Overview

• Do you have a product idea (either your own idea, or maybe something inspired by an existing listing you’ve seen somewhere online) and want to know how you can create and start selling your own product or line of multiple products?
• Have you ever thought about starting your own product brand to sell on Amazon?
• Did you know that you don’t need to be rich, have direct contact with manufacturing factories or an in-house design team, or even be particularly talented to establish a line of your own products?

Lots of regular, everyday people create their own brands and sell products online. Creating and selling products does not have to be as difficult as you might think!

Amazon has opened up a new avenue for entrepreneurs wanting a wide distribution for their products, and this applies equally to both upcoming creators and those who have already found a measure of success. A lot of money can potentially be made in this way, either by:

1. going through the whole design and manufacturing process, in order to brand and sell your own products through which you can potentially gain higher profits. This is where we come in, as a full service product design and manufacturing company, we can take your idea from concept to being ready to mass manufacture and sell
2. finding pre-existing products — sometimes the same products that others are selling — that you can put your own logo and packaging on (sometimes called white-labelling);
3. or through creating a range of private label products that other brands can put their logo on if the quality is good enough (although your margins could be quite small in this instance).

For private sellers struggling to get their products out to the world, Amazon provides them with a platform that, if used well, can help to establish a unique and trusted brand with local and even global visibility.

If you can conduct good product research, find a product that is unique and really in need and sell your own or private label products, you could make a name for yourself, and potentially a lot of money in the process. Let’s get you a little closer to having people hit that buy box on your Amazon product!

What is a Private Label Product?

Private label products are products created by a manufacturer and then customized with a logo and branded packaging and sold as a unique product.

Private label products are goods and services produced by one company to be branded and then sold by another company. This means that you don’t personally need to have an in-house product design and manufacturing team in order to sell a product.

You may be able to find generic product ideas that you can private label, or with a manufacturer like us, we can brand the product as part of the production process for you.

Some examples of private label products include Target’s Mainstays and any of the many Amazon private label product options – Amazon’s basic batteries for instance.

If you want to start your own online business to sell private label products through Amazon, you will be using Amazon seller central. For this, you’ll need an Amazon seller central account.

Benefits of Amazon Private Label Products

Private label products have many benefits, including:

Increased brand credibility

Selling products under a private label allows you to capitalize on on-demand products, selling things you know people want and need under your own brand. If the products are good, or you can improve on an already existing product, this can give a strong boost to your brand’s credibility.

Higher profit margins

White label and private label products (unless you’re producing products for a huge corporation trying to keep their prices as low as possible) typically have a good profit margin. These products can be produced inexpensively and sold at a higher price. Speak to us directly if you would like a very accurate idea of how much a product is likely to cost to design and produce.

Find the right product to sell and you could see your profits increase over time as you make more and more sales

More exposure

It goes without saying that Amazon has become one of the main places that people shop. By selling on their platform, even if you are also selling on your own website, you can potentially reach a much wider audience, that eventually might buy from you directly.

Options for customization

Getting ideas from selling private label products on Amazon gives you the liberty into the future of taking a generic product that’s selling well, and customizing the product to your own liking to enhance it, therefore helping you better solve the problems your customers are facing and to stand out among other competitors.

Tips On How to Start a Private Label Business On Amazon

Here are some tips on how to sell your own products on Amazon.

Brainstorm for product ideas

The first thing to do before you start selling private-label products on Amazon is to take some time to think about the product you want to sell. Who will be your customers? Why will they want to buy your product? What problem does your product solve for them?

Conduct proper market research

Once you’ve identified a few ideas that seem like great products to sell, you should undergo some proper market research to ascertain whether or not your proposed product is likely to be successful. Are there similar products that already have a market? Are you too much like other products to stand out? Can other competitors greatly out compete you on price? This research will also help you identify your potential customers and understand what they like and what they might be really interested in buying.

Understand your customers and what they want and need, what problems they have that your product will solve and you could be onto a winner!

Talk to a product designer and manufacturer

After you’ve gotten the perfect product idea, completed your market research and decided the product is viable, the final step to take is to get it made (assuming you are designing or re-designing a product, rather than buying and reselling products which have already been manufactured).

