It took time, and i havent stamped the number on the units yet.
Not that I would ever consider copying your product because the business I'm in is not related to yours at all, or this forum, but....
I manufacture a number of unique to me designs and offer them to the public for retail sale, worldwide, I might add. I't basically a hobby that turned into a profitable business venture, something that I should have pursued long ago, but didn't and I applaud you for embarking on your venture at a young age.
I considered patents for my products but my attorney said it's a waste of time and money and I tend to agree.
Patents are only as good as the paper they are written on. In the not too distant past, a patent gave the holder exclusive rights to a design, both in concept and execution or manufacturing. Any entity wishing to manufacture that product or a similar one would have to get authorization and/or pay royalities to the patent holder. Not today.
With the advent of 'World Class Manufacturing' NAFTA and the Chinese/European dominance in the world industrial markets, any Tom, Dick, Harry or Chang can copy your design and market it. Herein is the trick, if you will....
Manufacture and offer your products below what your bootleg competitiors offer theirs at (if there ever is competition) and plainly state that yours is made in USA (if it actually is).
I saved the money of a patent search and application and I operate on the LEAN manufacturing principle. I offer a domestically sourced and manufactured product that's uniqely mine at a price that a competitor can't match and I still make money. Not a killing by any means, but a profit nonetheless.
I get offers everyday from Chi-Com companies wanting to make my designs for me. They all go in the delete folder.
I'm proud to be an American and proud to be able to manufacture a product in this country, from materials sourced in this country, with machine and fabrication tools made in this country.
I certainly hope I'm not a minority in that respect.
