We recently connected with Mikey Wu and have shared our conversation below.

Mikey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

The most innovative step I’ve taken in my career was transitioning from a conventional manufacturing industry to the dynamic and trendy world of e-commerce. I came from a background of producing natural stone products and primarily targeting B2B sales for commercial construction projects and furniture. Our team accomplished a remarkable feat by developing an ultra-thin marble technology, reducing the traditional 20mm thickness to a mere 2mm. This innovation promised increased durability, ease of use, and faster installation, and we genuinely believed it had the potential to revolutionize our industry.

However, the journey proved to be more challenging than we initially anticipated. People struggled to embrace the idea of such a thin material, and the cost comparison with traditional materials deterred many potential customers, despite the fact that it would ultimately save them money in the long run. Disheartened by this initial setback, we decided to explore other applications where natural stone was not traditionally used.

This strategic shift turned out to be a resounding success. We began with manufacturing iPhone cases, which eventually opened the door to a wide range of consumer electronics and other innovative products that incorporated stone. The most exciting part of this pivot was that we faced virtually no competition from the traditional natural stone industry, which had largely dismissed our approach. Instead of engaging in a pricing war, we had the freedom to work on projects that were genuinely enjoyable and inspiring.

In summary, my career took a thrilling turn as we shifted from traditional manufacturing to e-commerce, creating new opportunities by adapting our innovative technology to unconventional applications. This journey has allowed us to explore uncharted territories, create unique consumer products, and find our niche in a market where we could truly stand out.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As previously mentioned, I embarked on my career in a highly conventional industry focused on the manufacturing of natural stone products. However, as a young graduate, I aspired to undertake something innovative, contemporary, and impactful, much like any other young professional. I possessed an in-depth understanding of the natural stone business and was well-versed in the production processes. Yet, what fascinated people most within this industry was the prestigious buildings they supplied their products to.

Rather than abandoning this field, my approach was to leverage our extensive knowledge and make marble, a symbol of luxury, appeal to a broader audience. We ventured into crafting real marble iPhone cases, notebooks, business cards, and air purifiers. As acknowledged experts in our niche, numerous companies turned to us when they desired the opulent appearance of marble but were constrained by traditional manufacturing methods.

We take pride in welcoming inquiries from anyone seeking to incorporate marble into their projects. If you can envision it, we are committed to finding a way to transform that vision into reality.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe that what truly established our reputation was our willingness to be unconventional. When we initially introduced our products, even our friends were skeptical, considering the idea of creating genuine marble iPhone cases to be foolish. Their preconceived notions of marble led them to believe it was heavy and fragile. However, through a combination of scientific and technological innovations, we brought this idea to fruition. Subsequently, we continued to create seemingly absurd items like marble journals, marble poker cards, marble chargers, and more. Despite the initial skepticism, there was consistently another group of individuals who appreciated the artistry and craftsmanship behind these distinctive creations.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients is definitely social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mikolmarmi.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikolmarmi
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikolmarmi
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/mikolmarmi
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikolmarmi
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/mikolmarmi
• Other: www.pinterest.com/mikolmarmi