Day 1 Deal: Retailer Roundtable Interview Series for $17 http://prooftoproduct.com/bfdeals  ____________ Our biggest sale of the year is happening this week! 5 days. 5 Deals. ​ Each day brings an exclusive offer available for just 24 hours. Mon, Nov 25: Retailer Roundtable interview series for just $17! Tues, Nov 26: Paper Camp early access & extended payment plan! Wed, Nov 27: Production Planner & Profitability Calculator Bundle Thurs, Nov 28: 1-1 Coaching Spots only 4 available Fri, Nov 29: LABS Annual Membership with recurring discount! ALL WEEK: First 5 people to apply for the Advisory Board mastermind receive $6,000 off and a free 1-1 strategy session. Apply here: http://prooftoproduct.com/ab-application  Once the deal is gone, it’s gone. Make sure to grab them before time runs out! http://prooftoproduct.com/bfdeals

Today on the podcast, I have the pleasure of talking about sales reps with Kelly Bristol from Just Got 2 Have It. I can't believe it's taken me this long to have Kelly on the show because we have known each other for a very long time, and she has a wide range of knowledge that I'm excited for you to hear.  She is the Vice President of Business Development at Just Got 2 Have It, a B2B sales rep agency with 5 divisions serving 36 states. Kelly is an accomplished senior leader with nearly 25 years of experience in the gift and home industry. She has experience working at the National Stationery Show, Dallas Market Center, Brandwise, and Market Time, as well as Purchasing Power Plus, a hospital gift-buying group.  She's a board member for Gift for Life, the gift and home industry's longest-running volunteer-led national charitable organization. She is a founding partner of the new industry movement called Reps Are Local Too.  During this episode, we talk about the ever-evolving retail landscape, the importance of strategic planning, shifts in buying patterns, and the continued need for community over competition within the industry. We also discuss emerging trends and challenges posed by platforms like Faire, as well as the importance of sales reps' local market knowledge and how that can benefit brands. Also, we talk about how brands can successfully navigate the competitive space and utilize sales reps for more sales. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/370  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

I'm coming to you on the heels of having a cold, and I'm here to remind you to take care of yourself. A lot is going on in the United States this week.  Plus, this time of year is hectic for all of my product-based business owners. I know you are working so hard and are likely wearing yourself out. I thought now would be a good time to share simple ways to practice self-care before and during a busy season. 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. We have 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/369  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Earlier this year, we conducted a state of the product industry survey. We had 925 people respond. We found that 15% of respondents are not utilizing email marketing to reach their audiences. My jaw fell to the floor! I've talked about why email marketing is so important in previous episodes. The number surprised me because email marketing has the highest ROI of all marketing channels. For every dollar that you put into email marketing, you can expect an average rate of return of $42, which is bananas.  You won't get that with social media or even sometimes paid ads. Email marketing is also one of the best ways to build trust with your customers so that they come back time and time again to order with you.  I have been shouting the importance of email marketing for years, but, today, I wanted to let our friends at Flodesk explain why email marketing is so important, what data you should be paying attention to, and overlooked opportunities when it comes to email marketing.  My guest today is Dawn Richardson. She is the product education manager at Flodesk. She also runs her own business called Tech Savvy Creative. Dawn has a background in software engineering, and then she was in wedding photography. Now, she's back in the world of tech where she's helping creative entrepreneurs of all types. Her mission is to create a safe, fun, and welcoming corner of the Internet where entrepreneurs can learn how to leverage technology so they can spend more time doing work that matters most. You can try out Flodesk by going to our affiliate link at http://prooftoproduct.com/flodesk.  This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/368  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I feel like today's guest needs no introduction, but it would be a complete disservice to not share all of his accolades.  Today, I'm talking with Seth Godin. He's an author, entrepreneur, and most of all, a teacher.  In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 22 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and This is Marketing, which was an instant bestseller in countries around the world.  His newest book, This is Strategy: Make Better Plans releases this week and offers readers a practical framework for what an effective strategy looks like and feels like in today's fast-moving chaotic, and diverse world. This strategy allows readers to zoom out and see the bigger picture and understand the systems that are shaping their lives at work, in business, and day-to-day challenges.  Seth contends that by recognizing and mastering these systems and prioritizing long-term thinking over instant gratification, we can make smart, purposeful choices today that will lead to long-term growth. In my conversation with Seth, he shares his motivation for writing this book, the four elements that are critical for an effective strategy, and the importance of identifying and connecting with our smallest viable audience. On a personal note, when I started my product business in 2008, Seth's work was a major catalyst in helping me gain marketing momentum. He has a no-nonsense approach. He's concise and clear with his thoughts, and that resonates and gets your wheels turning, which you will hear in today's episode. 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. We have 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/367  This episode contains affiliate links. You can view our affiliate disclaimer here. Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Is it harder to start a business or scale a business? This was a question that someone posed over on Threads recently, and it got my wheels turning.  In 2024, scaling is harder. It is easy to start a business these days. However, most don't have the grit to keep going long-term and scale the business.  During this episode, I dive into why it’s easier to start a business in 2024 but harder to scale a business. I touch on how different marketing is these days, the differences between finding manufacturing partners now vs in the past, changes in technology, decision fatigue, and more. 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. We have 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/366  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Have you ever sold out of your inventory in a few days? Today's guest did that when they were launching their embroidery kits to the wholesale market through Faire.  Riki Inge of Rikrack had stocked up inventory. She'd prepped her Faire shop. She went live, and everything completely sold out in just a few days. While most people would see this as a good problem, it highlighted a lot of issues with Riki's packaging, her product details, and even her fulfillment workflow. And she's here today to share her story with us, how she navigated that situation and came out ahead.    Rikrack Embroidery creates kits that are not only beautiful and unique, but also fun and simple to stitch, as well as embroidery-inspired gifts that she's recently expanded into. Riki created embroidery art in college but stopped stitching while working as an in-house artist for more than 18 years. Rikrack combines the love of art making with the fun of embroidery to design kits that allow anyone to create their own special piece of art.  On today's episode, Riki shares why she felt like she was starting over when she moved from selling direct to consumer to selling wholesale. We talk about the challenges she faced and the solutions that she implemented when she sold out of all of her inventory in just a few days when launching wholesale. And we talk about why slow, steady, and intentional outsourcing have served Riki well in growing her business. 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. If you have ever wanted to pick my brain or get my eyes and ears on your business, our LABS coaching program is the place to do that. One of our founding members, Cedric Victor of Special Orbit, said it best. He said: if you don't want to find out months or years down the line that there was a better way to run your business, get in LABS. We are constantly talking, figuring things out together, and sharing hard-won insights.  Cedric, thank you so much for this. I could not agree with you more. LABS is a special community that includes a wide range of product makers like Riki, our guest today. We have 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/365  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I am excited to share today's episode with you because we have a fun guest. It's Brock Johnson.  If you're not familiar with Brock, he is an Instagram expert who has coached thousands of entrepreneurs and creators on how to grow on Instagram, and he's been doing it since 2018. In 2021, his personal following blew up, thanks to his strategy of using Reels, and he has grown at a rate of approximately 1,000 followers per day since then. He now has over 700,000 followers. He consults with Meta and Instagram staff and is an international keynote speaker on all things Instagram. During the interview, we discussed the emerging platform of Threads and how he's using it for business. Fun fact: Threads is actually how Brock and I got connected. (You can follow Brock here on Threads and Proof to Product here on Threads!) He shares how to optimize your Instagram profile, how to create share-worthy content, and how to balance content creation with all of the other tasks that you have to do in your business. We also chat about tools that he's using, like Metricool (affiliate link) and ManyChat (affiliate link).   I wanted to bring Brock on the show because our recent industry survey showed that Instagram is one of the primary marketing channels that many of our product based business owners are using, and I thought this advice would be super valuable to you.  If you're interested in reading the 2024 State of the Product Industry Survey Report, click here to download it.  Over 925 product brands participated in this survey, and they shared intimate details about their businesses. We're talking money, team, how much they're working, how they're retaining and attracting new customers. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/364  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

