Part 3/7:
One of the more substantial expenses came from manufacturing. Initially, Cynthia attempted to source products from China through Alibaba but later pivoted to a manufacturer in India, which cost her significantly. She spent upwards of $12,600 on production runs, QA testing, and hiring a sourcing agent to oversee manufacturing processes.
Despite her efforts to engage qualified manufacturers, Cynthia faced severe miscommunication and service issues that led to inflated costs and subpar products. The first manufacturer misrepresented their capabilities—their inconsistencies would haunt her margins.