[meencegic]

I thought I would share my “Mini” venture of starting my own business here in Santo Domingo. When my daughter was 4 years old, on her school supply list was always a puzzle and that is when my idea was born. After a few years of working on the drawing I was finally ready to take the next steps and go into action. My idea was to produce a fun educative puzzle for Dominican kids, “Los MiniWiz”!

My first step was to get author rights for the drawing:
ONDA – Oficina Nacional de Derecho de Autor
Edificio del Archivo General de la Nación, primera planta
Calle Modesto Díaz No.2, Zona Universitaria, Santo Domingo
Tel.: 809-508-7373 / 809-508-7742
Fax: 809-508-7575
Untitled Document
E-Mail: Ondaadm@codetel.net.do
Office hours de 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $200

Process duration: 2 months to receive certificate (but your rights starts when you register)

Documentation: Copy of cedula, written description of drawing, copies of drawing and fill up registration papers.

Comments: The place is a bit of a mess but the process was easy and they were only one week late in giving me the certificate.


Next step was to get my product name registered:
ONAPI - Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial
Av Los Próceres 11, Santo Domingo
(809) 567-7474
(The process can be done online)
ONAPI: Portada

Cost: $4117.00 (Registration for name and logo, they call it “Registro de marca Mixta”), plus $1360.00 (Publication in newspaper)

Process duration: Name review 15 days, publication in newspaper 15 days after registration, certificate 30 days after publication.

Documentation: Copy of cedula, copy of ONDA certificate, copy of logo, description of logo, colors and use of logo, registration papers (online).

Comments: They are VERY professional, quick, no line up and punctual.

Next I was off to get my RNC with my cedula number (used when it’s a personal company (persona fisica):
Dirección General de Impuestos Internos
Central Telefónica 809-689-2181, Exts: 3312 y 3252
Quejas y Sugerencias: 809-689-0131 y 1-200-0131
E-mail: contacto@dgii.gov.do
Direccion General de Impuestos Internos
You have to locate the office that belongs to your area.

Cost: $0
Process duration: Immediate

Comments: Not well organized, line-ups and 2 hours wait.

Next step I was off to get my bar code as my product would be sold in stores
GS1 Dominicana
Ave. J. F. Kennedy, Esq. C/ Padre Claret, Edif. Plaza Compostela, Suite 3-D-2. info@gs1rd.org.do
(809) 683-4727 / Fax (809) 683-4842
(Online registration):
GS1 Dominicana - Republica Dominicana - Código de Barra

Cost : $2,500
Process duration: One week
Comments: VERY professional, no line-ups, punctual.

Printing
This was probably the most frustrating process; finding a serious printing company! You call for quotes and they never get back to you, or give you the typical “waiting for the signature” story and make you wait for days. Two companies with who I was going to work let me down at the last minute saying they were too busy. I finally went for a very small shop, in a not so fancy neighborhood the price was good and the quality is up to my standards.

Visiting clients:
Lots of calls made in order to have appointments to present the product; some clients I had to call everyday for 2 weeks. In general the product is very well received. Appointments were all punctual when scheduled. So far the buyers are (not sure I can write down the names) one Supertienda (5 locations), one toy store, one school supply store and one international aid group (they will use the puzzles in their classes) and hopefully more on the way!

In all, I would say the process was not difficult and it sure was an excellent learning experience! Also in the plans are donations of MiniWiz to foundations, orphanages, small schools, etc. This will probably be the best part of the whole project; being around the kids! The first MiniWiz donation was made this week to the new Pabellón Oncologico Infantil they just inaugurated for children suffering from cancer, splendid work they have done!

My main focus for this project is to have fun with it! So now … time to assemble lots of little boxes… and dive into my mini venture “Los Rompecabezas Educativos MiniWiz”!


Juanitita at work! Child labor, I know!!






Kids at the Pabéllon