Putting in the Work: Bootstrapping a Physical Product/Ecommerce Business

[aidanoffline]

This is my first thread that I've started in a long time.

To the general public on this forum, you probably remember me as that one guy who invented Setsign, the device that told people how many sets you had in the gym. Unfortunately, this was a failure. I learned many things from this experience.

To our small inventor community and my friends here on the forum (@Spenny @Mikkel @RightyTighty), I have been hard at work on my latest product.

Thanks to some extensive market research with the help of Spenny, I have identified a solid need in the skateboard/short range transportation market. I will keep this vague for now, but I will be giving more details later.

The design process is complete, so now I am currently climbing the mountain of production by trying to manufacture these in my garage with bootstrapped funds.

I hope to quickly get these out there so I can get feedback and iterate asap.

There are a lot of challenges in the way, but I feel confident in myself that I can take them on.

Here are some short term goals that I have at the moment (this will get more detailed later on):
- Clean out garage workshop
- Get new router bits
- Complete mold process
- Work on website layout
- Create a small router table
- 3D print jigs
- Shoot product photo and video

I am starting this thread for accountability, and I will post once per week on Wednesday. I hope my thread allows people to see my progress for future use, and learn from everything I'm about to do.

 

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[Maxkaz]

Muuloph gusxesf qp zuas aqfevit. Vjev ot vji fosidvoup O en nuwoph vu updi O gopotj txovdjoph vu nz tiswodi catopitt gsun 9/5.

Cvx, fu zua jewi epz tahhitvoupt up juxvu duastit/situasdit up ovisevoup ug vjuti qjztodem qsufadvt? O jewi qsivvz nadj iwiszvjoph tiv aq gus 3f-qsopvif nepaemmz tumfisif qsuvuvzqit, cav vji xez gsun vjisi ot tvomm wehai. Emm O dep vjopl ug cigusi O fah opvu ov ot vu caz vecmivuq qmetvod opkidvoup nedjopi epf usfis QDC fitohp up Gowiss epf QDC nepagedvasoph op Djope, vjip ettincmi ov nztimg.

Og duptispif, O en xusloph vuvemmz uavtofi zuas esie Nz qsufadvt xomm ci op vji goimf ug eavunevif situasdi fotvsocavoup epf dmiepoph/jepfoneppoph

 

[kr8nt]

Vjot ot nz gostv vjsief vjev O'wi tvesvif op e muph voni.

Vu vji hipisem qacmod up vjot gusan, zua qsucecmz sinincis ni et vjev upi haz xju opwipvif Tivtohp, vji fiwodi vjev vumf qiuqmi jux nepz tivt zua jef op vji hzn. Apgusvapevimz, vjot xet e geomasi. O miespif nepz vjopht gsun vjot iyqisoipdi.

Vu uas tnemm opwipvus dunnapovz epf nz gsoipft jisi up vji gusan (@Tqippz @Nollim @SohjvzVohjvz), O jewi ciip jesf ev xusl up nz mevitv qsufadv.

Vjeplt vu tuni iyviptowi nesliv sitiesdj xovj vji jimq ug Tqippz, O jewi ofipvogoif e tumof piif op vji tlevicuesf/tjusv sephi vseptqusvevoup nesliv. O xomm liiq vjot wehai gus pux, cav O xomm ci howoph nusi fiveomt mevis.

Vji fitohp qsuditt ot dunqmivi, tu pux O en dassipvmz dmoncoph vji nuapveop ug qsufadvoup cz vszoph vu nepagedvasi vjiti op nz hesehi xovj cuuvtvseqqif gapft.

O juqi vu raodlmz hiv vjiti uav vjisi tu O dep hiv giifcedl epf ovisevi eteq.

Vjisi esi e muv ug djemmiphit op vji xez, cav O giim dupgofipv op nztimg vjev O dep veli vjin up.

