Founder & CEO
Ben Kong
Ben helps brands build the manufacturing and supply chain backbone behind their products — backed by two eight-figure businesses he built from the ground up, an engineer’s mindset from USTC, and an EMBA from Cornell Johnson and Queen’s University.
Ben's Expertise
Ben brings over 26 years of experience in product design and overseas manufacturing. Having lived and operated businesses across China and North America, he founded Linton to help brands design and develop production-ready products through practical engineering and strong factory partnerships.
Manufacturing Capabilities
- Design for Manufacturing
- Molds & Tooling
- Quality Control
- Cost Modeling
- Product Market Fit
Operational Specialties
- Supplier Vetting
- Factory Negotiations
- Freight Optimization
- International Tariff Strategy
- Inventory Forecasting
Markets & Channels
- Amazon FBA Launches
- DTC E-commerce
- Product Personalization
Articles by Ben
Why Private Label Pet Products Cost You More in the Long Run
Key Takeaways Private label pet products enable fast market entry but prevent brands from owning the product design, tooling, or production standard The same supplier often provides identical or near-identical products to multiple competing brands simultaneously Quality inconsistency across production runs is common because the brand does not control the production benchmark Transitioning away from […]
Learn More
How to Find a Jewelry Manufacturer for Your Brand
Key Takeaways Finding a jewelry manufacturer starts with defining product category, production model, and quality expectations before any factory is contacted Price is the last filter for evaluating a jewelry manufacturer, not the first Sampling is not optional; the golden sample becomes the production standard for every run that follows B2B platforms surface jewelry supplier […]
Learn More
Overseas Manufacturing: The Real Pros and Cons for Consumer Brands
Key Takeaways Overseas manufacturing remains the most cost-effective production path for most consumer product categories, but the savings are real only when quality and oversight are actively managed The cons most brands experience (defect rates, communication gaps, IP exposure) are management problems, not factory problems Periodic visits and after-the-fact inspections do not catch production issues […]
Learn More
Toy Tooling Costs: Why the Mold Decision Defines your Margin
Toy tooling is the most irreversible decision in your product’s cost structure Most brands evaluate toy manufacturing partners on unit price. That is the wrong anchor. By the time unit price matters, the tooling decision has already locked in the majority of the product’s long-term margin structure, and most of that decision is irreversible. Toy […]
Learn MoreReal Projects Led by Ben
Products that Ben has helped launch, optimize, & scale.
Product Design & Development Erne: Pickleball Launcher
Linton Group partnered with Erne to design, engineer, and launch a premium pickleball machine launcher. By combining product development, manufacturing expertise, and execution speed, Linton Group helped transform an idea into the world’s best selling pickleball launcher - delivering both technical excellence and commercial success.
Learn More
Manufacturing Cost Reduction Aberdeen Oak: Bartender Kit
Aberdeen Oak partnered with Linton Group to determine whether its best-selling bartender kit could be sourced at a lower cost without sacrificing quality. Through strategic supplier sourcing and cost benchmarking, Linton Group delivered immediate, measurable savings at scale.
Learn More
Manufacturing Cost Reduction Water Buffalo: Beach Chair
Linton redesigned a premium beach chair using simple, manufacturing-integrated innovations that dramatically lowered COGS while improving durability, comfort, and category performance.
Learn More
Manufacturing Cost Reduction CRBN Pickleball: Pickleball Paddles
CRBN engaged Linton to review costs on their hero paddle after years of purchasing through a supplier acting as the factory.
Learn More