We are back with another compilation episode with our Paper Camp coaches. If you missed last week’s episode, you can check it out by going to episode 362.  In this episode, I'm taking a different approach and asking a different set of questions. These questions are directly aimed at our coaches who are wholesale buyers that run retail storefronts. Today's questions focus on tips for pitching products to buyers and building wholesale relationships between stores and brands. Last week we wrapped up the 44th round of Paper Camp, and I am so grateful to these coaches for providing so much personalized feedback to our students. Myself and our coaches were in our community group every day answering questions, sharing solutions, and connecting with our students. So many of our students have already updated their pricing and their terms and conditions. They've created catalogs. They're sending out their first wholesale pitches.  Some have completely revamped their retention strategies and how they're reaching out to existing accounts too. It has been so fun to see the transformations in such a short amount of time.  The coaches featured in this episode are Theresa Delaney of Creative Kind and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie. Both have retail storefronts and purchase products from members of our community. Questions I asked these Paper Camp coaches: What is the best way that you like to be pitched by a brand?  How do you not want to be pitched by a brand?  What is something that you see brands worrying about that doesn't really affect your buying decisions? Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.  Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions.  We won’t be offering another round of Paper Camp until 2025 so if you are listening to this episode and you missed this round, be sure to get on the waitlist by clicking the link below. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/363  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We are in the final week of our signature program, Paper Camp. In Paper Camp, we teach product-based business owners how to get their products on the shelves of their favorite stores, big and small. Paper Camp is an insanely comprehensive coaching program focusing on foundational and growth strategies for selling wholesale.  During Paper Camp, we answer hundreds of business owners' questions about product development, sales, marketing, and more. If it correlates to selling wholesale, we cover it in this program.  This week on the podcast, we thought it would be fun to ask a few of our Paper Camp coaches questions that we could share with all of you here and give you an inside look at what it's like being inside a Paper Camp and asking very personal questions about your brands.  The coaches featured in this episode are Theresa Delaney of Creative Kind, Kiwi Schloffel of Your Gal Kiwi, and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie. Questions I asked these Paper Camp coaches: What is something you struggled with when you started selling wholesale that you also see our Paper Camp students struggling with? We had a lot of great questions during the first week of Paper Camp, which was focused on product development. What advice do you have for brands that are working on refining and strengthening their product line? What is a missed opportunity for wholesale brands when it comes to how they are presenting their work to stores? What is something you wish more brands would celebrate when growing their wholesale sales? Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.    Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions.  We won’t be offering another round of Paper Camp until 2025 so if you are listening to this episode and you missed this round, be sure to get on the waitlist by clicking the link below. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/362  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I love staying connected to our community while they're out exhibiting or attending trade shows throughout the year. One update that caught my eye this summer was from Biff Ulm of Nice Enough Stickers about his experience at the Las Vegas gift show. Now Biff is no stranger to the podcast. He's been sharing tips about leveraging point-of-sale systems back on episode 146, and we did a COVID check-in with him during episode 177 where he shared how things were going for his brick-and-mortar shop at the time. Biff and I had a lot to catch up on in this episode, but one thing that stood out was that his observations at the Las Vegas gift show were about product development strategy. He has much to say about it, and I'm excited for you to listen in.  For background, Biff’s stickers are now in over 3000 stores with 8,000 locations, so he knows a thing or two about creating products that people want to buy. Biff also owns a wildly successful retail shop, which provides him with a unique viewpoint as both a wholesale buyer and seller.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of patience, iteration, and customer feedback in developing successful products. We also discuss how to leverage data and understand buying behaviors. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/361  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Is it possible to have a thriving business and not be on social media? In episode 309, Brigida Swanson from Yardia joined me to discuss what it was like for her to leave social media.  We talked a lot about choosing contentment over business growth, and this episode was a listener favorite. We decided to invite Brigida back onto the podcast to check in and see how things are going 1 year later.  Brigida Swanson is a multiracial Chamorro watercolor artist from Seattle and the one-woman show behind her company, YARDIA. She creates watercolor-driven and Pacific Northwest-inspired art, stationery, and home goods that help folks to express their intersectional identities and love the places they live. During this interview, we discussed how her business has thrived without the constant scroll. We talked about the positive impact the shift has made on her personal life and how her focused efforts on email newsletters and direct outreach for wholesale have helped her expand. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, 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