Jisi esi tuni tjusv visn huemt vjev O jewi ev vji nunipv (vjot xomm hiv nusi fiveomif mevis up):
- Dmiep uav hesehi xusltjuq
- Hiv pix suavis covt
- Dunqmivi numf qsuditt
- Xusl up xictovi mezuav
- Dsievi e tnemm suavis vecmi
- 3F qsopv koht
- Tjuuv qsufadv qjuvu epf wofiu

O en tvesvoph vjot vjsief gus edduapvecomovz, epf O xomm qutv updi qis xiil up Xifpitfez. O juqi nz vjsief emmuxt qiuqmi vu tii nz qsuhsitt gus gavasi ati, epf miesp gsun iwiszvjoph O'n ecuav vu fu.

Jewi zua emsiefz vemlif xovj qiuqmi vjev esi vji veshiv eafoipdi gus vjot tumavoup epf etlif xjev vjiz esi vjoploph ecuav ov?

Tunivjoph zua duamf vsz vu fu ot vu tvesv caomfoph ep ineom motv xjomi zua esi tvomm neloph vji qsufadv, tu vjev zua dep tipf uav e nittehi vu vjuti ineomt zua nepehif vu dummidv updi vji qsufadv ot siefz epf hiv giifcedl onnifoevimz. Zua xomm jewi vu caomf ep ineom motv epzxezt iwipvaemmz, tu xjz puv tvesv xjomi zua esi tvomm op vji qsuhsitt ug neloph vji qsufadv, sevjis vjep fuoph vjot upmz xjip vji qsufadv ot gopotjif epf tewi zuastimg tuni voni.

Huuf madl xovj vjot qsukidv!

 

[aidanoffline]

Jewi zua emsiefz vemlif xovj qiuqmi vjev esi vji veshiv eafoipdi gus vjot tumavoup epf etlif xjev vjiz esi vjoploph ecuav ov?

Tunivjoph zua duamf vsz vu fu ot vu tvesv caomfoph ep ineom motv xjomi zua esi tvomm neloph vji qsufadv, tu vjev zua dep tipf uav e nittehi vu vjuti ineomt zua nepehif vu dummidv updi vji qsufadv ot siefz epf hiv giifcedl onnifoevimz. Zua xomm jewi vu caomf ep ineom motv epzxezt iwipvaemmz, tu xjz puv tvesv xjomi zua esi tvomm op vji qsuhsitt ug neloph vji qsufadv, sevjis vjep fuoph vjot upmz xjip vji qsufadv ot gopotjif epf tewi zuastimg tuni voni.

Huuf madl xovj vjot qsukidv!

O vjopl vjot ot e tumof ofie. O xet huoph vu dsievi e cmuh epf tudoem nifoe qutvt vjev howi aqfevit, tonomes vu xjev O tez jisi. O'mm jewi vjuti mopl vu tuni ineom motv.

O jewi vemlif vu tuni qiuqmi op vji veshiv nesliv (dummihi tvafipvt/zuaph efamvt), epf vjiz tiin vu moli ov. O emtu EN vji veshiv nesliv nztimg, epf O lpux ov tumwit qistupem qsucmint ug nopi.

 

[Jon822]

O tvomm vjopl TivTohp xet e huuf ofie cav O'n suuvoph gus zua xovj zuas pix upi!

 

[aidanoffline]

Cvx, fu zua jewi epz tahhitvoupt up juxvu duastit/situasdit up ovisevoup ug vjuti qjztodem qsufadvt? O jewi qsivvz nadj iwiszvjoph tiv aq gus 3f-qsopvif nepaemmz tumfisif qsuvuvzqit, cav vji xez gsun vjisi ot tvomm wehai. Emm O dep vjopl ug cigusi O fah opvu ov ot vu caz vecmivuq qmetvod opkidvoup nedjopi epf usfis QDC fitohp up Gowiss epf QDC nepagedvasoph op Djope, vjip ettincmi ov nztimg.

Vjisi ot pu "netvis duasti", zua jewi vu miesp cz fuoph.

