Proof to Product 164 | Building a Multi-Faceted Creative Business with Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Damask Love
Hey friends! Have you ever wondered what it might be like to turn your hobby into a business? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Amber Kemp-Gerstel did and today she came on to talk about her journey in the crafting industry.
Amber is a powerhouse. Not only does she have a blog called Damask Love but she also runs YayDay Paper Co., selling digital products and leveraging a subscription model. You might recognize her from NBC’s TV show, Making It (she was a finalist in 2018) or from being the host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+.
In this episode, she talks about how she got into her business and how she was able to start working with big brands in the industry. She shares some tips for how she sends pitches and why you have to make it really easy for people to say, ‘yes!’
We also talk about why representation matters and how the creative community can step up to uplift other artists, crafters and makers of color. This is very important work that we’re taking seriously at Proof to Product and I appreciated her for sharing her thoughts and opinions about how we can take steps forward with grace (even though we may make mistakes along the way).
ON TODAY’S EPISODE:
- How Amber went from working in family and child psychology to being a strong force in the crafting world
- The lightbulb moment where she realized it was time to quit her job
- How she got into working with brands like JoAnn Fabrics and Martha Stewart Living
- What Amber includes in pitches she sends to brands
- Why you should make it simple for people to say “yes” to you
- Why she decided to do a business model built off of digital products and leveraging a subscription model
- Her tips for marketing your products to your audience
- How Amber makes her voice heard despite the lack of diversity and visibility for women of color in the crafting space
- Why representation is needed in every industry
- Why you should do the things you can practically do to better the community for everyone
- What Amber is working on right now in her businesses
For full show notes and resources, head to: bit.ly/PTPEp164
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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!