inventing tiling tool

[Prem Tiler]

There are a few software programs that can do that....

ok dont worry bout it, just an idea.

 

[brian c]

BUILDING A BAKERY....I LIKE THAT LINE RUSS....lol

 

[sWe]

I've got a spreadsheet which calculates the number of tiles needed for a specific job, and it also distributes the cuts so that they're always greater than 50% of the tile (on plain surfaces). Made it mostly as a brain exercise.

 

[Deleted member 1779]

As mentioned above we have a lot of experience in bringing a product to market from concept.

Here's my path:

1) Protection. Expect to pay overall £10k for protection in two installments of £5k For an example of our patent filing click here to read it

2) Prototypes: We built a prototype for £5k

3) Market research: It cost us about another £5k in market research (time, materials, expenses)

4) Product launch: About £17k in tooling plus stock.

5) Marketing campaign: So far the annual budget is £20k and is ongoing.

6) Salary: Give yourself a realistic salary expectation. Mine was £18,000 salary.


General advice: Not all products that sell and make money need protection. Be careful about spending too much money on patents etc for the tiling market. Its surprisingly niche and there are not that many sales of equipment to the tiling industry.

Its VERY difficult to get into the tile industry. We havent managed it. (Surprised ?) We actually do well in the PLUMBING market and have been totally ignored by the tiling industry. The money we make from the plumbing sales goes into marketing into the tiling industry. If we dont make it this year then we will revise our strategy.

All ideas are a mix of risk / reward so my message and advice are to work on the protection first and then see where it takes you. Ohh and get a patent attorney to carry out a SEARCH first rather than a patent application. This does two things.
1) Lets you know if the idea stands a chance of being patented
2) Provides your team with valuable data about what to put into the application to protect your rights long term.

 

[faithhealer]

Its VERY difficult to get into the tile industry. We havent managed it. (Surprised ?) We actually do well in the PLUMBING market and have been totally ignored by the tiling industry. .

Surprised, more like stunned. did a lovely job with your drills his week Richard

 

[Prem Tiler]

As mentioned above we have a lot of experience in bringing a product to market from concept.

Here's my path:

1) Protection. Expect to pay overall £10k for protection in two installments of £5k For an example of our patent filing click here to read it

2) Prototypes: We built a prototype for £5k

3) Market research: It cost us about another £5k in market research (time, materials, expenses)

4) Product launch: About £17k in tooling plus stock.

5) Marketing campaign: So far the annual budget is £20k and is ongoing.

6) Salary: Give yourself a realistic salary expectation. Mine was £18,000 salary.


General advice: Not all products that sell and make money need protection. Be careful about spending too much money on patents etc for the tiling market. Its surprisingly niche and there are not that many sales of equipment to the tiling industry.

Its VERY difficult to get into the tile industry. We havent managed it. (Surprised ?) We actually do well in the PLUMBING market and have been totally ignored by the tiling industry. The money we make from the plumbing sales goes into marketing into the tiling industry. If we dont make it this year then we will revise our strategy.

All ideas are a mix of risk / reward so my message and advice are to work on the protection first and then see where it takes you. Ohh and get a patent attorney to carry out a SEARCH first rather than a patent application. This does two things.
1) Lets you know if the idea stands a chance of being patented
2) Provides your team with valuable data about what to put into the application to protect your rights long term.

thats is the reason ive no interest in bringing the idea to market. I spent months researching the whole protection route while doing a full time job and came to the conclusion it would end up penniless and shattered if i carried on with it. as they say, only the rich get richer!!

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Fair enough DCS. You did right to get plenty of advice. However I would still encourage people to take a risk.

Also about the tile industry I make no bones about this comment. WE ARE BEING TOTALLY IGNORED BY RETAIL IN TILING

In an effort to improve our chances I went to an external marketing team came who up with this proposal for us and it may be useful for DCS and others to read it and see what sort of costs the outside world want... Give you some insight into how marketing companies think and what they charge.

Dear Richard,

It was good to meet you the other week and to get a better understanding to 365 Drills. I must apologise for the delay in coming back to you – I felt it was important get a clearer understanding of the market and how we might be able to help to move your company forward.

Background
Just to summarise, we understand that the company was formed over 3 years ago as 365 Drills. Whilst the initial concept was the delivery of a non-slip guide plate for drilling hard porcelain tiles, value was added by including a number of diamond drills. This ‘package’ became a Diamond Drilling System known as Porsadrill. Sales primarily through the 365 Drills website and through a national plumbing trade supplier, Arctic Products.

The target market is all those who may be required to drill a hole into Porcelain, whether regularly or as a one-off project: professionals from the plumbing, tiling, bathroom/kitchen fitting, and carpentry industries together with the DIY market.

Differential
The product is unique in its simplification of diamond drilling. The ease of use of the guide plate and the fact that no pilot holes are necessary aids both professionals and DIYers. The packaging of the product to include a wide range of drill sizes adds value and widens the market.

Aim
The aim of this specific marketing initiative is to increase sales via tile outlets as well as large DIY sheds such as: B & Q and Homebase.

Factors
A concern remains in three key areas:

• 
  [*]The branding is confused. 365 Drills is promoted as the manufacturer of the product and this provides the website and on-line retail point. The product is known as Porsadrill – an excellent name – but there is neither clear promotion of this brand nor any on-line link to the product. And, finally, the product is promoted to the plumbing trade under the name Artic Products. This potentially confusing situation needs to be resolved.
  [*]Since this initiative is targeted at DIYers and independent tradesmen, it is unlikely that the full pack of both fittings and service pipe drills are required in one purchase. Since volume of sales will be a critical factor in the large sheds – dictated by a value for money calculation - the split packs will be essential.
  [*]Since there is not an unlimited budget for promoting the product, the marketing strategy needs to be creatively designed. It is our opinion that a demand led approach will be more effective than simple above the line promotions. This has the advantage of being more credible and indeed less expensive.

Pro-actions Support
Whilst this proposal only addresses a narrow sector of the market, it is our view that 365 Drills requires a considered marketing strategy and, as a result, marketing plan that is costed and scheduled. A comprehensive plan with point of sale support and national coverage will be essential to persuading the large retailers to accept the product. Pro-actions has experience with multiple retail outlets including the development and provision of point of sale material. We also have contacts within B & Q and Homebase.

It is our firm belief that we will add constructively to the marketing of Porsadrill to achieve the stated aim.

Costs
The work required may be broken down into three key areas:

• 
  [*]Delivery of a marketing strategy and plan - 3 days work @ £1350 a day (+VAT). This will cover research, analysis of factors, creation of the strategy and plan, and delivery of the strategy document.
  [*]Ongoing marketing support and advice – this is the ongoing implementation of the plan to achieve the aim, delivery of marketing initiatives, meetings and media relations. It is anticipated that to achieve the aim, a minimum of 5 days per month will be required and this element would be charged as a monthly fee of £8750
  [*]Disbursements – the annual marketing costs associated with the implementation of the plan such as: advertising, postage, travel etc with a cap of £70,000.

I can safely say that we will NOT be appointing this company. Hope the insight proves useful to DCS and lets him know some of the costs involved.

PS: I had a guy come see me and he reckoned he could guarantee that my product would get into B&Q. I told him that if he achieved it we would pay a £5000 fee if they signed a contract. Payment on results... Result? Never saw him again.

Challenge for anyone on the tile forum: If you can help get our product into ANY retail outlet we will PAY you for your introductions and / or effort. For example if you know a 50 chain tile outlet and as a result of your input they stock our product then we will reward you on a ratio basis. Can you get us into B&Q? Homebase? Focus? Topps? Buck&Hickman? Screwfix? PTS? Plumbase? RS? Wicks? Minimum payout would be £500. Max £5000.

Lot of people out there ready to TAKE money so we make sure we know what we are paying for.

 

[brian c]

first class advice Richard.:yes: :yikes:scary amounts of cash right enough for the average joe bloggs like myself.

 

[garretridge]

sounds like a good idea talk to dave he seems to have a lot of contacts!:8:

 

[Prem Tiler]

Fair enough DCS. You did right to get plenty of advice. However I would still encourage people to take a risk.

Also about the tile industry I make no bones about this comment. WE ARE BEING TOTALLY IGNORED BY RETAIL IN TILING

In an effort to improve our chances I went to an external marketing team came who up with this proposal for us and it may be useful for DCS and others to read it and see what sort of costs the outside world want... Give you some insight into how marketing companies think and what they charge.

Dear Richard,

It was good to meet you the other week and to get a better understanding to 365 Drills. I must apologise for the delay in coming back to you – I felt it was important get a clearer understanding of the market and how we might be able to help to move your company forward.

Background
Just to summarise, we understand that the company was formed over 3 years ago as 365 Drills. Whilst the initial concept was the delivery of a non-slip guide plate for drilling hard porcelain tiles, value was added by including a number of diamond drills. This ‘package’ became a Diamond Drilling System known as Porsadrill. Sales primarily through the 365 Drills website and through a national plumbing trade supplier, Arctic Products.

The target market is all those who may be required to drill a hole into Porcelain, whether regularly or as a one-off project: professionals from the plumbing, tiling, bathroom/kitchen fitting, and carpentry industries together with the DIY market.

Differential
The product is unique in its simplification of diamond drilling. The ease of use of the guide plate and the fact that no pilot holes are necessary aids both professionals and DIYers. The packaging of the product to include a wide range of drill sizes adds value and widens the market.

Aim
The aim of this specific marketing initiative is to increase sales via tile outlets as well as large DIY sheds such as: B & Q and Homebase.

Factors
A concern remains in three key areas:

• 
  [*]The branding is confused. 365 Drills is promoted as the manufacturer of the product and this provides the website and on-line retail point. The product is known as Porsadrill – an excellent name – but there is neither clear promotion of this brand nor any on-line link to the product. And, finally, the product is promoted to the plumbing trade under the name Artic Products. This potentially confusing situation needs to be resolved.
  [*]Since this initiative is targeted at DIYers and independent tradesmen, it is unlikely that the full pack of both fittings and service pipe drills are required in one purchase. Since volume of sales will be a critical factor in the large sheds – dictated by a value for money calculation - the split packs will be essential.
  [*]Since there is not an unlimited budget for promoting the product, the marketing strategy needs to be creatively designed. It is our opinion that a demand led approach will be more effective than simple above the line promotions. This has the advantage of being more credible and indeed less expensive.

Pro-actions Support
Whilst this proposal only addresses a narrow sector of the market, it is our view that 365 Drills requires a considered marketing strategy and, as a result, marketing plan that is costed and scheduled. A comprehensive plan with point of sale support and national coverage will be essential to persuading the large retailers to accept the product. Pro-actions has experience with multiple retail outlets including the development and provision of point of sale material. We also have contacts within B & Q and Homebase.

It is our firm belief that we will add constructively to the marketing of Porsadrill to achieve the stated aim.

Costs
The work required may be broken down into three key areas:

• 
  [*]Delivery of a marketing strategy and plan - 3 days work @ £1350 a day (+VAT). This will cover research, analysis of factors, creation of the strategy and plan, and delivery of the strategy document.
  [*]Ongoing marketing support and advice – this is the ongoing implementation of the plan to achieve the aim, delivery of marketing initiatives, meetings and media relations. It is anticipated that to achieve the aim, a minimum of 5 days per month will be required and this element would be charged as a monthly fee of £8750
  [*]Disbursements – the annual marketing costs associated with the implementation of the plan such as: advertising, postage, travel etc with a cap of £70,000.

I can safely say that we will NOT be appointing this company. Hope the insight proves useful to DCS and lets him know some of the costs involved.

PS: I had a guy come see me and he reckoned he could guarantee that my product would get into B&Q. I told him that if he achieved it we would pay a £5000 fee if they signed a contract. Payment on results... Result? Never saw him again.

Challenge for anyone on the tile forum: If you can help get our product into ANY retail outlet we will PAY you for your introductions and / or effort. For example if you know a 50 chain tile outlet and as a result of your input they stock our product then we will reward you on a ratio basis. Can you get us into B&Q? Homebase? Focus? Topps? Buck&Hickman? Screwfix? PTS? Plumbase? RS? Wicks? Minimum payout would be £500. Max £5000.

Lot of people out there ready to TAKE money so we make sure we know what we are paying for.

I may be able to help you there.....

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Thats great! We welcome any help in our campaign to get to retail and are ready to reward those who can make the path easier.