Product prototyping - in China?

[japancool]

Hi all,

It's been some time since I've been here. Things have gone downhill since I last posted here. Everything went belly up last year, both in business and my health.

So, time to pick myself up off the ground and get on with the next venture.

I have a product idea that I need to develop. It's a fabric mobile phone accessory, that doesn't incorporate technology in its basic form. I need to create prototpyes. My initial idea was to find a craftsman on Etsy to make it for me, but I can't really tell on there who is actually a UK based craftsman. A lot of them seem to be mass producers.

I suspect approaching a local product development company would cost too much.

So I'm thinking of prototyping in Chna with a view to manufacturing there. Volumes would be small to begin with.

But I have no experience in this area. Does anyone have any tips, experiences and advice?

 

[Mr D]

You could ask on the forums there or you can email people.
Alternatively you could try social media if you want someone capable of making a prototype if you want it made here.

Manufacturing in small volumes. Could be done anywhere? Even say in a small village?
Other places besides China. Crafts people all over the world.

 

[MOIC]

Manufacturing in China will depend on your volumes.

A good factory will be able to do the prototype, development, tooling, production and packaging.

It’s best to use one supplier for the whole process.

 

[japancool]

Manufacturing in China will depend on your volumes.

A good factory will be able to do the prototype, development, tooling, production and packaging.

It’s best to use one supplier for the whole process.

The key question is - how to approach them, and cost.

 

[Mr D]

The key question is - how to approach them, and cost.

More importantly - how do you find a good one?

 

[MOIC]

The key question is - how to approach them, and cost.

Feel free to contact me via the link in my website below.

 

[busowner987]

I'm sure the samples will be fantastic! Shame when the container turns up though!

 

[Noah]

I'm sure the samples will be fantastic! Shame when the container turns up though!

That's a risk of business. The usual recourse is to work with the supplier to rectify any faults; if not, take them to court.

(exit stage left, laughing hysterically)

 

[RobinBHM]

Alibaba is not your friend!

Dealing with China you need an agent and pay them commission.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

What on earth is the problem with manufacturing in the UK where you can find plenty of companies, you can visit them, sign NDA's that mean something, have no worries about transport or exchange rates

I can guarantee that within say 40 odd miles you will find someone who is a seamstress, Machinist, Leather worker of any other fabric maker who will be more than willing to make samples and put you in touch with people who can make small quantities

If its leather then PM me and I can put you in touch of some small companies as its my hoddy, if its cloth fabric then the midlands especially nottingham and to a lesser degree London there are hundreds of small companies, If its Canvas or other heave material then most coastal towns will have somebody working with that material

 

[prophet01]

The main body of my, now UK patented, invention is a special, mesh fabric which needed to be professionally stitched to the right shape/size/finish.

I took the fabric to a local clothes repair shop and explained precisely what I wanted doing. The lovely eastern european woman told me to come back in 30 minutes. The finish was better than I'd ever imagined it would be, so professional. When I asked the cost she said it only took her 5 minutes to do so, £2. I very gratefully gave her £10.

If your product is simply fabric I don't, on the face of it, see why you couldn't do what I did.

 

[Yolanda666]

We can have a quick talk and after having a rough idea of your prototype, I can help you find factories to make it.