What Women Want: Challenges Of Launching Female-Friendly Furniture With Dana Bakich

2021-02-22T12:18:52+00:00October 6th, 2020|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Contrary to what many believe, women care about the desks and the chairs that they buy. They want features that no one's ever thought of before. On today’s show, Dana Bakich joins Tracy Hazzard to discuss the challenges of launching female-friendly furniture. Dana is a nonprofit consultant and the Founder and CEO of herdesk, a desk made by and for women. At the end of the day, women are constantly on the hunt and looking for the right thing. When they find it, they will find money to pay for it because they've been looking for it. Be sure you’re able to deliver what they want. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I know we haven't done an episode in a while, but this one needed to happen. It's about time someone went and tackled furniture from a female perspective. I know this better than anyone [...]

Product Inventors Rights with Natasha and Fred Ruckel

2021-02-22T12:41:12+00:00August 20th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  In this day and age, the quest to be different and stand out has become so competitive that it becomes tempting to steal someone’s work, ideas, or concepts. Natasha and Fred Ruckel of the Randy Cooper Foundation join us today to talk about protecting your products from infringement. Embodying Randy Cooper’s passion and desire to stand up for the product inventor’s rights, Natasha and Fred help protect, educate, and empower inventors. As they unfold the ways infringers play in the field and give us advice on how we can combat them, they also go deeper into the rules of copyright protection, the right way to build and launch your brand, and the proper ways to protect your product. As ideas are becoming more creative, so are the ways people steal, so equip yourself with the right education to protect your creative output. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast [...]

Asian Sourcing Tips with Rhod Needham

2021-02-22T13:13:33+00:00July 3rd, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Broadening your lines and reaching out to source products beyond Amazon can sometimes be daunting for many entrepreneurs out there. After all, it is a whole new territory that needs to be tread carefully. If this new territory for you is in Asia, then you are going to be learning a lot from this episode. Rhod Needham, a product sourcing expert and the Co-Founder of Market Source Asia, pours in his knowledge about sourcing for products in this region, giving some great Asian sourcing tips. They specialize in launching products and collections for both global retailers and start-ups, and Rhod takes us into the systems they have in place and walks us through the development process - from getting ideas into products, down to QC and even selling them. Don't miss out on this episode as Rhod delivers some great advice about designing, testing products, and broadening your reach. Watch [...]

As Stolen On TV with Paula Brillson Phillips

2021-02-22T14:08:03+00:00June 11th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  There are some inventors who are not so lucky when it comes to owning their products and gaining the necessary income and praise because of manipulators and false advertisers. Paula Brillson Phillips, a managing partner of Digital Law Group, has built her career advising start-up companies and mentoring hundreds of individual inventors worldwide to navigate the complex process of getting a business or product off the ground as well as helping them make effective decisions to protect their intellectual property, meet their business goals, and leverage the value of what they have already created. Her book, As Stolen On TV, arms the inventor with useful information on how to avoid being swindled in the invention industry. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am super excited to introduce you to someone who I've gotten to know and who has written a book that [...]

From Shark Tank To The Kids Table: Food Product Start-Up Lessons with Joanna Parker

2021-02-22T14:21:32+00:00June 4th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Joanna Parker, the co-founder of Yumble, explains how she was inspired to open her own company as a mom. Yumble has three pillars which are all centered towards providing healthy food for children. Joanna says children’s diet and appetite greatly vary, and that is why she is customizing the foods she offers, providing options for both picky and adventurous eaters. She narrates how it is working with his husband side by side while taking care of their kids, sharing the struggles they had while their business was growing and how they overcame it. For those who want to do a food startup, this is an episode you shouldn’t miss. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have a Shark Tanker for you, someone who's been in the Tank and survived and thrived. We're going to have a chat with Joanna Parker. She's a [...]

Sports Product Marketing with Dave Meltzer

2021-02-22T14:29:27+00:00May 28th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  In today’s time, sports and business, in general, have become so much more personal than ever before. Sports marketing has evolved over the years, leading to more authenticity in the product launch. Dave Meltzer, CEO of Sports 1 Marketing, lists down the three things to do to manage your personal brand. As we touch on George Foreman Grill’s successful marketing, find out the six criteria for successful branding. A national best-selling author of Game-Time Decision Making: High-Scoring Business Strategies from the Biggest Names in Sports, Dave dives into the reason why making bad assumptions leads to tragic results and why understanding how a brand is built is a requisite. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I've got a great guest for you. I like to mix it up and bring you different people from different areas and different walks of life. I've got [...]

Nui Foods with Victor Macias and Kristoffer Quiaoit

2021-02-22T14:50:37+00:00May 16th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Everybody wants a sweet life, but when it comes to food, too much can become an addiction. Victor Macias and Kristoffer Quiaoit, founders of Nui Foods, are on a mission to annihilate sugar addiction by creating products that are both indulgent and healthy. Victor and Kristoffer take us into their journey, starting from having no baking background to producing a product that brought them to Shark Tank. As rookie entrepreneurs, Victor and Kristoffer know the struggle of starting, and they share to us the ways they overcame those challenges. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have a twist on what we do. We normally are talking about how to do stuff and everything, but I thought because we had Kevin Harrington on, that we would twist it up and start to get some lessons on what not to do and what to [...]

Product Pitch Advice From A Shark with Kevin Harrington

2021-02-22T15:06:26+00:00May 10th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Most products in the consumer market, whether it’s mass market or eCommerce, has a seven out of ten failure rate. However, when you have access to good data, you are able to pitch products in a way that people want to buy it and elevate that level of success. Kevin Harrington says that nowadays with the internet, we can target our offerings to people in certain niches, categories, or demographics such as age or zip code. Kevin is an original shark from the hit TV show Shark Tank and a successful entrepreneur for more than forty years. He invented the infomercial and helped make “But wait, there’s more!” part of our cultural history. In this interview, discover Kevin’s “tease, please, and seize” system for a good product pitch and learn more about direct response marketing, proof of concept, crowdfunding, and more. Watch the episode here:  Listen to the podcast [...]

The Rockefeller Strategy: Corporate Asset Protection

2021-02-22T15:14:17+00:00March 29th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

In today's world, the biggest mistake you can make is to not look at yourself as a business. Whatever product you have is not just an invention or a brand. It’s a business and you need to be getting the full benefit and the full protection of that. In this episode, Aaron Young talks about corporate asset protection and the Rockefeller Strategy. Aaron is the CEO of Laughlin Associates. He is a consummate entrepreneur as he’s been an entrepreneur pretty much his whole life. Too many inventors or sellers think they’re too small and don’t really need a corporation or an LLC, but having someone like Laughlin who can advise on what’s the right thing for you is vital. If you're earning income or making money on your products, find out what corporate formation you need, whether it’s LLC, S Corp or a C Corp, to get some advice and [...]

South American Sourcing Of Products with Tim Jordan

2021-02-22T15:22:05+00:00March 15th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Sourcing services are usually accessible only to huge conglomerates and big brands, but not to smaller brands. Tim Jordan of Hickory Flats, however, offers alternative sourcing ideas and services to the small guys out there. He founded the Private Label Legion, a community of like-minded entrepreneurs dedicated to great learning and group collaboration. He’s also built a seven-figure business. Tim shares how he found eCommerce and Amazon selling by accident and changed the game, and how it led him to look for alternative resources. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am excited to bring to you somebody who was introduced to me by Michelle Barnum Smith. She sent me Tim Jordan of Hickory Flats. Tim has Private Label Legion and he built a seven-figure business. Is it Hickory Flats or previous brands? I've had multiple brands, multiple businesses selling products. I’ve done [...]

Branding Through Product Packaging with Apurva Batra

2021-02-22T15:27:06+00:00February 15th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Packaging is what breaks or makes a product. As entrepreneurs, we want our customers to be satisfied right from the get-go by making our mark on their impressions right from the packaging alone. Apurva Batra from FlexiblePouches imparts his expertise on that as he talks about branding through product packaging and the competitive business happening on the retail shelves. He also takes us on a different journey with his personal business experience. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- We've got one of our new experts on the platform, Apurva Batra from FlexiblePouches. He's been on once before. Tracy had him on and they had a good general session to get you acquainted with our new expert here. He's going to take us on a little different journey talking about a few things from his personal business experience, not only about packaging, which is [...]

Amazon Seller Legal Issues with CJ Rosenbaum

2021-02-22T15:31:09+00:00February 8th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  As the world moves into the digital space, it has become very important for us to keep ourselves secure, most especially for those Amazon sellers whose products are sold virtually. CJ Rosenbaum of Amazon Sellers Lawyer takes us into some Amazon seller legal issues, talking about what is going on with this platform and how you can keep yourself, your IP, and your products secure and safe. He talks about digital rights management, the listing hacking process, and establishing your brand - from trademarks to copyrights and patents. CJ also touched on starting from Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to the risks. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am here with a cool guy. We got to meet around the circuit of the Amazon seller community and talking about various things. CJ Rosenbaum has this [...]

