New electronics retail/design company - thoughts please

[Dave Rowntree]

Hi all,

So I recently got laid off by my company of many years (I was an IC designer) and since I'm not getting any younger, have always wanted to run my own business, and am heavily involved with So make it (Southampton Makerspace) I thought "Sod it, I'm going to setup an electronics design and retail company"

So I did :)

I'm currently starting up a business selling a mixture of products (that I design) to support electronics prototyping, as well as just general electronics supplies and modules in the spirit of Adafruit and Sparkfun (amongst many others)  I don't want to be as big as these guys, make vast sums of money, nor employ vast numbers of people, I just want to work from home, and earn and honest living being my own boss.

I wonder If I may poke some of your brains, and ask what you think are the main problems with the way we hackers build electronic things?

1. What products do you never find exist, but wish did?

2. Which things to do you find are poor quality (when cheap) or too expensive (from Adafruit for example) ?

3. Would a prototyping system based around a breadboard with snap on modules be of interest?  

4. What would you like to see done better with regards prototyping systems?

5. What do you do when you want to transfer from breadboard to something more permanent?  

6. What if you're using modules with hard to solder parts (e.g. fine pitch QFN, BGA etc) ?

7. Anyone getting fed up with ordering items of eBay from 'UK' sellers, only to find they are actually shipping from China? (I'm still waiting on an Amazon order along these lines...)

8. Do people buy mainly from eBay?  Do people use Amazon to source electronics?  Or do people stick with known and trusted brands like Adaruit, Sparkfun, Pololu?

What are your thoughts?

Many thanks!

Dave.

[Jess Robinson]

Hi Dave, sounds like fun!

While I'm thinking about actual answers.. How about coming to visit us for a talk/discussion ?

Jess

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[Dave Rowntree]

Could do actually.  I'll poke Bracken, and see if he's up to another space invasion tour :)

Dave.