OT starting a buisness

[wisconsinteacher]

This is not turkey related, but I want to ask here because many members are small business owners and honest people.  I have a fishing bait that I make that I have used for 3 winters.  Since using it, I have had almost a 90% catch rate on pike over 24" or bigger.  In this same period, my wife and I have caught 6 pike over 34" and many between 24" and 30".  I would love to make up four different color patterns and ask 4 local bait shops if they would put them in their stores. I know there are other companies that make a product like this, but I make mine a little different so it is not an exact copy.  I am thinking about making 5 in each color and trying this out.  Any tips or ideas to make this happen?  Would you sell the product to the bait shop or ask them to put it on the shelf and if they sell, they get a cut of the profit?  I believe in this product 100% and feel that if people use it they will catch more fish. 

[Neill_Prater]

As the old saying goes, "nothing ventured, nothing gained". Johnny Morris (owner of Bass Pro) started out selling fishing lures in his dad's liquor stores. Guys would stop in and get a case of beer, pick up a couple of lures. When they had good luck with a particular lure, they would call the store and ask if they could order some more, which started the mail-order part of the business. I think we all know the rest of the story.  Good luck.

[Lunchbox]

I think ask the owners to put it in their shops, and try at first giving it to the owners of the shops, let them try it out. I have always found a product will sell better once a few things happen:

1. Word of mouth

2. If the person selling it truly believes in it(which helps #1).


You have said you truly believes this works, and i  believe you. If it truly does work that well, the item will sell itself. Just my 2 cents tho.

[stone road turkey calls]

Go to the boat ramp and give them away with imfo where to buy them, may help some. just thinking

[Shellwaster]

Since you said there are similar lures I would ask a competent patent attorney to do a patent search to ensure you haven't re-created an already patented product. If you find that there is no patent then pay the money and get one.
I would then go to your county, city, township or wherever and get a business license before trying to market your lures.

The idea of handing out a few at boat ramps is a great idea as well as asking a few bait shops to stock them to gauge to market. I would offer them 2.5% of each one sold.

[Neill_Prater]

Since you said there are similar lures I would ask a competent patent attorney to do a patent search to ensure you haven't re-created an already patented product. If you find that there is no patent then pay the money and get one.
I would then go to your county, city, township or wherever and get a business license before trying to market your lures.

The idea of handing out a few at boat ramps is a great idea as well as asking a few bait shops to stock them to gauge to market. I would offer them 2.5% of each one sold.

Some good advice, but I think you meant 25%.