Hardware Podcasts

087: Purpose is a Big Part of Consumer Product Success

Product Startup · 4 Aug 2021 · 49m

What this episode covers

Paul Rowan, Co-Founder of Umbra, explains how he built a global household product brand starting with a single window shade product in 1979. He details the evolution of Umbra’s purpose from a career launch to a strategic mission of 'democratizing design' by creating modern, affordable, and innovative home goods. Rowan emphasizes the importance of professional presentation, stakeholder collaboration with retailers, and diversifying product lines to manage risk while scaling. He also discusses how Umbra leveraged student design collaborations and community engagement to maintain relevance and drive innovation in a competitive market.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Umbra, Mako Design + Invent, Target
Products
Cheerios, Garbino Can, iPhone
Also
Museum of Modern Art

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