There is a lot of noise on the internet. Lots of gurus, experts, and other people claim you have to do things a certain way in order to be successful. We see ads on social media telling us there is a magic formula or 5-step process that will make all of our dreams come true. It seems that a new business coach is popping up on the scene every day with some new system or lived experience that we have to follow. I firmly believe that there is room for everyone and that we all have unique experience...
Dec 19, 2023•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey everyone! I was recently on Shirlee Fisher's podcast, The Tillage Podcast , where we talked about a variety of topics: how to navigate challenges during a crisis, how to make informed decisions with my four-factor framework, how to embrace knowing your numbers as a neutral tool for success and so much more. I had such a good time that I asked Shirlee if I could air the episode on our podcast, so that's this week's episode! You can check out more great episodes on Shirlee's podcast, just look...
Dec 12, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s no secret that wholesale buying patterns and in-person trade shows have shifted substantially over the last few years. Where buyers were once placing fewer, but larger orders a couple of times a year - oftentimes at trade shows - they are now placing more frequent, smaller orders throughout the year both online and at in-person markets. As someone who talks to both wholesale brands and buyers every single day, I have a unique viewpoint that lets me see some of these industry shifts at scale...
Dec 05, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast The best products solve a problem or create an emotional connection. The ideas for these products stem from our own pain points or challenges as well as the joys in our lives. That is what our guest today did when she brought a new product to market. Today's guest is a scientist by training, a creative tinkerer, and a natural show entrepreneur. Zeba Parkar is the owner of Treleaf , a product line that was created from Zeba's own needs as a plant owner and lover during the pandemic. Zeba was look...
Nov 28, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast The podcast is taking a break this week so that our team can celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends. We will be back next week with an interview with Paper Camp alumni & LABS member Zeba Parkar of Treleaf who is going to share what it was like bringing her laser-cut wood trellises to market — a brand new product in the plant category. If you’re traveling this week, I’d love to keep you company. Be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 319 incredible episodes to help you ...
Nov 21, 2023•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast We recently did a two-part series on the State of Retail where I talked to two independent brick-and-mortar retail shop owners [ episode 1 ] [ episode 2 ]. This is important because we teach all of you how to sell wholesale to stores like Katie & Jen’s shops and it is important that you understand the challenges that they are facing and how they are adapting to the market and how that will trickle down and affect you as a manufacturer. Today I want to expand on that conversation with a colleague...
Nov 14, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today I’m popping in with a call to action and that is… I want you to shop small this holiday season. To make this as easy as possible for you, we’ve put together a robust holiday gift guide featuring almost 300 independent brands from our Proof to Product Community. The Proof to Product gift guide includes a wide range of products including candles, apparel, jewelry, accessories, puzzles and games, home decor as well as gifts for pet lovers plant lovers, kids & babies and more. There is truly s...
Nov 10, 2023•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast You know we like to keep things real with you here at Proof to Product and the truth is, there will be a lot of businesses that will close their doors over the next year. There will be lots of reasons for this. Some business owners will decide that they no longer want to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Some will not be able to keep their doors open due to financial strain. Some business owners will shut down entire revenue streams to focus on something new. Maybe even under a new...
Nov 07, 2023•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the state of independent retail right now. If you missed last week’s episode, I encourage you to check that one out first . In that episode, Katie Wilson of Crush & Touch and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie shared feedback on their summer 2023 sales season, how they are preparing for 2023 Q3 holiday season, how the current economic climate is affecting business and what’s on the minds of shop keepers right now. Today we’re continuing the conver...
Oct 31, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over the last few months, I’ve had a lot of private conversations with store owners about the state of independent retail. They’ve confided in me about a wide range of challenges that they are facing - individually as well as collectively. Things like the economy, less foot traffic in their stores, staffing and cash flow limitations - have forced them to rethink how they are running their businesses and also planning for the future. Here at Proof to Product, we focus on teaching you how to sell ...
Oct 24, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast We are excited to host Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company and today, we talk to him about the evolution of his brand, the importance of finding community , and why your product is not for everyone. There is a quote by Amy Poehler that we've used at our events in the past, and it really encapsulates today's discussion. She said, “Find a group of people that challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them and it will change your life.” The idea of finding your people and crea...
Oct 17, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast News recently broke that Shopify was closing Handshake, its wholesale sales platform, and investing as a shareholder in Faire. Today’s episode is bringing you the news mixed in with a few of my thoughts on the topic. I will be doing a deeper analysis and sharing some research I’ve done within our LABS program - so definitely look for that if you’re one of our LABS members. As you listen today, please keep in mind that I have no ties to Shopify or Faire, other than I coach thousands of people who...
Oct 10, 2023•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Making your customers feel like your product or service is tailored specifically for them is the key to inclusive marketing. Inclusive marketing expert Sonia Thompson joins us today on the podcast to share more on how to integrate inclusive marketing into your customer experience. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Sonia’s career, how you can diversify your products and circle of influence, how to audit your customer experience to be more inclusive, the importance of considering how different peop...
Oct 03, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Licensing is an excellent opportunity to extend the reach of your brand and expand your business offerings. But finding the right partnership can be tricky, and it’s not always easy knowing where to start. Joining us today on the podcast to share her story and talk about her journey into licensing is return guest, Betsy Garcia. Betsy is the co-founder of Bloomwolf Studio , a paper goods company specializing in greeting cards, art prints, and other paper goods that she runs with her indispensable...
Sep 26, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s podcast guest, Lauren te Velde Paper Farm Press , a woman-owned stationery and gift design shop in Kingsburg, CA, is a big fan of having a brand story that is strong and simple. She is intentionally focused on authentically pursuing wealth and believes money will follow because she wholeheartedly believes in putting better products out into the world. Each product Lauren creates expresses her great love for farming and her faith. Join the conversation as we hear from Lauren about her jou...
Sep 19, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you find yourself fresh in the wholesaling journey? Are you asking yourself whether you need stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers? And if you do, how do you create them? In today’s episode, I’m answering some frequently asked questions often heard at Paper Camp, regarding creating and utilizing SKU systems. Listen in to hear tips on setting up your SKU system early on in your wholesaling journey and why I believes you shouldn’t overcomplicate your SKU systems. Today’s episode is brought to you by...
Sep 12, 2023•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Choosing business contentment over business growth can be a great reminder to all of us that there are seasons in business, and sometimes what we have is all that we really need or want. On this episode we have Brigida Swanson of Yardia , which is a nature-inspired gift and stationery company. Bridiga shares the journey for starting her business, while still pursuing her teaching career. She dives into what it was like venturing into wholesale, how she has experienced rapid growth, and describes...
Sep 05, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast If there’s one constant in business, it’s change. But making big shifts as an entrepreneur can be pretty daunting. After all, it’s one thing to plan and strategize, but it’s quite another to take the leap and start implementing those steps. While we usually talk to people who are in the midst of making a big change, today we welcome a returning guest and Paper Camp alum, Stephanie Clarke, for a business update after making some major changes to her company back in 2019. After a decade of running...
Aug 29, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Aug 22, 2023•15 min•Ep 307•Transcript available on Metacast You have heard me say it before, and I'm gonna remind you again, strong businesses are built through slow, steady, intentional growth. Today's guest is proof of that. Jill Shephard is the owner of Ruff House Print Shop. She started her business in 2009, initially specializing in custom wedding invitations. She then spent 14 years prioritizing professional development, refining her business model, expanding her team, and strengthening her customer experience. In the process, she built a profitabl...
Aug 15, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we are continuing our conversation with Katie Hart of Odd Daughter Paper Co. If you missed the first part of our conversation, head back and listen to episode 304 . In that episode, Katie and I talk about how she got started with her product-based business, and why you don't necessarily need to exhibit at trade shows to be successful with selling wholesale. Katie waited 10 years to do her first show, and we're talking about it in episode 304 . For today's episode, which is part two of our ...
Aug 08, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yes, friend, you can be successful with wholesale without exhibiting at trade shows. This is a question that I frequently hear from our Paper Camp students and today’s guest is a shining example of how slow, intentional growth without trade shows leads to success. Today’s guest is Paper Camp Alum & Advisory Board member, Katie Hart of Odd Daughter Paper Co. Katie launched Odd Daughter in 2013 as a side hustle. The brand evolved into a thriving product brand whose revenue primarily comes from who...
Aug 01, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Opening a retail storefront is no joke. It's a whole lot of work and a completely different business model than selling products online or to the wholesale market. Brick-and-mortar retail requires different strategies, operational systems, and of course staffing needs. I know there are many of you who dream of someday opening a shop, in fact, we have many product brands that also have brick-and-mortar shops in our Proof to Product community. So today we're going to hear from Ginger Diaz, the own...
Jul 25, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Brittany O'Brien! Deciding to sell wholesale is the first step to scaling your business, but what are the next steps to being successful in it? Brittany O’Brien of Brittany Paige joins us to share the top three contributors to her wholesale success, how she overcame her fear of rejection, and a few tips she has for brands just getting started in wholesale. Plus, s...
Jul 18, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Beth Roszkowski and Tiffany Grimes! As a product creator, it’s common to feel that success means building your own storefront and selling retail to earn the most profit for your business. While that’s a great goal to strive for it doesn’t mean you should let other selling options, like wholesale, fall off your radar. In today’s episode, Beth Roszkowski and Tiffany...
Jul 11, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a summer break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, July 25th, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're on hiatus, be sure you dip back into the archives of over 300 incredible episodes to help you streamline and scale your business. Plus, we'll even be sharing a few reruns of our favorite episodes as well! If you've been thinking about joining us for Paper C...
Jun 27, 2023•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we're gonna talk about paid advertising. I have spent years searching for someone that has extensive experience in the e-commerce space, and who understands the unique challenges and needs of micro-businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and small businesses, particularly with paid advertising. What I found in my search was that there were a lot of people who were focused on paid ads, but for service businesses or for larger brands with huge budgets. There were people that only focused on ads, but...
Jun 20, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast "You are your number one resource." This is a direct quote from today's guest, Michelle Angenent. Michelle is a Paper Camp alum, LABS member, and the fierce founder behind 417 Press, an award-winning letterpress greeting card company and paper goods brand based in Montreal, Canada. Always observing life with a dash of humor. Michelle's product line is a direct reflection of the personal challenges she has faced from infertility to ADHD, midlife, divorce, and now midlife dating. Now in her fiftie...
Jun 13, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast I am incredibly proud to share our 300th episode of the Proof to Product podcast! It's just incredible to me that we started this show in May of 2017 with one single goal in mind—to become an invaluable business resource for those starting and scaling product based businesses. I think it's safe to say that we have certainly hit that goal. We have produced and published over 150 hours of audio content through this show. Our podcast has been downloaded over 1.1 million times. The Proof to Product ...
Jun 06, 2023•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Supply chain issues, paper shortages, production problems, shipping delays, and increased labor costs; these are just some of the issues that our community of product-based business owners have faced over the last few years. The problems extend well beyond our community of makers in that they also affect our manufacturing partners, suppliers, and vendors that we work with. Today, Ronnie Williams from DeFrance Printing is back on the podcast to share his insights. He and I chatted back in 2018 on...
May 30, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
