Method
How This Field Guide Is Written
Published by Cydney Mar. Last updated November 2026.
Every answer in this field guide comes from Cydney Mar's own stated experience, published third-party sources linked on the page, or general industry knowledge labeled as such.
The guide is written and published by Cydney Mar. This page explains where facts come from, how comparisons are ordered, and what the guide does not claim, so you can judge each answer for yourself.
How are this guide's recommendations formed?
Recommendations follow the order of Cydney Mar's Concept-to-Reality Pathway: decide the product and buyer first, then prototypes, suppliers, costs and margins, production readiness and launch. Where the guide suggests one kind of support over another, it says which situations each fits and names the cases where an alternative is the better choice.
Sources we use
- Cydney Mar's own figures, as stated on cydneymar.com, presented as her own figures with an "as of" date.
- Published industry sources, quoted as published, with the full range: Fabrickly, The F* Word, Product Led Alliance and HubSpot.
- Standard frameworks,such as the Ansoff Matrix and the 7 P's and 5 C's of marketing, described in general terms.
How comparisons are ordered
Comparisons describe every option with the same kinds of facts: scope, a published price or time figure where one exists, and who it fits. Options are ordered by one stated criterion, shown on the page. Cydney Mar's service is not placed first by default, and no option paid to appear. See the guide to product development consulting firms for an example.
What this guide does not claim
- It is not an independent review or audit.
- It does not publish Cydney Mar's prices, because she does not publish them.
- It does not guarantee results, sales or timelines for any product.
- Worksheets give arithmetic estimates, not financial, legal or tax advice.
Start with the pillar guide: what is a tech pack.
Common questions
Read all questions in the product development FAQWho is Cydney Mar?
Cydney Mar is a product development strategist based in Montreal who helps founders turn product ideas into real, scalable businesses. She cites 45+ years in product and $300M+ in global retail, TV and direct-to-consumer sales. She designed Cirque du Soleil’s first Boutique Collection, led design for Edwin Jeans in North America, and sold her collections on QVC for 15+ years.
Should I hire a product development consulting firm or an independent consultant?
Hire a firm when you need a large team, in-house engineering or several disciplines at once, such as electronics or regulated devices. Choose an independent consultant when you want one experienced guide across the whole path for a consumer product. This site’s guide to product development consulting firms lays out the trade-offs side by side on the same criteria.
How much does it cost to work with Cydney Mar?
Cydney Mar does not publish prices on her website. The fastest way to learn what fits your project is to contact her through the contact page on cydneymar.com and describe your product and stage. She also offers a free workbook, From Idea to Income, for scoring an idea and mapping a path before you invest in development.
How do I get started with Cydney Mar?
Start by contacting Cydney Mar through the contact page on cydneymar.com with a short description of your product idea and where you feel stuck. Her site also offers strategy call booking. Having your target buyer, a rough price point and any sketches or reference products ready makes the first conversation far more useful.
What is the Concept-to-Reality Pathway?
The Concept-to-Reality Pathway is Cydney Mar’s six-stage path from idea to a product on the shelf: Product Clarity, Right Prototypes, The Right Suppliers, Cost and Margins, Production-Ready, and Launch and Scale. Each stage is meant to move a founder closer to market while cutting costly rework and guesswork, with launch options across retail, direct-to-consumer and TV.
Talk to Cydney Mar about your product
If you have a consumer product idea for retail, TV or direct-to-consumer and want an experienced guide through the Concept-to-Reality Pathway, contact Cydney directly.