Celebrity Product Placement Process That Actually Works with Sarah Shaw

2021-02-22T15:35:53+00:00February 1st, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  The marketplace has indeed evolved, but one thing that remains the same is the influence. We all know the power of having celebrities to be your product endorser due to their wide influence in the market. This is what led Sarah Shaw to craft this trend of endorsement and marketing into a new mold. Sarah talks about the Celebrity Product Placement Process which actually works for more and more entrepreneurs. Discover how you can scale your business by getting celebrity access for your products. You may get these influencers to use your product, be photographed with it, and get them to talk about it. You'll never know when one of these famous faces can eventually make a huge difference in your bank account. Listen to the podcast here: --- I have an interesting guest to bring you. I have Sarah Shaw. She's an entrepreneur, designer, and CEO [...]

Planning And Managing Product Engineering with Orlin Wetzker

2021-02-22T15:47:43+00:00January 25th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  It takes an amount of technology and engineering to pull together all the power-buttoned gadgets that we know and love. When most companies in the US throw over the fence to a factory in Asia the ideas they come up with for development, it's great to have Orlin Wetzker's company develop and engineer all these things in the US. One of the main projects that Orlin talks about is the moisture sensor which brings high technology to farming. Given the different technology life cycle of the kind of developing and product engineering that he's doing, Orlin is no exemption when it comes to challenges. He shares some techniques on how to minimize these challenges as he takes us to his journey of pursuing his craft. Listen to the podcast here: --- I am bringing you Tom Hazzard. Tom is joining me for an interview with Orlin Wetzker. [...]

Scaling Successfully On Amazon with Jason Magee

2021-02-22T15:51:23+00:00January 23rd, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  How do you increase your sales? Have you ever thought that your brand can be at par with big players in the business? There is no difference between small brands or large brands. The key is to understand the actual metrics of your business. The goal is to be profitable. What's your gross profit as a company? How do you make sure that the product market fit is right? Jason Magee, Director of Seller Partnerships at Teikametrics, is obsessed with helping entrepreneurs scale successfully on Amazon. Jason talks about building an ecosystem of best-in-class partners to help people as well as to bring people in. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have got a cool interview for you. I’ve got Jason Magee from Teikametrics. If you haven't heard about Teikametrics, we're going to get a whole earful in this episode. A lot of [...]

Leveraging E-Commerce Chatbots For Product Launching with Michelle Barnum Smith

2021-02-22T15:56:39+00:00January 18th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  It costs to play today. Product launching is no exemption. It's not a fast return on investment as much as you want it to. Marketing veteran Michelle Barnum Smith joins Product Launch Hazzards to discuss how you can leverage ecommerce chatbots as a marketing tool. She quickly became an expert in the niche once she realized how powerful Facebook Messenger bots can be. Michelle recounts how she got started in product launching and marketing, and talks about the importance of list building and leveraging e-commerce chatbots to launch your products and create engagements. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am with Michelle Barnum Smith. I am so excited to bring her to you because I heard her speak in Hong Kong. We were both there speaking at the event and she just had me. I was like, “I'm not a huge Facebook [...]

Influencing Multiple Unit Purchases With The Right Amazon Promotions with Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T15:58:05+00:00January 15th, 2019|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  There are so many products sold on Amazon, yet if you take a look at them, the majority tends to hold out only one piece of the product. They tend to overlook the value of multiple unit purchases. Jenna Liebner of Turnkey Product Management has seen time and time again how sellers on Amazon are not trying to influence how people purchase multiple units. Jenna goes over a number of Amazon Promotions that will help you to try to get people to buy more than one product from you in a single transaction. Not only will this influence potential customers but your sales as well. Jenna dives deep on the topic and touches on promo codes and coupon clippings, BOGO and cross-selling, and social media promos. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- This is Jenna from Turnkey. I'm going to be talking to [...]

Grow Your Product Sales Into The UK & EU Plus eCommerce Brexit Risks with Karen Codd

2021-02-22T16:01:14+00:00December 19th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Amazon is very large with all the different markets in it. Going beyond the US, the Amazon UK and EU market are definitely the potential recourse for those who want to expand. If you are aiming to grow your product sales into the Amazon UK and EU market, then you have to learn what they need. Amazon selling strategist Karen Codd answers some questions that bugs most Amazon sellers. Karen talks about the product changes you need to make in order for them to perform well in the UK and Europe, and gives tips on knowing when you are ready to move your brand. Getting deep into some Brexit risks, Karen lays down the effects it has on selling into the UK, what it looks like for the Amazon market, how it happens, and who pays what. Listen to the podcast here: --- I have an interesting [...]

Investing Time Or Money In Market-Making Or Disruptive Innovation

2021-02-22T16:03:52+00:00December 12th, 2018|INC Articles, Office Hours, Podcasts|

  Tracy gives an insight into one of the talks she gave at a City Summit event in Salt Lake City. With innovation becoming the buzzword for this day and age, we can’t help but get too caught up in just investing in what seems catchy. It's time to actually think it over and start to think carefully about how you are going to invest in innovation, whether you are investing your time or investing your money. Tracy looks at the difference between disruptive and market-making innovation. She gets down to answer whether or not you're in a disruptive or market-making venture yourself. Watch the episode here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Rather than doing an episode where I'm talking straight with you, I'm going to give you an insight into one of the talks I gave at a City Summit event in Salt Lake City. For [...]

Formulating Beauty Products with Nadia Fleury

2021-02-22T16:07:23+00:00December 7th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

There are so many beauty influencers today that we can’t help but think how easy it must be to create your own beauty products. Nadia Fleury proves otherwise. She is a French-Canadian entrepreneur, life strategist, and chemist who founded the skincare line, Avesence. Nadia talks about the bumpy path of developing and formulating a beauty product while letting us in on some beauty secrets. She breaks down our preconceived notions as she discusses the truth behind “natural” and why pH is important. She also gives some great advice to aspiring entrepreneurs about the importance of having an inventory, carrying a brand, and why you should not compete on just the product benefit. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have Nadia Fleury here. She is amazing. She has created a skincare brand. The reason I invited her on here is that I know a [...]

Pitching Product Gift Guides And Product Review Publicity with Dave Farrow

2021-02-22T16:10:19+00:00November 30th, 2018|Podcasts|

Getting the word out about your amazing product is getting harder and harder. You’re tasked with the burden of presenting it in the best light. However, one of the biggest mistakes is trying to do a product pitch on your own. Unless you're sophisticated and have the experience, you can almost destroy your brand if you don't do it right. Dave Farrow of Farrow Communications talks about the different kinds of product publicity and how to do gift guides and get product reviews. Dave has been doing this for a long time, and he’s shifted his business multiple times to keep up with how things work. He shares why product publicity is so important but yet so hard at the same time. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have an exciting guest for you, Dave Farrow of Farrow Communications. We're going to talk [...]

Four Amazon Strategy Pointers For Quarter Four with Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T16:11:38+00:00November 23rd, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

The holidays is just at the corner; this means more people shopping on Amazon and more people coming at you. While it may seem that the surge of potential buyers will mean more for your business, it is not always the case—most especially if you have not properly optimized your Amazon strategy. Fortunately, Jenna Lieber of Turnkey Product Management has the answers for you! She gives out some big pointers that not only apply for quarter four, but also to your business in general. She talks about four different topics and breaks every single one of them just for you: Enhanced Brand Content (EBC) updates, video on the listing, giveaways, and pixeling. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- This is Jenna Lieber from Turnkey Product Management. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a Client Manager at Turnkey. What we do at [...]

Pitch Product Value Lessons Learned from The Pitch Queen Michelle Weinstein

2021-02-22T16:13:23+00:00November 16th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

We dive so often into the product world and we get all caught up in our features and functions that we forget about pitching our value. After years of sitting in a cubicle, Pitch Queen Michelle Weinstein realized it wasn’t the life she envisioned for herself. Michelle went from being a real estate analyst to accounting to products, and learned about contracts, legalities, product manufacturing, food manufacturing, lawsuits, investment money, pitching to top investors in the country, and more. People buy people. If you're pitching whatever you're doing, they're buying you because you’re solving this massive problem or inspiring a lot of people. Michelle recounts her trials and tribulations starting products, and shares some of the success factors that got her to where she is right now. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Product Launch Hazzards is going to interview the Pitch Queen, Michelle [...]

Focus On Product Impact And The Sales Revenue Flows with Wendy Lipton-Dibner

2021-02-22T16:17:22+00:00November 13th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Sourcing|

Impact is the measurable difference that we make in people's lives as the direct result of contact with us, our teams, our message, our marketing, our products, and our services. When we put something into the world, the goal is ultimately making a difference for people, and that difference will be measurable. Impact strategy is how do we make that happen? How do we create the product? How do we innovate the product? How do we design a product not just for market fit but for market impact big time? Impact strategy queen Wendy Lipton-Dibner dives into the subject of product impact and impact strategies that get you the most opportunity for success. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am so excited to bring you one of my favorite people on Earth because she is a woman of complete substance. This is depth [...]

Global Sourcing Using A Retail Buy Plan with Tracy Hazzard and Brenda Crimi

2021-02-22T16:20:45+00:00October 15th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Sourcing|

Part of growing your business is expanding. One of the routes you take with that is global sourcing, specifically in one of the booming markets in the world, China. However, doing it for the first time can be quite challenging and intimidating. With the help of Brenda Crimi of AMZ Alliance, Tracy guides you into the world of product sourcing in China for the first time using a retail buy plan. They talk about going to the Global Sources Summit and how to make the necessary preparations for it. Sourcing is not about being impulsive, that is why you need to have a buy plan in order to keep your head above and have a manageable inventory. They go over the financial aspect as well as the time of the year to buy. Learn some great tips on how to go over product sourcing abroad while keeping in mind where [...]

