|
Q-003: Subject: Where to find Contract Manufacturing you can trust? 03/22/07
Answer Man,
I have been searching the internet for hours and hours, and finally I ran across a site as helpful as yours. Thank you so much for putting it together.
Anyway - I recently invented a new jig that I would like to get manufactured cheaply as soon as possible. I am very nervous about showing my idea to various companies. Do you have a directory of any companies who can mass produce and package my lure? I would like to have it done in Mexico or even an Asian company because I know the costs would probably be much cheaper than having it manufactured in the states.
Can you offer me any good leads or good companies I should go to? I can't seem to find much on the internet.
Thanks for your time,
Stephen Dudley
A-003: Subject: Contract Manufacturing? 03/22/07
Mr. Dudley; Thanks for your interest in the Lure Makers Magazine, and the words of appreciation.
First; I must offer my stock answer to a question such as this: “Do it yourself”. There are a thousand reasons a lure designer should keep his product close at hand. The # one reason is; that once you give your product over to a contract manufacturer; it is no longer yours. Ofcourse it remains your intelectual property; but any newly invented, and unique function of your lure design cannot affectively be be controled. That is: any immediate future design improvement; be it colors, sizes, accessory additions (brand of hooks, for example), the list goes on, and on.
The only advantage to farming out the manufacture of your product is the obvious production of a mountain of retail products in rapid order, and at a substantial up-front cash investment. Has your lure product been field tested, and test marketed yet? How can you be sure that a mountin of your lure products will end up in the fisherman’s tackle box?
If this is your first fishing lure design and production (for retial) project; I can assure you that instant mass production of any fishing lure design is a bad idea. That is; unless you are the President of PRADCO (Plastics Research And Development Company) PRADCO is the mother company of most of the brand name retail fishing lure products available, over the counter.
Having my “do-it-yourself” lecture said; I’ll answer your question:
1. Go on the Internet to http://tackleunderground.com This is a forum of tackle makers that exceeds 3,000 entries per day (so the owner says). Those guys profess to know everything about everything when it comes to producing fishing lures. I am certain that you will find a smart-ass klansman there who knows where to get a fish’n lure made. When you are fed-up with the World’s #1 (self-professed) lure makers website:
2. Go on the Internet to http://fishhawk.net This is also a Fishing & Tackle website forum who truly is in the World top 10. The Lure Makers Magazine is a proud member, and has rated Fish Hawk with five star endorsement. Ask your questions there. You will get some great advice.
3. It is impossible for the Lure Makers Magazine to know which, if any, Contract Lure Manufacturers can be trusted to help your manufacturing needs to fruition. That’s very thin ice for us.
However; I do know one Lady in the business who probably knows and sells lure making equipment to most lure makers and lure making contractors. Her name is Phyllis. She is the General Manager of TEKCAST. She reperesents her Company with straight forward solutions, and is a good Gal to know. I think Phyllis would appreciate hearing your questions, and be much more healpful than we know to be.
Your question concerning Contract Lure Manufacturers has made the LMM think that investigating such resources and adding such a resource list to the LMM may be in order. Thanks.
The crew at the LMM wishes you best success with your lure design and manufacturing project. please feel free to call on us at any time.
Respecfully;
John P. Hamon
The Lure Makers Magazine
Q-003: Subject: Where to find Contract Manufacturing you can trust? 03/23/07
John (answerman),
Thank you so much for answering my questions in such a timely manner. I would have never thought there was someone "real" on the other end who actually cared about a business entrepreneur like myself.
With that said...and I really hope I am not bothering you with my questions...I have some additional comments/questions to ask you.
(1) I ran across a website entitled Garst Lure Design. Do you know anything about this guy and the services he provides? I was thinking of contacting him, but didn't know if he had a good reputation.
( 2) I am in need of producing a special kind of jighead for bass fishing.
Do you really think I could keep the costs down by producing the items myself? Some companies in China that I have spoken with claim to be able to make the jigs and even package them for mere pennies. Plus, I know that I want to have over a million produced before I even take it to the market. Is it truly feasible and cheaper to produce the jigs at home rather than outsourcing?
( 3) If you had to make a chronological list of the steps that I would need to take in this whole adventure...what would they be? (EXAMPLE: 1. patent, 2. digital design of lure, 3. ????)
Thank you so much for your time and knowledge that you have given me so far.
I really do think that you need to compile a list of manufacturers that can mass produce lures for regular guys like me.
Stephen
A-003: Subject: Contract Manufacturing? 03/23/07
The Lure Makers Magazine, and I are always at the service of lure making entrepreneur(s). So; Ask as many questions as you like. We will make our best effort to guide you based on our real history experience in the Fishing Lure Business.
As for Mr. Garst... We have no association with him, and no information to make an evaluation of his service. I visited his website about five years ago; so it seems that he has been around for a while. His high-tech, and obviously high-dollar Injection Molding methods of manufacturing are the very thing that TRUEFLEX Imagineering (my R&D company) has spent 20 years working to replace for Small Business Lure Makers.
If you have developed your lure product to the point of having functional prototypes, field test prototypes, and a limited number master-plugs for mold making; it seems to me that you have already accomplished doing what Mr. Garst offers to do for a fee.
I can see that your interest in Fishing Lure Product Design, Manufacturing and Marketing is income motivated. You have invested much time and expence in your Lure Design. That is a good thing. Now; how to take it to the next level? How to turn your work and investment into a profit?
You have investigated the means to have your product produced at the least cost. That is also a good thing. But; I think you may be looking at cost & profit from the wrong angle.
Case in point: My former lure manufacturing company (Ironheart Lures MFG.) produced the Phantom-24, and many other fresh/saltwater lures. The P-24 retailed for $49.95. It cost $15.00 to make.
In the late 80's, the Rico Lure Company produced a simple 2.5" Pop-R style lure that gained so much consummer demand that retailers had to make thier customers draw straws to buy one at $125.00 each.
My point is this: The cost of producing a fishing lure product is not so important. What fishermen are willing to pay for thim is. Also; you may have invented a lure that fish will climb in the boat for. But; making money in the lure business is not about catching fish. It is about catching fishermen....
Please allow me a couple days to work up a "concept to tacklebox" agenda for you to consider. Your letters are making our editor foam at the mouth to write an on-going feature about "concept to tacklebox" that follows the progress of an effort such as yours. We think it would be very inspirational to our 250,000+ readers to see that they are not alone having notions of turning thier lure ideas into dollars. Something to think about. Lets see how the Q&A progresses.
If you are getting concerned about providing a retail ready product for this year's fishing season; take a breather. It's already too late. This year's new lure, retail product line was made, marketed, and distributed several months ago. However; your timing is good for some excelent promotional information gathering that will boom your product next year.
Please keep up the good work, and stay in touch.
Highest Respect; John P. Hamon The Lure Makers Magazine
Q-003: Subject: Where to find Contract Manufacturing you can trust? 03/23/07
John (answerman), Thanks again for a well thought-out e-mail.
I first want to ask some questions about your last paragraph: "If you are getting concerned about providing a retail ready product for this year's fishing season; take a breather. It's already too late. This year's new lure, retail product line was made, marketed, and distributed several months ago. However; your timing is good for some excellent promotional information gathering that will boom your product next year."
When is the season for retail marketing? To advertise and pitch your product to Wal*Mart or Dick's Sporting Goods, when does this have to be done? Can you be more specific about these details? I will be greatly anticipating your article of "concept to tacklebox."
I just need to know where to go from here. I have the patent and working prototypes. What needs to be done now? I found an interesting article that gave an overview of domestic vs. overseas manufacturing. Check it out HERE. Any more advice you can give me would be great. I can't wait to get my product made, in the tackle box, and making money.
Stephen
A-003: Subject: Contract Manufacturing? 03/23/07
Stephen; Good question...
There is no appointed time of year to introduce a new fishing lure product. However; the marketing directors and buyers for major retailers are faced with producing tons of catalog information and having it published. The time it takes them to do this is scheduled on a yearly basis since most only produce one catalog per year. They normally distribute thier catalogs in the fall prior to the up-comming season. This is espicially true when it comes to big distribution houses such as AWR & others. Further; and like most major retailers; they are turning to Internet catalog marketing and sales. Internet sales make up a major portion of product flow, apposed to what gets carried out of brick & mortor stores.
Internet marketing is something else you should consider doing in-house. Who better to sell a new lure product than the guy that invented it? This is something the LMM has the means to help with.
First things first: Gather arms & ammo. Use this season to get your product produced in the numbers you anticipate will get sold next year. Use this season to produce your marketing foundation. Take a lot of pictures of fishermen with fish; with your lure in the middle of it all. One good fish catching photo on your product packaging will sell more lures, at a profit than a dumptruck full in the bargin ben. The right packaging isn’t everything; it is the only thing...!!! Even if the packaging costs more to produce than the product in it...!!! My dad would not buy a fishing lure unless it came in a clear plastic box. Why?... Because; when the lure was gone; the box was used to hold loose sinkers & hooks, etc.
Contact the marketing directors of your target retailers and find out what thier product catalog entry deadlines are. You will find that most are in July - September of each year for the next year’s catalogs. Internet catalog inclusion is never ending.
This leads me to think of another good reason lure designers should be in instant command of production. Flow on command based on consummer demand.
I have posted a banner ad on the cover of the Lure Makers Magazine asking Contract Lure MFG’s to come forward, and make themselves known to our readers. Lets see whos’s out there for you.
Lets talk again soon.
John P. Hamon
The Lure Makers Magazine
| 
