Challenging times. Not for just the Official Vick Dog Chew Toy, but for all major manufacturers. One of the considerations at this point is to sell the idea to a major entity or do we take on the task of generating a chew toy on our own? The biggest factor that had to be considered is the ability to create a product that was safe for animals. The decision was made to create the product and we were moving forward with the idea, since we were at full throttle with sales and internet buzz. The question became “How do we safely produce our product in the midst of demands from other more established and well known manufacturers that are competing with the same manufacturing times?”
When you sit down and say that you are going to start a business, you never know who you will meet along the way. At this point, we were meeting and talking with many different people and telling the story as quickly as possible. Everyone was very helpful with their advice and the top partnership you have to have is an attorney. A legal mind in this situation is critical to the concept and implementation of this type of project. After meeting with multiple attorney’s and conversing with the different options, a stroke of luck came our way. Seeking an attorney was done to protect the idea, solicit general business advice, and to receive assistance with the absolute onslaught of media and national attention our product had received to this point. The fact that I contacted this particular attorney will play a major role in several issues. Let me name the first here:
The attorney we spoke with has a relative in the manufacturing business. The conversation continued about the types of products they market and how they may have contacts in the overseas marketplace. It was recommended that we speak with them and discuss the possibility of distributing our product. That was an absolute stroke of luck. What was mentioned in general conversation was now a extremely important facet to the overall business model. We are now discussing the ability to manufacture in China with a very reputable company that has a successful business model and would be able to advise us of any precautions we would need to take. To have this organization produce the Official Dog Chew Toy as a top priority to other pending projects from a major toy manufacturer was unexpected and unprecedented. UNBELIEVABLE!
We contacted the original manufacturer, the company that could not guarantee non-lead based paint and had my prototype, and asked them to ship the cast mold to our new manufacturer immediately. We are now relying on a trust relationship that this would be done and once it is done, will it make it there quickly and in good shape? Here is when the second stroke of good luck came in. If you are unfamiliar with manufacturing process, especially overseas, you must understand that relinquishing of a product means loss of revenue. There are not many companies that are willing to relinquish without compensation. Through a little pressure, they were willing to relinquish profits and ship the mold to our new manufacturer at no cost to us and in a very expeditious fashion too. At this point, the stress level of this shipment was over the top and without fail, the prototype arrived without incident.
It was beginning to feel as though the Official Vick Dog Chew Toy was destined to live up to the mission that drove it’s creation. When I look back, the odds were so stacked against us it now seems that the challenges we overcame were impossible. We are very thankful to those involved that held up their end of the deal every step of the way.
Let me take you back to the scene in September 2007:
We now have a manufacturer!
Their credentials are impeccable. They never used lead based paint in their products and were not effected by any guidelines being discussed by US politicians. They have a solid reputation with major companies in the US and now have our cast mold. They were willing to arrange a US shipment and provide us priority production time against the demands of major toy makers. This was the turning point in the invention process that would change the overall business plan. We were now moving forward with the creation efforts!
This is not typical, but if you are in business for the right reason, have positive intentions for the product you are producing, and are willing to avoid the negative that attempt to force you off course.
Next entry: Do we wait or do we compromise?
I appreciate your interest in my story.
