Business Concept To Reality? Where On Earth Do I Start?!

[Ellegirly 74]

I am a little clueless when it comes to business, so in some ways, some people may say that for me to be contemplating a business idea would be foolish! What I have is more of a business concept. And I believe it is a concept that would do really well. I am excited about it and I am excited about it because I know it is something that I, as a mother of a young girl, would definitely buy, and that many of my friends with girls would buy. It is different, has amazing merchandise potential and I believe would be a success.
This is however, as far as my business idea goes. It is in my head, it is on paper. In my mind, it is in shops and has a fantastic website. But how do I get it beyond the idea?
The idea involves a whole concept, in that the idea would need it’s own clothes line, it’s own merchandise, it would need to be made in factories, or by professional crafts people. My question is really, with this sort of business idea, is it a case that you design and build the idea, and then sell that concept on to somebody who has the money and know-how to get it set up?
I know that by doing this, you wouldn’t make as much money, but could you maybe still have input into how the concept is developed in the future?
Like I say, I am clueless, I wouldn’t know where to start, for example, if you want the products made (products like clothes, duvets etc), I wouldn’t know where to go first. Really I need someone in that line of business with lots of money who likes the idea, believes in it, and is willing to work with me in order to develop it. Maybe a Dragons Den scenario?!
Anyone who might be able to give me some advice how to get this off the ground, or maybe even someone to say ‘don’t even bother’, then please let me know! I just need some pointers.
THANK YOU!!

[Zacs-Master]

The first step would be to get your idea patented otherwise you run the risk of taking it to a large company and being paid peanuts for the idea, whilst they go off and patent it themselves. Your local chamber of commerce may be able to give you some advice. As a start you could try reading this
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

Good luck.

[dzug2]

You pay a marketing company to do the work for you.

It's not actually clear what your idea actually is. Sounds like a designer brand, of which there are plenty already. Are you designing the clothes, etc, yourself? What's unique about it?

And if someone tells you - I don't buy concepts, I buy goods and services - what's your answer?

[tamborine]

If youre marketting goods, produce them & test the interest by selling on ebay or same. Most manufacturers & retailers can set up a website for their products or you could be their webmaster ?

[Thunderchild]

You have two problems,

1) protecting your idea, this is hard, patents are often more of what you don't want, it will cost you thousands to patent and part of the process is telling the world every detail so that they know what not to copy. I don't know what the rules are but unless you can patent the whole concept and you can't patent the concept of a printed T-shirt you design is open to modification and becoming a new design and that is out of your control. Also you will be responsable for find the infringers and prosecuting them (more money).

2) you need funds to get off the ground. If it's a clothing design or brand you could try something like cafepress to test your idea, free to setup and they will print your design on numerous items. Zazzle is another one.

[Sharingan]

I have a clothing website selling bespoke one off steamnpunk, goth and alternative clothing, jewellery and LARP armour and outfits and that's pretty easy to set up in the sense that there isn't really any patenting involved with anything. I'm near Birmingham and there are lots of small manufacturers here and also in any major city. Websites are easy, I started with a simple WYSIWYG commerce site I built myself, but without knowing exactly what you are planning it's hard to really advise further. Do you have any capital or are you literally a 'penny miilionaire' at the moment? xx