Meet Flexible Packaging Expert Apurva Batra

2021-02-22T16:24:29+00:00September 21st, 2018|Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts|

One of the important aspects that small companies tend to overlook during the product launch is packaging. In fact, it shouldn’t be the case since this could serve as the starting point of entry for your products to the market. The packaging is the first interaction of consumer to your product. That is why when you do it, you have to do it right. Flexible packaging expert, Apurva Batra, goes in depth on how to effectively package your products. He discusses the many material choices and considerations in order to formulate the right package. Concentrating on flexible packaging, which is the use of barrier films, he talks about the technology and benefits it offers to the shelf life and more. Ultimately, by packaging your products well you will be able to rise to the competition. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I have a [...]

Meet Crowdfunding Launch Expert Will Ford

2021-02-22T16:25:51+00:00September 20th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Many startups find it challenging to launch their products successfully. They can’t seem to crack the market and have the right support. Will Ford, serial entrepreneur of LaunchBoom.com and an expert on Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and startup funding and crowdfunding, talks about how he and his team successfully launched million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns. He discusses what they do at Launch Boom and what processes they make to ensure success. Covering the heart of the company, which is digital marketing, he shares his insights on getting the right content across to the right demographics. Ultimately, he shows how he created this effective system that has allowed them to outperform thousands of live campaigns. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I'm excited to bring you something you have been asking me for. You have been asking me to bring an expert on Kickstarter, Indiegogo and startup funding. You've [...]

Meet Product Advertising Expert Ian Smith

2021-02-22T16:26:27+00:00September 14th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Relationship building should be a priority for business owners. It does not only reach customers, but also keeps them with you. Ian Smith of Evolve Media talks about that in relation to marketing and advertising. He pushes forward the importance of having the right and consistent message through content while providing you tools to grow—from ManyChat to Facebook messenger. Touching also on reviews and social proof as well as the importance of follow-ups and giving your customers a way out, he urges business owners to build that customer relationship. Watch The Episode Here:  Listen to the podcast here: --- I have got a new expert for you to meet. I have got Ian Smith from Evolve Media. We're going to talk about some cool marketing and advertising things. We're going to talk ManyChat, Facebook Messenger and all kinds of cool stuff like that. It’s a little bit [...]

Amazon Brand Registry And Trademark Protection with Jason Webb

2021-02-22T16:29:33+00:00September 5th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It|

One of the big issues facing people who are doing commerce online is that Amazon has become a huge dominating force in the market. A lot of sellers don't like Amazon. It is difficult to work with but buyers love Amazon, and that's one of the reasons why sellers aggregate towards Amazon. It's often one of the first places to look if they want to go buy something. If you want to be part of that market, you need to be part of what Amazon is doing. Amazon has been aggressive and successful at doing the things that buyers want, and that often makes things difficult for sellers. One of the things is it's made it difficult for sellers to stop infringement when it's happening. This also happens with Alibaba and eBay or any online aggregate of retailers. The Amazon Brand Registry program is a way to automate that and make [...]

Amazon Competitive Analysis with Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T16:30:42+00:00September 4th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

It’s tough when you first get on Amazon. You don't know where to start, what keywords to use, or what images to put. Jenna Lieber of Turnkey Product Management suggests doing an Amazon competitive analysis so you can hone in on what you need to start with. Jenna thinks everyone needs to. If you’re already on Amazon, she recommends doing this once a quarter to see if your competitors have changed or if there’s anything new going on that maybe you’re not doing yet. It’s very simple and valuable for everyone to do it. Jenna goes through six steps in terms of creating a competitive analysis. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- My name is Jenna Lieber, I work for Turnkey Product Management. I'm not sure if you have seen a couple of my last podcast, but we have covered tons of different Amazon [...]

Global Sourcing Tradeshows with Meghla Bhardwaj

2021-02-22T16:31:16+00:00August 31st, 2018|Podcasts|

Growing your brand means having to step up your game by going out there and source. A great venue to kick start that process is through tradeshows and fairs. However, there is a difference between the two, which most people do not know. Fortunately, Meghla Bhardwaj of Global Sourcing can guide you through that. She talks about the different types of tradeshows and fairs happening around the world, telling which is which, what’s the best one for you, and what to expect. She also provides some great insights as well as some tips on how to go around these events and what you need to prepare. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I am so excited to announce if you haven't heard on Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube already, that I'm going to be speaking at the Global Sources Summit and I am bringing to [...]

Best Consumer Market Research Tools – Field Agent with Rick West

2021-02-22T16:35:07+00:00August 24th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

When you’re selling a product or service, you need to be able to know people’s feedback in order to improve. But how? Through research, of course. Tracy, together with Laura Hazzard, brings Rick West of Field Agent to talk about the best consumer market research tools.. With years of credible experience, Rick shares his work of promoting real time, location-based mobile research for companies who would like to get more user feedback. Offering both quantitative and qualitative data, they work great for those who are still figuring things out. Going down into mobile technology and more, Rick shows the true importance of market research for the future of your product and over-all business development. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- We're excited to bring you a company, a brand, a tool and a great group of people to work with that we think is [...]

Meet David Chitayat of Genimex

2021-02-22T16:37:47+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Podcasts|

Ensuring the product quality is a must for a business. Otherwise, it just won’t work and would bring the business down. You need to properly go through the process to secure the value. There is no shortcut even if time is not on your hands. David Chitayat, one of the three group CEOs of Genimex, chats about the processes from planning to getting your products on the shelf to the importance of category expertise and the relationship between quality and price. He goes deep about the crucial aspects of production that some business owners fail to do while giving us some lessons along the way on why product testing is necessary before launching. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I'm going to introduce you to one of my favorite referral partners, Genimex. It is the coolest company because they are a single source that [...]

5 Big Amazon Mistakes Brands Make with Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T16:37:37+00:00August 21st, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

The most successful brands continually look for ways to increase conversions and improve customer satisfaction. Established brands usually have their systems in place, but when you’re constantly dealing with the day-to-day operations of your business, it’s difficult to see the glitches in your processes or strategies, and that could affect you in terms of competition or changing markets. This is the reason why we often see established brands making common mistakes that can hurt their bottom line. Jenna Lieber from Turnkey Product Management came up with the five big Amazon mistakes brands make to help you avoid these oversights. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- This is our third topic that we've been covering here on Product Launch Hazzards. Unfortunately, Jeff could not make it. He is in Alaska. We thought he might be able to make it, but the Wi-Fi is a little [...]

Guiding Brand Growth With An Executive Level Customer Advisory Board with Betsy Westhafer

2021-02-22T16:39:22+00:00August 17th, 2018|Brand It, Podcasts|

In order to have sustained and continued innovation, have brand development, and growing your brand to be bigger, you’ve got to be aligned with what your customers think and what they want, and you've got to provide that continued service. If you can't have that conversation with them and you don't have a system for having that conversation, then you're really not on a path for the right type of big brand growth that you're looking for. Betsy Westhafer, entrepreneur and bestselling author of ProphetAbility, developed a system called Executive Level Customer Advisory Boards that help entrepreneurs get out in front of their customers by listening to them so that when their customers get there, they're already there and they're ready. It is also an opportunity to network with their peers and to interact with the leadership team of their key suppliers or partners. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to [...]

Brand Funding And Licensing Timing Issues with David Lieberstein

2021-02-22T16:40:08+00:00August 16th, 2018|Brand It, Licensing, Office Hours, Podcasts|

As inventors, when we have great ideas, we like to find the perfect manufacturer to license our product and sit back and make tons of money. Dream product guru David Lieberstein is an expert in brand licensing and got to experience the pros, the cons, and the pitfalls of all that's entailed in doing so. David had his own companies for a number of years in the houseware and gift industry. The last company he had for 25 years was called Wine Things Unlimited where he worked with the artists for designs but also did a lot of licensing for the designs to put on their three-dimensional sculptures. Five years ago, he became a consultant to work with inventors to help them launch their own companies and take the next steps to find the right manufacturer to license their products. David talks about what to focus in on and what [...]

Is Your Brand Ready To Be A Big Box Retail Product? with Tim Bush

2021-02-22T16:42:44+00:00August 15th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Is your brand ready to be a big box retail product? Tim Bush of TLB Consulting says you should make sure that you are ready because if you hit up a buyer and things don't go well until that buyer swaps out and changes positions, you are going to have a tough time going back to that buyer. That's where you're at it unless something majorly changes. Tim shares some things you should be looking at when you’re getting your product ready for retail such as pricing, packaging, sales, the uniques, your customers, your target retailers, and marketing plan to push your product forward. He goes in-depth each one of these seven key items to give a better understanding of their significance in getting your product ready for big box retail. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/yN-06AHfEaE Listen to the podcast here: --- It seems like it’s been [...]

Top 5 Project Management Strategies To Innovate And Mitigate Risk with Loren West

2021-02-22T16:43:15+00:00August 15th, 2018|e-Commerce, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Knowing the strategies to innovate and mitigate risk is essential for every company, especially those that are product-based. It’s key for a company to stay on top of how are you going to innovate, whether that will be through some new technology in your product, or bringing a new product being first to market, or expanding as a company and bringing more innovation to your process flow. Alongside innovation, the other element is to mitigate risks, whether that be a financial liability as you launch a new product, or operational risks as you move forward launching a new brand. Loren West of CPG Beauty and Beyond, an LA-based consulting agency, says there are always things that companies encounter typically. You should always try to take in mind to recap what risks you have and how to mitigate those from the start. She shares the top five project management strategies to [...]

