Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

 It's always hard for the smaller operators, Marcy. The issue is that you just aren't big enough to interest the established factories. They make huge numbers of each product and they are busy enough keeping their factory doing this. The effort of a new product is huge for them, and only worthwhile if the orders are of an equally impressive size.

My suggestion: forget about the hinge companies at the start. Make sure you have a good design and you have some idea about the best manufacturing operation (an engineer can help with this if you need it). Then find a manufacturer (probably a small to medium sized one) who has the required capability. Their costs per unit will probably be higher, but they will at least be interested in your business and they will make what you want. I assume that your hinge will be unique and have some feature that can justify the slight extra cost.

 

I hope that helps you. It is a similar story for a lot of small operators and start ups. They look for an established factory of the product when they probably need to first identify the required capabilities and then search for a suitable factory.

 

All the best

Hello Everyone,

I am just starting out and thought myself very lucky to have found a local company in California with people on the ground in China. Unfortunately, eighteen months later I have instead ended up with a company that seems to not keep to schedules or costs for prototype work. Add to this the fact that I had already lined up appointments with retail buyers, only to cancel them because the prototypes were not here as promised and are now over due by twelve weeks. This company wants me to pay them $3600 for provisional patent work (which I refused to use because it was horribly written) and consulting but I haven't seen anything.

Is this standard in the industry? Is it reasonable? They did do some consulting but by no means was it worth $3600. We do not have any type of contract in place. Can someone recommend sites or templates for a standard agreement.

Thanks.

Sayedah

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For free manufacturing quotes, try WMI (Weaver Manufacturing Inc) in Columbia Missouri.  They are a small contract manufacturer that has been doing business for over 27 years and remain competetive in both domestic and international markets. 

www.wmico.com

 

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Hi guys,

        THis is Howie from EpsilonChina. I am currently running a manufacturing company in China, looking for US customers aiming for outsourcing. I'd glad to become your contract manufacturer.  Shoot me an email at howie.low@epsilonchina.com and I am more than happy to provide quotation to you.

 

Howie

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I'm trying to find a company that will manufacture a good quality crock pot for me with my logo on it. I would love to have something here in the states. Is that totally unreasonable in this day and age? Anybody know of any companies that might do this?

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I am looking for a contract manufacturer to build a product I have designed.

I have a prototype that I had made up at a local metal shop.  It is very simple and simply requires two peices to be welded together. Would love for it to be american made. Anyone know of a CM that would handle this kind of work. All I keep finding is electronics manufacturers.  Mine might be too simple.

 

Thanks

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Herbert,

I just joined this website today (great site).  I have a startup metal fabrication shop and am very interested in reviewing/quoting your product... if I have not already missed the boat.  My business is a one man show right now but I have CNC cutting equipment as well as welding capabilities.  My current full-time job is as a manufacturing engineer.  I have experience with oxy-fuel, plasma, plasma/punching, and laser cutting.  I also have experience with press brakes, robotics, and various metal finishing machines.  I routinely work with design engineers to make products more fabrication friendly.  If you (or anyone else reading this) are interested in getting a quote for the fabrication or design consultation of your product please send me a private message with your email address and we can get the ball rolling.

Thanks!

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That's Great. MJ has provide such good knowledge regarding contract manufacturer . I was just wanted to know from some experienced person and i just got this forum and found it good.

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To add to the list of business portals I would like to recommend my website www.toboc.com

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Kenny Schwimmer, Online Marketing Executive www.toboc.com

Hi everyone,

I would like to add that Mexico has a large variety of contract manufacturing companies that are worth looking at. I will use my company as an example of the advantages to working with a company that is commercially based in USA and manufactures in Mexico. Please keep in mind these advantages could apply to other types of CMs as well!

If you are looking for an electronic board contract manufacturing please check out www.americangreeninc.com or contact me (sales@americangreeninc.com)

Being commercially run from San Diego, CA and manufacturing in Tijuana, Mexico gives us distinct advantages over Asia:

-Labor costs and currency rates stable in Mexico. Constantly increasing overseas.
-We ship out of San Diego giving us much lower freight charges
-We allow higher flexibility in shipment schedules. We can accommodate shipments 1/week vs 1/month often seen overseas. This can help keep your inventory down.
-Gauranteed better payment terms and flexibility
-You will benefit from better communication and higher customer service.
-We can do high and low volume at a high volume rate
-We keep more business in America (ie: component purchasing, logistics, engineering, sales)
-Much lower risk of counterfeit threats

I encourage everyone to keep this in mind when searching for your next contract manufacturer. Working with a US based company with manufacturing in Mexico has numerous advantages! Let me know if you have any questions!

Best of luck!

Nicolas Floresta

 

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