New product. Now what?!

[Anon2731]

Hi all,

I've recently got the funding for a new gadget for personal safety. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to physical products as I've only really sold services before.

In brief, it's a small bluetooth button which connects to a phone by bluetooth.

I've considered cab firms, estate agents and online daters. I was wondering what some more experienced people think in terms of how to best approach them. The thought of just strolling into an estate agent's and asking to speak to the manager seems a bit spammy/abrupt.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Guess the main buyers would be families to give to pensioners living alone, Girls who get taxi at night and want to warn someone without making a phone call and being overheard asking for help

Jewlers shops where you cannot be seen alerting anyone in a robbery

Sounds like a great idea, good luck

 

[Mr D]

Yes, disabled & pensioner support groups may be interested for their members. Maybe delivery drivers / taxi drivers and those wanting a night out.
Babysitters even. Someone gets in the house....

 

[Anon2731]

Thank you Chris. Yes they are all good ideas, though I imagine jewellers already have silent alarms which probably go straight to the police. Maybe I should just go in and ask what safety precautions they have in place (without making them suspicious that I'm organising a heist ).

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Have you noticed that the top 100% of companies who are a target for thieves never have face level camera's or secret ones looking out of the windows to record those casing the joint

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Police have something similar, it's built into their body cams or receivers I think it's more of an actual GPS emergency call button though rather than a bluetooth unit... it's a very good idea though.

Other possible customers would be:

Locksmiths
Bailiffs
Security Guards
24 hour call out service providers
OAP's
Delivery Drivers
Leaflet delivery companies
Prison guards

 

[Anon2731]

Police have something similar, it's built into their body cams or receivers I think it's more of an actual GPS emergency call button though rather than a bluetooth unit... it's a very good idea though.

Other possible customers would be:

Locksmiths
Bailiffs
Security Guards
24 hour call out service providers
OAP's
Delivery Drivers
Leaflet delivery companies
Prison guards

That's correct, they have something called an 'EMMER' button on their personal radios. When they press it, they automatically transmit to every other officer monitoring that channel, they then shout their location for more units to assist.

It's pretty much a civilian version of that but via text, except the user isn't expected to know the road name they happen to be on at all times as police officers are.

What I'd really like your opinions on is how best to go about starting the conversation with these industries. Perhaps just strolling in with the finished product and hope I can speak to someone in charge?

I appreciate all the replies!

 

[Mr D]

Have you noticed that the top 100% of companies who are a target for thieves never have face level camera's or secret ones looking out of the windows to record those casing the joint

Not that you would notice... or you may notice and in reality its a dummy.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Have you noticed that the top 100% of companies who are a target for thieves never have face level camera's or secret ones looking out of the windows to record those casing the joint

There's a number of reasons for this you know

1. A camera that is at face level - will and can be vandalised.
2. A CCTV Camera is there to provide video evidence of the area for whatever reason - just filming face height would be a negative responder because people don't look directly at a camera for starters and those that do are the ones that have something to say about it for whatever reason they like to give...
3. unprofessionally installed cameras. i.e. cameras have not been installed fit for purpose.

Another issue that installers have is that the privacy act in the uk is still a complete farce.

 

[Anon2731]

It must make financial sense.. maybe CCTV setup fee's and ongoing costs for the systems outweigh the loss from thefts in some cases. Who knows!

 

[The Byre]

What you need is someone who sells it for you, i.e. a wholesaler.

Better still, have the technology licensed to some global manufacturer.

To this end, I would identify key security wholesalers in the UK and beyond from the list of last year's exhibitors in the security classification at the CeBIT fair here -

http://www.cebit2017.de/de/ausstell...zeichnisse/ausstellerkurzlisten/?as_a=1700705

Go though that list and see if any of them may be a fit for you and your product. Send them a letter, make some calls and then arrange to meet at the fair or elsewhere, maybe in advance.

Also go through all the UK computer fair lists and see if anybody might be a match.

If nothing transpires, then you have to start exhibiting at some trade fairs yourself. Anyone with a funky new product usually gets snapped up pretty quickly!

 

[billmccallum1957]

I have a few contacts in the charity sector.

What would be your price to distributors?

 

[Anon2731]

I have a few contacts in the charity sector.

What would be your price to distributors?

Great. Price to distributors will be £30. The finishing touches are currently being made to the Android App, so all will be finalised in a week or so. I currently have 500 units ready to distribute as soon as the finishing touches to the app have been made.

