Hello all, i'm new to this site, and new to blogging in general. Also, i'm not sure if i'm in the right "area". I'm in need of a munifacturer to produce, cell phone pouches. Actualy my own version that requires a little tweaking, but its a pouch nevertheless. If you have any information, as to a reputable manufacturer, could be ANYWHERE in the US, it would greatly be appreciated.
Hello
Every day, new and experienced entrepreneurs ask me the question: "How do I find a manufacturer?" I wish there was one simple answer to this important question. What I've found is that it's somewhat like a treasure hunt--looking for that hidden jewel of a partner. If you're making a new invention--let's call it a "thingamajig"--you can't exactly open the phone book to find a company currently making "thingamajigs" and ask for a quote.
Another frequently asked question is: "Should I produce my product here in the U.S. or overseas?" Again, there are pros and cons to both and serious considerations that only you'll be able to decide upon. Your answer might even be "both" and like many of the challenges entrepreneurs solve every day, there may be more than one "right" way.
That said, there are key resources and information to help you get started. I will share my own story, outline a basic process to follow and provide some resources for finding the right manufacturer.
The first and easiest step is to contact friends, business associates, former clients, customers and anyone else you know to see if they can recommend someone they trust. Finding a trustworthy manufacturer can take time. If these associates can shorten the process, all the better.
Your next step is to contact trade associations. Generally, if a manufacturer is a member of a trade association (or its local chamber of commerce), it at least wants to be viewed as reputable. Associations that will provide you with information on their members tend to screen them and weed out those with poor reputations or un- scrupulous business practices. The American Electronics Association, for example, produces a roster of its members and cross-indexes them by type of business. To find the appropriate trade association for your needs, most libraries have two reference books: the National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States (Columbia Books Publishers) and the Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the U.S. (Gale Research).
Another helpful reference guide is the Thomas Register, a multivolume set of cross-referenced books on the manufacturing of nearly every product made or sold in the United States. Keep in mind that the Thomas Register, which can be accessed on the Web at ThomasNet® - CNC Machining, Metal Stamping, Gaskets, Fasteners and other industrial products and services., does not tell you how reputable the listed manufacturers are.
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