Hardware Podcasts

Aden + Anais: Raegan Moya-Jones

How I Built This · 17 Jul 2017 · 42m

What this episode covers

Raegan Moya-Jones, co-founder of Aden + Anais, explains how she identified a gap in the US market for cotton muslin swaddle blankets, sourcing manufacturing from China and securing a major retail deal with Target. She details the traumatic dissolution of her partnership with co-founder Claudia, which required her to raise capital from friends to buy out the remaining stake and continue the business alone. The company achieved massive growth, highlighted by the 'royal effect' when Prince George was photographed with their blankets, driving sales to over $100 million annually. In a postscript, Sam Boyd, founder of Guided Imports, describes his model of acting as a middleman in Shenzhen to help Western entrepreneurs find manufacturing solutions in China.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies and founders before launch

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
The Economist, Target, Guided Imports, U.S. Bank
Also
China

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 36m

    Founder Feature: Jia Liao, Hotpot Queen

    Jia Liao, founder of Hotpot Queen, explains how she leveraged her family's 42-year legacy in Sichuan hot pot to launch a line of bold, mala-flavored condiments and noodles. She details her strategic pivot from an e-commerce focus to offline retail, securing placements in major chains like The Fresh Market and Foxtrot through aggressive Expo West exposure and regional distributors. Liao discusses overcoming significant manufacturing hurdles, including leaky glass jars and long lead times from her Chinese factory, while maintaining a lean, bootstrapped operation to preserve runway.

    Retail, wholesale & distributionStarting a product company
    9 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 30m

    Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh

    Tabi and Meena Hoshmand, co-founders of Tursh, discuss bootstrapping their Afghan-inspired green chutney brand from their respective homes in New York and Los Angeles. They detail the product's development based on their mother's recipe, the strategic decision to hire an external designer to translate their cultural vision into commercial packaging, and their cautious, slow-and-steady approach to scaling into boutique retail. The sisters also reflect on the emotional journey of reconnecting with their heritage and the operational realities of running a two-person, side-hustle CPG business.

    Starting a product companyPricing, margins & unit economics
    7 chapters

  • Product Startup · 49m

    044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear

    Elyse Daniels, founder of Exodus Wear, explains how she turned a niche idea for fully customizable senior jackets into a multi-million dollar business by rejecting online customization tools in favor of hand-drawn student designs. She details her bootstrapped journey from a $6,000 investment to scaling production, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining a diverse network of manufacturers in China to mitigate risk and negotiate better terms. Daniels also shares her sales strategy, which relies on aggressive cold calling and a premium pricing model that avoids discounting to preserve brand value and customer loyalty.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    9 chapters

  • Product Startup · 49m

    024: Aligning passion & business with Terry Lin of Forever Home Blankets

    Terry Lin, founder of Forever Home Blankets, explains how he launched a social enterprise by validating demand through an Instagram account and a low-risk Kickstarter campaign before manufacturing. He details his decision to use simple fleece blankets to minimize production complexity and leverage Vietnam's textile industry, while navigating the logistical challenges of packaging and shipping. Lin also discusses the importance of aligning personal passion with business viability, emphasizing that the core value proposition is supporting animal shelters rather than just selling a commodity.

    Crowdfunding & preordersValidation & product-market fit
    9 chapters

  • Product Startup · 49m

    006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini

    Kelsey Duffy, CEO of Versakini, explains how she pivoted from the failed Mix Bikini to launch her own interchangeable swimwear brand after appearing on Shark Tank. She details the challenges of manufacturing, including early errors with overseas factories and the importance of building personal relationships with reliable partners in Colombia. Duffy also discusses her strategy of collaborating with Project Runway alumna Amanda Perna to design collections while maintaining a lean team and focusing on direct-to-consumer sales to control brand identity.

    Industrial & consumer product designManufacturing partners & offshoring
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by How I Built This. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.