Crista Freeman, an entrepreneur with an art degree and background in e-commerce, started making ice cream with her partner Jess Eddy in their kitchen. Now, it’s sold across the country. The ice cream market is tougher than it seems. Making it and shipping it to suppliers requires a large-scale operation: the product demands unique industrial […]
Product Development
Forget the Consumer Internet of Things: IIOT is Where It’s Really At
Billionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes coined the saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” And upon his death, Forbes certainly had a lot of toys. But in 2016, not all consumers agree with that sentiment when it comes to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Product manufacturers may be banking on consumers trampling over each […]
Evaluate All Your Products and Services Each Year
“Cut your losses and let your profits run.” ~Proverb Many businesses fall into the trap of assuming that products or services generating great sales revenue are also profitable. Truthfully, you cannot tell which products and services should be continued or eliminated unless you look at the profitability of each one. For this reason, I strongly […]
Why a Design-Make-Use Convergence Means Better Products and a Healthier Planet
Before the Industrial Revolution, people’s shoes and clothes were made by hand—to their exact size—by local cobblers and tailors. Although that was something the middle class could afford, it was also exclusionary; the poorest people of the era owned only two or three outfits in their adult lifetimes (which they likely made themselves). With the […]
5 Essential Tips for Developing a New Product
As a small-business owner, one thing you don’t lack for is ideas—they’re the key to your success, and you probably wouldn’t have struck out on your own without a surplus of creativity. Yet aside from innovation and entrepreneurship, just about every other aspect of developing a new product can pose an obstacle to the small-business […]
Trademarks for Proprietary Products: What You Need to Know
Franchisors that are serious about developing additional revenue streams in their franchise will ultimately explore proprietary products. By creating new products either under the brand or as a stand-alone entity, franchisors can sell and distribute their own products to franchisees. An example would be a pizza franchise that sells their pizza sauce to franchisees and […]
5 Venture Capital Tips for Hardware Startups: It’s More Than Just the Product
Hardware startups, like every startup, need capital to get off the ground. But when it comes to getting started, it’s hard to point to a standard operating manual, because the world of hardware startups is so new—startups have been able to approach this space only recently due to low-cost components and digital fabrication. For years, […]
The Real Life of a Hardware Startup Founder
When does it make sense to launch a hardware startup? For Jason Morlon, it’s when the demands of career overtake the joys of life—and a certain camera mount proves more of a hassle than an asset on the road. The road underneath a motorcycle, that is. Morlon remembers getting frustrated while riding with friends near […]
5 Reasons Your eCommerce Startup Might be Struggling
When the chips are down and your business isn’t moving inventory, it can be incredibly frustrating and confusing. It’s tempting to look at flashy marketing efforts, gimmicks, “growth hacks” or other quick fixes and feel like your business isn’t harnessing the newest marketing tools available. Being the founder of a digital marketing agency with more 100 clients […]
A Better Business Model: Audience First, Product Second
It’s not really news to say that most businesses fail. If you are like most entrepreneurs, the first startup is surely a failure. According to OnStartups.com, first-time entrepreneurs have just an 18% success rate. Not even a two in 10 chance? Want better news? Henry Blodget, co-founder of Business Insider, places the success rate of […]
