Hey Julie Simon

Q4 is almost here, and this year I’m approaching holiday marketing for Moss Bags a little differently.

Instead of constantly creating new products, posting more, or immediately reaching for another sale, I’m narrowing in on the products I already know people love - and working on getting those best sellers in front of more people.

In this episode of Hey Julie Simon, I’m sharing what’s actually working inside my handmade business right now: pitching Moss Bags for holiday gift guides, learning to do my own PR after a very expensive experience with a PR agency, using ChatGPT to help uncover potential media opportunities, and building a system where PR, SEO, email marketing, and our website all work together.

I also share why I’m paying more attention to backlinks and third-party mentions, how I’m thinking about product discovery in both Google and AI search, and why a great feature doesn’t have to result in an immediate sale to be valuable.

If you own a handmade or product-based small business, this is a behind-the-scenes look at my Q4 game plan - while I’m right in the middle of testing it myself.

And if you have a PR tip, gift-guide resource, or pitching strategy that’s working for your business, send it my way. I’d love to keep adding helpful resources for other small businesses.

Learn more about Moss Bags and Moss Dogs at https://www.mossbags.com + https://www.mossbags.com/pages/moss-dogs

What really makes a small business stand out at a farmers market? In this episode, I’m chatting with Sarah Dylan Jensen, Executive Director of the Snohomish Farmers Market and host of The Market Maven podcast, about the behind-the-scenes work of building a thriving market, supporting small businesses, and creating real community. 

We talk about:

• how Sarah found her way into farmers markets and grew into her role
• what successful vendors do differently
• common mistakes newer vendors make
• why showing up early, prepared, and engaged matters
• how storytelling can help your business feel more human
• why community and collaboration are such powerful growth tools
• what Sarah has learned from working alongside so many makers and small businesses

Favorite quote:

It’s such a good reminder that people connect with what feels real - not necessarily what feels perfectly polished.

Connect with Sarah at yourmarketmaven.com, on Instagram at @yourmarketmaven, and through Facebook @themarketmaven

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

What if creativity didn’t have to feel productive, polished, or perfect - but instead felt like a way back to yourself?

In this episode, I’m joined by artist, author, and creative guide Flora Bowley to talk about the heart behind her upcoming Creative Revolution Tour - a 7,500-mile journey with seven stops across the country, including six one-day immersive workshops and a five-day retreat at the Omega Institute in New York. The tour is designed to bring people together in person to create, move, connect, and step away from the pressure of perfection. Each gathering is meant to feel welcoming whether you consider yourself an artist or not.

We talk about why gathering in person feels so important right now, creativity as a lifeline, what happens when we loosen our grip on perfection, and simple ways to reconnect with your creative spark when you’re feeling disconnected. Flora also shares how the tour came to life, what she hopes people carry home with them, and why creativity, connection, and community feel like such an important response to this moment.

And because we always like to talk a little business around here, we also get into Flora’s journey of building a life around her creative work, how she slowly transitioned into supporting herself as an artist, and why staying connected to what feels alive has shaped the way she continues to grow and evolve.

If you’ve been feeling creatively stuck, disconnected, or simply ready for a reset, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to wait until you feel ready. Sometimes you just have to start.

Connect with Flora Bowley
https://florabowley.com/we-are-the-revolution/
https://www.instagram.com/florabowley

P.S. You may notice a few audio imperfections in this episode - we chose to keep the conversation as-is because we had so much fun, and there was just too much goodness to leave out.

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode, I’m chatting with Larissa Stewart, esthetician and founder of Clover Skin Studio in Fairhaven.

Larissa has been an esthetician since 2011, and her work is rooted in holistic skincare, intuition, and meeting people exactly where they are. We talk about the early days of Clover Skin Studio, the pivots that brought her back to skincare, how motherhood shaped the way she works, and the new Fairhaven location she recently opened - with skincare services upstairs and a curated boutique downstairs.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Clover Skin Studio began and what the early days really looked like
• Why Larissa moved away from services that no longer felt aligned
• How motherhood helped her trust her body, time, and energy in a new way
• The importance of intuition when making business decisions
• The story behind her new Fairhaven location in Bellingham, WA
• Creating a space that feels easeful, calm, and intentional
• The systems and tools that help keep a business running behind the scenes
• What may be next for Clover Skin Studio, including online shopping and community events
• Advice for anyone dreaming of starting a service-based business

Favorite quote from the episode:

“I took my intuition’s hand, and I let her lead me.”

If you’re dreaming of starting something of your own, or learning how to trust the next right step, this conversation is full of honest encouragement and thoughtful insight.

You can find Larissa at Clover Skin Studio in Fairhaven, visit cloverskinstudio.com, and follow along on Instagram at @CloverSkinStudio.

And since Larissa and I talked about the possibility of adding online shopping to her next chapter, I’m also sharing my Shopify link below. Shopify has been a game changer in my own business for selling products, managing inventory, and keeping everything connected as my shop has grown. If you’re thinking about upgrading your website or adding e-commerce to your business, it’s worth checking out!

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

What does it look like to build a creative business that is colorful, handmade, empowering, and completely true to who you are?

In this episode, I’m joined by Tori King, the artist, maker, and owner behind Tori Tornado - a bold paper goods and gift brand based in Skagit Valley that inspires what Tori calls “badassery.” Her work is bright, funny, honest, and often a little sweary, but behind every card, calendar, magnet, and gift is a deeper message about self-worth, humor, and living life on your own terms.

Tori shares how she moved from graphic design into handmade goods, how a nickname from her bartending days became the name of her brand, and what it really looks like to run a creative business alongside a full-time job and motherhood. We also talk about markets, wholesale, pop-up shops, letting go of a physical retail space, and why not being for everyone can actually be one of the strongest parts of your business.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Where the name Tori Tornado came from
• What “badassery” means to Tori and how it shapes her brand
• Moving from graphic design into handmade paper goods and gifts
• Building a bold brand voice that uses humor, color, and swear words
• How Tori decides which markets, shops, and events are the right fit
• What she learned from having a physical shop and why she recently let it go
• Running a creative business while also working a full-time job and being a mom
• Growing through wholesale, online sales, and intentional markets
• The importance of knowing the difference between revenue and profit
• Why using your authentic voice matters in a creative business

Favorite quote from the episode:

“Badassery is living your own badass life. It’s your choice, your life - not what someone thinks you should do.”

Connect with Tori online:

Website: https://www.toritornado.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toritornadocreative

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

Marisa Papetti, founder of Marie’s Bees, didn’t set out to build a large product-based business. What started with honey, beekeeping, family, and caregiving slowly grew into a thriving Pacific Northwest brand with wholesale accounts, farmers markets, in-person events, cooking classes, employees, and a full production setup.

In this episode, Marisa shares the real story behind Marie’s Bees - from caring for her grandmother and delivering farm baskets, to discovering the grounding magic of bees, to learning how to build a business that could keep going even when life gets messy.

We talk about:

• How Marie’s Bees started and the personal story behind the name
• What the early days of selling honey and farm baskets looked like
• Why Marisa moved from pouring honey at home to a commercial kitchen
• How she built systems, hired employees, and stopped doing it all herself
• What she learned from past business challenges and burnout
• How she works with her husband without stepping on each other’s toes
• Why finding your people and building community matters in small business
• Her best advice for starting a product-based business today

This conversation is honest, funny, and full of practical wisdom for women in small business, especially anyone building a product-based brand, selling at markets, growing a team, or trying to create a business that can last.

My Favorite Quotes

• “Stop thinking you can do it alone.”
• “If you don’t have systems in place for when actual life happens, you’re dead.”
• “A good business owner is like a business ninja - you constantly adapt, adapt, adapt.”
• “The secret to keeping good people is to take care of good people.”
• “You need to prepare to build a business, not build a hobby that has a business name.”
• “People have their talents. You have to go with their strong suits.”
• “Stop overthinking it. Get out of your own way. Stop being so damn scared.”

Connect with Marisa:
Shop Marie's Bees online: www.mariesbees.com
Text Marisa Papetti: (360) 224-2387
Events + Classes: https://mariesbees.com/pages/events
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariesbeeswa
PNW Artisan Marketplace: https://pnwartisanmarketplace.com

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

You started growing your email list… now what?

In this episode, I’m talking about the next step after list-building: setting up email automations that help your business keep working even when you’re not manually sending every single email.

Because your email list shouldn’t just sit there waiting for you to remember to send a newsletter. With the right automations in place, your email can welcome new subscribers, bring interested shoppers back to your site, recover missed sales, and follow up after someone buys.

