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Check latest episodes from Proof to Product podcast

330 | How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Team with Tatiana O'Hara, T. O'Hara Consulting

2024/02/20

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 needed for their team and daily operations so that they can focus on scaling sustainably. As a corporate leader turned business coach, she has helped dozens of leaders optimize and build their teams and learn essential leadership skills that have yielded 100 of 1,000 of dollars in sales growth. Overall, if you're ready to stop being the doer of all the things and you're ready to build a business that doesn't run you, Tatiana is your gal. In this episode, we're talking about mistakes that folks make when they are hiring, how to identify appropriate KPIs, (key performance indicators for the individual roles you're hiring for), and how to have tough conversations when managing a team. Tatiana also shares her personal story of laying off her higher team after having her first baby last year. It's a relatable story about how life circumstances shifted her priorities and her goals for the business, something I'm sure many of us have experience with. Today’s episode is brought to you by our Deciding What to Delegate free workshop. As busy entrepreneurs, one of our biggest challenges is knowing where to dedicate our time and energy. We’re usually so busy doing the work in our business that we have a tough time identifying what we can hand off to someone else. This on-demand free workshop will provide you with 3 simple steps so that you can identify what projects to outsource so that you can stop being the bottleneck in your business. SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/330 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp Deciding What to Delegate free workshop

329 | How These 9 Businesses Have Grown Since Attending Paper Camp

2024/02/13

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 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 last round in fall 2023, 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 the 43rd round of Paper Camp. Class starts on Monday, February 19th! 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/329 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

328 | An inside look at what Paper Camp is like

2024/02/06

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 little less than 2 years. She was working out of her living room and had designed a collection of 80 SKUs. Alex knew that wholesale was her end game, so she soaked up everything that Paper Camp had to offer and went home and put what she learned into practice. As you will hear during the episode, Alex has done an incredible job of thoughtfully expanding her product line with an eye toward profit margins, sell-through rates, and intentional partnerships. We talk about the profit margins that she seeks when adding new product categories to her line. We also discuss discontinuing products and the pros and cons of working with big box retail stores among other things. This is just a tiny sliver of my conversation with Alex, and it's a tiny sliver of what the Paper Camp experience is like. You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/328 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

327 | How to apply for a Paper Camp scholarship with Katie Hunt

2024/01/30

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/327 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

326 | The State of Trade Shows in 2024 with Katie Hunt

2024/01/23

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 of Aeolidia, Abby Glassenbeg of Craft Industry Alliance, Morgan Cros, the founder of Original’s Duckhead, and myself — all of us shedding light on our thoughts about in-person wholesale trade shows as we head into 2024. I used this post as a starting point for this week’s podcast episode. We’re going to dive deeper into my personal thoughts on the state of wholesale trade shows and elaborate on some of my comments made in the blog post. 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 to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/326 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

325 | How To Plan Out New Wholesale Product Releases With Divya Guruju, Mellowworks

2024/01/16

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, budgeting, and how important relationships are in business. These are lessons that I carried into my product brand and also into the way we run Proof to Product today. Our guest Divya Guruju of Melloworks, spent many years in the corporate world designing menswear in New York City. Today, she’s talking about how her time in the fashion industry led her to create her bold, colorful, and modern stationery and gift line. In this episode, we’re talking about how Divya is expanding into textiles and home goods products. She shares how she plans out her new product releases based on logistics she learned in her corporate job. She also shares how Paper Camp provided her with a roadmap for the success she’s had with wholesale. Through Melloworks, Divya sells luxurious wrapping paper, colorful and eye-catching notebooks, fun greeting cards, and cool gifts. All are designed to be color-coordinated for a stunning presentation. 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! Listen to the free Audio Series You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/325 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

324 | Your 2024 business checklist for product brands

2024/01/09

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 going to focus on your New Year checklist. I’m going to share 10 things that work for me in hopes that they will work for you too. 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/324 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

We're on winter break!

2023/12/26

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 your business. Have a great two weeks and I will see you on January 9th!

323 | 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Doing Monthly Wholesale Promotions

2023/12/19

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 with some new system or lived experience that we have to follow. I firmly believe that there is room for everyone and that we all have unique experiences and expertise to share that can benefit others. However, I also know that as a consumer of content and someone looking for guidance in your business, it is hard to know who to trust. Especially when you feel like the entire internet is screaming at you about some new method or strategy that you need to implement. It can feel overwhelming. This brings me to today’s podcast topic… a question came up in our community about whether or not you should be doing monthly promotions for wholesale customers. The answer is no, absolutely not, and we’ll get into six reasons why you should not be doing monthly wholesale promotions for your 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 You'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. SIGN UP FOR THE FREE AUDIO SERIES You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/323 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

322 | From Fear to Strategy: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Roadmap with Katie Hunt

2023/12/12

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 Shirlee if I could air the episode on our podcast, so that's this week's episode! You can check out more great episodes on Shirlee's podcast, just look up The Tillage podcast on whatever podcast app you listen to. You can also follow Shirlee on Instagram at @thetillagepodcast. Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

321 | The Changing Landscape of Wholesale Trade Shows with Store Owner Audrey Woollen, Urbanic

2023/12/05

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 someone who talks to both wholesale brands and buyers every single day, I have a unique viewpoint that lets me see some of these industry shifts at scale. I believe that it is really important for all of the wholesale brands in our community to hear from different buyers so that you can make informed decisions for your business, which leads me to share today’s guest for the podcast. Today’s guest is shop owner Audrey Woollen of Urbanic. She is the founder and creative director of Urbanic a nationally and internationally recognized stationery and gift brand and independent boutique in Los Angeles. With 17 years of establishment, Urbanic has developed collaborative signature lines with some of the nation’s top designers as well as the development of an Urbanic brand. Audrey has been a board advisor at the National Stationery Show, a judge for the Louie Awards, a trends curator for Top Drawer London and is on the editorial board of Stationery Trends Magazine, as well as consulting for the pitch programs for the Noted Trade show and Paper Fest London. Audrey is considered an industry leader within the stationery and design community. In this episode, Audrey shares her thoughts on in-person trade shows, the rise of Faire as a digital marketplace, and its effects on how she does business as a brick-and-mortar retail shop. She shares her appreciation for email marketing efforts of wholesale brands and also advice she would give her past self now that she’s been in business for 17 years. 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/321 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

320 | The challenges of bringing a new product to life with Zeba Parkar, Treleaf

2023/11/28

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. Zeba Parkar is the owner of Treleaf, a product line that was created from Zeba's own needs as a plant owner and lover during the pandemic. Zeba was looking for beautiful and functional ways to support her plants, and after trying multiple products, she hopped on a laser cutter and created her own. Over the last 3 years, Zeba has grown Treleaf into a thriving brand, selling products through direct-to-consumer channels and wholesale channels. Her products can be found in over 150 stores, and she's working with a distributor to expand her reach. In this episode, Zeba shares about the early success of her business, including how she fulfilled orders 1 by 1 on a shared maker space laser cutter to now having a warehouse space that supports multiple laser cutters, a team, and her production space to service again the direct to consumer and wholesale customers. We also talk about the challenges of bringing a new product to life and how she's legally protecting her brand and the products that she creates. 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 and conditions. We need to clearly communicate and add value at every touchpoint We need to focus on building strong relationships with those wholesale customers. And all of that becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to what our buyers need. 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. Purchase Unlock Buyer Secrets Today You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/320 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

yuko m 2023/12/29

Full of useful insights for the newbies, seasoned pros, and anyone in-between!

I appreciate Katie’s ability to give space to the emotional side of running a creative business and her wealth of industry practical insights! I love ...

daniellelynise 2023/12/19

just what I need to know...

I hope to get to Paper Camp some day, but in the meantime, I'm so grateful for this podcast, Katie's amazing ability to share, teach in an impactful w...

millerreview 2023/12/19

My favorite podcast!

So much great info! I feel like I’m listening to a friend speak about all the things I am trying to improve. I love it! I hope I am able to attend a p...

lizzy1828 2023/12/06

Valuable resources and advice for your ecommerce business!

This is such a great podcast to listen to if you’re in the product-based business world. So many valuable resources and tips from people who have walk...

Amy Bartko - chatterbox 2023/11/18

Very insightful!

I love listening to Katie! She has so many insightful times for brands. A must listen! xoxo Amy B.

Paper Baristas 2023/10/30

Best Podcast to Learn and Grow

Such a fan of this podcast! I have learned so so much!

define23paperie 2023/09/29

Motivation and Support

The Proof to Product podcast has been a constant companion of mine as I build my business. It motivates me, informs me and makes me feel like I have a...

Little Desk Drawer 2023/09/28

Articulate Paper Goods Leader

Katie is a warm, intelligent and knowledgeable thought leader and interviewer for the paper goods industry. She’s an excellent speaker, listener and m...

Proof to Product 2023/09/28

Great podcasts!

I look forward to each new episode of Proof to Product’s podcasts - they are always engaging and so informative! I love the variety of topics and spea...

Jessica Schaffer 2023/09/28

Such great value every time!

This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who has a product-based business. Every single episode is packed with such valuable content, and I learn som...

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