FAQ: From first idea to final new product

I'm often asked about how I came up with a design. Having just gone through the process of designing some new products and getting them ready for sale, the answer is very fresh in my mind.

It's amazing how much effort is involved in taking something from the initial idea to having an inventory ready to put on sale.

The steps include:

• Figure out the design - usually inspired by something I need to make life better
  
• Consider the materials and hardware needed
• Make a prototype
• Realize that it's way too complicated and expensive to be sold at an affordable price and completely revise the design
• Make a new prototype
• Test the product - in other words use it for a while
• Tweak the design to the final version and make patterns
• Source materials and hardware, and buy a bunch
• Decide on price points, based on materials, labor and marketability of the product
  
• Cut and make a quantity ready for for sale

This final step involves a steep learning curve. I know how to make each product, but getting it down to the fast, smooth and efficient process I'm used to with my other products takes a while. It usually involves patience, frustration, long hours, and liberal use of the seam ripper.

And a handful of each new product will not do. There has to be sufficient to create a good display - I've learned that a meager number of items do not attract buyers. That's a lot of production hours to get up to speed.

Along with all this I have to figure out how to display the products at my Pike Place Market booth. These new products are quite different to my usual bags, so this is all new. Not only does the display have to be effective, it needs to fit with everything else and be sufficiently light, portable and durable to be packed away at the end of each day.

Finally, I have to produce price signs. Pretty easy, except that this week my printer died. And that - donated by a friend - was the replacement of my previous printer which died a couple of weeks ago. My printer karma is low! Such wrinkles are common when you are running your own business.

So what are the new products I've been working on, you ask? Stay tuned - I'll post about those very soon.