Maybe you're heard that brick-and-mortar retail shopping is dead.

Don't believe it! Retail is still an option. The dream is not lost.

Today you’ll hear from Jessie, a very successful owner of three shops. She started scrappy and took advantage of growth opportunities as they presented themselves.

You’ll learn about the behind-the-scenes things a store owner faces, and also how eCommerce fits into her overall plan. If you’ve ever thought about opening a bakery or retail store, this one’s for you.

Jessie Williams is the founder of Edge of Urge, which specializes in the success and discovery of emerging designers. Offering a valuable retail space to other local designers, her business model has acted as a launch pad for like-minded, risk-taking, passionate designers, creators, and artists since 2002.

And that’s not all Jessie is also the founder of Unlikely Professionals. Just like Edge of Urge, Unlikely Professionals is built on the mantra of making something from nothing. This space speaks to anyone who believes in their vision to stand proud no matter what the profession. Think: Unisexy general store vibes with apparel, craft beer, and natural wines.

Jessie is a mom, designer, and mentor. And describes herself as a dreamer and tender-hearted.

Opening A Retail Shop

In this episode, you'll hear about ...

Why it's okay NOT to know everything before you start.

What to look for in a location for your business.

The advantages of retail vs. online shopping.

How to capture the customers’ interest.

Why it's so important to be present at the store.

The secret to knowing what your customers want.

Building a team.

Plus so much more!

Tune in now to hear how Yes! You Can Be Successful Opening a Retail Shop Today!

Jessie's Contact Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community

Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze

If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started.

Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Thank you so much! Sue

Regardless of what you make, there’s a skill that you’ve had to perfect. There are certain critical production points or special additions you include that make your creations extra special. There are cooling times, temperature levels, material quality specs, and interesting tools of the trade.

Showing these things to your customers, things they’d never have the ability to know or see otherwise, adds to their perspective of the value of your products. And this added value doesn’t cost you more in materials or production time either. You’re already doing it. It’s just that your audience doesn’t know about it. It’s well worth your while to tell them.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Inspired! Daily Planner

CONNECT with me here:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SUBSCRIBE to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.

I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here.

Thanks for listening!

Resources for Growth of Your Handmade Biz

5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE)

Start with Confidence

Networking Ninja

Content for Makers

Inspired! Daily Planner

Makers MBA

Check out the Merch Shop

Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here.

Join our community of handmade product makers

Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask questions, see what others are working on, and learn new things - it's all there and we're waiting for you to join us!

Finally, would you please leave a review? Thanks!

It helps other makers like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

 

The way Jenny got into her business is fascinating … not a traditional path by any means. As you listen to her story, notice how she encounters decision points along the way and leaps into the opportunities that present themselves.

Scary? Yes, by her own admission. But also, exciting and with each win, she gains more and more confidence in herself. She says she tests herself by entering into situations to “make myself the most uncomfortable possible.”

Along the way, she hits cultural obstacles and an identity crisis. She loses her job and travels to a foreign land in pursuit of her dream - all without the support of her family. But that’s of course not where the story ends.

You’ll also hear why she quadrupled her prices AND one very opportunistic way she built recognition for herself and her brand.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Jenny is the founder and owner of Sipping Streams Tea Company.

She’s a certified tea specialist and her expertise shows. Sipping Streams has won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the North American Tea Championships and 2nd at the Global Tea Championships.

Sipping Streams has also been featured in Fresh Cup Magazine, Edible Alaska, and NPR. Jenny is the best-selling author of The Essence of Tea and the host of The Essence of Tea podcast.

And that’s not all! This past summer, Sipping Streams Tea Company started an experimental tea farm in Alaska using geothermal heat.

An Unconventional Path To Building A Business

In this episode, you'll learn ...

The importance of following your passion.

How to challenge yourself to grow outside of your comfort zone.

Innovative ways to promote your product and establish credibility.

Keys to creating an amazing experience for your customers.

Creative ways to educate people about your product.

And much more!

Tune in now to hear this inspiring and unconventional path to business success!

Resources Mentioned

GBU Merchandise Shop

Jenny's Contact Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community

Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze

If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started.

Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Thank you so much! Sue

How will it fail? At first glance, you may think I’m referring to the success of your business. Actually, I’m not. I’m talking about your product.

And now you’re saying, “Not MY product!” I make it myself with quality materials not to mention my top-notch professional creation skills.

Hold tight. I know all this is true. But your product can fail because of things that are completely out of your control. Here’s what I mean and what to do about it.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Inspired! Daily Planner

CONNECT with me here:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SUBSCRIBE to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.

I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here.

Thanks for listening!

Resources for Growth of Your Handmade Biz

5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE)

Start with Confidence

Networking Ninja

Content for Makers

Inspired! Daily Planner

Makers MBA

Check out the Merch Shop

Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here.

Join our community of handmade product makers

Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask questions, see what others are working on, and learn new things - it's all there and we're waiting for you to join us!

Finally, would you please leave a review? Thanks!

It helps other makers like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

 

Today (January 21) is National Bakers Crafters Makers Day. A time to recognize, uplift, and celebrate YOU!

(And, by the way, that means ALL handmade makers whether it’s a hobby or you’ve turned what you make into a small business.)

It's been 3 years since I established this official national day. Each year, we do something a little bit different to celebrate.

Whether you've participated before or this is your first one. Either way, I'm thrilled you're joining us! And I want to tell you about everything that's available to you in relation to this special day of honoring you.

It's National Bakers Crafters Makers Day

Tune into this short episode to hear about ...

Free gifts and resources for you

Why "Handmade Heals The World?"

How your creations make the world a better place (and so much more!)

What other makers say about why they love their business so much and the value their products provide to customers (bet you'll recognize yourself in the words!)

And more!

You are amazing for sharing your skills with us through what you make.

It's National Bakers Crafters Makers Day! Listen to this episode now and join the celebration. 

Makers Who Participated in the Content

Anita Housman - The Hershey Gifting Company

Annette Pardon - Fill My Jar

Arlene Nyland - Neens Soaps

Cassie Menchhofer - Cassie's Country Cupboard

Charita  Lucas - dOSA Naturals

Cindy Quigley - The Cozy Bumble Bee

Kim Terrill - Kim's Cottage Confections

Molly Armstrong - Red Horse Leather

Naa Ardua Flohic - Paper Flo Designs

Rosemarie Bohinek - Simply Unique by R

Sharon Martin - Smart in Heart

Shelia Horvath - Heavenly Treats 4 U

Sherry Cooter - Bouquets That Stay

Sophy Lakshmanan - Little Miss Papercraft

Stephanie McDairmant - Canary Artwork

Sue Burns - Baabaazuzu

Wendy Duckett - Mystic Moon

Podcasts and Pages for NBCMD

Celebration Page for Classes and Free Gift

National Archives Page

301 - Announcing National Bakers Crafters Makers Day

Tips & Talk 45 - Why I created National Bakers Crafters Makers Day

Tips & Talk 98 - How to Celebrate National Bakers Crafters Makers Day

Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community

Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze

If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started.

Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Thank you so much! Sue

National Bakers-Crafters-Makers Day celebrates ALL handmade creators of the world! Being a maker yourself, you know that what you create originates in your soul. It’s very existence requires your imagination, passion and skill. And when you present your creation, the final result provides happiness for both you and the person who receives and uses your handmade products. This act of providing happiness is something the whole world needs - especially right now.

National Bakers Crafters Makers Day is meant to honor both those who have turned their handmade craft into a business and also those who enjoy it as a hobby. Towards that end, please join me in recognizing and uplifting the makers in our lives this week.

Here some ways you can do this.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

National Day Archives - National Bakers Crafters Makers Day

National Bakers Crafters Makers Day Celebration Page

CONNECT with me here:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SUBSCRIBE to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.

I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here.

Thanks for listening!

Resources for Growth of Your Handmade Biz

5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE)

Start with Confidence

Networking Ninja

Content for Makers

Inspired! Daily Planner

Makers MBA

Check out the Merch Shop

Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here.

Join our community of handmade product makers

Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask questions, see what others are working on, and learn new things - it's all there and we're waiting for you to join us!

Finally, would you please leave a review? Thanks!

It helps other makers like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

 

Here's possibly the most important thing you can do to grow your business.

Of course, some customers will drop off, month to month, or be one-time purchasers.

Kerri dove head-first into e-commerce over four years ago, driving her first brand to eight-figure status as Director of Marketing in less than three years.

Ready for a new challenge, Kerri co-founded The Greenhouse with her partner in 2020. Centered on e-commerce, email, and SMS marketing, The Greenhouse has quickly grown into an agency where clients take root and flourish, generating over $10 million in revenue for its brands in the first year.

When not growing brands, Kerri inspires others by sharing her own multifaceted story. From major career changes, and rebounding from a business failure to co-found a thriving business, Kerri helps others craft a fulfilling, unique path in life that defies limits.

How To Increase Customer Retention

The mindset you need for marketing your business.

Why retaining as many customers as possible is so powerful.

How to understand your customers and the type of problems you help them solve.

Specific steps you can take to get started from scratch - no matter how small your biz!

The best tools for customer retention.

And lots more!

Tune in now to hear how you can build sustainable growth in your business with simple customer retention techniques!

Resources Mentioned

Content for Makers

Kerri's Contact Links

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn

Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community

Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze

If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started.

Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Thank you so much! Sue

Here’s a thought to keep in mind as you go about upgrading your business processes in the months ahead. It will make you smarter with your decisions and save you time and money because it prevents you from piling up unnecessary costs without realizing it.

Skill and feature creep happens when you add new things in various areas of your business either that never get used or duplicate what you already have. By consciously recognizing the potential for this to happen, you’re more likely to make wiser choices which keep you away from snap decisions that add to your expenses.

Here are some scenarios where this can occur and what to do to get back in line.

Mentioned in this Episode

Inspired! Daily Planner

Should You Purchase that Online Course?

6 Steps to Getting the Most of Your Online Course

CONNECT with me here:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SUBSCRIBE to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.

I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here.

Thanks for listening!

Resources for Growth of Your Handmade Biz

5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE)

Start with Confidence

Networking Ninja

Content for Makers

Inspired! Daily Planner

Makers MBA

Check out the Merch Shop

Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here.

Join our community of handmade product makers

Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask questions, see what others are working on, and learn new things - it's all there and we're waiting for you to join us!

Finally, would you please leave a review? Thanks!

It helps other makers like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

 

My guest Kristina identified a need in the market (a “pain point” if you will) that inspired an idea for a product that could fill the gap.

In this episode, she shares her journey to identify, create, and bring this new product to market. Including all the ups, downs, pivots, and even what's coming up in the future.

I'm so excited for you to listen to this one. I'll bet it's even a product you'll want to try! 

Kristina is a creative product & marketing strategist with over 20 years of creating category-defining products and customer experiences that deliver strategic, measurable growth for businesses.

She’s worked with Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids, and Sephora among many others.

She left her corporate life in Silicon Valley to attend the New School of Cooking.

In 2019, Kristina founded Make Bake, a CPG baking & food craft brand. Her patent-pending edible sugar sticker system created an entirely new product category and is a game changer for busy parents baking at home and professional bakers alike.

Make Bake edible vegan food & baking decoration stickers are sold in more than 150 independent retailers in the US & abroad.

Identify, Create & Bring A New Product To Market

You'll hear ...

About Kristina's innovative product idea.

How she validated her concept.

The entire product development process.

Why iteration is so important.

A natural impulse we all have when we come up with an idea you should actually ignore!

Why starting your business while still working a day job is a great idea.

The crucial difference between market research and comparing your products to others.

Tips to get wholesale accounts at trade shows.

And tons more!

Resources Mentioned

Save your seat for an upcoming Gift Biz Bash here - free!

Inspired! Daily Planner

Kristina's Contact Links

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn

Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community

Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze

If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started.

Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Thank you so much! Sue

Getting your dreams on paper makes them more likely to come true.

Setting intentions is the direct path to manifesting what you want.

Journaling, creating a vision board or closing your eyes and imagining yourself achieving what you’ve set out to do are various actions to take as you let your dreams swirl around in your mind.

All of these are worthwhile activities to bring your desires into reality. But there’s more to it than that and this is where our wishes for what could be remain just that - dreams. Here's how to truly make your dreams turn into reality.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Inspired! Daily Planner

Free Video - 5 Not So Obvious Mistakes When Starting A Handmade Business

CONNECT with me here:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SUBSCRIBE to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.

I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here.

Thanks for listening!

Resources for Growth of Your Handmade Biz

5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE)

Start with Confidence

Networking Ninja

Content for Makers

Inspired! Daily Planner

Makers MBA

Check out the Merch Shop

Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here.

Join our community of handmade product makers

Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask questions, see what others are working on, and learn new things - it's all there and we're waiting for you to join us!

Finally, would you please leave a review? Thanks!

It helps other makers like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast