Editing Openai/6913b4df-ecf0-8009-8920-2b1e5cfee216 (section)

=== - Don’t pick commodities. If 90% of sellers on Amazon/Aliexpress are selling it for $2, you can’t brand it. Focus on items you can package, tweak, or attach a service to (tutorials, subscriptions, refills, warranty). ===
* Design and packaging win. A cheap tool + premium packaging that includes a printed manual + QR tutorial transforms perceived value. That’s where margin comes from.
* Recurring revenue = value. Consumables (filters, liners, refill sachets, pigments) are gold. Pair a durable hardware item with a refill consumable.
* Supplier vetting > product selection. You want suppliers who’ll do MOQ reduction, can put your logo on packaging, and handle small reorders. Ask for factory photos, QC reports, and reference customers.
* Safety & compliance matter. Baby products, UV devices, and anything electrical need documentation. Don’t skimp. Spend $200–$1,000 on testing and you’ll avoid a $50k recall nightmare.
* Protect with brand experience, not patents. For most of these, you can’t patent. Do trademarking, unique design, packaging, and customer service to create moat.
* Market test fast. Pick 5 SKUs, build landing pages, run $300–$500 each in creative tests, and measure CAC and LTV. Kill losers quickly.
* Leverage content. Tutorials, before/after, micro-influencers, and unboxing drive initial traction. Product must photograph well. If it doesn’t, reject it.
* Negotiate exclusivity. If a supplier is willing to white-label with low MOQ and give you exclusivity in a region for 3–6 months — buy it. Exclusivity is brand gold.
* Scale by system, not SKU. Build a system (e.g., “WallSprout” modular planters) where future SKUs are accessories — customers return.

If you want I’ll do one of the following immediately (pick one, I’ll execute now — no waiting):
# Top 12 to test: I’ll pick 12 SKUs from above with target customer, pricing band, 3 ad hooks, and 3 supplier search keywords.
# Outreach script + QC checklist: A ready-to-send email template and a 12-point QC checklist you use on samples from suppliers.
# 50-item prioritized list: Expand this to 50 ranked SKUs with estimated margins, ease of sourcing, and suggested MOQ.

Tell me which and I’ll deliver it right away.