# Advice Line with Chet Pipkin of Belkin International

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-11-13
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international

## Summary

Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin International, joins Guy Raz to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs: Daniel Moll of EarthSuds, Meredith Hudson of Sideline Bags, and Ryan Helrigo of Rolflex. Pipkin advises EarthSuds on elevating their plastic-free shampoo tablets through luxury design and hospitality partnerships, suggests Sideline Bags build trust with manufacturers to manage inventory constraints, and recommends Rolflex use grassroots 'inside job' strategies to penetrate B2B markets. The episode highlights the importance of solving real consumer problems, managing cash flow creatively, and staying true to a company's unique DNA rather than following generic business advice.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international#t=0) Introduction: Chet Pipkin and Belkin International
- [7:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international#t=436) EarthSuds: Daniel Moll on Shampoo Tablets and Consumer Adoption
- [20:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international#t=1233) Sideline Bags: Meredith Hudson on Inventory and Manufacturing Constraints
- [33:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international#t=2000) Rolflex: Ryan Helrigo on B2B Sales and Worker's Comp Reduction
- [45:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-11-13-advice-line-with-chet-pipkin-of-belkin-international#t=2757) Pipkin's Advice to His Younger Self at Belkin

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Belkin International (company)
- EarthSuds (company)
- Sideline Bags (company)
- Rolflex (company)
- Foxconn (company)
- Desolation Hotel (company)
- Bain (company)
- National Geographic (other)
- Tesla (company)
- Method (company)
- Sun Bum (company)
- Aesop (company)
- Slack (company)
- Shopify (company)
- Squarespace (company)
- Meta (company)
- TikTok (company)
- Google (company)

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- [Founder Feature: Max Luthy of Plink!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-18-founder-feature-max-luthy-of-plink) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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- [075: Launch a Product Big, with Host of QVC & ShopHQ](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-05-12-075-launch-a-product-big-with-host-of-qvc-shophq) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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