Get product made, shipped, and paid for without the chaos.
Supply chain and manufacturing consultant for small and midsize product companies. We find manufacturers and suppliers, negotiate terms, check quality, and plan inventory.
Two exits. One company taken public.
A supply chain consultant helps a business get product made and moved reliably: finding a manufacturer or suppliers, negotiating terms, checking quality, importing, and planning inventory. Lockhold does that work hands-on, from the first factory conversation to the reorder, and documents it so it doesn't depend on you.
56%
sales growth a year, three years in
A disruptive new product category we took from idea through development, packaging, co-packing and shipping to market. 61% of customers come back to reorder.
What we take on
- Finding a manufacturer: factories that fit your product, volume, and quality bar, compared side by side before you commit.
- Suppliers and negotiation: pricing, minimums, lead times, and payment terms, plus a vendor swap when a supplier keeps letting you down.
- Quality control: written specs, checks on each run, and a plan for what happens when a batch is off.
- Importing: getting product from the factory to your warehouse, coordinated with your freight forwarder and customs broker.
- Inventory planning: how much to order and when, so cash isn't tied up in the wrong stock. For Shopify stores, see Shopify & 3PL operations.
Where it helps, we set up purchasing and inventory in tools we've used, such as Odoo, Zoho, or QuickBooks.
The experience behind it
Lockhold's founder ran manufacturing end to end for his own product company, in regulated consumer products: finding factories, negotiating, quality control, importing, and inventory planning. In a regulated category, specs, documentation, and consistency aren't optional, and that discipline carries over to any product.
What that means for you: a manufacturing consultant who has sat on the buyer's side of the factory table, not just read about it.
Who it's for, and who it's not for
For
Small and midsize product companies looking to grow: launching a first product, moving off an unreliable supplier, or making more without quality slipping.
Not for
Customs brokerage, freight forwarding as a service, legal or regulatory compliance advice, or recruiting.
How engagements work
- Selective. A small number of engagements at a time.
- Set scope. What we deliver, what “done” looks like, and the timeline, in writing first.
- Fixed price. Agreed before work starts. No open-ended hourly billing.
- Plain updates. What moved and what's blocked.
Who's behind it
Joe, founder. He started his first company at 24 with no investors, built it on cash flow, and sold it in a seven-figure deal. He has raised over $30M from investors, built a team of 50+, run contract manufacturing for other brands, and helped take a company from an idea to a public listing. Products he built reached 50,000+ U.S. stores and 26 countries.
Ro runs the client experience. No handoffs: the people you meet are the people who do the work. Meet the team.
Vendor management for small business
Choose, onboard and review suppliers so the work doesn’t hang on one. One page, ready to print or share with your team.
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Free guides and tools
Vendor management for small business
What to track, choosing and onboarding suppliers, a quarterly review, and what to do when a vendor fails.
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What is a 3PL, and when should you use one?
What a 3PL does, in-house vs outsourcing, how 3PLs charge, and what to check before you sign.
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Process mapping for small business
What to map first, how to map one process on one page, a worked example, and what to fix before you automate.
Read the guideFree tools for this work: the cash conversion cycle calculator and the gross margin calculator. They run in your browser, and what you enter stays on your device. See all the free tools
The Blueprint
Three full days at your business, working with you and the people who run each area. On the last day we lay out what’s broken, what it costs, and the order to fix it. You get a written plan within a week. From $7,500, travel included. Monthly support is quoted after, once we both know the work.
- 3 full days on site (U.S.)
- Travel included
- Written plan within a week
- From $7,500
Questions about supply chain and manufacturing
What is supply chain management?
Supply chain management is planning and running everything it takes to get a product to a customer: sourcing materials, manufacturing, quality, shipping, storage, and inventory. In a small company it's often split across the owner and a few vendors, which is where things slip.
How do I find a manufacturer for my product?
Start with a clear spec: materials, dimensions, quality standards, packaging, and the volume you expect. Then build a shortlist from industry directories, trade shows, and referrals, ask each for samples and quotes on the same spec, and check references before placing a first order.
How do I find suppliers?
Define exactly what you need and in what volume, then look through industry directories, trade shows, and referrals from businesses that buy similar things. Get at least a few quotes on the same terms, order samples, and start with a small order before you commit.
How do I negotiate with suppliers?
Know your numbers first: the volume you can commit to, your target cost, and your alternatives. Negotiate on more than price, including minimums, lead times, payment terms, and what happens with defects. Put what you agree in writing.
What is demand planning?
Demand planning is estimating how much of each product customers will buy, and when, so you can order and produce the right amount. It draws on sales history, seasonality, promotions, and supplier lead times.
What is contract manufacturing?
Contract manufacturing is hiring another company to make your product to your specifications, under your brand. You own the product and the customer; the manufacturer owns the production line.
How do I find a contract manufacturer?
Look for manufacturers that already make products like yours, at your volume, and that meet the standards your category requires. Compare samples, quotes, minimums, and lead times on the same spec, visit or audit if you can, and start with a trial run.
From idea to a nine-figure public company
A first mover that created a new product category, built from scratch and taken public.
Read →WorkShopify & 3PL operations
Store back end, fulfillment, and Shopify inventory that hold up.
Read →WorkOperations consulting
Processes, tools, and reporting rebuilt to work without you.
Read →What would you change about how your product gets made?
A few lines is enough. If it's a fit, we'll come back with a scope.
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