a business idea is dead

Tokyo, 2009.10.22

Looks like one of my business ideas is stillborn.

It died in the market research phase, which I suppose is the place for this sort of thing to happen. But it's still a disappointment.

My idea was to build a better camera bag. Existing camera bags have a number of problems that are, I feel, very significant. They are:+ boxy, heavy and uncomfortable to carry+ over padded and, cramped+ equipped with lousy straps+ usually too cheap or far too expensive+ fugly (made of unpleasant materials, nasty looking)+ top-heavy (I've had half-empty bags topple over)+ a dead givaway that you're carrying (expensive) camera gear+ difficult to use (stiff and pesky internal dividers, narrow mouths, fiddly zippers)+ do not offer basic protection from rain, as do many shoulder bags

In short, they're mostly no good. I have spent a lot of time over the years, trying to find something that met my needs. And I've even owned a dozen or so over as many years, trying to find the right fit. When I speak with other camera owners, I hear the same complaints. In fact, I often see people using bags that aren't intended for cameras at all.

With my little business idea, I thought I would start from the beginning and design something I like and will use. I put together a design based on:+ high usability+ fun to carry+ attractive design+ affordable+ lined with waterproof liner

Then in a store I found the Domke F-10. It's not perfect, and it costs too much money. The strap is very clumsy, it doesn't have waterproof lining, and the padding is just a bit excessive. But it's damn close to my ideal and it even looks like the design I had in mind, with attractively colored canvas—the very material I wanted to use.

So if my model (nearly) exists, and is supplied by a well-known brand, I guess I'm out of the running before I started. Rats.