To me @ugmonk has a really interesting brand.
Besides @studioneat he's the only niche business I've bought physical products from.
Just backed this one as well!
I guess someone has to balance the hype..
What the hell? $100 AFTER DISCOUNT for a few office supply boxes? I find it ridiculous. If you're not a tidy person, this won't make you one. And even if it would... you could just buy a few boxes with the same shape for what.. $10? probably cheaper from China. Can anyone here rationally justify purchasing this for themselves?
@danr_4 1) He did it for me (I'm not going to take the time to order random pieces from China and put something like this together myself). 2) He told a great story I saw myself in. 3) He thought through the details. 4) I like the brand and already know the products are good quality. 5) I enjoy good design and craftsmanship—it makes me happy.
Not here to argue, just answering your question to hopefully give you more insight into the mindset of a consumer that maybe you can apply to your own business to some success.
@seanwes Notice you didn't even mention the reason this product was actually made for - to stay more organized. You seem to be pretty self-conscious, do you realize you're paying $100 for something you don't need?
@danr_4@seanwes I believe that someone who is cluttered is going to stay cluttered, even though they might buy products like this in the hopes that it will help.
Notice in the video that papers added a lot of clutter to his desk yet this didn't solve that issue at all. Some people just think differently and need a bit of disorganization to help them find things.
@danr_4 watch out, I hear malls have lots of products that cost even hundreds of dollars. I am sure no one buys the products though. So many irrational people though. Its like people buy products for more than just the utility of it. Things like product quality, materials, design, the brand perception that comes with it to communicate to others around them what values they care about or what they aspire to be. Buying all these products they don't need. Just give them a roof, bread, and water. That's all they need.
@jcwinter God forbid there are products in the world that cost more than $5.
Seriously though, I backed this project because I believe in Ugmonk, I like Jeff's attention to detail, my desk could use some organization, and I appreciate high quality products that don't skimp on the details or materials. Sure, you could buy a $5 iPhone dock on Amazon, but people who buy from companies like Grovemade (https://grovemade.com) don't care about the cheap knock-off options. They want quality and they like to invest in companies that produce quality.
So if people don't like it, they don't have to buy it. End of story.
He's proven there is demand, he's over shot his funding goal by $100,000 with 58 days to go. And maybe a module organizer is just the start to creating a modular living space. From all angles, it looks promising. Nice job @ugmonk
@rueter Thanks Steven! This is just the beginning. I have so many idea on how to expand on this modular system even further. But my first priority is shipping Gather :)
Anybody think this would be a perfect product to be offered in an IKEA?
I don't know if I've ever heard of IKEA acquiring "startups" per se, but this could be the first instance. Regardless, amazing designs @ugmonk
Simple, functional design addressing a common need among office workers.
👌 work @ugmonk . Don't worry too much about the comments from those with whom the Gather solution doesn't resonate. Listen to their feedback & criticism, but stay laser-focused on serving all those who have expressed they like what you're doing.
Any plans on making a portable version? I work mostly from coffee shops when not at the office. Would be nifty to have something like this that I could throw in my backpack to take from place to place, without it coming apart/spilling.
@grahamxcampbell Thanks Graham! Yep, I know Gather is definitely not for everyone and that's ok. It's definitely resonating people that want it and I couldn't be happier with the response. The current version is not really portable (it's quite heavy) but that's a great idea for a future release. Thanks!
I love the thoughtfulness and the aesthetic. It's really well done. With that being said, yeah that price stings a little. I'm sure if it gains popularity, there will be knockoffs on Amazon for 1/4 the price (btw you should probably plan for that)
@evankimbrell Thanks Evan. There are definitely cheaper options out there (and will probably be knockoffs) but I didn't want to skimp on materials or quality, hence the higher price point.
@mscccc we'll have to do another edition of "Share Your Workspace" in December (unless @ugmonk can ship sooner!). I'm trying to design an office purely based on Product Hunt recommendations. ☺️
There's a lot of room for tough competition under that price. Like, a _ton_. If you want to get a cheaper one, just wait. It'll happen. Or better yet, make one and sell it.
@joshlewis I'll be the first to admit there are cheaper options out there, but I'm not making this for that market. I'm focussed on producing a premium product with details and quality that feel in line with my Apple devices.
@dubstrike I'm keeping it streamlined with just white for the Kickstarter so we can deliver on time but after Kickstarter matte black is definitely something I'm considering.
Love the product, but too bad it's so expensive. Would've loved to buy one for my desk, one for my bedroom and multiple for my kitchen. I have no problem with paying some premium for a superior product, but I can't rationally spend $300+ on this, it's simply not worth it. Cut your pricing by 2/3rds and I'm willing to bet you'll be much, much more successful.
I backed this product immediately (and actually increased my amount afterward). I'm sold on the quality and I know that product from Ugmonk are going to be long lasting and part of my workflow for years. I believe in the company, I believe in the design, and I believe in the quality. Keep up the great work Jeff!
@erickbarron86 Sure, there are definitely cheaper options out there, but I wanted to create a premium product that felt in line with the quality of my Apple devices. I know it's not for everyone, but I'm glad it's resonating with people :)
@jasondainter The phone holder is not a charger. I tried several iterations of the design to incorporate space for a cable to pass through, but all of them turned it into a bulky, mediocre dock solution. The only way around this would have been making it work exclusively for iPhones but Apple changes things frequently and don't want this to be outdated by the time it ships. I decided to keep it simple and work with any phone with or without a case.
Transistor