Planning Inbound Freight Logistics And Order Fulfillment with Paul D’Souza

2021-02-22T16:55:55+00:00August 10th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Logistics and order fulfillment as part of the initial process you make before launching is vital to customer satisfaction. Paul D’Souza of Source Select breaks down why it should be on the top of your list in order to offer the complete customer experience and later on reaping the benefits from it. Paul shows how he helped many clients with his expertise on handling and fulfilling this particular need, He gives some great advice and tips on how to be more efficient with your order fulfillment, from picking your market and partner to keeping your product safe. He rounds up his discussion by giving the key points when it comes to dealing with global fulfillment, reinstating how necessary the proper order fulfillment is to expand your business. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- It's Paul D’Souza and I'm with Source Select, a logistics and [...]

US Product Classifications For Tariffs And Import with Abby Duffield

2021-02-22T16:57:44+00:00August 9th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

So much goes into getting your products classified in the US that many still find problems with the entire process. Abby Duffield of Shapiro breaks down all the necessary things you need to know about US product classifications for tariffs and import. She gets down into the details of the information you need to present about the products and gives some instructions that will help you identify what you have to provide, like how to know the country of origin, among others. Abby also presents real-life examples that show what goes under the entire process of having your product classified. Being conscious about all these, you’ll find the true value of products. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Product Information This is Abby with Shapiro. We are going to be talking about product classification going into the US. When we're talking about product classification, [...]

Asia Product Sourcing Pitfalls

2021-02-22T16:58:56+00:00August 8th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Sourcing products internationally needs some expertise in order to successfully crack into the global market and avoid some pitfalls. Equipped with that expertise, Tom shares his twenty years of experience product sourcing in Asia. He offers some ways on how to avoid those and ensure overall quality as he lays down the problems most people encounter, Learn more about deceiving samples, communicating with the factory, quoting products, and the manufacturing process and inspection as Tom goes into all of them one by one and gives some great insights that will help you source and receive the right product. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I want to talk about Asia Sourcing Pitfalls, some of the many. I'm probably not going to be able to cover potential pitfalls. We have been importing products and sourcing products in Asia since 1998. We've had quite a bit [...]

Amazon Review Policy – Don’t Get Shut Down! with Brenda Crimi

2021-02-22T17:01:34+00:00August 7th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Amazon reviews are a big part when it comes to selling your products on that platform. Yet many people still find themselves falling under some wrong ideas about how to go about it. It is now time to iron those misconceptions out and go deeper into the nature of Amazon reviews. Brenda Crimi from AMZ Alliance tells the truth about how reviews affect your ranking and conversion of sales as well as the policies that surround them. She also speaks about how to and how not to solicit for reviews, how to tell which reviews are which, and how to protect yourself from reviewer abuse. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Why Reviews Are Important I’m Brenda Crimi here with AMZ Alliance. I'm here to give you some helpful tips around the Amazon review policies. First, I want to talk about why reviews are [...]

Provisional Patent Application Guidelines with Jason Webb

2021-02-22T17:03:30+00:00August 2nd, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It|

Provisional patent applications are a relatively new type of application that has only been around for twenty years or so. It wasn't always possible to do a provisional patent application. What it was called back then was utility patent where it took months to get these filings in because there are so many formality requirements and so many things that you can't change once it's filed. However, we need them filed quickly because priority date is important, so what did they do? What they decided to do was to allow a temporary application with fewer requirements, fewer standards, and it’s a lot less formal. They decided to call it a provisional patent application since it wouldn't be examined and all the examination requirements that you should have don't have to be there. Patent and trademark expert Jason Webb deep dives into provisional patent, its application guidelines, and what differentiates it [...]

The Engineering Design For Manufacturing Viewpoint with Dennis Shaver and David Recker

2021-02-22T17:05:03+00:00July 31st, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Produce It, Prototype It|

You can take different features from different concepts and combine them into a more cohesive design. The next step is to take all those different ideas and refine the design. Design refinement is where you start to utilize computer aided design tools to start building the product. It's a terrific tool as a way to visualize the part with all the features that it needs to be able to be manufactured. The CAD file could go directly to a 3D printed part or a machine part. Engineer David Recker says it's important to have somebody who is in tune with all the different types of manufacturing processes. Work with somebody who's got experience in that area because it can have a great impact with the choice of process or choice of materials. Dennis Shaver from Products On Demand says you have to make sure that the person doing the work [...]

Missteps In The Early Market Research Process with Laura Hazzard

2021-02-22T17:06:39+00:00July 30th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Prove It|

If you don't understand who's buying your product, how can you make a product for them? That's what research is in a nutshell, but secondary research is understanding what exists out there. Secondary research is just information in the marketplace that's already out there. Some of the biggest retailers and brands out there are spending millions of dollars a year on research and secondary research. Market research expert Laura Hazzard recommends doing secondary research at all phases of your product launching because research affects the features and the usability of your product, the colors, the styles, the packaging, and also the marketing. But how you talk and what you say in your advertisements, you can learn in secondary research. Laura talks about some of the huge missteps that she’s seeing a lot of retailers do. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Welcome back to [...]

Get Your Brand Covered with Joe Tarnowski

2021-02-22T17:09:09+00:00July 28th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Prove It|

There are a couple of things that are common with any editor in the industry. They're very overworked and have a ton of work that they do across a lot of different things. They manage the overall editorial direction, they plan out all of the stories, they usually have multiple news stories that they have to post online every day, they're all involved in social media, plus they travel a lot. They visit retailers, they visit trade shows, and they do a lot of speaking engagements and webcasts. At the same time, they are also getting bombarded with press releases, calls, and pitches by suppliers and, in some cases, retailers. The supplier is always pitching to them to try and get into the magazines. How does an editor-in-chief or an editor in general decide what is going to go into the magazine or on the website and what's not going [...]

Product Launch Timing is Everything

2021-02-22T17:09:14+00:00July 27th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Time creeps up on you fast. If you’re thinking about launching a new product, you’ve got to think about when you want to be on the market and work it all the way back. Product launch timing is often an overlooked issue, especially with people that are new to product launching. It's probably the most significant and critical factor to success. It can sneak up on you because it happens in different ways for different people. It's not the same for everybody, but it is super critical. It’s multi-level because it's not just the timing of the stages that you do, it's also the time when you decide you're going to go to market, the timing of the speed to market, and the timing of doing each of the stages. Discover how you can get it accomplished and have your product launch timing flow quickly and smoothly without a lot [...]

Successful Product Marketing For Sharks with Seth Greene

2021-02-22T17:13:15+00:00July 27th, 2018|Free Articles, Podcasts, Promote It|

The only two things that matter in your business is if you're selling product, you need the right people to see your product, and then you need them to actually buy it. Hopefully, if it's consumable, they’ll buy more than once. Marketing magician Seth Greene of the Sharkpreneur podcast says they encompass successful product marketing in the traffic and conversion departments. Whether traffic and conversion is taking place online via a marketing funnel that takes people through a series of steps designed to get them to punch in their credit card, or whether it's taking them to a physical bricks and mortar outlet to punch in a credit card, however they end up consuming that purchase, that runs the gamut of what they do in terms of taking a company and driving their sales as high as they want them to go. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast [...]

Strategies to Grow Amazon Sales Fast with Jeff Lieber and Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T17:13:05+00:00July 26th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

How do you make your Amazon listings standout amid the tough competition? Jeff and Jenna Lieber are sharing some of their proven Amazon sales strategies that they use for their clients at Turnkey Productions-- from Amazon promos like giveaways, coupon clippings, tiered promos and more, Jeff and Jenna will give you product launchers some insight on how you can best utilize them to boost your sales and grow your brand as fast as possible on the world's biggest e-commerce platform. Watch The Episode Here: https://youtu.be/y4LGa0q1wzw Listen to the podcast here: --- We’re back, TurnKey Product Management. We’re Jeff and Jenna Lieber. We're going to talk about different strategies that we use for our clients to grow sales quickly on Amazon. If you're already selling on Amazon yourself, you can take some of these strategies and hopefully it'll grow your sales. If you're not on Amazon yet, it's [...]

Shipping Incoterms And Transit Times with Abby Duffield

2021-02-22T17:16:36+00:00July 25th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Prove It|

The biggest thing to know about transit time is the different pieces in the entire timeline chain that we’re looking at. Abby Duffield of Shapiro, a customs brokers and freight forwarder company, says sometimes when you're looking at a quote, more often than not, when it hits the transit time, it’s talking about the port to port transit time. If you're looking at a transit time for the sea and air shipment, that transit time is going to be from one port to the other. It might say two to three days. That doesn't mean that your entire shipment is going to take two to three days, it's going to take longer than that. You want to make sure that you're planning out fully what the entire scope of this time is going to bring. Learn more about Incoterms and transit times as Abby breaks it down a little bit [...]

