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TOMAHAWK9521 · 03-17-2020, 14:00

Gents,

After tinkering and casting spells on a number of projects in my makeshift mad scientist lab for the past 3 years, I've settled on this project to forge ahead with. I don't recall if I mentioned it before but this is my Patrol Base Lounge Jacket or PBLJ. The custom length robe version is the Vanguard. I've made at least 20 of these in a range of patterns and colors for friends, family and colleagues, with very good feedback. They aren't active apparel but have been utilized in high mountain elk hunting camps and forward deployed locations overseas as well as just relaxing around the house.

Note: I tried uploading small .jpeg images of them but I keep getting a failure message.

I'm waiting to hear back from a veteran treatment center that saw my very first prototype a couple years ago (I made it for a good friend going through there) and they had expressed interest in selling them. I have a few of the new models ready to ship out to get their unbiased feedback for the business plan. In the mean time, I'm working with a handful of advisors from the Regional BDC here in eastern Idaho to develop a plan to bring my products to market. The two big issues they're working on for me are allocating funding and outsourcing manufacturing. This design requires a lot more work than a woobie jacket and with my extremely limited workspace in addition to aggravations from the repetitive motions on my chassis damage, it takes me 5 days to build one. Except for the plastic hardware, I’ve been able to find all the materials in the US.

Considering my primary target market, I know where I want manufacturing to take place. However, a couple of successful businessmen who have spent decades in the textile industry strongly recommend going overseas in order to keep the price point down and QC up. That being said, I'm going to toss this question out there. I think I already know what the response will be but I have to ask. How many of you would be supportive/willing to purchase one of these if I settled on having them manufactured someplace over on the far side of the Pacific?

03-17-2020, 14:00	#11
TOMAHAWK9521 Quiet Professional Join Date: May 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,209	Project Update Gents, After tinkering and casting spells on a number of projects in my makeshift mad scientist lab for the past 3 years, I've settled on this project to forge ahead with. I don't recall if I mentioned it before but this is my Patrol Base Lounge Jacket or PBLJ. The custom length robe version is the Vanguard. I've made at least 20 of these in a range of patterns and colors for friends, family and colleagues, with very good feedback. They aren't active apparel but have been utilized in high mountain elk hunting camps and forward deployed locations overseas as well as just relaxing around the house. Note: I tried uploading small .jpeg images of them but I keep getting a failure message. I'm waiting to hear back from a veteran treatment center that saw my very first prototype a couple years ago (I made it for a good friend going through there) and they had expressed interest in selling them. I have a few of the new models ready to ship out to get their unbiased feedback for the business plan. In the mean time, I'm working with a handful of advisors from the Regional BDC here in eastern Idaho to develop a plan to bring my products to market. The two big issues they're working on for me are allocating funding and outsourcing manufacturing. This design requires a lot more work than a woobie jacket and with my extremely limited workspace in addition to aggravations from the repetitive motions on my chassis damage, it takes me 5 days to build one. Except for the plastic hardware, I’ve been able to find all the materials in the US. Considering my primary target market, I know where I want manufacturing to take place. However, a couple of successful businessmen who have spent decades in the textile industry strongly recommend going overseas in order to keep the price point down and QC up. That being said, I'm going to toss this question out there. I think I already know what the response will be but I have to ask. How many of you would be supportive/willing to purchase one of these if I settled on having them manufactured someplace over on the far side of the Pacific? __________________ "It is a brave act of valor to condemn death, but where life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valor to dare to live." -Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682)
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