We have all heard that we need to showcase our authentic selves for our businesses, but what does that actually mean? What does that look like in our business?  This week's podcast episode features a recent portion of a coffee chat hosted by Kiwi Schloffel held inside of our private LABS program. LABS is our membership for product-based business owners where we talk about how to work smarter, not harder within our businesses, including how we show up as a leader.  In this coffee chat, Kiwi touches on a variety of topics, such as the importance of staying true to your brand's identity, how to use personal interest to inject authenticity into your business, and more.  This week's podcast episode is brought to you by Kodi Collective, who is also a sponsor of our Paper Camp program. Kodi Collective is a leading omnichannel marketing company that supports B2C and B2B brands and publications. They offer a wide range of print, procurement, and creative production solutions, including digital and offset printing, sourcing, and logistics. They are focused on helping you achieve an integrated marketing mix to reach your audience in meaningful ways. You can learn more about Kodi's services by going to their website.  All of our Paper Camp and LABS students get access to a private Proof to Product portal with Kodi, where they get discounted rates on print services and a dedicated sales rep to help us with all of our project management.  They provide support throughout the process of getting your project off the ground. So if you are looking for a new print partner, our community has had great experiences working with Kodi Collective. And if you missed our latest round of Paper Camp, click here to get on the waitlist for our next round. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/359  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We are gearing up for our next round of Paper Camp and we are so excited!  This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun for this week's podcast episode to celebrate this milestone and the fact that enrollment for Paper Camp is currently open.  I asked our past Paper Camp students to answer 1 question: How have you and your business grown since participating in Paper Camp?  The responses we received were incredible. In this episode, you're gonna hear from 9 women who represent a small sampling of our community. They sell a wide range of home decor, jewelry, embroidery, stationery, and consumer gift products. They sell their products to stores big and small across the world. Some came through Paper Camp several years ago while a couple just attended our latest round, and yet each of them took advantage of everything that Paper Camp had to offer: the coaching, the community, and the coursework.  They implemented what they learned, and now they are seeing incredible results. Check out the links of everyone featured below and be sure to head to this link to enroll in our next round of Paper Camp.  Businesses featured in this episode Chelsea Ward, Sketchy Notions: Follow on Instagram Christy Asper, Paper Baristas: Follow on Instagram Riki Inge, Rikrack Embroidery: Follow on Instagram Sandra Alcorn, Petals & Pins: Follow on Instagram Shelley Schmidt, Sunny Day Designs: Follow on Instagram Kate Murray, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress: Follow on Instagram Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey: Follow on Instagram Keli Change, PärdēPress: Follow on Instagram Ashley Sutton, Hustle and Hope: Follow on Instagram You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/358  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

A wholesale catalog’s purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can’t be there with them in person. Ultimately, the goal of your wholesale catalog is to sell your products, and it’s important to build your catalog with your retailer in mind. Today I’m going to go through five quick tips for creating an effective wholesale catalog. Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.  Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for our next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you’ll get early access to enroll. SIGN UP NOW You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/357  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 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 program now! SIGN UP NOW Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Pitching large retailers is a completely different process and timeline than working with independent retailers. Having worked with thousands of brands, I know that it can feel like an intimidating process to pitch your work to these key accounts.  Today on the podcast, we're pulling back the curtain and explaining how it all works. My guest today is Sally Diguette, a home and lifestyle buyer with Anthropologie. Through an unpredictable path, Sally landed in the retail industry and has over 14 years of experience in buying, product development, and sourcing.  Sally is an innovative merchant and consultant. She centers her work around relationship building and creative strategy, combining unique product development and sourcing from national brands across a variety of categories. Her passion lies in working with emerging brands in an incubator capacity to build fresh product offerings, solid organizational systems, and a strong team structure. On today's episode, Sally shares about the buying process and schedule for Anthropologie. We talk specifically about the timelines that she's working with for both exclusive products as well as ready made products. And she offers advice for how to get your products in front of key account buyers. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/355  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

