5 Tips For Developing Your Dream Product

Photo by Pearl
For many of us, creating a product is the ultimate dream. The idea that you designed and produced a physical product that lives out in the world is exciting, to say the least.
But not so fast, Edison – creating a product from start to finish can be rewarding, but also requires more work than meets the eye.
I’m no stranger to entrepreneurship. As a two-time agency owner–first with Deuce Creative in Houston; now with DesignGood Studio and its online community in Austin–I know about the ups, downs and unexpecteds that come with launching and running a business. But developing a product line for my repurposed leather accessories brand, Boots & Arrow, was a different story. It was harder than I imagined and took longer–one year from concept to launch–than I expected. But the rewards were certainly there.
No matter what you’re trying to develop, there are a few must-know lessons to keep in mind when starting any product line. Here are my five best pieces of advice:
To use Boots & Arrow as an example, we honed in on the fact people love cowboy boots, like the idea of upcycled materials and above all love their pets. When bringing your product to life, make sure you have several facets of your story that people can connect to and remember that not everything works for all audiences.
Knowing who you want to work with will help you craft your product. We knew we where talking to a design savy, socially conscious community of primarily animal lovers. Since design and rescue animals are near to our hearts, it was imperative that our brand helped injured rescue animals and that we where able to help other dogs and encourage adoption. Before moving further, ask yourself–what’s near to your heart?
Having this in place from the start can shave years off your journey, and get you to where you want to be as a brand faster. Having a cohesive and beautiful brand legitimizes your product and hard work. Remember–the image and the story you wrap your product up in is just as important as you product development.
But perhaps the most important part of creating a product line or building a brand is asking for help when you need it. At DesignGood Studio, we specialize in working with product-based brands at all stages of their business–and we’d love to help you create, build and grow the product of your dream. Contact us today to talk details.
FROM THE EDITOR
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