Cameron Coward

Client: eufyMake by Anker (UV Printer Manufacturer)

Challenge:
Anker, the Changsha-based consumer electronics giant, was launching eufyMake. It was their second attempt to break into the Western maker market. Their previous brand, AnkerMake, had failed to gain traction with makers despite significant investment. They needed early review coverage from a trusted voice in the maker community to establish credibility and build pre-launch hype for their Kickstarter campaign.

Context:
I had previously reviewed an AnkerMake 3D printer and given it an honest negative review—and that product line ultimately failed. Despite this, eufyMake/Anker chose to send me a pre-production review unit for their new E1 UV printer, demonstrating their commitment to honest, credible evaluation.

What I Delivered:
I was the first reviewer to publish comprehensive coverage of the eufyMake E1, creating a multi-platform content strategy timed for maximum pre-launch impact. This time, the review was positive, because the product was genuinely great.

Deliverables:

  • Written review published April 15, 2025 on Hackster.io
  • Primary video review published April 16, 2025 on YouTube (2 weeks before Kickstarter launch)
  • Follow-up demonstration videos showing additional capabilities and answering questions from the community
  • TikTok content (2 videos) reaching casual consumer audience
  • Honest, independent evaluation maintaining editorial credibility (no payment for review)

Measurable Results:

  • 300,000+ total views across all platforms before and during launch
    • 75,000+ views on YouTube
    • 238,000+ views on TikTok
    • 8,600+ views on Hackster
  • First published review of the product, establishing early market awareness
  • Published 2 weeks before Kickstarter launch, driving pre-campaign interest
  • The eufyMake E1 became the highest-funded crowdfunding campaign in history across all platforms, raising more than $46 million on Kickstarter

Why It Worked:

  • Earned credibility: My previous negative review of AnkerMake established that my positive evaluation of eufyMake was genuine, not a paid promotion
  • First-to-market coverage: Being first with comprehensive coverage gave potential backers the information they needed to pledge confidently when the campaign launched
  • Multi-platform distribution: Reached different audiences—serious makers on Hackster and YouTube, plus more casual consumers and crafters on TikTok
  • Editorial independence: to maintain integrity and credibility, I don’t charge for reviews; makers trust honest evaluation
  • Strategic timing: Pre-launch coverage built anticipation and educated potential backers before campaign went live
  • Market insight: My assessment accurately identified what Western makers would value and embrace

Client Feedback:
eufyMake privately acknowledged that my early coverage was helpful to their launch success.

Industry Impact:
According to Kickstarter: “This record-breaking moment doesn’t just top Kickstarter; it also surpasses the previous record. It surpasses every crowdfunding campaign ever. Period.”

What This Demonstrates:
The contrast between AnkerMake’s failure after my negative review and eufyMake’s historic success after my positive review illustrates an important truth: honest evaluation helps hardware companies succeed in Western markets. Makers trust reviewers who aren’t afraid to be critical—which makes positive reviews more powerful when they’re earned.