There is disclosed a method of selling articles of manufacture. The method
comprises an electronic communication system to identify one or more
articles of manufacture, from at least one manufacturing entity, which
are available for purchase by a plurality of potential purchasers and
identify pricing milestones in each of a manufacturing phase and a
distribution phase, corresponding to a change in commercial risk.
Determining a separate price for each pricing milestone to establish a
range of prices for the selected articles of manufacture and making
conditional offers for sale to potential purchasers at each pricing
milestone, with the conditional offers specifying at least a minimum
number of articles which must be ordered in aggregate before the
conditional offer becomes binding upon a manufacturing entity.
Communicating with potential purchasers and aggregating commercial
commitments for each pricing milestone, corresponding to a period of
availability, thereby selling one or more articles of manufacture.