I have a few product ideas that I would like to either manufacture myself or try to sell idea to other companies. The problem is I dont know how to do this.

 

*If I as a very very small company produce my own product and start selling it to stores how do I protect it from beeing copied?
It is not exactly a product I can patent, more like new market for an existing but improved product?

 

*Is it any idea to go directly to companies and show my idea and suggest collaboration? or is this a sure way to give up my product idea and handing it over for free and risk having them run with it and get it on the market much faster than I have any chance to do. 

 

I really dont know how to go about it and avoid beeing naive and offer my idea for the taking, but Im also tired of having product ideas that Ive had years earlier coming out on the market by others because I didnt got for it not knowing how to not have them copied.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks.