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
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
Nov 30, 2021 • 11min
228 | 4 Strategies to Combat Imposter Syndrome with Katie Hunt
Oxford Languages defines imposter syndrome as the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved. Imposter syndrome is very common in the entrepreneur space. That feeling that we haven't truly earned the success we've had. Imposter syndrome can mean feeling like a fraud or phony — like we're not truly talented or good at what we do. In this episode, I'm sharing a sneak peek into one of my monthly coaching calls inside the Proof to Product LABS program. During these calls, I answer pre-submitted member questions about how to run - and grow - a product based business. In this call, I shared four strategies for combating imposter syndrome, avoiding burnout, and building your confidence as a business owner. You'll learn: How imposter syndrome shows up in your businesses Four strategies for combating imposter syndrome and avoiding burnout How to rest and recover after an energetically-taxing launch For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp228 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Nov 23, 2021 • 37min
227 | Paid Advertising for E-Commerce Brands with Alexander Rossman | Rossman Media
Feeling confident with your organic digital marketing and ready to scale even further? Why not dip your toe into the world of paid advertising? Paid digital marketing might sound intimidating, but with a solid strategy and clear goals, it can truly help you increase exposure and leads for your e-commerce business. In this episode, I'm talking to Alex Rossman, founder of Rossman Media, an award-winning social media agency, about the ways small e-commerce brands can leverage paid advertising in their businesses. He's sharing his tips for getting started with paid ads, which platforms are the most beneficial right now, and how much money you need to invest in your ads to see results. You'll learn: How to leverage TikTok for your e-commerce business Three steps to getting started with paid advertising The common mistakes small e-commerce brands make in their digital marketing When to DIY your paid advertising and when to outsource it For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp227 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Nov 16, 2021 • 35min
226 | Using SEO for Product Forecasting & Development with Jessica Freeman | Jess Creatives
We all know that Search Engine Optimization is vital to ranking on Google and attracting website traffic. But if you've never worked on your site's SEO, where do you start? How do you find the right keywords? And once you find those keywords, where do you put them? In this episode, I'm talking to SEO expert Jessica Freeman of Jess Creative about how you can use SEO to attract new customers to your website. She's sharing her workflow for finding and implementing the right keywords, and she's also explaining how you can use SEO in your product development process. You'll learn: How to find and implement the right keywords The three SEO tasks you should tackle first How to use SEO to forecast trends and develop new products For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp226 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Nov 9, 2021 • 12min
225 | 4 Steps to Optimize What's Already Working in Your Business with Katie Hunt
Oftentimes in business, we set our sights on the next big thing–the next product, the next launch, the next program–that we forget to rethink the systems that are already working in our business. But most of the time, those systems could run even better and make us even more profit with just a few small tweaks. Take a listen for my four-step brainstorming exercise to help you identify what's working in your business and make minor adjustments to improve your systems even further. You'll learn: When it's best to make improvements to your current systems instead of starting from scratch How to determine which systems could use optimizing How to prioritize those improvements in your business For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp225 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Nov 2, 2021 • 35min
224 | Find Hidden Money in Your E-commerce Shop with Reese Spykerman | Design By Reese
Your business has a lot of moving parts. It's easy to let opportunities to make a little extra money (or eliminate sneaky expenses) slip right past your radar. So how can you optimize your revenue and minimize those "leaky pipe" expenses? The answer is right on your website! In this episode, I'm talking to e-commerce conversion expert Reese Spykerman about all the hidden places you can find extra money in your business. She'll share her tips for crafting a beautiful and functional e-commerce website, and we'll chat about a few of the trends we're seeing in the online business world right now. You'll learn: Where to find extra money (and sneaky expenses) in your ecommerce business Why you might be doing your business a disservice by making your website too pretty How to put yourself in your customers' shoes and make them feel understood For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp224 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Oct 26, 2021 • 17min
223 | Budgeting & Forecasting for Product Development with Katie Hunt [LABS sneak peek]
You want to develop a new product, but how do you know how much to spend on supplies? It can be tricky forecasting for upcoming product drops, especially for products you've never sold before. But with the right data, you can make educated estimates about your upcoming products to order supplies and budget with confidence. In this episode, I'm sharing a sneak peek into one of our monthly coaching calls inside the Proof to Product LABS program. During these calls, I answer pre-submitted member questions about how to run - and grow - a product-based business. In this call, I helped members forecast their spending for project development and budget for upcoming launches - even years in advance. You'll learn: How to budget for product development and repeat launches Tips for managing your books when you're buying supplies well in advance Strategies for forecasting your next year's spending and revenue For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to bit.ly/PTPEp223 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
Oct 19, 2021 • 27min
222 | Repurposing Your Instagram Video Content with Natasha Samuel, Shine with Natasha
Do you feel like social media is a chore? Many people I talk with find Instagram to be draining but know it's an important part of their sales and marketing so they keep posting and creating content. But what if using Instagram could be a way for you to begin meaningful conversations with your audience? In this episode, I'm joined by Natasha Samuel, host of The Shine Online Podcast and an Instagram Strategist that helps small businesses shine online. Natasha shares Instagram trends you should pay attention to, how to use video to showcase your products, strategies specifically for product based businesses and why even introverts can create videos with confidence. You'll learn: Instagram trends that are working for product based business owners How to use Videos and Reels to showcase your products Strategies and tools to help you create meaningful content on Instagram For full show notes, resources and a transcription, please head to BIT.LY/PTPEp222 For more support with your marketing & sales strategies, check out LABS at http://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs
