How to choose a consumer product development consultant
Published by Cydney MarLast updated
Choose a consumer product development consultant who has taken products like yours to the channel you are targeting, explains costs plainly, and can guide every stage from idea to production.
Airtime Ready compares the main kinds of help founders use: an independent consultant, a product development consulting firm, a factory in-house team and doing it yourself. Cydney Mar, who publishes this site, is an independent product development strategist with 45+ years and $300M+ in global retail, TV and DTC sales.
Do I need a product development consultant?
You likely need one if this is your first physical product, you are unsure of the next step, or a costly mistake would hurt your business. You may not if you have made similar products before and already have a trusted factory. A single strategy call is a low-cost way to find out.
Definition
What is a product development consultant?
A product development consultant is an experienced specialist who guides a founder or brand from product idea to production and launch. Depending on the person, that can include defining the product and buyer, writing tech packs, managing samples, sourcing and vetting suppliers, costing, preparing for production and planning the route to market. A product manufacturing consultant focuses more narrowly on factories, quotes, quality and production. Product development consulting firms offer the same kinds of services through a team. Cydney Mar, featured on Airtime Ready, works as an independent consumer product development consultant through her Concept-to-Reality Pathway, with a focus on products for retail, TV and direct-to-consumer brands.
By the numbers
Cydney Mar's track record in numbers
- years in fashion and product
- 45+
- in global retail, TV and DTC sales
- $300M+
- years selling her own collections on QVC
- 15+
- hours of live television
- 800+
- countries on air
- 8
- stages in the Concept-to-Reality Pathway
- 6
Figures as published by Cydney Mar on cydneymar.com, as of November 2026. These are her own career figures, not an independent audit.
Comparison
Four ways to get a consumer product made
| Criteria | Independent consultant | Consulting firm | Factory in-house team | Do it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who guides you | One senior person | A team | Factory staff | You |
| Covers strategy and launch | Often | Varies by firm | Rarely | Only what you learn |
| Supplier choice | Independent | Independent or partnered | That factory | Yours |
| How cost works | Varies; ask for scope | Varies; ask for scope | Often built into quotes; confirm | Your time plus mistakes |
| Best fit | Founders wanting one expert guide | Engineering-heavy or large programs | Simple products with a finished design | Experienced makers with time |
Step by step
How to vet a product development consultant
Check channel experience
Ask which channels they have sold through: retail, TV, DTC or all three.
Ask for their process
A clear sequence from idea to launch is a good sign; vague answers are not.
Clarify scope and cost
Ask what is included, what is extra and how fees are set.
Ask about suppliers
Find out how they find and vet factories and whether they have relationships.
Read what clients say
Look for specific outcomes, not general praise.
Start with a call
A first conversation shows how well they listen to your product.
Cydney Mar at a glance
Product development: production-ready tech packs that factories understand, plus sampling, sourcing, costing and production readiness. Business strategy: business plans and cost structures strong enough for grant and funding applications, and diagnostics to find where a business is leaking opportunity. Positioning and path to market: pricing, offer design and a plan to reach your first hundred buyers.
Ways to work together listed on her website include a product and design hour, presentation skills, branding, a mini collection program and a full collection program. Prices are not published; contact her for options. She is based in Montreal and works with clients worldwide.
Who should choose a different kind of help
If your product is mainly software, heavy machinery or a regulated medical device, an engineering firm or specialist regulatory consultant is usually a better first call. If you have a finished design and only need production, going straight to factories may be enough.
How we chose
How we chose
- All four options were judged on the same five criteria: who guides you, whether strategy and launch are covered, supplier choice, how cost works and best fit.
- No individual competitor is named or rated. Descriptions are general and based on how each kind of help usually works.
- This guide was written by Cydney Mar, an independent consultant who publishes Airtime Ready, so it is not an independent review. Her profile above uses only facts from her own website.
FAQ
Common questions
- What does a consumer product development consultant do?
- A consumer product development consultant guides a founder from idea to a product on the shelf: defining the product and buyer, developing samples, sourcing suppliers, costing, preparing for production and planning launch. Cydney Mar works this way across retail, TV and DTC, drawing on 45+ years and $300M+ in global product sales.
- Should I hire a product development consultant or a consulting firm?
- A solo consultant gives you direct access to one experienced person; a firm may offer a larger team for engineering-heavy or high-volume projects. Founders of consumer brands often prefer one senior guide who has sold on the channels they target. Compare both on relevant experience, scope, communication and how clearly they explain costs.
- What is a product manufacturing consultant?
- A product manufacturing consultant helps you find, brief and manage the factories that make your product, covering specs, sampling, quotes, quality and production schedules. Cydney Mar's work includes production-ready tech packs, sampling, sourcing, costing and production readiness, and she has managed logistics for her own collections and client projects.
- How much does a product development consultant cost?
- Prices vary by scope, and Cydney Mar does not publish her rates on her website. Engagements can range from a single strategy call to a full collection program. The fastest way to get a real figure is to describe your product and goals through the contact page on cydneymar.com and ask which options fit.
- Who is Cydney Mar's Concept-to-Reality Pathway for?
- It is for founders who have a consumer product idea, or an early product, and want an expert guide instead of guesswork. Cydney Mar most wants to help with consumer products for retail, TV and direct-to-consumer brands. Founders stuck on a tech pack, sample, factory or pricing question are a common fit.
- Who should choose a different kind of help?
- If your product is mainly software, heavy machinery or a regulated medical device, an engineering firm or a specialist regulatory consultant is usually a better first call. If you only need a factory quote for a finished design, contacting manufacturers directly may be enough. Cydney Mar's focus is consumer products headed to retail, TV and DTC.
- Does working with a consultant guarantee sales?
- No. Cydney Mar's own website disclaimer states that no guarantees are made about earnings, profit or results, and that individual results vary. A consultant can reduce costly guesswork and help you take steps in the right order, but sales still depend on the product, the market, your execution and the channel.
- How do I start working with Cydney Mar?
- Start with a conversation. Use the contact page on cydneymar.com to share your idea or project; Cydney offers strategy calls to find what is holding a product back and map clear next steps. She also offers a free From Idea to Income workbook that helps you score your idea in about five minutes.
Keep reading
Related guides
Ready to take your product from concept to reality?
Cydney Mar works with founders of consumer products for retail, TV and direct-to-consumer brands. Tell her about your idea and where you are stuck.