The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Why Mizzen+Main’s $100M Founder Left to Build a Baby Monitor
Dec 24, 2024
Kevin Lavelle, founder of Mizzen+Main, shares his entrepreneurial journey from launching a successful menswear brand to creating a new, innovative baby monitor solution through his latest venture, Harbor. He discusses pivotal moments like his 'aha' inspiration, early setbacks with product quality, and the power of strategic partnerships. Lavelle reveals insights on transitioning industries and the creation of a night nanny service to support parents—making parenting a bit easier and emphasizing the importance of trust in new products for families.
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Mizzen+Main Origin
- Kevin Lavelle's idea for Mizzen+Main came from seeing a sweaty congressional staffer.
- This sparked his idea for performance fabric dress shirts.
Early Fabric Mistake
- Early Mizzen+Main shirts used a fabric that pilled easily, causing customer issues.
- Lavelle learned the importance of thorough fabric testing after this mistake.
Tripping Forward
- Lavelle compares Mizzen+Main's early growth to a man tripping forward, avoiding disaster by sheer momentum.
- This illustrates how the company overcame early mistakes due to its small scale.