There is yet another route that some inventors take with their inventions and sometimes this one works for those who have a good idea for a product that cannot be patent protected because it is already in the public domain. That is, the product or something very similar has already been patented or sold before, but it is still a viable product.
You are not required to get a patent if you choose not to do so. If protection from competition is not important to you and the product is not currently covered by an existing patent, you can simply market the product in whatever way you choose. If the product is a really good one, you will probably not maintain exclusivity for a very long time, but if you think yours may be a fad-type product, it could be a wise decision to just get on the market with it and make your profit while the fad lasts.
Catalogs often sell items that have no patents. It is relatively easy to get your product into catalogs if you are willing to manufacture and sell it to the catalog companies. If you are interested in this option, just go online and check with the catalog or catalogs of your choice. They all have contact information. Contact them and let them know that you are interested in submitting a product for their catalog. They will send you their submission requirements.