Ep. 22 - Pricing Your Product

Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 13 Jun 2024 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Steven Haws and Lucian Che Park of Opulo discuss pricing strategies for their open-source hardware products, specifically the Lumen pick-and-place machine and Feeders. They detail the calculation of Bill of Materials (BOM) and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), including labor and shipping, to determine a Minimum Monthly Obligation (MMO) that the product must cover. The hosts explain their iterative pricing history, moving from a loss-leading DIY kit price to a sustainable $2,000 for the assembled machine, while emphasizing the importance of transparency and value-add. They contrast top-down market-based pricing with bottom-up cost-plus models, advising founders to find a sweet spot that ensures business sustainability without alienating their community.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 03m

    Adafruit, Chip heist, Hackerspaces - The Kit Conniption

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the challenges of building a kit business, with Jones advising that lowering the bill of materials (BOM) cost is critical to achieving the high margins necessary for viability. They debate the use of Kickstarter for hardware, with Jones warning against taking customer money before the product is proven, and discuss licensing options like the Open Source Hardware License versus Creative Commons for protecting intellectual property while allowing community contribution.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 00m

    98: The Pricing of Things

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the complexities of pricing physical products, contrasting their preference for round numbers with the industry standard of ending prices in .99. They analyze specific examples, including Substack's pricing experiment, Apple's App Store fees, and their own upcoming product launch, where material choices force a decision between higher costs and premium positioning. The conversation explores how pricing signals brand values, the impact of paid media on conversion optimization, and the shift from relying on product launches to a sustainable revenue model.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 20m

    Kickstarter, IndieGoGo & Ignite - Jasperated Jimswinger Jobbery

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the challenges of crowdfunding physical products, using the failed MuOptics thermal camera campaign as a primary example of 'shonky' hardware that lacked a working prototype. They analyze the economics of ultra-low-cost consumer electronics, such as a $12 cell phone, to illustrate the disparity between industrial and consumer hardware markets. The episode also covers the launch of the BeagleBone Black, the hosts' own t-shirt crowdfunding campaign, and a review of listener-submitted workbenches.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 27m

    No More Naming

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the pitfalls of crowdfunding, citing Andreas Spiess's article on why he won't run another Kickstarter campaign, and Dave's own experience of shipping on day one. They analyze how low cost drives innovation in the semiconductor industry, contrasting the targeted, high-margin market for seismic front-end chips from Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices with the broad, volume-driven strategy of Espressif's ESP8266. The conversation also covers the technical challenges of live streaming, the necessity of dedicated production test rigs, and the commoditization of technology.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 49m

    9: Asking for Money

    Myke Hurley of The Pen Addict and Notco discusses his second Kickstarter campaign for a special video episode of his podcast, explaining how he structures the funding to cover production costs without generating personal profit. He details the decision to use Kickstarter as a community-building tool rather than a direct sales channel, contrasting it with Studio Neat's direct-to-consumer model for products like the Remote Stand. The conversation explores the ethical nuances of asking audiences for money, the importance of community trust, and the strategic use of crowdfunding for novel products versus standard merchandise.

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