To get a product ready for sale, you will need to develop a relationship with an experienced supplier or manufacturer. Dealing directly with manufacturers may sound intimidating, and it is if you don’t know what you’re doing, what to look for, how to do quality control, and many other things that experienced product designers and engineers know to look for. For this reason we recommend using the valuable insight and pre-established relationships of potential suppliers to your advantage.

Creating a product can be quite straightforward if you utilize the skills of someone who is already experienced in the field. Here at J — CAD Inc. we are product designers, CAD artists, prototypers and manufacturers all in one. We have all the experience, equipment and relationships in place already to help you get the product you want made as quickly as possible. And all we need to get started is a sketch of your product idea with your planned specs and dimensions.

Finalize your logo, design, and packaging

When you sell your own private label product, if it will carry your brand you’ll need to come up with your own logo and packaging. The most affordable way to do this is by hiring someone on a freelancing platform like Upwork. There you can find many talented graphic designers who can design your branding and packaging at a very reasonable cost.

If you are providing a private label product for another company, and you already have that partnership in place, the company will likely give you instructions for putting its logo on the packaging and the product, if they aren’t going to be doing that themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Selling Your Own Products on Amazon

What is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)?

Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) is a service offered by Amazon which provides sellers with assistance for logistics like storage, packaging, and shipping. This service permits sellers to ship products to an Amazon fulfillment center, where items are stored in warehouses for a period of time until they are sold. Whenever an order is made, Amazon employees then assemble the orders and ship the products straight to your customers.

How Can I Register My Own Brand on Amazon?

As a business owner, you can register your brand on Amazon via the Amazon Brand Registry Program.

The Amazon Brand Registry Program enables brand owners to register their brand with Amazon in order to get access to enhanced marketing features. It also helps companies to retain full control on Amazon over their product and branding, by protecting trademarks registered on Amazon. Enrollment into the Amazon brand registry program is pretty straightforward and is a one-time process, which can be done via Seller Central using your Amazon seller central account.

To be eligible for this program, however, your trademark has to be registered in the country you wish to register under or you need to have a pending trademark application filed through the Amazon IP accelerator.

Are there any free tools that are good for increasing product sales on Amazon?

There are a number of free tools that can be used with Amazon. These tools allow you, for instance, to search for a product based on keywords, categories, or brands. Examples of this type of tool include camelcamelcamel, keepa, and unicorn smasher.

Tools such as this offer solutions for data analytics, competitor monitoring, price and product estimates, and more.

Amazon UPC codes: What are they and what do they do?

An Amazon UPC code is a singular code assigned to each product on the Amazon marketplace. UPCs are used to clearly distinguish each individual item from the millions of others already existing in the online market. Amazon UPC codes make it easy to identify individual products sold on Amazon across the world. Consider it Amazon’s cataloguing system to separate each product in its database.

These codes function the same way as the barcodes you see on every product in your local supermarket. Like barcodes, each Amazon UCP code is unique and an easy scan will tell you what the product is, together with providing other relevant product information.

What are Amazon Product Listings?

An Amazon product listing is a page on the Amazon website that tells your customers all they need to know about the product you are selling. Generally, successful sellers on Amazon are those who have a solid product and who have also put in the time to create a clear and appealing product listing.

While you could try and come up with a product listing from scratch, it is, however, often best to scan through some pre-existing listings by other sellers, especially successful ones, to learn a thing or two about how to craft a product listing / page that is going to be a compelling offer for everyone seeing it and interested in your product.

What sorts of supply chain challenges are sellers facing?

Selling on Amazon is not without challenges. One challenge that sellers can face arises from supply chains. This was particularly a problem over the last few years because everything was so shut down. We are pleased to report though, that despite the policies still in place in China, we are not seeing supply chain delays for our clients.

Supply chains were problematic over the last few years, but have become more consistent again of recent times

What are some examples of profitable products to sell on Amazon?

Profitable products come in all shapes and sizes. Because they’re in such high demand, they get a lot more sales. More sales equals more profit!

Products that are currently hot sellers on Amazon include jewelry, pet products, home / kitchen products, sport and outdoor products. If you’re planning a product in any of these areas and you’ve done your research, you might get a lot of people hitting the buy box when you sell on amazon.

Fidget spinners have been very popular products in recent years, showing that a product does not have to be complicated to be successful

What is the importance of Amazon keyword research?

