https://simplecast.com Make Real Stuff - Product Development From Sketchpad to Store Shelf - with Ryan Hamilton Do you have a genius idea for a physical product that you want to take to market? Make Real Stuff will walk you through the entire process to bring it to life. This podcast covers a broad range of topics, including product design, prototyping, pricing, packaging, manufacturing, trade shows, sales strategies, and much more. Your host, toy and gift industry veteran Ryan Hamilton, shares his 20+ years of experience as a retailer, sales rep, corporate buyer, and inventor. The podcast provides valuable insights and tips on how to take your product from sketchpad (or napkin sketch) to the store shelf. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out on your journey, “Make Real Stuff” is the perfect resource for anyone looking to turn their product idea into a reality. 2026 Go Hamiltons, LLC en Sat, 10 Oct 2026 17:41:46 +0000 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 17:41:57 +0000 http://www.makerealstuff.com Make Real Stuff - Product Development From Sketchpad to Store Shelf - with Ryan Hamilton https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/ed69593c-c937-4fcf-84d6-61a14af87347/32a06b8b-1a4f-4583-9f43-2c12911dedbe/3000x3000/makerealstuff-podcast-cover-10-14-23.jpg?aid=rss_feed http://www.makerealstuff.com episodic Do you have a genius idea for a physical product that you want to take to market? Make Real Stuff will walk you through the entire process to bring it to life. This podcast covers a broad range of topics, including product design, prototyping, pricing, packaging, manufacturing, trade shows, sales strategies, and much more. Your host, toy and gift industry veteran Ryan Hamilton, shares his 20+ years of experience as a retailer, sales rep, corporate buyer, and inventor. The podcast provides valuable insights and tips on how to take your product from sketchpad (or napkin sketch) to the store shelf. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out on your journey, “Make Real Stuff” is the perfect resource for anyone looking to turn their product idea into a reality. Ryan Hamilton false https://feeds.simplecast.com/xQKfr4g7 packaging, pricing, product design, product development, prototyping, retail, sales, small business, trade shows, wholesale Make Real Stuff ryan@makerealstuff.com 8965f595-5380-44fb-983c-435a83de2e09 5 Ways I Actually Use AI to Develop Physical Products Everybody’s talking about AI, but nobody’s showing you how it actually works for physical products. In this episode, Ryan walks through the five ways he uses AI every single day — not hypothetically, but in real product development happening right now across Plus-Plus USA and his own new product launches.

He also shares the CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task) from Geoff Woods’ book The AI-Driven Leader, and the story of how a chance encounter with Elf on the Shelf co-creator Christa Pitts at the Licensing Expo changed the way he works.

The five ways:

  1. Market research & validation — pressure-testing ideas before spending a dollar
  2. Naming & branding — from 20 candidates to the right one, plus building a full brand kit
  3. Margin math & cost modeling — scenario planning for tariffs, fees, and scale
  4. Mocking up packaging concepts — re-skinning products, testing new themes and form factors
  5. Proofing final products — catching typos, UPC errors, and getting a “retail buyer” critique

Links mentioned in this episode:
— Book: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods — https://www.aileadership.com/book/
— Free margin math calculator — https://makerealstuff.com/pages/margin-calculator
— Book a free 30-minute call with Ryan — https://calendly.com/ryan-makerealstuff/30min
— Make Real Stuff on YouTube — https://youtube.com/@makerealstuff

Try this prompt: “I have an idea for [your product]. Ask me the 10 hardest questions a retail buyer would ask before putting this on a shelf.”

]]> Sat, 10 Oct 2026 17:41:46 +0000 ryan@makerealstuff.com (Make Real Stuff) http://www.makerealstuff.com Everybody’s talking about AI, but nobody’s showing you how it actually works for physical products. In this episode, Ryan walks through the five ways he uses AI every single day — not hypothetically, but in real product development happening right now across Plus-Plus USA and his own new product launches.

He also shares the CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task) from Geoff Woods’ book The AI-Driven Leader, and the story of how a chance encounter with Elf on the Shelf co-creator Christa Pitts at the Licensing Expo changed the way he works.

The five ways:

  1. Market research & validation — pressure-testing ideas before spending a dollar
  2. Naming & branding — from 20 candidates to the right one, plus building a full brand kit
  3. Margin math & cost modeling — scenario planning for tariffs, fees, and scale
  4. Mocking up packaging concepts — re-skinning products, testing new themes and form factors
  5. Proofing final products — catching typos, UPC errors, and getting a “retail buyer” critique

Links mentioned in this episode:
— Book: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods — https://www.aileadership.com/book/
— Free margin math calculator — https://makerealstuff.com/pages/margin-calculator
— Book a free 30-minute call with Ryan — https://calendly.com/ryan-makerealstuff/30min
— Make Real Stuff on YouTube — https://youtube.com/@makerealstuff

Try this prompt: “I have an idea for [your product]. Ask me the 10 hardest questions a retail buyer would ask before putting this on a shelf.”

]]> 5 Ways I Actually Use AI to Develop Physical Products Make Real Stuff 00:26:28 Ryan breaks down the five specific ways he uses AI every day in his physical product development workflow — from market research and naming to packaging mockups and final proofing. Plus, the book recommendation from the co-creator of Elf on the Shelf that changed everything. Ryan breaks down the five specific ways he uses AI every day in his physical product development workflow — from market research and naming to packaging mockups and final proofing. Plus, the book recommendation from the co-creator of Elf on the Shelf that changed everything. false full 5 49ad9c2b-67d0-416e-8875-15530eece39a I'm Back - and Here's What Has Changed Ryan Hamilton has spent almost 25 years in the consumer product industry as a sales rep, toy store owner, retail buyer at Barnes & Noble, and founder/CEO of Plus-Plus USA. In this relaunch episode, he introduces the Kill It, Fix It, or Scale It framework — three buckets every product idea falls into — and shares what he's been up to since 2023, including launching licensed products with Peanuts and Atari, navigating tariffs, and developing new product ideas of his own.

