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
Aug 22, 2024 • 17min
358 | Paper Camp Alumni Growth Stories
We are gearing up for our next round of Paper Camp and we are so excited! This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun for this week's podcast episode to celebrate this milestone and the fact that enrollment for Paper Camp is currently open. I asked our past Paper Camp students to answer 1 question: How have you and your business grown since participating in Paper Camp? The responses we received were incredible. In this episode, you're gonna hear from 9 women who represent a small sampling of our community. They sell a wide range of home decor, jewelry, embroidery, stationery, and consumer gift products. They sell their products to stores big and small across the world. Some came through Paper Camp several years ago while a couple just attended our latest round, and yet each of them took advantage of everything that Paper Camp had to offer: the coaching, the community, and the coursework. They implemented what they learned, and now they are seeing incredible results. Check out the links of everyone featured below and be sure to head to this link to enroll in our next round of Paper Camp. Businesses featured in this episode Chelsea Ward, Sketchy Notions: Follow on Instagram Christy Asper, Paper Baristas: Follow on Instagram Riki Inge, Rikrack Embroidery: Follow on Instagram Sandra Alcorn, Petals & Pins: Follow on Instagram Shelley Schmidt, Sunny Day Designs: Follow on Instagram Kate Murray, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress: Follow on Instagram Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey: Follow on Instagram Keli Change, PärdēPress: Follow on Instagram Ashley Sutton, Hustle and Hope: Follow on Instagram You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/358 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Aug 20, 2024 • 14min
357 | The Most Important Sales Tool for Wholesale with Katie Hunt
Discover the crucial role of a wholesale catalog in elevating your sales and building relationships with buyers. Learn five essential tips for crafting an effective catalog that focuses on accessibility and detailed product descriptions. Explore the importance of quality imagery and functional design to create lasting impressions. Also, get insights into optimizing your product line and implementing effective marketing strategies for wholesalers. It's all about making a great first impression!
Aug 15, 2024 • 13min
356 | Two Wholesale Metrics To Monitor with Katie Hunt
Selling physical products demands grit and resilience, especially during slow sales seasons. The discussion highlights two crucial metrics that can help strengthen relationships with current accounts. Listeners will discover strategies to identify reorder opportunities and streamline purchasing processes. Small yet impactful changes can enhance cash flow and boost wholesale revenue. This insightful conversation is perfect for those looking to reignite their sales and build confidence in their wholesale journey.
Aug 13, 2024 • 35min
355 | How Big Box Stores Buy Wholesale with Sally Diguette, Anthropologie
Sally Diguette, a seasoned home and lifestyle buyer for Anthropologie, shares her insights from over 14 years in retail. She discusses the intricate buying process, emphasizing the importance of relationship building and creative strategies. Sally delves into the unique challenges emerging brands face when pitching to large retailers. She provides valuable advice on presenting products effectively, including the significance of samples and timing. Additionally, she highlights how her unconventional journey has informed her approach, fostering innovation in product development.
Aug 8, 2024 • 15min
354 | Paper Camp Alumni Panel with Janine Kwoh, Jesse Regis, and Lucia Saisse Morris
When we have our eyes set on a specific business goal, something like selling wholesale, it is incredibly beneficial to hear from people who are a few steps ahead of us in the process, which is why we close out every round of our Paper Camp program with an alumni panel. I want our students to hear from their peers. In today's podcast episode, we're sharing a portion of our alumni roundtable with all of you. This alumni panel features Janine Kwoh from Kwohtations, Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company, and Lucia Saisse Morris from Lucy Loves Paper. Each of these Paper Camp alumni shares details about their brand, how many stores they're working with, what has been challenging about growing wholesale, and more. Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit. Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners. Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for the next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you’ll get early access to enroll. SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Aug 6, 2024 • 7min
353 | How to Apply for a Paper Camp Scholarship with Katie Hunt
If you’re listening today that means you’re likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here at Proof to Product and we give back through our time, knowledge as well as financial scholarships. Since 2011, we’ve awarded over $275,000+ in scholarship funds to creative entrepreneurs who sell physical products to the wholesale market. These brands had big dreams of seeing their products on the shelves of their favorite stores and they have obtained huge results. These scholarships are a big deal and we treat them that way. We typically have anywhere from 80-90 scholarship applications every round of Paper Camp. My team and I dedicate several days to view all the videos, read the applications, review websites, and ultimately whittle it down to one full tuition scholarship winner. It’s never an easy choice, but we do put a lot of care into our selections. And, today I want to share 5 ways that you can stand out when submitting your Paper Camp application. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/353 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Aug 1, 2024 • 11min
352 | 5 Myths About Selling Wholesale with Katie Hunt
Discover the five common myths surrounding wholesale selling that hold back many entrepreneurs. Learn how wholesale is accessible for businesses of all sizes. The conversation highlights the importance of proactive marketing and relationship-building for success in this strategy. Gain confidence in whether wholesale could be a lucrative avenue for your brand with insightful tips and truths that can shift your perspective.
Jul 30, 2024 • 34min
351 | Getting into Your Dream Store After Being Told No with Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey
Nellys Siria, the vibrant owner of Cocoa Loves Grey, shares her inspiring journey as a first-generation Latina entrepreneur. She discusses how rejection from her dream store turned into a triumphant partnership. Nellys emphasizes the motivation behind her colorful, laser-cut earrings and the importance of community support. She openly addresses her battle with burnout and the necessity of self-care in creative entrepreneurship. Her story is a testament to resilience, reminding listeners that a 'no' today can lead to exciting opportunities tomorrow.
Jul 23, 2024 • 11min
350 | How to Audit Your Product Line with Katie Hunt
Dive into a detailed training on how to conduct an effective product audit! Learn the step-by-step process of data collection and analysis to enhance your business operations. Discover strategies for identifying product strengths and weaknesses, optimizing pricing, and maximizing profits. Gain insights into refining your product line to align with your brand goals. Plus, explore the benefits of coaching programs designed to elevate your wholesale strategies and ensure your products are market-ready!
Jul 16, 2024 • 38min
349 | Sales Rep Challenges & Opportunities with Keli Faw, Crow & Canary
Keli Faw, owner of Crow & Canary, brings 13 years of retail experience to the conversation, alongside her PR background from Microsoft and Nordstrom. She discusses the ongoing challenges retailers face, like managing seasonal returns and strategic buying. Keli emphasizes the impact of online platforms on wholesale, the necessity of transparent buyer-rep-brand relationships, and navigating the evolving sales landscape post-pandemic. The importance of community, storytelling on social media, and adapting to unique store dynamics also takes center stage.