 

[MBE2017]

I think a lot of the potential success from your product will be down to how reliable it is and if it actually works.

Best of luck.

 

[Anon2731]

I think a lot of the potential success from your product will be down to how reliable it is and if it actually works.

Best of luck.

Thanks MBE2017. I spent a bit more than I could have to ensure a quality bluetooth antenna in each device. As long as the mobile phone is nearby (max clear distance 50m) the devices work fluently. The technology is fairly simple, so the device relies on having a strong connection with the smartphone to work.

For example, having the phone in your pocket or in the next room wouldn't be an issue for the device.

 

[The Byre]

Just a thought, but cars nowadays have telephones built in. A friend had a problem with his BMW and, to his astonishment, a voice came out of the dashboard, asking him what the problem was and if they should send a mechanic. Within 20 minutes, a mechanic rocked up and explained that my friend was a bit daft and that it was pilot error and not a mechanical fault!

So BMW would be my first port-of-call! Thirty quid to include a safety device like into the features of the car is (IMO) a no-brainer!

Talk to Germany, not the UK. PM me if you need any help with dealing with Germany, as we have a German subsidiary and all our people here speak German.

 

[MOIC]

The best advice given by @The Byre.

I would also add that you should look at all the major tech exhibitions to launch your product, including IFA, CEBIT, CES.

Ensure all patents are active.

Build your brand.

A great product with a multitude of potential users.

Good luck.

 

[billmccallum1957]

Is £30 your price to resellers or distributors?

If you are retailing at £39, then £30 leaves very little for profit margins for a reseller and does not give any margin for a distributor.

Assuming your £30 includes VAT, that means a cost price of £22.50 and a gross profit of £7.50.

I would have expected a distributor cost price of £20 at the most.

 

[Mr D]

50m?
That is impressive. Can still recall a few years ago having trouble being the other side of the kitchen from the phone using a Bluetooth earpiece.

Not in any universe going to get me gardening in the garden but can imagine someone in the garden unable to get up and able to push a button for help could be handy.

Just out of interest, could you embed it in say a bracelet, a brooch or on something on a cord around the neck?

 

[Anon2731]

Is £30 your price to resellers or distributors?

If you are retailing at £39, then £30 leaves very little for profit margins for a reseller and does not give any margin for a distributor.

Assuming your £30 includes VAT, that means a cost price of £22.50 and a gross profit of £7.50.

I would have expected a distributor cost price of £20 at the most.

The retail price will be around £50.

I did want to completely undermine any competition by making it as cheap as possible.

 

[Anon2731]

50m?
That is impressive. Can still recall a few years ago having trouble being the other side of the kitchen from the phone using a Bluetooth earpiece.

Not in any universe going to get me gardening in the garden but can imagine someone in the garden unable to get up and able to push a button for help could be handy.

Just out of interest, could you embed it in say a bracelet, a brooch or on something on a cord around the neck?

Yes I know I was impressed with 50m as well. I still struggle with my bluetooth headphones in the next room!

To answer your question - yes. The device comes with a clip to clip onto clothing or to conceal in a handbag ect. A neck chain would also work as the clip is extremely tight fitting. It can also be stuck onto any surface with a reusable sticky section (protected when using the clip).

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

All sounding very interesting... only one flaw that I can see is something you may have already thought about but no one has mentioned yet...

(This is not a post meant to be negative on pee on your chips!)

Mobile phone networks.

The product sounds really good but some mobile networks don't work very well In certain buildings... for instance my network EE claims to have the best services blah blah blah yet at work my phone seems to struggle to connect to the network because of a girder right above my area in the shop... as soon as I move away from it everything comes back on... but what if I needed to use this device say for instance an armed robbery burst into the shop... would it still send the SOS texts to my phone and would it just wait until the phone was in suitable area?

 

[Anon2731]

All sounding very interesting... only one flaw that I can see is something you may have already thought about but no one has mentioned yet...

(This is not a post meant to be negative on pee on your chips!)

Mobile phone networks.

The product sounds really good but some mobile networks don't work very well In certain buildings... for instance my network EE claims to have the best services blah blah blah yet at work my phone seems to struggle to connect to the network because of a girder right above my area in the shop... as soon as I move away from it everything comes back on... but what if I needed to use this device say for instance an armed robbery burst into the shop... would it still send the SOS texts to my phone and would it just wait until the phone was in suitable area?

True! The thing is, in this situation you wouldn't be able to use your mobile phone to call for help anyway due to having no signal - so yes the messages would be sent once the user has reception.

 

[Mr D]

All sounding very interesting... only one flaw that I can see is something you may have already thought about but no one has mentioned yet...

(This is not a post meant to be negative on pee on your chips!)

Mobile phone networks.

The product sounds really good but some mobile networks don't work very well In certain buildings... for instance my network EE claims to have the best services blah blah blah yet at work my phone seems to struggle to connect to the network because of a girder right above my area in the shop... as soon as I move away from it everything comes back on... but what if I needed to use this device say for instance an armed robbery burst into the shop... would it still send the SOS texts to my phone and would it just wait until the phone was in suitable area?

In that instance the mobile phone in a different area of the shop could work? The girder not blocking connectivity between phone and button?

 

[LiveNetworks Ltd]

I've got two possible channels for you that haven't been mentioned previously. Late now, please can you PM me and I'll explain.

 

[Anon2731]

In that instance the mobile phone in a different area of the shop could work? The girder not blocking connectivity between phone and button?

Yes that would work, as long as the phone has reception and a strong enough Bluetooth connection to the device it will trigger the auto alerts to be sent.

 

[Mr D]

Don't know about anyone else but I'd be interested in buying a couple of these items.
Wife can message someone else that she needs a hand up.

 

[Anon2731]

Don't know about anyone else but I'd be interested in buying a couple of these items.
Wife can message someone else that she needs a hand up.

Much appreciated. Once the app is finished I'll post the details up on here.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

In that instance the mobile phone in a different area of the shop could work? The girder not blocking connectivity between phone and button?

This is very very true... however, this was just a small example of the issue... there are parts of Bury where there are no reception coverage - parts of Clitheroe and Nelson too (Depending on the network of course).

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Do you have any signal inside or outside your house, if so you can buy a signal booster to fit on your roof that will give you a stronger signal inside about £300 for a medium house size coverage

 

[Mr D]

This is very very true... however, this was just a small example of the issue... there are parts of Bury where there are no reception coverage - parts of Clitheroe and Nelson too (Depending on the network of course).

Noted, thanks.

 

[The Byre]

no reception coverage - parts of Clitheroe

Certain areas are excluded from mobile phone coverage for social and humanitarian reasons. Clitheroe, Blackpool and Scunthorpe spring to mind.

 

[deanpunchard]

Another route, I'd personally be interested in, is for cycling.

I'm conscious, that if I have a crash, get knocked off, etc, that I wouldn't be able to reach my phone, but if I have a button necklace that would give me some assurance I could call for help, even if I'm some what incapacitated.

 

[Mr D]

Certain areas are excluded from mobile phone coverage for social and humanitarian reasons. Clitheroe, Blackpool and Scunthorpe spring to mind.

Was in Blackpool a couple of years back, mobile phone coverage was fine. Can quite believe it of Clitheroe.

 

[The Byre]

Was in Blackpool a couple of years back,

So was I (2 Para reunion do). It was January and driving sleet was coming in off the sea. Nine in the morning and in the town centre there were two rather large ladies of pleasure, working the street, wearing t-shirts and hot-pants and smoking ciggies with trembling fingers.

"Ah yes!" I said to myself. "That's Blackpool all right!"

I imagine Clitheroe is a bit of a step-down from Blackpool!

 

[Mr D]

Pretty normal for Blackpool.
Clitheroe is better in that it has less tourists.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Pretty normal for Blackpool.
Clitheroe is better in that it has less tourists.

Probably because they all end up in the pies...

 

[Supercoach]

This is basically what the new iPhone does except it also makes a phone call to the emergency services.

 

[Mr D]

This is basically what the new iPhone does except it also makes a phone call to the emergency services.

Sometimes, maybe even often, you don't want the emergency services called.
A neighbour quite possibly.

 

[Anon2731]

Another route, I'd personally be interested in, is for cycling.

I'm conscious, that if I have a crash, get knocked off, etc, that I wouldn't be able to reach my phone, but if I have a button necklace that would give me some assurance I could call for help, even if I'm some what incapacitated.

Yes, cycling, extreme sports, camping - these were all in my mind when planning how the gadget would work