"A Socially Developed Product™"
June 24, 2011 1:31 PM Subscribe
Quirky is sort of like Threadless, but for inventions. (via)
People can submit ideas for products and vote on the best ideas. The company develops chosen ideas into actual products. If enough people commit to buy a resulting product in pre-sale, it is manufactured and sold.
(site & description found on Rebecca Likes Online Shopping which was on mefi projects)
People can submit ideas for products and vote on the best ideas. The company develops chosen ideas into actual products. If enough people commit to buy a resulting product in pre-sale, it is manufactured and sold.
(site & description found on Rebecca Likes Online Shopping which was on mefi projects)
These products I didn't know existed will solve the problems I didn't know I had.
posted by box at 1:54 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 1:54 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Web 1.0 was generating free content at a loss and making money on the advertising
Web 2.0 is creating an ecosystem (marketplace) at a loss and then taking a nice fat cut on other people's work
That said, some of these products look pretty good and probably could only come to market by greasing the wheels like this.
posted by 2bucksplus at 1:58 PM on June 24, 2011
Web 2.0 is creating an ecosystem (marketplace) at a loss and then taking a nice fat cut on other people's work
That said, some of these products look pretty good and probably could only come to market by greasing the wheels like this.
posted by 2bucksplus at 1:58 PM on June 24, 2011
Anything that allows me to buy replaceable airfreshners for the drain in my sink can't lose!
posted by blue_beetle at 2:18 PM on June 24, 2011
posted by blue_beetle at 2:18 PM on June 24, 2011
there's some interesting, smart things on here! If I ever need a new dustpan, I know where to go!
posted by rebent at 3:08 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rebent at 3:08 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, RetailMeNot has Quirky coupons listed: one free idea submission, sort of thing. (It popped up on my RetailMeNot Firefox add-on, but I hadn't checked it out before.)
posted by flex at 3:22 PM on June 24, 2011
posted by flex at 3:22 PM on June 24, 2011
Will it piss me off the same way Threadless does?
Well, that depends on what pisses you off about Threadless.
posted by box at 3:29 PM on June 24, 2011
Well, that depends on what pisses you off about Threadless.
posted by box at 3:29 PM on June 24, 2011
Will it piss me off the same way Threadless does?
If you're the incorrigible sort that needs the internet to validate your grumpiness, probably.
posted by JimmyJames at 3:48 PM on June 24, 2011
If you're the incorrigible sort that needs the internet to validate your grumpiness, probably.
posted by JimmyJames at 3:48 PM on June 24, 2011
Wait, it only costs $10 to submit an idea now? Used to be $100.
posted by limeonaire at 6:33 PM on June 24, 2011
posted by limeonaire at 6:33 PM on June 24, 2011
With respect, I think Kickstarter has emerged as a far better platform for innovative/creative products.
To wit (searching only for 'camera'):
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/97103764/capture-camera-clip-system
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rhaleluk/ishuttr-the-ultimate-camera-accessory-for-the-ipho
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/patricko/olloclip-iphone-4-quick-change-camera-lens-system
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/293194835/camera-lens-cap-holder
It's just far cooler to help people launch businesses than it is to help a retailer develop exclusive products.
posted by subpixel at 7:44 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
To wit (searching only for 'camera'):
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/97103764/capture-camera-clip-system
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rhaleluk/ishuttr-the-ultimate-camera-accessory-for-the-ipho
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/patricko/olloclip-iphone-4-quick-change-camera-lens-system
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/293194835/camera-lens-cap-holder
It's just far cooler to help people launch businesses than it is to help a retailer develop exclusive products.
posted by subpixel at 7:44 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Did we already go thru all the Halfbakery.com ideas?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:26 AM on June 25, 2011
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:26 AM on June 25, 2011
I think Quirky fits a nice niche for some students who are experimenting with product ideas. Specifically:
-Those who cannot build a functional or pre-production prototype. A good concept without a prototype rarely sparks an investors interest.
-Those who have a product idea that you can't build a business around.
-Those who have a product idea that isn't worthy of a patent.
-Those who have a fine product idea--not a great one, but an okay one--and want to get some feedback from the community about their idea.
Getting products made and sold can be expensive and difficult. Attracting investors, unless you are well connected, is also difficult. Building a business around one product idea unless you have experience is very difficult. The functionality, the testing, the aesthetics, the materials selection, the legal wrangling...there is a lot of work between "your idea" and "profit" in product development.
I don't begrudge Quirky their $10 or their cut. Anyone can have an idea, the hard work is what comes after. Looks like Quirky will do that hard work for you if you don't have the resources or motivation take your idea forward yourself. If you can take an idea into production yourself, you don't need Quirky.
posted by jeanmari at 10:13 AM on June 25, 2011
-Those who cannot build a functional or pre-production prototype. A good concept without a prototype rarely sparks an investors interest.
-Those who have a product idea that you can't build a business around.
-Those who have a product idea that isn't worthy of a patent.
-Those who have a fine product idea--not a great one, but an okay one--and want to get some feedback from the community about their idea.
Getting products made and sold can be expensive and difficult. Attracting investors, unless you are well connected, is also difficult. Building a business around one product idea unless you have experience is very difficult. The functionality, the testing, the aesthetics, the materials selection, the legal wrangling...there is a lot of work between "your idea" and "profit" in product development.
I don't begrudge Quirky their $10 or their cut. Anyone can have an idea, the hard work is what comes after. Looks like Quirky will do that hard work for you if you don't have the resources or motivation take your idea forward yourself. If you can take an idea into production yourself, you don't need Quirky.
posted by jeanmari at 10:13 AM on June 25, 2011
Some of these are nice, but a lot of them are just stuff you can do with a rope or some glue.
posted by chairface at 1:14 PM on July 6, 2011
posted by chairface at 1:14 PM on July 6, 2011
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