Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop. On this episode of DTC POD, we delve into the world of product development and supply chain management. We look at the success story of Canopy, a company that created a beauty-focused category-defining humidifier. We also cover the challenges faced in bringing new products to market, the value of validating demand, and the importance of a shored-up supply chain.Here's 5 key questions we'll answer on this episode:1. What is the pain point with traditional ultrasonic humidifiers, and how did Canopy solve it?2. How did Canopy successfully promote their product with a limited budget?3. What are the pitfalls to avoid when building a new product and brand from scratch?4. How did Canopy position their humidifier as a beauty tool and what experts did they bring in to do so?5. What are the key differences between starting from scratch and building a custom product, versus starting with an existing product and customizing it for your needs?Timestamps:[00:03:36] Working & Factories In Asia[00:08:07] DorisDev for startups: supply chain & branding.[00:12:24] Validate demand before investing.[00:17:06] Two paths: custom or off-the-shelf.[00:19:35] Incubating products: humidifiers for beauty.[00:24:42] Canopy solves "white dust" problem.[00:27:18] Product positioned as beauty tool.[00:32:17] Limited budget, invested in beauty media.[00:36:37] Supply chain software manages quality control.[00:42:17] Factored quality platform for single solution QC. Shownotes powered by castmagic Episode brought to you by Finaloop, the real-time accounting service trusted by hundreds of DTC Brands. Try Finaloop free - no credit card required. Visit finaloop.com/dtcpod and get 14 days free and a 2-month P&L within 24 hours.Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter hereFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokJustin Seidenfeld - Founder of Doris DevRamon Berrios - CEO of Trend.ioBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Seated