Proof to Product

As a product creator, it's common to feel that success means building your own storefront and selling retail to earn the most profit for your business. While that's a great goal to strive for it doesn't mean you should let other selling options, like wholesale, fall off your radar. In today's episode, Beth Roszkowski and Tiffany Grimes join us to share how wholesale has allowed them to scale their...

Trade shows are a big project to take on for product based businesses interested in wholesale. The biggest question I get: Is it worth it? In today's episode, Jodi Kostelnik of The Neighborgoods joins us to share all about her experience with trade shows, specifically with Shoppe Object. Jodi opens up with transparency about the numbers she's experienced with trade shows, what her goals are as she...

In an industry and business where your time is valuable and your products are essential for creating a successful and sustainable business, sales reps have your best interest in mind and serve a greater purpose than simply selling your products. A valuable sales rep is someone you can build a trusted relationship with who can navigate catalogs, inventories, deliveries, and even curate products jus...

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 wa...

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,...

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...

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 on...

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-win...

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...

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 worki...

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...

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...

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 Instagra...

If you're like many of the people in our LABS and Paper Camp communities, you've probably pondered the idea of opening a brick & mortar shop for your business. In this episode, you'll hear from Jen Palacio, owner of Tiny Turns Paperie, a brick & mortar shop in Somerville, MA. Jen uncovers what brought her to the idea of opening her own brick & mortar shop and some of the misconceptions people have...

The upcoming holiday sales season is upon us! The worldwide shipping delays, supply chain issues and labor shortages have been causing some massive challenges for small businesses everywhere, particularly for physical product businesses. Take a listen to hear my 5 action steps you can take to prepare yourself so you don't face as many disruptions in your sales as we head into the holiday season. Y...

Think visibility is your problem? It's probably not! In this episode, I am welcoming back third-time guest, Brittney Lynn, CEO of the Human Connection Agency. We break down the core fears people have about being visible and how to make the most out of your visibility. Brittney drops so many gems from her public relations knowledge about pitching, how to prioritize visibility and why the world need...

If you've been itching to grow your business then you'll love today's inspiring episode with Megan Fowler of Brown Parcel Press. In 2020, Megan's business exploded and she saw over 300% growth. Even more impressive, just one SKU accounts for over 50% of her business' annual profits. In this episode, Megan shares how she leaned into her passion and ultimately started her now thriving business. She...

Whether you're in the infant stages of your business or you've been running it for 10+ years, you might've had the thought at one point or another of making an exit. Selling your business can be an appealing thought, but is it right for you? In this week's episode, I had a conversation with Chelsea Clarke of Blogs for Sale and Her Paper Route. Chelsea explains everything you need to know about sel...

The messy middle. It's not a particularly fun place to be in business. It can be fraught with feelings of doubt, fear and imposter syndrome. While at the same time, it is a phase of business where tremendous growth happens and confidence builds. What is the messy middle? The messy middle is when you're no longer a brand new business owner, eager with optimism and endless energy to tackle your to d...

The challenges of running a business can be numerous. For those living with chronic illness, there are even more nuances to navigate, especially when it comes to listening and working with your body's natural rhythm. In this episode, I was joined by Morgan Swank of Morgan Swank Studio. Morgan is a longtime student of our LABS community and a Paper Camp alumni. She and I discuss what led to her dec...

Considering making an exit from your corporate career? If you feel like you're almost ready to make that jump then you'll want to take a listen to this episode to know exactly what to prepare for as you make the leap! In this week's episode, I chat with Desiree Perez of Paper Anchor. Desiree made this transition herself in January of 2021 and she takes us through her journey of how she knew she wa...

Are you ready to put money back into your pocket? In this episode, I am uncovering how you can do just that by increasing your products' profit margins. I will walk you through everything that you need to know about profit margins from a micro-level. As a business owner, you'll want to observe the profit margins for many reasons but it can be especially important when it comes to knowing what sell...

Storytelling is such a powerful way to connect with your customers. Our current and prospective customers want to know the people behind the brand, why you make the products you do and what your brand stands for. In this week's all new episode of Proof to Product, I chat with Michelle Knight of Brandmerry. She takes us on the path to discovering how to create a more authentic connection with our c...

One big lesson I learned over the past year: the importance of routines! I crave a routine and to be honest, before now, I don't know if I ever realized how deeply I needed routines. When we were thrown into the pandemic and our school, work and household routines were constantly in flux, I saw the influence that routines had. In this episode, I'm chatting with routine expert, host of the Routine...

Kimberley is the New York sales representative for Crow + Canary . During her 15+ year career in the stationery industry, Kimberley has worked at Crane & Co., Kate's Paperie, as well as two of her own independent boutiques. She got her start running a letterpress studio, and has since worked all sides of the business – manufacturing, wholesaling, custom printing, multi-unit retail, buying, merchan...