Practical thinking
on product bets.
Articles on product validation, pricing, demand testing, inventory risk, and e-commerce product launches.
Before You Order Inventory: Five Things to Test First
Most inventory mistakes are made before the order is placed. Here are the five assumptions worth testing before you commit capital.
Read articleWhy 'People Like It' Is Not Product Validation
Positive reactions from friends, family, and early surveys are not evidence of demand. Here is what to look for instead.
Read moreWhat a Better Product Test Actually Looks Like
The difference between a useful validation test and a feel-good exercise comes down to how the question is framed and what counts as a signal.
Read moreHow to Test a New Product Without Building a Full Brand
You do not need a complete brand identity, a polished website, or a full product line to test whether an idea has commercial potential.
Read moreThe Difference Between Interest and Demand
Interest is easy to generate. Demand — the willingness to pay, at a specific price, for a specific product — is what actually matters.
Read moreHow to Know Whether a Product Idea Needs a Flip or a Toss
Not every failed test means the idea is dead. Here is how to distinguish between a product that needs adjustment and one that should stop.
Read moreWhy Early Product Feedback Often Leads Brands Astray
Early feedback is valuable — but it is also systematically biased in ways that can send a product in the wrong direction.
Read moreWhat Amazon Sellers Should Test Before Launching a New SKU
Amazon launches are expensive to reverse. Here are the questions worth answering before you commit to a new SKU.
Read moreTesting Price Before You Commit to Inventory
Price is one of the most important and most under-tested assumptions in a product launch. Here is how to test it before the order is placed.
Read moreThe Cost of Skipping the First Pancake
The first pancake is always a little off. The question is whether you use it to calibrate — or whether you serve it anyway.
Read moreReady to test
your own bet?
Reading about validation is useful. Actually testing your product is better.