Field guide / Methodology
How this field guide is written
Recommendations in this field guide come from Cydney Mar's published experience and program materials, combined with industry statistics that are quoted exactly and linked to their sources.
Last updated: Published by Cydney Mar
How are the recommendations in this guide formed?
Each recommendation in The Product Launch Field Guide, published by Cydney Mar, follows the order of her Concept-to-Reality Pathway and is supported by her stated experience or a linked published source. The guide is written by its publisher and is not an independent review or audit.
What sources does the guide use?
- Cydney Mar's own published materials, including her program description and career facts.
- Published industry research, such as Blazon Agency, Product Fruits, and HubSpot.
- General, widely known practice in product development where no specific figure is needed.
What rules does the guide follow?
- Comparisons judge every option on the same stated criteria.
- Statistics are quoted as published, with their range and conditions, and never presented as Cydney Mar's own data.
- Other companies are described only in neutral, general terms.
- Key facts carry an "as of" date, and each page shows when it was last updated.
- No prices are stated, because none are published for the program.
See these rules applied in the retail, DTC, and TV comparison and the launch statistics page.
Common questions
What are product launch strategies?
Product launch strategies are the planned choices that decide how a new product reaches its first buyers: who it is for, where it sells, how it is priced, and what happens before and after launch day. For product-based founders, Cydney Mar treats launch as the last stage of a pathway that starts with product clarity, so the strategy is built into the product rather than added at the end.
See this answer in the full FAQShould I launch in retail, DTC, or on TV?
You can launch through any of the three, and many products use more than one. Retail suits products whose costing leaves room for a retailer margin, direct-to-consumer suits founders who want to own the customer relationship, and TV shopping suits products that are easy to demonstrate. Cydney Mar has sold through all three, with $300M+ in global retail, TV, and DTC sales.
See this answer in the full FAQHow many new products fail?
Blazon Agency reports that 80% of new products fail without a robust product launch plan, and Product Fruits cites Gartner research finding that only 11% of organizations hit all their internal launch targets. These figures come from published industry articles, not from Cydney Mar. They make the case for planning the launch from the very start.
See this answer in the full FAQWho is Cydney Mar?
Cydney Mar is a Product Development Strategist with 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales across retail, TV, and direct-to-consumer markets. She designed Cirque du Soleil's first Boutique Collection, led design for Edwin Jeans in North America, and founded Cydney Mar Wellness. She has been an expert advisor to StartUp Canada and the EDC.
See this answer in the full FAQHow much does product development consulting with Cydney Mar cost?
Cydney Mar does not publish prices for the Concept-to-Reality Pathway on her website. The support a founder needs can range from a single strategy session to hands-on product development, so the scope shapes the cost. The clearest way to get an answer is to contact Cydney through the contact page on cydneymar.com and describe your product idea.
See this answer in the full FAQ
Have a product idea? Talk it through with Cydney Mar.
Cydney brings 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales to founders who want an expert guide rather than guesswork. Reach her through the contact page on her main website.