A friend of mine has a new design for a slab/spoon. What would be a good path to getting that marketed? I know it's a simple question for what is probably a long arduous process. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Depends on what this person's goals are? The suggestions to have a big name company make/market it sounds cool. Have no clue what the design is would imagine it would be hard to get a company to make a slab/spoon for you as they aren't something new and many out there unless they just catch fish unlike others....to tell you the truth I havent found a slab spoon that I couldnt catch fish with, so dunno.
If this person is looking to manufacture and market themselves. I had molds made from between $100 to $300 in the usa. You can also play the import game, all depends on what one wants. I would suggest to your friend figure out what they really want to get into first. Do they want to fish or make baits, or would they rather have someone make them and still fish.
I did a few things, I learned a lot, I learned more about people then I did making baits. Marketing a bait is easy if it is good. You have to have something unique, be it quality, design, or do you want to play the price point game. I enjoyed making baits, I sold them at a fair price in my eyes. You listen to the BS on here. you will listen to some genious's that say you should sell them dirt cheap, LOL. I sold baits cheaper at times then anyone on here ever has, $.79 a slab....I sold them for $3.25 a bait as well. Price is not as important as every post you read on here from either users, or people selling baits. I stayed busier then I wanted to be selling baits at reg prices and sell prices. Once you have that unique product be it quality, people will find you.
If you are going to use pro staff to help market bait on various lakes, do your homework. I worked with many good ones, and some I wouldnt give a nickel for. There are also other various avenues to promote baits, other forums online, trade shows, my favorite was just smoking fish on the boat and offering up free baits while on the water, I always made good customers doing that.
If you are going to make the baits yourself, figure out how much money or how many lures you want to sell a year, then just stick to it. As a custom bait maker you are doing something that nobody can compete with you can make baits any color your customer wants, dont let folks one and two you for specialty products.
My $.02 if I had to do it all over again, I would use very few if any pros staff folks. I would make the best baits possible, post pictures, send out a few baits to folks to try out for free, and go right back to selling. Pro staff helped me a whole lot over time, dont get me wrong, but if you really make a good quality prodcut it can be done with very little pro staff support. My baits sold themselves, I would also not sell to any retailers or dealers. If someone really wants them they can order direct. Over the years of being in business I sold to 13 different states and at one time 30 retail locations. I am glad to have sold my business and moved on to life and fishing again. That is why I mention really give thought to what you get into. You make good stuff you will stay swamped. If your friend goes that route let them know to just stay their course it all works out.
Tell them good luck...
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