Amazon keyword research is a very important step Amazon sellers or FBA sellers usually take as part of market research for their product. Amazon keyword research involves choosing a focus keyword and then finding relevant terms people are searching for related to your product. These keywords are used to identify how much interest a product may receive, to optimize listings in order to attract prospective customers and to boost the product’s Amazon ranking in the Amazon search results.

Although many people might not realize this, Amazon is actually one of the largest search engines on the internet. Buyers on Amazon often browse the site using the search bar to input the brand name or type of product they’re looking for.

As a result, keywords form an integral part of every Amazon listing. Generally, when an Amazon product is optimized for search, it has a better chance of being found by more people which greatly increases the sales potential of the person or business selling on Amazon.

Keyword research is very important when it comes to selling on Amazon

Can I legally resell on Amazon?

Yes, it is completely legal to resell other people’s products on Amazon. In fact, you will often find resold items on Amazon, as almost anyone can be a reseller. For this reason you can often find very similar or identical items offered by different sellers at different price points.

Reselling a product (where you purchase a product for a cheaper price and then sell it on at a higher price and profit from the difference) is different to private or white labelling a product, in which you put your own branding on a generic product.

Some people buy bulk close out products and then resell them at a higher price on Amazon, pocketing the difference

What are Amazon FBA fees?

The fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fee (also known as the pay-and-pack fee) is a flat fee per unit, which is dependent on the size, weight, and category of the product. To estimate your total FBA fee, you’ll need to know the product type as well as the sizing tier of your goods. After that, you can use the shipping weight to determine the flat FBA fee per unit of your products.

Does Amazon offer labeling services?

Yes, Amazon offers labeling services. You have three options for labeling your products: You could use existing UPC or EAN barcodes for eligible products, apply Amazon barcodes onto the product or packaging material, or use the FBA Label Service to apply barcodes to your items ready for shipping for a per-item fee.

Do you need help with manufacturing a product to sell on Amazon?

J — CAD Inc. has helped clients design, prototype and manufacture products that are on sale all over the world. We have the knowledge and experience to help you through all stages of the product design process.

If you’d like more information about manufacturing a product to sell or white label on Amazon, get in touch on or send through a request for a quote here, and one of our friendly team will get back to you in 5 – 10 minutes.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com, or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Can I Sell My Own Manufactured Products on Amazon? appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

The best part of entrepreneurship is the opportunity to attain various freedoms:

• The freedom from an overbearing boss
• The freedom to enjoy your work
• The freedom to build and grow the way you think is best
• The freedom to enjoy time with family and friends
• The freedom to set your calendar

There are many more positive attributes of starting your own business. It can be a massive investment to decide to quit your job in the name of starting a company and the risk is often enough to scare people away from the thought altogether. Enter: the side hustle. Starting with a side venture that allows you to continue a full-time job is a low-risk, high-reward play that could provide you all the freedoms listed above…and more!

There are many questions to be answered about a decision like this. Where to start? How to succeed? Why are you different than those that have failed before? We can answer those questions in short order while providing tips on how to get started with your side hustle making candles, chocolates and (or) soaps.

Are Candles, Chocolates, and Soaps Good Options For Starting a Side Business?

It may seem odd that we have provided you a business idea right from the start. There are several reasons these items are popular on e-commerce sites like Etsy.

They Are Popular:

The small business niche has boomed recently and shows no sign of stopping. With increasing consumer fatigue towards corporate entities, small shops and online retailers are reaping the benefits.

Candles are wildly popular, with over 70% of homes in the United States using them. Chocolate has an obvious appeal and custom soaps are beginning to see growth as the vacation rental property market has caught on to their appeal.

They’re Easy to Get Started With:

Pre-made molds are already available for these products and the development of 3D printing assistance platforms makes customizing a breeze. There is no dedicated space required for making these products and producing any of the three has a minimal learning curve (although chocolates may require food safety certificates, check your local by-laws).

Since we mentioned 3D printing, let’s use the opportunity to answer the question, “Why are you different than those that have failed before?” The answer is that your little business could offer unique candle, chocolate or soap shapes and designs. 3D printing offers the opportunity to create virtually any shape you can imagine. Company logos, favorite local sports teams, or school mascots are all within the realm of creating molds using 3D printing.

Set yourself apart by experimenting with weird and wonderful or niche specific shapes. If you need some help turning your ideas into 3d printed molds, give us a call. By using our knowledge and molding and manufacturing equipment it eliminates the need for owning your expensive equipment or trying to learn how to use it.

They Can Yield Good Returns:

These products are popular, as we discussed earlier. This means you can expect to set a higher price point for them and still see your inventory ship out. While your business may start as a fledgling Etsy shop, you could eventually branch out into sales as a vendor for brick and mortar gift shops and craft stores.

There is An Established Market:

For some new businesses, an area that has already been established can have some major downsides like market saturation and heavy competition. With candles, chocolates, and soaps, customers are likely to try the “new kid on the block” to see what you have to offer that others might not.

Answering “How to Succeed” As An Entrepreneur Selling Unique Chocolates, Candles and Soap

To be straightforward, there are probably more Etsy and e-commerce failure stories than there are those detailing great success. However, proper planning goes a long way toward creating a sustainable model that could provide an income that you would be happy with.

Here are nine steps that can help you succeed:

1. Spend time narrowing down your business to one concise sentence. Describe who you are and what you do/offer.
2. Know your customer before you start. Most small business failures take a “we will sell to whoever walks in approach.” If you know your customer as you create your inventory, your products will naturally be attractive to them.
3. With that said, be willing to change. Sometimes the market changes. Sometimes your customers change preferences. In any case, do not become set on one design scheme. You must be flexible to maintain any sense of long-term success.
4. Know what makes you different and stick with it. Is it your packaging? Is it the products themselves? Is it your clever product names? Once you have determined a “niche”, stick with it. Your customers will likely be drawn to it and will be dismayed if you stray.
5. Your brand should make sense. A clever name that doesn’t jive with your product line will not appeal to customers. Calling your line, “The Chocolate Cat”, and only selling dog items might be a bit of a turnoff.
6. I know you do not want to hear this but…set a budget! Outline your costs for the first three months. Include supplies, the cost of 3D printing or mold making, shipping, etc. Remember to include the cost of YOU. If you prepare a budget that does not include paying yourself, then you may be shocked when two years have gone by and you aren’t feeling the reward of entrepreneurship.
7. Keep things concise. Use steps one through four to come up with a narrow product line that fulfills your sentence outlined in step one. Set prices that make sense to fulfill your budget needs, understand your ideal customer, and do not scare anyone away.
8. Settle on your scope. The ideal scenario is to sell locally to friends, family, and word of mouth clientele while running a store on Etsy or some other online platform. If things seem to be going well and you can keep up with demand, consider reaching out to stores in your area that sell locally made products.
9. Make it Official. Do not forget that running a business has aspects other than simply making and selling products. Local, state, and federal government regulations may apply to the products you are making and the sales process. Make it legit with the IRS and pay the appropriate taxes to avoid steep penalties down the road.

Creating a business on the side can be a life-changing decision. You may discover new freedoms and enjoyment that you did not know existed. Use advantages like creating your own molds with 3D printing to set yourself apart and stand out from the crowd.

If you need help designing a completely unique custom mold, don’t be afraid to reach out to us on or by using our quote form. We frequently get queries about mold making and can answer any questions you have about it simply and clearly.

Keep learning:

Easy way to make fiberglass foam molds

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post How to Use Candles, Chocolates and Soaps As a Side Hustle to Make Some Extra Income appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

Like most industries, manufacturing offers a wide scale of business opportunities from making widgets by hand in your garage to companies with global headquarters and offices in every major city. For the purpose of this article, we will zoom in on manufacturing products on a small scale for market in a shop or e-commerce store.

Finding a Niche

Narrowing down the possibilities is the first step in successfully adding manufacturing to your small business plan. Having a concise product list can help keep costs under control, makes marketing easier, and prevents missing deadlines or delivery dates.

Finding a focused identity for your small business can be challenging. Do some research in your area, whether you intend to sell locally or online, and find out what others are doing. It is vital to your success to price products competitively and avoid oversaturated sectors.

Learn more: What types of manufacturing industries are there?

Here is a list of some cost effective ideas for small businesses and startups that incorporate some form of manufacturing:

3D Printing

3D printing goes far beyond making little selfie dolls or other plastic toys. The market is ripe for someone capable of making parts that have become obsolete.

Collectors are constantly searching for replacement parts and are having an increasingly hard time locating them. 3D printers have caught on and are stocking parts for machines, cars, and other collectibles.

The beauty of adding 3D printing to your manufacturing repertoire is there are companies out there that act as mentors, advisors, and consultants to help you along the way. If you are unsure where to start with design, prototyping, or the printing process, there are people who can assist. All it takes is reaching out online and you could be well on your way to manufacturing success.

Organic Skincare Goods

Producing high-quality, organic creams has become popular amongst the farmer’s market crowd. You can certainly take this a step further and sell online or at a local store.

Skincare products derived from plant-based materials have become highly sought after, yet the manufacturing market has yet to be completely tapped. There are some government regulations regarding certain claims, but this is a great sector for any budding entrepreneur to explore.

Meal Kits

People seemingly have less and less time to accomplish all their tasks in a day. This is leading to a desperate search for ways to eat well, healthy, and fresh without sacrificing too much time.

There are levels to manufacturing meal kits, even on a small scale. You could prepare a kit that features pre-measured spices, and includes a recipe and shopping list for the fresh foods required. Higher level meal kit manufacturing could include full scale meals with all the necessary ingredients included.

Assembly

Some creative entrepreneurs have carved a niche out of putting together furniture from a certain Swedish box store. This is not the kind of assembly we are suggesting here.

Consider a business dedicated to custom jobs like building high-performance computers or fashioning specialty storage containers. Fulfilling custom orders is a great way to introduce yourself to the manufacturing world at a sustainable pace.

Preparation is Key

You cannot just wake up one day and decide to add manufacturing to your current or future business. You must plan ahead by researching the market, determining if the costs versus returns are reasonable, and develop a workflow that allows you to manufacture and deliver on time.

Finding ways to make the process simpler for yourself and your staff, like enlisting the services of a 3D printing design specialist, will allow you to spend more time on marketing and social media advertising. It is not enough to simply manufacture. You must sell the ideas and products, as well.

When you think of the word manufacturing, you may see a huge factory with hundreds of employees. As we have seen, it is far more within the grasp of a small business owner or entrepreneur. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box – adding manufacturing does not have to mean breaking the bank!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Manufacturing Ideas for Small Business and Startups appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

If you have ever wondered how to get a prototype made for a kickstarter campaign, and what steps are involved then this is the blog post for you.

Never heard of prototyping? Find out what a prototype is here

The “Steppy Top” – the Next HOTTEST Kids Toy

Here at J-CAD we’re proud to introduce you to the “Steppy Top” the newest kid’s toy conceived by Michael Sima, a brilliant inventor who came up with a refreshing way of helping kids play and grow at the same time.

Michael wanted to design a safe and easy to use product for his kids, who weren’t able to reach toys and other items high up on shelves, counter tops and desks, that they would use every single day. Here is a video of the final product in use:

The Steppy Top is a multi-purpose 3D printed stool, desk and play table, all combined into this convenient product that has been designed based on the idea of kids becoming a bit more independent, and of giving them a product that allows them to do more things without the need of an adult (although some initial supervision is recommended to make sure they’re using it in the right way).

With the Steppy Top, your kid will have a lightweight stool to support them while doing daily activities that would otherwise be hard for them to do due to their height / reach.

You can forget about your kid pushing heavy and unstable chairs around the house to reach their toys in the closet, or having to brush their teeth for them because they can’t reach up to the mirror or sink.

The Steppy Top is water resistant and easy to carry around. It’s also safe for kids and its detachable top will turn this simple stool into a desktop where your kid will be able to draw and color, or do their homework on a smooth surface with plenty of space to accommodate full sheets of paper.

Here is the Process Michael Went Through With J-CAD to Turn His Idea Into a Reality

Michael contacted us to turn his product idea into a reality, and we did what we to do best; we provided an affordable solution to start prototyping the invention he had dreamed of.

Step 1 – CAD model

The only thing Michael had to do, was to send his sketches and tell us a bit about his idea; the way he wanted it to be. We started collaborating with him on the design phases of the Steppy Top, and we elaborated his sketches into a 3D CAD model he absolutely loved and which perfectly fitted his vision for the end product.

This is what the 3D CAD model looked like:

Step 2 – Rendered CAD model with finished colors

Once the CAD model was finished, we 3D rendered a “painted” model of the stool, so that Michael could see how it was going to look like when printed, or adjust colors before we finalized his prototype (which he ended up doing, deciding to use black instead of white for the top and step):

Step 3 – 3D printing the prototype

After final decisions had been made about colors, and the design had been checked to make sure it was physically viable and would be weight-rated to the capacity Michael required, it was just a matter of printing a 3D prototype. As part of this process, we took care of finding the right materials for the prototype that provided the best weight balance at a very affordable price. This was the result after 3d printing the CAD model we had created:

Step 4 – Adding rubber pieces and painting

It obviously looks a little plain at this point, so the next step is to add color, feet and other finishing touches:

Here is the prototype with final details like rubber pieces and painting completed:

Step 5 – the finished prototype!

This is what the final prototype looks like (you can also see it in use in the video above):

Michael was so excited when he saw his idea become a physical object he could see, touch, and SELL!

Trademarking, Patent Pending and KickStarter Campaign

Now Steppy Top is trademarked and patent pending, and is going through the final development and manufacturing phases, if you’d like to, you can support Michael or order a Steppy Top in two different ways:

Click here to buy your own Steppy Top NOW! (while supplies last), or click here to support Michael’s Kickstarter campaign (still 53 days to go).

Do you need a prototype for a Kickstarter campaign?

A lot of people think it’s difficult to create a product, but honestly if you know the right people with the right skills and knowledge it’s not. All you really need is a marketable idea that people will love (hopefully with the ability to go viral).

Once you communicate your design to us, we’ll get your product together. We can even help you with promoting your Kickstarter campaign if you’d like us to.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help make your idea a reality by using the live chat on the screen, email jason@jcadusa.com, or using our quick quote form here.

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Ever Wondered How to Get a Prototype Made For a Kickstarter Campaign? appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

For example, the hit TV show Shark Tank is now accepting applicants to come on the show and present their product ideas!

If you think your idea is TV worthy and you’re up to the challenge of presenting it to these world-renowned investors, you and your idea have the potential to really take off with the TV exposure and backing from these icons in the business world!

How do I register to be on Shark Tank?

CLICK HERE to register with the show! We have worked in the product design and development industry for over 10 years, and have a good sense of what will make it in the market, and how to frame your ideas to have the maximum impact. So get in touch if you need help with what to say or what to send them.

If your product is just in the design phase you might need help getting your product ready to be on TV. If so, J – CAD Inc. can help you with the design and prototyping of your product so you have something to show the Sharks and really impress them! We offer CAD Design, 3D printing and 3D scanning services allowing you to easily and cost-effectively prototype your design. We also offer a virtual reality service that allows your 3d renderings to be turned into interactive virtual environments that anyone with a VR headset can actively participate in. Imagine wowing the judges by being the first to present your idea in physical form and in virtual reality!

Not ready to be on Shark Tank? No problem.

If you’d like J – CAD Inc. to help you develop your idea just let us know and we’ll be glad to help you out based on our years of product development experience!

We can also help you raise capital without the Sharks by using crowdfunding!

How does Crowdfunding work?

Crowdfunding is a fairly new online technology that allows anyone in the world to post an idea they have (a virtual reality headset, a boardgame, a new type of shoe, the options are limitless) and ask for a target of capitol required to help them launch their business which can be anywhere from $100 to $100 million.

Users and investors of these crowdfunding websites can browse all of the ideas people post and decide if they want to become part of an idea by donating cash towards the posters target capitol goal.

There are 3 ways to donate to an idea:

1. donate money
2. donate money and become a shareholder of the company raising capitol
3. donate money and get a reward from the company raising capitol (for example a free t-shirt with the company’s logo that says “I helped fund company X on Kickstarter 2016!” or pre-launch version of the product being created).

CLICK HERE to learn more about how J – CAD Inc. can help you raise your funding goal!

Want to learn more about the 3D printing and design process?

Recently Jason, the CEO of J – CAD Inc. was asked to be a guest on one of the biggest 3D printing podcasts in the world, 3DMasterminds.

They asked if he could quickly explain the 3D design & 3D printing process so that the average person could understand it.

Hear Jason discuss interesting areas of 3D design & 3D printing and how the industry is unfolding and growing rapidly.

The podcast covers some great topics and interesting points about how anyone, from the average person to large corporation can go from idea to reality!

Click the image below or CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast and learn about the fastest growing industry in the world!

P.S. Call us 1.888.202.2052 to discuss your prototype project and ask us how we can take your idea and turn it into reality!