Topics covered in this episode:
— The Kill It / Fix It / Scale It framework for evaluating product ideas
— Lessons from licensing with Peanuts and Atari
— How tariffs, AI, and 3D printing are reshaping the product landscape
— What's coming: new product launches, guest founders, an online course, and a book

Learn more about Make Real Stuff: makerealstuff.com
Book a free 30 minute discovery call: https://calendly.com/ryan-makerealstuff/30min
Subscribe and leave a review — and tell a friend with a product idea they can't shake.

 

]]> Sat, 3 Oct 2026 15:08:50 +0000 ryan@makerealstuff.com (Make Real Stuff) http://www.makerealstuff.com Ryan Hamilton has spent almost 25 years in the consumer product industry as a sales rep, toy store owner, retail buyer at Barnes & Noble, and founder/CEO of Plus-Plus USA. In this relaunch episode, he introduces the Kill It, Fix It, or Scale It framework — three buckets every product idea falls into — and shares what he's been up to since 2023, including launching licensed products with Peanuts and Atari, navigating tariffs, and developing new product ideas of his own.

Topics covered in this episode:
— The Kill It / Fix It / Scale It framework for evaluating product ideas
— Lessons from licensing with Peanuts and Atari
— How tariffs, AI, and 3D printing are reshaping the product landscape
— What's coming: new product launches, guest founders, an online course, and a book

Learn more about Make Real Stuff: makerealstuff.com
Book a free 30 minute discovery call: https://calendly.com/ryan-makerealstuff/30min
Subscribe and leave a review — and tell a friend with a product idea they can't shake.

 

]]> I'm Back - and Here's What Has Changed Make Real Stuff 00:17:54 After a three-year hiatus, Ryan Hamilton is back with a new framework for evaluating any physical product idea: Kill It, Fix It, or Scale It. In this episode, he shares what's changed in the product landscape — tariffs, AI, 3D printing, licensing — and what to expect from the podcast going forward. After a three-year hiatus, Ryan Hamilton is back with a new framework for evaluating any physical product idea: Kill It, Fix It, or Scale It. In this episode, he shares what's changed in the product landscape — tariffs, AI, 3D printing, licensing — and what to expect from the podcast going forward. false full 4 ebaf573b-857b-4af4-af3a-031412492f6f FOB, MSRP, & LCL (OMG!) - How to Price Your Product Hear about the thinking behind starting my podcast on the Cliff Ravenscraft Show, Episode 715:

https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/the-cliff-ravenscraft-show-mindset-answer-man/episodes/2148284571

Learn more about all the terminology and acronyms used on today's show at:

https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

]]> Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:49:48 +0000 ryan@makerealstuff.com (Make Real Stuff) http://www.makerealstuff.com Hear about the thinking behind starting my podcast on the Cliff Ravenscraft Show, Episode 715:

https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/the-cliff-ravenscraft-show-mindset-answer-man/episodes/2148284571

Learn more about all the terminology and acronyms used on today's show at:

https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

]]> FOB, MSRP, & LCL (OMG!) - How to Price Your Product Make Real Stuff 00:32:28 In this episode, we talk all things cost - what the retail price should be for your product, what the first cost should be, and all the possible costs in between. In this episode, we talk all things cost - what the retail price should be for your product, what the first cost should be, and all the possible costs in between. false full 3 1d4475c8-9cff-4cd5-b822-8491ccb21c7b My 4 Biggest Product Fails and What You Can Learn From Them - and a New Product Journey Listen to every episode: https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

Visit www.makerealstuff.com to learn more about how I can help you bring your product idea to life!

]]> Sat, 4 Nov 2023 11:47:56 +0000 ryan@makerealstuff.com (Ryan Hamilton) http://www.makerealstuff.com Listen to every episode: https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

Visit www.makerealstuff.com to learn more about how I can help you bring your product idea to life!

]]> My 4 Biggest Product Fails and What You Can Learn From Them - and a New Product Journey Ryan Hamilton 00:32:17 In Episode 2, we'll talk about my 4 biggest product fails, and what you can learn from them. Plus, we'll start the journey of a new product launch together. Help me decide on a name for it! In Episode 2, we'll talk about my 4 biggest product fails, and what you can learn from them. Plus, we'll start the journey of a new product launch together. Help me decide on a name for it! shark tank, product development, innovation, plush false full 2 24eeaded-b7fc-4c50-8919-73c5ac643b4a Introduction - and Exploring the 5 Types of Product Innovation Listen to every episode: https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

Visit www.makerealstuff.com to learn more about how I can help you bring your product idea to life!

]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:04:42 +0000 ryan@makerealstuff.com (Ryan Hamilton) http://www.makerealstuff.com Listen to every episode: https://www.makerealstuff.com/pages/podcast

Visit www.makerealstuff.com to learn more about how I can help you bring your product idea to life!

]]> Introduction - and Exploring the 5 Types of Product Innovation Ryan Hamilton 00:19:51 In this introductory episode, we learn more about the journey of your host, Ryan Hamilton, and about what you can expect from this new podcast. Then, we walk through the 5 types of product innovation. In this introductory episode, we learn more about the journey of your host, Ryan Hamilton, and about what you can expect from this new podcast. Then, we walk through the 5 types of product innovation. shark tank, product development, innovation, invention false full 1