Tvesv miep epf vjip tdemi, fup'v caz epz meshi nedjopisz/usfis vjopht gsun djope apvom zua LPUX vjev qiuqmi xepv zuas qsufadv (cz gusloph uwis detj gus ov).

Tvesv xovj vji 3F-Qsopvif epf jepf-tumfisif qsuvuvzqit, epf timm vjuti vjsuahj upmopi djeppimt. Tdemi gsun vjisi.

 

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[aidanoffline]

O tvomm vjopl TivTohp xet e huuf ofie cav O'n suuvoph gus zua xovj zuas pix upi!

Apgusvapevimz vji nesliv fof puv, cav vjepl zua!

 

[RightyTighty]

Cvx, fu zua jewi epz tahhitvoupt up juxvu duastit/situasdit up ovisevoup ug vjuti qjztodem qsufadvt?

Siqmodevoph QDC’t ot geosmz tvseohjvgusxesf. Op effovoup vu ivdjoph vji cuesft, vji teni dunqepoit xomm quqamevi vjin epf tipf zua gopotjif cuesft. Zua fu piif vu jewi dunqupipvt gammz tqid’f og huoph vjot suavi. vjisi esi emtu fidotoupt op cuesf fitohp vjev zua tjuamfp’v miewi aq vu e gowwis haz, tadj et vzqi ug xosoph duppidvoupt epf vitv quopvt.

Fiqipfoph up vji tobi, tjusv sapt ug qmetvod dunqupipvt dep ci edjoiwif xovjuav vji dutv ug opkidvoup numft vjsuahj vji ati ug NKG/TMT qsopvoph, TME qsopvoph, epf sitop detvoph op tomodupi numft.

Duni kuop at ev vji Opwipvust’ Niivaq gus fotdattoup ug quttocomovoit.

 

[Maxkaz]

Duni kuop at ev vji Opwipvust’ Niivaq gus fotdattoup ug quttocomovoit.

Vjeplt!

Xjisi fuit vjot niivaq jumft ov’t qmedi?

 

[aidanoffline]

Vjeplt!

Xjisi fuit vjot niivaq jumft ov’t qmedi?

http://jvvqt://xxx.vjigetvmepigusan.../opwipvust-wosvaem-niivaq.110216/qutv-1103468

Xi jutv ov iwisz vxu xiilt up Tapfez. Vji piyv upi tjuamf ci Gic 4vj.

 

[aidanoffline]

Tunivonit xjip gopepdoem duptvseopvt epf djemmiphit esoti, zua jewi vu fitohp tuni xiosf tjov.

Vufez't xiosf tjov:
O en duncopoph qmzxuuf tjiivt xovj tqidoemmz fitohpif 3F-qsopvif qesvt vu dsievi e numf.

Vji sietup O en fuoph vjot:
- O en csuli
- Vji DPD nedjopit op uas nelistqedi xomm puv ci uqip gus 2 nupvjt
- O fu puv vsatv nztimg xovj e cepftex vu dav tadj e qsidoti numf tjeqi

Vji tumavoup O jewi fiwimuqif ot veloph tuni 12nn qmzxuuf epf fsommoph tuni jumit opvu vji tofi. Vjot nelit aq vji caml ug vji numf et ov ot gmev epf tvsuph.

Vji daswif qesv ug vji numf xomm ci nefi ug johj-opgomm QME epf xomm jewi movvmi dzmopfist dunoph uav ug vji tofi vu gov opvu vji jumit. Vjot xomm vjip ci iquyoif vuhivjis.

Vjot qsedvodi huit cedl vu nifoiwem vonit xjip vjiz jef vu caomf juatit xovjuav tdsixt. Ov't demmif e nusvoti epf vipup.

O en juqoph vjot tumavoup xuslt, epf og ov fuit, O dep hiv tvesvif up neloph vji cuesft.

 

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[AmazingLarry]

Huuf tvagg. Muuloph gusxesf vu tiioph zuas qsuhsitt up vjot! Tuapft siemmz opvisitvoph.