When we have our eyes set on a specific business goal, something like selling wholesale, it is incredibly beneficial to hear from people who are a few steps ahead of us in the process, which is why we close out every round of our Paper Camp program with an alumni panel. I want our students to hear from their peers. In today's podcast episode, we're sharing a portion of our alumni roundtable with all of you.  This alumni panel features Janine Kwoh from Kwohtations, Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company, and Lucia Saisse Morris from Lucy Loves Paper.  Each of these Paper Camp alumni shares details about their brand, how many stores they're working with, what has been challenging about growing wholesale, and more.  Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.  Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for the next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you’ll get early access to enroll. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

If you’re listening today that means you’re likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here at Proof to Product and we give back through our time, knowledge as well as financial scholarships. Since 2011, we’ve awarded over $275,000+ in scholarship funds to creative entrepreneurs who sell physical products to the wholesale market. These brands had big dreams of seeing their products on the shelves of their favorite stores and they have obtained huge results. These scholarships are a big deal and we treat them that way. We typically have anywhere from 80-90 scholarship applications every round of Paper Camp. My team and I dedicate several days to view all the videos, read the applications, review websites, and ultimately whittle it down to one full tuition scholarship winner. It’s never an easy choice, but we do put a lot of care into our selections. And, today I want to share 5 ways that you can stand out when submitting your Paper Camp application. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/353   Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

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 You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/352  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

It is so deflating when we put our work out into the world and either don't hear back or we're told that now isn't the right time. Our students feel this deeply when they are pitching wholesale accounts, but today's guest is reminding us that a no today doesn't always mean that it's a no forever.  Nellys Syria is the owner of Cocoa Loves Grey, a colorful accessories brand that sells very popular and beautiful laser-cut earrings. Nellys believes in the power of bright colors to draw people in and make them happy. She's always coming up with fun and unique items to keep her business fresh and interesting. She's a 1st generation Latina and the 1st business owner in her entire family. Nellys sells her earrings to both direct-to-consumer audiences and wholesale and her product line expanded when her husband bought a laser cutter for Christmas. We talk about how her dream store originally told her no, but eventually came back to purchase her gorgeous earrings. Nellys shares how she was on the verge of burnout, but pushed pause to reset how she was running her business. 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/351  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Today's episode is short but very detailed, so find a quiet place to listen and grab a notebook. This is a quick training that I recorded for our LABS members. Our LABS members are Paper Camp alumni, so they have been through our intensive program. This is something that we walk you through in Paper Camp as well, but I wanted to bring it up here publicly on the podcast because I know from the 2024 survey results that many of you need to do a product audit.  In this episode, I walk you through the step-by-step instructions on how to audit your product line, including how to collect the data and what data to collect, analysis and what to look for, as well as how to apply what you're learning from the data to your business moving forward.   Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.  Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for our next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you’ll get early access to enroll. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/350  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I love bringing a variety of perspectives and people from the retail space to this podcast. Buyers, sales reps, you name it, they've been on the Proof to Product podcast.  This week's episode, I'm joined by Keli Faw, who is the owner of Crow & Canary. Crow & Canary might sound familiar as we've had the previous owner, Carina Murray, on the show in episode 232. Carina has also been a long-time Paper Camp speaker and supporter of our Proof to Product community.  Keli took over Crow & Canary in early 2023 after being a sales rep for the agency and a shop owner in Seattle. With over 13 years of experience as a retailer and a background in communications and PR, including stints at Microsoft and Nordstrom, Keli brings a wealth of knowledge to our conversation. In this episode, Keli shares the challenges retailers face, from managing seasonal returns to making strategic buying decisions. We discuss the impacts of online platforms like Faire and Amazon on the wholesale markets and why there needs to be transparency and strong communication between buyers, reps, and brands.  Keli also shares her insights on navigating the sales rep relationship amidst the changes brought on by the pandemic and social media and the importance of understanding individual store dynamics and product diversification. Whether you are a retailer, a sales rep, or a brand owner, this episode offers valuable takeaways on optimizing those wholesale relationships and staying proactive in your business planning. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/349  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

If you want to hear from someone who has more than 18 years of corporate retail buying experience and who knows what buyers are looking for when they are shopping on Faire, you are in luck because today's guest on the podcast is Kristin Fisher of Bocu.  Kristin owns the gifting brand, Bocu, and she is also a retail strategy mentor for brands and independent retailers, as well as the host of the Buyerside Chat podcast.  In this episode, Kristin and I discuss the essentials of optimizing your Faire shop, including how to avoid common mistakes that other brands are making, maintain strong buyer relationships, and stay ahead of your competitors with effective pricing. Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.  Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for the 44th round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you’ll get early access to enroll. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/348  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

The Proof to Product team is practicing what we preach and we are going on summer break for the next two weeks! We will be back in your ears mid-July and we are so excited about our upcoming episodes.  In the meantime, we are gearing up for another round of our Paper Camp program which will start at the end of August. We only run Paper Camp twice a year, so if you are wanting to learn how to start with wholesale, click here to join the waitlist (we sell out every time!)  Have a great two weeks and we'll see you soon!

