Avoid the Potholes
When pursuing an idea, unforeseen obstacles may surface along the way, causing you to lose time and momentum in trying to get it off the ground. The following are some common obstacles people can face when pursuing an idea on their own.
- Not conducting thorough pre-development.
- Not allocating enough money.
- Working with people who aren't trustworthy or experienced.
- Underestimating the time needed to develop a product.
- Patenting an idea that is not fully developed.
For example, John Clark, an experienced track coach, faced such obstacles in developing his speed machine, a new type of exercise equipment that would change the way athletes trained. He began to pursue his idea in 1985 but encountered several challenges and had to educate himself about how to develop a new product, so it wasn't until 1993 that he received a patent.
Trying to get his new product off the ground was a continual struggle for Mr. Clark. He was unable to find the right people to assist him, and it cost him approximately $100,000 for a professional prototype to be built.
Columbia News Service - April 10, 2002
You don't have to try to do it all on your own, as Mr. Clark did. We can assist individuals with new product ideas in developing their ideas into finished product samples that are ready for presentation to a corporation. When pursuing an idea for the first time, it is best to work with a company that knows the process in order to avoid the common mistakes.
Unless you're experienced at new product development, knowledgeable about taking products from concept to market and have successfully repeated the process many times, you may want to consider advice from experienced professionals. Having the right mindset is also important. You need to be prepared to invest time and money into your project.
If you have an idea for a new or improved product and would like assistance from a company that has placed products on the store shelves, we recommend that you fill out a free information form and Davison will send you information on how to pursue your new or improved product idea.
