How We Make Stuff Now

“If you're a Maker who wants to build a business, look no further than the priceless advice that Jules and hundreds of companies have shared here.”

―Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi, former CEO of eBay, and author of The Power of Many

“Generous, hard-won lessons and case studies for anyone who’s hoping to launch a product that makes things better.”

―Seth Godin, author of This Is Marketing

“My professional life has been devoted to what I call ‘the making of things.’ Up until now, we Makers have been on our own―figuring it all out one day at a time, every day. Now, finally, we have our user’s manual, our twenty-first–century handbook to leading a life driven by following the compulsion to do good work, to make cool things. Buy this, read this, underline key passages, turn down pages. Buy a second copy and give it away to someone who’s always dreamed of creating.”

―George Gendron, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine, creator of the Inc. 500, and cofounder of The Solo Project

“How We Make Stuff Now is pragmatic truth. A digestible read that will fan the flame of entrepreneurial passion while anchoring the Maker mind in down-to-earth counsel.”

― John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Ace Hardware

“Maker: Here’s your step-by-step guide to design, manufacturing, marketing, fundraising, and everything else you’ll need to do to turn your dream into a business. How We Make Stuff Now is packed with practical advice and inspirational case studies.”

―Tom Eisenmann, Howard H. Stevenson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School

“There is no one better than Jules Pieri, who has shepherded thousands of consumer products through the keyhole for mass adoption, to write a very practical guide for the dreamers among us, who have an idea for a product and the passion to see it through.”

―Robin Chase, founder of ZipCar and author of Peers Inc.

“This is the Maker Bible for starting your business. Read it. Reread it. Dog-ear it, take notes, mark it up.” ―Chad Laurens, founder and CEO of SimpliSafe

“Building hardware products is hard for every company―as evidenced by the countless delayed and failed product launches. With this book and her company, The Grommet, Jules has achieved an ambitious mission to help industry outsiders build both viable products and vibrant businesses.”

― Hardi Meybaum, founder of GrabCAD, general partner at Matrix Partners, and author of The Art of Product Design

“This book breaks down what a Maker needs to know into digestible, practical, bite-size gems. How We Make Stuff Now is a great how-to guide to support owners on their journey, whether they are just getting started or well on their way!”

― Trynka Shineman, CEO of Vistaprint

"Jules’s commitment and experience are an inspiration and her book is a gift to founders. It’s a complete playbook chock-full of tangible, experience-driven insights and advice. Armed with this wisdom and guidance, I predict a whole new class of successful Makers and founders will emerge.”

―Kirsten Green, founder of Forerunner Ventures

“Starting a Maker business is hard. The odds are against you. This book literally changes those odds by giving you a road map. I wish I had this when I started my business!”

―Gail Goodman, cofounder and former CEO of Constant Contact

“As an investor in many of the products The Grommet has helped launched―including Fitbit, Molekule, littleBits, Trackr, and Sphero―I know firsthand the joys of building these exciting and challenging companies. How We Make Stuff Now reflects the deep insights Jules Pieri acquired through helping over 3,000 companies.”

―Brad Feld, founder of Foundry Ventures