Every day, I hear from product-based business owners who are curious about other people's business models, revenue streams, team structure, tech stack, how much revenue they're not only earning but what profit they're taking home, and how much they're paying themselves.  Although we know that every business is different, it is completely natural to want to see behind the scenes and the curtains of another brand in your industry. But more than ever, it's more than curiosity now. We know that our product industry has experienced major shifts over the last several years.  We've had supply chain issues, rising costs, and labor shortages. Everyone has been pivoting and recalibrating, and that has led to a lot of new normals. We're experiencing an entire shift in the industry and I know you wanted to know what was happening in the industry.  My team and I put together an industry-wide survey. We had 925 product-based business owners who anonymously shared their business details with us.  Today, we’re going to dive into the details on the podcast.  You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/347  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

What if you lived in a different state than your business? Meaning, all of your products, your inventory, your team, and your operations were in a completely different state.  For today's guest, Rachel Kroh of Heartell Press, this is her every day now. She lives in Washington with her family, while her team of 5 works remotely across the country. They're shipping cards and gifts to more than 1,000 stores worldwide.  In this episode, Rachel shares how she tripled her revenue by focusing on selling wholesale, strengthening her systems, and building the infrastructure of her business. Plus, Rachel reflects on the challenges of relocating her business, the impact of her art on emotional expression, and her exciting plans for the future, including a 10-year anniversary collection.  She is one of our Paper Camp alumni and also one of our LABS members. 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/346  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We've been telling you a lot of stories here on the podcast about brands making big scary shifts in business, and part of the reason we're doing this is to normalize that it's okay to pivot when you need to.  In episode 342, Alyson O'Connor shared how she shut down a 6-figure revenue stream so she could focus on a revenue stream wholesale that better fit the day-to-day life she wanted. In episode 338, Kiwi Schloffel shared how she made the tough decision to exit her business, and Meghan Hopkins Sokorai talked about why she chose to acquire Kiwi's business.  On this week’s episode, Janine Kwoh of Kwohtations is back on the show to talk about some big shifts she recently made to her product line to ensure that her business was not only more sustainable but also easier for her to manage.  Janine is the owner and designer of Kwohtations, a Brooklyn, New York-based line of letterpress-printed greeting cards and gifts. Kwohtations cards acknowledge and celebrate people and occasions who are often underrepresented in the card aisle. She is also the author of Welcome to the Grief Club, an illustrated book on grief for anyone who has had a loss. Janine is a PaperCamp alumnus and a community leader in our Proof to Product Labs program. She is an award-winning artist, an author, and a great friend to many in the industry. On today's episode, Janine shares how a key account ordered 4,300 hand-painted cards and how that pushed her to retire and rethink her entire product line. She talked about her decision-making process, how she prepared for the changes, and how she communicated these product changes to her customers. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/345  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Running a business sure is a roller coaster, isn't it? We have our ups and downs. We have to balance the future forecasting and envisioning while also putting out the day-to-day fires in front of us.  It takes a lot of grit and determination to be an entrepreneur, particularly when you're building something that aligns with your personal interests and values.  Today's guest is Tammie Bennett from the Show Up Society. Tammie is a certified mindset coach, podcaster, speaker, artist, and educator. She is obsessed with helping creators show up as themselves. For over 15 years, she has helped people accomplish more than they ever thought was possible by teaching them to feel safe in putting their work out into the world. On today's podcast episode, we're talking about normalizing the hard stuff and taking responsibility for our business decisions. We talk about not relying on platforms or algorithms or other people's opinions to drive our business decisions. And Tammie shares why everyone needs a did-it list instead of a to-do list. 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/344  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

A wholesale catalog’s purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can’t be there with them in person. Ultimately, the goal of your wholesale catalog is to sell your products, and it’s important to build your catalog with your retailer in mind. Today I’m going to go through five quick tips for creating an effective wholesale catalog. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/343  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Have you ever wanted to make a transition in your business, but you resisted because the thing you wanted to move away from brought in the largest chunk of revenue for your business? I have definitely been there, and so has today's podcast guest.  Alyson O'Connor is a classically trained visual artist specializing in nature-inspired illustrations, stationery, and gifts. She runs Rust Belt Love with her husband Nick in Buffalo, New York. Alyson draws and designs, and Nick prints, often on their 100-year-old letterpresses. After closing their retail stationery during the pandemic, they launched their wholesale line of heart center greeting cards and gifts in 2021. Alyson made an even tougher decision to close the wedding arm of her business, which we'll talk about today. Rust Belt Love’s products can now be found in over 1,000 stores worldwide. Alyson is a Paper Camp alum and a member of my Advisory Board mastermind. She's an active member of the Greeting Card Association of America,and she's the committee chair of the industry's Louie Awards.  Today, we're talking about how Alyson pivoted away from a 14-year career making custom wedding invitations, and how she replaced her 6-figure custom revenue stream with ready-made products sold to the wholesale market. Alyson candidly discusses the transformation of her business model in response to the challenges that the pandemic brought on, including how and why she embraced a wholesale approach. This strategic shift wasn't just about business survival, though. It was also driven by a desire to regain control over her work-life balance, especially given the demands of family life. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, its only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/342  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We are seeking 1,000 product-based business owners who are willing to anonymously share their details for the 2024 State of the Product Industry Report: www.prooftoproduct.com/2024survey  The data will help you make stronger decisions in your business. It will help you better understand the industry and your competition. It will help you identify growth opportunities. The results will benefit us all. BUT... in order to make this report truly successful, we need you to do the following:  Fill out the State of Product Industry survey at prooftoproduct.com/2024survey Share the survey link with your product peers. In exchange for your participation, we’ll share the report with you when it is ready. All physical product-based business owners are invited to apply. No brand is too big or too small. We want to hear from people making a wide range of products and in various stages of business. Thanks in advance for your participation and for sharing this opportunity with your product peers!

