# 5: The Holiday Season

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2015-11-25
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 5
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/5

## Summary

Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss their strategy for the holiday season, explaining how they balance significant Q4 revenue with year-round sustainability. They detail decisions to launch lower-priced 'stocking stuffer' products like the cocktail rimming tray and Neat Ice Kit components to fill gaps when major launches like Obi are delayed. The hosts also address the cash flow challenges of ordering inventory in summer, managing supply chain risks for parts like Glyphs, and their light-touch email marketing approach.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=4) Introduction: Studio Neat and Holiday Planning
- [2:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=139) Revenue Significance and Product Launch Timing
- [5:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=337) Marketing Strategy and Competitor Analysis
- [11:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=681) Inventory Planning and Cash Flow Challenges
- [17:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=1059) Supply Chain Risks and Forecasting Difficulties
- [20:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=1214) New Product Launches: Cocktail Rimming Tray and Remote Stand
- [24:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=1445) Email Marketing and In-House Photography
- [29:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season#t=1752) In-House Production of Remote Stands

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Obi (product)
- Cocktail Rimming Tray (product)
- Neat Ice Kit (product)
- Glyphs (product)
- Remote Stand (product)
- Simple Syrup Kit (product)
- Amazon (company)
- Cards Against Humanity (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Tim Ferriss](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-08-28-advice-line-with-tim-ferriss) (How I Built This)
- [Episode 336: Take the hug…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-12-24-episode-336-take-the-hug) (Making It)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Advice Line with Serial Entrepreneur Mark Cuban](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-29-advice-line-with-serial-entrepreneur-mark-cuban) (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/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season. 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 Thoroughly Considered.