About This Episode
In today’s episode of Tactical Business, host Wade Skalsky sits down with David Merrill of Bow Spider. Learn why failure is just finding ways that don’t work (thanks, Edison) and how marketing can trump product perfection. Hear a wild 30-year regret about a missed patent opportunity, plus why launching now beats endless refinement. Discover how COVID unexpectedly boosted one niche market and why entrepreneurs must balance creativity with cold, hard data. Spoiler: If you wait for “perfect,” you’ll never ship.
Insights In This Episode
- Even if you have a great product or story, you must market it effectively—people’s attention spans are short, so visibility is crucial.
- Understanding margins, overhead costs, and return on ad spend (ROAS) is essential—ignoring finances can kill a business.
- Trust instincts but validate with data (e.g., Shopify analytics, trade show performance).
- 3D printing helps refine prototypes before costly injection molding.
Today’s Guest
David Merrill | Bow Spider
BowSpider is revolutionizing bowhunting with innovative, high-performance bow stabilizers. Designed for precision and balance, their products enhance accuracy and reduce vibration for hunters and archers at all levels. With a passion for quality and cutting-edge engineering, BowSpider combines durability, functionality, and sleek design to elevate your shooting experience. Whether you’re a competitive shooter or a hunting enthusiast, BowSpider delivers the stability and confidence you need to hit your mark every time.
Featured on the Show
About Tactical Business
Tactical Business is the weekly business show for the firearms industry. The podcast features in-depth interviews with the entrepreneurs, professionals and technologists who are enabling the next generation of firearms businesses to innovate and grow.
Episode Summary
How a Missed Opportunity Changed Bowhunting Forever
1. Embracing Failure and the Power of Marketing
David Merrill, founder of Bow Spider, shares how failure is simply discovering what doesn’t work—a lesson inspired by Thomas Edison. He emphasizes that marketing often trumps product perfection:
- Many entrepreneurs fall into the “Field of Dreams” trap (“If you build it, they will come”), but success requires active promotion.
- COVID unexpectedly boosted the outdoor industry, driving new archers to the sport as other recreational activities shut down.
2. Launch Now, Refine Later
Merrill stresses the importance of shipping before perfection:
- His company launched in 2019, just before the pandemic, capitalizing on increased demand for outdoor gear.
- “Shoot the engineer and ship the product”—functionality matters, but waiting for perfection kills momentum.
3. The Bow Spider: Innovation in Bowhunting
Bow Spider is a universal bow storage and transport system that works with any bow, pack, or vehicle:
- Uses a gravity-lock mechanism (no moving parts) for quick access.
- Designed for durability with aluminum components to avoid the perception of cheap plastic.
- Merrill tested 66 iterations via 3D printing before finalizing the design.
4. Manufacturing Pitfalls and Lessons
- 3D printing allowed rapid prototyping but revealed challenges in scaling production.
- Overseas mold delays set the project back a full year—highlighting the risks of international manufacturing.
- Merrill advises entrepreneurs to add 30% more time and budget to initial estimates to account for unforeseen setbacks.
5. Business Strategy: Data Over Gut Instincts
- Merrill balances creativity with analytics, using Shopify and trade show metrics to track profitability.
- Every decision is weighed by best-case vs. worst-case scenarios (e.g., introducing new product colors).
- He warns against neglecting financial planning, emphasizing the need for clear margins and exit strategies.
Final Takeaway: “If You Wait for Perfect, You’ll Never Ship”
Merrill’s journey proves that execution beats endless refinement. Whether it’s a missed patent opportunity or manufacturing hurdles, adaptability and data-driven decisions define entrepreneurial success.