Misen has built a reputation for delivering premium cookware and kitchen tools at honest prices since launching on Kickstarter in 2015. Founded in Brooklyn, NY by Omar Rada, the brand sells directly to consumers, cutting out retail middlemen to offer professional-grade knives, pans, and cookware at a fraction of traditional premium pricing. Manufacturing spans facilities near Shanghai, in India, and in Upstate New York.
Monica Campbell, Head of Product, leads a lean team: herself, Elliot (Head of Culinary), and a contract designer. Despite being a small product team, their work touches every department. The problem was that Monica had unintentionally become the single repository for all critical product data, and timely access for the rest of the team was difficult.
Their previous PLM, Backbone, didn't solve the problem. It was too surface-level, lacked the collaborative elements needed for both internal teams and factory partners, and failed to connect product visuals with SKUs and technical drawings in a useful way. Monica remained the central information hub regardless of the tool.
A broader market search for alternatives turned up systems that were overly complex and ill-suited for a small team with a relatively straightforward supply chain. Misen needed a user-friendly, visually intuitive platform that could centralise data and facilitate seamless communication with vendors.
I found myself holding all the information. Our previous PLM was too surface-level and lacked the collaborative elements we needed for both our internal teams and our factories.
Monica Campbell
Matthias from Rechain initially reached out to Monica at an inopportune time. A year later, she re-evaluated and found the platform met their needs in ways the previous system never could. The modern interface and vendor accessibility were the key selling points.
Approximately 50% of Misen's main factory partners for hero products are now fully using Rechain for communication, accessing attachments and conversations directly within the platform. Product-specific conversation threads prevent the confusion common with email chains, providing a clear, streamlined communication flow.
Rechain also empowered departments beyond product. The customer service team now has immediate access to granular product specifications, including dimensions, heat proofing, and SKU-linked photos. The packaging designer has used Rechain to pull comprehensive, factory-specific reports, dramatically simplifying a packaging redesign project.
Monica highlighted the Rechain team's responsiveness as a defining characteristic. The onboarding process was straightforward, and when unique requirements surfaced, the team adapted the platform rather than forcing workarounds.
It seemed like Rechain could anticipate what teams actually need. And when a need wasn't already there, the team was always open to seeing if they could adjust the platform to work for us.
Monica Campbell
The shift from Backbone to Rechain has fundamentally changed how product information flows at Misen. Monica is no longer the sole gatekeeper of product data. Cross-functional teams across the company actively use Rechain to check product information and organise tasks.
Half of Misen's main factory partners now communicate through the platform, reducing reliance on scattered email threads. The customer service team responds to inquiries faster with direct access to specifications. Monica would "absolutely, without a doubt" recommend Rechain to other brands.
I would absolutely, without a doubt recommend Rechain. The support is quick and critical for our team to resolve issues and maintain efficiency, especially given our unique business model.
Monica Campbell
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