Amazon expert and Bring Your Ideas To Life Podcast host Vicki Weinberg shares the step by step process for creating your first product.

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In many of my podcast episodes I talk with guest experts and product creators about different aspects of the product creation journey. For this episode I thought it would be helpful to put all these pieces together, and give you an overview of the entire process. I share the steps to take, and point you to lots of resources that you can use along the way from other podcast episodes to free checklists that I provide. Everyone’s product creation journey will be a bit different, but I really think there is something in here for everybody.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Why I wanted to record this episode (00:38)
• Define what your product is and who it is for (02:25)
• Validate your product idea (04:15)
• Carry out some market research i.e. look at other products (08:58)
• Finalise your product specification (12:11)
• Do you need a patent or any other protection? (14:43)
• Work out your pricing (15:14)
• Think about branding and logos (20:01)
• Decide where you’d like to source your product (22:13)
• Research credible suppliers (22:58)
• Prepare your supplier communication (26:26)
• Contact suppliers (28:28)
• Order product samples and review them (31:13)
• Get shipping quotes if applicable (35:28)
• Order your product (36:01)
• Work out how and where you’ll ship and store your product (38:09)
• Decide where you are going to sell your product (40:45)
• Open accounts with online marketplaces (42:15)
• Write your product description (44:03)
• Arrange product photography (45:00)
• Ways you can work with me and how I can help you (45:45)

USEFUL RESOURCES

Podcast episodes:

Episode 9 How to carry out your own customer and market research - with Abbey Teunis

Episode 12 How to write a product specification for a physical product - with Vicki Weinberg

https://vickiweinberg.com/captivate-podcast/finding-a-great-supplier-to-create-your-product/

Episode 30 Where’s the best place to sell products online? - with Vicki Weinberg 

Episode 32 How to write a product description that sells - with Vicki Weinberg

Episode 34 How to take your own professional product photos - with Georgina Little

Episode 36 Shipping and importing your products - with Simon Arnold, Unity Logistics

Episode 54 Wholesale for small businesses - with Therese Ortenblad

Episode 58 Building a website for your products business - with Marie Brown, Beyond The Kitchen Table

Episode 64 How to sell on Etsy - with Anna Panteli, Anna’s Planners

Episode 72 What’s Your USP? - with Vicki Weinberg   

Episode 80 How to brand your physical products - with Cara Bendon

Episode 83 How to set up an effective e-commerce store - with Anna Heneback

Episode 89 How to make wholesale with - with Sasha Gupta, Cheeky Zebra

Blog posts:

How to take your own professional product photos 

Free downloadable resources:

Download My Free Product Creation Checklist

Download My Free Guide 7 Free Ways To Validate Your Product Idea

Work with me:

Find out more about my Product Creation Courses

Find out more about my Product Creation Power Hour

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

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Emma Sims, is the founder of Soulstar Sanctuary Reiki practice in Tunbridge Wells. Emma is also an energy healer, a crystal therapist and intuitive guide. Emma has developed and created her own range of products, handcrafted aromatherapy blends called ‘Mood Sprays’,  created to enhance and protect your energy and joins me today to share her product business journey.

EPISODE NOTES

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Emma Sims is an energy healer, a crystal therapist and intuitive guide who is the founder of the Soulstar Sanctuary Reiki practice in Tunbridge Wells.

Emma works with adults and children helping transform their lives through energy work. Emma  has a beautiful range of products called mood sprays that helped to enhance the healing and your moods. Emma also teaches Reiki and runs a variety of wellbeing workshops, weaving essential oils into all that she does.

So I really enjoyed the conversation with Emma, and we spoke about how she developed her products and the benefits of essential oils in general, something I knew very little about. A key theme that comes through from Emma's story is how much she has just jumped right in and had a go, experimenting, testing and refining her product along the way. I found it really inspiring, and hope that you do too.

Listen in to hear Emma share:

• An introduction to herself and her business (01:54)
• The inspiration and story behind her products (03:00)
• How she set about practically developing her product idea (06:16)
• New products that she is developing (11:54)
• Seeking feedback from others (15:41)
• Her main customer base and marketing authentically (17:35)
• Future ideas for her business (22:25)
• The challenge of selling scented products online (31:06)
• Her number one piece of advice for other product creators (39:23)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Soulstar Sanctuary Website

Soulstar Sanctuary Etsy Shop

Soulstar Sanctuary Instagram

Soulstar Sanctuary Facebook

Podcast Episode: Wholesale for Small Business with Therese Ørtenblad

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

Wendy and Laughton Ross, the husband and wife team behind Tonbridge Accountants, join me to discuss finances for small businesses, and share their wealth of experience and knowledge with us, to equip us with the right skills and know how to understand and grow your business. 

EPISODE NOTES

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In today's episode, we're going to talk about finances for small businesses. It’s an area that I personally as a small business owner knew least about and struggled with the most. So I'm really hoping this will be helpful for all of you. Here to guide us through it all are Wendy and Laughton Ross, a husband and wife team of chartered accountants with over 30 years of experience.

