Setting Up a Business Frugally

Paula
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February 6, 20060 found this helpful

What kind of business have you started?

Sally

February 6, 20060 found this helpful

My sister, an animator in Ireland, had designed phonic letter magnets for her daughter - so she could learn her letters and sounds, and when she sent me a set I knew I wanted to sell them in the States. In answer to your question, I now have a wholesale business selling preschool educational items. I also sell them retail on the site just to boost my business income. www.eagermind.com

Eileen Santos

February 7, 20060 found this helpful

I'm in the process of producing a product for sale. I had no idea you could search on-line for a manufacturer and bar codes. Would you share some of the web-sites with us?

I HAVE A PROJECT I AM INTERESTED IN PROCEEDING TO TRY TO MARKET. WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITHOUT BEING TOO COSTLY.

Sally

February 7, 20060 found this helpful

I did a google search on manufacturers in the US, and decided that to be competetive I would need to manufacture overseas. I found a site called alibaba.com, and they list various countries, and have gold seals on the businesses that have proven to be honest and make good quality merchandise. I talked to one company that were not able to make the packaging, only the product, so then I found one in Taiwan that does everything for me. They charged around $260 for each case (lower and upper) to tool the machines for printing, made the magnets according to our specs., printed the packaging (another $260 for each kind), packaged them, and shipped them to an import company in Houston. I had to pay a lawyer $1,000 to draw up an agreement that they would not print them for any other company. She was the most costly. I found her through a lawyer referral service online. The import company cost about $250 to sign off the goods and send them on their way to my house, and the freight charge was approx. $100.