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
Mar 1, 2022 • 35min
238 | Building Your Dream Team with Kira La Forgia, Paradigm Consulting
Join Kira La Forgia, founder of Paradigm Consulting, as she discusses hiring tips for small businesses, distinguishing between employees and contractors, and empowering women entrepreneurs through HR consulting.
Feb 22, 2022 • 37min
237 | Navigating supply chain issues & product expansion with Alex Gagné, Chez Gagné
The expansion of your business into wholesale and even new product lines can create exponential growth for your brand, but with that growth comes struggles. In today’s episode, Alex Gagné of Chez Gagné joins us to share about her experience with supply chain issues over the last couple of years, how that created a cash flow issue for her team, and how product expansion unexpectedly saved her business in 2021! For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to prooftoproduct.com/237 Listen to Alex’s previous conversation on the podcast at prooftoproduct.com/106 Ready to prepare for your own booth at trade shows? Come join us at Paper Camp where we share everything you need to know about selling wholesale and exhibiting at trade shows. prooftoproduct.com/papercamp
Feb 15, 2022 • 32min
236 | Lessons learned exhibiting at Atlanta Mart, Noted & NY Now with Christy Asper, Paper Baristas
Exhibitor Christy Asper shares insights from exhibiting at Atlanta Mart, Noted, and preparing for NY Now. She discusses challenges like costly mailer mishaps, production delays due to COVID-19, and strategies for trade show success. Also covers transitioning to ready-made products, focusing on wholesale, and the importance of strong systems in managing traffic and client nurturing.
Feb 8, 2022 • 16min
235 | How can I get more support from Proof to Product with Katie Hunt
At Proof to Product, we’re committed to helping product based businesses succeed! We’ve created two programs that can help you strengthen your business foundations or scale with wholesale. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the difference between Paper Camp and Labs, which program is right for you, and how you can get started! For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to prooftoproduct.com/235 Ready to prepare for your own booth at trade shows? Come join us at Paper Camp where we share everything you need to know about selling wholesale and exhibiting at trade shows. prooftoproduct.com/papercamp
Feb 1, 2022 • 31min
234 | Scaling Wholesale with Beth Roszkowski & 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 Grimes join us to share how wholesale has allowed them to scale their businesses. I’m excited to highlight the conversations to show how two different brands with different stories still find value, profit, and expansion in their businesses through wholesale. For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to prooftoproduct.com/234 Ready to prepare for your own booth at trade shows? Come join us at Paper Camp where we share everything you need to know about selling wholesale and exhibiting at trade shows. prooftoproduct.com/papercamp
Jan 25, 2022 • 39min
233 | Sales results from exhibiting at Shoppe Object with Jodi Kostelnik, The Neighborgoods
Jodi Kostelnik of The Neighborgoods shares her insights on trade shows, discussing sales data, goals, and approaches. Topics include expanding product lines, navigating trade shows, and benefits of exhibiting at Shoppe Object. The importance of transparency in sharing sales numbers is highlighted, along with advice for business growth and online presence.
Jan 18, 2022 • 27min
232 | Working with Sales Reps with Carina Murray, Crow & Canary
In an industry and business where your time is valuable and your products are essential for creating a successful and sustainable business, sales reps have your best interest in mind and serve a greater purpose than simply selling your products. A valuable sales rep is someone you can build a trusted relationship with who can navigate catalogs, inventories, deliveries, and even curate products just for you. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Carina Murray, founder of Crow and Canary, a sales rep group that works with a diverse line up of stationery and gift brands to sell their products and support their customers with top-notch customer service. Listen in as we discuss how sales reps were affected by Covid, how wholesalers and sales reps can work with Faire and other third party wholesale platforms, plus we’re highlighting unique benefits that sales reps bring to the sales process! For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to prooftoproduct.com/232 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Dec 17, 2021 • 9min
231 | 2021 Year-End Recap with Katie Hunt
With the new year right around the corner, my team and I have been making time to really reflect on the past year. It’s been a year of introspection–about our businesses, about the state of the world, and about how we balance our work and personal lives. But I’m proud to say that Proof to Product and our students have grown and accomplished more this year than ever before. In today’s episode, I wanted to share all the milestones the Proof to Product team and our students have reached in the past year. Plus, I’m giving you a sneak peek at all the exciting things we’re planning for 2022. You'll learn: How my team and I are reflecting on the year so far Our LABS and Paper Camp students’ big wins What you can expect from us in the new year For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp231 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Dec 14, 2021 • 38min
230 | You May Want to Turn Off Zip Code Protection on Faire with Genesis Duncan | Graphic Anthology
For most designers and makers, our relationships with retailers can make a major difference in our businesses. And while I know it can be discouraging to watch your outreach emails go unanswered, this kind of slow, steady work is the path to a sustainable and successful business. The key is to keep showing up, put your best foot forward, and get yourself seen by the right people. In this episode, I’m talking to designer, illustrator, and store owner Genesis Duncan about her experience being both a retailer and a wholesaler. She’s sharing the mindset shift that happened when she got to see the industry from the other side. Plus, she’s explaining how zip code protection in Faire might actually be limiting your business. You'll learn: Making the mindset shift from “maker” to “business owner” How your Faire zip code settings might be limiting or excluding buyers Why it’s so important to keep showing up, even if it doesn’t feel like you’re being heard For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp230 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Dec 7, 2021 • 7min
229 | Which Business Insurance Do You Need? with Katie Hunt
Insurance. It’s admittedly one of the least fun parts of owning a business, but it’s also one of the most important. Not only does it protect your business from misfortune, but it also protects you, the business owner. And with a little research, insuring yourself and your business isn’t as expensive or complicated as you might think it is. In this episode, I’m breaking down the different types of business and personal insurance that small business owners need. I’ll explain how they’re different, what they cover, and why they’re each important. Plus, I’ll share which providers I personally use to protect myself, my business, my team, and my family. You'll learn: Which types of business and personal insurance you should look into Why both business and personal insurance are vital for small business owners The companies and providers I use for my own insurance For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp229 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
