Should I be selling this stuff? Business idea. Would appreciate your input.

Very cool.

You could also consider offering full size patterns for cutting the plywood, as it would save you time/money/materials.

Also, see if you can make some of the welded pieces 'bolt-together' instead.

fanfoy wrote:

2 - A tadpole recumbent trike bicycle. I rode on one, and thought it was great, but for some reason, the commercial models are all 1k+. I built this for about 200$ as a touring model. I don't think there would be a commercial venue for this, but I might be wrong.

These guys built electric ones and are doing well, even though the price is insane.
electric trike

curtis73 wrote: You need to get some spaces at shows. I haven't really experienced many in Canada, but the northeast (New England, PA, NY, NJ, etc) tend to DROOL over this stuff. Any parent with some extra cash for their toddler, or any grandparent with a Visa card will sign up for this. Craft shows. Find them. Make your millions. :)

How do you find those craft shows? The only ones I can find locally on the interwebz, seem to be focused more on jewelry, dishes, pictures and other small knick knack. I'm close to the border, so I wouldn't mind going somewhere in NY, VT or something

chrispy wrote: fanfoy wrote: 2 - A tadpole recumbent trike bicycle. I rode on one, and thought it was great, but for some reason, the commercial models are all 1k+. I built this for about 200$ as a touring model. I don't think there would be a commercial venue for this, but I might be wrong. These guys built electric ones and are doing well, even though the price is insane. electric trike

Yup, that's what I remember when I built mine. Those are crazy expensive. Starting at 8K for a bike? With square tubing and no possible front end alignment (except toe) at that price? I could convert mine to similar electric power for less than 1K. But the bike world really seems to like to over-spend on stuff. It seems to be all about image.

Most of those are such great ideas that I'll only talk about the ones that aren't.

1. The electric kid jeep. Not saying that it's lame, because it's awesome, but the problem is you'd be competing with Power Wheels.

2. The little biplanes. Really cool but kinda useless and maybe a little too dangerous for modern sensitivities as toys.

I'd say you've got your answer on whether you should be selling them :).

Very nice looking kits! Did you also have a blue speedster-style build? I remember a thread on that a while back, but no names (sorry!) and was thinking when my friend's kids are a little older we'll have to put one together in the garage for them. Bonus points if we can set it up to move from pedal to mower power once they're a little older.

I love your stuff! I'm sure that there are more affluent corners of Montreal - you might contact some of the childrens boutiques there to see if they're interested in carrying your products.

fanfoy wrote: How do you find those craft shows? The only ones I can find locally on the interwebz, seem to be focused more on jewelry, dishes, pictures and other small knick knack. I'm close to the border, so I wouldn't mind going somewhere in NY, VT or something

Crossing the border to sell goods can be complicated. Do some research to see what the customs and tax implications of doing so may be.

As has been suggested, and LLC or CDN equivalent would be in your interest.

The recumbent is really cool; I think you could sell it. Your challenge would be scale, but you may be able to find someone to produce your components for you.

The planes would I think sell well as either plans or pre-cut kits.

The speedster and jeep would probably sell better as a kit, with the fabrication or cutting already done.

I'd love to see the lift brought to market as well.

Hope you can capitalize on these products. Make a Youtube channel for your new company showing happy kids using your toys and parents raving about them, then set up shop on Amazon. Amazon takes a good cut for themselves but the product feedback feature (as opposed to transaction feedback) gives a certain legitimacy that the auction site really doesn't.

I would also be in for Speedster planns.

fanfoy wrote:

chrispy wrote: fanfoy wrote: 2 - A tadpole recumbent trike bicycle. I rode on one, and thought it was great, but for some reason, the commercial models are all 1k+. I built this for about 200$ as a touring model. I don't think there would be a commercial venue for this, but I might be wrong. These guys built electric ones and are doing well, even though the price is insane. electric trike

Yup, that's what I remember when I built mine. Those are crazy expensive. Starting at 8K for a bike? With square tubing and no possible front end alignment (except toe) at that price? I could convert mine to similar electric power for less than 1K. But the bike world really seems to like to over-spend on stuff. It seems to be all about image.

There is a market for trikes, especially in the special needs camp. Walmart schwin special is the best deal on the old school style.

If you can get it out the door for $400~$500 retail yuou would have something.

The rest of the stuff you absolutely have a market for. Tractor supply would eat up that Jeep.

I'd say yes except the lift. Personally I would be worried if I was selling it.

93EXCivic wrote: I'd say yes except the lift. Personally I would be worried if I was selling it.

Yeah, the liability insurance you'd have to have would quadruple the price, if not more.

DrBoost wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I'd say yes except the lift. Personally I would be worried if I was selling it.

Yeah, the liability insurance you'd have to have would quadruple the price, if not more.

That was my fear as well. Plus there is the extra complication of cross border business. Don't we have some insurance experts on here? Maybe they would know?

Wow, beautiful work. I spent time last week with two full-grown colleagues who blew big dollars on airplane/race car related toys in Munich and at Sebring. They would LOSE THEIR E36 M3 over your work.

So, how much to complete the speedster? I'm trying to get an idea if I can afford to build one so I can either follow this thread, or just stop. Please, do tell!!

I am not seeing a business case here.

I do see a lot of talent and some neat stuff. But no focus on anything that I see as a basis for a business plan.

You mention a change in life. Retired, fired, divorced or just in need of a change?

The problem with running a business is that you do not do the work that you love or that requires your talents. You answer the phone and chase customers and suppliers. If you want the business to thrive, you then need to figure out how to disengage suck that you spend time ON the business and not IN the business.

I know this "Guy ;->) who does rust remediation for the British car crowd. He does good work and charges like $30/hour. Started with one customer and the line grew to about 2 years waiting. There are no books, the clients buy their own parts and there is only one customer car in the shop at a time. Not a living, sans the day job it could be an acceptable income.

You are looking at the wrong things as your "product" YOU are the product in this case, so figure how to package and market that. "Gyro Gearloose for hire"

NOHOME wrote: I am not seeing a business case here. I do see a lot of talent and some neat stuff. But no focus on anything that I see as a basis for a business plan. You mention a change in life. Retired, fired, divorced or just in need of a change? The problem with running a business is that you do not do the work that you love or that requires your talents. You answer the phone and chase customers and suppliers. If you want the business to thrive, you then need to figure out how to disengage suck that you spend time ON the business and not IN the business. I know this "Guy ;->) who does rust remediation for the British car crowd. He does good work and charges like $30/hour. Started with one customer and the line grew to about 2 years waiting. There are no books, the clients buy their own parts and there is only one customer car in the shop at a time. Not a living, sans the day job it could be an acceptable income. You are looking at the wrong things as your "product" YOU are the product in this case, so figure how to package and market that. "Gyro Gearloose for hire"

This is an interesting point of view. And you are sort of echoing what I was afraid of. The business taking all the extra time away from my fun projects. This is why selling plans was attractive to me, because once the plans are made, it doesn't require any extra time from me. But then, my next question would be: How do you sell yourself as a product? What is your vision.

Every whore needs a pimp, if they want to concentrate at what they are good at. It's called the pipeline to the market.

First off, it would be good to define what market you want to service. Then you can go looking for, or building, the pipeline.

If I had your talent, I would go looking for a niche in the home decor market. Your pimp is the home decorator who is always looking for custom touches to fit the decor. It's a word of mouth industry, so something that will grow organically. It might also be your best bet for keeping your wide scope of design. The clients might eventually find you and you can minimize the middleman.

My objection to the craft markets is that you are doing the job of pimp and whore. Sell all weekend and work all week...plus you have to pay for the overhead of the booth and getting there and back...it gets old in a hurry. If you must, find someone who already makes a living at selling at market and sell through them.

So, I'm dying to know a ball park to get the speedster done, and I'd be interested in the trike as well. I was going to start shopping for a go kart for the kids, but I'd rather put that into the speedster.

I'm interested in the jeep plans myself.

In reply to moparman76_69 :

Hi are you selling the plans for the jeep. Thanks

Neat ideas , how did it work out ?

or what made you do something else ?

Wow, I had totally forgotten about this thread.

Nothing ever happened with this. I looked into setting up a website, but I do not have the time or know-how. I also looked into getting someone to sell this stuff for me but I didn't find anyone. 

So I am concentrating on my engineering career instead but I still have cool projects going on. (B-mod, teardrop trailer, cyclekart, buggy)

Maybe if I can find the will to learn website design or luck onto someone to "pimp" my stuff...

This forum is at least nationwide,  seems like posting the Jeep and Speedster plans on this forum either for a fee or free with the understanding that anybody that asks about finished products gets a card with your email address, should be a quick easy way to get user feedback and testing as well as word of mouth advertising.   How long would it take to have plans for the Speedster ready to email or full size printed and ready to mail? At least do it for us!

Can i send you 50 bucks now for the lift plans? Please? No liability at all for you. I need this for nader. And the miata. 

Like need it tomorrow need it.....

Please? Pretty please? Ill prepay and wait fir the blueprints?