Proof to Product

This week I'm sitting down with returning guest Audrey Woollen of Urbanic and we're talking about navigating a huge business transition. About a year ago, Audrey decided to close her retail shop and we'll talk about that today. Audrey opens up about the difficult decision it was to close after being open for nearly two decades. We talk about the challenges and emotions of stepping away from something that you've built from the ground up. We talk about hustle culture ane the process of rediscovering creativity and purpose outside of traditional business models. We also talk about what she does and does not miss about running an in-person store, the pressures of being responsible for a large payroll, and the power of pausing to reflect on what you really want in both life and business. Friends, if you are grappling with any sort of change, if you're feeling stuck or questioning your next move, then I really feel like this episode is kind of a permission slip to follow your intuition and to honor your evolving needs and really kind of just explore what's possible when you give yourself the space to grow.This episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. We are doing something new coming up in LABS in July, it’s called CEO Week. We're going to help you lock in your focus for Q3 and give you the steps you need to take immediate action on things that really have been requiring your attention for a while. We're going to push your business to the next level and we’d love to have you join us. We start in mid-July!REQUEST YOUR INVITATIONYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/447 Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

Today's episode is a really practical conversation for anyone that is preparing for wholesale trade shows, especially if you're newer to exhibiting or you're trying to decide whether trade shows are the right next step for your business. I'm joined by Karen Sawyer-Meehan of Pier Six Press. She is a longtime Proof to Product client, a seasoned trade show exhibitor, and also one of the co-chairs of the Noted trade show which is done through the Greeting Card Association. In this episode, we're talking about what actually makes a booth stand out on the show floor, why product cohesion matters more than having a huge product line, how buyers are making snap decisions as they walk the aisles of a trade show, and why your trade show booth needs to communicate your brand point of view within seconds. We also talk about booth setup, product placement, trade show etiquette, and how to make the most of those in person conversations without feeling like you're coming across as pushy or awkward. We also talk about how having a positive mindset when exhibiting at trade shows is absolutely critical. There's a lot of tactical advice here packed into this episode, but also a lot of perspective around what it takes to build wholesale relationships over time and how trade shows are just one step in that journey.It's an optional step, but it is one step that a lot of folks are taking and seeing success from. Whether you're actively preparing for a show right now or starting to think about whether wholesale trade shows are for your future, I think you're going to get a lot from this conversation with Karen.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 UPYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/446 Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

Today I'm joined by my friend Kimberley Yurkiewicz, owner of Measure Twice, an independent gift shop in Brooklyn, New York. Kimberley has worn a lot of hats in the consumer gift industry. Over the years, she worked retail managing large gift shops. She had a successful career as a sales rep. She worked closely with brands behind the scenes, mentoring them as they made decisions about their product line and pricing and more. And for the last seven years, she's owned and operated her successful brick and mortar shop Measure Twice, alongside her husband.Last time we had Kimberley on the podcast was 2024, so it has been a minute. In this episode, we are catching up about buying patterns, rising product costs, what brands are getting right and wrong when pitching stores, and why industry standards still matter. As wholesale sales strategies continue to evolve, we also get into a really important conversation about pricing. If you have been nervous about raising your wholesale prices, Kimberley shares some incredibly honest perspective from the retailer side that I think will be reassuring for a lot of you to hear. Towards the end of the episode, we also talk about what independent retailers are craving right now, specifically what she is craving. Products with personality, points of view and brands that aren't afraid to stand out in the marketplace. It was really great catching up with Kimberley and having this candid but fun conversation about her shop, the state of the industry, and more.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 UPYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/445 Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

Today I am joined by best selling author Austin Kleon, the author of Steal like an Artist, Show Your Work, Keep Going, and his newest book, Don't Call It Art. This conversation feels timely because I've been hearing from so many people lately who are just feeling creatively exhausted. They've built businesses around something that they once loved making, but somewhere along the way the creativity started to be replaced by running the business.Those production schedules, the marketing plans, inventory, emails. All the things, right? Austin and I talk about that tension that a lot of people feel in this episode. How easy it is to lose the playfulness and the curiosity that got us into business in the first place.We talk about the pressure to always be professional, the fear of looking stupid or not knowing everything, and why staying curious actually matters so much as we grow our businesses and ourselves as creative leaders.We also talk about creating like children do. Experimenting, playing, making bad art on purpose, working with your hands, getting outside, taking walks, journaling.There's a really interesting conversation here about how creativity doesn't always come from sitting and thinking harder.Sometimes it comes from movement, from changing your environment, from using your hands or stepping away long enough for your brain to reconnect the dots in the background.Today’s episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library. It’s where you can get your hands on our free resources to help you start, streamline and scale your business in your own way and at your own pace.GET FREE ACCESSYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/444Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper CampThis episode contains affiliate links. You can view our affiliate disclaimer here.

Hey, friend. I'm pulling an amazing episode from the archives with over 440 episodes here on the Proof to Product podcast.There is a gold mine of information for you to help you grow your business, and, frankly, it can be hard to take it all in.Today's episode is a look back at a solo episode about how to increase your product profit margins. This episode is important now more than ever with inflation and rising prices of practically every good out there. 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 sells, what should be discontinued and to help fuel your strategic decision-making.You can view full show notes and more at https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/4-ways-to-increase-your-product-profit-margins-with-katie-huntQuick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

Today we are diving into a topic that I know makes some of you really uncomfortable, but I need you to lean in and listen because this conversation is not only timely, but it is necessary. And honestly, it may save your business.We're talking about raising your prices. Now, before you convince yourself that this does not apply to you, I want to share a story that I came across from a restaurant owner. Yes, I know, totally outside of our industry, but it's worth sharing.If you are tired of working in a silo, making all of the daily decisions in your business alone, then come join our community of product creators and sellers in LABS. You'll not only gain access to a generous group of people who are making and selling a very wide range of products, but you'll also gain access to trainings, email templates for things like raising your prices, and monthly coaching calls with me.Plus, we're rolling out some new incredible features soon that are going to make it even easier for you to implement all the new ideas that you're gathering in the community.REQUEST YOUR INVITATIONYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/443Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

Today's episode is pulled directly from a case study that I wrote and shared inside of our LABS community.The case study is about email segmentation. This is a really good example of the kinds of conversations we're having inside of LABS every single day.We of course talk about sales strategies, cash flow, and marketing systems, but we're also looking at real world examples from brands within our industry as well as outside our industry.We're asking ourselves, what's working? Why does this work? And most importantly, how can we apply this to our own businesses and our own industry?Today’s episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. We have member-only events inside of LABS, so request your invitation to join below!REQUEST YOUR INVITATIONYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/442Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

This week I am joined by Ilana Griffo and Katie Johnson, the founders of Goodtype and the authors of the new book Follow Your Art.If you're not familiar with Goodtype, it started as a platform celebrating lettering artists and creatives around the world. Over time, it's grown into a community that encourages artists to develop their voice, share their work, and support one another in their creative process.In today's conversation, Ilana and Katie share their story behind the new book and the deeper message at the heart of it— that building a creative career isn't just about making art. It's about learning to trust yourself and your perspective as an artist.We talk about what it actually looks like to find your creative style, especially when you feel like the market is already crowded. They share their thoughts on identifying your special sauce as an artist, why perfectionism can keep so many creatives stuck, and how putting your work out into the world before it feels ready is often the thing that helps your voice emerge.If you've ever struggled with confidence in your creative voice, or you just needed a reminder that your perspective in art matters, this conversation is for you.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 UPYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/435Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp