Have you ever given thought to how sustainable your products are? Of course, you talk about the benefits of your products for your customers, like containing only healthy or all-natural ingredients – but how about what they do to support the environment? These are two different things and they don’t automatically go hand in hand. In this episode, you’ll hear things you may never have considered in regard to the various ways a product can affect our world. Austin shares with us 5 different dimens...
Jun 04, 2022•52 min•Ep. 373
People come in your shop or show booth, pick things up, chat for a while and don’t buy. Or your Facebook page has hundreds or even thousands of followers, many who contribute by posting and commenting but they never support you through sales or take part in your special promotions. Or there’s a lot of traffic to your website but conversions to purchases are few. What should you do about your lurkers? Here’s my answer - everything and nothing. I explain in the show today. CONNECT with me here: We...
Jun 01, 2022•10 min
Today’s topic couldn’t be more timely with all the questions, concerns, and what seems like daily changes happening in the social media landscape. 👉 Are you spending a lot of time on social media tasks because you’re clear on specifically what it can do for your business? 👉 Or are you doing it because everyone else is? It’s time to break through all the social media hype and determine exactly where social media should fit into your business and the purpose it serves. It’s not the same for ever...
May 28, 2022•41 min•Ep. 372
Craft shows can be the lifeblood of a handmade product business. It’s the easiest way to find and interact with people, get feedback on your products and the most immediate way to bring in sales. PLUS – no shipping time or delivery costs! We’re not going to talk about the basics of participating in a show today. Instead I’m addressing some “higher level” points about exhibiting. It’s this extra style and subtle adjustments that can have a huge impact on your results. CONNECT with me here: Websit...
May 25, 2022•11 min
Have you ever wondered how to host a craft show? Turns out, it's all about collaboration. Gloria's journey is a perfect illustration of how a business evolves. She’s also been an “early adapter” to the world of collaboration. In her case, she found a partner and created Wellness Fairs – in-person craft-type shows. I think this may spark an idea for you too! Gloria is the owner of Ahh-Land Woman Herbals. The name was inspired by her Caribbean roots. And it’s also representative of the all-natural...
May 21, 2022•48 min•Ep. 371
The same holidays roll around each season of every year - Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving. Because you’ve done this before, perhaps many times, are you continuing with the same ole, same ole promotions? And is that the best you can do? Repeating what you’ve done in the past may or may not be the most lucrative and beneficial for growing your sales even though it’s the easiest plan. Is it possible that your customers are growing tired of seeing the same messaging and offers?...
May 18, 2022•9 min
Let’s talk about areas in your business where you may be spending money on things that aren’t benefiting you. You may not have considered that various stages of business require different investments. When you understand what will best serve you at each stage of your growth, you achieve a couple of things: First, you don't use up available dollars in a scattered way – wasting money if you will. Instead, you spend money in areas that will truly help you grow your handmade business based on where ...
May 14, 2022•39 min•Ep. 370
It’s going to be a radical thought but I want you to open your mind to consider how some accidents can open the door to new opportunity. It’s so easy to get set in our ways and see things only from the perspective we have always had. Or the trained expectation of what an outcome should be – until it doesn’t happen that way. Here’s the twist. It’s possible that this accident you’ve encountered, could present a new way of thinking that was invisible to you up until now. It doesn’t mean your past p...
May 11, 2022•10 min
We’ve got a fun topic on deck today – quizzes for your business! And I don't mean just a lead magnet quiz. You see quizzes all around – but honestly, I never really thought about it for a product-based business before. I’m not talking about quizzes where you find out what animal most represents your personality or what your hidden name is based on a birth month or day. Those are fun and all … but not for business. More Than Just A Lead Magnet Quiz We focus on how quizzes can be used to: Provide ...
May 07, 2022•45 min•Ep. 369
Do you feel like you’re putting way too much energy into convincing customers to buy when you compare that to the return you’re seeing for all your efforts? Is it possible you’re trying SO HARD to get sales that what you’re actually doing is pushing them away? Perhaps it’s time to try a new approach. If what you’re doing now isn’t producing results, doing more and more of the same thing is like grinding your gears. You dig a deep hole versus making any forward progress. If you’re in this positio...
May 04, 2022•15 min
Understanding the 5 Gift Biz Growth Stages will be a huge source of insight into where you are in your business journey and why you might be struggling right now as you try and grow. You'll easily identify which stage you're in as I describe each one. The magic here is that you'll also learn exactly what steps to take to move from one stage to another. No more chasing shiny objects or trying to do "all the things" at one time! Easy does it, step by step , from one stage to another. You get to ta...
Apr 30, 2022•45 min•Ep. 368
“No” feels terrible. It’s a rejection. And who likes to be rejected? Most likely your reaction to the word “no” is to shut down. You feel defeat with whatever possibilities the “no” shut out. And to protect yourself, you give up on the person who made you feel bad and you move on to other people or activities. What if I told you there’s a way to use this “no” to your advantage? There is! Here’s how to settle down your emotions so responses to selling your products doesn’t feel like such a roller...
Apr 27, 2022•9 min
Amy had a solid Amazon business. It was growing and expanding, as is the dream for all our businesses. But guess what? She didn’t enjoy it anymore. Nothing was wrong, it just didn’t light her up like it once did. So – time for a change. That’s what this episode is all about - reigniting your handmade business passion. And what we can learn from the journey Amy took to discover what was next for her. Spoiler alert! It wasn’t a smooth jump from one thing to another. But it was definitely worth it....
Apr 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 367
Would you categorize yourself as a procrastinator? When I think about people I know, I can see how they do lean one way or another. On the extremes, there’s the excessive planner. Someone who has everything buttoned up way before a due date. And then there’s the “get it done at the last minute” style. I fall fully on the plan-ahead side. I like to eliminate as many surprises and rush jobs as possible. But of course, we come in all shapes and sizes as they say. I’m not saying one is better than a...
Apr 20, 2022•10 min
What if you didn't have to dread tax season? Unfortunately, putting on a blindfold doesn't help. But the small business tax prep tips in this episode absolutely will. I get it. Right after that deadline passes, you want to forget about taxes until it comes around again next year. But the reality is - it’s going to show up again whether you like it or not . So why not be prepared and make the process as easy and smooth as you can? Small Business Tax Prep Tips For Handmade Products Our expert toda...
Apr 16, 2022•43 min•Ep. 366
Makers of all sorts are leaning into this up and coming sales strategy because it provides a solution to one of the biggest challenges you have as a handmade creator – limited production time. Even if you hire people to help you in certain facets of your business, there is a ceiling to how much you can make without taking the leap to factory production – which I know is a major turnoff to most of you. Enter in this perfect solution. One that allows you to scale your business while retaining and ...
Apr 13, 2022•9 min
Today we're covering 3 specific Pinterest strategies you can use right now to market your handmade products. We dive into Interest Targeting, Idea Pins, and Promoted Pins. And true to form, Cali has some amazing Ninja tips coming your away with regard to these features - and Pinterest overall. Cali is a Pinterest Marketing Strategist and owner of The Halcyon Hive - a marketing agency that helps female-led creative businesses leverage Pinterest as a powerful marketing platform. She'll help you gr...
Apr 09, 2022•57 min•Ep. 365
“Not easy” times can happen at any stage in your handmade product business journey – it’s not only reserved for newbies. And I’m here today to reset your thinking when you’re working through rough patches. These are times to be celebrated! They actually offer you great opportunity. I’m not going to give you the pep talk here about how you can overcome everything – even tho you can. I’m also not going to get all strategic giving you steps to get past these “not easy” times. That’s not the point o...
Apr 06, 2022•8 min
What does pivoting in business really mean? It's all about responding to market changes and what you want your business to be. Marshmallow MBA has taken its share of twists and turns. That’s something to remember as you’re starting out. You won’t “land it” right out of the gate. It takes experimentation and adjustments based on what your market shows you to get it right. For Amy, it was narrowing in on the ideal customer, adjusting products to fit their needs, and rebranding so it all aligns. Am...
Apr 02, 2022•54 min•Ep. 364
At what point in your business do you turn from a hobbyist to a pro? And why does this even matter? In today’s show I give an example of a maker’s journey, at what point they become a specialist (or pro) and most importantly, what actions to take to incorporate this into your business for added visibility and sales. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review . I'd love to ...