A to Z of a Cosmetic Product Launch with Loren West

2021-02-22T17:16:29+00:00July 24th, 2018|e-Commerce, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

CPG Beauty and Beyond founder Loren West takes a deep dive into specific processes and stages involved in successfully launching cosmetic products, which could also very well apply to many other different categories. Whether you are an entrepreneur starting out with your own beauty brand, dabbling in producing cosmetics, planning a cosmetic product launch or are working on a totally different product category, you will definitely have something to learn from Loren's rich industry experience. As she connects one beauty product launch process to another, she will show you how all of its moving parts, from teams working on product development, market research, sales and marketing, logistics and more could work in harmony to help you achieve your business goals. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- We’ve got another great Office Hours for you. This one is with Loren West. If you remember, Loren [...]

Amazon Wants to Buy Your Product Directly – Is That a Good Thing?

2021-02-22T17:18:36+00:00July 23rd, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

If you are already an Amazon seller, or maybe an entrepreneur looking for opportunities to grow your brand who is considering to sell your products on the world's leading e-Commerce platform, you might have heard of the terms "seller central," and "vendor central." Being on the seller central side in Amazon means you own the product and have complete control of the sales process of your products, from listing to marketing and promotions-- while being on the vendor central side means Amazon has bought your product. While it seems like a very handsome prospect, being a vendor central brand means there will be some restrictions with regard to your products' sales cycle process flow. Brenda Crimi discusses the pros and cons of being a seller central brand versus being a vendor central brand on Amazon, so you can make an informed decision on how to manage your sales on the [...]

Seasonal Amazon Strategies with Brenda Crimi & Tracy Hazzard

2021-02-22T17:19:15+00:00July 20th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

It's Christmas in July, especially for your product launchers and entrepreneurs as you prepare and finalize your holidays sales plan. July is usually the deadline for getting your holiday retail planning done in retail, but the bigger your business is, the more ahead of the game you should be so you will not miss sales opportunities. Thinking about Christmas as a buyer versus being a seller is way different mindset-- sellers should plan according to researched trends, designs, and materials forecast months ahead, making purchase orders in huge volumes way in advance to supply the demand. Brenda Crimi gives advice on how you can effectively employ a holiday sales and logistics strategy to prepare for the busiest season in retail, especially if you are an online seller on the leading e-commerce platform Amazon. Watch The Episode Here: https://youtu.be/MJhn5mEnqhI Listen to the podcast here: --- Brenda Crimi and [...]

Holiday Design Trends with Tracy Hazzard

2021-02-22T17:21:13+00:00July 20th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

As we say in marketing and retail while planning for the busy Yuletide season-- it's Christmas in July! While most of us in the modern world have an idea of the the core motifs and themes that spring up during the busiest season in retail, there are always nuances and variations that we should be aware of right as we prepare for stocking up our inventories, whether its for a seasonal SKU, seasonal packaging, or even marketing materials that will be released during the holidays for your brand influencers to pick up. Design trends always matter in terms of boosting your sales, so saddle up and know what will sell this coming holiday season 2018. Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/LeI3Wq1jkv0 Listen to the podcast here: --- We're talking holiday trends and we're going to talk design trends. Last time, we talked color trends and then we've had [...]

Seasonal Inventory Planning for Retail with Timothy Bush and Tracy Hazzard

2021-02-22T17:21:11+00:00July 19th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

If you want to head into mass market retail, there are a whole lot of things you’ve got to think about. Timothy Bush joins Tracy as they give you some prep about retail. Timothy Bush is the resident Product Launch Hazzards expert in all things on the shelf of retail. Tim says one of the hardest things about retail in general is you're never in the month you're in. You're never thinking about talking and dealing with and wondering about the month that you're in. In fact, people that are just entering into Big Box retail, they don't think in those terms. They think if the buyer says yes right now, that means you need to be shipping product now and it's all going to happen now, but it's not. Tracy and Tim talk about seasonal inventory planning and strategies and all the things that you need to know about [...]

Holiday Color Trends 2018

2021-02-22T17:23:38+00:00July 18th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

There is a concerted color trend every holiday season. Color forecasting is the science and math of choosing colors for the next season. You have to do research on this field for your product development, because we have said before, color is a big factor for consumers when making purchase decisions, especially during the fourth quarter holidays, from Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to New Year's. It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year for retail. We are sharing our holiday 2018 color trend report with you, just in time for making purchase order decisions, scaling up your product inventory, and producing your marketing collateral as you gear up for this year's holiday season. --- Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/tctVR162Nbc Listen to the podcast here: --- We're going to talk about holiday colors and seasonal strategies. We're talking about fourth quarter holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, the [...]

Getting into Big Box Retail Faster

2021-02-22T17:23:30+00:00July 17th, 2018|Office Hours, On The Shelf, Podcasts|

If you have a product, or are thinking of going into retail, your number one concern might probably be the length of time it takes to get your product to sell. At the end of the discussion, our resident Office Hours Expert Timothy Bush answers that number one question product launchers ask. He will not give you false hopes, but instead enlighten you with his full transparency on what it truly takes to get your products into big box retail. He dives into core sales and marketing information to consider and prepare for, which will mean the difference between product launch success and failure. Get in touch with Tim by sending your questions about product retail sales. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqkCfItyfZc Listen to the podcast here: --- Tim Bush here from TLB Consulting. This is my first solo expert Office Hours. It is going to be [...]

Is Your Idea Patentable? with Jason Webb

2021-02-22T17:24:48+00:00July 16th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Is your idea patentable? How can you tell whether something is patentable or not? Intellectual property attorney Jason Webb says one of the key pieces is you want to look at if something is appropriate for a patent or maybe appropriate to be protected in some way. For example, your branding, the name of your company, or the ends of your products are all protected under trademark. The books that you write, the art that you create, the songs or the videos that you put together, that's all copyright things that you can keep a secret. They're valuable because they are trade secrets. Jason teaches how to make a choice between protecting something with trade secret protection or patent protection. Watch The Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I'm Jason Webb, an Intellectual Property Attorney at Pearson Butler and my practice is all over the country. [...]

Research & Design Budget Guidelines

2021-02-22T17:25:38+00:00July 15th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It|

It takes a lot of time to get from planning, to sampling, to launching, to marketing. There are so many aspects to take care of in the product launch process, and it takes doing it in the right order to ensure success. Our goal here at Product Launch Hazzards is to make sure that everything you spend money and effort on as you make and market your product ends up as an asset, an not a liability. We will give you pointers on how you can make a feasible and sustainable research and design budget plan including how to incorporate intellectual property costs into it, especially when you are a startup developing a new product. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPa4Qr1izOo Listen to the podcast here: --- I'm excited to talk to you about something that you should really plan for and that is budgeting for your research [...]

Is Your Product Right for Amazon?

2021-02-22T17:30:46+00:00July 14th, 2018|e-Commerce, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Certified Amazon Expert Brenda Crimi helps product launchers and business owners like you determine if Amazon is the right platform to sell your product. From the lens of an experienced and successful Amazon seller, she starts with the reasons why you should consider launching your brand on the e-commerce giant's platform because it brings great exposure, builds brand awareness, and the data availability from product to market, which will automatically give you customer feedback so you can adjust your marketing strategies accordingly. She then dives into reasons not to sell on Amazon, which mainly touches on product fit for the platform. Do not go into your business industry blindly and let experts like Brenda guide you on how to best plan your tactics and launch your product. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EfmDLTKSq0&feature=youtu.be Listen to the podcast here: --- We’ve got another great Office Hours for you. This [...]

Market Research Timeline: What Research to Do and When

2021-02-22T17:39:10+00:00July 13th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

In general, most, if not all of you here right now are at different stages of product development. Some of you might be drafting your ideas, some of you might be on the invention phase, some of you might be in prototyping phase. Maybe you already have a new product out in the market, or maybe you are looking to expand your SKUs and your brand as a whole. Succeeding at every stage and knowing for sure if someone wants to buy your product requires a great deal of market research, which comes in many different forms, including doing a quantitative survey, focus group discussions, and lots of others. Laura Hazzard guides you through the foundations of market research from methodologies, data analysis including how and when to do them so you can learn how to use maximize your resources and get the most out of your product launch. Watch [...]

Is Product Patent Protection Worth It?

2021-02-22T17:40:32+00:00July 12th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Two of our legal experts on Office Hours, Attorneys Jason Webb and Rich Goldstein, have both emphasized the need to do a thorough assessment of one's overall business strategy before considering filing for a patent because it can both be a daunting and costly process. With over 38 patents (pushing 40) under our belt as product designers, Tom and I have pretty much mastered how to make a business case for patenting products under development in our business. We have learned that patents should be filed only when you are truly sure of selling or commercializing your idea or product, especially if you are a small business owner, product innovator or inventor up against bigger brands with deeper pockets. Grow your business by learning how to maximize intellectual property, and knowing how to make the crucial business decision of whether you should patent your invention. Watch the Episode Here: Listen [...]

When Should You Patent?

2021-02-22T17:57:40+00:00July 11th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It, Prototype It|

Maybe you have a fresh idea or product concept that is underway, and you are thinking whether filing for patent will help you and your business. Attorney Rich Goldstein, founder of Goldstein Patent Law has over 25 years of experience as a patent attorney, has advised over 10,000 inventors and entrepreneurs from different industries on patenting, and has an impressive record of having over 2,000 patents approved under his belt. Over the course of his career, he has learned that the costliest part about patents for inventors, product designers, or business owners is their misinformation about the patent process. Rich discusses the patent process, utility patents, design patents, as well as other useful tips and information to help you determine whether your idea or product is worth patenting so you can avoid wasting precious time, money and effort. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvSa3wHvo9M Listen to the podcast here: [...]

The Ins and Outs of Product Tooling

2021-02-22T18:00:50+00:00July 10th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

If you are not just fabricating materials off the shelf and are going to use certain manufacturing processes to make your product, it will most probably involve tooling. Tooling requires a one-time fee that varies from product to product. It involves unique molding, stamping materials, or creating customized tools, fixtures, or mechanical device used to manipulate the materials of your product as it is being made in the factory-- it takes many different shapes and forms, depending on materials used, or set manufacturing processes of each factory. With more than two decades of experience as product designers who have launched over 250+ products in mass market retail, we have dealt with a diverse product range from different niches, as well as a great variety of factories from all over the world with different manufacturing processes. We will guide you through the ins and outs of tooling for your product: which [...]

Amazon First Steps

2021-02-22T18:01:45+00:00July 9th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Certified Amazon experts Jeff and Jenna of Turnkey Product Management teaches you how to market on Amazon faster with the definitive building blocks of a high-converting online store on the world's biggest e-commerce platform. They apply these basic principles in their own Amazon production management company, where they help clients from a range of different industries with widely diverse product categories sell over $1,000,000 in total a month. Jeff and Jen give you the lowdown on why selling on Amazon is worth the time and effort, and reveal concrete fundamental solutions on how you can extend your reach by maximizing the e-commerce platform's many useful features to prime potential clients with spending power to buy from your very own Amazon store. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- I’m Jenna Lieber from TurnKey. I'm Jeff Lieber from TurnKey Product Management. We just wanted to go through [...]

How to Create a Me Only Product with a Killer Unique Selling Proposition

2021-02-22T18:04:23+00:00June 22nd, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

We often talk about how having a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for any brand is vital for product launch success. In the product design world, we also call a unique or original product as "Me Only Product." When we say "Me Only," it means that it is something that only you are manufacturing, that you are the only one selling it in the market, that you are the only game in town. It is easy to throw unique features, and all sorts of bells and whistles onto a product at the marketing stage and say that it's the only one in the market-- but being in the real "me only territory" means that you cater to your target market's needs, that they are able to make an emotional connection with your brand or product-- and doing it right entails a great deal of product development planning, which will definitely cost [...]

Meet Branding and Video Marketing Expert Rick Cesari

2021-02-22T18:05:38+00:00June 21st, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

After graduating with a degree in biology, our branding and video marketing expert Rick Cesari, founder of Direct Branding got involved into real estate marketing, and discovered that he had a knack for it-- from then on, he continued treading the marketing path and branching out to other industries, approaching things with a direct response mentality. His passion for marketing and branding lead him to set up his own company back in 1989, where he became part of the team that made juicing popular to consumers, and in bringing other health products into mass retail. Since then he has contributed his expertise to help develop and market billion dollar brand names like the Sonicare, George Foreman Grill, Oxiclean, and many other consumer products, including, more recently, the GoPro. Get monthly access to Rick's in-depth industry know-how so you can create and implement a solid business strategy that highlights your brand's [...]

Meet Product Licensing Expert David Lieberstein

2021-02-22T18:07:35+00:00June 20th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

A self-proclaimed "serial entrepreneur," David Liberstein of Dream Product Guru started his very first business that lasted 10 years while he was in college back in the 70's. He monetized his passion for photography by making photographic note cards with inspirational quotes on them, first in a darkroom at his parents' basement garage-- until it grew into an operation with its own in-house designers that made up to $100,000 for half of the fiscal year as a young company. They joined trade shows where big companies took an interest in their designs, asking if it was possible to use their creations as prints for their products. That was how he started gaining experience both as a licensee, and as a licensing agent for his own company's designers. From then on he took on other business and marketing roles, at one point helped with product licensing to put designs of characters [...]

What Comes First, Brand or Product?

2021-02-22T18:10:33+00:00June 19th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

So you have a product that you think will sell on Amazon, or through Walmart's or Target's shelves. Maybe you are still playing around with the idea, or you might be in the early stages of product design and development and you want to take a step back by asking which comes first before launching your product: is it branding, or perfecting your product? Many innovators, inventors, and non-business savvy people get completely shocked when we say that branding must come first. The truth is that many of the things involved in product development and the design process are expensive and time consuming. Discover why knowing your brand the first step in determining the best product design as well as in identifying the perfect retail price, and in knowing how to channel your marketing efforts in the most effective way possible. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: [...]

Meet Design for Manufacturing Expert Dennis Shaver

2021-02-22T18:10:29+00:00June 18th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Our resident design for manufacturing (DFM) expert Dennis Shaver from Product on Demand serves you "inventreneurs" his invaluable industry knowledge and insight to help you get from mind to market to profit faster. Born and raised in a dairy farm in Michigan, Dennis has the unique experience and skill set honed by years of working side by side with his brothers and parents for the farm's upkeep-- during those formative years, he learned how to be resourceful when it came to repairing and inventing things as he dealt with both livestock and machinery. This has become a solid foundation for Dennis as he took on more advanced jobs throughout his flourishing career in manufacturing and production. He is eager to share with you how to increase efficiency and reach your business bottom line with solid planning, as well as proper communication across all units involved in manufacturing your product. --- [...]

Pricing By Design: Formulas for How to Profitably Price Your Products

2021-02-22T18:12:30+00:00June 18th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Many of you probably think that product pricing is purely science, because it involves a lot of math, data, and pieces of information consolidated and analyzed to get optimal results. We are seasoned product designers and entrepreneurs here, yet pricing products is an ongoing struggle because it does not wholly rely on scientific data and mathematical formulas-- identifying the perfect product price also relies heavily on human psychology, on ever-changing cultural, sociological, economic and political climates, and ultimately rides on how much you understand your target market's behavior and what drives them. It requires making a thought-out plan with clear revenue goals based on your specific business model, on your product, and on proper timing, among other things to create a realistic profitable pricing strategy that will up your revenue. You can always schedule a call with us, or with one of our experts like Tim Bush so we can [...]

Avoid These Top 7 Market Research Mistakes

2021-02-22T18:12:28+00:00June 17th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Our resident consumer market research expert Laura Hazzard warns product launchers about the top 7 consumer market research mistakes that can cause a lot of damage and possibly torpedo your overall business and marketing strategy. She packed in a lot of meaty information in a span of seven minutes, solidifying her excellent points on quantitative and qualitative market research fails and how to avoid them. Laura says that good market and product research sets the path forward to great product development, usability, distribution, advertising and marketing, building your brand, and ultimately selling more products for bigger profit. You can get a deeper dive into her market research expertise and use it to grow your business through our membership podcast, where she will happily answer all your market research concerns. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- Welcome back to another Office hours. This one is [...]

Know the Difference Between Styling, Branding, and Design

2021-02-22T18:13:38+00:00June 16th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Styling is just one small component of design. Think of celebrity stylists who dress celebrities for red carpet events-- they shop for their clients, putting together accessories, clothes, and other components to make a whole look. Product styling is not so different, in that it merely deals with combining colors and materials that work well together. There is no design or invention involved, as it does not deal entirely with features that are focused on the users' primary needs, unlike in product designing. At its core, styling is about achieving a certain look to convey brand image-- that is why it is problematic if you only have a stylist designing a product that you are making. The best product designers understand the limits of manufacturing, as well as how to get the most out of design techniques to get the perfect balance between form and function, as well as aesthetic. [...]

Meet Joseph Tarnowski, Expert in Connecting Brands to Retail Buyers

2021-02-22T18:14:51+00:00June 15th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Office Hours Expert Joseph Tarnowski has multiple industry experience when it comes to watching companies do what goes right and what goes wrong in terms of retail and marketing. With a degree in Trade Media Journalism, he has had extensive experience working in the food industry, general merchandise, health & beauty, and pharmaceutical industry. He is with Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM), a company that helps connect retail buyers to prospective retail suppliers such as you product launchers. We have known Joe through ECRM, where we used their time-saving and cost-efficient service as buyers in the contract furniture industry. Know the basics of getting a great match between buyers and suppliers in retail by touching base with Joe, who will share his no-nonsense know-how on connecting brands to retail buyers. --- Watch the Episode Here:  Listen to the podcast here: --- I have a great new experts [...]

What to Sell Next: Stacking Consumer Product Growth S Curves

2021-02-22T18:16:04+00:00June 14th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

No product lasts forever. Consider yourself lucky if your original product is still in the market for five years-- we call it a platinum record if it reaches the five year mark. Some of the products we have developed have been in the market for decades, including the Aeron Chair, which is still being sold 25 years after it first came out. How do you stay on top of the game and keep consumers coming back for more from your brand? An S curve is an oft-used tool in product management and project management, a graph that tracks the growth rate of your sales so that you can align your business development plan accordingly and consistently beat the competition. Learn how to future-proof your business by looking at your product growth S-Curve, and knowing when exactly you should start planning for the next big product to launch. Watch the Episode [...]

