Send a text As we head toward the end of the year, I wanted to do something a little different with this episode. Instead of rushing straight into goal-setting, planning, and “new year, new energy” vibes, I wanted to create space to pause. To reflect. To actually look at what just happened in your business before you try to fix, change, or overhaul anything. Because every year I see the same pattern. We finish the year tired, relieved it’s over, and already thinking about what’s next. New goals,...
Dec 21, 2025•9 min•Season 5Ep. 173
Send a text I’m switching things up in this episode and getting straight to it. No fancy intro, no long-winded warm-up. Just a real conversation about assumptions, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves that quietly shape how we show up in our business. Because lately, I’ve been hearing the same things again and again from product-based business owners. People aren’t buying anymore. Everyone only wants discounts. Nobody opens emails. January is dead. I don’t want to annoy my audience. And ho...
Dec 15, 2025•14 min•Season 5Ep. 172
Send a text 5 Things Every Promo Email MUST Have (If You Want Sales!)** If your promo emails are getting meh opens or zero clicks, this quick-hit episode is your wake-up call. After reviewing dozens of client emails inside Nail Your Email Marketing and in my 1:1 sessions, I’ve seen the same mistakes again and again… especially during sales season. So today, I’m walking you through the 5 non-negotiables every promo email should include to actually get opened, read and clicked. This is your micro-...
Nov 21, 2025•7 min•Season 5Ep. 171
Send a text Kickstarter Wins, Manufacturing Nightmares and a Sink Brush That Broke the Internet: The YesECO Story with Jamie Phillips Today I’m chatting with Jamie Phillips, founder of Yeseco , creator of the magnetic dish brush that completely changed the way thousands of people deal with their sink situation. His journey? Wild. Beautiful. Painful. Product-founder AF. Jamie takes us through everything, including: • the moment on a remote beach in Indonesia that changed his entire career • why h...
Nov 13, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 170
Send a text You’ve landed your dream retailer. Your products are on the shelf. Now what? Most brands think their job is done once they’ve been stocked, but that’s just the beginning. In this episode, I break down the three stages of post-delivery success that turn a one-off wholesale order into consistent reorders (and loyal retail partners who sell your products for you). You’ll Learn: ✨ Why getting stocked is just the start line , not the finish line ✨ How to support your retailers with market...
Nov 07, 2025•15 min•Season 5Ep. 169
Send a text Welcome back to thelotco Business Podcast, I’m Melissa Robbins, your product-based business coach, retail strategist, and founder of thelotco. After 25 years in the industry, I’ve seen behind the scenes of hundreds of brands and retailers and here’s what I know for sure: if your sales aren’t where you want them to be, it’s not your product. Last week, we talked about why your product probably isn’t the problem when sales feel slow. This week, we’re talking about the fix. Because if y...
Oct 30, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 168
Send a text If you’ve ever said, “My product is so good… why isn’t it selling?” then this episode is for you. I’ve been getting message after message about this one since I sent an email earlier in the week, so I knew I had to dive deeper on the podcast. The thing is, having a great product isn’t enough anymore. You need attention , anticipation , and action to turn your product into consistent sales. In this episode, I’m breaking down: Why your amazing product isn’t selling (and what to do abou...
Oct 24, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 167
Send a text In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my 20+ year journey with Life Instyle — from exhibiting her own kidswear brand Moppit , to becoming a buyer, educator, speaker, sponsor, and now judge for the Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship . How we helped shape the Kids Instyle section, the lessons learned from decades in the trade show world, and the incredible opportunities that open up when you take action — even before you feel ready. If you’re a product-based founder with big...
Oct 09, 2025•16 min•Season 5Ep. 166
Send a text A Melbourne winter. A real gap in kids’ wool headwear. A founder with a finance brain and a product heart. That is how Acorn Kids began. In this episode, Fiona Savaris shares how a winter beanie line turned into a year-round headwear brand that stockists love, why wholesale still wins for volume, and how she just launched swimwear by leveraging prints, suppliers, and existing demand. If you care about cash flow , indent , stockist relationships , and direct-to-consumer growth , you w...
Sep 26, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 165
Send a text Your product might be beautiful, high-quality, and everything your customer needs… but here’s the truth: that alone isn’t enough to grow a profitable business. In this episode, I’m diving into the mistake so many founders make, putting 99% of their energy into the product itself and forgetting the bigger picture. Because while your product matters, what matters more is how you get it into people’s hands. We’ll cover: Why “build it and they will come” is a dangerous mindset for produc...
