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Market Someone Else's Product

If you are more interested in marketing than production, you may choose to find a good product that is made by someone else and assume full responsibility for all aspects of marketing it. You may decide to enlarge on this idea by offering a full range of marketing services for a large number of clients.

Some Examples

  1. A sales agent located an innovative game developed by a local inventor, and became its marketing agent. She managed the marketing process, including packaging, advertising and distribution.

  2. A marketing consultant markets the services of other consultants. He represents them, promotes their talents, schedules their appearances and negotiates their contracts.

  3. Independent manufacturers' agents often market similar but non-competing products for many manufacturers. For example, one agent sells sporting goods made by different producers.

How To Do It

  1. Look for products which have not been marketed at all (hard to find) or which have been marketed poorly .

  2. Look for new businesses that need marketing services but have not established a marketing department.

  3. Look for existing manufacturers which cannot afford to directly market to rural areas or specialized niche markets.

  4. Ask business consultants and advisors whether they know of any products that need better marketing.

  5. Examine classified advertising sections and mail order advertisements to locate individuals or small companies that are selling products on a small scale. As you search, consider which products offer the potential for larger volume sales. Look for good products using inadequate advertising.

  6. Contact marketing or advertising agencies. They can sometimes provide leads for products they were unable to take on, for such reasons as a conflict of interest with another account or a full client list.

  7. Locate inventors' clubs, attend their meetings and read their newsletters (i.e. Inventor Society).

  8. Contact trade or industry associations

Key Questions

Where can I find a good product requiring marketing?

Which products have a potential for increased sales if marketing is improved?

Is there a strong market for the product?

What marketing skills and services can I offer?


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