Quote from James A.Hart on July 17, 2025, 12:18 am

When most people think about launching a product, their first instinct is to contact manufacturers, request samples, compare prices, and figure out logistics.

That’s a mistake.

Before you talk to any supplier, the smartest move you can make is to build an audience.

Not a massive one.
Just a small, focused group of people who raise their hands and say:

“I’m interested in this product. Let me know when it’s ready.”

That’s when you’re in business — even if the product doesn’t exist yet.

Why This Works

Building an audience early has one simple purpose:
To de-risk everything that comes next.

• You’ll know whether people actually care about your idea.
• You’ll have an email list of potential customers before spending a dollar on inventory.
• You’ll have leverage when negotiating with manufacturers.
• You might even fund your first production run with pre-orders.

And most importantly, you won’t waste months building something that nobody asked for.

What Kind of Audience Do You Need?

You don’t need 10,000 followers or a huge ad budget.

If you can build a list of 100 real people who are part of your target market, you’re in a strong position.

Let’s say you want to create products for people who live in tiny homes.
You post on social media, share your idea, and link to a simple landing page that collects emails.
A few people opt in.
Then a few more.
Suddenly, you’re no longer guessing — you’re validating.

What If You Don’t Have a Product Yet?

That’s exactly the point.

You’re not pitching a finished item. You’re sharing a direction.

You can say something like:

“I’ve been researching products for [specific audience] because I feel like nobody’s doing it well.
I’m thinking about creating a better version.
If you’d like to follow along, join the waiting list here.”

This approach does two things:

1. It helps you build trust with your future customers.
2. It gives you direct feedback while you’re still shaping the product.

Start Small, Move Fast

You don’t need a complex funnel.

All you need is:

• A basic landing page that collects emails.
• A simple message about who you’re building for and what problem you’re solving.
• A few posts or conversations that get the word out.

Once people start joining your list, you can begin real conversations. Ask what they’re using now, what they like, what’s missing.
This is the kind of feedback that makes your first product sharper — before you ever talk to a supplier.

Final Thought

If you’re just starting out, your job isn’t to build a perfect product.

It’s to build momentum.

Finding a manufacturer can wait.
But finding the right audience?
That’s what makes everything else easier — and a lot less risky.