Meet E-Commerce Implementation Expert Abby Duffield

2021-02-22T18:16:39+00:00June 13th, 2018|e-Commerce, Office Hours, Podcasts|

Abby Duffield is the e-Commerce Implementation Manager for Shapiro, an established freight forwarder and brokerage company that has been in business for over 100 years. She shares industry knowledge and informed insights on logistics, regulatory compliance, customs brokerage, purchase order management, e-Commerce shipping and more especially to small business owners, up and coming entrepreneurs, and product launchers like you who need guidance with their freight forwarding concerns. Learn from her anecdotes, get great advice and valuable tips on how to navigate the realm of international shipping, importing in the US, partner government agencies (PGA) compliance, US Customs to FDA as well as product regulations so you can optimize your overall business strategy to make it more cost-effective, efficient and compliant to ever-changing regulations. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SMxiHdcE94 Listen to the podcast here: --- I’m here with Abby Duffield from Shapiro and we're going to talk about [...]

Secrets To Working With Your Spouse

2021-02-22T18:18:31+00:00June 12th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

People think it's kind of odd that we're a husband and wife design team, but our dynamic works perfectly for us. We started working together back in college. Our complimentary set of skills overlap at the right touch points, especially when it comes to our overall mutual user-focused design principles. Unlike in corporate settings where people have qualms in speaking out for fear of untoward judgment, we are both capable of having an open, honest debate when it comes to our job as product designers. Most importantly, we have a high level of trust and respect for each other. It is not without its challenges though-- there are lots of other husband and wife teams running a business together and we're not much different, we just happen to be designers doing it. It's because we work together 24/7 that we are good at what we do-- we never stop designing [...]

Meet Product Management Expert Loren West

2021-02-22T18:18:21+00:00June 11th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Prototype It, Sourcing|

Loren West is a process and systems expert who has a ton of experience in growing brands by optimizing processes in big companies to make their business run more smoothly and efficiently. She gained her core professional strengths in business processing and marketing by working in the packaging, beauty, and health industry for years. Loren has worked for big brands like O.P.I., Keiser, and has also branched out into consulting for other companies from diverse industries to optimize their structural system flows and business processes. A lot of you product launchers are owners of up and coming brands who will surely get great monthly insights and advice from Loren through our membership podcast, so that you can map your vision and produce quantifiable results that will make your company soar to greater heights. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzE58wG7olc Listen to the podcast here: --- I’m here with [...]

MOQ & Small Run Manufacturing Options

2021-02-22T18:19:34+00:00June 10th, 2018|Office Hours, Podcasts|

Especially if you are quite new to creating products and ordering them from small-run manufacturers, you might be left asking, "Why is this manufacturer giving me a hard time with high quotations, I just want very few samples of the products so I can be sure of the quality?" We started going directly to manufacturers in China back in 1998, and have learned the ropes about small-run manufacturing processes, minimum order quantities, and how it relates to an entrepreneur's overall product launch plan. There is a delicate balance in determining MOQ's, which is essentially the specific lowest number of products one can order from a supplier. MOQ's are not random calculations, and are mostly precise as they are based on hard facts and figures. Learn the basics of MOQ's and small-run manufacturing processes as it has applied to our business model, so you can get informed perspectives and information on [...]

Meet Amazon Experts Jeff Lieber & Jenna Lieber

2021-02-22T18:20:21+00:00June 9th, 2018|e-Commerce, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

Jeff Lieber, founder of Turnkey Product Management once dreamed of starting his own business, and he knew that Amazon would be the perfect channel to do it. He learned the ropes and soon, from selling one dog product, he quickly expanded his inventory, ventured into baby products, and then eventually sold his online business for six figures. Together with his cousin, Turnkey Client Manager Jenna Lieber and their team, they now help clients reap the full benefits of online marketing with focus on an informed, overall approach to Amazon product listing campaigns and strategies. Jeff & Jenna lend you their expertise on maximizing profits from your online business. Ease your worries and send us the questions that matter to you. Join us every month as these first-rate Amazon experts dive in on tips, trends, and practical advice on asset building that you should not miss as budding entrepreneurs in the [...]

Do It Right: Early Stage Funding for Your Business

2021-02-22T18:26:29+00:00June 8th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

We first raised money for an invention way back in 1997 and had around 13 angel investors-- way more than what we recommend now that we have learned through our years of professional experience as product designers and entrepreneurs. The two of us are cautious about raising capital via crowd funding because there is truly a lot of pressure in giving small pieces of your company to investors, and often times it does not necessarily go into the best interests of the business. From the perspective of inventors trying to build a company from the ground up, it is absolutely necessary for you to have complete legal compliance when it comes to documentation of your intellectual property, getting a great product or business plan presentation together, and to use systems in place that can help you track your progress. We will be talking about equity crowd funding, warnings about Kickstarter [...]

Meet Paul D’Souza Distribution & Delivery Expert

2021-02-22T18:27:47+00:00June 7th, 2018|Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Produce It, Retail & Big Box|

As one of our Product Launch Hazzards experts, Paul D' Souza, founder of Chief Revenue Officer as Service will be helping you product launchers design the right go-to-market strategy with his comprehensive knowledge gathered through years of practical experience in logistics, sales and operations. One of his most notable clients was the Pebble Watch company that started in KickStarter through two campaigns, and grew to ship over 2 Million units to more than 150 countries. He currently works at SourceSelect, a 3PL that helps early-stage product companies move their products from their manufacturers, to their warehouse facilities, to their customers, and back to the warehouse if there are returns. Paul offers free consulting sessions on how to plan logistics and order fulfillment before launching campaigns. You can get access to his expert profile and send in your questions. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- [...]

To NDA or Not To NDA

2021-02-22T18:30:31+00:00June 6th, 2018|Inventors, Licensing, Office Hours, Podcasts, Produce It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Sourcing|

Here you are, with a great idea or invention and wanting to explore business opportunities with another company to expand your brand. Then suddenly, when you propose a legally-binding non-disclosure agreement (NDA) at the infancy of the negotiation stages, often even before your initial consultation with them, all communication with them stops. While you should seek proper legal counsel to make sure all terms within the contract are fair, and that first step alone takes up so much time, money and effort---one of the most important lessons we've learned through our many years of practical experience as product innovators is that NDAs almost always slow or stop negotiations if you propose them first. Despite its popularity, filing an NDA, also known as secrecy agreement (SA), confidential disclosure agreement (CDA), or proprietary information agreement (PIA) has its drawbacks. It can sow distrust between parties, foiling a mutually beneficial relationship before it matures. Learn how NDA's can put you in the wrong position [...]

Meet Small Business Patent Expert Rich Goldstein

2021-02-22T18:30:33+00:00June 5th, 2018|Licensing, Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It|

"People ask me, 'what's the costliest part of patenting?' I'll tell them, the costliest part of patenting is your misinformation about patents," says our Product Launch Hazzards expert Attorney Richard Goldstein, author of the American Bar Association's Consumer Guide to Obtaining a Patent. Rich graduated with an Engineering degree before being a patent lawyer, and has the unique combination of having a systems-oriented brain from his engineering background, combined with a liberal arts mind that enables him to write really well, allowing him understand the finer details of product designs and explain precisely what is needed for effective applicable patents . He has dedicated his law career into educating and helping individuals, small business owners, startups, product developers and inventors understand the core principles of patenting. He started teaching the patent process in the early 90's, and has created a 6-part video series on the basics of patenting with over 10,000 views. Discover [...]

Working Prototype or Appearance Model?

2021-02-22T18:31:37+00:00June 4th, 2018|Capital Funding, Inventors, Licensing, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Sourcing|

The choice between creating a working prototype (a product sample that looks, feels, and works like the actual product), an appearance model (non-functional, but adheres to actual products physical appearance, and dimensions), or a functional prototype (a crude model with limited functionality, often used to present a a product under concept development) for product presentation has often confused product innovators. There are a range of factors to consider, from budget constraints, product liabilities, to meeting deadlines-- but the key to selling your product lies in having in-depth customer knowledge so you can manage the expectations of your potential consumers or investors, as well as future retail buyers, and being aware of the circumstances that surround your product presentation so you choose and create the right type of prototype to make your presentation a success and get your product or idea sold. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmNzTZ7MZEI Listen to the [...]

Meet Product Manufacturing Experts from Genimex

2021-02-22T18:35:45+00:00June 1st, 2018|Inventors, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Prototype It, Sourcing|

As product developers, inventors, and marketers, we often get caught up in the complex process of product development, manufacturing and marketing. One common mistake that causes failure to launch products successfully is employing shortcuts without thinking things through. So many things could go wrong: from unveiling your product too soon, to enabling copycats to steal or tweak your original idea, to picking the wrong factory, as well as a host of other factors that could result in sub-par products, and most probably a looming PR disaster for your brand. Thankfully, the risks of failure could be greatly reduced with ample preparation. Crystelle Desnoyer of Genimex, one of our highly trusted brands in manufacturing, gives a sweeping preview of what you can expect from the monthly dialogues with our Genimex experts, who will answer your questions on product development, design for manufacturing (DFM), product engineering, quality control, industry trends, and all [...]

Why We Love Being Product Designers

2021-02-22T18:35:47+00:00May 31st, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

We have been product designers for more than two decades and have won awards for our designs through out the years-- but the ultimate accolade for us would have to be the longevity of our products in the market. Over 80 of the products that we have designed for mass retail have been bought and used over and over again by consumers for the past 20 years and counting. We believe that our success in this regard lies in the genuine joy we find in the process of product design, and most importantly, in how it betters the lives of consumers. Reading positive feedback from online customer reviews, especially when users recommend our products to other consumers, gives us immense satisfaction as designers. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- You're going to see on our Membership platform a lot of great experts in all [...]

