Sometimes your greatest resources are closer than you think. Local manufacturing/prototyping/sourcing, etc. At Orange Mud, all of our manufacturers are within 150 miles of our front door. While it costs us more than if we went abroad, here are a few reasons why we stick local.
- Superior quality in local materials
- Make smaller lot builds for new products
- Shorten the time to manufacturability with face-to-face meetings, and work out any kinks faster all while contributing to our local economy.
Gut Rules: Rely on others for guidance, but follow your gut. When I was first breaking into this industry, I needed help from people such as engineers, designers, sewers, etc. to turn my concepts into tangible goods. I did not know a single person who could help me in this regard so I relied heavily on Linkedin and social media to make connections and build relationships. A lot of people promise they can help you reach your goal but I burned several hours and dollars on people that were not willing to put the time into really understanding what I was trying to accomplish. It is important to ask around and do your homework but if things are not moving in the direction you think they should on your timeline, then cut ties and move on. It may feel like you are starting over but it will actually save you time and money in the long run.
Patience: Everything takes longer than you expected and costs more than you allocated so you cannot become discouraged. Certain things cannot be rushed and you cannot change that. Some of our products reached prototypes in the double digits over a several month time period and while it was frustrating at the time, the learning process was highly valuable and has paid dividends in knowledge continually! Patience is a virtue and good things will come to those who wait.
Mentors: My dad is one of my biggest mentors. He has worked hard all of his life in the manufacturing space. The business sense I learned from him was not that of the traditional white collar stuff business, it was the human element. He’s one that always cared, helped and listened to anyone, regardless of their status in society. To me it’s the listening which is very important as each person brings value, you just have to open your ears.
My Grandpa Eugene Anderson and Grandpa Don Sprague were both big portions of my life, but on completely opposite levels. Grandpa Anderson was an electrical engineer that rose into executive management. He’s one that never spoke negatively, had a keen intellect, supported my actions, and had a way of making sure I considered the right thing which for the most part kept me out of trouble. He also taught me how to invest in the stock market when I was 19, a major contributor to a business and finance leaning career for me. Grandpa Sprague on the other hand was a polar opposite. Growing up I always knew him as a quiet man of few words who lived simply with raising dogs, mules, and having a love of horseback and wagon rides across the country. I spent many summers with him which by action were largely spent chasing lizards, picking berries, and socializing, but by knowledge taught personal reflection, appreciation of the outdoors, and that happiness is as simple as opening your eyes and taking a breath of the open air.
And Sometimes, Some Luck: I’ve always been a lucky guy, good and bad! The good however has come about from what truly was good fortune many of times, but to not discredit the thoughts that go behind day to day actions, many of which had been created. It’s the small things like believing each person I meet brings value to me and I hope I bring value to them. I love to engage them, learn from them, and share my knowledge too. It’s amazing what can be learned from people across all walks of life if you simply ask a question and listen.