178 - How Facebook Ads Nearly Killed This $12.5M Brand with Hans Dose

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Hans Dose (https://x.com/HansDose_Does) about his wild journey from a Shark Tank deal to building a $12.5 million business and now, launching a US manufacturing facility in California.Hans is a real-deal entrepreneur who saw the challenges coming for e-commerce brands relying on overseas production, especially with tariffs and geopolitical risks changing the landscape. He shares how his product, Tenikle, went from struggling at $10k/month pre-filming to a massive sales spike after the Shark Tank airing.We dive into the surprising reality of razor-thin margins in the e-commerce world, largely due to massive advertising costs. Hans explains the crucial difference between silicon and silicone, detailing why this flexible, non-toxic material is vital for countless consumer products. And he lays out his bold plan to "steal China's strategy" for efficient, small-scale production to make US manufacturing competitive again.Questions This Episode Answers:How did a Shark Tank deal lead to building a $12.5M business and a US factory?Why are e-commerce margins razor-thin despite high sales?What is silicone, and why do so many products use it?Can US manufacturing really compete on cost with China?Why build a factory in California instead of nearshoring?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 From Shark Tank to Manufacturing Success02:59 The Importance of Silicone in E-commerce05:56 Navigating the Challenges of Low Margins08:50 The Shark Tank Experience: Risks and Rewards12:11 The Rollercoaster of Business Growth14:59 Unit Economics and Advertising Costs17:47 Shifting Manufacturing Strategies in a Changing World22:32 The Shift in Manufacturing Expertise27:21 Learning from China's Manufacturing Model30:43 Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing36:28 Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape42:48 The Future of American Manufacturing