Aibu to tell BF his business idea is terrible

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I've been with my boyfriend for two years, we don't live together, we are in our 40s. Three months ago he quit his job. He had been unhappy in the job for a while, so that was fair enough. He planned to get another job, but instead had the idea to start a business. The "business" that he settled on is 3D printing. I've mentioned a few times that surely this is more of a side hustle, not something that can replace a full time job, but he just told me that he's "sure it's going to work".

First he made dog models, some were OK, some were really tacky and never would have sold. I tried to tell him this politely but he said some people might disagree (they wouldn't have).

Then he abandoned that idea and came up with a new idea that he's been keeping a secret from me. Last night he finally showed me. It's 3D printed characters that kids can paint, and he plans to sell them for £10+, along with t shirts with kids names on them. There are so many issues with this. You can't sell licensed characters, and there's better, cheaper (official) stuff available at the supermarket. Also kids shouldn't wear shirts advertising their names!

Parents wouldn't buy this. I'm a mum so I would know. He doesn't have kids. I tried to say a few nice things, because I know he wants me to support him and he'll be disappointed if I don't. But I want to tell him it's a shit idea, and he's wasted months on.

Tbh I feel like I've lost respect for him. He cannot possibly be this lacking in intelligence to think this is a great idea. He hasn't done any market research, even on me and I'm a mum and right there. What am I supposed to say? Aibu?

What's he living on?

I'd let him find out for himself, but he needs to pay his way in the meantime.

My DS's GF has just done similar to concentrate on her Etsy business and is spending lots of time "researching' but doesn't seem to be making any money. It's taking all my strength to bite my tongue..At least she's young though.

It might be better to let him find out the hard way🤷🏻‍♀️
The most important thing is that you don't let him persuade you to subsidize him until he makes it big, and absolutely do not let him move in with you!!

I don’t like your “I’m a mum I should know” stance. Plenty of kids wear clothing with their names on, I don’t think you can speak for all mums.

But I agree that I don’t think it’s going to pay the bills, I don’t know why it’s taken him months-sounds more like a weekends work.

He's living on his savings, and a £7k payout he got from his job when he left. However he must be coming to the end of those now.

It's a rubbish idea. My DH tried something very similar as a way of making additional money. It didn't work. The stuff that he produced was absolutely fine but he couldn't make a profit on it as it was being mass-produced elsewhere at a fraction of the price.

What finances is your bf currently living on?

Luckily (I guess) we don't live together. As my kids are quite young, we haven't made plans to move in together. So do I even have a right to worry about this? I suppose it doesn't effect me. But it's just so.... Dumb.

I agree that its a shit idea and I am going to assume he has no Business Plan and hasn't carefully looked into his margins etc
However, in your shoes and as long as it doesn't affect you financially I would just nod and be very non commital about the whole thing
I would also struggle to be with a man who had no job, and no real clue about how to earn money

Fair enough, people have different opinions, sure. But I'm one of the least security conscious parents I know, and I feel weird about my young kids wearing a t shirt showing their first names, in case a stranger acts like they know them. I know a lot of parents would agree. That's the kind of thing he didn't even think of.

I don't know someone who's making good money using AI to produce "artwork" for tshirts and candles with amusing slogans on Etsy. I don't know the details but everything goes direct from the manufacturers/printers to the customer. He doesn't actually handle or make anything.

Homemade goods just won't be able to compete.

I would say that the best way to support him is to encourage him to draw up a business plan. He can probably get free advice on this and can start by asking at the library.

So support him in the idea of a business and in the idea of approaching this in a business like way.

It’s not, I would suggest, your role to past judgement on the idea. As part of his business plan he will have to research the market and approach parents and investigate what the competition is like and what alternatives parents have to his idea.

It’s really important that he knows whether or not parents who see his product will say that:

• It’s a brilliant new idea
• they need this product
• there are no alternatives, or
• There are plenty of alternatives

If you genuinely like him and this is his only flaw, I'd have an honest conversation with him.

Relationships need honesty and he might listen, and save himself a lot of wasted time and effort.

Let him find this out by himself just like everyone else does. Hopefully, he will just have his shop shut down for IP violations rather than an expensive lawsuit..

I do support the idea of him starting a business but this isn't one. He hasn't done any of those things, and my suggestions that he do them have fallen on deaf ears.

My partner used to have a 3D printer and the dog models are the "demo" programs for people to get the hang of printing.

How is he going to sell enough to make a living?

It is a bad idea but maybe he will just have to find that out for himself. I suppose that’s how people get good ideas, by brainstorming and then doing things.

Your finances aren’t connected. I’d just let him get on with it. I don’t agree that people don’t get kids things with their names on.

I would be a bit... i dont know, surprised that he doesnt know about the licensing issue and the fact these are already mass produced and sold in shops. Is he not very... erm... sharp, in other ways?

I think this is why its bothering me so much. I kind of feel like he's not respecting my intelligence, he hasn't asked for my advice or even listened to my suggestions, even though I'm a mum, and know a bit about business.

Why does it matter if he wastes his time and money I suppose.

Yes, I think that's what gave him the idea. He made many more, things like dogs holding a lamp or a dog lying down and it's body was a bowl. Real tacky stuff.

You don't live with this man and you don't share finances. You are not his Mum. Let him make his own mistakes. I suspect he will discover fairly quickly that this will not be a profitable business. Hopefully before he has a copyright infringement.

Do not lend him money, do not let him move in, and do not have a baby with him. The him work away. Hopefully he will soon see sense and if he doesn't it does not impact you.

It sounds like he doesn't understand the basics of how to start of run a business. There are various online courses that can talk him through the basics. He needs a business plan and to have customer conversations to explore his market before he produces anything.

I'd tell him what I thought, that his business idea wasn't viable.

Does he have an actual plan or is this just an idea without a concrete plan?

He sounds dumb, I'd break up with him. Whatever you do, don't let him move in, he sounds like a flake.

He sounds a bit stupid. And it sounds like you’re not into stupid men.

Tbh no, he's not academic or "intelligent" in that way. I don't mean that to be rude, not everyone can be.

He knows about the licensing issue but basically said no one would catch him so he'd get away with it.

He probably needs to find out the hard way.

Are you concerned that once his savings end there will be some sudden expense that means he can't afford where he lives and will 'need' to move in with you 'short-term'?