Proof to Product

We recently did a two-part series on the State of Retail where I talked to two independent brick-and-mortar retail shop owners [episode 1] [episode 2]. This is important because we teach all of you how to sell wholesale to stores like Katie & Jen’s shops and it is important that you understand the challenges that they are facing and how they are adapting to the market and how that will trickle down and affect you as a manufacturer.  Today I want to expand on that conversation with a colleague of mine, Jessica Totillo Coster of E-Commerce Badassery. Jessica is an ecommerce and email marketing strategist. You may also remember her from episode 195 of Proof to Product. Jessica works exclusively with product-based business owners — many of whom are also Paper Camp Alumni & LABS members. Jessica and I have a unique perspective on what’s happening in the product space right now — observing trends with sales, marketing and spotting issues before they become widespread. And, that’s what our focus is on today’s episode. We're sharing what we’re seeing on the sales & marketing front for product-based businesses - what’s working, what’s not and sharing advice that you can implement right away. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers.   If you’ve struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we’ve got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year’s worth of emails.  And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year.   DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/319  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Today I’m popping in with a call to action and that is… I want you to shop small this holiday season. To make this as easy as possible for you, we’ve put together a robust holiday gift guide featuring almost 300 independent brands from our Proof to Product Community. The Proof to Product gift guide includes a wide range of products including candles, apparel, jewelry, accessories, puzzles and games, home decor as well as gifts for pet lovers plant lovers, kids & babies and more. There is truly something for everyone inside the Proof to Product gift guide.   Download your copy of the gift guide at www.prooftoproduct.com/giftguide.  Links: PTP Episodes 316 & 317: State of Retail PTP Episode 318: Why You Need to be selling everyday

You know we like to keep things real with you here at Proof to Product and the truth is, there will be a lot of businesses that will close their doors over the next year. There will be lots of reasons for this. Some business owners will decide that they no longer want to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.  Some will not be able to keep their doors open due to financial strain. Some business owners will shut down entire revenue streams to focus on something new. Maybe even under a new brand. Some doors will close because the business owner’s life circumstances have changed.   So many unique and different reasons why this will happen. But we’re about to see a cycle of small business closures. Everyone I talk to in business right now is trying to reduce costs - for services, software, team and more. But there is another side of this coin. It’s something that will keep your business stable and strong. It is where you should be focusing your time, energy and effort. It’s selling. Selling your products should be the main focus in your business always, but particularly right now. During today’s episode, we are discussing how you can make sure you are selling every single day. You’ll learn why you need to sell every day and three actionable ways you can make sure you are doing so.  Today’s episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe.  REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/318 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Today’s episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the state of independent retail right now. If you missed last week’s episode, I encourage you to check that one out first.   In that episode, Katie Wilson of Crush & Touch and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie shared feedback on their summer 2023 sales season, how they are preparing for 2023 Q3 holiday season, how the current economic climate is affecting business and what’s on the minds of shop keepers right now. Today we’re continuing the conversation. Katie, Jen and I talk about the importance of clear communication between vendors and shop owners, zip code protection and how these two shop owners are utilizing Faire to place orders with existing wholesale accounts. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks. Get access at www.prooftoproduct.com/unlock. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/317 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Over the last few months, I’ve had a lot of private conversations with store owners about the state of independent retail. They’ve confided in me about a wide range of challenges that they are facing - individually as well as collectively. Things like the economy, less foot traffic in their stores, staffing and cash flow limitations - have forced them to rethink how they are running their businesses and also planning for the future. Here at Proof to Product, we focus on teaching you how to sell wholesale and independent retailers make up the majority of our alumni community’s wholesale revenue. Which is why it is important that we not only build strong relationships with these shop owners, but that we also take time to listen to the challenges that the are facing.  Over the next two episodes of Proof to Product, we’re taking you behind the scenes into a candid conversation with two shop owners who are giving us an inside look at the state of independent retail and the challenges that many shop keepers are currently experiencing. Our guests for two-part podcast series are Katie Wilson of Crush & Touch and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie. Katie owns an art supply store in Southern California and Jen owns a stationery & gifts shop in Massachusetts.  In today’s episode, we’re talking about their summer 2023 sale season, how they are preparing for the Q4 holiday season, how the current economic climate is affecting their businesses and what’s on the minds of shopkeepers right now. Today’s episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well: We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touch point We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers. And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, its only $27 bucks. Get access at www.prooftoproduct.com/unlock. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/316 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

We are excited to host Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company and today, we talk to him about the evolution of his brand, the importance of finding community, and why your product is not for everyone.  There is a quote by Amy Poehler that we've used at our events in the past, and it really encapsulates today's discussion. She said, “Find a group of people that challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them and it will change your life.”  The idea of finding your people and creating community is a common theme in today's episode. We also discuss why his products and yours are not for everyone and how finding his people positively impacted his business. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12 part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/315  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp  

Shopify's recent investment in Faire and the closure of its Handshake platform are stirring up conversations in the retail world. The speaker shares insights on what this shift means for B2B operations and the overall wholesale market. Key features of the Shopify-Faire partnership bring both excitement and concern about future implications. Additionally, there's a strong emphasis on leveraging these platforms wisely, staying informed about market changes, and engaging with the community for growth and success.

Making your customers feel like your product or service is tailored specifically for them is the key to inclusive marketing. Inclusive marketing expert Sonia Thompson joins us today on the podcast to share more on how to integrate inclusive marketing into your customer experience.  Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Sonia’s career, how you can diversify your products and circle of influence, how to audit your customer experience to be more inclusive, the importance of considering how different people are and making them feel seen and heard, why you must stay true to your values, and much more!  We delve into some ways you can infuse inclusion in your marketing before discussing why your work environment needs to be inclusive in order for your customers to feel welcome. Finally, Sonia tells us how she can help in the ongoing evolutionary inclusion journey.  This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us on a consistent basis, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers.   If you’ve struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we’ve got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year’s worth of emails.  And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year.   DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at prooftoproduct.com/313 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

Betsy Garcia, co-founder of Bloomwolf Studio, shares her inspiring journey into the world of licensing. She discusses her successful partnerships with Recycled Paper Greetings and American Greetings, highlighting the positive impact of these collaborations on her business. Betsy also emphasizes the value of community support and resources provided by the Proof to Product Advisory Board, which helped her navigate the challenges of licensing. Listeners gain insight into the balance between work, life, and the critical role of social media in business growth.

Lauren te Velde, owner of Paper Farm Press and a passionate advocate for community-driven design, shares her inspiring journey from financial uncertainty to a staggering 4000% increase in wholesale orders. She emphasizes the importance of a strong brand story and authentic relationships in business. Discussing her transition to wholesale, she talks about launching a subscription service during the pandemic and the operational challenges of scaling her brand. Lauren’s insights on pursuing wealth versus money offer a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship.