rockets
Well-Known Member
They need to be trimmed, edited, work on some figures, add on another step (I now have laser cut fin sheets), etc.
Thanks,
(I NEED YOUR OPINION!) looking in to Starting a rocket kit business...
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They need to be trimmed, edited, work on some figures, add on another step (I now have laser cut fin sheets), etc.
Thanks,
CzTeacherMan
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I've got experience writing directions for rockets. Tons of experience. Let me know how I can help. Looks like the people that have helped already are willing to help, so working with them first would be better.
dr wogz
Fly caster
I sent you a PM a few days ago..
rockets
Well-Known Member
I NEED YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS:
OK, so I've flown the Patriot on a A8-3. Should I release 1 kit to someone, and only limit them to flying it on a A8 for now, and then when I test it to bigger motors, then they can fly more like B6 & C6 motors in it?
I'm just trying to launch this business, and get it done. Oh, and also, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to fly it on anything bigger than a A8, otherwise you put it at big risk of losing it.
Should I do it?
OK, so I've flown the Patriot on a A8-3. Should I release 1 kit to someone, and only limit them to flying it on a A8 for now, and then when I test it to bigger motors, then they can fly more like B6 & C6 motors in it?
I'm just trying to launch this business, and get it done. Oh, and also, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to fly it on anything bigger than a A8, otherwise you put it at big risk of losing it.
Should I do it?
dr wogz
Fly caster
Andrew, you should test it on all motors it is intended to fly on. And yes, in this case you should plan for A, B, and C motor sizes. And, if you can, whatever 18mm D & E motors you can find.. You should have this tested / flown about a dozen times. Then you know it's a good flyer, and you can be pretty sure others won't have any issues (or very few). Have you simmed it with anything bigger than an A8-3?
Then, make a few kits to give to your beta testers. Get their feed back. With this feed back, change what needs changing, and then, only then, are you ready to release it for general sales.
Remember, Ford, Chevy, GE, Krylon, Sam Adam's, etc.. will make a few of their new offerings, and test them in a variety of settings & scenarios. With the feed back they gain from their own tests and from outside testers, they refine the design enough so that it's reliable & sellable. If you've only tested it once or twice, and expect others to only test once or twice with a narrow set of guidelines, you won't get very much feed back or enthusiasm.. Remember, you're testing it yourself so you are confident with it. You're getting others to test it to see if your results are the same as theirs, and what differences they discover.
Then, make a few kits to give to your beta testers. Get their feed back. With this feed back, change what needs changing, and then, only then, are you ready to release it for general sales.
Remember, Ford, Chevy, GE, Krylon, Sam Adam's, etc.. will make a few of their new offerings, and test them in a variety of settings & scenarios. With the feed back they gain from their own tests and from outside testers, they refine the design enough so that it's reliable & sellable. If you've only tested it once or twice, and expect others to only test once or twice with a narrow set of guidelines, you won't get very much feed back or enthusiasm.. Remember, you're testing it yourself so you are confident with it. You're getting others to test it to see if your results are the same as theirs, and what differences they discover.
Hmmm, just found this thread. Been a crazy summer here, so had to step away from hobbies for a bit.
As another hobby business owner I'd like to congratulate you on taking the leap.
As a business owner, and manufacturing engineer, I'd also like to offer some words of wisdom for you as well.
First thing is, never never never never never never (did I say never) stop re-evaluating your business.
Always keep looking at ways to improve your labor efficiency. Always keep looking for ways to reduce your materials cost.
If you do something in your process, always keep a keen eye on how to do it faster/cheaper/easier/more accurately.
In industry terms it's called "Constant Improvement". Meaning you never stop looking for ways to improve your production methodology.
Same goes for your record keeping, sales and marketing, even your designs.
Which leads to.....
Profit margin is king. $5 profit on a $15 kit is 33.3%. Fine if you're only direct selling, but if you ever plan on having re-sellers it's nowhere near enough.
Re-sellers need to make money too, and if they're only making $2 per kit they're gonna pass. Rocket inventory can sit for quite a while, taking up space, taking up money, waiting to sell.
If kits sit too long and go on discount to move the inventory, re-sellers are going to be losing money on every kit they sell, and you're not going to get repeat business.
