# 39: Made in China

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2018-06-27
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 39
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/39

## Summary

Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss their decision to manufacture the Mark One pen in China, addressing backlash from Kickstarter backers who assumed a 'Made in USA' origin. They explain that US manufacturers were unresponsive and expensive, while Chinese partners offered better materials, lower costs, and the ability to run affordable production test runs. The founders also reflect on their poor initial communication regarding this shift and the importance of managing backer expectations around pricing and origin.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=8) Introduction: Mark One Campaign Updates and China Manufacturing Decision
- [2:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=164) Why US Manufacturers Failed and China Was Chosen
- [7:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=429) Addressing Quality Concerns and 'Made in USA' Expectations
- [16:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=1008) Technical Benefits: Better Materials and Production Test Runs
- [24:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=1469) Packaging Costs and the 'Bait and Switch' Accusations
- [30:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=1804) Pricing Strategy and Backer Expectations on Kickstarter
- [43:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china#t=2611) Production Progress: 100-Part Test Run and Packaging Revisions

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Mark One (product)
- Neat Ice Kit (product)
- Canopy (product)
- mfg.com (tool)
- Kickstarter (company)
- Glyph (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#032 - Why manufacturing in USA vs China is becoming interesting, with Scott N. Miller of Dragon Innovation, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-07-05-032-why-manufacturing-in-usa-vs-china-is-becoming-interesting-with-scott-n-mille) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [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)
- [140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-02-25-140-physics-is-the-same-everywhere) (Embedded.fm)
- [Monster Scale Production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-28-monster-scale-production) (The Amp Hour)
- [Episode 065: A mallard is a tool you use when you do chisel work](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-04-01-episode-065-a-mallard-is-a-tool-you-use-when-you-do-chisel-work) (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/2018-06-27-39-made-in-china. 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.