I have an idea for an invention.... who is a GOOD reptile company to contact?

[trickedoutbiker]

Exactly what the title says. I have this idea I've been sitting on for a while for pets and reptiles, specifically reptiles. I can't say anything about it for fear that someone may use my idea ;-)

But what I need help with is, finding a good company to help me make it happen. I know exactly how I want it to be made, I just don't have the means to make it happen. I've thought about ZOO MED or EXO TERRA or LLLReptile and a few others..... but they don't really "make" their products do they? It appears that most products I ever view, anywhere, look like something that was bought, and someone slapped a label on it after MAYBE altering it a hair.

I need the MAKERS of products. Not the SELLERS of products. I seriously have a great idea, something that lots and lots of people would want and buy for their pets, and it'd be pretty affordable. I just need pointed in the right direction because I have no idea how to go about making it happen.

The deal? If anyone helps me out, and I really CAN make this happen, and lots and lots of people buy it like I'm almost certain will happen, then when the checks roll in, I will give a little portion to whoever it was who helped lead me the right way. Whoever gives me the advice or the pointers to head me on the right track, then be granted, I won't forget you if it all comes together perfectly.

I wish I could explain more, but I just can't say exactly what it is at this moment.....

 

[Cheeky]

Lots of people have ideas, its making them happen that is the hard part. I cant see a company giving you any money for it unless you get it patented.

You need to make a prototype to get some interest from an investor / kickstarter or similar.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

It'd be hard to make a prototype without a machine to do it though. That's the thing.... I'd need a machine, and probably a computer to do a small bit of programming. I'd almost have to write up my whole idea, mail it to myself to have an unsealed/dated envelope showing when I had the idea first, then sell the idea to a company and have them make it. Then they could give me a small cut of it. The sealed and stamped envelope with a date would protect me if they tried to say it was their idea first, because my idea would be in the envelope and sealed on a certain date, never to be opened.

 

[SocialNumb]

http://www.snopes.com/legal/postmark.asp

Remember me when you're rich. That dude that saved you from making a mistake.

 

[trickedoutbiker]

http://www.snopes.com/legal/postmark.asp

Remember me when you're rich. That dude that saved you from making a mistake.

Bet. Everyone I've ever met has told me to do that...... Must be an age-old myth! But for real though.... I need to think of something. If anyone can program a circuit board.... Or is handy with tools to build things...

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Figure out what components are necessary to create a prototype and then hire contractors to put it together. Sounds like you need an electrical engineer that does both hardware and software. You'll have to put some money into it to prove it out. Ideas are exciting, but execution is what counts. The unfortunate truth is that you could broadcast this idea and chances are that no one would actually put in the effort to make it happen. I can't tell you how many people inform me that they had my product idea before I did, but, strangely enough, no one accuses me of copying their execution. The bad and good news is that there is high probability that your idea has already been thought of by the hordes of people thinking ideas and talking about what geniuses they are. Beer and fire pits are great for this. What this means (bad news) is that your idea is probably worth nothing to any company that has the means to implement it because they not only may have thought of it before, but they usually don't have resources sitting around waiting to be placed on a new project that they have to go through the legal nightmare of sharing with someone. The good news is that you talking about it probably is not as damaging to your cause as you may think. This means you can do a Kickstarter campaign. Yes, you are then broadcasting your idea to the world, but you are more likely to have people crawl out of the woodwork claiming they had the idea before you than having people take your idea and break a sweat doing anything about it.

Good luck with this. If you believe it is a good product then go for it. There are bootstrapping strategies to help entrepreneurs get started. Kickstarter is one serious potential. The Kickstarter approach is also advantageous as you can try out your marketing campaign before you invest a great deal of money. If the campaign is not successfully funded then it is good to learn that your marketing needs tweaking before you have invested your hard borrowed money into the minimum order quantity and have 500 of these things sitting in your living room while you wonder why the world is not as excited as they should be. It is a good proof of market.

Bill