By Maya Gurarie
Making physical products is hard. That’s why an entire track at BSW is devoted to supporting people who develop, manufacture, and sell physical products. This year has tested physical products manufacturing like no other—from the pandemic and dormant factories, to new trade tariffs, and the Suez Canal fiasco. A panel of experts will provide feedback on the lessons they’ve learned and how to solve problems in the physical products industry.
“One of the best things about BSW is who you meet. We’ve been so isolated, and while digital meetings are not ideal, we can commiserate with each other and compare solutions. If people have been developing physical products in a vacuum, they are not alone. This is a community where people can reach out and get free advice,” said Director of Operations at Zebulon Solutions Jenney Loper.
The following events show entrepreneurs how to level up their skills in the physical products space.
Hardware Development: Planning for Failure – Tuesday, May 11, 1:00 – 1:50 p.m. MDT
Two senior mechanical engineers will talk about how to intentionally design products to catch defects before they are manufactured. When people are developing hardware, they often find problems at the end. Then they need to start over. If things don’t work out, how do you recover? Design for plan B so if your plan A doesn’t work out, you have a path forward.
How to Grow Your Online Business with Amazon.com – Wednesday, May 12, 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. MDT
It’s easy to become a seller on Amazon, but it’s more difficult to become a successful seller. Learn the tips and tricks to navigate Amazon and grow your online sales. In this workshop Amazon seller Paola Shah, Founder of Tucketts, and Jeffrey Allen, Founder of Orbis International, will be sharing their experience transitioning from selling to successful selling on Amazon.
Supply Chain Survival in a Crisis – Wednesday, May 12, 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. MDT
This past year, a series of events affected consumers’ abilities to purchase products and materials. The importance of what goes on behind the scenes to produce physical products came to the forefront in a big way. This panel of supply chain professionals and local manufacturers will discuss what they’ve seen in the last year and how they’ve been able to weather the storm.
“Everyone is becoming familiar with the impact in the supply chain, whether that’s vinegar, toilet paper, bleach, or lumber. Everyday life has been disrupted by shortages in grocery stores –it’s a supply chain crisis,” said Director of Operations at Zebulon Solutions Jenney Loper.
The challenges for entrepreneurs don’t stop when BSW ends. A Physical Products Slack channel is available by invitation to BSW participants. Industry veterans are available in this space to share guidance and feedback about physical products.
