Thoughts on competing against big box?

[ThirtyOne]

EDIT: "big box" is misnomer, I forgot to edit the title before posting. whoops. "supplier" is more appropriate.

I've researched a category dominated by one major supplier and the distant second place goes to a smaller niche supplier in that category.

However, I've found that this category doesn't supply print designs that I know would be a hit among their core audience (the thing is wearable).

I don't want to take them on. They'll crush me. I'd like to license them my designs, but if I show them the designs, I worry they'll just slightly tweak em and cut me out of the deal all together (at worst).

Why pay a designer a royalty, when you can use someone in house or just pay him a nominal fee up front at best?

1) Am I being too greedy?

2) Should I source and print my own product; sell online under my brand name for a while; take my product/business to the major supplier and license it to them?

Thanks all. This forum is my new favorite thing on the internet.

 

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[garyjsmith]

From all the research and reading I've done in the past week:

Protect yourself, show the company, and if they say no, get their feedback, modify and/or move on to the next.

I do have a question, though: Are you design and then presenting a company with their own content?

 

[ThirtyOne]

From all the research and reading I've done in the past week:

Protect yourself, show the company, and if they say no, get their feedback, modify and/or move on to the next.

I do have a question, though: Are you design and then presenting a company with their own content?

Thanks for the response!

The company already makes the product; and they print a very specific style of art on it.

However, I have created different printable art I want them to license. This art is in a significantly different style/category that I am confident will sell.