Just a Quickie on where this street leads.
Let me give you a little insight into the type of things that you will come across trying to marketing your product.
Packaging, Marketing, and Demand for your product is surprisingly the easy part. It’s cost competitive and supply that is the killer. It comes down to what are you willing to sacrifice. In my situation, trying to hold down a full time job and meeting all the need of being a family person. Was just too difficult.
You just simply have to give up all your spare time to be successful. (All of your spare time.) It very easy goes from just a winter thing to an all the time thing. The wholesaler’s, so they don’t tie their money up want to advertise your product in next years catalog. This you have to confirm,’ to them in late October or early November that you can supply them your product. If you are lucky it will “only be 500. Usually it’s 1000 or 5000. You think wow I have made it, I can’t believe it. You send them your product, in February or March you figure “whew” I can take a break, get some quality time in with the family’ may be get some rods ready for the spring run. Look, like a piece of cake right. Phone call comes in, in “MAY” always in “MAY”. Why can’t they stock their dam shelves in the winter? Its because the business you have ventured into is a year round thing. You will get these calls in July and August too. That is if you plan on making the product your self.
I can tell you, it’s not the greatest feeling knowing that when you get home after work you need to make that product if you want to succeed. This is also true if you are automated.
As demand comes in, and it “will”. It becomes very evident if it’s a good product; you need to do it full time.
As well as just about all you spare time. I remember when I was younger, I thought it seemed at the time where I liked to fish so much that opening up a tackle shop seemed like a good idea. As I got older I realized, after talking to some tackle shop owners I have got to now over the years, you just about have to give up any type for serious fishing. I am “glad”, and “broke”, having not made that decision in my life. “The family and fishing was well worth giving all that up.” All wholesalers want samples. You may never hear from them after that. You have to be willing to give your product away and be willing to watch them make more on it than you are. It’s a fact of capitalism. You could all ways do what I do, supply a few loyal tackle shops with your product. Advertizing seemed to be a brake even deal. And by the way, you are taxed by the Federal Government on “all” sales. Needless to say my family and fishing quest became my priority. My intention is to pursue this business when I retire. When I will have more idle time on my hands. That is if I can’t hold a rod in my hands and stand in a boat. And by the way give up the addiction I have for the “quest” for that dam Mystical Striped fish.
Later, Linesides
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