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How do I develop and manufacture a physical product?

nightmare

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Hello everyone,

So I have an idea for a product (it's a water bottle but not simply just a bottle). I personally would benefit so much from this product. I want to make a prototype and start using it myself, then poke around communities to see if others like it. Even if no one wants it, I just want to learn to manufacture stuff so I can move on to different product. For example, how do I know what type of plastic to use? How thick? What shape to make it? The opening and closing mechanism, packaging, how to get it mass produced, etc. Where do I even start looking?
 
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amp0193

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You can literally google all of those questions.

Have you even googled "what types of plastics to use in water bottles" yet?

Have you googled what other water bottle companies are doing?

You feel overwhelmed, because you don't know anything, and there's so much you need to know.

So pick one thing, and start learning about it. Answer one question at a time.


I have lots of products. For a recent textile product, I started from 0. Knowing absolutely nothing about fabric. After 4 hours of googling, I knew I wanted 600D ripstop oxford polyester, heat sealed double-stitched seams, polyurethane coating, and all of the specific features: measurements, drawstrings, hang tags, etc.

Then I messaged 30 factories on Alibaba who could make this thing, and told them how many I wanted. Then I picked the one that said "ok" when I told them all of the above. Then after I approved the sample they made, I had what I needed 8 weeks later, just how I wanted it.
 

Eskil

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To answer some of those questions - start by looking at existing bottles in the market, similar to the one you want to make. That will teach you a lot about shapes, thicknesses, even materials. But also what @amp0193 said - you can find a LOT on Google and Alibaba.
 

nightmare

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You can literally google all of those questions.

Have you even googled "what types of plastics to use in water bottles" yet?

Have you googled what other water bottle companies are doing?

You feel overwhelmed, because you don't know anything, and there's so much you need to know.

So pick one thing, and start learning about it. Answer one question at a time.


I have lots of products. For a recent textile product, I started from 0. Knowing absolutely nothing about fabric. After 4 hours of googling, I knew I wanted 600D ripstop oxford polyester, heat sealed double-stitched seams, polyurethane coating, and all of the specific features: measurements, drawstrings, hang tags, etc.

Then I messaged 30 factories on Alibaba who could make this thing, and told them how many I wanted. Then I picked the one that said "ok" when I told them all of the above. Then after I approved the sample they made, I had what I needed 8 weeks later, just how I wanted it.

No, i haven't googled those questions and i really don't know why. You're right... It's actually so simple.
 
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nightmare

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To answer some of those questions - start by looking at existing bottles in the market, similar to the one you want to make. That will teach you a lot about shapes, thicknesses, even materials. But also what @amp0193 said - you can find a LOT on Google and Alibaba.
Will do, thanks
 

Mike Donnigan

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You feel overwhelmed, because you don't know anything, and there's so much you need to know.

So pick one thing, and start learning about it. Answer one question at a time.


This is the best advice—though yes, it's nothing new. I get so overwhelmed looking into a new idea that my eyes roll into the back of my head and I start to pass out/fall asleep. This is a literal thing that happens while sitting in front of my laptop, trying to learn something hard. Aside from smaller pieces, what other remedies can combat this symptom?
 

ecommercewolf

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Walter Hay

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