Thomasnet is a free resource to find prototypers and design shops - http://snurl.com/28w08 [www_thomasnet_com]
Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
21–29 of 29 posts
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#22You seem to be missing an important step, before you find a manufacturer you probably want to create a prototype. While the idea might be great in your head, you won't know if it's any good until you've built a few prototypes and tested them on your target audience. There's a TV series in the UK called Dragon's Den where inventors pitch their ideas to angels to get funding. You can actually learn a lot from watching…
I am planning on prototyping first even though that may not have been clear. There is a show in the US called American inventor which sounds similar to Dragon's Den (it probably is the same thing adapted for the US, like American Idol). I have seen American inventor and you do learn a lot. The biggest lesson is not to spend too much on something which may not sell. I have seen people go on there and state that they h…
I've seen American inventor before, it's not quite like DD. DD is pretty much like a real VC pitch type of scenario, where you have startups that have got off the ground and are looking for funding to expand. So you get a lot more variety of companies and a lot more concentration on business planning. AI seems to be a lot more focus on "best invention" and is a lot more "reality showish" then DD.
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you be more specific on the "cultural differences of how to do business." Do you just mean language?
I didn't elaborate in the parent post since it might have sounded racist. Which it isn't meant to be. It seems that asians have a different perspective of doing a deal than Europeans and Americans. Americans and Europeans think the negotiations are over when the contract is signed. Asians seem to think that the negotiations have only just started when the contract is signed, and they will try anything to cut corners…
Yes it's true. I have outsourced projects at times when I have more work then I can handle. Their best trick is to double the price we agreed on after taking the work half way. The excuse for that is that the work to be done is more than we estimated even when I clearly explain what I need before the project starts.
Though this is for software. But I know it applies to other type of work.
And yes quality is always an issue. So be careful. It's always better to have American or European company in between
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#24My fiancee is in the retail business (seasonal gifts, in 600+ stores). The key is finding a good sourcing company - there are some that will work on commission once you prove yourself to be a good product developer. They'll even haggle with the plants to get you multiple samples before forcing you into a production line.
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you be more specific on the "cultural differences of how to do business." Do you just mean language?
I didn't elaborate in the parent post since it might have sounded racist. Which it isn't meant to be. It seems that asians have a different perspective of doing a deal than Europeans and Americans. Americans and Europeans think the negotiations are over when the contract is signed. Asians seem to think that the negotiations have only just started when the contract is signed, and they will try anything to cut corners…
I'm going to have to disagree with you here. I designed a retail product and had it manufactured in China. While there are cultural differences, I didn't have any problems in terms of altering a contract after its signed, or cutting corners. The company and specific representative I dealt with was courteous, fair, and delivered on the promise completely to my expectations. Language is no doubt a barrier (the employees' english is often a few notches down from a native speaker, as expected), but it just required less requests per email, and working in a style that was compatible. Finally, there are some great benefits to working with a Chinese company: low costs, and the time difference. It's really great to be able to start up a late night email correspondence that's right in the middle of their workday.
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#26Doesn't directly help you, but Bunnie, the guy who made the Chumby, has very interesting blog posts about getting a product made in China. Check out his blog starting around January 2007.
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
I didn't elaborate in the parent post since it might have sounded racist. Which it isn't meant to be. It seems that asians have a different perspective of doing a deal than Europeans and Americans. Americans and Europeans think the negotiations are over when the contract is signed. Asians seem to think that the negotiations have only just started when the contract is signed, and they will try anything to cut corners…
I'm going to have to disagree with you here. I designed a retail product and had it manufactured in China. While there are cultural differences, I didn't have any problems in terms of altering a contract after its signed, or cutting corners. The company and specific representative I dealt with was courteous, fair, and delivered on the promise completely to my expectations. Language is no doubt a barrier (the employee…
bkow, do you mind sharing more information about your experience? What you desinged, how you contracted with, etc.? You can email me directly if you with noel AY noelgomez D O T com
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#28My fiancee is in the retail business (seasonal gifts, in 600+ stores). The key is finding a good sourcing company - there are some that will work on commission once you prove yourself to be a good product developer. They'll even haggle with the plants to get you multiple samples before forcing you into a production line.
semigeek, do you mind sharing some of your/your fiancee's experience. You can email me directly at noel AY noelgomez D OT com
I'm interested in how she got things prototyped and even how she sold things into the retail channel.
Re: Ask YC: How do you find manufacturers to outsource to?
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you be more specific on the "cultural differences of how to do business." Do you just mean language?
I didn't elaborate in the parent post since it might have sounded racist. Which it isn't meant to be. It seems that asians have a different perspective of doing a deal than Europeans and Americans. Americans and Europeans think the negotiations are over when the contract is signed. Asians seem to think that the negotiations have only just started when the contract is signed, and they will try anything to cut corners…
Seems to me that kind of thing can happen to you in any culture. It's not like business deals in the western world never go awry.