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This step-by-step DIY guide shows entrepreneurs how to create and launch new products, package and market to consumers, and build a thriving business.
Do you have an idea for a business but don't know where to start? Thanks to high-speed Internet, game-changing technology, and innovative new platforms, you can go from idea to marketplace on a shoestring budget-and join the growing movement of successful Makers who've built their businesses from the ground up.
In How We Make Stuff Now, Jules Pieri-cofounder and CEO of The Grommet, a product launch platform that helps innovative products reach a community of millions-guides you through every step of the consumer product creation process. Learn how to:
.Develop an idea with vision and heart
.Tap into established sources of expertise
.Formulate and refine your business plan
.Design a product from prototype to perfection
.Find the funds you need to launch your business
.Explore innovative packaging, manufacturing, and distribution options
.Market your product via social media and online sites
.Manage your finances and inventory to maximize profits
.Expand your business and grow into the global marketplace
You'll find fascinating case studies of successful startups-and discover how the smartest entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, solve challenges, and rise above the competition to deliver innovative products that consumers can't resist. It's all here in one easy-to-use action plan.
Whether you're a self-starting newcomer to the world of e-commerce, a member of the Maker Movement, or an experienced entrepreneur, the first crucial step in your journey to turning little ideas into big businesses is learning How We Make Stuff Now.
List of contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART
I
Starting Your Business
1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS
2 WHERE DO GREAT IDEAS COME FROM?
3 EDUCATING THE NEW ENTREPRENEUR
4 TAPPING ESTABLISHED EXPERTISE
5 MARKET RESEARCH
PART
II
Building the 16 Competencies for Success
6 DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION
7 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
8 PROTOTYPING
9 INDUSTRY ACCESS AND EXPOSURE
10 FUNDING
11 MANUFACTURING
12 PACKAGING
13 MARKETING
14 RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
15 DIRECT TO CONSUMER (DTC)
16 LOGISTICS
17 E- COMMERCE AND PAYMENTS
18 CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
19 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
20 INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
21 GROWING INTO THE FUTURE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE BOOK COVER
INDEX
About the author
Jules Pieri is cofounder and CEO of The Grommet, a site that has launched more than 3,000 innovative consumer products since 2008. The company's Citizen Commerce(TM) movement is reshaping how products are discovered, shared, and bought. Jules started her career as an industrial designer for technology companies and was an executive at Keds, Stride Rite, and Playskool. The Grommet is her third startup, following roles as VP at Continuum and president of Ziggs. She was named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in 2013 and one of Goldman Sachs's 100 Most Interesting Entrepreneurs in 2014. She is an Entrepreneur in Residence Emeritus at Harvard Business School, a member at G20 Ventures, and an investing partner at XFactor Ventures.
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