Proof to Product

Proof to Product takes you behind the scenes of growing a product-based business. Join us each week as our Paper Camp alumni, speakers and friends share their successes, struggles and how they've made difficult but important transitions in their business to continue growing. You'll gather inspiration, learn about new resources, and hear new ways of scaling your creative business.

Proof to Product is hosted by founder, Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has helped thousands of product based business owners get their products on the shelves of retail shops big and small. Find show notes and additional resources at prooftoproduct.com.

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Closing one chapter and deciding to put an end to things is never easy. Whether that's discontinuing a product line that was close to your heart or even shutting down your business entirely. In this episode, I had a conversation with Tammie Bennett of Show Up Society.

Tammie is a creative entrepreneur and mindset coach who closed down her business at the height of its success. In fact, during the pandemic, her business, Tiger Pocket Press tripled and had tremendous growth but that success didn't change her mind about where she was headed next. She followed her intuition and decided to close her product based business so she could help people through coaching.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

All about her business she closed, Tiger Pocket Press

What made her come to the decision to close her product based business

Why she started her podcast,

How she told her customers about closing and her process for getting rid of inventory

What she did on the coaching side to prepare for this transition

Her plan for services to offer and how to package her services

Why entrepreneurs and creatives tend to struggle with decision fatigue

Her thoughts on why newer entrepreneurs might be more fearless

Her tiny daily habits she does every day

What clients she typically works with and what she helps them through

Why this coaching work is important to Tammie

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP207

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

How often do you take a step back to look at and soak in the goodness of how far you've come? That's exactly what guest, Morgan Harper Nichols encourages us all to do as she joined me to chat about the inspiration behind her new book, How Far You Have Come.

Morgan and I also dive into setting boundaries and upholding them, how she maintains being true to herself on Instagram and why she's a big advocate for collaboration.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

What inspired Morgan to write How Far You Have Come

How it felt to go back and relive experiences as she wrote about them

Her experience getting diagnosed with autism

How she sets and holds healthy professional boundaries

What project she's most proud of

How she keeps her Instagram authentic to her

The heaviness of social media and its impact on people's mental health

Her advice for creatives working to make their big goals a reality

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP206

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

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Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Are you wearing all of the hats and juggling all of the balls in your business? That might be a sign that it's time to hire help and bring on support.

Your time as an entrepreneur is so valuable and you want to make sure that you are focusing on what you do best. Recently, my mastermind retreat clients and I got together virtually for a retreat and one of the big topics that came up was hiring. This has also been a hot topic within my Labs community so I wanted to create an episode to chat about it.

In this episode I talk about the pain points that lead to reactive hiring, why you need to shift your mindset about hiring and the 3 key areas you should hire for first in your product based business.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Pain points that cause entrepreneurs to do reactive hiring

Fears that people have about hiring help

What 3 key areas you should hire for first

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP205

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

If you want support from our community, coaching with me and resources to help you continue thriving as you grow your business, be sure to check out my Proof to Product LABS program. ​It's my 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Have you ever taken a look at bigger brands or household products and considered, what are they doing that I could implement in my own business?

In this episode, I was joined by brand growth strategist and founder of Startward Consulting, Maureen Mwangi. She shares how big brands are humanizing their marketing and what data points we should (and shouldn't) be paying attention to. Spoiler alert: you can stop worrying about the number of followers you have on Instagram.

Maureen and I also chat about tech tools to use for measuring the ROI on your marketing, how you can leverage data and her tips on optimizing your brand!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

What bigger brands are doing that smaller brands should pay attention to

Why big brands are "humanizing" their marketing efforts

Data you should be tracking and how you leverage that in your marketing strategy

Why you need to be ruthless when looking at your numbers and data

What data points seasoned business owners should look at

How to leverage data for positive change in your business

Tech tools you can use to see the ROI from marketing activities

What data you shouldn't care about tracking

Maureen's tip on optimizing your brand

How to get comfortable with integrating data into decision making

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP204

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! Considering additional revenue streams for your business? Ever thought about licensing? It's true that most of the seasoned product based businesses have multiple arms of their business: they might sell wholesale, retail, license art, have a brick & mortar shop or offer drop shipping….. there are a lot of ways to build a profitable, sustainable business.

That's why I brought on Stacie Bloomfield. Stace has an abundance of experience in licensing and has been creating artwork for brands and products since 2009. Her brand, Gingiber, has products sold in more than 800 stores. In 2020, Stacy began educating the creative community about licensing through her course Leverage Your Art AND she published her first book!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

How she didn't always envision the business she runs today

Her path of starting her business

How she stumbled across her first licensing deal

Why you have to think of pitching as a numbers game

What artists need to prepare prior to pitching licensing deals

How Stacie approaches her art licensing

The pros and cons of licensing your art

Best strategies for getting in front of licensing partners

How to put your best foot forward when negotiating licensing deals

Ranges you can expect for rates for one off designs

How she had to adjust her business model in 2020

What she wishes she knew before licensing her artwork

Tools and systems she uses in her business

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP203

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! The doors to Proof to Product LABS are wide open. We are welcoming a new class to our community so on the podcast this week we wanted to highlight the growth of our community and how we've enhanced the program throughout its first year.

In this episode, I am joined by two people you might recognize if you're a longtime listener of the show, Janine Kwoh of Kwohtations and Christy Asper of Paper Baristas. Both of these ladies are founding members of our LABS program and have been active participants in our monthly masterclasses, group coaching calls and our peer masterminds and coffee chats.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

What Janine loves most about LABS

Her favorite and most impactful masterclass

An aha moment Janine has had since joining LABS

The benefits of LABs she's enjoyed most

Why she enjoys the community aspect of being in the program

Christy's favorite class in LABS

Her aha moment that she had from LABS

The benefits that Christy's noticed from the community and coaching

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP202

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! This episode is a little different today. The roles were reversed and I was in the passenger seat as I was joined by my daughter, Madeline for an interview. Madeline asks me some of the most commonly asked questions I get about the Proof to Product LABS as we head toward the one year anniversary of the program. Take a listen to get a peek inside of what we do inside of LABS.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Why Katie started Proof to Product LABS

When she started thinking about creating LABS

Her favorite part about LABS

What 3 things she's added to the program since it started

How LABS is different from Paper Camp

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP201

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! Can you believe that it's the 200th episode of the Proof to Product podcast? Quick confession: I've been stewing over this episode and what I'd cover for weeks to celebrate this landmark 200th episode.

After grappling with this thought for a while, something happened at home that really put it all into perspective and brought me a lightbulb moment.

In this episode, I share that story with you and reveal the one common thread that ties all entrepreneurs together (and it might even surprise you!).

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

The common thread that ties all entrepreneurs together

A personal story that demonstrates this skill

Some of the stories we've shared over 200 episodes

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP200

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

If you want support from our community, coaching with me and resources to help you continue thriving as you grow your business, be sure to check out my Proof to Product LABS program. ​It's my 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! In 2020, conversations around diversity, inclusion and equity rose to the forefront of conversations around how we're conducting business. Many entrepreneurs in the online space took time to reassess their company values to include more diverse images and copy while weaving more inclusivity into their brand, marketing and customer experience.

In this episode, I had on Myrna Daramy. Myrna is a friend of mine and a tech-savvy Digital Media Optimization Specialist who came on to talk about what has been missing from this conversation: technology.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Misconceptions about accessible and inclusive websites

What an inclusive website looks like

The risks of not having a diverse, inclusive and accessible website

How your customer experience can improve by having a more diverse, inclusive and accessible website

How she helps online business owners

Downsides to overlay technologies

How sites like Shopify are affected by accessibility overlay

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP198 Essential Web Accessibility Checklist: https://www.myrnadaramy.com/post-speaking-digital-inclusivity

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz