Custom Retail Sourcing

A black rectangular tin labeled "Whataburger Spicy Ketchup Ingredients: 500-piece puzzle" is opened, revealing and spilling out colorful puzzle pieces onto a white surface.
A colorful illustration of a lively dance hall with people dancing, playing instruments, and socializing, decorated with red, white, and blue bunting, a chandelier, and a disco ball, with tables of burgers and drinks.
A 500-piece jigsaw puzzle with a colorful illustration of a lively diner dance scene with people dancing, eating, and playing music.
A black container of Whataburger Spicy Ketchup with a 500-piece puzzle box matching the container size, and two small puzzle pieces with ketchup and condiment imagery on a beige countertop.
Black puzzle box printed with white text, resembling a ketchup bottle label, stating 'Whataburger Spicy Ketchup' and 'Ingredients: 500-piece puzzle, 20x20 inches or 51x51 centimeters, manufactured for Whataburger.'

The Logistics of the "Impossible":

Custom Retail Sourcing for Whataburger

The Brief: Navigating hyper-specific brand requirements and complex supply chains to bring a custom, high-demand retail product to market.

The Key Challenge: Sourcing a physical product that didn't exist in the current vendor landscape under strict brand guidelines.

01. The Challenge

When the Solution Isn't "Off the Shelf"

A major brand partnership required a physical product that challenged standard manufacturing limitations. The project required more than just a vendor; it required a structural solve. We faced a "Ketchup Bottle" puzzle: how to maintain iconic brand aesthetics while ensuring durability, safety, and cost-effective mass production. The vision was clear, but the manufacturing pathway was non-existent.

02. The Strategy

Engineering the Supply Chain

I served as the bridge between the creative concept and the factory floor. My approach involved:

  • Deep-Dive Sourcing: Auditing over 20 global manufacturers to find the technical capability to produce a custom-molded, branded retail item.

  • Technical Translation: Translating aesthetic "must-haves" into technical specifications that vendors could execute without compromising the brand's story.

  • Iterative Prototyping: Managing a rigorous sampling and testing cycle, identifying and correcting failure points early to ensure a "perfect-on-launch" final product.

03. The Results

From Concept to Consumer

By treating the supply chain as a creative challenge, we achieved a successful, high-volume retail launch:

  • Market Readiness: Successfully delivered a custom, high-fidelity retail product that met 100% of brand standards.

  • Operational Integrity: Built the procurement and quality control framework that ensured the product could be restocked sustainably.

  • Brand Expansion: Turned a marketing concept into a tangible, high-revenue retail reality.

Work With Me

Have a product vision that feels "impossible"?

Bringing a complex product to life requires a strategist who speaks both "Designer" and "Manufacturer." If you have a concept that standard vendors can't handle, let’s solve the puzzle together.