First, you have to decide whether you are going to create your own products, or market someone else's. Either way, it is important to create and keep a good list source where you can go to search for new ideas and/or products.

Below is a sample list source that we use to ensure a steady stream of new ideas coming in. You can use any of the following items, plus any other ones you can think of. As you come across new sources, add them to your list so that you remember and continue to use them in the future.

NEW PRODUCT AND IDEA SOURCE LIST

1. TRADE PUBLICATIONS: Subscribe to trade publications (journals) for the industries that relate to your business. If you need a complete listing of these publications you can visit the library and look at the Standard Rate & Data (SRDS). In the trade publications you will find excellent information about new products and ideas, plus many advertisers offering products that you can market.

2. TRADE AND SERVICE DIRECTORIES An example of a directory would be "The Thomas Register of American Manufacturers", which is also found in public libraries. This directory is published in three volumes annually and contains lists of American manufacturers classified by products with detailed descriptions of the product, plus much more beneficial information.

3. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY The library is an incredible source for new magazines, books and publications at an affordable price! Tell the librarian you are interested in publications as a source for new products and ideas. You will be surprised at the amount of information available. Each time I visit the library I always find another great source of information.

4. ATTEND TRADE SHOWS Most major cities sponsor trade shows. You should try to visit some during the course of the year. Remember, the more you expose yourself to the industry, the more you will get out of it. Even if you think it does not pertain to you directly, you will usually walk away with something beneficial such as ideas or concepts.

5. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION SERVICES Nowhere else will you find such a vast amount of inexpensive information than from the government. There is a tremendous amount of information available due to the Freedom of Information Act, and a lot of it can be found on the World Wide Web. A lot of this information is also made available through an establishment called the "National Technology Information Service (NTIS). They provide a catalog (printed or CD) which shows you how to obtain information like: the latest International trade and export information, access prestigious government sponsored databases, downloadable military and industry standards and best selling multimedia and education programs. Contact them on the WWW at http://www.ntis.gov or by phone at 703-605-6000.

6. NEWSPAPERS Study them for bankrupt companies or firms going out of business. Also, keep on the business opportunity section of the paper to get an idea of what is going on around you.

7. THE INTERNET The list would not be complete with the most valuable information source available to mankind. I constantly browse the net for new products and ideas and bookmark web sites that are worth going back to. The WWW is becoming much more user friendly, which makes it easier to find what you are looking for. Go ahead and try this do a search on any search engine using the words "product development" or "marketing" or "distributor" or "reseller", or any words that you can think of that describe what you are looking for. You will receive more responses than you know what to do with. Granted, a lot of the information will be irrelevant to your needs, but we always seem to find something of value.

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