From Passion Project to Business: What I Learned from Launching My First Product
Marketing
4
min reading
January 20, 2025
Starting a business isn’t always about immediate success—it’s about learning, adapting, and pushing forward. At OKAD Agency, we worked with Trash Pitches, a board game for founders and IT professionals, to turn a passion project into a profitable venture. Here’s what we learned from the journey.
1. The Reality of Bringing an Idea to Market
Launching Trash Pitches wasn’t just about creativity; it was about problem-solving at every stage.
Key Takeaways:
Prototyping is crucial—testing different versions helped refine the final product.
Manufacturing challenges will always arise—understanding print and logistics matters.
Financial planning is essential—unexpected costs can impact profitability.
2. Navigating Sales and Marketplaces
Selling on e-commerce platforms like Ozon came with both opportunities and obstacles.
Lessons from Marketplace Sales:
Inventory management is key—storage fees can add up quickly.
Pricing strategy matters—balancing affordability and profit margins is crucial.
Platform policies can shift—staying updated on marketplace rules is important.
3. Overcoming Unexpected Setbacks
No entrepreneurial journey is without hurdles, and Trash Pitches had its fair share of surprises.
Challenges We Faced:
Missed seasonal sales due to delays in launch and fulfillment.
Warehouse fire incidents resulted in confusion over lost inventory.
Adapting to shifting consumer priorities during global events.
4. Celebrating Wins—Big and Small
Despite the challenges, there were key milestones that made the journey worth it.
Achieved break-even despite early setbacks.
Sold out initial inventory and built brand recognition.
Created a product that resonated with a niche community.
Learned valuable lessons for future product launches.
5. The Biggest Takeaway: Resilience is Everything
Launching and selling a product is rarely a linear journey. Every misstep teaches valuable lessons, and persistence is key.
Final Thoughts
Starting a business—even a small product-based one—takes patience, resilience, and the willingness to adapt.
