From Clay to Customers: The 5 stages every small business should know ( Business / Product Development )

Have you ever wondered why some new products and services take off while others quietly disappear?In this episode of The 5-Minute Business Boost, Sam Hicks shares a simple five-stage framework that has helped some of the world's biggest brands develop successful products—and shows how small business owners can use exactly the same thinking.Drawing on personal stories from her early ceramics business, years working in tourism and regional marketing, and insights from the marketing classic New Products Management by Professors C. Merle Crawford and C. Anthony Di Benedetto, Sam translates an academic model into practical steps any business owner can use.You'll learn how to:• Spot opportunities your customers are already telling you about• Turn observations into new products or services• Test ideas before investing too much time or money• Develop and refine your offer with confidence• Launch new products without feeling overwhelmedWhether you're thinking about introducing a new menu item, workshop, tourism experience, online course or service, this episode will help you move from random ideas to a repeatable process.Your 5-Minute Business Boost challenge this week:Choose one idea that's been sitting in your notebook and work it through the five stages. You might just discover your next best-selling product.If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with another small business owner.Head to the website to sign up for the 5-Minute Business Boost newsletter, or explore how we can work together across consulting, marketing strategy, social media, workshops, mentoring, or a focused 1-hour session.New podcast episodes drop weekly every Wednesday at 10 am and newsie now monthly.Follow along on social media @samhickscomau — and remember, in small business, anything is possible.