Starting Ones Own Brand

[JackForde43]

I was wondering if someone can give some information on how one could start their own model railway brand like Hornby and Bachman for example. I have an idea of products I’d like to sell but not sure how to do about it.

[Mountain Goat]

Neither do I to be honest, but probably the best plan is to start small. Develop prototypes and start a small production. Then see if they sell.
The UK now seems an attractive place to begin as the Far East is getting more and more expensive. I have noticed that the UK manufactured products are now competing and able to give attractive prices too, while the prices of Chinese goods have been rising year by year, so things are looking good, whichever way brexit ends up going. It wouldn't surprise me to find that the UK will be the new China as world currency prices fluctuate in our favour.
I hope you have every success.
It maybe an idea to contact a Chinese manufacturer to start off production and go from there.

[IanS]

One way would be to test the water on E-bay and Amazon - it will depend on the product and the quantities you need to sell to break even.

You will also need to think of the marketing and pricing. If it not a unique product (ie no-one else in the world makes it) then intellectual property rights need to be established (via patents). If it is similar to other products then you need to be careful not to infringe the intellectual property rights already established.

There a multitude of other things to consider, a small business adviser in your local area is probably the best to consult, or a bank if you need funding. They will point you in the right direction.

If, on the other hand you intend to stay small (remember Bachmann/Hornby started small) then you may be considering making the product yourself. The question is really too open for anyone to advise without more information.

[yelrow]

From watching Dragons Den, before you do anything, you will need your potential products, protected by patents. Otherwise within a week of marketing, someone will have already copied it, then patented it.

[Mountain Goat]

That is the biggest issue with the UK.

[collectors]

Have a look at potential other manufacture's & see if you can compete. If you cant, what would make your product a better buy? There are also lots of companies out there that sell ready made packages for branding.

[footplate1947]

These products.. Are you going to produce them your self. Or are you going to sell something which is all ready on the market made by somebody else.
I had an idea for a business back in the early 90s. I found a wholesaler of Genuine Citroen spare parts who sold mainly to the trade. I rang them up and a told them I was thinking of selling Citroen spare parts retail, asked them if they would supply me. They said yes all the more the merrier. I started things rolling by putting flyers on wipers of Citroen cars in car parks at supermarkets ect;. Soon the phone started ringing and I thought this may well turn into some good. I was able to undercut Citroen main deals parts departments massively. Example was a common part like a rear exhaust box which main dealers sold for £86 I could buy for £19 something and sell for £28 and remember these were genuine parts which were fitted by Citoen factory.
Alas things started to build up but all of sudden my supplier was taken over by Swedish and French cars and bang! My little business went down the swanny. Such is life. Life is never easy but if you get an idea then give it a go because if you don't try you will never know the outcome.