Sep 19, 2025•10 min•Season 5Ep. 164
Send a text What if one partnership could change your entire brand trajectory? Meet Vania Truchsess —Venezuelan-born, New Zealand-based jewelry designer whose handmade pieces landed in Karen Walker stores and unlocked a flywheel of credibility, stockists, and DTC growth. In this episode, we cover: How Vania went from babysitting to building a handmade jewelry label in NZ Why wholesale increased her direct-to-consumer sales (not the opposite) Pricing, margins, and range editing (and why you must ...
Sep 12, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 163
Send a text Andrew from Mennie Brand is back for part two, and we’re cracking open the real trade show debrief from his first time exhibiting at Melbourne Life Instyle . We talk expectations vs reality, what actually moved the needle (hello, SMS follow-ups), and why visuals + storytelling at your stand matter more than you think. Andrew shares hard numbers, how he organised setup on a budget (including the furniture plot twist), and what he’s changing next time to turn browsers into buyers faste...
Sep 04, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 162
Send a text Abundance Mindset Isn’t Woo — It’s Your Business Superpower Is “abundance” just another fluffy buzzword? Nope. In fact, your mindset may be the difference between giving up on your product business too soon or building one that actually pays you. In this episode, I’m breaking down: What abundance mindset really means (hint: it’s not about ignoring reality). The difference between abundance vs. scarcity thinking — and how each shows up in your day-to-day business. Real examples from l...
Aug 28, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 161
Send a text If you’ve ever felt like freight is a dark art shrouded in mystery, you’re not alone. In this episode of t helotco Business Podcast , I sit down with Christine Kanin from Pivot Freight Solutions to unpack (pun intended) the real world of freight and logistics and why getting it right can save your product business thousands of dollars (and a whole lot of headaches). Christine has over a decade in the freight forwarding industry, helping small and medium-sized businesses confidently n...
Aug 14, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 160
Send a text In this episode, I’m giving you the ultimate insider scoop from the recent Australian trade show circuit Life Instyle, Reed Gift Fairs, and AGHA. Whether you were there, thinking about exhibiting next time, or wondering what the heck goes on behind those branded stands, this one’s for you. From the buzz on the floor and real sales numbers, to the unexpected brand collaborations and cringe-worthy mistakes I saw some newbies make—I'm breaking it all down. I’ll talk about what really ma...
Aug 08, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 159
Send a text Let’s talk about one of the most underrated, powerful tools in your business toolkit REVIEWS. They cost you nothing but can absolutely skyrocket your credibility and sales. And yet… so many of you forget to ask for them, or don’t know how to use them to their full potential. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m diving into: Why reviews are way more powerful than any marketing copy you could write yourself How they boost your website conversions, SEO, and even wholesale success The ex...
Jul 31, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 158
Send a text In this raw and refreshing episode of thelotco Business Podcast, I chat with Lucy Moss founder of Mink and Me, a vibrant lifestyle brand that blossomed from a tiny rural shop into a bold online store and now a budding wholesale business. Lucy shares her incredible 10-year journey, starting from a collaborative store in Coonamble (yep, population 2,500!) to navigating ADHD diagnosis, burnout, a booming Christmas season, a massive pivot, and a spontaneous buying trip to India that chan...
Jul 24, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 157
Send a text If you’re still shipping your gorgeous product in a plain satchel with an invoice and a whisper of bubble wrap… we need to talk. In today’s episode of The Lotco Business Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most underestimated but high-impact opportunities you have as a product-based business owner: the unboxing experience . Your packaging isn’t just about protection—it’s about emotion . It’s a brand moment. It’s the post-purchase piece that turns a one-time buyer into a raving, repea...
Jul 17, 2025•11 min•Season 5Ep. 156
Send a text In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really builds a thriving, profitable product-based business—and spoiler alert—it’s not just more Instagram reels or new packaging. After decades in this industry, from fashion lecturer to founder, and coaching hundreds of creative entrepreneurs through my Roadmap to Profit program, I’ve identified the 7 key systems that separate profitable brands from the ones stuck in hustle-mode. I call it t helotco Method , and today I'm sharin...
Jul 01, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 155
Send a text In today’s episode, I’m joined by Andrew from Mennie Brand—an art-inspired sock label that’s grown from humble garage beginnings to a wholesale brand with over 30 stockists and counting. We recorded this before Andrew exhibits at his first-ever trade show: Life Instyle Melbourne . And let me tell you—we go deep on what it really takes (financially, mentally, and logistically) to step into this space for the first time. You’ll hear: Andrew’s full cost breakdown for exhibiting at Life ...
Jun 20, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 154
Send a text Ever looked at your brand and thought, “This just… doesn’t feel like me anymore”? Yep, same. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own rebranding wake-up call (hello five-year-old podcast cover 👋) and guide you through the emotional, visual, and strategic impact of being out of alignment with your brand. Whether your product photos feel outdated, your Instagram bio makes you cringe, or you're attracting bargain hunters instead of dream customers—this one’s for you. I’l...
Jun 13, 2025•10 min•Season 5Ep. 153
Send a text If you're investing time, money, and energy into exhibiting at a trade show, the last thing you want is to walk away with zero results (or worse… minus dollars and dashed confidence 😬). In this episode, I break down the 10 biggest mistakes I see brands make when preparing for—and showing up at—trade shows. Whether it's your first show or your fifteenth, these pitfalls can derail your success and cost you thousands in missed sales and opportunities. I'll cover everything from: Why yo...
Jun 06, 2025•11 min•Season 5Ep. 152
Send a text This week, we’re rewinding a very popular episode of the podcast—and trust me, it hits even harder right now . If you’ve ever thought about adding a digital layer to your product-based business—or if you’re quietly wondering what’s next for you beyond the stockroom or sales floor—this episode is a must-listen. I’m diving into why digital products aren’t just for “online coaches” or influencers, and how you , as a retailer, maker, or brand founder, can turn your skills, story, or proc...
May 30, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 151
Send a text Let’s get one thing straight—your branding is not just about a cute logo or a pretty Instagram grid. If your product isn’t flying off the shelves (real or virtual), it’s time to look at what your brand is really saying. In this juicy episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why a misaligned brand identity could be the thing standing between you and consistent sales, dream stockists, and repeat customers who rave about you. Here’s what you’ll learn: The 5 subtle-but-critical ways your...
May 23, 2025•8 min•Season 5Ep. 150
Send a text In today’s episode, I’m joined by two of the loveliest humans—Sarah and Celeste from Natural Supply Co. These two are not only the co-founders of one of Geelong’s most beloved retail stores, but they’ve also built a beautiful, values-led business that’s stayed true to its roots while growing sustainably. We talk about: How their friendship started over coffee (and a shared love of cute stationery and beauty products) The evolution of their business from pop-ups to full-blown bricks-a...
May 16, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 149
Send a text In this solo episode, I’m diving into something I’m wildly passionate about— contrast . Whether it’s your website, your Insta tiles, your packaging, or your trade show banners… if your brand blends in, it’s losing money. Full stop. I see this all the time inside my programs and with 1:1 clients—gorgeous products or stunning stores that just don’t pop . And honestly? That can be fixed. Today I’m breaking down exactly where and how to use contrast to capture attention, guide your custo...
May 09, 2025•16 min•Season 5Ep. 148
Send a text Feeling like your brand is stuck in Instagram limbo, screaming into the algorithm void? Enter: PR badass Gloria Chou. In this game-changing episode, we break down how to actually get seen, featured, and taken seriously—without spending a cent on ads or needing a Kardashian-level follower count. I chat with Gloria about the difference between good PR and gimmicky fluff, and how product-based business owners can start landing real media features like Buzzfeed, Refinery29, or even Oprah...
May 01, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 147
Send a text In this episode, I sit down with Lou Hammer, the powerhouse behind Pre Loved Geelong —a thriving secondhand and consignment store that started as a pop-up hustle and now boasts a bricks-and-mortar location, thriving online sales, and a fiercely loyal community. Lou gets real about: 💼 Starting from scratch while juggling life, kids, and a side hustle 🛍️ How she scaled from eBay to Instagram to a full-on retail store 🧵 Why curation and customer avatars matter more than ever in fashi...
Apr 24, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 146
Send a text Ever had a product idea rolling around in your brain—or maybe sketched in your notebook—but no clue how to bring it to life? In this episode, I’m joined by the product development powerhouse Millie Richards, and let me tell you, this chat is a goldmine for anyone with dreams of designing a product that’s actually profitable (and doesn’t fall apart or cost your life savings). Millie’s an industrial designer with a delicious combo of design brilliance and real-world factory know-how. W...
Apr 11, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 145
Send a text Ever feel like you’re doing all the things in your business—posting on socials, packing orders, launching products—but STILL not getting the results you want? Yep. You're probably in the messy middle . Not a newbie anymore, but not scaling like a pro just yet. And let me tell you, this stage is real and it's where so many product-based business owners get stuck. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and talking honestly about the awkward, in-between phase that no one really w...
Apr 04, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 144
