Let's talk about technology as it applies to retail. Now, that might lead you to think brick and mortar. But while that’s true, this conversation spins around to digital retail , as well. Because here's the truth. In today’s world? Selling both online and in person brings the most strength to your handmade business. So, tune into this conversation to hear all about tech for eCommerce and discover many resources, best practices, and ideas to enhance your sales. Christine and the Retail Creative a...
Sep 17, 2022•51 min•Ep. 388
By now I’m sure you recognize how very important your product photos are. On Etsy for example, where you’re up against many others who sell handmade products similar to yours, a photo will be the differentiating factor in choosing who gets the sale. This extends to stopping the scroll and getting visibility on social media sites too. All told, images and graphics are of " make or break" importance. In the past, having high quality photos was an investment both in time and money. You either hired...
Sep 14, 2022•13 min
Today, we’re talking wholesale but in a way that’s different from any discussions we’ve had before. This one is going to open your eyes to new possibilities for your business. You may have thought your business is too new or small to consider this selling option. But not necessarily so! In fact, what you’ll learn in this episode is a way to get your business into the wholesale arena with guidance and structure specially designed for you – the smaller handmade product maker specifically. Because ...
Sep 10, 2022•58 min•Ep. 387
My favorite number is 2. You’d think it would be number 1, right? I mean, who doesn’t want to be at the top, in the lead, “the winner” if you will? But there are some definite advantages to being second. And no matter how big you get, there will always be times when you don’t hold the top spot. In this episode I give you my insight into pros and cons in each of these positions. And, the next time you see someone progressing ahead of you, I want you to reposition your thinking and open your mind ...
Sep 07, 2022•9 min
Are you doing all the hard work and employing all sorts of strategies but still not seeing results? It may be that you’re subconsciously putting up barriers that don’t allow for change to happen. This week’s show focuses on personal development – addressing things that are part of your “being” that might be creating roadblocks to what you’re trying to achieve. Is your mind open enough to consider this to be possible? As Krishna explains the role our subconscious plays, you'll learn what you can ...
Sep 03, 2022•52 min•Ep. 386
This cheerleading thing probably comes as no surprise if you’ve been hanging out with me for a while. I’m an eternal optimist. I love to cheer people on. I’m okay with attention and I love football. I’ve thought about sharing this NFL cheerleading experience with you for a while. As I reflect on my journey there, I realize so much of what I experienced and learned applies to being a small business owner too. I’m going to drop the lessons here but listening to the show will give it context and be...
Aug 31, 2022•16 min
Today’s show is really important because it contains a serious and potential life-transforming message. It’s a discussion on how your lifestyle and the behaviors you’ve adopted into your being affect your health and the way you show up in your world. I’ll go so far as to say how they affect your potential for success, too. Not just business success but overall fulfillment of the goals you have for your life. A dramatic statement? Yes! Because the true story you’re about to hear is just that. If ...
Aug 27, 2022•53 min•Ep. 385
If you think about your approach to product development, where do you fall? Do you stick with what’s standard and proven or do you venture off and test new things just to see what happens? While there’s nothing wrong with either approach, I’m going to suggest that the greater opportunity for your business lies in going past the tried and true and expanding to create something truly new and unique. The trick is to do something your audience wants or needs. Or something that solves a common proble...
Aug 24, 2022•8 min
You know what successful business owners say when I ask what they'd do differently if they were starting again? Hire help sooner. Are you surprised? For some reason, we get it in our minds that hiring an employee is reserved only for those who have grown to a certain level. But the truth is - delaying this move can actually hold you back and limit your potential. So, that's what today's training is all about - the how, what, and when of getting some support for your business so you don't have to...
Aug 20, 2022•41 min•Ep. 384
I took a month off social media in July. This wasn’t my intent but it proved to be an enlightening experience. You may be thinking my account got hacked or closed. Nope. Worse. Tragedy happened in my life. I wasn’t in a headspace for social media at all. Hard stop. In fact, I was off for a little over a month. I didn’t care if I lost followers. I didn’t care if the algorithm dinged me about consistency. It just didn’t matter. (More details in the podcast.) I’m using my situation because let’s fa...
Aug 17, 2022•12 min
What’s a Boost? Yay! You've found the very first episode of my brand new podcast format - the Gift Biz Boost. A Boost is your chance to listen in while I address a current issue faced by one of your fellow handmade makers. Too often we stall in one area of our business where, if we can just get past the block, it will open the path to new business growth. That’s what this is all about – to give a boost and clear the way for the next big move. And at the end of the show, I’ll tell you how you can...
Aug 13, 2022•26 min•Ep. 383
Today I’m going to give you a number of things to consider while you’re brainstorming the name for your business. But I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t remind you that this is NOT the first thing you should do when thinking about starting your business. The very first thing when considering starting your business is to validate your product. Once you’ve confirmed there’s a market for what you sell, then it’s time to decide on the name and register it officially. But, how do you decid...
Aug 10, 2022•12 min
What if you start your own business, selling a product you’ve always loved making as a hobby, but now you find it’s not what you expected? 👎 Maybe it takes way more time than you thought it would ... 👎 Perhaps you've realized the activities involved in running a business don’t make you happy ... 👎 You might even be losing money month over month ... 👎 Or it could be that it just doesn't fit into your life anymore. Whatever it is, you've realized it’s making you flat-out miserable. So, let's t...
Aug 06, 2022•43 min•Ep. 382
What if you could jump on the phone with me for a quick 10-minute conversation? Now you can. Ask my opinion of a website platform you’re considering. Want thoughts about how to get stronger results from an upcoming craft show? Or maybe it’s an overall strategy discussion. Whatever’s on your mind. The second I learned about this new program, I saw the beauty of how it can help me serve you in a whole new way. It provides an opportunity for us to connect - just you and me - in an easy and convenie...
Aug 03, 2022•7 min
Which is better for a handmade product business - your own website or Etsy? The truth is, there are pros and cons to each. So in this episode, we dive into the differences between having a store on Etsy versus creating your own website. After that brief training, we feature Showcases from other handmade product makers just like you. And guess what? The previous BASH resulted in new wholesale order placement and individual product sales for the attendees. So it's safe to say that participating in...
Jul 30, 2022•39 min•Ep. 381
I know for a fact that you have special powers you aren’t using. If you tap into them, they’ll make you and your business more personal, memorable and shareable. The best thing about these powers of yours is that you don’t need to act like someone you’re not. You don’t to invent scenarios you think your customers will like or project anything that feels uncomfortable or staged. Doesn’t that sound freeing and too good to be true? Guess what? It’s not. You already have these powers but you don’t s...
Jul 27, 2022•15 min
Life can take interesting turns. And sometimes, we end up in a completely different place than we thought we would. Today's guest is a perfect example. Although he started out as a professional rabbi, he now is a full-time jewelry maker! And you're going to love hearing his journey because it is such a perfect case study on starting and growing a handmade product business ! Doug creates his artwork to celebrate surprising transformations and to make upcycling irresistible. Through his small stud...
Jul 23, 2022•51 min•Ep. 380
Many think marketing and promoting are the same thing and they use them interchangeably. Here’s where you can get lost in it all. Lots of time and money spent on these activities knowing it’s important for your business but seeing little in results. The purpose is blurry at best. What should you be doing to bring in the sales? How do you know if you should keep going with one thing or put more emphasis on another? Let’s clear this up so you can be more focused and purposeful in the time you do s...
Jul 20, 2022•10 min
Do you know the difference between features vs benefits? These words are often used interchangeably when in reality they relay different types of information and should be used for separate purposes. In this BASH Party, we cover features and benefits completely. And when we're done? You'll be able to apply this newfound knowledge directly to your business. After the training, we get into Showcases from other handmade product makers just like you. They’ll share some information about their busine...
Jul 16, 2022•35 min•Ep. 379
You hear about these events on the news, see the horror and sympathize with those involved. You may even know someone affected by a violent event and reach out to help, or offer financial support. There’s anger, frustration and lots of conversation asking “How we can allow these things to continue to happen? This is not the American way and it needs to stop." It may leave you stunned, heartbroken, and unsettled for some time. But be honest – deep down – even though you say it could happen anywhe...
