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Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#121

Post by MostlyStable »

nl wrote: post #86
JohnnyHerz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. The is a reason why LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) is one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world. I'm not saying it's easy. Any business endeavor, regardless of product market fit, still requires execution. Easier said than done, but m…

> I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. Are you saying there is a proven market for luxury toasters? While in general this is true I think "premium" grade home appliances generally top out around twice the cost of mid-range (I'm thinking vacuums, ovens, refrigerators etc where you compare similar…

There is a very proven market for luxury kitchen implements. And there are actually "high end" toasters

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#123

Post by MostlyStable »

meatmanek wrote: post #14
vavooom wrote: post #9

I wonder if there is a way to engineer a 'smart' toaster (no WiFi or major chip mind you) that could improve the detection of burning. Maybe the use of improved PID controller / ability to brown to your desired 'shade' of toastiness. Would be interesting to see!

I would love a toaster where the dial is a gradient from white to brown to black, and it uses a reflectometer (several?) to toast until the bread is the right color.

That was invented nearly 100 years ago, and was discontinued in the 90s (and the commenter above you linked to a video about it). I advocate for doing that kind of design upthread. In my personal opinion, they died out about 10-15 years before the new wave of high end kitchen implements would have justified the higher price.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#124

Post by MostlyStable »

JohnnyHerz wrote: post #73

I personally lament the total lack of quality kitchen appliances and would gladly pay a premium for quality long lasting appliances. I think that a toaster is a good place to start!

What's funny about this is that, while very far from perfect, kitchen appliances is one of the realms where it's easier than just about any other market segment to find high quality, well designed, long lasting devices. Yes, there is whole oceans of cheap disposable garbage, but for people who care, you can get a high quality version of just about every single kitchen thing you might want.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#125

Post by randmeerkat »

nl wrote: post #86
JohnnyHerz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. The is a reason why LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) is one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world. I'm not saying it's easy. Any business endeavor, regardless of product market fit, still requires execution. Easier said than done, but m…

> I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. Are you saying there is a proven market for luxury toasters? While in general this is true I think "premium" grade home appliances generally top out around twice the cost of mid-range (I'm thinking vacuums, ovens, refrigerators etc where you compare similar…

> Are you saying there is a proven market for luxury toasters?

There’s a proven luxury market for literally anything. Just look at the $399 Wolf Toaster, which coincidentally is made in the U.S. This is the same brand that makes the famous Wolf Ranges.

https://wolfgourmet.com/store/countertop-appliances/four-sli...

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#126

Post by analog31 »

Hi. I'm a software engineer, and I'm here to burn your house down. ;-)

You'll need traditional engineers (mechanical design and electrical), and people who actually know manufacturing operations from sourcing to shipping.

Perhaps a way into this kind of business is to do it in reverse: Lend your software skills to a manufacturing business and soak up as much as you can about how it works.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#127

Post by rezz »

nl wrote: post #86
JohnnyHerz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. The is a reason why LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) is one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world. I'm not saying it's easy. Any business endeavor, regardless of product market fit, still requires execution. Easier said than done, but m…

> I disagree. The high end of the market is a proven niche and the target high-end buyer has demonstrated a willingness to spend freely on premium grade products. Are you saying there is a proven market for luxury toasters? While in general this is true I think "premium" grade home appliances generally top out around twice the cost of mid-range (I'm thinking vacuums, ovens, refrigerators etc where you compare similar…

Vitamix blenders are 8-10x the cost of a normal blender and have a cult like following. With the right branding home appliances can also double as a status symbol in American kitchens.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#128

Post by photonbeam »

dylan604 wrote: post #54
starky wrote: post #40

I think you are greatly over-estimating how many people would be willing to pay the cost of a North American made toaster. This would require an absolute ton of capital to do it on anything above a craft scale. The challenges of design, testing, certification (very important for a device that could burn your house down), manufacturing, supply chain, and support that are all specialized careers in themselves. I've got…

> I think you are greatly over-estimating how many people would be willing to pay the cost of a North American made toaster. Who wants a $75+ toaster just because it was "Made In USA"? Is it going to make toast better than a $15 toaster "Hecho In Mexico" or whatever other country? Even making the infrastructure to make a toaster would not do much in the way of increasing the manufacturing abilities in the US. What co…

Id pay hundreds for a toaster built like a tank

Not because I need that, I just enjoy overly heavy things

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