Product Development

Once you start selling what you make, it’s no longer just about making what you like. Creating products that sell takes planning and requires knowledge of who your customers are and what will do well on the market. These articles will help you navigate all the questions you have about product development.

What It’s Like to Run a Subscription Business

Michelle Galletta of Toronto’s Kiriki Press chats about her now-retired embroidery-kit sampler club and what she’s doing next.

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Anatomy of a Product: Songbird Yarn & Fibres

Making a product that stands out in the marketplace isn’t always easy — but it helps if the idea itself is a selling point. Here’s one yarn brand that had its customer base in mind from day one.

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“How I Turned My Pandemic Project Into a Thriving Business”

Amy Jackson started Native Love Notes to cheer people up during lockdown. Now she’s got a thriving business, a retail shop in Winnipeg — and big plans for the future.

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Anatomy of a Product: Uasau Soap

This Iqaluit-based skincare business has built a brand that features local ingredients and is grounded in Inuit culture, heritage and community. Here’s how they did it.

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Anatomy of a Product: Murder Mystery Cross-Stitch Kits by Diana Watters Handmade

Toronto designer Diana Watters’s cross-stitch kits have sold like hotcakes since the pandemic hit. This year, she upped the ante with a set of kits designed to keep customers engaged, and coming back for more.

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15 Tips to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Full-Time Career

Yes, you can build your business into a job that pays — if you have the right strategy. These tips from experienced entrepreneurs will help you get there.

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Anatomy of a Product: Upcycled Skateboards by AdrianMartinus

The AdrianMartinus team started their business with a simple goal: to design functional, attractive furniture and products out of discarded skateboards. Here's how they made it happen.

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Anatomy of a Product: Halloween Brooms by Prairie Breeze Folk Arts Studio

Amina Haswell structures her broom-making business like a fashion house, creating seasonal collections each year. Here’s how her most recent line came to be, and where she’s going next.

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Anatomy of a Product: Beadwork-Inspired Fabric by Indigenous Nouveau

Kaija Heitland wanted to create a fabric collection inspired by her heritage and produced entirely in North America. Here’s how she achieved it, and where she’s going next.

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Anatomy of a Product: Natural Dye Kits by The Love of Colour

Julie Sinden’s natural dye kits went from a “what if” idea to the shelves of Indigo stores across Canada. (Perfect fit, right?) Here, we find out how it happened.

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