# 18: No Cool Cheap Screwdrivers

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2016-09-17
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 18
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/18

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the launch of their new product, The Material Dock, an adjustable charging stand for iPhones and Apple Watches made from walnut and molded cork. They detail the manufacturing challenges, including supplier failures and a lightning strike on their local woodshop, and explain design decisions such as including a screwdriver and using 3D printed internal parts. The episode also covers the creation of a viral marketing video using post-Steve Jobs keynote footage and their strategy for selling directly to consumers.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=4) Introduction and Product Overview
- [2:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=126) Launch Timing and Product Hunt Leak
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=550) Assembly Experience and User Instructions
- [17:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=1033) Manufacturing Challenges and Materials
- [23:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=1412) Component Decisions: 3D Printing and Cables
- [29:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=1754) Viral Marketing Video and Copyright Risks
- [40:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers#t=2408) Social Media Strategy and Austin Mann Collaboration

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- The Material Dock (product)
- Product Hunt (other)
- Alibaba (other)
- Austin Mann (other)
- Glyph (product)
- Relay FM (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [469: It’s My Fault, But Also Your Fault](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-01-31-469-its-my-fault-but-also-your-fault) (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)
- [354: The trade off](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-05-13-354-the-trade-off) (Making It)
- [Episode 205: Thinky Pad and Wippy Pen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-03-08-episode-205-thinky-pad-and-wippy-pen) (Making It)
- [Episode 279: Making things for making things](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-10-02-episode-279-making-things-for-making-things) (Making It)

## 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/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers. 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.