Stock model versus custom mold

Three routes

The right route depends on how different your product must be, how much you can invest before you have sales, and how important it is that nobody else sells the same design.

Why stock models suit a first order

Many online sellers start small to test demand. Because the factory has already made the product, there is no tooling fee, samples can be produced from existing patterns and the factory knows the construction. You also see a real product before you commit, which removes much of the guesswork in a written specification.

What stock models do not give you

A stock design can be bought by other sellers, so your listing may look like others. Differentiate with materials, colors, packaging, accessories and a better product page. If a design is a core part of your brand, plan for custom development once you have proof of demand.

Questions to ask about any stock model

• Is the design offered to other buyers, and can it be exclusive to me in my market?
• Does the factory own the design, and has it been checked against registered designs in my destination?
• Which parts can I change, and which would count as a new design?
• What is the minimum order per color and per size?
• What changes between the sample and the production run, and who approves it?

Intellectual property

A design that is common in factory catalogs may still be protected in some markets by a design patent or similar right held by someone else. Ask the factory for written confirmation that it has the right to make and sell the design, and check the destination market yourself or with an advisor. This protects you from a listing being removed after you have paid for stock.

When to pay for custom tooling

Choose custom development when your design is the product, when a stock model cannot meet a specification that matters (for example a required size or load rating), or when you want exclusivity you can enforce. Agree who owns the mold, where it is kept, and what happens if you change supplier.

How to start

List the stock models you like, with links if you have them, and describe the changes you want. Our request form asks whether you want a stock model with your logo, an OEM build to your specification, or help with design, so the right manufacturers see your brief.