New Online Markets Allow iLID iPhone Case to Start Up and Flourish in a Less Than Ideal Economy.

With the ever-increasing concern of a major manufacturing crisis looming, iLID iPhone Case are finding new and exciting ways of getting to market. Online retailing has exposed the hyper-inflated prices that retailers have subjected the buying public to for years.

Removing the retailer from this equation, coupled with consumers’ ability to compare prices online, has had a knock on effect for all. With increased pressure placed on all product avenues due to online comparisons and purchasing, manufacturers’ attempts to increase existing orders and attract new sales appears a doomed exercise. These same manufacturers are increasingly struggling as we move towards a global online superstore, as surmounting pressure bears down from retailers and supply chains forced to compete for a diminishing share of the market.

Likewise, the rapidly expanding Asian manufacturing industry where wage and build costs are low, means that attitudes from consumer through to producer need to be re-examined to change the current course. Due to consumers’ 'plugging in', an honest and frank appraisal of future retail and distribution trends needs to be conducted to break the current negative trend. With trade agreements on the agenda with unions, the government will need to make some difficult decisions with regard to where the line is drawn in relation to the protection of the manufacturing industry.

With such gloomy forecasts it's a wonder small businesses ever get off the ground. However, by using the same online networks to help facilitate design and build costs there appears to be a rose amongst the thorns.

An idea that has really taken hold of designers is the US crowd sourcing site Kick starter. Designed as a site that presents innovative ideas and concepts in an environment that allows for people to pledge their support to a project, Kickstarter.com has proven to be a resounding success, having reached the US$100 million mark in pledges to fledgling projects. Through the site, designers are able to set different price points, which gives potential purchasers staggered levels of return for their support. If the project fails to reach its financial target, the pledges are not activated, making it a risk-free way of supporting an idea.

Ideas by Scott Wilson, whose project was watchbands for the Apple Nano, smashed all kinds of records with a staggering US$900K plus pledges within a one month campaign. The company has been so successful that it has influenced Apple (no mean feat for a start-up), which has released a series of new watch faces for the Nano.

Another start-up company, http://www.ilidiphonecase.com [iLID iPhone Case __title__ iLID iPhone Case] is the collaboration of designers Simon Dunn-Vaughan and Darren Inglis, who decided to use the kick starter site as the platform for launching their iPhone wallet, a multifunction case that permits the storage of two cards, key and cash. The iLID-mk1 has met with genuine international interest, being reviewed in Mac world on the strength of rapid prototypes that had been made.

After conceiving of the initial concept and design, Inglis and Dunn-Vaughan decided that they wanted to try and keep as much of the process on home shores. ‘It was tough not to look overseas, especially with China’s ability to compete in regards to pricing. But at the end of the day we were able to secure quotes that kept our interests at home,” said Dunn-Vaughan.

“It’s unbelievable what’s on offer out there once you start looking. However, due diligence is required on your part if you want to do it here. You really need to get out there and talk to your designers and manufacturers. It’s a great way of getting a master class, and they generally know what needs to be done. We’re hoping kick starter helps us get the project over the line,” said Inglis.

“We realized early on how critical it was for a relationship to exist between designer and manufacturer. The iLid-mk1 iPhone wallet has a hinge, which on its own doesn’t sound like a big deal. But when you’re dealing with plastic injection molding, the integrity of the build really comes into focus. So if your manufacturer is overseas the ability for ideas to be communicated can get lost in translation,” said Dunn-Vaughan.

Pre orders are now being offered at http://www.ilidiphonecase.com with early supporters also receiving a limited edition “world’s thinnest 1gb usb stick” as a thank you to helping with the launch of the product.