I don't know how to find out who actually makes them. Would there be some form of copyright on the design itself? (I'm not posting a picture because even I am wary of somebody copying ME.)
The handbag I want to make would really be large. I don't see any metal frame made exactly like the one I would need. The rest of the purse would be a soft jellylike silicon.
I don't know how to draw anything that would make sense to anybody who would make a prototype (I guess making a prototype is what people do first?) Do I go to somebody who makes the little frames and ask if they'd make a giant one and how much it would cost? Would that person be in the US? How would I coordinate the metal frame part, which would presumably be made by a metal-frame-making person, with the silicone body of the purse, which would presumably be made by a silicon-making person?
I guess I have an advantage in that what I want to make is a giant Something-That's-Already-In-Existence (except for the copying part, which I'm not sure is legal/ethical).
I've never done anything like this before. I wonder what the cost would be to have them manufactured, and if people first have a bunch made and then try to sell them, or take orders first and then angst about getting the factory to manufacture them to make delivery dates?
Are there any sources on the internet where some of this information is spelled out in a logical sequence for anyone to read?
It always amazes me when I find out that somebody is "in" handbags, or nuts and bolts, or remote controls, or...anything. How did they figure out how to do this? Especially when the factories that do this kind of thing are probably going to be in China.
I really would be grateful for any assistance in this research. One thing is I am pretty passionate about the cleverness of this design, and I hear you're supposed to be "passionate" when you start a business.
I'm thinking it would be a very expensive proposition to do what I want, so it occurred to me that, once I had the prototype and some manufacturing plans in place, maybe this could be a Kickstarter project.
So, again, thanks for any thoughts.
One thing I do as a significant part of my job is to produce items (new and existing) from overseas factories for sale in the US.
If you're looking for some Q&A, on this, feel free to MeMail me.
Funnily enough, I'm in the end process of bringing an idea I had from concept to Market (a kids' item), and the containers will start being shipped in late September.
Of course IP being what it is, I will see dime none of any profit, but it's still kinda cool to be on a patent and have a integral part of a product from inside my head to national retailers.
To address some of your questions:
Do I go to somebody who makes the little frames and ask if they'd make a giant one and how much it would cost? You could do that but it isn't necessary unless you're designing something completely new, but if you're working off of an existing general framework, sending the basis product to a factory along with measurements as to your upsizing, and specific material types you want used in specific sections (USE PICTURES WITH ARROWS) is usually fairly sufficient, provided you're working with a factory who has a development dept. with a brain.
I wonder what the cost would be to have them manufactured, and if people first have a bunch made and then try to sell them, or take orders first and then angst about getting the factory to manufacture them to make delivery dates?
To bring a NEW product to market from Asia, depending on materials and the uniqueness of it, you'd probably need about $100,000 (minimum) to $350,000 to start. There are usually MOQ's (Minimum Order Quantities) for fabrics or anything that is unique to your product. This includes colors, printings, materials, and product components/hardware. Tack onto that logistics people for arranging container pickup, booking space on a cargo ship, testing (lead, phthalates, etc.), and customs, not to mention warehouse space and transportation from the US port to your warehouse, the costs can really add up.
If you're not willing to tackle all of the above, you may want to look into producing these items in smaller batches at US facilities or finding out a way to purchase materials and make them yourself.
I mostly deal in Sporting Goods and Kids' Items, and I'm sure there are additional hurdles you may encounter dealing with handbags, but as I mentioned above, feel free to MeMail me if you want any input from me.
posted by Debaser626 at 2:13 PM on August 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
If you're looking for some Q&A, on this, feel free to MeMail me.
Funnily enough, I'm in the end process of bringing an idea I had from concept to Market (a kids' item), and the containers will start being shipped in late September.
Of course IP being what it is, I will see dime none of any profit, but it's still kinda cool to be on a patent and have a integral part of a product from inside my head to national retailers.
To address some of your questions:
Do I go to somebody who makes the little frames and ask if they'd make a giant one and how much it would cost? You could do that but it isn't necessary unless you're designing something completely new, but if you're working off of an existing general framework, sending the basis product to a factory along with measurements as to your upsizing, and specific material types you want used in specific sections (USE PICTURES WITH ARROWS) is usually fairly sufficient, provided you're working with a factory who has a development dept. with a brain.
