Do you feel like social media is a chore? Many people I talk with find Instagram to be draining but know it’s an important part of their sales and marketing so they keep posting and creating content. But what if using Instagram could be a way for you to begin meaningful conversations with your audience? In this episode, I’m joined by Natasha Samuels, host of The Shine Online Podcast and an Instagram Strategist that helps small businesses shine online. Natasha shares Instagram trends you should pay attention to, how to use video to showcase your products, strategies specifically for product based businesses and why even introverts can create videos with confidence. You'll learn: Instagram trends that are working for product based business owners How to use Videos and Reels to showcase your products Strategies and tools to help you create meaningful content on Instagram For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp222 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Proof to Product

222 | Repurposing Your Instagram Video Content with Natasha Samuels, Shine with Natasha

If you’re like many of the people in our LABS and Paper Camp communities, you’ve probably pondered the idea of opening a brick & mortar shop for your business. In this episode, you’ll hear from Jen Palacio, owner of Tiny Turns Paperie, a brick & mortar shop in Somerville, MA. Jen uncovers what brought her to the idea of opening her own brick & mortar shop and some of the misconceptions people have about having a physical store. She talks about how she intentionally set boundaries and the shifts she made during COVID to ensure her business survived. She also shares her thoughts looking back and why she wishes she had prioritized hiring a team sooner.  You'll learn: The top misconceptions about having a brick & mortar shop Why hiring support is critical to growing your business Shifts she made during COVID that helped her growth For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp221 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

221 | What It Takes to Run A Brick & Mortar Business with Jen Palacio, Tiny Turns Paperie

The upcoming holiday sales season is upon us! The worldwide shipping delays, supply chain issues and labor shortages have been causing some massive challenges for small businesses everywhere, particularly for physical product businesses. Take a listen to hear my 5 action steps you can take to prepare yourself so you don’t face as many disruptions in your sales as we head into the holiday season.  You'll learn: How widespread the supply chain, labor shortage and shipping delay issues are The 5 steps you can take to prepare for the holiday sales season Why clear communication with your customers is so important For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp220 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

220 | Navigating Supply Chain Issues, Shipping Delays and Labor Shortages with Katie Hunt

Think visibility is your problem? It’s probably not! In this episode, I am welcoming back third-time guest, Brittney Lynn, CEO of the Human Connection Agency. We break down the core fears people have about being visible and how to make the most out of your visibility. Brittney drops so many gems from her public relations knowledge about pitching, how to prioritize visibility and why the world needs your message. She and I chat about how PR has been during the pandemic and how you can use PR to reach your goals whether that be growing your brand authority or getting more sales for your business. You'll learn: The 2 primary reasons why visibility isn’t your problem  How to leverage press opportunities to benefit your business Every place you should share your press wins For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp219 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

219 | Visibility Isn’t Your Problem With Brittney Lynn, Human Connection Agency

If you’ve been itching to grow your business then you’ll love today’s inspiring episode with Megan Fowler of Brown Parcel Press. In 2020, Megan’s business exploded and she saw over 300% growth. Even more impressive, just one SKU accounts for over 50% of her business’ annual profits.  In this episode, Megan shares how she leaned into her passion and ultimately started her now thriving business. She talks about her strategies for loving on her customers and how she’s leveraged both our Paper Camp and LABS communities (along with a lot of hard work and determination) to build the business she has today.  You'll learn: Why it’s okay to stand out and not fit the “industry norms” How growth is possible (even during the most challenging years) Why experimentation is a key component to business growth For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp218 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

218 | Over 50% Of Her Annual Profit Comes From One SKU With Megan Fowler, Brown Parcel Press

Whether you’re in the infant stages of your business or you’ve been running it for 10+ years, you might’ve had the thought at one point or another of making an exit. Selling your business can be an appealing thought, but is it right for you? In this week’s episode, I had a conversation with Chelsea Clarke of Blogs for Sale and Her Paper Route. Chelsea explains everything you need to know about selling a business and her tips on how to prepare your business for an eventual sale.  You'll learn: The process of selling a business from listing to closing 5 tips to get your website ready to sell The most common mistake business owners make when selling their business For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp217 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