Together they run Tonbridge Accountants and they want to share their wealth of experience with like-minded entrepreneurs and ambitious business owners, supporting them to achieve their goals and grow their business. 

Wendy and Laughton are passionate about using their skills and knowledge to take care of the financial side of things so that you can focus on what you're passionate about, which is your business. 

Listen in to hear Wendy & Laughton share:

• An introduction to themselves and their business (02:35)
• Why it is important to have an accounting and bookkeeping system (03:49)
• The best ways to keep track of money going in and out of your business (05:40)
• The pros and cons of doing your accounting yourself (07:24)
• The information that you should be recording (11:11)
• The importance of having a separate bank account for your business (13:21)
• The difference between setting up as a sole trader and limited company, and things to consider (15:35)
• Why it is important to understand where your business is financially (27:05)
• The different business costs that you need to factor in (30:45)
• Costs you may be able to claim for if you are working from home (37:21)
• Their number one piece of advice for product creators (43:00)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Tonbridge Accountants Website

Tonbridge Accountants Facebook

Tonbridge Accountants Instagram

Wendy Ross Linked In

Xero

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

Amazon expert and Bring Your Ideas To Life Podcast host Vicki Weinberg shares 5 reasons to consider selling your products on Amazon.

EPISODE NOTES

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Where are you in your product journey? You might be selling your products on your own website, via Etsy, eBay or another marketplace, or perhaps you're still in the process of creating your product. 

In this episode I wanted to share five reasons that it might be worth considering selling your products on Amazon. Some you may be able to guess, others may really surprise you. And I wanted to reassure you that it doesn’t have to be scary or hard, I have lots of resources that you can use if I convince you that Amazon is where you need to be.

Listen in to hear me share:

• An introduction to myself and my business (00:55)
• Reason number one (01:01)
• Reason number two (02:45)
• Reason number three (06:50)
• Reason number four (09:10)
• Reason number five (10:42)
• Things to be aware of (12:25)
• Ways you can work with me and how I can help you (16:15)

USEFUL RESOURCES

Podcast Episode 88: Why your product needs to be on Amazon with Cara Sayer, Snooze Shade

Podcast Episode 79: What to do when things go wrong on Amazon with Vicki Weinberg

Podcast Episode 70: Is Amazon the right marketplace for you? With Vicki Weinberg

https://vickiweinberg.com/captivate-podcast/how-to-successfully-launch-a-product-on-amazon-or-rescue-one-thats-not-selling/

Podcast Episode 41: Selling on Amazon - how to set  yourself up for success with Vicki Weinberg

Download My Free Product Creation Checklist

Download My Free Guide To How To Successfully Launch A Product On Amazon

Download My Free Guide 7 Free Ways To Validate Your Product Idea

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

Jodie Greer, founder of Be People Smart, joins podcast host Vicki Weinberg to share some simple ways to make your customer experience more inclusive for everyone.

EPISODE NOTES

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Today. I am delighted to be joined by Jodie Greer, founder of Be People Smart on the podcast.

Be People Smart supports organisations of all sizes from all sectors, both private and public, to be more inclusive by considering all staff and customers in the way they operate and communicate.

I’ve known Jodie for years, and recently heard her talk at an event which really opened my eyes to lots of things that I could easily be doing, but wasn’t, to make my website and social media much more inclusive for everyone. I hope you find it as useful as I did, there are lots of simple ideas that you are going to want to action straight away.

Listen in to hear Jodie share:

• An introduction to herself and her business (02:35)
• What we mean when we talk about making things more inclusive and accessible (02:51)
• Why you are missing our on custom if you don’t take this into account (05:23)
• Practical things you can do to make your website more accessible and inclusive (07:43)
• Things you can do if you are selling on third party websites (16:26)
• Practical things you can do to make your social media more accessible and inclusive (21:40)
•  Her number one piece of advice for product creators (29:51)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Be People Smart

Be People Smart Facebook

Be People Smart Linked In

Be People Smart Instagram

Accessibility Checker

Read the blog post

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

This is a solo episode, featuring host Vicki Weinberg, giving an update on her own businesses, and sharing some big changes that she is making in 2022.

EPISODE NOTES

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With a New Year I thought it was a perfect time to update you on some things that are going on with me and one of my businesses, Tiny Chipmunk, which sells bamboo baby products.

With the growth of this podcast, and my consultancy business, and external elements like 2 lockdowns and Brexit, I have been making adjustments in life, which is leading to some big changes for me. Listen in to find out how I got to where I am, and why I have decided to close Tiny Chipmunk.

Listen in to hear me share:

• An introduction to my businesses (00:55)
• Why I decided to close Tiny Chipmunk (01:41)
• The amazing impact Tiny Chipmunk has had on my life (07:17)
• Why I love the consultancy part of my business (07:57)
• What the future may hold (10:36)

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

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A special Christmas message from your host, Vicki Weinberg.

EPISODE NOTES

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I started this weekly podcast in March 2020, (that wasn’t planned!) and have now recorded 92 episodes without a break. It’s been an eventful period that has encompassed lockdowns and homeschooling here in the UK, and a whole host of fantastic episodes, featuring interviews with so many amazing guests for you to listen to.

This Christmas Eve, I am sharing with you a short Christmas message, and plans for 2022 before I take a short break.

I will be back on 7th January with a brand new episode.

In the meantime, there is a great back catalogue of episodes for you to enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

Listen in to hear me share:

• Why I am taking a break (00:21)
• My plans for the New Year (01:59)
• Join the Product Creators Club Facebook group (02:26)
• Get in touch (02:59)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Email me

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

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Kinga Hoffman is the founder of House of Culture in Brighton, a creative collective connecting communities across Brighton through art, culture, and wellbeing. The House of Culture hosts sessions, workshops, and events for all.

EPISODE NOTES

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This podcast is a little bit different. I know many of you have creative and handmade businesses, and today I thought it'd be interesting to talk a bit about the creative process. Why is being creative so good for us and our well-being?

The perfect guest to talk to this about is Kinga Hoffman, founder of the House of Culture in Brighton. Kinga creates space and opportunities to discover, enjoy and experience art. Kinga believes that everyone is creative and art is fundamental to human expression.   

So even if you don’t consider yourself to be creative, or struggle to find a creative outlet, Kinga is here to inspire you, as she passionately explains that creativity is something we all have within us, and share some suggestions of things you can do that are creative.

Listen in to hear Kinga share:

• An introduction to herself and her business (01:46)
• Her previous career and how she came to open the House of Culture (03:21)
• How creativity provides a slower-paced alternative to modern life (13:06)
• The benefits of being creative (18:42)
• We are all creative (23:07)
• How to add creativity into your life again (24:41)
• The link between creativity and wellbeing (29:26)
• Her own creative outlets (30:53)
• How you can get creative at the House of Culture (34:47)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

House Of Culture Facebook

House Of Culture Instagram

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

Lianne Harris of Pinned Social helps small businesses increase sales and website traffic by building brand awareness on Pinterest.

EPISODE NOTES

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Today on the podcast I'm talking to Lianne Harris of Pinned Social. Lianne helps small businesses increase sales and website traffic by building brand awareness on Pinterest.

I've wanted to have a Pinterest expert on for quite some time because I've heard it's a great place to promote and sell products. Lianne is going to tell us all about Pinterest, why your product should be there, and how to best utilize it, to get people over to your website and ultimately sell your products.

Listen in to hear Lianne share:

• An introduction to herself and her business (01:08)
• What Pinterest is and how you can use it (01:45)
• How Pinterest can be used by different types of business, from product to service to bloggers (05:49)
• Why you should use Pinterest if you have a product-based business (07:14)
• How to set up an account (9:58)
• How to research keywords (11:35)
• How to use different boards (12:34)
• How often you should be pinning (18:47)
• How to use analytics (22:37)
• Whether you should repin other people’s content (23:53)
• How to create the best visuals for pins (32:37)
• The to write pin descriptions and use keywords (39:48)
• Pinterest ads (43:40)
• Her top Pinterest tip (51:23)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Pinned Social Website

Pinned Social Facebook

Pinned Social Instagram

Pinned Social Linked In

Pinned Social Pinterest

Tailwind

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership

Gemma Whates helps mothers to start and grow a business alongside raising a family, via start-up courses and the ALL by MAMA community. 

EPISODE NOTES

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Today on the podcast I'm talking to Gemma Whates of All By Mama. Gemma helps mothers to start and grow a business alongside raising a family, via start-up courses and the ALL by MAMA community. Gemma is a returning guest to the podcast and this time is here to talk about seeking investment for your business. Gemma has raised a lot of money over the years and is also a Venture Capitalist Scout for Ada Ventures. 

Gemma explains the reasons that she sought investment, how she did it, why you may want to do it, and how to go about doing it yourself. It is an episode packed full of information, that is applicable to all businesses, large and small, whether you are just starting out or looking to scale. 

Listen in to hear Gemma share:

• An introduction to herself and her business (02:46)
• Why Gemma started looking for investment for her business and how she started (03:56)
• The different types of crowdfunding that are available (06:24)
• Other ways to fund a business and how she got involved with Ada Ventures (07:46)
• How much investment she has raised (10:11)
• Different types of investors (11:26)
• Some of the things you might get investment for (13:14)
• What happens if things go wrong (15:42)
• How to start looking for investment (17:00)
• How the working relationship with investors works (24:51)
• The key things that she has learnt along the way (26:55)
• The downsides of investment (28:40)
• The positive sides of investment (30:40)
• Ways to work with Gemma (32:50)
• Her number one piece of advice for anyone thinking of seeking investors (36:03)

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Gemma’s Website

Gemma Whates Facebook

Gemma Whates Instagram

Gemma Whates Linked In

RESOURCES GEMMA MENTIONS:

Ada Ventures

Angel Academy

Crowdcube

Forward Partners

Kickstarter

Swoop

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Find me on Instagram

Work with me 

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon Made Easy is now open

My membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open.

membership