Proof to Product

Hey friends! I am really excited to be sharing the conversation I had with Rachel Ngom who is a business and lead generation expert. Rachel has a super interesting backstory where she went from being on food stamps with negative $400 in her checking account to running a multiple six-figure online business.

Rachel shared her entrepreneurial journey and what led her to where she is today. She talks about how she increased her web traffic by 34,000 views per month using Pinterest! She also shares her advice on using content to create a strong customer experience and putting yourself into the mind of your audience.

She and I discuss the importance of mindset work and professional development and why this is incredibly important for business growth. You'll also hear her tips on tools to use in your Pinterest strategy, what challenges she faced within her own business and why she recommends people use Pinterest as a part of their marketing strategy.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• What motivated Rachel to start her business
• Her entrepreneurial journey of starting in network marketing and learning the business
• What Rachel does now to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs get more leads and sales
• Why she's a big believer in following your gut
• The process she put in place to get 34,000 views a month to her website form Pinterest
• Why your Pinterest strategy is a long game
• How to hone in on the types of things your audience is searching for
• The conversion rate differences she's seen on content vs. product pins
• How content helps you build that know, like and trust factor
• Why niching down can help you hone in on your audience
• The challenges Rachel has faced as she's grown her business
• Why Rachel is passionate about incorporating self-development work into her life
• Her advice for what to do with your Pinterest strategy for your business
• Why she prefers Pinterest to Facebook and Instagram

RESOURCES:

Tailwind

Free Pinterest Class

Activate

MEET RACHEL: Rachel Ngom is the host of the She's Making an Impact Podcast. She is a business and lead-generation expert, helping purpose-driven female entrepreneurs drive more traffic, leads, and sales through Pinterest, blogging, and strategic use of automation.

Rachel went from being on food stamps with negative $400 in her checking account to a multiple-6-figure online business. She now helps others do the same with her signature courses and programs.

Rachel has lived in Kenya, met her husband in Senegal, got married in Morocco, and spent 2 years in France.

CONNECT WITH RACHEL:

Website: https://www.rachelngom.com/

Instagram: @shesmakinganimpact

Facebook: @rachelngombiz

Pinterest: @rachelngom

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! Last week I got an email asking, "Do people really make money selling paper products and gift items?" I was floored! Based on the latest stats that I saw, the consumer products industry accounts for more than $635 billion with stationery alone raking in $8 billion.

The answer is an astounding yes. There are so many opportunities in this industry to make a good living and build a profitable and sustainable business. Many independent brands are pulling in over six and seven figures annually.

Hear the 6 ways that people are making money selling their physical products in this episode. I break down each one and give a few thoughts on each strategy and give a little bit of advice on choosing a path to get started.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• 6 ways people are making money selling physical products
• The basics about selling retail
• What it means to sell wholesale
• Why I don't typically recommend consignment
• What a custom work project looks like
• What it means to do a licensing deal
• How you can partner with other brands
• The path to getting started: choosing the right sales strategy for you

RESOURCES:

Paper Camp Proof to Product LABS Thimblepress x Moon & Lola collaboration Autumn Witt Boyd The Contract Shop

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! I'm really excited for you to listen in on today's episode with Jean Marie Sanchez of Little Feet's Opus. The story behind Jean's products is truly remarkable - each of them stems from personal stories of the strong women in her life and spreads joy, empowerment and relatable life moments.

Jean made an intentional goal to create products that are both inclusive and diverse. In our conversation, she talked about the ah-ha moment she had where she realized there was space in the market for a line of products.

She shares her experiences in the Emerging Artists section of NSS for two consecutive shows including the pros and cons of exhibiting as an emerging artist versus having your own booth. We also talked about how Jean defines success through the impact she makes on others.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How Jean started her business
• Jean's first steps after attending the National Stationery Show
• What led her to go the wholesale route rather than brick and mortar
• How Paper Camp helped her learn the playbook of the industry
• The initial quantifying goals she set for her business
• The benefits and drawbacks of participating in the Emerging Artists' section of NSS
• What inspires Jean in her initiative of adding diversity and inclusiveness into her products
• How she defines success in her business
• What's coming up next for Little Feet's Opus

RESOURCES:National Stationery Show Paper Camp

MEET JEAN: I was born in Spring Valley NY, and currently live in Hamden CT with my two boys and husband. I have a bachelor's degree in Architecture from The City College of New York in NYC and over 20 years' experience in the design and construction field. During my career in architecture, I have written poetry and created artwork in wide variety of painting media including watercolor, acrylic, and pencils. I am an artist and most recently have paired my artwork with my poetry to create delightful and inspirational greeting cards. My designs bring forth a sense of empowerment and good juju.

CONNECT WITH JEAN:

Website: http://www.littlefeetsopus.com

Instagram: @littlefeetsopus

Facebook: @Little-Feets-Opus-153008271531822

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! If you've considered joining the Proof to Product LABS community then you'll enjoy today's episode. It's a really fun sneak peek of what we're doing inside the LABS community as I shared a snippet of a live Coffee Chat we had with our members on the things that they're trying within their business.

Our Coffee Chat conversations cover a wide range of topics but in this episode, you'll hear a small segment from our most recent session focused on Instagram Giveaways. I spoke with two business owners who have experience in hosting giveaways, Alison Tsang of Love Through Letterpress and Becca Stevens of Botanical Bright.

These two generously shared their experiences with recent Instagram giveaways. They touched on their goals, the structure they used for the campaigns, technology tools they used to assist and the outcomes they had. We all shared our opinions on the best time to do a giveaway, group giveaways and strategies to incentivize your customers during the purchasing process.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Their goals for their Instagram giveaway campaigns
• What type of giveaway they did and their structure for it
• Technology tools they used to track their giveaway
• The outcomes Becca and Alison saw from this campaign
• Their thoughts on participating in group giveaways
• Pre-launch, mid-launch or post-launch: when is the best time to host a giveaway
• Strategies around using incentives or discounts

MEET BECCA: Becca is a plant lover, artist and designer. She has turned her art into enamel pins as well as jewelry that she sells. Becca's intention as an artist is to create pieces that serve as a positive reminder throughout our day and connects us with the beauty around us.

CONNECT WITH BECCA:

Website: https://botanicalbright.com/

Facebook: @botanicalbright

Instagram: @botanicalbright

MEET ALISON: Alison Tsang owns Love through Letterpress where she sells stationery, prints, pins and home goods. Love through letterpress believes that words have power to create human connections and lift each other up. With each product purchase, her companies donates to the fight against human trafficking and empowering individuals transitioning out of poverty with sill development.

CONNECT WITH ALISON:

Website: http://www.lovethroughletterpress.com/

Facebook: @lovethroughletterpress

Instagram: @lovethroughletterpress

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! Today's episode is focused on 7 ways you can enhance your customer journey. Oftentimes we're so focused on capturing the sale and everything leading up to it. In reality, your customers' journey begins the moment that they learn about you.

This means the customer journey could start weeks or months before they ever step foot into your store or open your website to look through your shop. That's why it's critical to nail down the customer journey so you can create a tribe of raving fans for your brand. Take a listen, jot down some notes and begin to think about some of these tips and how you can implement them in your business to strengthen your customer's experience.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Why you need to create a positive pathway for your customers
• The 7 ways to enhance the customer journey
• Where you can gather analytics from your customers
• Examples of how you can survey your audience
• Why you should map out your customer journey
• Ideas for saying "thank you" to your customers
• Why you need to train your team to creatively handle customer service
• Why you need to give your customers the tools to be your biggest ambassadors
• Consider how you can make improvements

RESOURCES:

169 | Strengthening Our Customer Experience with Jordan Kentris, A Good Day

Proof to Product LABS

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! Today's guest is a familiar voice on the podcast. This conversation was with none other than Biff Ulm of MN Nice Enough and retail shop Zaiser's. I had a conversation with Biff earlier this year, pre-COVID (episode 146 if you want to take a listen) and it seems like it was an eternity ago!

I was so happy that Biff agreed to come back on to discuss his personal journey of being a store owner during the time of COVID. In this episode, Biff shares how his store sales have fluctuated this year and how his buying strategies have shifted from larger orders that were further out to smaller, more consistent orders. Biff talked about the new marketing strategies that his team and he have implemented to build relationships with their shop customers.

Be sure to listen closely to the two golden nuggets that Biff shared on not being afraid to fail and making a statement with your products!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• A rundown of Biff's shop
• Biff's experience with closing and reopening during the pandemic
• The safety measures they put in place for the store re-opening
• How he dealt with managing his team and bringing on additional support
• How his sales have been this year compared to other years
• Shifts he's made within his wholesale buying tactics and strategies
• What product makers and manufacturers can do to support their wholesale customers
• Where they're sourcing products from during this pandemic
• Biff's thoughts on seeing manufacturing processes slow down
• Why he decided to go live daily to reach customers at home
• What "easy buying" looks like for Biff
• His views on having a pre-pack

RESOURCES:

146 | Leveraging point of sale systems in a brick & mortar with Biff Ulm, MN Nice Enough

Zaiser's

Twisted Ware

Avochato

Hydro Flask

MEET BIFF: Hello! My Name is Biff Ulm. Yes, that is my real name. I am a husband, father, creator, entrepreneur who is inspired by the outdoors and traveling. I own a retail store, Zaiser's, and wholesale company, MN Nice Enough. I am based in the heart of the Lake Country in Northern Minnesota.

CONNECT WITH BIFF: Website: https://www.mnniceenough.com/ Facebook: @mnniceenough Instagram: @mnniceenough

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! I am super excited for you to listen in on today's conversation with Mei Pak, founder of Creative Hive Co. and Tiny Hands. She's been running her creative, handmade business since 2006 and coaching makers since 2014. She even taught her husband how to start selling personalized art and now makes over $55,000 per month in sales!

Mei is all about creating a consistent income without relying too much on social media. In this episode, you'll hear the 4 steps for pitching your products to media outlets and the difference of proactive versus reactive marketing.

She talks about leveraging Facebook ads to generate sales and why she recommends learning, testing and DIYing over hiring an agency. We also touched on why you HAVE to know your numbers and ensure that your products are priced correctly before jumping into paid advertising.

This episode is jam-packed with SO much tactical, strategic advice and concrete examples - so grab a notebook and let's dive in!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• The biggest mistake product based business owners making as they try to grow and scale
• How Mei leverages press outreach
• The 4 steps she takes to get mentioned in the media
• Why you have to follow-up after a pitch
• When is the best time to pitch products for inclusion in gift guides
• How Facebook Ads are an underutilized tool for artists and makers
• The importance of knowing your numbers
• A less intimidating way to get your feet wet with paid advertising
• Why she's starting a sister brand for her business
• What she's doing in her business to make the experience richer for students
• Her vision with having a membership program

RESOURCES:Creative Live

MEET MEI: I teach makers, artists and designers how to start a handmade business from scratch and grow it into a full time living (and more) with consistent traffic and sales to your website. I've been running my own creative, handmade small business since 2006, started coaching in 2014 and in 2019, taught my husband how to start his own online store selling personalized art for the family, which now makes $55,000/month in sales. My goal is to help you make a consistent income from selling your handmade products online, without using Etsy or relying too much on social media!

CONNECT WITH MEI:

Website: http://www.creativehiveco.com

Website: https://tinyhandsonline.com/

Instagram: @creativehiveco

Facebook: @creativehiveco

YouTube: @creativehiveco

Email: [email protected]

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

I know 2020 hasn't been an easy year for any of us so I wanted to share a quick episode with you today about feeling fragmented.

This was a vulnerable episode for me to record, because I'm sharing my personal experience of feeling depleted and unfocused.

But, having talked with close friends, colleagues, clients and members of my communities -- I know I'm not alone in this.

People are tapped out. We're exhausted. We're mentally, emotionally and physically drained.

Take a listen to hear my experience with feeling fragmented this year and 5 important things to keep in mind as we continue to navigate through this "new normal".

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• A personal story about feeling fragmented
• How I know I am not alone in this feeling
• 5 things to keep in mind

RESOURCES:165 | Gaining Focus and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs with Jessica Eley Friends of Proof to Product Facebook group

MEET KATIE: Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

CONNECT WITH KATIE:

Website: prooftoproduct.com

Instagram: @prooftoproduct

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Fulfillment has been a hot topic in our Proof to Product communities lately so I wanted to bring on a special guest to chat about how fulfillment works from the 3PL side of things.

I was joined by Allen Befort of Givington's, a fulfillment company that pays attention to the small details so you can focus on the bigger picture of your business. Allen jokes that he kind of fell into starting this business with a friend. Seven years later they've seen great success and pride themselves on the relationships they've built with their customers and the genuine, personalized experience that they can create with their partners.

