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Ideas for Making Your Own Products
You may not be the world's greatest inventor, but I'm sure anyone can create something of their own to sell, whether by writing a book or producing a piece of limited edition craftwork, locating and redesigning a product which has long since been obsolete but is still viable today, and so on.
Tips
* Buy early magazines and newspapers at flea markets and collectors' fairs, look for adverts for easy-to-make products. You might even copy some exclusively, if copyright has lapsed, say knitting and dressmaking patterns from earlier days, simple craftwork creations, and so on. A book of tips or facts and figures can be created from researching a common theme, say dogs or household tips, from late 18th and early 19th century publications.
* Be sure not to breach copyright or other trade protection laws.
* Most reference libraries contain guides to copyright, patent and trade laws which you can study before sourcing a product to sell.
* If you need extra help, opt for a solicitor specialising in copyright and commercial law.
* Look for ideas in overseas and domestic magazines, both old and modern, concentrating on those giving design and construction plans for items you'd like to sell.
Have Someone Else Produce Goods For You
* Commission a writer to produce information products. Look for back-end products such as newsletters and courses, or choose a topic which lends itself to repeat sales. For example, how to make money on the Internet, how to succeed as a writer.
* Visit craft fairs, inventors' shows, manufacturing tradeshows. Look for products for your business and attempt to get the best deal possible. Royalties, for example, are payable only when you've sold the item, hence you do not have to provide up front payment. If in doubt, or the product creator wants money up front, offer a small payment set against future royalties.
Manufacturing Rights
* These work in the same way as reproduction rights for publications, giving you access to tried and tested marketing materials and authority to re-produce the appropriate items.
* This applies whatever the finished item, be it craftwork, furniture, software, games, fashionwear, and so on.
* As for most products the best places to seek opportunities are newspapers and trade journals, trade shows, inventors' shows, by contacting manufacturers direct, and so on.
* Contact the manufacturer, give brief details of your interest, and offer to visit an appropriate decision-maker with a view to negotiating rights.
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