Proof to Product

Making your customers feel like your product or service is tailored specifically for them is the key to inclusive marketing. Inclusive marketing expert Sonia Thompson joins us today on the podcast to share more on how to integrate inclusive marketing into your customer experience. Tuning in, you'll hear all about Sonia's career, how you can diversify your products and circle of influence, how to audit your customer experience to be more inclusive, the importance of considering how different people are and making them feel seen and heard, why you must stay true to your values, and much more! We delve into some ways you can infuse inclusion in your marketing before discussing why your work environment needs to be inclusive in order for your customers to feel welcome. Finally, Sonia tells us how she can help in the ongoing evolutionary inclusion journey. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/313 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Licensing is an excellent opportunity to extend the reach of your brand and expand your business offerings. But finding the right partnership can be tricky, and it's not always easy knowing where to start. Joining us today on the podcast to share her story and talk about her journey into licensing is return guest, Betsy Garcia. Betsy is the co-founder of Bloomwolf Studio, a paper goods company specializing in greeting cards, art prints, and other paper goods that she runs with her indispensable teammate and husband, Luis Sosa. If you'd like to go back and hear our initial conversation with Betsy, check out Episode 173, where we talk about her startup story and her commitment to creating social change through her product line and intentional business practices. In today's conversation, Betsy shares the story of how she first got into licensing, how her partnership with Recycled Paper Greetings came together, and why her experience has been overwhelmingly positive. You'll also find out how the Proof to Product Advisory Board empowered her with the resources and advice she needed to navigate her first meetings with American Greetings and how their structured approach helped her as a newcomer to licensing. Join us for an informative case study on what it's like to venture into licensing and what it can do for you and your business! This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/312 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Today's podcast guest, Lauren te Velde Paper Farm Press, a woman-owned stationery and gift design shop in Kingsburg, CA, is a big fan of having a brand story that is strong and simple. She is intentionally focused on authentically pursuing wealth and believes money will follow because she wholeheartedly believes in putting better products out into the world. Each product Lauren creates expresses her great love for farming and her faith. Join the conversation as we hear from Lauren about her journey venturing into wholesale. She recounts the rollercoaster of experiencing a 4000% increase in wholesale orders, and why she believes your brand story is crucial to your success. She expresses her thoughts on prioritizing relationships, why you can't just jump into wholesale, and the difference between pursuing wealth versus money. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/311 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Do you find yourself fresh in the wholesaling journey? Are you asking yourself whether you need stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers? And if you do, how do you create them? In today's episode, I'm answering some frequently asked questions often heard at Paper Camp, regarding creating and utilizing SKU systems. Listen in to hear tips on setting up your SKU system early on in your wholesaling journey and why I believes you shouldn't overcomplicate your SKU systems. Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/310 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Choosing business contentment over business growth can be a great reminder to all of us that there are seasons in business, and sometimes what we have is all that we really need or want. On this episode we have Brigida Swanson of Yardia, which is a nature-inspired gift and stationery company. Bridiga shares the journey for starting her business, while still pursuing her teaching career. She dives into what it was like venturing into wholesale, how she has experienced rapid growth, and describes what happened after deciding to leave social media. She shares some of her incredible wins with us and also discusses how, despite her business's expansion, she began questioning the need for more, realizing that she already had enough and desired a simpler more content life. Consequently, Brigida made intentional shifts in her business and personal life to align with her desire and found that true fulfillment came from what brings happiness. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/309 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

If there's one constant in business, it's change. But making big shifts as an entrepreneur can be pretty daunting. After all, it's one thing to plan and strategize, but it's quite another to take the leap and start implementing those steps. While we usually talk to people who are in the midst of making a big change, today we welcome a returning guest and Paper Camp alum, Stephanie Clarke, for a business update after making some major changes to her company back in 2019. After a decade of running Dahlia Press, a letterpress greeting card company based in Seattle, Washington, Stephanie recognized the need to split the company in two and start a sister brand under the name Chloe Clarke, The Art of Paper, dedicated entirely to bespoke wedding invitations. If you'd like to learn more about how and why she made that transition, you can check out our conversation in Episode 160. In today's episode, you'll find out how things have changed since the transition and how Stephanie's brands are doing today. We delve into the challenges and benefits of running two brands, why she stands by her decision to diversify her business, and how she has matured as an entrepreneur. Stephanie also shares the details of how she expanded her retail footprint post-COVID, what she's learned from hiring her team (and managing team dynamics), and why it can be so difficult to relinquish control of certain aspects of one's company. If you're interested in the logistics of managing two brands and what this decision can look like a few years down the line, be sure to tune in for an insightful and informative update with Stephanie Clarke! Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/308 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

There's no "easy mode" in business. Selling physical products is a lot of work and being a product entrepreneur requires grit, tenacity, and courage. Today's episode is for seasoned wholesalers who might be experiencing a slower sales season this summer. If your sales have stalled, there are two metrics that you can tap into to build stronger relationships with your current accounts and sustainably scale your revenue for wholesale. Tune in and you'll learn how to find opportunities for reorders, simplify your purchasing process, make small but impactful changes that improve cash flow for your business, and more. This episode offers some high-level number-crunching and practical sales strategies that will help you increase your wholesale revenue and get out of your sales slump. Today's episode is brought to you by our signature program, Paper Camp, our 4-week program that takes the guesswork out of selling wholesale. When you follow the strategies and methods in Paper Camp, you'll not only feel more confident but you'll reach your wholesale goals faster. Come join the program now! SIGN UP NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/307

You have heard me say it before, and I'm gonna remind you again, strong businesses are built through slow, steady, intentional growth. Today's guest is proof of that. Jill Shephard is the owner of Ruff House Print Shop. She started her business in 2009, initially specializing in custom wedding invitations. She then spent 14 years prioritizing professional development, refining her business model, expanding her team, and strengthening her customer experience. In the process, she built a profitable and sustainable company that she is proud of. Today, Jill and I are talking about her entrepreneurial journey from custom wedding invitations to a brick and mortar retail shop to selling wholesale to over 3,000 shops around the world. Jill also reveals her strategies for maintaining a thriving business, the importance of continuous learning, and the impact of participating in programs like Paper Camp, even as a seasoned entrepreneur. Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series, I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/306 Connect with Jill Ruffhouseprintshop.comInstagram: @ruffhouseprintshop Facebook: @ruffhouseprintshop Ruffhousepaperie.comInstagram: @ruffhousepaperie Facebook: @ruffhousepaperie Mentioned in this Episode: Paper Camp

Today we are continuing our conversation with Katie Hart of Odd Daughter Paper Co. If you missed the first part of our conversation, head back and listen to episode 304. In that episode, Katie and I talk about how she got started with her product-based business, and why you don't necessarily need to exhibit at trade shows to be successful with selling wholesale. Katie waited 10 years to do her first show, and we're talking about it in episode 304. For today's episode, which is part two of our conversation, Katie is taking us behind the scenes of her business and what it is like running this business with her sister by her side. We also talk about setting boundaries in business and how the best lessons truly come from just years of experience. Katie Hart is a self-taught illustrator and the founder of a stationery brand called Odd Daughter Paper Co. She founded that company in 2013 and it began as a side hustle that she ran on the weekends and during her lunch hours; it evolved into a full-time brand that both Katie and her sister now work at. Michelle helped on the side for years and finally joined the team full-time in 2022. Katie does all the illustrating and hand lettering while Michelle handles operations, wholesale, and sales and marketing. They both love brainstorming sentiments for cards and their goal is to sound like a real friend in their products, whether that's clever, sincere, encouraging, or empathetic. Odd Daughter is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and draws a great deal of creative inspiration from the desert. Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series, I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/305 Connect with Katie Odddaughterpaper.com Instagram: @odddaughterco TikTok: @odddaughterco

Yes, friend, you can be successful with wholesale without exhibiting at trade shows. This is a question that I frequently hear from our Paper Camp students and today's guest is a shining example of how slow, intentional growth without trade shows leads to success. Today's guest is Paper Camp Alum & Advisory Board member, Katie Hart of Odd Daughter Paper Co. Katie launched Odd Daughter in 2013 as a side hustle. The brand evolved into a thriving product brand whose revenue primarily comes from wholesale and her products are sold in stores throughout the world. This was such an inspiring conversation that I decided to break it up into two parts. On today's episode, which is part 1, Katie shares how Odd Daughter got started, the intentional decisions she's made along the way to make her business growth more sustainable, and we talk about her decision to exhibit at her first wholesale trade show in 2023—after 10 years of successfully scaling wholesale. Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series, I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/304 Connect with Katie Odddaughterpaper.com Instagram: @odddaughterco TikTok: @odddaughterco Mentioned in this episode: Paper Camp

Opening a retail storefront is no joke. It's a whole lot of work and a completely different business model than selling products online or to the wholesale market. Brick-and-mortar retail requires different strategies, operational systems, and of course staffing needs. I know there are many of you who dream of someday opening a shop, in fact, we have many product brands that also have brick-and-mortar shops in our Proof to Product community. So today we're going to hear from Ginger Diaz, the owner of Feliz Modern and Rancho Diaz in San Antonio, Texas. Ginger Diaz came to retail to bring her favorite artists' and makers' works to a wider audience. What started as one brick-and-mortar shop in San Antonio has expanded to a second shop, as well as their online store at felizmodern.com, for those national customers that they service. All three shops are centered around products that bring joy and some cheeky fun to their customers. It's a small business full of hundreds of other small businesses and makers from around the globe. On today's episode, we're talking to Ginger about motivations for opening her stores, how relationships played a key role in their survival during the pandemic, and how Ginger's incredible staff has helped improve efficiencies in her business. We also talk a little bit about her buying preferences and red flags that she sees in manufacturers' pitches or outreach, and what she looks for when she's purchasing from smaller independent brands. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/303 Connect with Ginger felizmodern.com @felizmodern Ranchodiaz.com @rancho.diaz Mentioned in this episode: Proof to Product LABS

While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Brittany O'Brien! Deciding to sell wholesale is the first step to scaling your business, but what are the next steps to being successful in it? Brittany O'Brien of Brittany Paige joins us to share the top three contributors to her wholesale success, how she overcame her fear of rejection, and a few tips she has for brands just getting started in wholesale. Plus, she's sharing a little insight on her experience in growing the retail side of her business while having fun with TikTok! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/258 Today's episode is brought to you by Paper Camp, our 4-week program that takes the guess-work out of selling wholesale. When you follow the strategies and methods in Paper Camp, you'll not only feel more confident but you'll reach your wholesale goals faster. Come join the waitlist to be the first to know when we open the doors for the next round of Paper Camp! {JOIN THE WAITLIST}

While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Beth Roszkowski and Tiffany Grimes! As a product creator, it's common to feel that success means building your own storefront and selling retail to earn the most profit for your business. While that's a great goal to strive for it doesn't mean you should let other selling options, like wholesale, fall off your radar. In today's episode, Beth Roszkowski and Tiffany Grimes join us to share how wholesale has allowed them to scale their businesses. I'm excited to highlight the conversations to show how two different brands with different stories still find value, profit, and expansion in their businesses through wholesale. For full show notes, head to prooftoproduct.com/234 Ready to prepare for your own booth at trade shows? Come join us at Paper Camp where we share everything you need to know about selling wholesale and exhibiting at trade shows. prooftoproduct.com/papercamp

The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a summer break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, July 25th, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're on hiatus, be sure you dip back into the archives of over 300 incredible episodes to help you streamline and scale your business. Plus, we'll even be sharing a few reruns of our favorite episodes as well! If you've been thinking about joining us for Paper Camp to ramp up the wholesale portion of your business, get yourself on the waitlist at prooftoproduct.com/papercamp. Enrollment opens later this summer! JOIN THE WAITLIST Have a great few weeks and I will see you on July 25th! Work with Katie: LABS: community & coaching for product-based businesses Paper Camp: get your products on the shelves of stores big & small Free Resource Library: classes, resources & tools to help you grow your product business