Allen and I covered a lot of ground in this episode and it's rich with information for anyone who may be considering outsourcing their warehousing and fulfillment process. We went over the logistics of working with a 3PL including how to know if you're ready, technology integrations they have, questions to ask when interviewing fulfillment centers and common pricing models. We also talk about why it's critical to build trust and relationships when outsourcing fulfillment.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• What a third party logistics company or fulfillment center does
• How Allen got into this business
• The types of companies they usually work with
• Key indicators that you might want to outsource this part of your business
• How most of his clients have come to him
• What you can do to best prepare for outsourcing fulfillment
• How having barcodes helps to reduce human error
• How pricing works for fulfillment centers
• The best platforms for automating the fulfillment process
• Using 3PLs for marketplace selling
• Questions you should ask when considering outsourcing
• Misconceptions that people have when it comes with working for 3PLs
• How his company works with customers who have bulk, once a month shipments
• What's coming next for his business

RESOURCES:Shopify WooCommerce WordPress Squarespace

MEET ALLEN: Married to Meg, with two cute blonde-haired kids and a third on the way. We live in Fayetteville, AR, an amazing town with a great community of friends. We kind of fell backwards into helping start and build Givington's in 2013 when one of our best friends was launching it and asked if we wanted to come along for the ride. 7 years later...we're still here. Personally, I have a deep love for Chipotle and Tottenham Hotspur soccer.

CONNECT WITH ALLEN:

Website: https://givingtons.com

Instagram: @givingtons

Facebook: @givingtons

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.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

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 to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends! I am really excited for you to listen in to today's episode with Betsy Garcia of Bloomwolf Studio. Betsy was on her way to medical school when she decided she wanted to pursue the small business life and sell her art. Bloomwolf Studio is a Latina owned & operated illustration and design studio based in Orlando that strives to create change through art and messaging.

In this powerful and transparent episode, Betsy and I talk about the mission behind Bloomwolf and how Betsy and her husband Luis actively weave their personal beliefs into their everyday business practices.

Betsy shares details about developing and expanding her product line, including mistakes they made in their first product runs.

We also talked about business finances. At the beginning of 2020, Betsy and Luis set out to increase their annual revenue by 25% and they exceeded this in the first 8 months of the year. Betsy talks about tools they use to track their financial progress and what they've done to pivot their business model to stay on track with these financial goals, despite the pandemic.

And, we capped off the convo talking about TikTok. How she's using it to promote her brand and products, how she gained 7,500 users in her first month on the platform and what she does to plan out her marketing for the year.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Why she decided to start a business instead of pursuing medical school
• How they got started with zero background in business
• Their process of developing their first products
• How Betsy decided which products to add into her line
• Why she's decided to be more vocal about social issues and the action steps they're taking
• Her process for planning out her marketing strategy
• How she and Luis decided to reach for a 25% increase in annual revenue
• What they've done to pivot this year to stay on track toward financial goals
• New things they've implemented that weren't in their 2020 plan
• Where they're currently at in their revenue goal
• Tools they use to track their financial progress
• Her experience with using TikTok for her business

RESOURCES:

Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine

MEET BETSY:

Bloomwolf Studio is a Latina owned & operated illustration and design studio based in Orlando, Florida.

Launched by husband and wife, Luis Sosa and Betsy Garcia, Bloomwolf Studio was started in November of 2015 after Betsy forewent her plans of applying to medical school. With the unwavering support of Luis, and no formal art training, Betsy began illustrating again in the summer of 2015, after not doing so for many years. This period helped renew her passion for art and helped cement her purpose, pushing her to follow her dreams of pursuing art as a career. Since then, thanks to Betsy's passion and determination and Luis's continued support, Bloomwolf Studio has evolved into the creative business it is today and has exhibited at national trade shows, participated in hundreds of pop-up markets, and their products are carried in over 400 small shops and boutiques nationwide. Bloomwolf's small, but mighty team of three is now based in sunny Orlando.

CONNECT WITH BETSY:

Website: https://bloomwolfstudio.com

Instagram: @bloomwolfstudio

Facebook: @bloomwolfstudio

TikTok: @bloomwolfstudio

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