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If there was...

diff74 said:
Just like most people on here I also have some ideas and have been thinking the same thing. But holy cow only 250 units a year! I figured it was small but I would have thought 10,000/yr.

P.S. Something to know about patents are it's first to file, a document idea is no longer defendable. This is relatively new.
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I'd like to thank everyone for your feedback. It's very valuable.

I think what I'm going to do is this...

I'll continue the execution of the provisional patent process which could take a little while since I work a couple of jobs. I'll then put up a website that shows how it works, complete with a studio "how to" video which I've already shot, and a real time on the tree video that is yet to come that shows it again from different angles. If enough of you good people find it attractive, I'll start making them, small batches at a time, and start getting them out into the saddle hunting universe.

Thanks again to everyone who responded thus far, and for any more of you that respond in the future.

polekat
 
I would be very interested in something easy to put on tree and still being made.Don't wait too long to make them someone else might come up with similar product and take the small market.
 
I personally feel the market is going to grow a fair amount over the next ten years. Saddles have been around for a long time. Trophyline kind of put the carriage before the horse by not having a decent platform and having to outsource manufacturing. Guidos web and the aero evolution are expensive options just to try something you may not like. Lone wolf came out with a great platform(a little bigger and heavier than it need be) but the paired it with a horrible sling. Really just a comfy linesmans belt not a saddle. I think if someone would come out with a comfortable saddle with a lightweight platform and climbing system in a turnkey package at a reasonable price the market would be a lot bigger. The people who want to saddle hunt will always be a small percentage of the hunting market. The number willing to do their own sewing and platform is even smaller.
 
Speaking from a business point of view -I would think the insurance on anything that holds a person off the ground would be very high. I would want to check into all of the other costs associated before I spent much money on it. I do a lot of fabrication work, but when it comes to anything over head I don't get involved just for insurance reasons.

From my hunting aspect I'd be interested if it works well.
 
g2outdoors said:
I think the "off the ground" aspect is a huge barrier to entry in the market.
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x2. The cost of insurance is probably more than most products will make in our market. I think that is why we have seen so many product demo's that we get excited about and yet they never hit the market...
 
Probably the best thing to do is build a dozen and sell them someplace like eBay and the Forums and see where the market is. With that knowledge and what they cost to produce + other expenses will tell you if it is worth it. I hate to say it but there are far to many low life's out there that will try to get a lawsuit going, anymore insurance is a must for any type of business.
 
I think most of the guys on here would test them for you, and sign a waiver, speaking for myself, mostly.

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patent's are so expensive for something that may or may not take off. The saddle market is so small....
 
I will save you a lot of trouble, just send some down to Texas and we will tell you exactly what we think of them. Then you will know if it is worth making in large batches.

Just trying to be helpful! : )

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The saddle market is extremely niche. You could probably hope to break even on manufacturing cost over 3-5 years unless there is cross segment appeal i.e.: would work well for hang on hunters/situations.




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Yall keep talkin ...... I'll have me a " polekat platform" sooner than later!!
 
Is there another way you can advertise to give it a dual purpose? As for off the ground look at the SD people still use it off the ground
 
Well I thought about it. I think everyone else is right. Your probably going to lose money and get sued. Best thing you can do is go ahead and post it here. You could always put a big orange tag on it that reads not designed for elevated use. The sit drag probably has more people using them in the tree than on the ground. It's really hard to say without knowing more about the design. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around shooting 360 degrees without moving my feet. Four pounds isn't bad. The 5 minute setup sounds pretty extensive. Is that someone who is proficient at setting it up being timed and it takes close to five minutes?
 
Even with a warning decal not for elevated use, he still can get sued. I work for a company that makes forestry equipment and we are always getting sued by someone that did what they were not supposed to with safet decals, safety videos, safety procedures in the operating manuals, etc. Also patent are very expensive not only with the initial cost but there are annual maintenance fees. Sometimes there are ways around patent with a similar product. My best advice is just to sell them, don't own up to building them, manufacturing, etc. Don't put your name on them or anything. Make some extra money while you can unless you can sell the idea to a large manufacturer or partner up with one.
 
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