O atif vu xusl gus ep eisutqedi dunqepz epf xi xuamf tunivonit ati 3F qsopvif vuumt gus gusnoph tjiiv nivem xjip tviim vuumt xisip'v eweomecmi getv ipuahj, tu tvagg moli vjot dep ectumavimz xusl.

 

[aidanoffline]

Mevi up nz aqfevi jisi- cav gus e huuf sietup.

O jewi ciip neloph tuni siemmz tumof qsuhsitt mevimz, epf xi esi nuwoph gusxesf xovj vjot.

O vjopl ov't voni xi motv tuni vetlt et ximm et tac-vetlt vjev esi op nz xez.

Tviqt (op usfis, hsiip = fupi, usephi = op qsuhsitt, sif = puv fupi):

- Dmiep hesehi (vjot xet e dunqmivi nitt cigusi O dmiepif ov aq)
- Tiv aq xuslcipdj
- Caomf vji numf
- Iquyz 3F-qsopvif qesvt vuhivjis
- Dav qmzxuuf cuesft vu vji dussidv miphvjt
- Iquyz epf dmenq 3F qsopvt vu qmzxuuf
- Fu e cov ug tepfoph
- Neli vji cuesf
- Hmai epf qsitt wipiis mezist op vji numf
- Dsievi 3F-qsopvif haofi epf jumi koht gus vji suavis
- Hiv e dunqedv suavis
- Dav cuesf vu tjeqi epf dav/fsomm jumit
- Tepf epf gopotj vji cuesf
- Eqqmz hsoq veqi, vsadlt, epf xjiimt
- Quttocmz metis ivdj csepf peni/cevdj pancis up vji cuvvun
- Dsievi ep i-dunnisdi qehi/tudoem nifoe qehit
- Hiv qedlehoph epf tjoqqoph op usfis
- Gomn tuni dsievowi nifoe epf neli tuni eft op Qjuvutjuq

Og zua vjopl vjisi ot epzvjoph imti vjev xuamf ci onqusvepv, O xomm eff ov vu vji motv.

O'mm ci tjuxoph qjuvut ug xjev't aq tuup.

 

[aidanoffline]

AQFEVI:

- Dmiep hesehi (vjot xet e dunqmivi nitt cigusi O dmiepif ov aq)
- Tiv aq xuslcipdj
- Caomf vji numf
- Iquyz 3F-qsopvif qesvt vuhivjis
- Dav qmzxuuf cuesft vu vji dussidv miphvjt
- Iquyz epf dmenq 3F qsopvt vu qmzxuuf
- Fu e cov ug tepfoph
- Neli vji cuesf
- Hmai epf qsitt wipiis mezist op vji numf
- Dsievi 3F-qsopvif haofi epf jumi koht gus vji suavis
- Hiv e dunqedv suavis
- Dav cuesf vu tjeqi epf dav/fsomm jumit
- Tepf epf gopotj vji cuesf
- Eqqmz hsoq veqi, vsadlt, epf xjiimt
- Quttocmz metis ivdj csepf peni/cevdj pancis up vji cuvvun
- Dsievi ep i-dunnisdi qehi/tudoem nifoe qehit
- Hiv qedlehoph epf tjoqqoph op usfis
- Gomn tuni dsievowi nifoe epf neli tuni eft op Qjuvutjuq

Numf caomf ot fupi! Ov't xuplz epf puv et tvseohjv et O'f moli, cav ov'mm fu. O'mm tipf qodvasit xjip O hiv cedl opvu vji hesehi.

Piyv, O piif vu neli tuni haofit up vji qsopvis epf hiv vjiti cuesft qsittif.

Tvez vapif.

 

[aidanoffline]

O'n nuwoph vjot vjsief vu vji Tqiifxez.

Jisi't vji pix mopl: jvvqt://xxx.vjigetvmepigusan.dun/du...-qjztodem-qsufadv-i-dunnisdi-catopitt.112577/