Today we're gonna talk about paid advertising. I have spent years searching for someone that has extensive experience in the e-commerce space, and who understands the unique challenges and needs of micro-businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and small businesses, particularly with paid advertising. What I found in my search was that there were a lot of people who were focused on paid ads, but for service businesses or for larger brands with huge budgets. There were people that only focused on ads, but did not look at the holistic marketing strategy that the ads were pushing to. I also encountered a lot of people who just didn't understand the nuances of e-commerce sales. So this is a topic that our community has asked for over and over again, but I never felt like I could find the right expert to put in front of you. Until today—my guest today is Taylor Frame from Focus Funnels. Taylor is the co-founder of Focus Funnels, which is an e-commerce growth shop. He has consulted and worked with over 400 e-commerce companies including several from our Proof to Product community. Focused Funnels has launched and scaled over 100 brands to consistent six-figure months, finding creative solutions for bootstrap founders. In addition to the overall success, Taylor's team has managed over $45 million in performance ad spend across a variety of niches. Taylor and his team specialize in working with women-owned e-commerce brands on holistic marketing that ties together both organic and paid advertising efforts. This is key—this is critical to success. As you will soon hear he breaks down complex ideas and strategies into easy-to-understand solutions, which I love. On today's episode, we're talking about trends in the marketing space, how much money you'll need to spend to get started in paid ads, and how to leverage different ad platforms for different outcomes. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. Taylor Frame will join us live in July to teach a training on quick win ad strategies that you can implement right away. He'll be back in August to offer ad audits to our members, so we can measure and track and see what's working and make shifts as we need to. These are member only events inside of LABS, so request your invitation to join below! REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/302 Connect with Taylor focusfunnels.com linkedin.com/in/taylor-frame instagram.com/focusfunnels Mentioned in this episode: Proof to Product LABS

"You are your number one resource." This is a direct quote from today's guest, Michelle Angenent. Michelle is a Paper Camp alum, LABS member, and the fierce founder behind 417 Press, an award-winning letterpress greeting card company and paper goods brand based in Montreal, Canada. Always observing life with a dash of humor. Michelle's product line is a direct reflection of the personal challenges she has faced from infertility to ADHD, midlife, divorce, and now midlife dating. Now in her fifties and a happily single mom to teen twins, Michelle is proof that everything is divinely timed for a reason and that it is never too late to pursue your passion. Today Michelle and I are talking about navigating divorce as a business owner, overcoming and continually working on our mindset, and what to say when someone asks you proprietary questions about your business. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library. It's where you can get your hands on our free resources to help you start, streamline and scale your business in your own way and at your own pace. GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/301 If you are ready to learn more about wholesale, I encourage you to download my free audio series, Is Wholesale Right for You? This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP Connect with Michelle WEBSITE: 417press.com INSTAGRAM: @417press FACEBOOK: @417press PINTEREST: @417press Mentioned in this episode: Proof to Product resource library Is Wholesale Right for You New York Now

I am incredibly proud to share our 300th episode of the Proof to Product podcast! It's just incredible to me that we started this show in May of 2017 with one single goal in mind—to become an invaluable business resource for those starting and scaling product based businesses. I think it's safe to say that we have certainly hit that goal. We have produced and published over 150 hours of audio content through this show. Our podcast has been downloaded over 1.1 million times. The Proof to Product Podcast is ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts. Our podcast and programming have helped not only shape the businesses, but also the personal lives of our listeners and our students—and that is something to be proud of. We have used our platform to shine a spotlight on hundreds of our Proof to Product students to share their unique stories, products, and business perspectives, and today is no exception. On today's episode, you will hear from several of our Proof to Product students as they share lessons that they learned throughout their business journey, and more specifically, what they wish they had known when they were starting out. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/300 I'm so thankful for 300 episodes of the podcast and the community members and students who shared their thoughtful lessons here on the podcast today! If you want to help us celebrate this major milestone, would you mind leaving a five-star rating and writing a review for our podcast on your favorite podcast player? RATE & REVIEW Mentioned in this Episode: Lana's Shop Odd Daughter Slightly Stationery Twentysome Design Colorbox Letterpress Your Gal Kiwi Rust Belt Love Paperie Proof to Product

Supply chain issues, paper shortages, production problems, shipping delays, and increased labor costs; these are just some of the issues that our community of product-based business owners have faced over the last few years. The problems extend well beyond our community of makers in that they also affect our manufacturing partners, suppliers, and vendors that we work with. Today, Ronnie Williams from DeFrance Printing is back on the podcast to share his insights. He and I chatted back in 2018 on episode 60 of Proof to Product about how to save money on printing costs and today he's back to give us an update on paper shortages, shifts in the printing industry, and what we can expect going forward. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You audio series! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series, you'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/299 Connect with Ronnie Defranceprinting.com Instagram: @defranceprint Facebook: @DeFrancePrint Mentioned in this episode: Indigo Xante Kluge French Paper Neenah Paper Keaykolour Mohawk Paper

I completely remember what it was like in the early days of selling wholesale. I felt like I was winging every single decision. I questioned everything I was reading on the internet. And, I was craving a community of other product makers that I could tap into for answers and to share resources. Way back in 2008, that community didn't exist so I eventually created it. Since 2011, we have helped thousands of brands across industries and across the globe, get their products on the shelves of stores big & small. Our Paper Camp alumni sell to big box stores like Anthropologie, Target, Macys and Barnes & Noble. But, our best customers are the independent brick & mortar retail shops located around the world. Small businesses, just like all the manufacturers that we support in our Paper Camp and LABS programs. I very intentionally point this out, because I'm going to be answering some questions I received in an email about the importance of following industry standards, having strong wholesale terms & conditions, and why I never ever want you fulfilling a $25 wholesale order. I feel it is important for you to understand that our community focuses our energy and efforts on the indie shops, so my feedback is coming from that perspective! Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You audio series! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series, you'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/298

Just follow your instincts that seems to be the thread throughout today's podcast episode. Paper Camp alum, Ashleigh Evans of InBooze, joins me to talk about how she started a handmade, locally sourced food and beverage brand from her home in 2018. Her company has since expanded into a team working out of a commercial kitchen, warehouse, and a retail space, and they ship products to stores nationwide. On today's episode, we talk about regulatory requirements for the food and beverage industry, why you need trusted mentors surrounding you as you're building a business, and she shares a fun story about how being included in Oprah's stocking stuffer guide crashed her website. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at www.prooftoproduct.com/297

I recently spent the day with many of our Proof to Product students at the *Noted & SF Now trade show in San Francisco, CA. Seventy-four of our Proof to Product LABS members and Paper Camp alumni were exhibiting at this show - which means our community accounted for 62% of all exhibitors. Pretty incredible! Our community members won awards, secured major orders with key accounts, launched new products, connected with distributors and they grew their confidence as business owners. It's such an honor and privilege to know that our community & programming played a small part in getting them there. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the Is Wholesale Right For You private podcast! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/296 If you are curious about what it takes to exhibit at a trade show I want to invite you to look into my Booth Blueprint Masterclass. This free class is available inside our resource library and walks you through three things that you need to know before you start exhibiting at a trade show. LEARN MORE Mentioned in this Episode: Noted: https://www.greetingcard.org/noted/ SF Now: https://sfnow.com/ Guests:Kirstie Wang, A Jar of Pickles Karen Kennedy, And the moon will rise Ian Pribyl, Explicit Contents Brigida Swanson, Yardia Kate Murray, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress Krishna Chavda, Nanu Studio Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love Paperie Lynn Jones, Lynn-oleum Nikki Tyler, Little Lovelies Studio Emily Chiang, Emii Creations Emma Lewis, The Twentieth Christine Nardone, Black Line Rainbows Lauren-Ashley Barnes, Pineapple Sunday Design Studio Christine Herrin, Everyday Explorers Co. Lindsay Henry, Inklings Paperie

Welcome part two of my interview with Sam Kramer of Near Modern Disaster! If you have not yet listened to part one, make sure to check out episode 294 first! Sam gave us an update on her business and shared four things that have been critical to her business growth. In this episode, Sam and I are talking about how mental health is essential to being a smart and intentional business owner, and why every entrepreneur needs a hobby that they aren't monetizing! Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/295 Mentioned in this Episode: Episode 294

You have heard me talk about this time and time again, but there is no singular pathway in business! Even though we may all be running physical product-based businesses, we each embark on a different journey working towards different goals and making different choices along the way. One of my favorite parts about the work I do is seeing the transformation as folks continue their entrepreneurial journey, and in my position, I am lucky enough to have a lot of candid and confidential conversations about what that evolution includes, both the good and the bad. I wanted to bring you into one of those important conversations with both a friend and client of mine, Sam Kramer of Near Modern Disaster. You may remember Sam from episode 2 of Proof to Product, which we recorded way back in 2016. So much has changed since then in Sam's life and in our business. Since that podcast aired, Sam moved to Florida, outgrew two studio spaces, and increased her team, including bringing her husband on full-time as the studio manager. Not only has her product line grown, but her confidence in her products has as well. Today is part one of a two part series. On today's episode, Sam is sharing some updated stats about how many stores she's carried in the number of skews she sells and how her wholesale program has evolved. She also shares four things that have made the biggest impact on her business growth. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/294 Mentioned in this episode: Episode 2: Working with Sales Reps with Sam Kramer Faire If you are looking for a safe space to talk openly about the challenges and solutions needed to scale a product based business, look no further. We have carved out a space just for you! Our LABS community consists of brands across industries and across the globe, who are building profitable, sustainable businesses. We're talking about things like processes, systems, marketing strategies, and more. We have trainings, templates, coaching calls, and community connections to help you make forward progress towards your goals. JOIN NOW

As you're getting ready for upcoming trade shows, I want to share how you can create a simple, but effective way to turn your trade show leads (people you meet at the shows) into new wholesale customers. Spoiler alert: the success of what I'm teaching you hinges on one singular thing: the follow-through. You have to do the work to see results. In this episode, I'm sharing what you should do while you're on-site at the trade show to make the post-show follow-up easier and more profitable in 5 simple steps. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/293 Mentioned in this Episode: Proof to Product LABS Email Marketing for Product Makers

We all have big goals, dreams, and plans for our businesses. In order to meet those milestones, we need to take action. What do you do when you look at your to-do list and everything starts to feel really overwhelming? Today's guest is Ashley Brown of Routines and Things and this episode is an excerpt from a recent Coffee Chat that she led inside of our Proof to Product LABS program on time management. Ashley is our resident routines expert, teaching us how to establish and sustain routines in our life and our business, so that we're less stressed and more fulfilled. On today's episode, you'll hear Ashley speak candidly about how she personally handles task management, as well as energy management in her life and business. We talk about mindset work, delegating and outsourcing, and how to conserve and restore our energy. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/292 If you are looking for a safe space to talk openly about the challenges and solutions needed to scale a product based business, look no further. We have carved out a space just for you! Our LABS community consists of brands across industries and across the globe, who are building profitable, sustainable businesses. We're talking about things like processes, systems, marketing strategies, and more. We have trainings, templates, coaching calls, and community connections to help you make forward progress towards your goals. JOIN NOW

Many entrepreneurs are high achievers! We work hard. We go above and beyond. We care deeply about the work we do, whether it's for ourselves or for others. So when things don't go as planned or are even outside of our control, we can sometimes feel like we're failing. Today's guest is Paper Camp Alum Alyssa Manoleas, who makes and sells hand illustrated greeting cards and gifts through her brand Grey Street Paper. Prior to running her business full time, Alyssa worked as a fashion designer in New York, a job that she was great at. She was climbing the corporate ladder, earning more money, gaining titles, but despite being excellent at her job, she was furloughed and then laid off in 2020. On today's episode, we're talking about the mental shift of moving from corporate to entrepreneurship. Alyssa candidly shares how she felt like a failure when she was let go from her corporate job, and how she had to carefully work through the grief tied to that. She also shares how she came out better on the other side with a profitable thriving business that allows her to make a bigger impact. Alyssa also shares the methods that she's using to work towards her goal of 500 wholesale accounts, and why Paper Camp was the best investment that she's made in herself and her business. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/291

Think back to when you started your business. Was choosing a name an easy or difficult task for you? I'm terrible at naming things—particularly my own projects, so this is something I labored over for too long. In today's episode I'm replying to a question from Tiffany, one of our community members who is struggling with naming her business. She's unsure whether to name it after her personal name or create a unique business name. I'm going to run through some pros & cons of each, plus share 7 tips for naming your business if it is not your name. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year. DOWNLOAD NOW If you've ever wanted to pick my brain or ask a question like this one, our LABS coaching program is the way to do it! Through our monthly group coaching calls and on-demand trainings, we're helping you scale your business. LEARN MORE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/290 Mentioned in this Episode: Emily Ley of Simplified Emily McDowell of Em and Friends Episode 100: Listeners help us celebrate episode 100! Episode 101: Why I Rebranded to Proof to Product Episode 102: Logistics of Our Rebrand with Katie Hunt, Proof to Product

