What should i do

[tmdigitalart.com]

hi

just looking for any advice, i recently had an idea which would be great to use at a large outdoor activity
business i know in scotland. I sent them an email yesterday just saying that i have an idea i would like to tell them about
in person. They have got back to me saying "if you can provide a few more details-we do get asked quite a lot for our time which is in short supply to run our own business, so if you can give us an insight I can say whether or not it is something we would be interested in".
How much really should i tell them, dont whant to tell them the idea then they go of and do it themselves.
Someone called rico from this forum gave me some good advice, which was to try and get a contract written up for them to sign before i give it away. i dont really know of anyone who could do this for me.
Should i just risk it and tell them the idea and hope they dont do it alone or spend a bit more time and try and get some contract written, as rico said this still wouldnt be watertight.

any advice

thanks allot

tom

[clapham993]

You could draft a simple memorandum of understanding that said that, in your supply of details of the idea as an act of good faith they agree not to exploit your idea without involving you on certain terms. Sometimes however you just need to go with an instinct - do these seem like guys you can trust? If yes give them the extra info; if not walk away.

[jconsta6]

I'd agree that you could get something drawn up, but why not sell it to them that its not worth them doing themselves? - i.e. show them what they will get out of it, for doing nothing or very little on their part.

If, and I'm only guessing from you've already said, you basically want access to their specific customers, then what do they get out ouf it? IF it's something they can setup themselves, then you have to make your product attractive in that it's easier for them to just help you and let you do it and they do nothing yet make £££, instead of them spending time and effort to make only a marginal percent more. Obviously it would mean you only make the marginal percent, but if you are doing this with several or even dozens of centres then your marginal % becomes a "thank you very much" %.

Then obviously you are in the position to build your business up from there.

Also, you may well find they HAVE already thought of it, but just couldn;t be arsed.
So, when you come along, they may say yes, we've thought of it, and if you let us take X% we'll let you do it at our centre, we would do it ourselves but haven;t got the time etc....

Just a thought.

JC

[rico]

tmdigitalart.com said:

Someone called rico from this forum gave me some good advice, which was to try and get a contract written up for them to sign before i give it away. i dont really know of anyone who could do this for me.

Nice work getting the initial contact going. Thats often the hardest point. If you're 100% convinced about the potential of the business, then get a legally minded friend to write up a contract for them to sign before you say more.

Always have respect for your prospective clients but also, don't let them walk over you. You have the potential to transform their business in theory

Good luck

[nightmare]

im fairly sure if you're just worried about them using the idea you could actually get away with a standard Non Disclosure Agreement, including a clause which covers them exploiting any info you pass on. I can email you one if you want (after someone else concurs with me that'd be good enough cos i might well be wrong)

cheers
Night

[srebbe64]

Maybe I'm a bit thick (and I can certainly be that), but taking a step back and looking at the question. In effect, a member of the public has an idea about how a privately owned company (of which they have no involvement)could be improved. Realistically, I can't think of an easy way you could earn out of this. One option might be, I suppose, is for you to offer more of an active role in setting-up / pioneering the concept, thereby you're offering a lot more than simply a good idea. Even then though, it would be pretty tricky to ensure you get money out of the concept.

[tmdigitalart.com]

hi all

thanks for advice, i rushed ahead with it and told them about the idea on wednesday, still no reply.
Ive been thinking that it would be better for me to try and start and run the business online, this
way i feel i could rent the product out to allot more people without having to be everywhere in person, and wouldnt
have to take people on to help.
So really i could do with finding a good web designer, also further down the line thought about getting some flyers designed
to promote the site.
Does anyone know of any good web designers, also people that can design some good flyers without braking the bank.

cheers

[rico]

[e-mail] for a good web designer

jconstra6 and I have used his services. Both impressed

[tmdigitalart.com]

thanks rico, simon just got back to me, like the look of his work. I'll have to get back to him today and try an sort
something out.
Quite pleased today as i got an email back from the company which i told my idea to, thought they weren't going to bother.
They said "Yes possibly-how would you envisage it working? My only concern would be the care of the equipment and the time it would take to hire out".
Just need to think what to say back now.

thanks
tom

[superlightr]

srebbe64 said:

Maybe I'm a bit thick (and I can certainly be that), but taking a step back and looking at the question. In effect, a member of the public has an idea about how a privately owned company (of which they have no involvement)could be improved..

I get told by helpfull members of the public to 'Pull my socks up' and 'pull your finger out' to help improve my business.......