# 095: Solve End-User Pain for Consumer Product Success

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2021-09-29
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

Dan Soviero, founder of Signature Athletics, explains how his company achieved $10 million in sales by focusing on solving specific end-user pain points rather than chasing trends. He details the failure of a 'fidget spinner' accessory, which lacked utility, and contrasts it with the success of their durable lacrosse ball, pro-strung sticks, and Quick Connect goals. Soviero also discusses the strategic decision to abandon white-labeling for major brands like Under Armour to maintain direct consumer feedback and drive innovation in safety, visibility, and performance.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=0) Introduction: Dan Soviero and Signature Athletics
- [1:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=109) Origin Story: From Mango Stand to Lacrosse Ball
- [4:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=263) The Fidget Spinner Failure: Trend vs. Problem Solving
- [13:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=782) Scaling Products: Pro-Strung Sticks and Lifetime Warranties
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=1154) Signature Athletics: Solving Uniform Ordering Pain Points
- [27:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success#t=1650) White Labeling Strategy: Why They Stopped with Under Armour

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Signature Athletics (company)
- Signature Lacrosse (company)
- Under Armour (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Michael Preysman of Everlane](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-24-advice-line-with-michael-preysman-of-everlane) (How I Built This)
- [Title Nine: Missy Park](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-10-18-title-nine-missy-park) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Gary Erickson of Clif Bar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-09-advice-line-with-gary-erickson-of-clif-bar) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Alberto Perlman of Zumba](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-03-06-advice-line-with-alberto-perlman-of-zumba) (How I Built This)
- [inov-8: Wayne Edy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-09-13-inov-8-wayne-edy) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success. 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 Product Startup.