[scientaster2]

Thoughts on this?

> 4. Don’t choose a large market

I feel like there's also a case where the opposite is true, e.g. that there's already proof that businesses are willing to pay for solutions in the space. As long as you have a differentiating factor to the big players (ideally via something they couldn't easily shift to), my knee jerk reaction is that it's still not a bad call to launch in the space.

[detourdog]

I focus on very small markets with specific needs not met by industry norms. The problem I see today is that the big box stores are replacing what had previously been regional retail buyers.

The homogenization of big box board rooms needs vs. Regional cultural needs has narrowed the manufacturing focus to the average. My theory is that just in time manufacturing will move to the "garage stage". The retail price of American high end refrigerators and stoves may not reflect the cost of materials and quality of thought that went into the object. My plan is to develop a platform of appliances that is more efficient than existing offerings but available in specific sizes. Think of it like ordering custom furniture. The result could be a refrigerator that fits the space exactly using the finish materials of choice.

I have spent too many decades thinking about this but I have finally have my small run manufacturing facility (FabLab) set-up. I think it will be another 2 years before I get a product out the door.

This is an epicenter of the thinking. I personally think they are overcomplicating some aspects. I'm sure at a school of higher learning it needs all times of overthinking.

https://cba.mit.edu

[all2]

Let's say I buy a condo with one of your made-to-fit appliances. Will you be available to refinishing it?

Also, I'd love to hear more about your fabrication and design pipeline. This kind of work sounds utterly dreamy to me. I used to work in hardware as a SWE and loved the mix of programming and hardware work. I've also longed to start a business, but am somewhat at a loss as to what even to do.

[detourdog]

I haven’t worked out all the details that is why I headquartered myself in an 8 unit mixed use studio apartment. My initial plan was to work out each appliances details in batches of 10. If something were to sell out I could make more. Once I got my CNC I realized I had outgrown my barn…. found an old model school. Spent all my development money to flip the plan. I would create 7 Studio apartments to cover my expenses and act as my market testing.

Currently I’m focused on my own 7 Apartments. Every big leap in living started by adding a new service to the kitchen.

fire, running water, electricity,….

Controlling the default installation for 8 kitchens should provide with a rare design freedom.

Finally I think I will be writing manifestos on technology and design. I have set myself up to only need to produce artifacts.

view.cogs.com

I have been at it since the 90s. I have answers to your question but I dont want to get into it here.

[rco8786]

I think both you and the author are kind of dancing around this point:

It's fine to choose a large market, as long as you niche down your specific offering with a differentiating factor specific to that niche which, in effect, shrinks your market.

A solo biz can't reasonably compete with Salesforce in the "B2B CRM" market. But a solo biz can prosper in the "B2B CRM for personal injury law offices with < 10 employees in the US", as a totally made up example.

[detourdog]

I see what you mean. I call that a small market because it is tightly defined niche.

[m3kw9]

I think he’s saying large markets can cause you to scope creep as you want to reel in more and will need scaling which is usually difficult with one person business

[rfreytag]

If you target a niche in a large market then you are targeting a small market. Create serial MVPs targeting those niches until you find product-market fit.