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A project log for LED Icicles

Hanging WS2812 strips from a tree like glowing icicles. A few modes for fun.

bob-baddeleyBob Baddeley 06/17/2017 at 15:330 Comments

If this is going to be a product, I have to be able to sell it and make some money. Typically the markup would be something like 3-4 the COGS. Since I'll sell it online only, I can get away with 2x. So, looking through all the components, how much can I estimate for a sale price?

Part Link Quantity Cost Cost Extended Bulk Estimate Bulk Extended
Totals $114.83 $60.94
PCB Smart-prototyping.com 10 0.04 0.4 0.04 0.4
ATTiny84 Digikey - ATTINY84A-SSFR 10 0.7 7 0.7 7
Button Digikey -732-7029-1-ND 10 0.47 4.7 0.324 3.24
WS2812B Strip Amazon - B01N07A6NP 10 3.46 34.6 0.75 7.5
Silicone
10 0.1 1 0.1 1
Connector Amazon - B01EPLAN42 10 1.488 14.88 0.5 5
Liquid Tape
10 0.1 1 0.1 1
Enclosure
10 1 10 0.6 6
Power Supply Amazon - B019P1HGME/ 1 9.99 9.99 10 10
Power Supply Switch Amazon - B00ME5YAPK 1 5.99 5.99 3 3
Wire
1 11.99 11.99 6 6
Power Supply Enclosure Polycase - hd-45fmmt 1 13.28 13.28 10.8 10.8

This assumes 10 strips per unit, a 100 foot line, and power supply. It's just raw materials and not time or shipping. That means even if I purchase in bulk, I'm going to have a cost of goods sold around $100 assuming the labor involved is not too time consuming. After the first tests, it might take an hour per set of 10, so $100 for COGS seems reasonable. That means I have to sell these strips for $200 in order for it to make sense. They are pretty cool, but most dumb light sets (LED) sell for $30 or less, so I'd have to show a lot more value. I don't know. Maybe people will buy them. I'll have to work on marketing.

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