Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Education and Training
Selling education and training is also a possibility derived from the open source software
world. You can download design files everywhere, but hand-holding or trained skills may
be more difficult to obtain. Some people will be happy to topic a workshop to learn how to
make something or hack on your product. Perhaps you can sell physical copies of topics.
Working with open source hardware, providing it, or developing it can make you a vis-
ible and proven expert in a field. You can monetize that expertise by holding workshops or
consulting. SparkFun's education department bought an RV and drove it around the United
States while teaching workshops to teachers. A school would pay for SparkFun to make
a stop in its town to train its teachers. If special training is needed to operate or maintain
the hardware, you can offer courses and tests or a certificate program to become a proven
administrator for the hardware. If you are the main developer of the hardware, it might be
easier for
you
to be the trusted institution.
All sorts of events focusing on or celebrating open source hardware are an excellent
place to gain leverage, such as hackathons. Physical objects to touch, test, or play with
also attract attention. You can sell tickets for such events, and then display your hardware
there. Open things are often easier to celebrate because all layers are visible to celebrate.
Which sounds like more fun: a hackathon exploring an Arduino-driven washing machine,
or a trade fair with closed source washing machines to look at and hear numbers about?
Your Channels
Inopensource hardware ventures andanyother businesses, things get exchanged. Products
and parts are sold; building plans and knowledge are communicated, viewed, shared, and
downloaded. These exchanges need channels. Webpages and webshops, forums, stores,
workshops, and other venues focused on communication are all examples for channels.
Channels offer special ways to generate revenues for those people running them. Do you
have your own successful and trusted webshop? Use it to sell not only your own products
but also the products of others and gain a profit margin. There are several ways to monetize
the customers you already have. Can you find some elegant possibilities for advertisement?
Product partnerships could be another possibility. If you build your hardware with sup-
plies from certain companies or shops, get them on board and cross-advertise your
products. Ask for a discount on their hardware or ask for a public relations (PR) fee when
mentioning their product in your tutorials and design files. If your webpage is a trusted
place for certain information, use it to sell workshops or certificates. Can you rent out
your hackerspace or some of your machines—offer a full library of things to play with,
test, or experiment with, while collecting fees from visitors.