I love using the podcast to spotlight our different community members and their unique businesses and stories because we know that no two businesses are the same. We all have our lived experiences and interests that play into the types of businesses we create and how we choose to run these businesses each day. Today's guest is Paper Camp Alumni Priyanka Batra from My Darlin’, a colorful Brooklyn-based paper goods studio.  Through her work, she aims to romanticize everyday moments through a contemporary, but playful design aesthetic while simultaneously evoking a sense of nostalgia. Priyanka's line has grown steadily since 2019, and her products are now carried in more than 300 stores in the United States plus distribution in Australia.  On today's episode, Priyanka shares her love of fashion and how that influences her products, how growing up the daughter of immigrants influenced her career path, and she talks about overcoming imposter syndrome. We also talk about how she jumped into her first trade show too quickly with only 3 weeks to prepare and the lessons she learned the hard way in that experience. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, its only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/341  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I know what you're thinking. Why are we talking about holiday gift guides when it's only spring? I know. But just like how product development cycles require advanced planning, so does pitching the press and getting your products featured in holiday gift guides.  Today's guest is Nora Wolf from Wolf PR, a boutique public relations firm that she founded in 2011. Wolf PR specializes in furniture, textiles, lighting, and collectible design. In addition, they have consulted with a wide range of companies, big and small. In 2020, Nora and her business partner, Kristen Larson, launched a second business called WolfCraft. WolfCraft's mission is to help creative businesses build brand awareness with actionable PR and content strategies that resonate with clients and the media. Nora is known for helping product-based business owners get their products featured in holiday gift guides.  During this episode, we're talking about your holiday gift guide pitching timeline, what you need to have prepared, and how to put your best products forward when pitching press for holiday gift guides.  If pitching holiday gift guides is something you are focused on for this year, I want to invite you to a free workshop that we're co-hosting with WolfCraft PR on May 7th at 9am PT/12pm ET.  They will share best practices for pitching your products to gift guides and tell you more about their upcoming program that helps you get your products featured in gift guides.  You can click here to register for this free workshop. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/340  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

If you work with independent contractors in your business, you will want to listen closely to this podcast episode. In March 2024, the US Department of Labor issued new stricter guidelines regarding independent contractor workers.  Today's guest is HR consultant and expert, Kira La Forgia of Paradigm Consulting. She is breaking it all down for us so we avoid penalties and audits.  We talk about new changes, how they affect you, and how to protect yourself if you currently have team members who may be misclassified.  You may remember Kira from episode 238 where we talked about how to build your dream team. If you do not yet have a support team in your business, I would start with that episode and then come back and listen to this one next. Kira has a Future-Proof Your Team workshop that you can get $50 off of if you sign up via our link. Today’s episode is brought to you by our Deciding What to Delegate free workshop. As busy entrepreneurs, one of our biggest challenges is knowing where to dedicate our time and energy. We’re usually so busy doing the work in our business that we have a tough time identifying what we can hand off to someone else. This on-demand free workshop will provide you with 3 simple steps so that you can identify what projects to outsource so that you can stop being the bottleneck in your business. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/339  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

If you have ever considered exiting your business or even acquiring another person's business, today's podcast episode is for you. My guests today are two of my clients and also friends: Meghan Hopkins Sokorai of And Here We Are, and Kiwi Schloffel of Your Gal Kiwi.  Last year, Kiwi made the decision that she wanted to exit her product-based business and specifically exit the day-to-day operations of manufacturing. During this episode, these ladies share their individual and collective stories about how the Your Gal Kiwi brand is now under the umbrella of And Here We Are. They'll share how this collaboration came to be, considerations and questions they both had as they structured this deal, and what it means for both brands moving forward. 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/338  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

One of the things that sets Proof to Product apart from other people teaching about wholesale is the breadth and depth of not only my personal knowledge but also the fact that we bring in a variety of other perspectives from buyers to sales reps to consultants and manufacturers.  This wide lens allows us to share best practices and current trends that we're seeing in the market currently. We're not sharing one narrow viewpoint about how to sell wholesale. We have amassed decades of knowledge through the collaborations and inclusivity that we foster in our community, supporting thousands of product-based industry leaders.  This week’s episode is an example of that. Our guest today is Kimberley Yurkiewicz, a 25-year veteran in the stationery industry. She has expertise from a variety of perspectives as a retailer and buyer, as a sales rep, as a manufacturer, and as a Paper Camp speaker. She's also been a previous guest on this podcast. She was on episode 9 of Proof to Product way back in 2017, and that is still one of our most popular episodes to date. You can go back and listen if you want to hear why wholesale catalogs are an important sales tool.  Kimberley and her husband, Zach currently own Measure Twice, a paper and gift shop in Brooklyn, which was highlighted as one of New York City's best in New York Magazine last year. Kimberley has long been a proponent of an old-school approach to small business, cheerleading for brick and mortar, and making the effort to steer clear of Amazon. She also thinks it's okay, even essential, to include politics in your business plan.  On today's episode, Kimberley is sharing the challenges she faced having owned and operated 3 brick and mortar retail shops through challenging times, why she chooses not to use fair when making wholesale purchases, and her preferences for how she likes to be pitched by wholesale brands. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, its only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/337  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Did you know that almost 70% of shoppers abandon their online shopping carts and don't follow through with a sale?  That means that only 3 out of 10 of your customers who go to your website and load up their shopping cart complete their purchase. The same report from Baymard Institute said that more than $18,000,000,000 in e-commerce sales are lost annually due to abandoned carts. That is a whole lot of money. And yet, only some independent product brands are utilizing abandoned cart follow-up emails to recapture some of these sales.  On today's episode, I'm answering a question from our recent round of Paper Camp regarding abandoned cart email automations. If you have ever shied away from sending out these emails, you are going to want to listen to this one and rethink your strategy. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, its only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/336  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Our focus here at Proof to Product is teaching people how to successfully sell their products to the wholesale market. But many of our community members sell through multiple sales channels, including licensing, custom work, direct-to-consumer online sales, and in-person retail markets.  For today's episode, we're sharing a portion of a recent coffee chat that we hosted inside our LABS program. It was a roundtable on in-person retail markets, and we had 3 of our community members weighing in with their experiences and insights.  Today, you'll hear from Emily Chiang of Emii Creations, Danella McKinnon from McKinnon Collective, and Kate Pinto from Bean Horse Car Designs. They are sharing their thoughts surrounding the changing landscape in in-person retail markets, along with their best strategies, tips, and advice for people who are considering retail markets. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, 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 http://prooftoproduct.com/335  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

