Penny Linn Podcast

This week on the Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a solo update and all the behind-the-scenes details from the opening of our new New York store 🗽✨ Then, she’s joined by her longtime friend Lita of Nashville Needlepointer — the finishing expert who has built an incredible business in the needlepoint world.Krista and Lita chat about how Lita grew her finishing business, built her community through teaching and online classes, launched her Substack, and turned her passion for needlepoint into so much more. It’s a fun, inspiring conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, and all the ways Lita continues to make stitching more approachable for the community 🪡💙https://nashvilleneedlepointer.substack.com/56e7bbbe

In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista is recording on the go from needlepoint market — joined by Emily, Dylan, and Olivia for a chaotic, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to shop market.They break down their real-time haul, sharing what they bought, what they missed, and how they decide what actually makes it onto the Penny Linn site — plus a fun side conversation on Disney, dream designs, and what they wish they could find more of.From quick-fire buying decisions to limited inventory stress, they chat about balancing data, gut instinct, and customer demand, along with their favorite finds from the trip!

In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista records live from New York City, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at Penny Linn’s Times Square billboard and a sneak peek at the upcoming NYC storefront!Then, she’s joined by Bridget, Senior Manager of Licensing and Logistics and one of Penny Linn’s earliest team members.Bridget shares her journey from advertising to joining Penny Linn in its early days, her transition to a remote role, and how she’s grown into overseeing wholesale, buying, the collective, and licensing.They chat about what it really takes to run a fast-growing business behind the scenes, balancing big ideas with execution, and why every team needs someone willing to say “no.”This episode is a candid look at the operations side of Penny Linn — and the people who make it all happen.

In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a candid solo update — and a big milestone. She shares the surreal experience of Penny Linn being featured in Forbes, reflects on the emotional high of that moment, and opens up about the challenges that came with it.Krista also gives a deep dive into the current state of the needlepoint industry, breaking down the unprecedented surge in demand and the very real growing pains behind the scenes — from supply chain bottlenecks to months-long production timelines and the pressure of predicting inventory nearly a year in advance.Then, she’s joined by Kyra of Kyra Cotter Designs — one of Penny Linn’s original Collective Designers and a close friend — for a conversation about growing alongside the brand and building a business within a rapidly evolving industry.Together, they dive into:What it was like joining the Penny Linn Collective in the early daysHow the designer–retailer relationship works behind the scenesThe realities of long production timelines and forecasting demandGrowing a creative business while balancing real lifeHow the needlepoint community has evolved in recent yearsTurning a side passion into something much biggerThis episode is equal parts behind-the-scenes business breakdown and honest conversation about what it looks like to grow — both as a brand and as a creative — during a time when the entire industry is changing in real time.

In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a solo life and business update. She shares a behind-the-scenes look at a recent Penny Linn photoshoot at the iconic Eloise Suite at The Plaza, where the team spent the day capturing content for the upcoming collaboration. Krista also celebrates hitting 100,000 followers on Instagram, reflects on how quickly the needlepoint world is growing, and gives listeners a peek at what it’s really like preparing for major launches and collaborations behind the scenes.Then, Krista is joined by Harrison Wallace — content creator, recipe developer, and enthusiastic newcomer to the needlepoint world.Harrison shares how he first fell in love with cooking and hosting (thanks to years of watching Food Network growing up), and how he eventually transitioned from balancing a traditional job with creating online content to pursuing it full time.The two dive into:How Harrison got pulled into the “needlepoint cult” by friends and quickly became obsessedLearning needlepoint through YouTube and local needlepoint shopsWhy the in-person community around stitching is such a huge part of the hobbyThe explosion of needlepoint’s popularity in recent yearsWhy creative hobbies are pulling people away from their phonesHarrison’s growing needlepoint stash (and dream of a fully ornamented tree)They also chat about social media, creating long-form content on YouTube, cooking and hosting culture, and how online communities are helping revive traditional hobbies for a new generation.This episode is a fun conversation about creativity, internet culture, and how a simple hobby can unexpectedly turn into a full-blown obsession.

In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a solo intro, sharing a candid life and business update. She reflects on what’s currently happening behind the scenes at Penny Linn — from the realities of managing growth to navigating the constant balancing act of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Krista also touches on the season she’s in right now: refining operations, making big-picture decisions, and staying grounded while the needlepoint world continues to evolve.Then, she’s joined by Emily, founder of Emily O & Bows, for a conversation all about creativity, brand building, and carving out your own space in a competitive market.Together, they dive into:How Emily started Emily O & Bows and turned an idea into a recognizable brandThe early scrappy days of launching a businessNavigating wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer growthThe realities of scaling production while keeping quality highLessons learned from trial and error (and doing it anyway)Emily shares what it’s really like to grow a product-based business as a female founder — from figuring out pricing and margins to trusting your creative instincts and pushing through self-doubt.This episode is a great listen for anyone building something from the ground up — especially if you’re in that messy middle of growth where everything feels exciting, overwhelming, and full of possibility all at once.

In this whirlwind episode of the Penny Linn Podcast, Krista pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest transitions in Penny Linn history: turning on their brand-new warehouse fulfillment system — and surviving the chaos that came with it.After years of shipping orders out of the back of the Rowayton flagship store, Penny Linn officially flipped the switch to warehouse fulfillment. What was supposed to be a seamless backend update quickly turned into a two-hour Shopify scramble, manual SKU-by-SKU inventory updates (all 5,000 of them), and a crash course in what it really means to be the final decision-maker. Krista shares the surreal moment of realizing, “Wait… I’m the one who makes the call,” and the pressure (and power) that comes with it.The stress paid off. The warehouse launch weekend became the biggest sales weekend in Penny Linn history — bigger than Advent, bigger than Black Friday — fueled by the ongoing needlepoint boom and months of inventory planning that positioned Penny Linn as one of the few brands fully stocked when demand skyrocketed. From stretcher bars to tacks to in-demand designer canvases, timing turned out to be everything.Krista also opens up about:- The emotional push-and-pull of entrepreneurship (celebrating wins vs. immediately fixing the next problem)- The tension between handmade, small-business values and Amazon-speed expectations- Rebuilding the back office now that packing tables are gone- Restoring international shipping- A serendipitous potential collaboration with ASHA- A heartfelt Zoom call with the Stitching in Color community- Preparing for the major Tootsie licensing launch- Handing over inventory buying (gulp) and learning to invest in growthPlus, a peek at what’s on Krista’s desk: finished Playbill canvases, a mysterious “Potato Gate” Valentine, a Chanel-inspired custom-stitched bag, upcoming New York-themed souvenirs and needle minders, Eric Carle samples, and a massive restock in motion.The episode wraps with the first installment of a new behind-the-scenes employee series, featuring Amanda Caldwell (Cosgrove) — Penny Linn’s very first employee. Amanda shares her journey from working at The Eye of the Needle in college to building AC Designs with her now-husband John, and how both of them left traditional corporate paths to help build what they proudly call a “needlepoint lifestyle brand.”It’s an honest, funny, deeply transparent look at scaling a creative business in real time — imposter syndrome fading, risks increasing, and heirlooms being built one stitch at a time.Big wins. Big inventory. Big feelings. And, apparently… potatoes.

This week’s episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when a high-growth business hits friction—from delayed launches and supply chain strain to team transitions and leadership pressure.Krista opens up about a particularly tough week that forced her to confront the weight of self-imposed expectations. With multiple licensed launches (including Tootsie, Eloise, and Eric Carle) pushed back due to approvals, factory capacity, and Chinese New Year shutdowns, she shares how quickly momentum can turn into burnout when timelines don’t go as planned—and why learning to move the dates (instead of blaming yourself) is sometimes the real win.The episode dives deep into the operational reality of scaling Penny Linn: transitioning to a third-party warehouse, navigating massive order backlogs, managing overwhelmed painting services, and rethinking how launches are scheduled moving forward. Krista explains the shift away from rigid launch calendars toward a more flexible “produce first, launch when ready” mindset designed to protect both the team and the brand long-term.She also addresses broader industry challenges—why inventory shortages are happening everywhere, how restocks are being handled during the warehouse transition, and what collective designers can expect in the coming months. Along the way, Krista reflects on her deeply solution-oriented leadership style and how she’s learning to balance fixing problems with acknowledging how hard things can feel in the moment.Other major updates include:A transition of wholesale canvas ordering to StitchtentEarly exploration into printed canvases for specific use cases (and why she’s softened her stance)Hiring updates, including a new Product Development Manager openingThe decision to stop publicly sharing detailed financial numbers—and whySigning with a PR firm to support press, events, and the New York store launchThe episode closes with an honest reflection on emotional regulation, resilience, and what it means to stay steady through both highs and lows as a founder—plus a reminder that not every week is a win, and that’s okay.This is a raw, unfiltered founder update that feels more like a personal debrief than a polished highlight reel—and one that will resonate deeply with anyone building something big behind the scenes.

In this solo episode of the Penny Linn Podcast, Krista shares a major business update — Penny Linn is officially opening its second store in New York City. 🎉 From warehouse growing pains and fulfillment challenges to massive licensing wins and long-term brand vision, Krista pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like to scale a creative business in real time. She covers: Why Penny Linn is moving fulfillment to a 3PL warehouse Lessons learned from past growth bottlenecks -Upcoming licensed collaborations (including Sesame Street, MLB, Playbill, candy brands, and more) The strategy behind opening a brick-and-mortar store in NYC How the New York location will serve as Penny Linn’s proof of concept for future expansion What’s coming in 2026 for designers, collections, and retail This episode is part shareholder update, part founder diary, and part love letter to needlepoint, creativity, and making bold moves — even when they feel a little scary. ✨ Whether you’re a needlepoint lover, small business owner, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is full of honest insight, behind-the-scenes strategy, and exciting news for the Penny Linn community. Subscribe for weekly updates, launches, and life at Penny Linn.

In the latest episode of the Penny Linn Podcast, Krista Leray shares big updates from her growing Connecticut needlepoint brand, including hitting the $1 million sales milestone and plans for expansion. From warehouse hunts to creative product launches, Krista gives an honest peek behind the curtain of running a modern retail and e-commerce business.She’s joined by Morgan Julia, founder of Morgan Julia Designs, who talks about her move to Jersey City, opening her new studio, and the huge success of her Bar Cart Club and Needle Minder Club subscriptions. Morgan also dishes on her first New York City pop-up, which pulled in more than 1,500 visitors and proved that experiential retail is here to stay.Together, Krista and Morgan chat about creativity, growth, and friendship in the needlepoint world. Whether you’re a stitcher, small business owner, or just love stories of women building creative empires, this episode is packed with inspiration.Listen now on the Penny Linn Podcast and get inspired by two of the most innovative voices in modern needlepoint.