Hardware Podcasts

208: Choosing Quality Materials for Your Consumer Product

Product Startup · 29 Dec 2023 · 21m

What this episode covers

Kelley Thornton, CEO of Tiege Hanley, explains how the direct-to-consumer skincare brand prioritized high-quality, efficacious ingredients like hexyl peptideate and retinol to differentiate itself in the market. She details the strategic decision to control material specifications down to the specific chemical vendor to ensure consistency and supply chain control, rather than relying on manufacturers to define product quality. Thornton emphasizes the importance of clear intellectual property agreements when manufacturers suggest formulation changes and discusses how high margins are necessary to sustain the cost of premium materials. The episode highlights the value of early-stage material selection in building brand equity and customer trust through visible results.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tiege Hanley, Mako Design
Also
hexyl peptideate, retinol

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