Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Long time since I`ve been on here, but I`m working on a new product.  I`ve been on it not full time since I have a day job, but a good a moutn of time for 2 months.  Between dream and reality, I`ve probably made about 10-15 changes so far.  Still the same basic idea, just changes.  Without giving away the idea, the equivalent of changing from a zipper to buttons.

 

Just thought it would be interesting for anyone else to tell how many changes they made along the way from idea to reality.  I think too often, myself included, we come up with an idea and race to sell it without really having the product.  Then later find out we can`t get what we want to sell.

interesting thought of going from zipper to button ... do share when you can!

 

We did about 12 prototypes of tacos; this is actually the ones we made and not just drawing out on paper.  It`s an easy product and concept but there`s still some what is best questions and all that jazz.

 

We made our first sale(s) with just the prototype (and a scaled version at that) that proved/showed the solution to the problem we solved for the customer ... we continued to work our designs and utility and claims and sales/brand and junk for 11 months under our provisional and so when we filed for our actual patent we had a good feel for what we wanted to protect based upon what works and what sells.

I think many entrepreneurs try too hard to make the product/website/etc. 100% perfect before they show it to customers. Their time to market becomes very long and they may risk ending up with a product the customers aren’t asking for. Simply because they haven’t got the vital customer feedback in the development process.

I even think quite a few entrepreneurs never bring their products to the market because they are working so long time with making the product perfect – without really getting anywhere – that they lose interest in the project.

 

So my advice would be: Accept that the product is only 95% perfect and start selling. Make adjustments when time and money allows it.