There’s hardly a feeling more exciting than working on a new product for your brand.
Whether it’s the first product you’ve ever tried to sell or a new product line that you’re dying to add to your lineup, designing a new product can be a lot of fun.
But to make the dream of a new product a reality, it has to be manufactured at some point.
To prevent the dream from ending and the bubble from bursting, we’ve created a quick overview of each step of the journey and shown you exactly how to get your product made.
How to Make Your Product: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s jump right in and identify some of the key steps you need to follow to make your product, assuming you’ve already tested your ideas and are ready to use them.
Don’t skip: Product Sourcing Blueprint – Use the same method this expert used for 2,500 products
Consider the local or foreign solution
The first thing to consider is where you want to source your supplier from. There are pros and cons to choosing a local supplier, as well as choosing a supplier from a country like China.
With a local manufacturer, you will likely have to pay slightly higher costs and have less choice of manufacturers due to the economic situation in the USA. But you can also build a much closer relationship with your supplier. This is ideal if you ever run into problems or have urgent questions that need answering.
It also reduces the likelihood of delivery problems as products travel distances are much shorter. However, you’ll get cheaper options and more choice if you look abroad.
Send the correct first message
Once you’ve identified a few potential suppliers you might want to work with, it’s important to get your first message worded just right.
Your first message should be clear and concise and include:
- A description of the product you are looking for.
- How do you see your potential long-term relationship?
- A pitch of your brand and mission.
Remember, you’re trying to sell them as a long-term supplier for your product, and while some suppliers will just say “yes” to get your money, the very best ones will be much more selective about who they work with , meaning your first message is crucial to starting off on the right foot.
Get samples
Once you’ve found a few suppliers and confirmed they’re interested in working with you, it’s time to request some samples. Suppliers tend to place one-off orders on a regular basis, but should be willing to provide you with at least a sample of your product so you can test everything and make sure it works and looks as it should.
This is a crucial step that you shouldn’t miss. Otherwise, you could end up with thousands of defects that take up important space in your warehouse and cost a lot to fix.
Negotiate the price
Now that you’re happy with your samples and have had them tested by your potential audience to ensure there are no failures, it’s time to place your first order.
All suppliers have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) that you must meet, otherwise manufacturing your product will not be worth their time and effort.
This MOQ depends on several factors:
- The manufacturer’s size
- Cost (distance) of shipping
- Complexity of product design
However, one thing is always the same: this number is negotiable as long as you approach it correctly. By explaining your long-term plans and building a relationship with your supplier, you may be able to negotiate the minimum order quantity, reducing costs as you continue to grow your brand.
Once sales start, you can start increasing order quantities.
Make your first order
Once the quantity and price are confirmed, the last thing you need to do is place your first order! When placing your first order, make sure that you write down, sign and confirm everything beforehand to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Because in the unlikely event that your new product gets stuck on a boat in the Suez Canal and is kindly dug up by locals, you don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out whether or not you’re eligible for a refund.
Whatever terms you agree to, it is important that both parties get them signed on an official document before work begins to protect yourself in the event of any problems.
Keep learning: Here’s how to find a manufacturer that won’t burn you
You have your product, now it’s time to sell it
Now that your product has completed the complex journey to your front door, it’s time to start selling it before your partner gives you dirty looks as they pass by all the boxes stacked in the kitchen.
While we don’t offer relationship support, we do offer a free guide with 500 product ideas to help you get started and make your business a huge success.