Jul 13, 2022•12 min
What's the big deal about being a guest on a podcast? It turns out, there are a lot of reasons why it's a good idea for business growth. My guests today help us answer the question - could podcast guesting be in your future? Noemi and Gabor are the owners of the Podcast Connections … a husband and wife team who have been working together for 13 years. They help entrepreneurs and business owners connect with podcast hosts to share their knowledge with the appropriate listening audiences. Gabor is...
Jul 09, 2022•55 min•Ep. 378
It makes me crazy every time I encounter it – and it’s a lot! There are two reasons this frustrates me so much. First, I’m stopped in my tracks from being able to move forward at all and second, so are you! All attempts at making connections and progress with this strategy in your business are halted. Hard stop! What am I talking about? Instagram accounts that are set on private. If this is you and you want to keep an account private – by all means do so. But not if you’re interacting with peopl...
Jul 07, 2022•9 min
Do you know how to drive traffic to your website? Because unless you get people to your website where your products are displayed - complete with a description and buy button - there’s no chance for a sale. You can run ads of course. But that comes with lots of time learning, creating, and testing. Not to mention the financial investment. So, why not try free methods first? Let's talk about ways to attract customers to your website organically. Kerrie Fitzgerald is the founder of Kerrie Fitzgera...
Jul 02, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 377
Are you in control of your business? The answer to this, as the owner of your business, is always yes. You are the one at the top, making decisions that affect your outcomes. You are also the one in control if you decide to relinquish control. And this is something I really want you to get. Yes, you’re going to do things that don’t work out. Being in control doesn’t mean you’re always right. But it does mean you take responsibility for all of it. The good, the bad and what action you take moving...
Jun 30, 2022•9 min
Do you wonder why your products aren't selling? It’s so discouraging. You put so much time into the creation of your products, setting up the display for a show, or getting your website just right. Then - it’s go-time and the nightmare happens ... no or low sales. In this episode, you'll learn 4 things to review that may be producing these results. And the best part is … they’re fixable. Keep going! What's In This Bash? 1. Free Training: 4 Reasons Your Products Aren't Selling One crucial thing t...
Jun 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 376
A few weeks back I was at a podcasting conference called Podfest. Seriously one of the best events I’ve ever attended in terms of learning timely and relevant new things and meeting the most incredible people. How does this apply to you? You're not a podcaster (most likely) but, I see applications that most definitely apply as a handmade product maker. If you aren't doing them already, adding them in will strengthen your business and thereby improve your results. Hold out for the last one - it's...
Jun 22, 2022•14 min
Does your selling experience help you create raving fans? Or does it push people away? Today, we’re talking about selling - but in a different way than we ever have before. Kat provides an upscale concierge experience and although high-end jewelry plays a role, it’s the service she provides that is her standout business asset. The customer experience you provide can set you apart too. Kat is the owner of Best Kept Jewelry Concierge. She helps clients source the perfect piece of jewelry for miles...
Jun 18, 2022•52 min•Ep. 375
Maybe you’re like most … defaulting to the idea that blogs aren’t meant for your handmade product-based business. My aim in this episode is to help you see this differently by sharing 5 Ways a blog can benefit and grow your business. Am I here to convince you to start a blog tomorrow? No. But I want you to understand the many ways a blog can be an asset and then you can make your own decision from there. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcast...
Jun 15, 2022•11 min
Today we're talking about how to start an email list for your business. Now, more than ever, it's important to put email marketing into place . I know it can seem daunting but when you know the steps to getting started, you'll see it's not that difficult at all. The subject of email marketing has been coming up more and more. More attention is being given to this than ever, everywhere I look! Social media is changing and people are wondering what's going on. Email marketing is becoming known as ...
Jun 11, 2022•57 min•Ep. 374
It’s easy to start a business. What’s hard is to stay in business! There are a variety of reasons why businesses fail at such a high rate. And of course, nobody takes actions intentionally that will set them back. But that’s exactly what’s happening to most business startups. In the end, their initial actions never gave them a fair chance of survival right from the start. When you first learn about a new business in town, you hear the name, perhaps see their logo, take a look at the products the...
Jun 08, 2022•8 min
