I need real, honest advice from people who’ve actually done product development.
I’ve been in e-commerce since 2015 — started with arbitrage, moved to wholesale, then private label. I know the space, I’ve seen the cycles. In 2020, I moved back home and took a role doing product development and launch.
Here’s where I stand:
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8 products developed total
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1 successful one — that’s the only thing keeping me going
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7 flops — bad positioning, missed customer needs, no competitive edge, underestimated competition, etc.
The one that hurt most was a spin-off of my winning product. I put so much into it, and it crashed. It really made me doubt if I’m cut out for this.
What I’m good at:
Deep customer need analysis — I can find pain points all day long.
What I suck at:
Solution-solving. I find the problem, then I freeze. Example: I looked into pet feeders. Customers hated the panel height and tray position. I talked to factories — no good solutions. I had no ideas either. So I dropped it. This happens all the time.
Self-assessment: I’m hardworking, responsible, detail-oriented. But I’m not creative, not quick-witted, not good at coming up with solutions. That feels like a death sentence for PD.
My questions:
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Given my strengths and weaknesses, how do I find my lane in product development?
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What traits are actually non-negotiable to be a good product developer?
I’d really appreciate real advice from people who’ve been stuck like this.
Answers (9)
Short answer: Yes, you absolutely can make it.
I’ve worked with PDs who couldn’t come up with one original idea to save their life.
But they were amazing at:
Ideas are cheap. Execution is everything.
You don’t need to be the idea person. You just need to be the person who makes things happen.
The real non-negotiable traits for PD:
You already have persistence and curiosity. The rest comes with time.
Double down on your one winning item.
Make accessories, bundles, variations, adjacent use cases.
You already know the customer. You already have a supplier that works. This is where your customer research skills shine. You don’t need to invent — just expand what’s already working.
Reality check: 1 win out of 8 attempts is actually pretty normal. Most new products fail.
What I’d do in your position:
Your “solution block” might just be your gut telling you the problem isn’t solvable at a good cost. That’s not failure — that’s good judgment.
Most successful PDs aren’t creative at all.
Amazon’s own PR/FAQ method is all about clarity, not creativity. Write a fake press release before you develop anything. If you can’t explain why someone would buy it, the problem isn’t your creativity — the opportunity isn’t solid.