217 | How to Exit and Sell Your Business with Chelsea Clarke of Blogs for Sale

The messy middle. It’s not a particularly fun place to be in business. It can be fraught with feelings of doubt, fear and imposter syndrome. While at the same time, it is a phase of business where tremendous growth happens and confidence builds. What is the messy middle? The messy middle is when you’re no longer a brand new business owner, eager with optimism and endless energy to tackle your to dos. In the messy middle, you’ve likely seen some success, but you haven’t cracked the code on how to optimize or scale your business and you still have several goals you’re working towards completing. When you’re in the messy middle you’re stretching yourself as an entrepreneur — trying new sales channels, creating new products, developing new systems to streamline and possibly experimenting with hiring help. In the messy middle you’re learning to lead, refining your vision for the business and making an awful lot of decisions day in and day out to keep the business moving forward. The messy middle has its highs and its lows. But a common thread I see amongst small businesses who are in the messy middle is this… They are trying to do too many things at one time. Listen in for encouragement and advice on why focus is what you need, including: - Being in the messy middle is nothing to be ashamed of, and you are definitely not alone. - Sometimes the answer is right in front of us and it is a simpler solution than we realize. Get fresh eyes on your business. - Give yourself space to really assess and identify what you want to accomplish with your business. When you know what you want, you can build a plan. For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp216 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

216 | Feeling Stuck In the Messy Middle? with Katie Hunt

The challenges of running a business can be numerous. For those living with chronic illness, there are even more nuances to navigate, especially when it comes to listening and working with your body’s natural rhythm. In this episode, I was joined by Morgan Swank of Morgan Swank Studio. Morgan is a longtime student of our LABS community and a Paper Camp alumni. She and I discuss what led to her decision to start her paper goods brand. Morgan also gives us insight into what it’s like to be a business owner with a chronic illness and her journey of licensing her products in big retail stores. You'll learn: Why self-awareness and grace are an important part of entrepreneurship How to identify licensing opportunities How time blocking can make you more productive  For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp215 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

215 | Growing a Multi-Faceted Business while Managing a Chronic Illness with Morgan Swank, Morgan Swank Studio

Considering making an exit from your corporate career? If you feel like you’re almost ready to make that jump then you’ll want to take a listen to this episode to know exactly what to prepare for as you make the leap!  In this week’s episode, I chat with Desiree Perez of Paper Anchor. Desiree made this transition herself in January of 2021 and she takes us through her journey of how she knew she was ready to do it, how her experience has been so far and what she’s preparing for now as she is in the process of hiring her first employee.  You'll learn: How to know when you’re ready to take on your business full time What to prepare for when making the transition Tips for hiring your first employee For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp214 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

214 | Leaving a Corporate Career with Desiree Perez, Paper Anchor

Are you ready to put money back into your pocket? In this episode, I am uncovering how you can do just that by increasing your products’ profit margins.  I will walk you through everything that you need to know about profit margins from a micro-level. As a business owner, you’ll want to observe the profit margins for many reasons but it can be especially important when it comes to knowing what sells, what should be discontinued and to help fuel your strategic decision-making. You'll learn: What profit margins are  Why you should pay attention to your products’ profit margins 4 ways that you can increase your product profit margins For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp213 For more support with your wholesale marketing & sales strategies, check out Paper Camp at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp

213 | 4 Ways To Increase Your Product Profit Margins With Katie Hunt

Storytelling is such a powerful way to connect with your customers. Our current and prospective customers want to know the people behind the brand, why you make the products you do and what your brand stands for. In this week's all new episode of Proof to Product, I chat with Michelle Knight of Brandmerry. She takes us on the path to discovering how to create a more authentic connection with our customers through storytelling; and how this type of marketing will provide you with more income and impact. You'll learn: Common mistakes & misconceptions to avoid 5 types of storytelling you should be using in your marketing 2 key components for successful storytelling   For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp212 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS: http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

212 | The Art of Storytelling for Your Business with Michelle Knight, Brandmerry

One big lesson I learned over the past year: the importance of routines! I crave a routine and to be honest, before now, I don’t know if I ever realized how deeply I needed routines. When we were thrown into the pandemic and our school, work and household routines were constantly in flux, I saw the influence that routines had.  In this episode, I’m chatting with routine expert, host of the Routine & Things Podcast and founder of Routine & Things, Ashley Brown. Routine & Things is a product based business company that equips women to consistently live their happiest life one routine at a time. She opens up about how she began this business based on her personal struggles as a stay-at-home mom.   ON TODAY’S EPISODE: Ashley’s inspiration behind starting Routine & Things  Her original goal for starting her podcast  The story of her initial launch of the product line in 2020 How she found her graphic designer Her tips for building connections with the media How she overcame imposter syndrome  The Mother’s Day giveback program they did with She Rises Why she decided to go all-in on the product side The struggle of running a product based and serviced based business simultaneously  How LABS has supported Ashley in making her product line a priority  Ashley’s plans for growth and what she’s working on next  FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/why-she-hired-a-graphic-designer-to-create-her-product-line-with-ashley-brown-routine-things SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you’ll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.   ​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/ JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

