I have a business idea, will need distributers

Plan formed. Very early stages.

I have a product that will be of interest to cultivators of cannabis. It works for more than just cannabis, but being a business, i don't see any reason not to capitalise on the growing interest in cannabis cultivation in legal states. It is cheap to manufacture, no limit to shelf life and reusable. Can be used on any scale of operation by simply using more units.
I plan to have a simple point of sale board with a description of the product uses, and a pir code thing that links to a the website with a demonstration video, online order form etc so customers can buy direct if they want. I envisage it as a small counter display in hydro stores and maybe dispensaries, the product would be displayed in the middle with the graphics etc around the outside edges.

What i don't know anything about is the patenting process. Can i obtain a us patent as a non us resident, would it be worth getting a worldwide patent rather than individual territories? What are the costs of this?

I guess any advice at this stage would be appreciated.

I have a useful product, a source of manufacture and an idea of the potential market. I shouldn't Need any funding to get started, aside from the cost of the display boards and simple packaging there isn't much to do really.

Hit me with your wisdom, guys. And thanks.

hit you with wisdom? you told us NOTHING about the product

mr lovah said:

hit you with wisdom? you told us NOTHING about the product

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yeah, well. A slightly stoned a garbled post I guess. The product allows idiot proof cloning, without the need for extra space or equipment, little to no risk of the clones dying, and enables taking much larger than normal clones.

i'm thinking the whole patenting thing may be a waste of time now.
The actual process is as old as the hills, I've just sussed a way to make it simple and clean. nothing really to stop anybody replicating it.

I think some simple packaging and an ebay shop might be the way to start out with this. Stuff patents...

If you think you really do have something here you should contact a patent attorney. But the process is very long and drawn out. Have you created a prototype yet?

MightyMike530 said:

If you think you really do have something here you should contact a patent attorney. But the process is very long and drawn out. Have you created a prototype yet?

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I have found a product that already exists, can be bought for peanuts from china, and can be modified to suit it's new purpose in seconds. Sounds too simple, but it really is.

And that's why the more i think about it, the less it seems worth persuing the patent idea.

The concept behind the process has been around for hundreds of years in agriculture, and by adding a simple tool, and a couple of pennies worth of other easily obtainable stuff you get the new 'product'.

If there is a future in this, it will be on the merits of the 'ready to use' nature of the kit. Decent instructions, neat packaging and low price could make it a success. I wouldn't expect to retire on the proceeds, as it's basically just compiling existing items to make a new package.
It may also rely on people being too lazy to build their own kits, which could be done for next to nothing.

I've ordered a couple of hundred of the 'base units' hopefully to arrive this week, then i can see about modifying, and proving the efficacy. Then it's branding, packaging and Ebay!

Patents are bitch to get even with a atorney my buddy has one thats been in work for YEARS on a redesign of one of those repitchers for kids learning to throw baseballs and softballs ....Its really in how much you or investor are willing to pay to speed process up.....I had a computer program idea for google glass called SUABI ...StoredUpdatableArcheologicalAndBiologicalIdentification Program.....But after some serios research it got put on the backburner only because the funding to get it pushed through and the investor backing needed was RIDICULOUS

WHODAT@THADOR said:

Patents are bitch to get even with a atorney my buddy has one thats been in work for YEARS on a redesign of one of those repitchers for kids learning to throw baseballs and softballs ....Its really in how much you or investor are willing to pay to speed process up.....I had a computer program idea for google glass called SUABI ...StoredUpdatableArcheologicalAndBiologicalIdentification Program.....But after some serios research it got put on the backburner only because the funding to get it pushed through and the investor backing needed was RIDICULOUS

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Well that settles it then. Patenting is out of the picture. As it stands this can be a cheap start up business. No need to complicate it.
I'm gonna get a few units made up and some packaging ideas down, then i recon i'll send a few units out to members here to test and fill out a littke survey/feedback form. That should give me everything i need to put a product on ebay. Then if all goes well i'll make some display stands and see if i can stick em in some hydro stores/dispenseries.
Maybe Chewberto will do a review on his website....if it ever gets that far!

Many thanks all.

