Product selection criteria: margin, shipability, repeat

An exciting product idea can still be a business that never makes money. Score every candidate on margin, shipability, repeat-purchase, seasonality, and competition before you commit.

The gap between a fun idea and a real business is a few hard criteria checked before you commit. Run each candidate through a scoring checklist, contribution margin, shipping economics, repeat-purchase potential, seasonality, and competition intensity, so you pick with numbers, not vibes. This is the scorecard; how you choose a direction lives in the pick-a-product note, read them together.

A product idea can feel exciting and still be a business that never makes money. The difference is whether it scores on a few hard criteria before you commit.

Run every candidate through a scoring checklist, contribution margin, shipping economics, repeat-purchase potential, seasonality, and competition. Pick with numbers, not vibes.

What you'll learn

Score contribution margin first
Check shipping economics
Favor repeat-purchase potential
Sanity-check seasonality and competition
Pair it with your product strategy