What in the world are we working on?

Work-board Month to Date July 2022

Welcome back to another installment of the Minted Minutes. I appreciate all of you that come here to read what we are up to on a semi? regular basis. As always, please leave questions / comments you may have on the post and I will make sure to get to them!

This week we focus on what is in the immediate pipeline for products. I feel that it will be helpful for people to see what’s coming next.

This will be the first post in July. The last few weeks have left me feeling like we are making good progress in getting products to market while also being stuck in limbo. We are currently at the crux of having tons of products finished. Most of those products have been in the production cycle for months (sampling —> final product). While it feels good, I don't know how to shake the feeling of new product pacing moving too slow.

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Minted Athletics

There will be a significant release of performance-related apparel soon. Unfortunately, I cannot get more specific since I don't have delivery dates set with the freight company. The original quote (by sea freight) had the products delivered in September due to some supply chain delays in the manufacturing process. I am unhappy about this timeline, so I am using air freight. Ultimately this will cost us more but won't change the product's pricing. Part of these issues is the product of doing business like this for the first time. As growth continues, we will be able to have a more systematic way of releasing products. This release will include:

1. Running Shorts

2. Racing Tank tops

3. Performance Tee's

4. Mesh Shorts

5. 1/4 zip pullovers

Jewelry

The chains and the rings are deep into production now. I have spoken with manufacturing to get an idea about the projected shipping date. I am torn because the chains are made faster than the rings. This means that there is a chance all of the chains + pendants are finished well before the rings. I don't think it makes much sense to release them at separate times; however, I also know that people are waiting (that have been waiting for a while) on the re-released chains. If we have to release them separately, we will. I will keep a close eye on the production cycle and update accordingly. The jewelry can be shipped (relatively cheaply compared to clothing) by air freight and ultimately arrives to us within 3-4 days instead of 28-35 days, a big positive.

Trousers

I know the trousers have been a work in progress for a while now. The majority of the trousers are finished. I am waiting on one last pair to be completed, and then we can do a release of just the trousers by themselves. I need to get product photos of these and set up the back end of the website before release.

Trousers will include:

1. Blue Floral embroidery (all over)

2. Bone white linen with pinstripe

3. Olive linen with pinstripe

Due to production scale capabilities, the inventory for things made in NYC and the USA, like trousers, jackets, etc., will be less than production runs overseas. The factory here in NYC that makes garments only has around 6 people that do different things related to the various steps of completing a garment.

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Minted Health

Pink Lemonade

The pink lemonade has finished production, and I sent the final payment to the manufacturer on Thursday (07/14). This should mean that product is shipped out to me early next week, with the potential for a restock happening around the end of next week (07/22??). Updates to follow.

Protein Bar

The pre-production protein bar has been completed (nutrition panel below). They are a peanut butter chocolate flavor. Soft but not super chewy/sticky. The idea for the bar is the same as all of our other products at Minted Health. Relatively short ingredients list + good dosing (in this case, 20g of protein per bar).

Protein Powder

We are in the sampling stage for a cookie butter protein powder. I am not sure how many of you are familiar with what cookie butter is…, and I find it rather hard to describe, so I will link you to a product if you want to try it out. I like this protein powder to taste exceptionally good in warm/overnight oats. The problem you run into in making protein for hot oatmeal is that protein tends to denature at high temperatures. This ultimately affects both texture and taste. Getting this right is going to take some time.

Training

This week's training block was 55 miles with 5 lifts:

1. Monday: Rest (Lift - Push)

2. Tuesday: 8 Miles General Aerobic with 8x10 second hill sprints & 8x100m strides (Lift - Pull)

3. Wednesday: 12 Mile Long Run (Lift -Legs)

4. Thursday: 5 Miles Recovery (Lift - Push)

5. Friday: 9 Miles General Aerobic(Lift - Pull)

6. Saturday: 5 Miles Recovery (No Lift)

7. Sunday: 16 Miles, with the last 8 miles being at marathon pace (No Lift)

As we prepare for the NYC marathon, this is the second week of an 18-week marathon training plan. I have been trying to run more routes with hills as I have been reading about the NYC marathon and how heavily taxing it is on the quads due to the bridges + hills. So far, so good; I suspect the meat of the training block (week 7+) will be increasingly challenging as we reach the peak of 70 miles per week.

I have an odd goal to try and finish top 250, which I feel is respectable for a first marathon and a marathon major. Regarding ideal finishing time, 2:45 - 2:50 would be great; anything faster would be icing on top.