Many talented entrepreneurs have visions for ideas of potential products, yet the biggest challenge often facing them is how to transform this idea into something concrete and profitable. The journey from idea to finished product is unpredictable and mysterious, with most success stories seldom following a straight or expected path. This can leave many aspiring individuals in the dark as to what to do next. Even worse, it can lead them to make poor decisions or improperly estimate their true potential.
However, these stories can provide a loose guide for newcomers, and while they are different. They share some fundamental similarities, such as attention to unfulfilled demand or teaching oneself the required skills. Based on these and other information. The following steps break down some of the key aspects of new product development and production.
1. Ideation
The first step is ideation. While an important starting point in the process, it all too often becomes its very own grave. As excessive perfectionism and waiting for the right moment can prevent entrepreneurs from ever even getting their ideas off the ground in the first place. While creating something completely unseen before can provide creative fulfillment. Many of the greatest ideas come from developing existing ideas and products further. Asking the right questions about extant products and ideas following a mnemonic model can help narrow things down to a product with greater adaptability and outreach. For those still waiting upon the right moment, there are many sources like online markets and product descriptions that can inspire new ideas for reinvention in areas like rotational molding.
2. Research
The second step is research. Though entrepreneurs inspired by a new idea may be impatient and jump ahead too quickly to the production process. It is important to slow down and make sure the product has sufficient potential for success. Validating the product in this way saves time and money down the line that might be wasted in investing in a product that doesn’t ultimately sell as much as originally predicted or desired. Validating the product can be achieved in many ways, including getting honest feedback from loved ones and verified customers, premiering the product to gauge interest, considering the level of competition for your product type, and looking at and learning from competitors.
3. Planning
The third step is planning. This process of transforming an idea into a working product involves brainstorming to narrow down multiple detailed prototypes. Creating a list of steps so as not to get side-tracked, considering shipping labels, packaging and overall quality, delegating and hiring out for certain tasks, working with reputable and unbiased third parties, and deciding upon the category of the product to help chart out the path a bit more clearly and accurately.
4. Supply Chain
The last step in new product development and production is building the supply chain. Once planning is completed, the desired materials must be sourced and their costs tallied to estimate the costs for investment in creating the product. This involves working with suppliers online or in person. Deciding whether to produce domestically or overseas and considering shipping and storage options. Breaking down and organizing all the individual costs, from raw materials to services rendered, via a spreadsheet can help manage the process as a whole. From this, values such as gross margin, retail price, and profit can be most accurately determined.
The journey from idea to a product differs from person to person and from industry to industry, and while it may seem incomprehensible at times, it’s worth remembering that others have experienced the same things beforehand. While there is never an absolute guarantee of success. Taking the right steps can make one better prepared and more likely to succeed.