Also factor in the financial cost of your time. If it takes you an hour in total to get each kit from raw material to packaged and ready to ship...... you're actually not making anything from a profit standpoint.
They're a lot of hidden costs that you're not factoring in yet too. Every business is different, so you need to find those costs and make sure to take them into account. Every penny.
As your business develops, you'll be able to read the pulse of your customer base. Stay on it. You need to keep your customers happy, always.
They may not SAY things are making them un-happy, but you'll know when they are souring to you. Fix it fast, fix it right, fix it loud.
Loyal customers are your bread and butter, they will keep you in business.
Angry customers will group together and breed like an uncontrolled infection if you don't stay on top of it.
Now, as to your most recent question on your kit with larger motors?
Honestly, you need to calculate it, build it, test it, fly it and determine what happens. Not just once, but repeatedly, under the conditions that customers will see.
You can always recommend which motors to fly it, sure, but just about everybody who's flown rockets has gone outside those recommendations.
Always assume somebody is going to do exactly what you don't want them to. Determine the WORST case, and make that as safe as you can.
There's a reason motors go through such a rigorous testing and certification process.
Customers are wonderful people. Some of them are very very stupid.
If they fly it on a C6 and lose it?.... that's rocketry.
If they fly it on a C6, it tumbles, and spears somebody in the chest? .... That's YOUR fault for providing an un-safe product.
Remember, a C6 is a heavier motor, not just longer burning. So it's going to affect your Cg to Cp relationship. You DID calculate that, right?
The NAR safety code and NFPA are a great starting point.
As another hobby business owner I'd like to congratulate you on taking the leap.
As a business owner, and manufacturing engineer, I'd also like to offer some words of wisdom for you as well.
First thing is, never never never never never never (did I say never) stop re-evaluating your business.
Always keep looking at ways to improve your labor efficiency. Always keep looking for ways to reduce your materials cost.
If you do something in your process, always keep a keen eye on how to do it faster/cheaper/easier/more accurately.
In industry terms it's called "Constant Improvement". Meaning you never stop looking for ways to improve your production methodology.
Same goes for your record keeping, sales and marketing, even your designs.
Which leads to.....
Profit margin is king. $5 profit on a $15 kit is 33.3%. Fine if you're only direct selling, but if you ever plan on having re-sellers it's nowhere near enough.
Re-sellers need to make money too, and if they're only making $2 per kit they're gonna pass. Rocket inventory can sit for quite a while, taking up space, taking up money, waiting to sell.
If kits sit too long and go on discount to move the inventory, re-sellers are going to be losing money on every kit they sell, and you're not going to get repeat business.
Also factor in the financial cost of your time. If it takes you an hour in total to get each kit from raw material to packaged and ready to ship...... you're actually not making anything from a profit standpoint.
They're a lot of hidden costs that you're not factoring in yet too. Every business is different, so you need to find those costs and make sure to take them into account. Every penny.
As your business develops, you'll be able to read the pulse of your customer base. Stay on it. You need to keep your customers happy, always.
They may not SAY things are making them un-happy, but you'll know when they are souring to you. Fix it fast, fix it right, fix it loud.
Loyal customers are your bread and butter, they will keep you in business.
Angry customers will group together and breed like an uncontrolled infection if you don't stay on top of it.
Now, as to your most recent question on your kit with larger motors?
Honestly, you need to calculate it, build it, test it, fly it and determine what happens. Not just once, but repeatedly, under the conditions that customers will see.
You can always recommend which motors to fly it, sure, but just about everybody who's flown rockets has gone outside those recommendations.
Always assume somebody is going to do exactly what you don't want them to. Determine the WORST case, and make that as safe as you can.
There's a reason motors go through such a rigorous testing and certification process.
Customers are wonderful people. Some of them are very very stupid.
If they fly it on a C6 and lose it?.... that's rocketry.
If they fly it on a C6, it tumbles, and spears somebody in the chest? .... That's YOUR fault for providing an un-safe product.
Remember, a C6 is a heavier motor, not just longer burning. So it's going to affect your Cg to Cp relationship. You DID calculate that, right?
The NAR safety code and NFPA are a great starting point.
