# Ep. 7 - Buying Stock

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2023-10-26
- Length: 1h 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock
- Listen: http://opulo.io

## Summary

Stephen Hawes and Lucian Che Park of Opulo discuss the complexities of buying stock for hardware production, drawing on their experience scaling the Lumen P 3D printer. They cover vendor negotiation, determining optimal order quantities to balance cash flow with unit cost, and the critical role of purchase orders in defining payment terms and delivery responsibilities. The episode highlights strategies for managing supply chain risk, including dual sourcing and using planned purchase orders for long-term security.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock#t=0) Introduction and Vendor Re-engagement
- [11:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock#t=692) Negotiating MOQs and Price Breaks
- [22:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock#t=1327) Deciding Order Quantity and Capital Allocation
- [49:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock#t=2984) Payment Terms and Delivery Conditions
- [1:03:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock#t=3834) Post-Receivable Quality and Blanket POs

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Opulo (company)
- Lumen P (product)
- Formlabs (company)
- LCSC (company)
- Alibaba (company)
- Amazon (company)
- McMaster-Carr (company)
- Ramp (company)
- STM32 (chip)
- Nema 17 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Mitigating Risk Through Smart Procurement w/ Aaron Brimer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2020-12-22-mitigating-risk-through-smart-procurement-w-aaron-brimer) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Cash Is King](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-11-26-cash-is-king) (The Amp Hour)
- [What's In A Name?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-08-07-whats-in-a-name) (The Amp Hour)
- [Year End, 2017](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-12-18-year-end-2017) (The Amp Hour)
- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-10-26-ep-7-buying-stock. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast.