Proof to Product
Katie Hunt
Ranked in the top 1% of ALL podcasts, the Proof to Product podcast is your trusted resource for sustainable business growth - especially if you make and sell physical products!
Join Katie Hunt, each week as she shares strategies & solutions to enhance your sales & marketing so that you’re building a business that supports your best life.
If you’ve ever asked yourself can I make money selling physical products? Am I ready to sell my products wholesale to stores like Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble? When should I consider hiring a sales team or sales reps? Can I really turn my passion into profits? Whether you’re a just starting out on your business journey or you’ve been at it a while growing an empire, this show is for you.
Proof to Product is like on-demand business school for product sellers spanning a wide range of industries. Whether you’re in home decor, apparel, beauty, food & beverage, hand-made items, jewelry, consumer gifts or the stationery world, you’ll gather new ideas each week to help you grow your profit, build your team and lead with integrity.
Host Katie Hunt and her guests bring you actionable ways to expand your product line, manufacturing overseas, optimize your e-commrce websites on Shopify, Faire, Etsy, Abound, Tundra, Squarespace or in brick & mortar locations. How to start or scale wholesale sales including pitching stores, wholesale outreach, trade show exhibition, working with sales reps, managing inventory, warehousing product, sales systems, wholesale follow-up strategies and working with key accounts. Marketing strategies for small businesses including content creation, leveraging tik tok and instagram tactics without feeling burned out, why you can’t rely solely on social media for sales and why email marketing systems on platforms like Klaviyo, Flodesk and Active Campaign are so powerful. Listen in as Katie and our guest experts help you strategize and tackle your biggest business goals.
Host Katie Hunt brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she’s helped thousands of product brands get their products on the shelves of their favorite retail stores through her Paper Camp program (www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp). Prior to that she worked in the corporate world for over a decade leading business development and marketing teams. She has two MBAs - one in finance and one in marketing. And, she owned & operated her own product based business for over 8 years, selling her products to stores throughout the world from her garage. Katie knows the struggles you face as a product based business and she’s here to pull back the curtain and share her best kept secrets so that you don’t have to learn things the hard way.
Find our free trainings & resources for product based business owners at www.prooftoproduct.com/resources
Join Katie Hunt, each week as she shares strategies & solutions to enhance your sales & marketing so that you’re building a business that supports your best life.
If you’ve ever asked yourself can I make money selling physical products? Am I ready to sell my products wholesale to stores like Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble? When should I consider hiring a sales team or sales reps? Can I really turn my passion into profits? Whether you’re a just starting out on your business journey or you’ve been at it a while growing an empire, this show is for you.
Proof to Product is like on-demand business school for product sellers spanning a wide range of industries. Whether you’re in home decor, apparel, beauty, food & beverage, hand-made items, jewelry, consumer gifts or the stationery world, you’ll gather new ideas each week to help you grow your profit, build your team and lead with integrity.
Host Katie Hunt and her guests bring you actionable ways to expand your product line, manufacturing overseas, optimize your e-commrce websites on Shopify, Faire, Etsy, Abound, Tundra, Squarespace or in brick & mortar locations. How to start or scale wholesale sales including pitching stores, wholesale outreach, trade show exhibition, working with sales reps, managing inventory, warehousing product, sales systems, wholesale follow-up strategies and working with key accounts. Marketing strategies for small businesses including content creation, leveraging tik tok and instagram tactics without feeling burned out, why you can’t rely solely on social media for sales and why email marketing systems on platforms like Klaviyo, Flodesk and Active Campaign are so powerful. Listen in as Katie and our guest experts help you strategize and tackle your biggest business goals.
Host Katie Hunt brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she’s helped thousands of product brands get their products on the shelves of their favorite retail stores through her Paper Camp program (www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp). Prior to that she worked in the corporate world for over a decade leading business development and marketing teams. She has two MBAs - one in finance and one in marketing. And, she owned & operated her own product based business for over 8 years, selling her products to stores throughout the world from her garage. Katie knows the struggles you face as a product based business and she’s here to pull back the curtain and share her best kept secrets so that you don’t have to learn things the hard way.
Find our free trainings & resources for product based business owners at www.prooftoproduct.com/resources
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 10, 2022 • 43min
248 | Live from the trade show floor at Noted & SF Now 2022
Selling wholesale in person, at in-person trade shows is a completely different experience than selling wholesale online. Here at Proof to Product, we truly believe in the benefits of trade show—from the sales, connections and new ideas to opportunities for collaboration and brand visibility, the benefits are endless. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a compilation of live interviews from the trade show floor while I was at the combined Noted & SF Now trade show last month. I talked with brand new exhibitors, as well as trade show veterans from our community. Did you know that we had 54 Proof to Product students exhibiting at Noted & SF Now this year? Our members accounted for over a third of the overall exhibitors in attendance. If you’re ready to learn more about exhibiting at trade shows and prepare your brand for wholesale, join the waitlist for Paper Camp! {JOIN THE WAITLIST} You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/248 If you’re considering exhibiting at a trade show, like Noted & SF Now, I’m so excited for you, plus I’ve created a resource just for you! Don’t go into your first trade show without the proper knowledge like I did. In my free masterclass, The Booth Blueprint, I share three secrets to maximizing your trade show investment and keep wholesale orders coming in long after your investment. You can access this free class inside our free resources library! {Get Access}
May 3, 2022 • 6min
247 | How often should I release new products to the wholesale market with Katie Hunt
The frequency in which you should be releasing new products to the wholesale market used to be pretty straightforward, but with the introduction of Faire and other third party platforms, things have gotten a little muddy. In today’s episode, I’m clearing things up so that your new products are ready for when buyers are primed to purchase, but you’re also not burning yourself out! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/247 Today’s episode is brought to you by Proof to Product LABS, where we’re bringing together new and seasoned product based business owners to strengthen the way they run their businesses. Within our LABS membership, we offer a monthly group coaching call where I offer strategic solutions for product based business owners. Additionally, you can personally ask questions within LABS that might make it onto the podcast, just like this one! Make sure you join our waitlist to be the first to know when the doors open! Join the Waitlist
Apr 26, 2022 • 44min
246 | NFTs for Artists with Jason Matias, Jason Matias Photography
Are you curious about NTFs, the blockchain and opportunities that Web 3.0 provides for creatives? Jason Matias joins us to break down how the NFT market and blockchain works, his experience in selling several hundred NFT artworks, along with mistakes and misconceptions you should avoid if you’re just getting started! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/246 Today’s episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. If you’ve struggled with what to say, when to send or how to plan out your email marketing strategies for wholesale or direct to consumer audiences we’ve got just the tool for you. Grab this free guide that has helped hundreds of product makers plan out a year’s worth of marketing emails. Grab the Guide
Apr 19, 2022 • 33min
245 | Don't be afraid to take calculated risks with Lindsay Henry, Inklings Paperie
There are so many opportunities to take risks in your business in order to reach success, but is fear holding you back? In today’s episode, Lindsay Henry of Inklings Paperie joins us to share how her business has evolved over the last five years and why you shouldn’t be afraid to take calculated risks in your business! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/245 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free resources library, where you can find the tools to start, streamline, and scale your product business. From determining if wholesale is right for you, to designing a tradeshow booth that won’t break the back, to deciding what to delegate in three simple steps, we have the resources for you! Get Free Access Now
Apr 12, 2022 • 7min
244 | How to Decide Which Product to Manufacture Next with Katie Hunt
Are you stuck trying to decide on which product you want to create next in your product line? I believe there are six very important considerations when selecting that product to ensure it’s a good fit for you, your business, and your customers! In today’s episode, I’m walking you through all six of those considerations, why they’re important, and how you can make an informed decision based on all six. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/244 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free resources library, where you can find the tools to start, streamline, and scale your product business. From determining if wholesale is right for you, to designing a tradeshow booth that won’t break the back, to deciding what to delegate in three simple steps, we have the resources for you! Get Free Access Now
Apr 5, 2022 • 29min
243 | Building an Antiracist Business with Trudi Lebrón
Have you put in the work to build an antiracist business? In today’s episode, Trudi Lebrón joins us to discuss how valuable DEI and antiracism work is in small businesses, along with what you can do to create an inclusive community for your business. Listen in as Trudi shares about what led her into DEI work, how business should be personal, and how building an antiracist business begins with self-reflection. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/243 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free resources library, where you can find the tools to start, streamline, and scale your product business. From determining if wholesale is right for you, to designing a tradeshow booth that won’t break the back, to deciding what to delegate in three simple steps, we have the resources for you! Get Free Access Now
Mar 29, 2022 • 29min
242 | NY Now Show Results with Christy Asper, Paper Baristas
Did you listen to my conversation with Christy Asper of Paper Baristas back in episode 236? We discussed how preparing for NY Now was going for her as a pre-show interview! Now she’s back for another conversation to share how the show went, what she learned, and what she’ll adjust for future shows! Listen in as she explains why she believes catalogs are still relevant, what it was like to exhibit as part of the Greeting Card Association Village, and what her sales and success looked like! You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/242 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free resources library, where you can find the tools to start, streamline, and scale your product business. From determining if wholesale is right for you, to designing a tradeshow booth that won’t break the back, to deciding what to delegate in three simple steps, we have the resources for you! Get Free Access Now
Mar 22, 2022 • 11min
241 | How to Determine Your Product Pricing with Katie Hunt
Are you leaving thousands of dollars or more on the table each and every year due to incorrectly pricing or underpricing your products? There are two critical numbers you need to know in order to avoid losing money and to properly determine your product pricing. In today’s episode, we’re reviewing how you can price your products by understanding your production costs and market rates, plus I’ll even be sharing a real example with real numbers. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/241 Today’s episode is brought to you by LABS, the 12 month group coaching program of robust support for your product based business. With a focus on foundational building in your business, you’ll find support in patching the holes in your systems to build success in every aspect of your business. If you’re a product based business owner that wants to strengthen the foundations of your business, LABS is the program for you! Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been in the game for a while, we offer a track for each that is catered to your needs in business. LABS fills in the holes and cracks in your business and opens quarterly for enrollment. If you’re ready to enroll in LABS, make sure you’re on the waitlist! Join LABS Waitlist
Mar 15, 2022 • 29min
240 | You're right on time with Amber McCue, The Modern CEO
Do things in your life or business feel like they just aren’t happening fast enough? So many of us experience this year after year, but what if we could shift our mindsets to turn it into a positive? Amber McCue of The Modern CEO joins us to share how after experiencing this guilty feeling of things not happening fast enough, she opted for the mindset of “Right on time.” No matter where you are in your business or life, you’re right on time. She’s sharing philosophies on releasing control, remaining flexible, and checking in with ourselves and our business when making big decisions. Listen in as she shares how valuable setting intentions multiple times a year is in her business. You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/240 Today’s episode is brought to you by our free resources library, where you can find the tools to start, streamline, and scale your product business. From determining if wholesale is right for you, to designing a tradeshow booth that won’t break the back, to deciding what to delegate in three simple steps, we have the resources for you! Get Free Access Now
Mar 8, 2022 • 8min
239 | Why You Should Be Tracking Inventory at All Stages of Business with Katie Hunt
Katie Hunt, an expert in inventory management, discusses the benefits of tracking inventory at all business stages. She highlights how it can improve operations, save costs, and boost profit margins. She also shares tips on selecting the right tools for efficient tracking of raw materials.
