# 76: Tom’s Future Corner

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2022-01-12
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 76
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/76

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the operational realities of scaling a physical product business, including the high upfront costs of manufacturing custom metal parts for the Mark Two pen and the strategic use of Facebook and Instagram ads to reach niche audiences. They analyze the future of hardware, arguing that small companies must compete through brand storytelling rather than novelty, as patents are often unenforceable and commoditization is inevitable. The episode also features a critique of Sir Jony Ive’s new Terra Carta seal design and a re-evaluation of skeuomorphism as a functional onboarding tool.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=8) Introduction and Facebook Ads Strategy
- [32:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=1930) The Economics of Metal Manufacturing vs. Paper
- [15:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=916) Future of Hardware: Brand Storytelling and Patents
- [27:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=1672) Mark Two Fulfillment and Cash Flow
- [41:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=2463) Jony Ive’s Terra Carta Seal Design
- [50:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner#t=3058) Rethinking Skeuomorphism

## 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)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Mark Two (product)
- Glyph (product)
- Facebook (company)
- Instagram (company)
- Cotton Bureau (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Apple (company)
- Jony Ive (other)
- Terra Carta (other)
- Always Pan (product)
- Mark One (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 210: You can’t bring your mother with you everywhere you go.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-04-19-episode-210-you-cant-bring-your-mother-with-you-everywhere-you-go) (Making It)
- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [#037 - Disrupting with digital manufacturing, with Nick Pinkston of Plethora, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-09-13-037-disrupting-with-digital-manufacturing-with-nick-pinkston-of-plethora-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [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)
- [S2E37 Defied the odds:  A Physical Product Development Firm That Focuses on Startups & Small Businesses, Mako Design + Invent –Kevin Mako](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu) (Being an Engineer)

## 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/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner. 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.