Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi,

We (Design My Idea) are working on our own invention the Corg and Cord Order.
Http://www.cordorder.com

We are sourcing manufacturers in China (USA was incredibly expensive), and starting to line up production of 50,000 unit increments monthly.  Line up I say, because, we are also trying to source buyers First before diving in.

With hard samples, virtual and the like, I feel we have a good presentation to give, but, how do you source the Buyers initially?

Trade Shows are going to be hit; giveaways for setup, gaining feedback as well as getting the word out about the product, but I`d like to start setting up with at least local stores; Office Depot, Best Buy etc.

Tips for doing so?  I`m going to be just popping into stores and chatting up people.  If we can get our 4-pack displays out, thats a start.

Thanks!



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-You may indeed fail before you succeed, but don`t make it a habit.

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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom

Looks like you`ve got a great product with lots of potential. Are you selling them yet or is it still in the prototype stage? The big box office retailers tend to be followers not leaders. They`re usually (not always) interested in seeing a sales track record in other outlets before they`ll take a chance on a new item. It`s not impossible to get a totally new product on the shelves of the big guys but you`ve really got to do your homework beforehand and make a compelling case. You might look at approaching distributors that are currently selling to your target customers.

Good luck,
Ron

Hi and thanks for the replies.

We are currently in the prototype phase.  We have working samples, and have had a bad experience with plastic injection molding firm, which has set back our production.

Thank you very much for the Staples contact, I`ll cruise around for more information and target the mom-and pop stores.

I`ll post updates.

Thanks!



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-You may indeed fail before you succeed, but don`t make it a habit.

Just going to share a slice of the organic level.. 

I have to disagree with Tiger Taco, I have cold called many big box buyers with much success of getting in.  Just make your presentation flawless.  Not making guarantees, but it will not hurt your efforts to try!

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Trent Rousey
President - 3R Products, Inc.

Awww you don`t "have to" disagree  LOL (that awww sound is what my daughter says when I pull her away from something good; so it`s endearing and not bad or sarcastic).

 

This is what I love about SuN; we all have similar experience skinning the same cat while at times getting different results; and it`s not just because we`re different product or people or whatever; sometimes that`s just the way it goes ... it`s the sharing of these things with people in the throws (or soon to be) of similar things which gives me a sense of reality; my family and friends don`t get it, but sometimes I think "you" do.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how some companies seem to have such an easy go at things and when I finally end up talking to someone I`m sure they have me pegged for the dude who just ran down their dog in the street.

 

I hope whatever I post here is accepted as "imho" (based on my own experiences) and given for whatever it`s worth; it`s not really ever something anyone has to agree with or that kind of thing; it`s not like you can`t check out profiles and sites and see how we`re living the life and all that jazz ... it`s what makes us all here and available and open to stuff (I could fill pages with specific things I`ve done wrong over the past two years and that`s just with big box stores!~)

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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom

Thank you for all the replies.

"a simple taco maker" I love it (I`m checking out your sites)!  I have had in my own experience (outside of this product) had success with cold-calling but always with the same variables.  Intensely frustrating, somewhat time-deficient (depending on your product and your opportunity cost of the time in cold-calling) and a bit of luck.

I will be starting a blog, submitting it all over the place, and garnering interest.

We have received a couple oversea`s bids for production and will soon be developing it in mass quantity.

We`ll see where it goes :)





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-You may indeed fail before you succeed, but don`t make it a habit.

That sounds great ... keep us posted; I`ll add your blog to my reader (I`ll have to find again; not sure how I found it before (ur in UT), but I remember thinking your main site is very rich with content and how I thought it was interesting seeing Key`s site there ... and how he`s been blogging a lot about how bringing a product to market as a mfg is different than licensing only kind of thing).

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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom

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Jamie Dufrene
JC Enterprises
Contract Consulting Services

PH:   (719)650-6413
FAX: (719) 494-0453
jamie.dufrene@jceconsulting.net

Find out more about JC Enterprises at:
www.jceconsulting.net