Way back in 2008, when I had my stationery brand I purchased a light box off of Amazon, borrowed my sister's DSLR camera and spent hours reading photography tutorials on blogs to learn how to use the camera and to get ideas for what my shot list should include! When I say hours, I literally mean dozens of hours were spent trying to learn how to take product photos that would make my brand look polished & professional. And, the results… Well, they were ok. Not great, but ok. Then in 2010, I hired a professional photographer to take product photos for me. It was a big investment for my small business but I knew that if I had stronger photography, that I would likely sell more of my product and it would give me content to post on social media. Even with the professional photographer, there were still several aspects of the shoot that I was responsible for like a shot list, styling, and making sure we got everything shot that we needed. I remember feeling a lot of pressure to get it right, because I was investing a lot of time and money into this photo shoot. Fast forward to today and thankfully there is a less expensive & convenient way for you to get your products photographed, styled and edited by professionals. Meet soona, a creative technology company that helps over 15,000 commerce brands with photo and video production. They are disrupting the industry with their innovative services, creative process, and use of technology. Today's guest is Rikin Diwan, who handles sales & marketing at soona. We're talking about their scaleable creative process and how soona is alleviating pain points for ecommerce brands that need digital assets to sell more of their products. If you've struggled with product photography… this episode is for you. Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. This was a training I taught inside of our Proof to Product LABS program—where hundreds of product makers mapped out a year of emails in under an hour. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send or how to plan out your email marketing strategies for wholesale or direct to consumer audiences we've got just the tool for you. Grab our free guide that has helped hundreds of product makers plan out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. We'll tell you what to say, when to send and help you create an email strategy that works for your specific business. GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/289. If you're ready to give Soona a try, they're giving our community an exclusive offer of your first photoshoot free! You can find that inside our LABS vendor directory! If you're not in our LABS community, this is our 12 month membership built specifically for product based business owners they're looking to streamline their business and boost their sales! LEARN MORE

Research has shown that you have about 8 seconds to capture people's attention when they come to your website. That's the average attention span for your website visitors, and that's not a lot of time! If you fail to articulate what you sell, who those products are for and how you're different from your competitors, you may have lost your chance to convert that potential customer. We have to be intentional about how we're interacting & connecting with our customers so that we're not only keeping their attention, but also converting them to customers. Today's guest is Arianne Foulks, of Aeolidia, a web and graphic design agency. Arianne and her team work exclusively with brands with a penchant for design and they have launched thousands of online shops. She loves having a problem to solve, and has focused throughout her career on building online homes for fascinating people. You may remember Arianne from episode 114 of Proof to Product where we talked about abandoned cart emails. On today's episode we're talking about common mistakes she sees product business owners making with their e-commerce site, SMS marketing strategies, and why you need automated email flows—like welcome and abandoned cart sequences—to better nurture and retain your current customers. If you're a LABS member, Arianne will be joining us in April to lead us through achievable ways to optimize your e-commerce website for more sales. She'll also be back in July to do website audits for our LABS members! Keep an eye on our events calendar so that you don't miss these exciting trainings live! If you're not already in our LABS program, head to prooftoproduct.com/labs to learn more. As a reminder, all past LABS trainings are available as replays (and we have a really rich archive of trainings)—but only active LABS members are able to attend our trainings live and ask questions. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS program. If you are looking to strengthen your business foundation and are looking for coaching and a trusted community for support, come join Proof to Product LABS. Our vault of on-demand trainings runs deep, but the incredible community, the connections, and the collaborations are like no other. If you sell physical products, come join us! This is a space that was intentionally built just for you. ENROLL NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/288.

Does the economy have you worried? I know that the words inflation and recession have been hot topics in several small business groups that I'm in, and I know that people are worried. Today, Jess Van Den of Create and Thrive joins me to talk about how small businesses, particularly in the handmade space, can prepare for and survive through these types of economic downturns. Jess is the founder of Create and Thrive, a community for handmade product makers where she teaches them how to craft the business they've dreamed of. Since 2013, Jess has helped 1000's of makers to create a thriving and profitable handmade business. Jess teaches what she knows. She owns and operates a successful jewelry business selling online and wholesale to shops. On today's episode, Jess shares how she accidentally started two businesses with a startup story that is oddly similar to my own! Then we dove into talking about recession, inflation, and what business owners can do to adapt during these times. We specifically talk about ways to diversify your revenue streams, why you need to be auditing your expenses, and the importance of surrounding yourself with a trusted community. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS program. If you are looking to strengthen your business foundation and are looking for coaching and a trusted community for support, come join Proof to Product LABS. Our vault of on-demand trainings run deep, but the incredible community, the connections, and the collaborations are like no other. If you sell physical products, come join us! This is a space that was intentionally built just for you. ENROLL NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/287.

When I talk to people about their business, they often say they "fell into business" or became an "entrepreneur by accident." It's a common story, especially in the creative online space that we all work in. These people solved a problem, likely for themselves, and then that solution led to something greater… whether it be a new business, new product or revenue stream. One thing I always like to remind these entrepreneurs of… is that even though the idea or the initial spark of the solution may have been an accident, building, growing, sustaining that new business, product or program is never an accident. It is an intentional choice to continue and that intentionality is what leads to success and greatness over the long haul. Today I want to share one of my stories… about my own "happy accident." I made an intentional decision that some considered to be a rash decision—it was scary, but necessary and the outcome has truly been beautiful. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library. It's where you can get your hands on lots of free resources to help you start, streamline and scale your business in your own way and at your own pace. GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/286

I'm back from a whirlwind trip to New York where over 50 of our Paper Camp alumni were exhibiting at NY Now and Shoppe Object - two wholesale trade shows. It was such a treat to visit with everyone and to see their new products on display. Both shows were buzzing with buyers, press and brands looking to collaborate. The energy was high and orders were being written. You know… at Paper Camp we like to talk about how selling wholesale is a marathon, not a sprint. And, exhibiting at wholesale trade shows is just one way to get your products in front of your buyers. Exhibiting at a trade show is no small feat though. There are endless decisions, logistics and shows are a big investment of time, energy and money. When done well, the payoff of exhibiting comes not only through sales at the shows, but also new contacts we meet, conversations we have and face time with our buyers, which is where the long term benefits come into play. Those face to face connections with current and prospective accounts are priceless. Today's episode is a compilation of short interviews I conducted on the show floors in New York. At NY Now I talked with Ashley Sutton of Hustle & Hope who shared how in within one year of selling wholesale her products are carried in Home Goods & TJ Max, Divya of Mellowworks who launched her Home Decor line at the show, and Desiree of Paper Anchor who moved from the Emerging artist kiosk to her own booth this year. At Shoppe Object I interviewed Jana of The Completist who traveled from the UK to showcase her new collection of desktop and paper goods and Katie of The Good Twin who shared what it was like moving from NY Now to Shoppe Object. All of today's guests are alumni of our Paper Camp program. Our Paper Camp program is the longest-running, most trusted, results-driven wholesale training program. We combine expert coaching, comprehensive content and a rich community to guide & support you in building a profitable, sustainable wholesale brand. LEARN MORE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/285 Connect with our guests: Ashley Sutton - Hustle & Hope https://hustleandhopecards.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hustleandhope/ Divya Guruju - Melloworks https://www.shopmellowworks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mellowworksart/ Desiree Perez - Paper Anchor https://paper-anchor.com/ https://www.instagram.com/paperanchor.co/ Jana Starcevic - The Completist https://www.the-completist.com/ https://www.instagram.com/the.completist/ Katie Wilson - The Good Twin https://www.thegoodtwin.co/ https://www.instagram.com/thegoodtwinco/

How did you decide that it was time to start wholesaling for your business? This is one of my favorite questions to ask my coaching clients, our Paper Camp students, and even our guests here on the podcast, because even though there are a lot of similarities between our stories, everyone's journey is so different. In some cases like mine, deciding to sell wholesale was a very intentional and deliberate choice. For me, I knew when I started my stationery business, that wholesale would be the best business model for me. I had already dabbled in custom design and I didn't love it. I had an Etsy shop that was bringing in a decent volume of orders, but it felt like a slow grind. They were small orders one by one. I was intrigued by wholesale, although I was a bit naive too! The idea of selling in higher volume, building relationships with other business owners—that felt right for me and it felt right for where I was in the season of life that I was at at the time. Now some people get into wholesale because they feel like they have maximized their retail direct to consumer sales channel and they want to diversify. Other people got into wholesale because they were approached by stores and asked if they sold their products wholesale, so they figured out what that meant and how to sell wholesale on the fly. Whether it is an intentional or an accidental decision to move into selling wholesale, the most successful brands are those that have a strong wholesale foundation, meaning their product sales, marketing, and operations are ready for wholesale. Today on the podcast, I want to share some of the biggest mistakes that I see new product brands making when they enter wholesale. And I will share our four part wholesale framework that we teach at Paper Camp so that you can avoid making these common mistakes and ultimately sell more of your products. Today's episode is brought to you by Paper Camp. This is our signature program where we teach you how to scale your wholesale program through four weeks of live coaching calls, videos & community connections. Paper Camp has run 40 times in 11 years & we've coached 1000s of brands whose products are sold in Target, Nordstrom, Container Store, Barnes & Noble and independent boutiques all over the world. Make sure you're on our waitlist! If you are listening to this episode the week that it airs, we are currently accepting scholarship applications for our 41st round of Paper Camp. The deadline is Friday, February 17 at 5PM PT! Learn more and submit your application today! LEARN MORE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/284

How well do you know your customers and I'm not talking just their demographics or their buying preferences; I'm talking about their lifestyle, their desires, and why they make the choices that they make. Our guest today is Monica Sharma-Patnekar from Business with Monica. She is walking us through her three part framework for getting to know our customers better, so that e-commerce brands can build stronger connections and sell more of our products. Monica is an e-commerce brand mentor and consultant, a purpose driven brand marketing and strategy professional with 17 years of global experience building brands. She's worked across different sectors and companies from Fortune 500 to starting and scaling companies as well. Monica offers high touch coaching and mentorship to small businesses, conscious ecommerce, and product based business owners. She is Dutch by birth and Indian by Heritage, global by choice and education. She's a creative thinker, a dancer, a chai fanatic, and a mom of two girls. I know you're going to learn a lot today from Monica. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is wholesale right for you? private podcast. Yep, if you want me in your earbuds longer, you can have me. You can get access to this free on-demand private podcastat the link below. This is a 12-part audio series that will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your business. And the best part, you can binge it in less than an hour! After listening to this audio series, two things will be true: 1) You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business. 2) You'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the Is wholesale right for you? private podcast. SIGN UP Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right For You masterclass! During this free, on-demand masterclass, we'll walk through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if you, your products, and your business are ready to sell wholesale. I'm sharing my own tips for you to move forward confidently with your next steps. GET ACCESS If you're ready to take the next step in getting to know your real clients through their personalized story, make sure you download Monica's checklist for the 4 D's to help you discover your customers' needs, wants, and desires! DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/283.

If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know that one of my mantras is that slow, steady growth is how strong businesses are built. Well, they are also built with intentionality, connectivity, and care, which today's guest is a wonderful example of. Amy Frazer is an author, illustrator and the founder of Keller Design Co, where she strives to empower you to make modern memories through craft, stationery, embroidery kits, and artful gifts to help you share stories, make connections, and communicate with simple, honest messages. Keller Design Co. helps customers connect with those they love and find connections to their own creativity. On today's episode, Amy is sharing how 20 years in the corporate world designing products for brands like Nike, Old Navy, Starbucks, and Target! Those experiences truly helped shape how she runs Keller Design Co. Amy candidly discusses how personal loss and seasons of overwhelm caused her to push pause and take better care of herself. She talks about how community, connection, and continuing to put in the work motivated her to keep going. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library, where we house all of my free workshops in one place. This includes my Delegating Masterclass, my How to Know If Wholesale is Right for You class and my Booth Blueprint Class for anyone wanting to exhibit at wholesale trade shows, I've got some new things that we'll be adding soon. To get instant access to this rich resource library, head to prooftoproduct.com/resources. GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/282.

Selling wholesale can be a valuable and lucrative strategy for businesses of all sizes, but there are a few myths about the process that can discourage some entrepreneurs from exploring whether wholesale is a good fit for them or prevent some brands from pushing further into wholesale and expanding the revenue stream. Listen in to hear 5 myths about selling wholesale and the truths behind each! Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right For You masterclass! During this free, on-demand masterclass, we'll walk through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if you, your products, and your business are ready to sell wholesale. I'm sharing my own tips for you to move forward confidently with your next steps. GET ACCESS If you're looking to grow your wholesale this year, be sure to join the waitlist for Paper Camp! This is our signature program where we teach you how to scale your wholesale program through four weeks of live coaching calls, videos & community connections. Paper Camp has run 40 times in 11 years & we've coached 1000s of brands whose products are sold in Target, Nordstrom, Container Store, Barnes & Noble and independent boutiques all over the world. Make sure you're on our waitlist! JOIN THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/281

Don't you love hearing other people's business journeys? I sure do. Today I'm joined by Lana Effron of Lana's Shop. Lana is a Paper Camp alum and a member of our Proof to Product Advisory Board. Today you'll hear why and how Lana made the jump from working as graphic designer at Vogue Magazine and Gap to opening her own design studio that now sells vibrant products in hundreds of stores around the globe, and partners with brands like Terrain, Anthropologie, REI, The Lumineers, and Lily Collins. On this episode, we talk about how her business has evolved, how her partnership with Nordstrom came to be, and she shares strategies that have helped her grow the wholesale arm of her business. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right For You masterclass! During this free, on-demand masterclass, we'll walk through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if you, your products, and your business are ready to sell wholesale. I'm sharing my own tips for you to move forward confidently with your next steps. GET ACCESS If you're looking to expand your wholesale revenue—more orders, higher AOV, and stronger relationships with your wholesale accounts, be sure to join our waitlist for Paper Camp! Since 2011, we've helped thousands of brands get their products on the shelves of stores big & small, and we want to help you do the same. JOIN THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/280.

Fun fact: Approximately 75% of our Proof to Product community sells their products through a Shopify site. One of the most commonly asked questions that comes up during Paper Camp is "What Shopify apps can I use to enhance the sales experience?" Today's guest is Erin Alexander from Product Powerhouse and she's sharing her favorite Shopify Apps, including why she recommends them and how they can make your life easier. We're talking about apps to enhance your product listings, collect & share customer reviews and apps that will simplify referral, loyalty or affiliate programs. Erin Alexander is a curly-haired, plant-loving, coffee maven, that helps shop owners show up online with confidence. Her design agency, Product Powerhouse, helps product sellers build, grow and scale their online shop with the power of Shopify. She also teaches how to grow the visibility and online presence of their store through her podcast, digital products and DIY courses. Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. This was a training I taught inside of our Proof to Product LABS program—where hundreds of product makers mapped out a year of emails in under an hour. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send or how to plan out your email marketing strategies for wholesale or direct to consumer audiences we've got just the tool for you. Grab our free guide that has helped hundreds of product makers plan out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. We'll tell you what to say, when to send and help you create an email strategy that works for your specific business. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/279

Our labs program is getting a major upgrade for 2023 with more accountability, incredible trainings, in-person meetups, and a wider range of support from our coaches, community leaders and your peers! Today's episode is actually a presentation that I recently shared with our LABS members, notifying them about all the incredible things that they can expect in 2023. It was too good to keep to ourselves, so we are sharing it here on the podcast with all of you! If you are looking for strategy, solutions, and a stronger support system to help you grow your product-based business, come join us inside of LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. LEARN MORE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/278

The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, January 3, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! Coming up in January, you'll be hearing from Erin Alexander of Product Powerhouse, Lana Effron of Lana's Shop, and Amy Frazer of Keller Design Co. While we're gone, be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 277 Incredible episodes to help you strengthen your business! Plus, if you've been thinking about joining us in our LABS program, get yourself on the waitlist at prooftoproduct.com/labs. Enrollment opens for LABS on December 28th, 2022! JOIN THE WAITLIST Have a great two weeks and I will see you on January 3rd! Work with Katie: LABS: community & coaching for product based businesses Paper Camp: get your products on the shelves of stores big & small Free Resource Library: classes, resources & tools to help you grow your product business

For those just starting out on their commerce journey, selecting a sales platform can sometimes be intimidating. Do they go with something like Amazon or Etsy where there is a built in audience, or should they build on Shopify where they then have to drive traffic to their site? Today's guest is Grace Hayden, an e-commerce CEO and expert who has built and sold multiple products on platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon. She has over 20 years of retail experience including a degree in retail business. She now helps others build successful e-commerce businesses by focusing on the fundamentals and foundations of retail. On today's episode Grace runs us through the 5 P's of e-commerce explaining how they work together to create a strong foundation for your e-commerce business. She shares the pros & cons of selling on a platform like Amazon and she shares two of her favorite Shopify apps that she can't live without! Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. If you've struggled with what to say, when to send or how to plan out your email marketing strategies for wholesale or direct to consumer audiences we've got just the tool for you. Grab our free guide that has helped hundreds of product makers plan out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. We'll tell you what to say, when to send and help you create an email strategy that works for your specific business. DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/277 In today's episode, we mentioned a Customer Retention training inside of Proof to Product LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. The doors to LAB will be opening again at the end of December and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST Work with Katie: LABS: community & coaching for product based businesses Paper Camp: get your products on the shelves of stores big & small Free Resource Library: classes, resources & tools to help you grow your product business

Are you casting a big enough vision for your brand and are you considering all of the different ways to attract new customers and diversify your revenue streams as an artist? Today's guest dreamed big from the start—she modeled her business off of creative women such as JLo and Oprah, and she wants us to consider doing the same. On today's episode, Kathy Cano-Murillo of the Crafty Chica and I are talking about how consistently showing up authentically, sharing her ups and downs, and having an abundant mindset have led to the successful career that she has today. We talked about how she has diversified revenue streams and how she attracts customers, collaborations and partnerships. We also discuss Kathy's success with elevating awareness of Latino culture, heritage and her success and expanding access to these products available year round, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month. Kathy is a firecracker and a great example of a seasoned business owner who shows up diligently and consistently does the work and is now reaping the rewards. Today's episode is brought to you by LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/276

Are your marketing & sales efforts focused on customer acquisition or customer retention? This quarter inside of Proof to Product LABS, we've been focused on sales strategies with an eye towards customer retention. Meaning, how do we get our existing customers to buy more frequently and in higher volume; and how do we get them to refer their friends? In October, I led a training on customer retention that included some eye opening statistics about why it is so incredibly important to focus on keeping our existing customers happy and I shared specific strategies for how to nurture those relationships. Today's podcast episode folds nicely into this discussion topic—we pulled an excerpt from a past coffee chat inside of LABS with Jordan Kentris of A Good Day where we talked about enhancing our online customer experience and the steps a customer takes as they interact with us online. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS program. We hope you enjoyed this peek into one of our most popular Coffee Chats inside of Proof to Product LABS. Coffee chats in general are some of our best attended events because members get to share their knowledge, experiences and expertise with each other. Plus, we leave time for live Q&A, connection and collaboration. At Proof to Product, we truly believe that the more we share with one another the faster our individual businesses will grow—and these events are a piece of that. If you want to learn more about Proof to Product LABS, check out the full coffee chat with Jordan, or watch the trainings we mentioned by Myrna and Jessica head to prooftoproduct.com/labs. JOIN THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/275

When we allocate our time, money, energy and effort in specific areas of our business, we are guaranteed to see growth. For 2022, Ashley Jankowski of the Typeset Co chose to invest in and focus their marketing efforts on SEO and the results have paid off. They've seen over 600% more visitors to their website and their email subscribers have grown. In this episode we're talking about how The Typeset markets their products including why she's investing in video, stop-motion video, SEO and copywriting support. We talk at length about why Ashley prioritized SEO for the business in 2022, what the process has been like, changes she made on her blog and to her product listing, plus she shares current results and next steps in their plans. If you haven't listened to Part 1 of this 2-part series with Ashley, I encourage you to go back and listen to episode 273. In part 1 we talked about how she found her overseas manufacturing partners, what that process was like and lessons she's learned along the way. We also talked about how she has strategically expanded into new product categories. Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. If you've ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you. GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/274 The SEO for Product Based Businesses training replay mentioned in today's episode with Jessica Freeman is available for LABS members. You can find it in our Resources & Tools section within the LABS community.

Manufacturing partners aren't simple or easy to find, but it becomes even more complex when you're trying to manufacture complex products that are best created overseas. In this episode, Ashley Jankowski joins us to share how she shifted from a branding agency into a product-based business, along with the journey to exploring manufacturers overseas. Today's episode is brought to you by LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/273

Do you have a product idea that has never existed before? If so, you may be wondering what it takes to bring an entirely new product to market or how to find suppliers and manufacturers. How do you market and sell something that no one has ever heard about? Kristina Schlegel of Make Bake faced these questions and concerns when she created edible stickers. In today's episode, she's taking us behind the scenes of how she broke into a new category, challenges she faced with packaging, and how she sourced her manufacturing! Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. If you've ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you. GRAB THE GUIDE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/272 If you're currently feeling stretched thin, needing to refocus within your business, or you just want to connect with other product makers who are starting and scaling their sales and marketing, come join us in Proof to Product LABS. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST

Are the tasks and projects that you have going on in your business leaving you feeling overwhelmed? In today's episode, I'm sharing how to reduce that overwhelm by deciding where to focus your time and energy, and identify areas where we can delegate responsibilities within our business. If you've been nervous to hire or delegate in your business, this episode is for you! Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand masterclass, Deciding What to Delegate in Three Simple Steps, which will teach you how to quickly and easily hone in on tasks that you can delegate to somebody else within your business. Grab free access to this class inside our resource library! GET ACCESS NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/271 If you have ever wanted to pick my brain, or get my eyes and ears on your business, Proof to Product LABS is the place to do it. We have monthly group coaching calls and a wide range of On Demand training specifically for product based business owners. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST

Is a retail store an avenue you've been wanting to explore in your product-based business? Lisa DiVito of Tiramisu Paperie joins us today to share her own experience in opening a retail store as an additional revenue stream to her already successful wholesale business. Listen in as she shares what she's learned through the process and shares advice for anyone looking to open a brick-and-mortar store. Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. If you've ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you. GRAB THE GUIDE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/270 If you're currently feeling stretched thin, needing to refocus within your business, or you just want to connect with other product makers who are starting and scaling their sales and marketing, come join us in Proof to Product LABS. We'll be opening up the doors again at the end of the year and everyone on our waitlist will get early access to secure your seat. JOIN THE WAITLIST

It's not often that we hear from product makers and businesses that are selling 100% retail here on the podcast, but at McKinnon Collective, Danella Ruth McKinnon and her husband have done over 150 retail markets since 2019 and their experience in this space comes with so much value! In today's episode, Danella is sharing why they don't sell wholesale for their handmade leather bags and how she's found success at retail markets, including her tips for standing out, merchandising, and inventory. Listen in as she highlights how they've also decided to incorporate an e-commerce store into their holiday sales with a limited time run over 4 days this November. Today's episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide which will help you map out a year's worth of marketing emails in under an hour. If you've ever struggled with what to say or how many emails to send to either your wholesale or Direct to Consumer customers, then this tool is for you. GRAB THE GUIDE You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/269 If you enjoyed today's episode, Danella will be leading a coffee chat on October 19th where she'll answer all your burning questions about exhibiting at markets inside of LABS, our 12-month group coaching program that was built for product based business owners who want to streamline their systems and revenue. If you're not a member, make sure you're on the waitlist for when we open enrollment! JOIN THE WAITLIST

If you're looking to develop a strong product line for your business, I highly encourage you to stay away from assorted products. While some brands can make them work well, I highly despise them. In today's episode, I'm sharing exactly why assorted products can hurt your business and why you should consider discontinuing any assorted products in your product line. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/268 Today's episode is brought to you by our free Is Wholesale Right for You? Masterclass! During this class, I'll walk you through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if your products and your business are ready to sell wholesale, plus I'll provide tips so that you can move forward with confidence in your next steps. Get access to this free masterclass inside our resources library! GET FREE ACCESS NOW