And no, your emails don’t always have to be long, emotional, or packed with personal stories. Sometimes the best sales email is short, clear, and direct - with one goal: getting someone curious enough to click over to your website.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

• Why growing your list is only the first step
• What email automations are, even if your platform calls them flows, sequences, or workflows
• Why business and marketing are a numbers game
• The 4 foundational automations I’d start with: welcome, abandoned cart, browse abandonment, and post-purchase
• How these automations support the full customer journey: acquire, recover, reengage, and retain
• Why post-purchase emails have become one of my favorite ways to connect with Moss Bags customers
• Why simple, repeatable systems help your business keep moving without everything depending on you doing more

Favorite takeaway:
A newsletter is something you send. An automation is something you build. And when your automations are working, your email list becomes more than a list - it becomes a system that supports your business.

Join the Waitlist:
I’m currently building The Email Flow Fix, a fast-action course for product-based business owners who know email matters but don’t want to figure out every automation, email, and setup step from scratch.

Join the waitlist to be the first to know when it’s ready:
https://heyjulie.systeme.io/flowwaitlist

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

Have you ever been told, “You need to grow your email list,” and immediately thought, “Okay… but how?”

In this episode, Julie shares why one of the smartest things you can do for your small business is start growing your email list before you feel fully ready - not when your website is perfect, not when your product line is huge, and not when you have a complete email strategy mapped out.

You’ll hear the imperfect way Julie started her own list, why email gives small business owners more control than social media alone, and how to start inviting the right people in without overcomplicating it.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your email list is one of the few marketing assets you actually own
• How Julie started her list imperfectly and barely emailed it at first
• Why social media is great for discovery, but not something you fully control
• Why unsubscribes are not always a bad thing
• Why a healthy, engaged list matters more than a huge list
• How to give people a clear reason to join your email list
• Where to place your sign-up form so people can actually find it
• Why your list can grow while your business grows

Best quote from the episode:

“People are busy. They don’t need another email just for the sake of getting another email. So if you’re asking someone for their email address, ask yourself: what am I giving them in return?”

If your newsletter list is tiny, untouched, or still just an idea in your head, check out The Email List Growth Fix - Julie’s beginner-friendly guide for small product-based business owners who want to grow an email list full of people who actually want to buy from them.

The Email List Growth Fix
A simple 5-day system to start growing an email list full of future buyers.
https://heyjulie.systeme.io/elistsales

The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, I’m joined by Jessi McNeal of Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping.

Jessi started as a maker, artist, singer, and songwriter before evolving into marketing and bookkeeping support for other small businesses. Today, she helps product-based business owners with websites, email marketing, wholesale pitching, bookkeeping, and the behind-the-scenes systems that make business feel less overwhelming.

We talk about what makers often overthink in marketing, how to start when everything feels like too much, what’s working in wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales, and how small business owners can use AI without losing their own voice.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Jessi’s journey from music and art to product-based business
• Why her handmade pet products gained traction
• The reality of labor-heavy products and burnout
• How she shifted into marketing and bookkeeping support
• What makers are overthinking in their marketing
• Why your website is often the best place to start
• Wholesale pitching tips for makers and product-based brands
• How to use Faire without losing track of your margins
• Why email marketing still matters
• How AI can help small businesses without replacing their voice

Favorite quote:
“Deep breath, number one. Quiet the voices. Maybe take a little Instagram break from all the business influencers and your peers, and just get a little quiet.”

Connect with Jessi
Website: jessimcneal.com
Instagram: jessimcnealmarketing

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

Today I’m chatting with artist and muralist Darcie Gray, the creative behind RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray.

Darcie’s work is immediately recognizable: natural landscapes, a limited palette of blue, green, black, and white, and this beautiful balance of calm and energy that feels so connected to nature.

In this conversation, we talk about what keeps her creating - how she stays motivated, builds momentum as an artist and business owner, and keeps the work feeling playful and alive even when it became her livelihood.

Darcie shares how her background in apparel design shaped the way she sees art in people’s everyday lives, why recognizability builds connection, and how saying yes to new creative ideas - like murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art - has helped her business grow in unexpected ways.

Favorite Quote

“You’ve gotta infuse fun in your work and do things just because you want to.”
- Darcie Gray

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Darcie’s limited color palette became part of her signature style
• Why her apparel design background influences the way she creates art today
• How artists can forget their work is still new and exciting to everyone else
• What helps Darcie stay motivated as a self-employed artist
• Why deadlines, calendars, and saying yes can create momentum
• How she protects joy, curiosity, and experimentation in her business
• The story behind her murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art

Connect with Darcie:
My website is: www.rangedesignstudio.com
Print Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RangeDesignStudio
IG: @darciegray_art

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com