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 9, 2024 • 4min
Bonus | State of Product Industry Survey
We are seeking 1,000 product-based business owners who are willing to anonymously share their details for the 2024 State of the Product Industry Report: www.prooftoproduct.com/2024survey The data will help you make stronger decisions in your business. It will help you better understand the industry and your competition. It will help you identify growth opportunities. The results will benefit us all. BUT... in order to make this report truly successful, we need you to do the following: Fill out the State of Product Industry survey at prooftoproduct.com/2024survey Share the survey link with your product peers. In exchange for your participation, we'll share the report with you when it is ready. All physical product-based business owners are invited to apply. No brand is too big or too small. We want to hear from people making a wide range of products and in various stages of business. Thanks in advance for your participation and for sharing this opportunity with your product peers!
May 7, 2024 • 29min
341 | How Fashion Influences Her Product with Priyanka Batra, My Darlin'
I love using the podcast to spotlight our different community members and their unique businesses and stories because we know that no two businesses are the same. We all have our lived experiences and interests that play into the types of businesses we create and how we choose to run these businesses each day. Today's guest is Paper Camp Alumni Priyanka Batra from My Darlin', a colorful Brooklyn-based paper goods studio. Through her work, she aims to romanticize everyday moments through a contemporary, but playful design aesthetic while simultaneously evoking a sense of nostalgia. Priyanka's line has grown steadily since 2019, and her products are now carried in more than 300 stores in the United States plus distribution in Australia. On today's episode, Priyanka shares her love of fashion and how that influences her products, how growing up the daughter of immigrants influenced her career path, and she talks about overcoming imposter syndrome. We also talk about how she jumped into her first trade show too quickly with only 3 weeks to prepare and the lessons she learned the hard way in that experience. 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, its only $27 bucks. Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/341 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Apr 30, 2024 • 31min
340 | How To Pitch Holiday Gift Guides with Nora Wolf, Wolf PR
Nora Wolf, owner of Wolf PR, talks about pitching holiday gift guides and advanced planning. She emphasizes the importance of preparing high-quality product photos and white background shots. Tips include maximizing affiliate opportunities, effective pitching to publications, and strategies for targeting specific markets with relevant content. Simplifying pitches to press and retailers is key for successful collaboration.
Apr 23, 2024 • 41min
339 | New Laws about Independent Contractor with Kira La Forgia, Paradigm Consulting
HR consultant Kira La Forgia from Paradigm Consulting explains the new stricter guidelines for independent contractors by the US Department of Labor. She discusses the impact on businesses, risks of misclassification, and tips for proper classification to avoid penalties. The podcast explores transitioning contractors to employees, expert support options, and the importance of delegation for business growth.
Apr 16, 2024 • 43min
338 | Exiting and Acquiring a Business with Kiwi Schloffel & Meghan Hopkins Sokorai
In this insightful conversation, Kiwi Schloffel, the creative force behind Your Gal Kiwi, shares her journey of stepping back from daily operations to explore new ventures. Meghan Hopkins Sokorai, the owner of And Here We Are, discusses her acquisition of Kiwi's brand and the collaboration’s seamless integration. They dive into the nuances of merging artistic visions, maintaining brand integrity, and the importance of trust in business partnerships. Their shared experiences shed light on navigating growth, authenticity, and the excitement of joint creative futures.
Apr 9, 2024 • 34min
337 | Exclusivity and Ethics in Retail with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Measure Twice
Kimberly Yurkiewicz, a 25-year veteran in the stationery industry and owner of Measure Twice, shares her rich journey in retail. She discusses the resilience needed to navigate the startup landscape, especially post-COVID. Kimberly emphasizes community-centric retailing and ethical practices, highlighting the importance of building personal relationships over mere transactions. She dives into the nuances of discovering new brands and the balance of running a business with a partner, offering invaluable insights for aspiring retailers.
Apr 2, 2024 • 10min
336 | Utilizing Abandoned Cart Emails to Drive Sales with Katie Hunt
Did you know that almost 70% of shoppers abandon their online shopping carts and don't follow through with a sale? That means that only 3 out of 10 of your customers who go to your website and load up their shopping cart complete their purchase. The same report from Baymard Institute said that more than $18,000,000,000 in e-commerce sales are lost annually due to abandoned carts. That is a whole lot of money. And yet, only some independent product brands are utilizing abandoned cart follow-up emails to recapture some of these sales. On today's episode, I'm answering a question from our recent round of Paper Camp regarding abandoned cart email automations. If you have ever shied away from sending out these emails, you are going to want to listen to this one and rethink your strategy. 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, its only $27 bucks. Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/336 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Mar 26, 2024 • 59min
335 | In-Person Retail Markets with Emily Chiang, Danella McKinnon, and Kate Pinto
Emily Chiang, the owner of Emii Creations, Danella McKinnon of McKinnon Collective, and Kate Pinto from Bean Horse Car Designs gather to discuss the in-person retail market landscape. They highlight strategies for engaging consumers and adapting to post-pandemic changes. The trio shares insights on logistics, maximizing social media presence, and the challenges of outdoor events. They also touch on effective cash handling and the importance of creating memorable customer experiences, ensuring vendors can thrive amidst evolving shopping behaviors.
Mar 19, 2024 • 34min
334 | Expanding into 1,000 Stores with Brittany O'Brien, Brittany Paige
Brittany O'Brien, a New York City-based illustrator and founder of Brittany Paige, shares her journey from scaling her stationery and gift company to over 1,000 stores. She dives into the balance between customer acquisition and retention and the pivotal role of trade shows in her growth strategy. Brittany discusses leveraging SEO, the impact of TikTok for business branding, and the significance of consistent email marketing. With a witty flair, she offers insights on adapting to market demands and nurturing relationships in her evolving business landscape.
Mar 12, 2024 • 31min
333 | Scaling without Employees with Beth Roszkowski, Tiny Hooray
Beth Roszkowski, the creative force behind Tiny Hooray, shares her unique journey from hobbyist letterpress printer to thriving entrepreneur. With over 300 retail partnerships, she discusses her preference for utilizing independent contractors over hiring employees, enabling her to scale smartly. The conversation dives into the importance of adaptability, creative collaboration in product design, and the art of delegation, emphasizing how these strategies empower her to align business growth with personal goals.