The last time Brittany O'Brien was on the podcast was back in 2022, and we were talking about how she scaled her business to 500 wholesale accounts. Earlier this year, Brittany crossed a new milestone. Her products are now sold in over 1,000 stores, and today, we're going to dig into what the last year and a half has looked like for her. Specifically, we're talking about customer acquisition versus customer retention strategies, fair SEO, and how trade shows have played a part in her substantial growth.  Brittany is a New York City-based illustrator and the owner of the stationery and gift company, Brittany Paige. Originally a graphic designer in the corporate fashion world, she started her business as a side hustle while working full-time.  In addition to working on custom illustrations, she also creates witty and empowered goods for the unapologetic girl, including greeting cards, stickers, candles, pen sets, and more. Her products are inspired by current events, city living, and pop culture, and they can be found in over 1,000 retailers worldwide, including Macy's and Paper Source. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/334  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We have shared many incredible business growth stories here on the Proof to Product podcast. One thing that I always try to emphasize is that business is not one size fits all. Every business will look different, operate differently, and have different goals they're working towards. To build a profitable, successful long-term business, we have to be very intentional about the choices that we make. And that includes where we invest our funds, what type of support we bring into our business, the types of products we manufacture, and the revenue streams that we focus on.  Today's guest is Beth Roszkowski, the one-woman show behind Tiny Hooray, a small but mighty enterprise based in Arlington, Virginia. Beth creates stationery and gifts that say what we're thinking, but may not wanna say out loud. It's the tiny hoorays that keep us going each day and keep us connected to our people. She's a Paper Camp alumni and a member of my advisory board mastermind. Wholesale is Beth's primary revenue stream, and she's currently working with sales reps and 300 stores, including key accounts and independent retailers.  On today's episode, Beth shares her business journey, why she doesn't want to hire employees, and how she's utilizing independent contractors for project-based and ongoing support for her business. Today’s episode is brought to you by our Deciding What to Delegate free workshop. As busy entrepreneurs, one of our biggest challenges is knowing where to dedicate our time and energy. We’re usually so busy doing the work in our business that we have a tough time identifying what we can hand off to someone else. This on-demand free workshop will provide you with 3 simple steps so that you can identify what projects to outsource so that you can stop being the bottleneck in your business. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/333  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Last week on episode 331, you met my friends Ginny and Elli from the Supported CEO. They very candidly shared their stories of experiencing burnout in entrepreneurship, including what that was like, what they felt, and they shared their journey back from burnout and what they did to get to where they are today.  Today is part 2 in the discussion with Elli and Ginny, and they are sharing strategies and tactics to help you avoid burnout and rebuild self-confidence and trust.  You will learn what support pockets are and how to use them in your daily living to ease stress and protect your peace.  You can sign up for their free training on how to burnout proof your business by going to this link: https://supportedceo.com/burnout Today's episode is brought to you by a brand new page on our website, where you can access our free and lower-priced products. Head to http://prooftoproduct.com/courses to learn more.  We want to make it easy for you to get the help that you need when you need it most. We have incredible resources including our wholesale audio series or our unlock buyer secrets interview series which sheds light on how the wholesale buying cycles and retailer buying preferences have changed (and is only $27!). SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/332  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

The topic of burnout is popping up a lot in my business circles. People are tired, and they are struggling with decision fatigue. Many people I talk to are questioning whether to even continue with their business or whether they should make an exit, but these types of conversations typically happen behind closed doors, or worse, they don't happen at all, and people end up struggling alone in silence, which is not what I want for any of you. That all changes today.  Ginny Krauss and Elli Runkles are sharing their journey back from burnout on the podcast. What it felt like, how they knew something needed to change, what type of help they sought out, and how they've gotten to their recovery point today where they're helping other business owners.  We also discuss decision fatigue, building self-trust as a business owner, and how your definition of “success” as a business owner can change over time. Ginny Krauss and Elli Runkles are the cofounders of Supported CEO. Their mission is to help busy entrepreneurs thrive in both life and business without burning out by becoming a more supported version of themselves. Ginny and Elli have over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience. Both of them had previous businesses before coming together to cofound Supported CEO in 2023. They are also both Americans who have had the unique experience of living abroad for over a decade. Ginny lives in Germany, and Elli lives in Portugal. They are also the hosts of the Supported CEO podcast.  Today's episode is brought to you by a brand new page on our website, where you can access our free and lower-priced products. Head to http://prooftoproduct.com/courses to learn more.  We want to make it easy for you to get the help that you need when you need it most. We have incredible resources including our wholesale audio series or our unlock buyer secrets interview series which sheds light on how the wholesale buying cycles and retailer buying preferences have changed (and is only $27!). SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/331  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

