Getting a tool manufactured

[John Benton]

Bri could you get the patent, get someone else to make it and stand the charges, and then take a %age from each sale.

Sounds like Dragons Den I know but you could put an awful lot of time and effort into something that will make you very little, although you may get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing a product you designed on the shelves.

 

[Ian]

Deano, that's exactly the sort of info I was after, thanks mate. I'm not sure I could find a big enough market to sell 25,000 units, I think 5000 would be the limit to be honest, it could make a few quid rather than making me my millions. I'll have a look into it and if it's not financially viable to do, I'll carry on sticking squares and rectangles to walls and floors!

 

[The D]

Why only 5000 m8 is it specialist ????

 

[Gazzer]

Its hard to say really as we dont know whether this is a one time purchase or something that needs to be renewed occasionally.
Is it just for UK markets or worldwide. For professionals or DIY too ?

 

[Tony73]

It's a robot that does all the tiling for you, you just drop it off on a Monday and then sit at home while it does a weeks work for you, then pick it up and take it to the next job, I reckon it'll cost about £10 to make, lol! I'll post here first if I think it's gonna be viable to make/sell it!

if it does mitre mizz- i'll take 1

 

[Dougs Third Go]

Mrs Doug contacted Anne Summers..#toomuchinfo.com

 

[Dan]

Bri,

Try make a mock-up out of sheet metal and nippers (if possible) and take that to a tooling company. If it's just one tool needed to make the part, then it might not cost as much as you think, and once you have the one tool made, it'll fit various machines so you sometimes have a little bargaining power there as you can take YOUR tool elsewhere.

Chinese firms will be able to make it you the cheapest but you'll normally have to buy a half container or so.

I wouldn't go down the patent route unless it's really something other companies have the time to mess around with. If you say only 5k would want it, max 9k, then they might not be interested at 50p profit an item. Worth considering global sales though as your 5k figure sounds a bit glass half empty to me. Believe in your idea matey and give it a bash because you'll regret it if you don't.

Even deano seems to have tried and at least he can say he did now, even though still on tools.

 

[Andy Allen]

is it one of those grab thingy's for get spacers out the top row of tiles.....lol

 

[Ian]

Why only 5000 m8 is it specialist ????

Its hard to say really as we dont know whether this is a one time purchase or something that needs to be renewed occasionally.
Is it just for UK markets or worldwide. For professionals or DIY too ?

its not really specialist, it's kind of a trowel. Once you had one you wouldn't need to buy another, it wouldn't wear out. It could be used by DIY or pro, I suppose I'm just guessing how many might sell, it maybe more if it went global. I'm convinced it will help the everyday tiler. I'll keep you in suspense for a bit longer!

 

[Peter]

Must be made from the same type of material that Sigma make their cutting machines with. :lol: