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, Nor ...
…
continue reading
The Product Biz Made Easy Podcast helps entrepreneurs scale their product-based businesses. Each week we share sales strategies, marketing advice, or inspiring interviews. We chat all about wholesale, eCommerce, Amazon, Etsy, private label, trade shows, sales reps, manufacturing, and all things product-based business.
…
continue reading
Kelly from Hello World Paper Co. & Stamps and Caroline from Caroline Creates are two product based biz owners who want to connect with and help other product based business owners. The product based business world is shrouded in mystery... why? Why is it so easy to get information about starting a service based business, but when you ask people questions about their product based business they run and hide. That's dumb. When we lift each other up we not only help someone else's business, we ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
360 | How Quitting Social Media Boosted Revenue with Brigida Swanson, Yardia
28:53
28:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:53
Is it possible to have a thriving business and not be on social media? In episode 309, Brigida Swanson from Yardia joined me to discuss what it was like for her to leave social media. We talked a lot about choosing contentment over business growth, and this episode was a listener favorite. We decided to invite Brigida back onto the podcast to check…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
359 | Using Personal Interests to Inject Authenticity in Your Business with Kiwi Schloffel [Inside Look at our LABS Program]
27:21
27:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:21
We have all heard that we need to showcase our authentic selves for our businesses, but what does that actually mean? What does that look like in our business? This week's podcast episode features a recent portion of a coffee chat hosted by Kiwi Schloffel held inside of our private LABS program. LABS is our membership for product-based business own…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
358 | How These 9 Businesses Have Grown Since Attending Paper Camp
16:44
16:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:44
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 you…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
357 | 5 Tips for Creating an Effective Wholesale Catalog with Katie Hunt
14:05
14:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:05
A wholesale catalog’s purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can’t be there with them in person. Ultimately, the goal of your wholesale catalog is to sell your products, and it’s important to build your catalog with your retailer in mind. Today I’m going to go through five quick tips for cr…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
356 | Elevate Your Sales with These Two Wholesale Metrics with Katie Hunt
13:29
13:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:29
There’s no “easy mode” in business. Selling physical products is a lot of work and being a product entrepreneur requires grit, tenacity, and courage. Today’s episode is for seasoned wholesalers who might be experiencing a slower sales season this summer. If your sales have stalled, there are two metrics that you can tap into to build stronger relat…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
355 | How to Get Your Products Noticed by Key Buyers with Sally Diguette, Anthropologie
35:21
35:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:21
Pitching large retailers is a completely different process and timeline than working with independent retailers. Having worked with thousands of brands, I know that it can feel like an intimidating process to pitch your work to these key accounts. Today on the podcast, we're pulling back the curtain and explaining how it all works. My guest today i…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
354 | A Peek Inside Paper Camp: Our Alumni Panel with Janine Kwoh, Jesse Regis, and Lucia Saisse Morris
14:57
14:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:57
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…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
353 | How to Apply for a Paper Camp Scholarship with Katie Hunt
6:42
6:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:42
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 phys…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
352 | 5 Myths About Selling Wholesale with Katie Hunt
10:34
10:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:34
Selling wholesale can be a valuable and lucrative strategy for businesses of all sizes, but there are a few myths about the process that can discourage some entrepreneurs from exploring whether wholesale is a good fit for them or prevent some brands from pushing further into wholesale and expanding the revenue stream. Listen in to hear 5 myths abou…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
351 | Getting into Your Dream Store After Being Told No with Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey
33:55
33:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:55
It is so deflating when we put our work out into the world and either don't hear back or we're told that now isn't the right time. Our students feel this deeply when they are pitching wholesale accounts, but today's guest is reminding us that a no today doesn't always mean that it's a no forever. Nellys Syria is the owner of Cocoa Loves Grey, a col…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
350 | How to Audit Your Product Line with Katie Hunt
11:25
11:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:25
Today's episode is short but very detailed, so find a quiet place to listen and grab a notebook. This is a quick training that I recorded for our LABS members. Our LABS members are Paper Camp alumni, so they have been through our intensive program. This is something that we walk you through in Paper Camp as well, but I wanted to bring it up here pu…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
349 | Making Strategic Buying Decisions and Navigating the Sales Rep Relationship with Keli Faw, Crow & Canary
38:08
38:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:08
I love bringing a variety of perspectives and people from the retail space to this podcast. Buyers, sales reps, you name it, they've been on the Proof to Product podcast. This week's episode, I'm joined by Keli Faw, who is the owner of Crow & Canary. Crow & Canary might sound familiar as we've had the previous owner, Carina Murray, on the show in e…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
348 | How to Leverage Underutilized Features on Faire with Kristin Fisher, Bocu
29:53
29:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:53
If you want to hear from someone who has more than 18 years of corporate retail buying experience and who knows what buyers are looking for when they are shopping on Faire, you are in luck because today's guest on the podcast is Kristin Fisher of Bocu. Kristin owns the gifting brand, Bocu, and she is also a retail strategy mentor for brands and ind…
…
continue reading
The Proof to Product team is practicing what we preach and we are going on summer break for the next two weeks! We will be back in your ears mid-July and we are so excited about our upcoming episodes. In the meantime, we are gearing up for another round of our Paper Camp program which will start at the end of August. We only run Paper Camp twice a …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
347 | State of Product Industry Survey with Katie Hunt
20:45
20:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:45
Every day, I hear from product-based business owners who are curious about other people's business models, revenue streams, team structure, tech stack, how much revenue they're not only earning but what profit they're taking home, and how much they're paying themselves. Although we know that every business is different, it is completely natural to …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
346 | Tripling Revenue by Focusing on Wholesale with Rachel Kroh, Heartell Press
31:00
31:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:00
What if you lived in a different state than your business? Meaning, all of your products, your inventory, your team, and your operations were in a completely different state. For today's guest, Rachel Kroh of Heartell Press, this is her every day now. She lives in Washington with her family, while her team of 5 works remotely across the country. Th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
345 | Redesigning Products to Create More Ease in the Business with Janine Kwoh, Kwohtations
27:25
27:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:25
We've been telling you a lot of stories here on the podcast about brands making big scary shifts in business, and part of the reason we're doing this is to normalize that it's okay to pivot when you need to. In episode 342, Alyson O'Connor shared how she shut down a 6-figure revenue stream so she could focus on a revenue stream wholesale that bette…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
344 | Normalizing the Hard Stuff in Business with Tammie Bennett, Show Up Society
31:21
31:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:21
Running a business sure is a roller coaster, isn't it? We have our ups and downs. We have to balance the future forecasting and envisioning while also putting out the day-to-day fires in front of us. It takes a lot of grit and determination to be an entrepreneur, particularly when you're building something that aligns with your personal interests a…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
343 | 5 Tips for Creating an Effective Wholesale Catalog with Katie Hunt
13:08
13:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:08
A wholesale catalog’s purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can’t be there with them in person. Ultimately, the goal of your wholesale catalog is to sell your products, and it’s important to build your catalog with your retailer in mind. Today I’m going to go through five quick tips for cr…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
342 | Replacing a 6-figure Revenue Stream with Ready-Made Products for Wholesale with Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love
33:34
33:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:34
Have you ever wanted to make a transition in your business, but you resisted because the thing you wanted to move away from brought in the largest chunk of revenue for your business? I have definitely been there, and so has today's podcast guest. Alyson O'Connor is a classically trained visual artist specializing in nature-inspired illustrations, s…
…
continue reading
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 gr…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
341 | Building Confidence in Your Brand with Priyanka Batra, My Darlin’
29:10
29:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:10
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 Pri…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
340 | Pitching Holiday Gift Guides with Nora Wolf, Wolf PR
31:11
31:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:11
I know what you're thinking. Why are we talking about holiday gift guides when it's only spring? I know. But just like how product development cycles require advanced planning, so does pitching the press and getting your products featured in holiday gift guides. Today's guest is Nora Wolf from Wolf PR, a boutique public relations firm that she foun…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
339 | Updates on Independent Contractor Guidelines with Kira La Forgia, Paradigm Consulting
40:44
40:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:44
If you work with independent contractors in your business, you will want to listen closely to this podcast episode. In March 2024, the US Department of Labor issued new stricter guidelines regarding independent contractor workers. Today's guest is HR consultant and expert, Kira La Forgia of Paradigm Consulting. She is breaking it all down for us so…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
338 | Exiting and Acquiring a Business with Kiwi Schloffel & Meghan Hopkins Sokorai
43:10
43:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:10
If you have ever considered exiting your business or even acquiring another person's business, today's podcast episode is for you. My guests today are two of my clients and also friends: Meghan Hopkins Sokorai of And Here We Are, and Kiwi Schloffel of Your Gal Kiwi. Last year, Kiwi made the decision that she wanted to exit her product-based busines…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
337 | Exclusivity and Ethics in Retail with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Measure Twice
33:38
33:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:38
One of the things that sets Proof to Product apart from other people teaching about wholesale is the breadth and depth of not only my personal knowledge but also the fact that we bring in a variety of other perspectives from buyers to sales reps to consultants and manufacturers. This wide lens allows us to share best practices and current trends th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
336 | Utilizing Abandoned Cart Email Automations to Drive Sales with Katie Hunt
10:12
10:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:12
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 …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
335 | The Changing Landscape of In-Person Retail Markets with Emily Chiang, Danella McKinnon, and Kate Pinto
58:58
58:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:58
Our focus here at Proof to Product is teaching people how to successfully sell their products to the wholesale market. But many of our community members sell through multiple sales channels, including licensing, custom work, direct-to-consumer online sales, and in-person retail markets. For today's episode, we're sharing a portion of a recent coffe…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
334 | Expanding into 1,000 Stores with Brittany O'Brien, Brittany Paige
34:00
34:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:00
The last time Brittany O'Brien was on the podcast was back in 2022, and we were talking about how she scaled her business to 500 wholesale accounts. Earlier this year, Brittany crossed a new milestone. Her products are now sold in over 1,000 stores, and today, we're going to dig into what the last year and a half has looked like for her. Specifical…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
333 | Scaling without Employees with Beth Roszkowski, Tiny Hooray
30:37
30:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:37
We have shared many incredible business growth stories here on the Proof to Product podcast. One thing that I always try to emphasize is that business is not one size fits all. Every business will look different, operate differently, and have different goals they're working towards. To build a profitable, successful long-term business, we have to b…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
332 | Rebuilding Self-Trust and Confidence as a Business Owner with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 2)
22:48
22:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:48
Last week on episode 331, you met my friends Ginny and Elli from the Supported CEO. They very candidly shared their stories of experiencing burnout in entrepreneurship, including what that was like, what they felt, and they shared their journey back from burnout and what they did to get to where they are today. Today is part 2 in the discussion wit…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
331 | Back From Burnout with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 1)
35:53
35:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:53
The topic of burnout is popping up a lot in my business circles. People are tired, and they are struggling with decision fatigue. Many people I talk to are questioning whether to even continue with their business or whether they should make an exit, but these types of conversations typically happen behind closed doors, or worse, they don't happen a…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
330 | How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Team with Tatiana O'Hara, T. O'Hara Consulting
36:15
36:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:15
If you're looking for ways to be a stronger leader within your business or you're considering expanding your team, please block off some quiet time to carefully listen today. Our guest for this episode is Tatiana O'Hara, a team and leadership development consultant who helps successful yet overwhelmed online business owners create the structure nee…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
329 | How These 9 Businesses Have Grown Since Attending Paper Camp
16:55
16:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:55
We are gearing up for the 43rd 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 you…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
328 | An inside look at what Paper Camp is like
17:09
17:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:09
Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend our Paper Camp program? If so, today's episode is for you! I am sharing an inside peek into one of our Paper Camp coaching calls. This one is with Alex Gagne of Chez Gagné. Alex has been a longtime member of our Paper Camp community. When she first attended as a student, she had been in business a lit…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
327 | How to apply for a Paper Camp scholarship with Katie Hunt
6:42
6:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:42
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 phys…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
326 | The State of Trade Shows in 2024 with Katie Hunt
14:50
14:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:50
I have been doing so much good content for other people and I’m doing my best to bring it back around so that you all have access to it and know about these resources. Recently, the team of Aeolidia asked me to weigh in with my thoughts on the changing landscape of wholesale trade shows for their blog. The post features comments from Arianne Foulks…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
325 | How To Plan Out New Wholesale Product Releases With Divya Guruju, Mellowworks
32:33
32:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:33
I’ve been thinking a lot about how our past work experience and general lived experience shape how we start and build our businesses. For me, I spent 12 years in the corporate world leading business development and strategic marketing teams for large law firms before starting my product line. That time in my life taught me about project management,…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
324 | Your 2024 business checklist for product brands
14:32
14:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:32
Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and relaxing holiday season. I enjoyed a lot of downtime with my family and also worked on a few things behind the scenes to get Proof to Product ready for 2024. I thought it might be helpful to share some of the things that I look at as I’m wrapping up one year and starting a new one. So today’s episode is …
…
continue reading
The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, January 9, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're gone, be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 323 incredible episodes to help you strengthen yo…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
323 | 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Doing Monthly Wholesale Promotions
14:45
14:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:45
There is a lot of noise on the internet. Lots of gurus, experts, and other people claim you have to do things a certain way in order to be successful. We see ads on social media telling us there is a magic formula or 5-step process that will make all of our dreams come true. It seems that a new business coach is popping up on the scene every day wi…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
322 | From Fear to Strategy: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Roadmap with Katie Hunt
43:39
43:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:39
Hey everyone! I was recently on Shirlee Fisher's podcast, The Tillage Podcast, where we talked about a variety of topics: how to navigate challenges during a crisis, how to make informed decisions with my four-factor framework, how to embrace knowing your numbers as a neutral tool for success and so much more. I had such a good time that I asked Sh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
321 | The Changing Landscape of Wholesale Trade Shows with Store Owner Audrey Woollen, Urbanic
40:46
40:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:46
It’s no secret that wholesale buying patterns and in-person trade shows have shifted substantially over the last few years. Where buyers were once placing fewer, but larger orders a couple of times a year - oftentimes at trade shows - they are now placing more frequent, smaller orders throughout the year both online and at in-person markets. As som…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
320 | The challenges of bringing a new product to life with Zeba Parkar, Treleaf
26:10
26:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:10
The best products solve a problem or create an emotional connection. The ideas for these products stem from our own pain points or challenges as well as the joys in our lives. That is what our guest today did when she brought a new product to market. Today's guest is a scientist by training, a creative tinkerer, and a natural show entrepreneur. Zeb…
…
continue reading
The podcast is taking a break this week so that our team can celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends. We will be back next week with an interview with Paper Camp alumni & LABS member Zeba Parkar of Treleaf who is going to share what it was like bringing her laser-cut wood trellises to market — a brand new product in the plant category.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
319 | 2024 Market Trends For Product Based Businesses with Jessica Totillo Coster
36:13
36:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:13
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 ad…
…
continue reading
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 candle…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
318 | You need to be selling each and every day with Katie Hunt
12:10
12:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:10
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 …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
317 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 2]
25:35
25:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:35
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 holida…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
316 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 1]
36:55
36:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:55
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 t…
…
continue reading