211 | Why She Hired a Graphic Designer to Create Her Product Line with Ashley Brown, Routine & Things

Kimberley is the New York sales representative for Crow + Canary.  During her 15+ year career in the stationery industry, Kimberley has worked at Crane & Co., Kate’s Paperie, as well as two of her own independent boutiques.  She got her start running a letterpress studio, and has since worked all sides of the business – manufacturing, wholesaling, custom printing, multi-unit retail, buying, merchandising, and now repping.  Kimberley’s vast experience in the industry provides a unique and valuable perspective. On today’s episode Kimberley talks about the role of sales reps, why you need a printed catalog for wholesale and the importance of giving back.   ON TODAY’S EPISODE: [01:00] Kimberley’s rich background in the stationery industry. [04:30] Meeting Carina Muray, her now boss, through Twitter.[07:30] Overview of a sales rep’s role.[10:00] Tips for reaching out to retailers.[11:30] Keep track of contacts you meet & jot down details you can use in follow up.[12:30] What to end to retailers you’re woo-ing.[13:00] Refining your line & honing in on your unique aesthetic[14:00] Why catalogs are important if you’re selling wholesale[20:00] Line sheets vs catalogs[22:00] Releasing your products when buyers are buying[26:00] The importance of giving back to our industry[29:30] Kimberley is a champion for independent shops, only shops local.[32:30] How our experiences and interests shape us in our work.[36:00] Too much ‘busy’ in our lives. For full show notes and resources, head to: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/009-wholesale-sales-tools-sales-reps-with-kimberley-yurkiewicz-crow-canary SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!    ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

From the Archives | Wholesale sales tools & sales reps with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Crow & Canary

Katie Hunt, founder of Tradeshow Bootcamp dives deeper into how to create a wholesale resource section on your website, something she and Rhonda Warren talked about briefly on episode 61. Katie shares what to include in your resource center, how to structure things and why it is important to make it easy for your wholesale customers to buy.   Listen to Episode 61 Here: http://tradeshowcamp.com/prooftoproduct061/   For full show notes and resources, head to: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/how-to-create-a-wholesale-resource-page-with-katie-hunt SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!    ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode! 

From the Archives | How to create a wholesale resource page with Katie Hunt

Rebekah Tennis is the founder of Wild Ink Press, a letterpress studio and retail storefront located in northern California. Rebekah started Wild Ink Press in 2009 and was part of our very first Tradeshow Bootcamp class in 2011. The Wild Ink Press brand offers witty and pretty greeting cards, stationery, and other paper goods that can be found in hundreds of retail shops nationwide including the Container Store, Papyrus, and Paper Source. On today's episode, Rebekah talks about the power of slow, organic growth and why it's okay to not have all your ducks in a row when you're starting out. She also shares her thoughts on responsiveness, reliability, and why she likes sending catalogs and samples to prospective wholesale buyers. ON TODAY’S EPISODE: How Wild Ink Press got its start and what lead Rebekah to starting her own business How she first got started with greeting cards When she first hired a team member and how the Wild Ink Press team grew from there The catalyst for wanting to open up the retail shop and the benefits it provides How her wholesale marketing and outreach has changed due to the retail shop The way she decides if she wants to carry someone’s work How long she recommends waiting to reach out to a retailer after you’ve mailed them a catalog and your samples Her schedule for sending out catalogs How she nurtures relationships with the stores that she’s working with as a manufacturer The way that she manages her business life and her family life How she handles times of transition in her business The advice she would give to someone just starting out in a product based business What’s next for Wild Ink Press For Full Show Notes and Resources, head to https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/040-strategies-for-pitching-wholseale-buyers-with-rebekah-tennis-wild-ink-press SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!    ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!  

From the Archives | Strategies for pitching wholesale buyers with Rebekah Tennis, Wild Ink Press

Proof to Product takes you behind the scenes of growing a product-based business. Join us each week as our alumni, speakers and friends share their successes, struggles and how they’ve made difficult but important transitions in their business to continue growing. You’ll gather inspiration, learn about new resources, and hear new ways of scaling your creative business. Proof to Product is hosted by founder, Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has helped thousands of product based business owners get their products on the shelves of retail shops big and small. Find show notes and additional resources at prooftoproduct.com.

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