If you're looking for ways to be a stronger leader within your business or you're considering expanding your team, please block off some quiet time to carefully listen today.  Our guest for this episode is Tatiana O'Hara, a team and leadership development consultant who helps successful yet overwhelmed online business owners create the structure needed for their team and daily operations so that they can focus on scaling sustainably.  As a corporate leader turned business coach, she has helped dozens of leaders optimize and build their teams and learn essential leadership skills that have yielded 100 of 1,000 of dollars in sales growth.  Overall, if you're ready to stop being the doer of all the things and you're ready to build a business that doesn't run you, Tatiana is your gal.  In this episode, we're talking about mistakes that folks make when they are hiring, how to identify appropriate KPIs, (key performance indicators for the individual roles you're hiring for), and how to have tough conversations when managing a team.  Tatiana also shares her personal story of laying off her higher team after having her first baby last year. It's a relatable story about how life circumstances shifted her priorities and her goals for the business, something I'm sure many of us have experience with. Today’s episode is brought to you by our Deciding What to Delegate free workshop. As busy entrepreneurs, one of our biggest challenges is knowing where to dedicate our time and energy. We’re usually so busy doing the work in our business that we have a tough time identifying what we can hand off to someone else. This on-demand free workshop will provide you with 3 simple steps so that you can identify what projects to outsource so that you can stop being the bottleneck in your business. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/330  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp Deciding What to Delegate free workshop

We are gearing up for the 43rd round of Paper Camp and we are so excited!  This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun for this week's podcast episode to celebrate this milestone and the fact that enrollment for Paper Camp is currently open.  I asked our past Paper Camp students to answer 1 question: How have you and your business grown since participating in Paper Camp?  The responses we received were incredible. In this episode, you're gonna hear from 9 women who represent a small sampling of our community. They sell a wide range of home decor, jewelry, embroidery, stationery, and consumer gift products. They sell their products to stores big and small across the world. Some came through Paper Camp several years ago while a couple just attended our last round in fall 2023, and yet each of them took advantage of everything that Paper Camp had to offer: the coaching, the community, and the coursework.  They implemented what they learned, and now they are seeing incredible results. Check out the links of everyone featured below and be sure to head to this link to enroll in the 43rd round of Paper Camp. Class starts on Monday, February 19th! Businesses featured in this episode Chelsea Ward, Sketchy Notions: Follow on Instagram Christy Asper, Paper Baristas: Follow on Instagram Riki Inge, Rikrack Embroidery: Follow on Instagram Sandra Alcorn, Petals & Pins: Follow on Instagram Shelley Schmidt, Sunny Day Designs: Follow on Instagram Kate Murray, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress: Follow on Instagram Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey: Follow on Instagram Keli Change, PärdēPress: Follow on Instagram Ashley Sutton, Hustle and Hope: Follow on Instagram You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/329 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend our Paper Camp program? If so, today's episode is for you!  I am sharing an inside peek into one of our Paper Camp coaching calls. This one is with Alex Gagne of Chez Gagné. Alex has been a longtime member of our Paper Camp community. When she first attended as a student, she had been in business a little less than 2 years.  She was working out of her living room and had designed a collection of 80 SKUs. Alex knew that wholesale was her end game, so she soaked up everything that Paper Camp had to offer and went home and put what she learned into practice.  As you will hear during the episode, Alex has done an incredible job of thoughtfully expanding her product line with an eye toward profit margins, sell-through rates, and intentional partnerships. We talk about the profit margins that she seeks when adding new product categories to her line. We also discuss discontinuing products and the pros and cons of working with big box retail stores among other things. This is just a tiny sliver of my conversation with Alex, and it's a tiny sliver of what the Paper Camp experience is like. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/328 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

If you’re listening today that means you’re likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here at Proof to Product and we give back through our time, knowledge as well as financial scholarships. Since 2011, we’ve awarded over $275,000+ in scholarship funds to creative entrepreneurs who sell physical products to the wholesale market. These brands had big dreams of seeing their products on the shelves of their favorite stores and they have obtained huge results. These scholarships are a big deal and we treat them that way. We typically have anywhere from 80-90 scholarship applications every round of Paper Camp. My team and I dedicate several days to view all the videos, read the applications, review websites, and ultimately whittle it down to one full tuition scholarship winner. It’s never an easy choice, but we do put a lot of care into our selections. And, today I want to share 5 ways that you can stand out when submitting your Paper Camp application. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/327  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

I have been doing so much good content for other people and I’m doing my best to bring it back around so that you all have access to it and know about these resources. Recently, the team of Aeolidia asked me to weigh in with my thoughts on the changing landscape of wholesale trade shows for their blog. The post features comments from Arianne Foulks of Aeolidia, Abby Glassenbeg of Craft Industry Alliance, Morgan Cros, the founder of Original’s Duckhead, and myself — all of us shedding light on our thoughts about in-person wholesale trade shows as we head into 2024.  I used this post as a starting point for this week’s podcast episode. We’re going to dive deeper into my personal thoughts on the state of wholesale trade shows and elaborate on some of my comments made in the blog post. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.  Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/326  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp