Have a Product Idea but not Sure What to Do Next?
We know that, as an inventor, you might be feeling excitement, frustration and fear all at the same time. Excitement about your product or design idea, frustration about what to do next as an inventor, and fear about how to proceed from design idea into product while still protecting your idea are all a part of what you might be experiencing right now.
At the Malco Design & Deliver Group, we understand how to turn a product or tool design into a prototype. We can also help turn that design prototype into a manufactured product, including low volume manufacturing for all tools and product designs.
As a first step for inventors looking to turn their idea into a product, we've included below answers to a few questions frequently asked by inventors unsure of what to do next.
We also would like to talk with you to learn more about your design project, provide a free consultation to answer your inventor questions and see how we can help turn your idea into a product. Please fill out and submit the brief contact form and a Malco Design & Deliver Group product development expert willl get in touch with you shortly.
Inventor Frequently Asked Questions (Inventor FAQs)
- Who is the
Malco Design & Deliver Group? Simply stated, we are a team
of product design and engineering professionals who are here to assist
inventors and strive to provide our clients with the best of product
development services. Using a client friendly process for inventors,
we develop tools and products that are innovative, well designed and
engineered, successfully meet the needs of the end user, and can be
manufactured at an affordable price while delivering quality that
will make you proud.
We are part of Malco Products Inc., a well-established and respected manufacturer of tools and accessories. Malco Products was started in 1950 by Mark Keymer; an Inventor. Mark was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.
Would your parent company, Malco Products, be interested in my idea? Malco Products does look at ideas from outside the company submitted by inventors. Malco looks for tool and/or accessory product ideas from inventors targeted to professional contractors that work in the areas of HVAC, roofing, siding, gutter, fence, deck, and automotive. If you would like to have Malco consider your idea in one of these industries, click here to start that process.
- What are
the steps in the product design and development process? It's
best to follow a process that organizes your thoughts and efforts,
starts with tasks that are more broad and strategic, and progressively
becomes more focused on detailed efforts. At Malco Design & Deliver
Group, our process is designed to be flexible, put you at ease and
take much of the guesswork out of the equation. We answer the right
questions at the right time. Our turnkey product development services
include: marketing research, conceptualization, product design, engineering,
prototyping, and manufacturing. You have the flexibility to pick and
choose only the services you need, and we'll help you along the way
to make informed decisions about your product. Click
here for to learn more about our process.
- Should I get
a patent for my idea before I talk to Malco Design & Deliver Group?
We think it's a good idea for inventors to wait to get a patent
until you're a little further along in the product design process.
First, rest assured that when working as an inventor with us, one
of the first things we offer to inventors is to sign a Non-Disclosure
Agreement so that your product idea is safe and stays your design.
Getting a patent too early in the process can lock you into a specific
product design before you really know the best way to design your
product - or even what aspects of your idea to patent. Patents can
be a great way to protect your idea, but can be expensive and are
best obtained when you have a firm understanding of the details of
your new product idea and product design.
- What do you
need from me to get started with product development? The best
way for us to start is to begin with a phone call to answer your inventor
questions, which can take place either before or after a Non-Disclosure
Agreement is in place. We'll use this conversation to learn more about
your design idea and product development project and where you'd like
us to assist you. Once we have some understanding of what you want
to do and how we might help you as an inventor, we can agree on the
specifics of what we'd need from you to begin the product design project.
Typically, we would look for a description of your product idea as
well as pictures and/or drawings as a beginning for the product development
process.
- How much will
product development cost? The best answer is "it depends".
Product development costs depend on how much of the design project
you want us to assist you with, and the complexity of your product
design project. Typical product development costs can range from $1,500
for fairly simple design projects to as much as $40,000 for more complex
product development projects. The more components and moving parts
included the more complex the product development. Each design project
is unique and needs to be evaluated that way. Once we understand the
scope of design and prototype work, we can provide you with an estimated
product development cost.
- How long will it take to complete my product design project? Again, the best answer is "it depends." Product design project length is typically measured in terms of weeks as opposed to days or months. The scope and complexity of your design project will determine how long it will take to complete. The good news is that, while we are very thorough and good at what we do, we are also very good at getting things done quickly when needed to get your new product idea converted into a real product.
If this type of working relationship is of interest to you, we'd love to talk with you. Please contact us at 866-204-0148 or click the button below.
