Marketing our new Dioctipoid product.... Help!!

[Dioctipoid]

Hi all,

Wonder if any of you can offer some advice. We are a new company called Moulding Innovations Ltd, who have just released a new product called Dioctipoid. I have written more about it on the Introductions page, but basically its like a Rubiks Cube but round and a lot lot more difficult!

All the feedback so far (and from some on here too) has been very positive on the product, though the website came in for a look of criticism (warranted I had to agree!). We have now updated that and looks loads better.

My question is how do I go about getting this Dioctipoid out there? We are engineers really and so marketing etc is a bit new to us! Money is very limited as we have invested so much in the product and manufacturing.

What should we do, it really is a great product, we just feel it needs to get out there, visible etc

Thanks

 

[garyk]

I didnt see any videos on your site? This is definitely a 'have to see it working' product and your site isnt doing that. Get several videos done and get them onto youtube. It looks like it would sell well via in-store demonstrations or at stands in shopping centres I think you need people on the street to generate some initial buzz in the product and then build on that. Attend as many local networking meetings as you can so you can demo it and you never know someone in the room may have connections with an outlet that you stock the item for you.

Good Luck!


Gary

 

[Dioctipoid]

Appreciate comments...

We are getting a video made which will be on the website soon, and then I guess its like you say just trying to get out there as much as poss!

We have also thought about shopping centres as well, will will follow that up.

Excuse my naiveity but Network meetings?

Thanks again

 

[Esk247]

Networking - like Business Link etc who hold events for business owners to attend, business breakfasts, mini trade shows in local towns etc. A good way of introducing your product to company owners who may well be interested in making an order with you.

I really like your product actually. Quirky isn't it.

Have you had much success with finding retailers that wish to stock the item?

 

[davidtenna]

I am mechanic from past 10 years now and had been working at vairous places during these years now i have decided to invest in my on shop at work like a local mechanic my specialty is with diesel engine . Can some one suggest me how i can get loan for this . And what are the basic's needed for entering in such a market.

 

[Dioctipoid]

Networking - like Business Link etc who hold events for business owners to attend, business breakfasts, mini trade shows in local towns etc. A good way of introducing your product to company owners who may well be interested in making an order with you.

I really like your product actually. Quirky isn't it.

Have you had much success with finding retailers that wish to stock the item?

Thanks Esk247 for reply... will have a look around for opportunities!

Glad you like it, feel free to go and purchase a few and tell all your friends!

Cheers

Paul

 

[Deleted member 120503]

Hello Paul

Have you been cheeky and gone onto the retail section and asked if any of them would like to stock your product?

Some of them must sell these types of things.

Dan

 

[Dioctipoid]

Hello Paul

Have you been cheeky and gone onto the retail section and asked if any of them would like to stock your product?

Some of them must sell these types of things.

Dan

Thanks Dan,

As you say maybe a bit cheeky, but worth a go, so have put a posting on Retail section!

If I get anywhere, will send you free sample!

Thanks

Paul

 

[marketingquotes]

Hi There,

It may be good to talk to a marketing company that knows the retail industry - guessing you are wanting to get the product into shops?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

 

[Dioctipoid]

Hi There,

It may be good to talk to a marketing company that knows the retail industry - guessing you are wanting to get the product into shops?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

There were two options - shops / own online.... We are open to either, and think it will be great if it was "out there" (marketed properly!) This is probably our issue, marketing... Someone who knows how to get it into the market. Also, money is an issue having spent so much so far!

Thanks

 

[marketingquotes]

Hi There,

Completely understand; marketing companies can certainly cover both shops & online - and can work around your budget (most knowing the costs involved in initial setup/development and taking a new product to market).

Shall we get a couple of retail experts to drop you some ideas over to chew over?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

 

[Dioctipoid]

Hi There,

Completely understand; marketing companies can certainly cover both shops & online - and can work around your budget (most knowing the costs involved in initial setup/development and taking a new product to market).

Shall we get a couple of retail experts to drop you some ideas over to chew over?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

Hi, that would be great so we know what we are looking at.

If you can drop me something, I can then discuss with partners and hopefully we can get moving.

appreciate your help!

Paul

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Hi again Paul,

I followed your last thread on here and whilst I can see that your website is a great improvement on the last one, I have to say it still just isn't 'good enough'.

I know you have put a lot of effort into this venture and I think the product is great, but your website still smacks of a dodgy chinese importer which I know you aren't.

Just to clarify before I continue, I'm not a web designer and so I'm not selling you any services here. Who designed your website, did you hire a professional?

 

[garyk]

get these in as many hands as possible! I was thinking today whilst seeing a small course setup and people going around on segueways (as in anyone could have a go) people need to see it! This was in paternoster square in the city, always busy at lunchtime so get out there!

Gary

 

[Psl]

I like them but why is 1.0 and the 2.0 the same price?
Why not £14.99 for 1.0 and £19.99 for 2.0?

 

[Esk247]

There were two options - shops / own online.... We are open to either, and think it will be great if it was "out there" (marketed properly!) This is probably our issue, marketing... Someone who knows how to get it into the market. Also, money is an issue having spent so much so far!

Thanks

You don't need much money to get in to the wholesale/distribution market. You just need contacts or a good idea of a target within the buying department.

You have the product, you have some idea of the retail side and some feedback from potential retail and wholesale buyers from these forums.

Go forth and allow Dioctipoid to roam freely among the fields of the retail outlets!

The website, ain't great, does it matter for wholesale? nah.

Packaging doesn't look great in the pictures, does it matter for wholesale? not really, most companies have branded packaging, they won't need you to package the items yourself.

I think you're more suited to being a development and manufacturing company rather than worry about retail. You dont have money for marketing, you dont know how to market the product in a difficult retail arena, the product is stand alone at the moment so its going to be hard to target retail customers.

It is do able under retail conditions and through social media, but imo, wholesale it guys. Get some dosh in, use it as a flagship product and then come up with another great item, soon you will have a variety of them to show off at trade shows (NEC Birmingham for instance, search for Autumn Fair for next year).

I agree with others that your website is lacking but like i keep saying, you can prat around with it for months and in that time you're losing your edge and your sanity most probably. Keep buzzy, keep active, keep networking. Other people have cool ideas and suggestions, but you won't find those out if you stay inside planning too much.

 

[tonyrobbinssales]

Hi there,

Just want to give you an advice on how to do with your product. I thinks Tony Robbins can help with your problem



Learn The Key Learning Curve That Takes A Business To $1 Million, Then $10 Million, Then $100 Million, And Even On To $1 Billion…

 

[Dioctipoid]

get these in as many hands as possible! I was thinking today whilst seeing a small course setup and people going around on segueways (as in anyone could have a go) people need to see it! This was in paternoster square in the city, always busy at lunchtime so get out there!

Gary

Thanks Gary, you are right we need to be out there more showing people. We have booked a stand at Interplas at NEC end of this month, so we hope that will be a big push for us.

After that, will be like you say areas where there will be lots of people etc. Christmas coming up sure people will want a pressie for some member of the family that they haven't got a clue what to get!!

 

[Dioctipoid]

I like them but why is 1.0 and the 2.0 the same price?
Why not £14.99 for 1.0 and £19.99 for 2.0?

Hi Psl

Reason they are the same price is that they there is exactly the same cost involved in each one. Level 1.0 is different in only the white diamonds, which is just different colour to the diamond in level 2.0. All manufacturing processes, assembly is the same.

Level 1.0 is just easier than level 2.0, though level 1.0 is hard enough trust me!

 

[Dioctipoid]

You don't need much money to get in to the wholesale/distribution market. You just need contacts or a good idea of a target within the buying department.

You have the product, you have some idea of the retail side and some feedback from potential retail and wholesale buyers from these forums.

Go forth and allow Dioctipoid to roam freely among the fields of the retail outlets!

The website, ain't great, does it matter for wholesale? nah.

Packaging doesn't look great in the pictures, does it matter for wholesale? not really, most companies have branded packaging, they won't need you to package the items yourself.

I think you're more suited to being a development and manufacturing company rather than worry about retail. You dont have money for marketing, you dont know how to market the product in a difficult retail arena, the product is stand alone at the moment so its going to be hard to target retail customers.

It is do able under retail conditions and through social media, but imo, wholesale it guys. Get some dosh in, use it as a flagship product and then come up with another great item, soon you will have a variety of them to show off at trade shows (NEC Birmingham for instance, search for Autumn Fair for next year).

I agree with others that your website is lacking but like i keep saying, you can prat around with it for months and in that time you're losing your edge and your sanity most probably. Keep buzzy, keep active, keep networking. Other people have cool ideas and suggestions, but you won't find those out if you stay inside planning too much.

Thanks again Esk

Makes a lot of sense.... We are at NEC end of Sept for Interplas (although more plastics based as opposed to toys, should be plenty opportunity for networking).

Think you right too about website, we could sit here tweaking every little bit, but time has come to say despite its appeal, its better than before and once the product is known the website will just be a conduit for that! Hopefully anyway!

Anyway thanks again for all the comments, will pop back soon and let you all know how its developing! - and remember if any of you need something different for a Christmas present......

 

[WebTrust]

Getting new packaging and branding doesn't need to cost a fortune and you don't need to spend thousands you can always hire third world artists at a fraction of the cost and there generally very good.

 

[Call Tracker]

Could send some free samples to buyers at all the big toy stores? Its the kind of product that needs to be seen. If you had a stall outside a busy london station or one of the Sunday markets you would shift lots before xmas. Also, try and get some exposure in the press - draw up a list of national press and send them photos and a press release.

 

[HitchTalkTV]

Appreciate comments...

We are getting a video made which will be on the website soon, and then I guess its like you say just trying to get out there as much as poss!

We have also thought about shopping centres as well, will will follow that up.

Excuse my naiveity but Network meetings?

Thanks again

Hello,

When you get your products placed at shopping centres, how about placing Photo Frames (or a small TV) beside them so that the products become more attractive to the customers ? Have a great video ad playing repeat on the photo frames/TV.

I see that you've got video creation working up already, but you might still want to check out our cost-effective services.

Let me know if you have questions,
Yuko

 

[Dioctipoid]

Could send some free samples to buyers at all the big toy stores? Its the kind of product that needs to be seen. If you had a stall outside a busy london station or one of the Sunday markets you would shift lots before xmas. Also, try and get some exposure in the press - draw up a list of national press and send them photos and a press release.

Thanks for advice, good idea there about press release, especially I think as we are based in UK and manufacturing here, could be a good story in these times!

Cheers

 

[Dioctipoid]

Hello,

When you get your products placed at shopping centres, how about placing Photo Frames (or a small TV) beside them so that the products become more attractive to the customers ? Have a great video ad playing repeat on the photo frames/TV.

I see that you've got video creation working up already, but you might still want to check out our cost-effective services.

Let me know if you have questions,
Yuko

I agree, after we have been to the exhibition at NEC, think we will need to follow up with more exposure etc.

Will see what our video comes out like, and if not as we hope will give you a call!

 

[HitchTalkTV]

I agree, after we have been to the exhibition at NEC, think we will need to follow up with more exposure etc.

Will see what our video comes out like, and if not as we hope will give you a call!

Hello,

That would be great
Good luck on your product !

Yuko