Back to All Posts
The Impending Death of the Minimum Order
The 10,000-unit minimum order is dying. Here's why that changes everything about how physical products get made.
Published March 15, 2025
The story's always been the same: "Minimum order? 10,000 units." And just like that, countless great products died before they ever had a chance to live.
For decades, this has been manufacturing's cruelest catch-22. You need sales to prove your product works, but you need to order thousands of units before you can make your first sale. It's a tough game to beat, forcing founders to either bet their entire budget on inventory or give up before they start.
But something interesting is happening: The minimum order (MOQ) is quietly dying. Here's why this changes everything:
The New Reality
AI systems like Tenkara are rewriting these rules by solving the core problem: matching production capacity to demand at any scale.
Here's what's actually happening:
- Factories' idle time is being identified and sold in smaller blocks
- Multiple brands' orders are being intelligently bundled together
- Setup costs are being spread across multiple small runs
- Production scheduling is becoming dynamic, not static
What This Means for Product Company's
Risk is reduced when you can test products in small batches:
- You can launch multiple variants simultaneously
- Market feedback comes before major inventory commitments
- Cash isn't locked up in warehouses
- Failed products become learning experiences, not company-killing events
When anyone with a good idea can test it without betting their life savings, we all win.
Welcome to the age of small batches. Big minimums are dying. And it's about damn time.
Optimize your manufacturing workflow
Meet Tenkara
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Socials
© 2025 Tenkara. All rights are reserved.