Many people dream of starting a business but don’t know where to start. This helpful guide will help you navigate the overwhelming process of designing a product to sell.
If you want to design a product, you’ve come to the right place. Designing a product for sale can be overwhelming, but it can also be rewarding. There’s a lot more to it than having a great idea and taking orders, but don’t worry- we’ve boiled the process down to a more easily digestible size.
Get Inspired
Maybe you already have an idea of what you want to sell but your design needs a little fine-tuning. Maybe you haven’t the faintest idea of what your product should be. Either way, there are ways to get inspired.
If you haven’t decided on a product (or products), think about the skills you already have. Are you an excellent artist? Do you have experience with a sewing machine? Can you work magic with a calligraphy pen? If your skills aren’t in the arena of arts and crafts, don’t worry- your unique set of skills will come in handy somewhere along the road to creating and selling your product.
Think about what you love. Try to imagine a product that you would actually buy, because chances are, someone else will want to buy it too. Mugs with witty sayings? Personalised baby blankets? Candles that smell like pizza? Posters of cats dressed as rock stars? Find your niche and let your creative juices flow. Just don’t use an idea that’s too niche. Create something that people will actually buy. Use your family and friends for inspiration.
If you have a product in mind, look on websites like Pinterest for inspiration. Think about colour schemes and textures. Think about the dimensions and shape of your product. Look at the competition. See what sells and figure out what’s missing in the market for your product.
For those who want professional help refining their product’s aesthetics and functionality, consider collaborating with a product design agency. These agencies specialize in bringing concepts to life with expertise in materials, ergonomics, and user experience, ensuring your product not only looks good but is practical and market-ready.
Focus on sales and marketing
Once you’ve decided on a product, figure out your target market. Your target demographic may be a broad group, like men aged 18-50, or young children and their parents. It might be more specific, like teachers, university students, or cat owners. Figure out what they need as a consumer- as a broad group, do they have lots of money to spare? Are they passionate about ethical consumerism? Adjust your methods based on what your potential customers will look for.
You may need some external support for things like branding and marketing. Working with an FMCG marketing agency can help you grow your customer base through highly effective product packaging and designs. Build the right team, or, if you’re a one-person operation, really do your research and learn how to do everything properly. Designing and selling a product is not something you want to figure out along the way.
Before diving into business, you’ll also want to establish a budget and acquire (and become familiar with) any products or tools you’ll need to bring your product to life and start selling. Don’t operate under the assumption that the product will sell itself. Keep the marketing going with social media posts, email lists, and paid promotions (if your budget allows for it).
Make your final decisions
Before making your product available for purchase, finalise the decisions, like price and return policy. Make sure to cover all the legalities like an ABN, business insurance, and warning labels on your product.
Creating the product
Now all your planning is done, it’s finally time to actually create your product.
If you’re creating the product yourself, start practising and making mockups. Get a feel for your end result and make any changes now before you start selling.
Have your family and friends try out your product and give you feedback. If you’re selling online, take product photos and create a social media account to promote your product.
The work doesn’t stop once you’re in business. Keep figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Once customers start leaving reviews, take note of any criticism and figure out if there’s anything you need to change. Keep track of your analytics and asses which form of marketing increases sales and engagement.
Expect the unexpected as you continue to sell your product.
Interesting Related Article: “Tips for Product Designs“