P.P.S. CLICK HERE to learn about how we can design your project in Virtual Reality!

In this podcast you will learn:

• How Jason got started with 3D printing in 2006 in Toronto, CA by transitioning from design work to 3D prototyping work based on feedback from his customers.
• Incorporating outsourced 3D design work into part of J-CAD’s business practices.
• Manufacturing in China for injection molding, manufacturing, design and production to cut costs from present-day 3D prototyping.
• The challenges of learning the 3D printing fundamentals and teaching it to others.
• The frustrations of people who have an idea, but struggle in finding ways to get it made. Oftentimes it takes hundreds of hours just to learn how to design properly, much less learn to 3D print.
• Challenges behind creating things for people for the first time.
• Experience with designers from all over the world who have worked with J-CAD.
• The importance of trust when designing, building and mass producing for others.
• The potential of mass production with 3D printing in our homes.
• Thoughts on new renewable and sustainable materials being made for 3D printing applications.
• Lessons learned in creating J-CAD and providing a service that creates things for others.
• The difficulty in learning 3D design software, especially with the complications of options out there.
• Designing parts for Virtual Reality and how similar the process is to designing for 3D printing.
• The benefits of being able to visualize what a person is making through Virtual Reality before actually 3D Printing it, saving hours of time.
• Exactly how hands-on Jason is with the design process and customer service.

J – CAD Inc. has been featured in the following media outlets:

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Want to be on Shark Tank? Here’s How to Get Your Idea on TV appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

So you’ve had a brilliant idea that’s going to change the world? Now how do you make that idea into an invention you can become known for and will make the lives of people around the globe a better place to live?

If you’re anything like us, new ideas will keep popping into your head at all hours of the day. Sometimes we’ll we’re asleep even! Unfortunately not all these ideas are viable, some of them might even have been created by other people already!

If you have an idea in your mind, it’s important to do a bit of thinking and research on it before thinking you’ve found quick access to your retirement fund. If your research yields results that are favorable, then you can go ahead with making your invention. But if you find there is no market need for your idea, or that someone has invented it before you, you will have saved yourself lots of time and heartache.

While you’re probably excited to get started straight away on your invention, taking a step back and giving your idea it some careful thought and attention is important. Not only will this help ensure your idea is viable, it will also help protect your idea from being stolen in the future if you approach the product creation process in the correct way.

While there’s a lot that goes into creating, producing and promoting a brand new invention, below are a few steps to help get you going:

Document your idea

When you come up with hundreds of ideas every day it’s easy to forget that perfect one. That’s why documenting your ideas is so important. If you carry a notebook and jot down all your ideas you can come back to them at any point in the future, not having to rely on your memory. You might also find that an idea that seems silly now might have huge potential later with more attention. Documenting your ideas also helps to protect them. If you are unable to show any proof that this idea is yours, then no one will be willing to believe that you were the one who first came up with it.

Conduct research

Once you have decided on the idea which you are going to turn into an invention, the next step would be to immerse yourself in research. Research should be done in two area

1. further research on the viability of your idea
2. research on your ideal market

Can you find any information, case studies, market holes that support the viability of your idea. Who will use this product? What problem will you be helping them solve by creating it? This research will allow you to understand if there is a need for your invention in the marketplace and whether it would be accepted by your ideal customers or not.

Make a prototype

Once you have conducted all the research, it’s now time to build a prototype. You can start it off with a drawing of your product and then move on to making a 3D version of it. Send us your drawings, we’ll turn them into a CAD rendering and then 3d print the prototype for you. Once you are happy there are no flaws in your design, you can then move on to mass producing your invention.

Get a Patent

After you have finalized all the important design features of your product, you can go ahead and apply for a patent. This will allow your idea and product to be protected from your competitors.

Promote your invention

Lastly, you will need to promote and market your invention. There’s no point having a brilliant idea if no-one knows about it! In addition, the promotion should be done in such a way that it persuades your ideal customers to purchase your product. This stage can be pricey. It’s often said that half the money you spend on advertising is wasted – you’re just not sure which half. While modern marketing platforms make it easier to gauge where advertising dollars are best spent, prepare yourself to spend a decent chunk of money upfront to market your product before you see much return. Unless you can get yourself on SharkTank…

If you have a great idea for an invention get in touch and we’ll give you advice about where to start.

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post How to Make an Invention appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.