Meet International Logistics Expert Jimmy Tran

2021-02-22T18:40:16+00:00May 30th, 2018|e-Commerce, Logistics, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Sourcing|

A lot of new Amazon sellers often make the mistake of putting logistics and freight forwarding as an afterthought in the product launch process, and it can hurt profitability. Jimmy Tran, General Manager of World Craft Logistics is a Product Launch Hazzard expert on Freight Forwarding. He knows that Amazon sellers need a highly dependable freight forwarder who will cater to their needs to get their products shipped smoothly and securely from factory to warehouse. Starting his online business from the comfort of his own bedroom five years ago, he now has a 78,000 square-foot warehouse to accommodate the upward demand from clients. Detail-oriented Jimmy shares his freight forwarding know-how so you can keep your supply chain running efficiently and cost-effectively by optimizing your logistics strategy, from timing deliveries, customs clearances, proper documentation, warehousing distribution, light assembly, labeling, and everything in between. You can get in touch with Jimmy and [...]

What To Do When Mass Retailers Like Amazon Become Your Competitors

2021-02-22T18:40:14+00:00May 29th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

If you are a thriving vendor with products on Walmart, Staples, other mass retailers' shelves, or you are selling online through Amazon, Alibaba, or any other big e-Commerce platform, be warned: the days of vendor loyalty are long gone, which is why it is essential for you to secure your products and customer base before launching your products. As experienced product designers, innovators and entrepreneurs, we have learned from first hand experience as well as vicariously how big companies can take advantage of entrepreneurs who offer private-label products or services. Take Amazon for example-- if you have an unpatented original product that you get from another manufacturer and the e-Commerce giant sees that your product is selling like hotcakes through their platform, it could go two ways-- they can either source any number of variations of your products' Stock Keeping Units (SKU's) from your manufacturer and persuade them to make [...]

Meet Brenda Crimi Amazon Seller Training Expert

2021-02-22T18:41:37+00:00May 28th, 2018|e-Commerce, Inventors, Logistics, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It|

As one of our experts at Product Launch Hazzards, Master Amazon seller training expert Brenda Crimi will be dishing great advice every month for aspiring online sellers, as well as curious listeners who want to have an understanding of "all things products, and all things Amazon." Meet Brenda as she shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey-- from being a consultant, to managing a law firm to selling on Amazon. She found her calling as a successful online entrepreneur launching her own products and managing her own online business on the e-commerce giant's platform since 2013 and coaching and or managing other aspiring brands and sellers. Brenda shares her no-nonsense expertise and answers your eCommerce selling questions through the Product Launch Hazzards membership office hours and coaching or managing other aspiring brands and sellers. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwZGiZS6pA Listen to the podcast here: --- Welcome to Product Launch [...]

How to Invent Must-Have Products

2021-02-22T18:42:45+00:00May 25th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Tracy and Tom are a husband and wife team of Industrial Designers. They are lucky to be working together not just because they enjoy each other's company-- they have a complimentary set of skills, and unlike in corporate settings where people have qualms in voicing out their opinions we are both capable of having an open, honest debate when designing products that involve gender-related perspectives because of our shared vision. They have coined a term called "gender blending," which refers to meeting the needs of both male and female consumers when it comes to designing products. Launching many successful products for themselves and their clients through out the years was made possible by combining their strengths, which includes their unique ability to factor in the needs of both genders in their product designs. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- We want to share with [...]

Meet Patent & Trademark Expert Jason Webb

2021-02-22T18:44:24+00:00May 24th, 2018|Inventors, Licensing, Office Hours, Podcasts, Protect It, Prototype It|

Is your idea, product or service competitive? The truth is, the best ideas don't always win because there are many things in your way to making it happen. As an entrepreneur or an inventor, you should have the best system and marketing tactics to get ahead of the competition. One of the most crucial steps is to protect your trade secrets, original business concepts and ideas. Join internationally recognized intellectual property lawyer Attorney Jason Webb of Pearson-Butler every month as he explains how to make patents, trademarks and copyright work for protecting business owners, inventors, and product developers in this ruthless global economy. He has successfully negotiated licensing agreements for Fortune 500 companies, with products and services that are sold worldwide. Get honest, educated business perspectives from Jason through the Product Launch Hazzards membership office hours. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUdY_ybO0EU Listen to the podcast here: --- Jason, welcome [...]

The 80/20 Color Rule for Choosing the Right Colors for Your Products

2021-02-22T18:44:19+00:00May 23rd, 2018|Brand It, e-Commerce, Office Hours, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Picking the right colors for specific consumer goods is exciting, and can also be a very agonizing process for some product inventors, innovators, designers, and marketers, especially to newbies. Even experienced branding professionals get challenged sometimes, and rightly so, for there is so much is riding on choosing the right color for your product. Many factors can affect our opinions on product color selection, most especially our personal preferences. If you happen to pick the wrong color for your product, it will not be marketable, and problems with inventory among other things will arise. Get the skinny color selection for product design and the ultimate 80/20 color rule from one of the leading experts in the product design industry who also specializes in picking colors that sell in mass market retail. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXq322gx_kU Listen to the podcast here: --- I am going to talk [...]

Meet Market Research Expert Laura Hazzard

2021-02-22T18:46:40+00:00May 22nd, 2018|Brand It, e-Commerce, Inventors, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Promote It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box|

When you’re selling something, some questions that come up in your mind are, are people going to buy what you’re selling? Are they going to respond to it? What features do they value? A great way to answer that is market research. Market research expert, Laura Hazzard, has worked with big brands like Target, Starbucks, Disney, Fox, and Sony. She’s done everything from plus size women's apparel to cat food and everything in between. Laura shares that it’s so critically important to ask questions because then you have a better understanding of why people purchase the things they do. She says that big brands and small companies should both dive deep into market research. They should have a process that they run to see if people will buy their products so they can cut down on costs by avoiding mistakes and optimize their sales. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/3rOvPnJSedE [...]

How to Design What Women (and Men) Want

2021-02-22T18:46:37+00:00May 21st, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

We are a team of Industrial Designers. We are lucky to be working together not just because we enjoy each other's company-- we have a complimentary set of skills, and unlike in corporate settings where people have qualms in voicing out their opinions we are both capable of having an open, honest debate when designing products that involve gender-related perspectives because of our shared vision. We have coined a term called "GENDERBLENDING" product design, which refers to meeting the needs of both male and female consumers when it comes to designing products. Launching many successful products for ourselves and our clients through out the years was made possible by combining our strengths, which includes our unique ability to factor in the needs of both genders in our product designs. Watch the Episode Here: Listen to the podcast here: --- We are bringing you a defining definition of something [...]

Meet Retail Sales Expert Timothy Bush

2021-02-22T18:49:23+00:00May 18th, 2018|Brand It, Inventors, Licensing, Office Hours, Podcasts, Private Label, Retail & Big Box|

The number one question that On The Shelf Retail Expert, Timothy Bush gets is,"How long does it take?" As entrepreneurs get inundated with a ton of planning and preparation, they can get flustered with the influx of work involved with product launching. For those that work in the real trenches of retail, trying to launch a new brand, whether it be retail goods or a huge celebrity takes time. Success does not happen overnight. Tim understands that measurable success requires intensive planning as well as proper guidance from industry pros who know the ins and outs of branding and retail. Timothy helps people overcome roadblocks so they can get ahead of the competition. Watch the Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUbu7574ThQ Listen to the podcast here: --- Tim, I'm so glad to have you on this show and get everyone on Product Launch Hazzards to get to know you. Great [...]

Product Promotion: Reserving Capital to Promote It

2021-02-22T18:49:27+00:00May 17th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

It is not enough to put your product out there on Amazon, HSN, Walmart, or any other retail store. Those who spend at least 10% of their capital on brand promotion are guaranteed to sell more and increase their brand's overall acquirable value. The key is to get your message out through a platform and resonate with your audience. Your goal as an entrepreneur should not just be focused on make a single sale per client, but to transform them into fans of your brand who will constantly hanker for more of what you have to offer. Let them know the story behind your brand, and how your products or services can benefit them when consistently churning out high-quality useful content like blogs, videocasts, or podcasts. Get started on building a brand promotional strategy and a public relations plan that converts your target audience into paying customers. Listen to the [...]

Product Production Planning: Critical Factors to Produce It

2021-02-22T18:51:08+00:00May 16th, 2018|Brand It, Capital Funding, e-Commerce, Inventors, Licensing, Logistics, Packaging, Podcasts, Private Label, Produce It, Promote It, Protect It, Prototype It, Prove It, Retail & Big Box, Sourcing|

Finally, you are done with the product development stages and are ready to produce your product for selling. As an entrepreneur, you know that it is absolutely critical to get your product right before launching it to avoid killing your brand with bad customer reviews and high returns. What are the things you need to consider for cost-effective and efficient materials sourcing, finding the right factory for manufacturing, and in making all other major decisions in the production process? If you are clueless as to how or where to start on product production planning, here is a general framework you can work with: building a relationship with your manufacturers, having strong documentation, and consistent follow-up. It can be a daunting process because there is no set flow chart for going about things since it is all really product-specific-- but with decades of combined multi-industry experience, Product Launch Hazzards will guide [...]

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