I wonder what the cost would be to have them manufactured, and if people first have a bunch made and then try to sell them, or take orders first and then angst about getting the factory to manufacture them to make delivery dates?
To bring a NEW product to market from Asia, depending on materials and the uniqueness of it, you'd probably need about $100,000 (minimum) to $350,000 to start. There are usually MOQ's (Minimum Order Quantities) for fabrics or anything that is unique to your product. This includes colors, printings, materials, and product components/hardware. Tack onto that logistics people for arranging container pickup, booking space on a cargo ship, testing (lead, phthalates, etc.), and customs, not to mention warehouse space and transportation from the US port to your warehouse, the costs can really add up.
If you're not willing to tackle all of the above, you may want to look into producing these items in smaller batches at US facilities or finding out a way to purchase materials and make them yourself.
I mostly deal in Sporting Goods and Kids' Items, and I'm sure there are additional hurdles you may encounter dealing with handbags, but as I mentioned above, feel free to MeMail me if you want any input from me.
posted by Debaser626 at 2:13 PM on August 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: "you'd probably need about $100,000 (minimum) to $350,000 to start. "
(fainting)
posted by DMelanogaster at 2:30 PM on August 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
(fainting)
posted by DMelanogaster at 2:30 PM on August 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
Just to clarify (though you may still faint after additional research), the above is bringing a volume of goods into the country for sale on a small to mid business level. The amount can wildly vary depending on your individual business plan.
If you're really bummed about my earlier post, you can go to this site and see if there are any factories with MOQ levels more akin to what you are looking for. Sometimes it's as low as 500-1000 pieces, but you will have to find a booking agent to find container space on a consolidated shipment, and figure out the logistics of customs, and how to pick up and what to do with the goods once they've made it to port.
You'll need to procure at least three of the base samples, take one apart, carefully photograph it with a Hi-Res camera at each stage of deconstruction from multiple angles (don't worry about cutting textiles, but you want to get an idea of the square footage of the materials used, and any supporting foam or other filler). If it's just a basic frame, you're likely OK with not violating patents, but if there's crazy hinges, snaps, or something which really adds functionality to the item, it may be patented. Then, using photoshop, make a basic diagram showing frame length, material length, patterns, and materials used.
What you're proposing: increasing the size of an existing item, provided the base item is not covered by a utility patent, is basically just a design patent, which are very loose (and really offer little protection), and provided you're not infringing on any utility patents or Trademarks from the base item, there really aren't too many legal hurdles to overcome. However, as they're really loose, it will offer you a very small amount of protection. Still, you may want to have this item "patent pending" before you submit your drawings to any factory. Don't waste your time with those 'inventor' sites. It's more expensive but more in your personal interest to contact a patent lawyer. They know what to say to not get your application denied by the Patent Office, and what forms to file. Many times, while we're performing market testing and polling buyers at the national chains for interest, it helps to have a physical sample, but we don't want to go through all the hoops, so we just tell the factory it's patent pending, when it's really not. Of course, these are factories we have been dealing with for years, so it's relatively low risk for us, but YMMV.
Once you select a factory, file a patent (or not), You'll need to figure in the sampling stage: Which is to have one of the original, uncut base samples sent (the other whole one is for your reference to check against the concept sample sent back), and then concept and Pre-Production samples shipped to back you for authorization ($200 each). You'll also need to figure out the inner box (product packaging) and the Master Carton (what is loaded on the container, this box usually contains multiple product boxes). You'll need to figure out the Master Carton Markings, which will include a UPC code which you can to purchase from GS1, your mfr. company information, lot codes, etc.
You'll also need to factor in testing of the item, both physical(abuse) and chemical. This can easily get into the thousands, as you have to make the determination to test based on the applicable protocols, and the testing facility will gladly allow you to overtest the shit out of your item. Physical testing is nominal, but chemical testing can get really expensive. This is why it's really important to get the item set (at least materially) before sending to testing. Color changes require additional testing of inks and dyes, and material changes require additional testing of these components.
You'll especially need testing for the materials used (lead in steel, phthalates in synthetic fibers, colorfastness) not to mention see if there are any regulations or additional testing for animal-based materials, which I am not familiar with at all as we only use synthetics.
If you're really set on doing this, get a general idea of some costing of the actual product, draw up a NDA, and recruit some help from compliance and logistics people in the US
posted by Debaser626 at 6:49 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you're really bummed about my earlier post, you can go to this site and see if there are any factories with MOQ levels more akin to what you are looking for. Sometimes it's as low as 500-1000 pieces, but you will have to find a booking agent to find container space on a consolidated shipment, and figure out the logistics of customs, and how to pick up and what to do with the goods once they've made it to port.
You'll need to procure at least three of the base samples, take one apart, carefully photograph it with a Hi-Res camera at each stage of deconstruction from multiple angles (don't worry about cutting textiles, but you want to get an idea of the square footage of the materials used, and any supporting foam or other filler). If it's just a basic frame, you're likely OK with not violating patents, but if there's crazy hinges, snaps, or something which really adds functionality to the item, it may be patented. Then, using photoshop, make a basic diagram showing frame length, material length, patterns, and materials used.
What you're proposing: increasing the size of an existing item, provided the base item is not covered by a utility patent, is basically just a design patent, which are very loose (and really offer little protection), and provided you're not infringing on any utility patents or Trademarks from the base item, there really aren't too many legal hurdles to overcome. However, as they're really loose, it will offer you a very small amount of protection. Still, you may want to have this item "patent pending" before you submit your drawings to any factory. Don't waste your time with those 'inventor' sites. It's more expensive but more in your personal interest to contact a patent lawyer. They know what to say to not get your application denied by the Patent Office, and what forms to file. Many times, while we're performing market testing and polling buyers at the national chains for interest, it helps to have a physical sample, but we don't want to go through all the hoops, so we just tell the factory it's patent pending, when it's really not. Of course, these are factories we have been dealing with for years, so it's relatively low risk for us, but YMMV.
Once you select a factory, file a patent (or not), You'll need to figure in the sampling stage: Which is to have one of the original, uncut base samples sent (the other whole one is for your reference to check against the concept sample sent back), and then concept and Pre-Production samples shipped to back you for authorization ($200 each). You'll also need to figure out the inner box (product packaging) and the Master Carton (what is loaded on the container, this box usually contains multiple product boxes). You'll need to figure out the Master Carton Markings, which will include a UPC code which you can to purchase from GS1, your mfr. company information, lot codes, etc.
You'll also need to factor in testing of the item, both physical(abuse) and chemical. This can easily get into the thousands, as you have to make the determination to test based on the applicable protocols, and the testing facility will gladly allow you to overtest the shit out of your item. Physical testing is nominal, but chemical testing can get really expensive. This is why it's really important to get the item set (at least materially) before sending to testing. Color changes require additional testing of inks and dyes, and material changes require additional testing of these components.
You'll especially need testing for the materials used (lead in steel, phthalates in synthetic fibers, colorfastness) not to mention see if there are any regulations or additional testing for animal-based materials, which I am not familiar with at all as we only use synthetics.
If you're really set on doing this, get a general idea of some costing of the actual product, draw up a NDA, and recruit some help from compliance and logistics people in the US
posted by Debaser626 at 6:49 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Shit... I just remembered this cardinal rule..
MOST IMPORTANTLY, make once you determine the general cost of your item (to you) make sure the market can bear your required mark-up.
I've seen a ton of really good ideas which either use materials or are just priced beyond what the market will bear.
For example, a stuffed toy will retail for around $20.00. There is almost no retailer (outside boutiques) who will a touch a unproved toy for anything above their own price (likely around $12-$15) regardless of how cool it looks. The buyer doesn't want to lose his job.
Secondly, consumers will likely not want to pay significantly more for something unless it is clearly logical to do so.
posted by Debaser626 at 6:58 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
MOST IMPORTANTLY, make once you determine the general cost of your item (to you) make sure the market can bear your required mark-up.
I've seen a ton of really good ideas which either use materials or are just priced beyond what the market will bear.
For example, a stuffed toy will retail for around $20.00. There is almost no retailer (outside boutiques) who will a touch a unproved toy for anything above their own price (likely around $12-$15) regardless of how cool it looks. The buyer doesn't want to lose his job.
Secondly, consumers will likely not want to pay significantly more for something unless it is clearly logical to do so.
posted by Debaser626 at 6:58 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
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