Hi Dave,

Are you looking to license your product with a manufacturer or have them make it and you sell it?

If you’re just licensing your invention for royalties, I don’t think you need to worry about the tooling costs.

What kind of deal are you looking for or you don’t know?

Dave,

You should submit the idea to the Lifetime Brands LPS. I have been racking my brain for a great kitchen idea. In fact, I spent almost an hour in the housewares aisle at a local store just tonight. No life shattering ideas came to me. Can’t force this stuff.

Are in the West Michigan area? I live near Fremont (about an hour NW of Grand Rapids). I have two potential resources for you, assuming your gadget is mostly plastic. One domestic, here in West Michigan and the other in China.

Have you gotten an estimate on the tooling / mold anywhere yet? How about packaging? Have you given that a consideration as far as design and costs? If your product is really cool, I might be game in helping in some of the costs, for a cut of course. Let me know if you want to talk further or meet in person.

Again, I would spend the $25 on the Lifetime Brands submission. Get it in there, you can always opt out if something else comes together.