I'd be willing to test it for you or put up an eBay link when you get it going. I don't have a problem cloning, but maybe your system is cooler/easier than my rooting cube tray and dome

no such thing as idiot proof cloning. even the best growers can go through rough patches.

if such a concept existed, we'd know about it by now.

sorry to poo poo your idea.

rikdabrick said:

I'd be willing to test it for you or put up an eBay link when you get it going. I don't have a problem cloning, but maybe your system is cooler/easier than my rooting cube tray and dome

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Give me time to get up and running, and you're on!

UncleBuck said:

no such thing as idiot proof cloning. even the best growers can go through rough patches.

if such a concept existed, we'd know about it by now.

sorry to poo poo your idea.

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Not a problem, Buck. Perhaps 'idiot proof' is too strong a term. I'm pretty sure anyone on their worst day can make a mess of anything! Let's say this takes away a lot of the risk associated with cloning, therefore making it a helpful tool for the inexperienced. Idiots will always be idiots, but this may give them a leg up!

UncleBuck said:

if such a concept existed, we'd know about it by now.

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Actually Buck, i'd appreciate you personal impressions on my idea. I figure you to be one of the 'head screwed' on types on here and i'd like to know what you think. If you pm i'll let you know what my plan is, then you can let me know whether you think i'm on a pointless journey or not! Can't pm you cos of restricted profile?

You should design it and create a fully functional model....Present it to one of the bigger farms maybe?Figure out what your margins are on it(cost to make/what you are going to sell it at) Come up with a relistic royalty that may intice the farm to give you money to manufacture let's say a thousand....Stick them in a few shops and listen to the feedback......Once you have a idea of your sales....Lets say thats 500 units a month You have a realistic idea to scale that you can give to more investors that would now be more interested? Dont offer the royalties you did the first farm....or maybe the first farm would be interested in funding whole thing?But anyway you CAN begin a patent process that will put your idea in a PENDING status which would keep anybody else from doing the same thing you are ....and if they do you can collect on most of there cash

WHODAT@THADOR said:

You should design it and create a fully functional model....Present it to one of the bigger farms maybe?Figure out what your margins are on it(cost to make/what you are going to sell it at) Come up with a relistic royalty that may intice the farm to give you money to manufacture let's say a thousand....Stick them in a few shops and listen to the feedback......Once you have a idea of your sales....Lets say thats 500 units a month You have a realistic idea to scale that you can give to more investors that would now be more interested? Dont offer the royalties you did the first farm....or maybe the first farm would be interested in funding whole thing?But anyway you CAN begin a patent process that will put your idea in a PENDING status which would keep anybody else from doing the same thing you are ....and if they do you can collect on most of there cash

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Good advice, thanks

I guess it would be worth reading up on patent law to weigh up the costs vs benfits. I had originally figured individuals rather than farms would be the the customer base, but it would make a lot of sense to get bulk users on board early.
I should have a prototype package pretty soon, just waiting on the bits arriving here...

Growan said:

Actually Buck, i'd appreciate you personal impressions on my idea. I figure you to be one of the 'head screwed' on types on here and i'd like to know what you think. If you pm i'll let you know what my plan is, then you can let me know whether you think i'm on a pointless journey or not! Can't pm you cos of restricted profile?

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i'll PM you and sign a waiver promising not to steal your idea. interested to hear about how to make cloning easier. to me it's always been a bit of science, a bit of art, and some dumb luck.

i am still amazed every time i see a branch turn into a plant.

UncleBuck said:

i'll PM you and sign a waiver promising not to steal your idea. interested to hear about how to make cloning easier. to me it's always been a bit of science, a bit of art, and some dumb luck.

i am still amazed every time i see a branch turn into a plant.

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Thanks, Buck. It is an amazing thing the plant can do. I'm hoping this may just remove the random element.

Email me at [email protected] and you can show me what you're talking about! Bless.

chewberto said:

Email me at [email protected] and you can show me what you're talking about! Bless.

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Thanks Chewy, I'll do that.

Pro tip: never use the words "proof" or "prove," if you can avoid them. Perhaps a better term would be "idiot resistant," or better yet, "no special skills required."

reasonevangelist said:

Pro tip: never use the words "proof" or "prove," if you can avoid them. Perhaps a better term would be "idiot resistant," or better yet, "no special skills required."

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Yeah, you're right! Let's not be making claims about things i can't controll.

Maybe :

'Dumbass Friendly!'
'Asshat Compatible!'

I can picture it printed on my packaging now...

'No special skills required' does have the right tone to it though.

is it this?