Quirky.com is a unique concept–a website that allows users to test the concept for a new invention through social media, and if successful, bring that product to market through the site’s development team. Quirky has championed the world of “crowdsourcing”– crowd + outsourcing. Here’s how it works:
The value of Quirky is the ability to test the market from day one–your idea will only survive if it receives the most votes during a given time frame against all other big ideas. Not only do you have a social-media sounding board at your fingertips, but the Quirky team is prepared to bring promising and popular concepts to fruition, as they have already done with many new products for which they are taking pre-orders on their
website. A few of my favorites include Stance (an iPad stand that plants into your cup holder…albeit a dangerous item for the distracted driver :/ ) and Trek Support for all those toting numerous gadgets in need of easy-access AC.
Here’s my main concern–Quirky charges $10 for the submission of an idea for each round of voting, and if by chance an ideas wins out over all others, the concepts is then controlled by Quirky. Sure, the site says the inventor is consulted throughout the design process and will get money for each item sold, but how much really goes back to the originator, and how much financial benefit Quirky gaining off the ideas of others (who have already paid into the site to get their concept posted)? Many other sites I have read secondary to Quirky advise not to use marketing companies (at least not initially) to develop your invention.
Check out the Quirky “manifesto” below, as well as the site, and give your opinion. I’d be interested to hear if you think the potential benefits of Quirky’s platform for social product development outweighs those of developing a product independently. Also, I’d be interested to hear if anyone has made any Quirky purchases or submitted concepts.
Hey Ryan,
I am the Ideator of Trek Support and I do have to say that quirky is a great place for people looking for a creative outlet, or just don’t have the knowledge or financial means to turn their idea into a physical product.
After spending the past year on quirky I do have to say that its become an addiction. Everyday there is something new going on, whether its product evaluation, design phases, product naming, product launches, new retailer partnerships, the list goes on.
The great thing about quirky is that anyone can submit their idea for only $10. If your idea is selected, you will get between 4-12% of revenue on that product, for the life of the product. The inventor of the Pivot Power is expected to make over $100,000 this year. Not a bad deal for only costing him a few dollars, on a product that he might not have ever developed on his own.
So if anyone out there has a great idea, but doesn’t have the knowledge or financial means to make it happen, quirky is a great place to bring your idea.
For more information make sure you watch the video above!!
Thanks for your comment! Interesting to hear from someone who has gone through the process. Love the Trek Support concept; have any other submissions of yours been accepted for production? Also, how long does it typically take to attain the required number of preorders to actually sell the product?
I have not had any other submissions selected, but I have submitted over 20 ideas to their site. Several had made it to the top 5, which were then thoroughly evaluated by the quirky staff, and then given a score for design, marketability, and viability.
Some products have made it out of presales in less than a week. Some have been in presales for almost 2 years. Presales is a way for quirky to get a better feel for how a product is going to do in the market. It seems like the higher priced items are harder to get out of presales, maybe because they aren’t actual products and people don’t fully understand the presales process. Retailers have also pulled several products out of presales, and I do have to say that Quirky is/has been very busy building relationships with retailers around the world. They have products in BB&B, a show on HSN, a reality show starting in august on the sundance channel, and several more retailers that are expected to be announced today at their quarterly town meeting with the community.