Stages explained (Raw → Launched + Killed)

What you’ll learn

What each stage means in D2C Lab, when a product moves to the next stage, and how Killed works (it’s not deletion).

Why stages matter

Stages are the backbone of D2C Lab. They help you:

see where every idea stands at a glance,
avoid working on too many ideas at once,
track progress from validation → sourcing → launch,
keep the whole team aligned.

The full stage list

D2C Lab uses one unified stage set:

Raw → Validating → Calculating → Sourcing → Sampling → Negotiating → Production → QC → Shipping → Launch Ready → Launched

And one special stage:

Killed

Stage-by-stage explanation

Raw

This is a newly added idea.

You’ve captured the basics (name, image, price, notes, URL), but you haven’t started validation.

Typical next step: open Validator and start the checklist.

Validating

You’re actively validating the idea.

This stage typically starts when you begin checking items in the Validator checklist.

Typical next step: finish validation, kill the idea, or move to profitability math.

Calculating

You’re working on the unit economics.

You’re filling in costs and assumptions in the Calculator until you get a healthy net profit.

Typical next step: start supplier outreach and add supplier contacts.

Sourcing

You’re actively sourcing suppliers or collecting quotes.

Important: a product appears on Kanban as soon as a supplier contact exists for it. When the Kanban card is created, it starts in Sourcing.

Typical next step: request samples.

Sampling

You’re reviewing samples or iterations.

This is where you confirm product quality, packaging direction, and whether the supplier can deliver reliably.

Typical next step: negotiate final terms.

Negotiating

You’re negotiating price, MOQ, lead time, incoterms, and payment terms.

This stage is about locking the deal so production can begin.

Typical next step: place the order / start production.

Production

The order is placed and manufacturing is in progress.

Typical next step: quality checks (pre-shipment or in-process).

QC

Quality checks are happening.

This stage covers inspection, defect checks, and any final approvals before the goods ship.

Typical next step: ship the goods.

Shipping

The goods are in transit.

Typical next step: prepare listing, launch assets, inbound plan, and move to Launch Ready.

Launch Ready

Everything is ready to go live.

This stage means:

your product is ready for launch operations,
you’re prepared to start selling,
the execution plan is in place.

Note: The “Ready for launch” action sets the stage to Launch Ready.
It does not automatically move the Kanban card.

Typical next step: go live.

Launched

The product is live and launched.

This is the final stage of the “idea → launch” workflow.

The special stage: Killed

Killed means you’ve decided not to proceed with the idea for now.

Key point:

Killed does not delete anything.
It’s a clean way to stop working on an idea while keeping your research and notes.

You can revive a killed idea anytime and continue from where you left off.

How stages change inside D2C Lab

Stages are updated in a few common ways:

Validator activity moves an idea from Raw → Validating
Calculator work supports moving into Calculating
Adding a supplier contact triggers the Kanban card and starts it in Sourcing
Dragging cards in Kanban updates stages (and moving backwards should revert the stage too)
Ready for launch sets Launch Ready

The D2C Lab workflow in one page (Idea → Launched)
Validator: checklist sections + completion colors
Calculator: inputs + live breakdown + net profit sync
Kanban: columns and what each means