Mar 30, 2022•8 min
Have you ever wondered how to approach product creation? In this episode, you'll hear how my guest Rachael went from idea all the way to finished product and promotion. And there's so much to learn from her story. We all know how much strength and power women possess . It's all around us yet we often diminish that trait when it comes to ourselves. Rachael is on a mission to change that through the creation of a product that reinforces, for each of us, that we too have these traits and can do gre...
Mar 26, 2022•51 min•Ep. 363
In this episode I give you 5 tips to get your listening skills up to par. Listening is a skill that seems so elementary but is often completely ignored. The next time you’re engaged in a conversation, observe your own behavior to check in on your listening skills. Sure, you may be hearing what someone says, but are you really listening? Unfortunately, what often happens is we’re so busy figuring out what we want to say next that we miss subtle cues that, if not taken into account in your respons...
Mar 23, 2022•9 min
What's the trick of how to go from idea to business? My guest today shares her business journey that illustrates what it takes to make that happen. Naa Ardua helps crafters learn how to use digital art to make handmade craft projects for their families and friends. While living in France as an ex-pat mom, she started making digital illustrations as a way to use her artistic skills and be creative every day. She saw that she could reach people with her art and help fellow artists, crafters, and s...
Mar 19, 2022•49 min•Ep. 362
The key to super charge your productivity lies in one simple 5-letter word. L-I-S-T-S! I bet you’ve heard the term Operating Procedures. In essence, each Operating Procedure is a list of documented activities to perform any function within your business. They are particularly beneficial if a task is repetitive. That way you don’t have to remember all the steps and in what order. Just follow the list. Imagine how useful it can be when you bring on employees. They can follow the same system you’ve...
Mar 16, 2022•10 min
Lack of a financial mindset is a very common block experienced by small business owners like us. And usually, nobody wants to talk about it - even though it can make or break the business. Well, buckle up because that's the topic of today's show. You may gain some insight into yourself as we dive into the 5 reasons we tend to avoid numbers – our business financials that is. And that leads us to another big topic this is usually left out of financial conversations; how your business numbers trans...
Mar 12, 2022•58 min•Ep. 361
Today we’re talking about the value of a fleeting moment how it’s a strategic way to create anticipation and desire for your products. Instead of having the same offerings month after month (except for holiday designs – that’s obvious) why not strategically plan limited time offers into your business? CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review . I'd love to hear your comme...
Mar 09, 2022•6 min
Running a for-profit business with a social cause isn't for everyone. But if the idea resonates with you, this show will give you some things to think about. Get ready to hear a story about a maker whose deep-seated impact goes way beyond her product. You’re going to hear Jennifer’s business development story and how and why she’s incorporated a health initiative overlay to a level I’ve not seen before. We get into the difference between truly integrating a social entity into the mission of your...
Mar 05, 2022•54 min•Ep. 360
I heard something a long time ago, during my corporate days, and it’s one of those statements that holds true over time. “Don’t tell people you have great customer service, show them.” It’s too easy to talk about a level of care and service you offer your customers. Let’s face it, everyone does that. But actually following through on it is where the majority of businesses fail. They talk one thing and do another. It’s surprising because having top-notch customer service, in the majority of cases...
Mar 02, 2022•10 min
If you've ever wondered, "Do I need a website for my small business?" - today's show is for you. Your website is the headquarters of your business – even if you don’t have a brick-and-mortar shop. It’s the cog off of which everything else for your business connects and expands. It wasn’t like this in years past. But now, an online presence is essential. And make no mistake about it – your own website is what you should strive for. It's great to have a shop on Etsy or sell through Amazon . But lo...
Feb 26, 2022•49 min•Ep. 359
In my messy “catch all” drawer, guess what I found? A key. But … a key to what ? Usually, I have an identifier of some sort. Not this time. So now what do I do? If I knew what the key went with, it would be really valuable. But holding it in its current state - without knowing where it goes, it’s useless. That struck me as such a powerful thing. In my hand was this single key that, with one important piece of information, could easily open the right door/box/treasure chest. Simple, done within s...
Feb 23, 2022•7 min
