| This first thing you'll want to do is develop an actual | | | | think of the product. You could also setup a focus |
| physical prototype or mock-up of your product. This | | | | group with people who have used the product or been |
| can be done fairly easily with the right product | | | | using the product for some time and see what their |
| development company. They will help you design a | | | | thoughts are and figure out what they think overall and |
| prototype of your product with as little as a simple | | | | what changes they think would be beneficial. For |
| drawing or just a descriptive idea that you have in | | | | example: removing some material from the handle or |
| your head. They can design a 3D model of your | | | | making a better grip on a gardening tool to help |
| product and create a physical mock-up using rapid | | | | prevent blisters. Little things like that can help distinguish |
| prototyping. Even if you have a certain packaging in | | | | a good product from a great one. Trade shows are |
| mind, they can design that for you too. | | | | another great way to get your product out there and |
| Next is to test the product and its packaging like it | | | | in the eyes and hands of people who are interested in |
| would be used in the actual market. How much the | | | | your product which can also help you discover more |
| product would be twisted, bent, scratched, dropped, | | | | about what people think about it. |
| etc. to give you a basic idea of what to expect. Keep | | | | Make the changes suggested by people who have |
| in mind that some prototyping materials might be | | | | used your product. You really want to make your |
| stronger or weaker than the actual material you use | | | | customers happy. The worst thing you can do is hype |
| for the final product but will still give you a good idea | | | | up your marketing and then sell someone something |
| where your weak spots are and how the product | | | | that they can't use or is too hard to use and that they |
| feels/looks to the end-user. The last thing you would | | | | just won't be happy with. Making revisions isn't hard |
| want is to sell a product that doesn't work like it should | | | | and doesn't have to be costly and can be very |
| or can't do what the product has promised to do. | | | | profitable in the long run. The last thing to do is produce |
| You'll also want to get the opinions of people who | | | | an initial run of the product to sell in a test market to |
| could use the product or if it's for general use, you | | | | determine the acceptance of the customers. |
| could just ask a couple of random people what they | | | | |