Had an idea for a product - what do i do now.

[jellyjelly]

had an idea for a product but what do i do now. patent it?

unlikely as that is very expensive and does not necessarily have the effect you want..unless you have a very lucrative prospect...

ok then any other ideas?

is it something you need help preparing for manufacture..do you anticipate making it yourself or convincing a company to produce it, is it mass market appeal or small niche, do you know how much it will cost to make, do the component parts have to be specially made, do you have the skills to make it work as your own business

Am already a childminder so know about running a small business. It is something fro pregnant ladies who have just given birth so could be big but will need work. Dont think i can make it myself.

It might be that you could register the design but you really need professional consultation..have you tried business link for advice and possible grant help depending on your age and the product and the area you live. Also these people \link{http://www.innovate-design.co.uk/help_for_inventors_ideas.html\or something similar}

To register is that to stop someone else using it?

There's an organisation called NESTA which helps people with ideas. You can get a grant and advice about how to get it patented and made.

\link{http://nesta.org.uk\NESTA}

Patent office may be worth trying to check and see if anyone else has thought of it and registered it.
Business link can often be a bit vague with advice but may be able to point you towards other organisations, iyswim.
Working lunch (BBC2) often do features on people who invent things, and you can see some of the archived programmes on their website - might also be worth a try. A while ago they featured a company that helps inventors make prototypes of their inventions - can cost a few thousend, though.

\link{http://www.acid.uk.com/\ ACID anti copying in design may be useful too}

The Prince's Trust etc if you are the right age.

from what I gather about the patent process, if your idea uses other parts that have already been registered (ie my idea used a disabled/parking disk that has already been patented) then you can only register the design. On the plus side this much cheaper (c£60)
However, if your idea is something completely new and different you will have to take out a full patent, and this will require a prototype and lots of money!

That acid link looks interesting, zippi - has anyone had any dealings with them? (sorry for hijack, jellyjelly)

Do any of you know the patent people where i can check for it?

\link{http://www.patent.gov.uk\here}

thanks

good luck by the way

you could apply to the Dragons Den

Do any of you know about the princes trust and how young you have to be?

Princes trust \link{http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/\ it will be on here}

there is another one as well which I can't recall at the moment something like young entreorebueurs

And theres something called Wire (I think, something about women in rural enterprises,) if you are in a country location.

and this \link{http://www.shell-livewire.org/\ shell live wire}

so effing annoyed now, i asked a company if they had a product that i wanted, they didnt so i thought i would make it and now they have started making it with thanks to me on their website. So annoyed now.

was that this product then? pita

yes, I've been dying to know who nabbed your idea!