Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What's more important than revenue or profitability when running a hardware business?
Building a successful product company isn't just about making sales—it's about mastering the timing of when money comes in and goes out. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo talks with Christian Reed (linkedin.com/in/christianrreed/), founder of Reekon Tools (https://support.reekon.tools/hc/en-us), about the most painful lesson in hardware entrepreneurship that no one talks about: cash flow management. Christian reveals why understanding payment timing from Amazon, Shopify, and retail accounts can make or break your business, and shares how even successful companies with product-market fit face operational challenges during high-volume seasons like Black Friday when inventory costs hit before revenue arrives.
Christian Reed is the founder of Reekon Tools, a company transforming how construction and home improvement professionals capture measurements. Previously, he worked at Form Labs, a 3D printing company, where he developed his passion for enabling makers to create what was previously impossible. Christian and his team have developed digital tape measures that seamlessly integrate with spreadsheets, PDFs, and project management software, helping professionals complete their work faster with fewer errors.
-- SUBSCRIBE --
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the knowledge you need to grow your business and source on Alibaba.com: bit.ly/3oZjGVc
-- Get connected on social --
Facebook: facebook.com/Alibaba.comBuyers
Instagram: instagram.com/alibaba.com_official
Twitter: twitter.com/AlibabaSourcing
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alibaba-com
What's more important than revenue or profitability when running a hardware business?
Building a successful product company isn't just about making sales—it's about mastering the timing of when money comes in and goes out. In this episode of B2B Breakthrough, host Ciara Cristo talks with Christian Reed (linkedin.com/in/christianrreed/), founder of Reekon Tools (https://support.reekon.tools/hc/en-us), about the most painful lesson in hardware entrepreneurship that no one talks about: cash flow management. Christian reveals why understanding payment timing from Amazon, Shopify, and retail accounts can make or break your business, and shares how even successful companies with product-market fit face operational challenges during high-volume seasons like Black Friday when inventory costs hit before revenue arrives.
Christian Reed is the founder of Reekon Tools, a company transforming how construction and home improvement professionals capture measurements. Previously, he worked at Form Labs, a 3D printing company, where he developed his passion for enabling makers to create what was previously impossible. Christian and his team have developed digital tape measures that seamlessly integrate with spreadsheets, PDFs, and project management software, helping professionals complete their work faster with fewer errors.
-- SUBSCRIBE --
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the knowledge you need to grow your business and source on Alibaba.com: bit.ly/3oZjGVc
-- Get connected on social --
Facebook: facebook.com/Alibaba.comBuyers
Instagram: instagram.com/alibaba.com_official
Twitter: twitter.com/AlibabaSourcing
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alibaba-com
