What should I do if I'm not sure there's demand for a new product idea, like adding art to masks or another merchandise item?

Never spend hours researching suppliers or building infrastructure for a product you haven’t validated. Instead, list the item on your website first, even if you don’t have a supplier yet. If someone orders it, contact them immediately to explain there’s a slight delay, and offer a refund if they’re unhappy. Then find your supplier. This approach validates demand before you invest time and money. The market tells you whether to proceed, rather than you guessing and potentially wasting significant effort on something that will never sell.

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Asked by an artist considering adding new products · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-08-25