Finding a manufacturer of an existing product

Re: [spiers] Finding a manufacturer of an existing product


On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 05:03:57 -0000, "mgranich" wrote :

> 1) Instead of doing the research outlined in Chapter 4 of John's book,
> why not contact the manufacturer directly?

***Assuming you have the name, that is always an option. Once you have done
so, they will
ask themselves 'why should we work with you?" See #3...***
>
> 2) How can you find the manufacturer of a product if all what the
> product says is "Made in China" or "Made in Japan"?

***If you can send the countries commercial attache a sample of the item, if not
a picture,
they likely can track down the supplier. If a foreignor had a car water pump in
hand, how
long would it take for the USA commerical attache to figure out "Delco" or a
computer chip or
a glass item. To us it is daunting, to natives no big deal.***

> 3) What is stopping the manufacturer from giving the idea to the
> customer whos product they are already producing and getting paid for
> vs. me, an unknown potential customer?

***What is best for the manufacturer? If your item is a commodity and you
provide no value,
then naturally they will cut you out as they should. Nothing you can do about
it. But then,
we would never try to deal in commodity items, it is not our business.

Our business is competing on design. Here your value, initially, is what the
supplier can learn
about usa market based on what you have found wanting in the market. Working on
frequency, this can be worthwhile to you, but unlikely of interest to other,
more established
companies.

No one knows if the idea will sell. Why would an established company prefer
your best guess
to the best guesses they are working on?

What if your idea is a winner? Then in you the manufacturer has another
customer. Then the
manufacturer has one more customer bringing new ideas. Why would a manufacturer
wreck
a relationship, a fruitful one by going around you?

For what it is work, I have never seen, in 35 years, a supplier go around an
importer at the
compete-on-design level. I've seen my products knocked off many times, but
always this is
junk sold into markets I have no interest in.

Some people say "you must get intellectual property rights and stop people from
stealing
your ideas!" Why? they can never sell to my customers, I dont want to sell to
theirs, dealing
with lawyerrs is outside of my lifestyle... what is in it for me?

"Going around me" is a fear often expressed. Within the narrow, realistic,
boundaries I am
pointing out, it is not going to happen. Get going and see if you are so lucky
to have
something people want to "steal" and see if you care.

I hope this makes sense...

John

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