Proof to Product

Welcome back to Proof to Product, all you small business hustlers, and creative entrepreneurs! Today we have a great episode in store for you with guest Jeanetta Gonzales, a Los Angeles-based graphic designer, and illustrator. Jeanetta began her career as a graphic designer working for corporate companies such as WedMD, Mattel and The Disney Store. She later parlayed her digital and fine art skills into surface design working as a textile designer and style guide designer for consumer products and creating illustrations and art that she licenses to manufacturers for products sold online and in major retail stores. On top of all of this, Jeanetta also runs her own online store where she sells her art on print items, mugs, fabric, home decor items and more.

On today's episode, Jeanetta shares her experience with licensing and tells us why you have to be in it for the long game. We talk about why relationships are so important in business, why it's necessary to create art and products with a unique point of view, and her goal to spread joy through a variety of creative means.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Common misconceptions that creative entrepreneurs have about licensing their work
• Tips for people that are putting together their portfolio
• How Jeanetta defines her artistic style and keeps it original
• The importance of experimenting
• What it took to overcome fears of failure and success
• Her 10 year journey of learning and creating
• When Jeanetta started to see traction in own design work
• What she learned from tradeshows
• Being okay with not being perfect
• Pivoting from her day job and shifting into licensing
• Jeanette's favorite products to produce
• Her advice for other creative entrepreneurs and what's coming up next

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I don't really think it's necessary to spend a whole year working on a portfolio or something like that. It's fine if you just have several collections that you're really proud of and get them out there." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"You don't want to be a copycat. You really just want your own work and your own vision and you're own visual point of view to come through." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"I really encourage people to experiment a lot, because that's where the happy accidents happen and that's where you're going to find the things that you really love to do." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"I always had this fire in me since I was a little kid to just do something different. To kind of go against the norm and it took me a long time to really get there." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"Even if you do a show and you're ready for that, and you put heart and soul into it, it's never perfect. You're never going to be as ready as you think you want to be." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"Just when we start to get comfortable in one thing, that's where things take a little bit of a turn. It's part of the growth process, but it is uncomfortable and there is that underlying fear, am I making the right choices?" - Katie Hunt

"I'm a firm believer that things happen on the time frame they should. Yeah sure, we could go back and change things, but would we still be where we are today if we did?" - Katie Hunt

"In my own journey I've had to go around and around a lot, but it's all good. Now I'm older I can definitely see how it's all coming together." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"It is a long game. You just have to see how that plays out, and just know that if you're going to commit to something like licensing that it's not an overnight thing." - Jeanetta Gonzales

"So much is relationship based. If people know they like you and can trust you and you'll do a great job, it's going to open the door for more licensing opportunities." - Katie Hunt

"When we know where we want to go, it makes it easier to build that path to get there." - Katie Hunt

LINKS

Website: http://JeanettaGonzales.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nettdesigns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nettdesigns/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jeanettag/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettdesigns

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

Today on Proof to Product we're welcoming Paper Camp Alum, and founder of Chez Gagne, Alex Gagne! Alex attended our Paper Camp Conference back in February of 2015 before debuting her wholesale line at the National Stationery Show. Since then, Alex has gone on to expand her product offering, add new team members, and achieve her vision for the Chez Gagne brand.

Chez Gagne is a paper and gift brand that offers greeting cards, wine and spirit tags, mugs, wine glasses, candles, and rocks glasses. Alex currently sells to 1,500 stores throughout the world, works with sales reps nationally, and exhibited at six trade shows this winter alone. With more than 93% of Alex's annual revenue coming from wholesale, much of her time is spent planning, prepping and traveling across the country for trade shows.

On today's episode, Alex is sharing with us how she does it all. We talk about how greeting cards became more than just her creative outlet and how Alex made the jump from paper goods to other products. We also how Alex decides which new product categories to pursue, challenges she faced in her business journey and key factors to Chez Gagne's exponential growth.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Why Alex switched from software to stationery
• How she decides to move forward with a product line
• Her theory on making things nice or funny
• Incorporating optics and organization into merchandising
• Alex's process for research, development, manufacturing and pricing
• Why everything Alex produces is something she uses
• The importance of managing your margins
• Challenges of storing hard goods vs stationery
• Tactics for mitigating risk and designing sustainable products
• How Alex grew to 1,500 active accounts in 4 years
• Future plans and products Alex has in the works

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"It's strange to look back now, but I've actually always made greeting cards for people. I've always sent Valentines Day cards. And that's been something that I've done for years." - Alex Gagne

"It came full circle.I found something I was able to communicate my sense of humor with, as well as greet people and make them laugh." - Alex Gagne

"Our business is based on the model of, "If you can't make it nice, make it funny." So we have a little bit of everything." - Alex Gagne

"Everything we've ever brought into the line has been something that I want to use. We will never bring anything into the line that is something that I wouldn't use. That, for me, is totally disingenuine." - Alex Gagne

"The agility of being a business owner is a very special thing, in that we can decide to move forward with something or we can decide to cut it from the line. We can't always do that in corporate America." - Katie Hunt

"There's only so much risk you want to take with a new product category." - Alex Gagne

"We pulled our best selling phrases from our greeting cards, and put them on mugs. And now we're putting them on wine glasses, they're on rocks glasses, they're on candles." - Alex Gagne

"As a business owner. I don't want to put anything out there, that I know is never going to be used again. We're producing so much crap as a society, that it's hard sometimes to put out gift items, because you feel like it's going directly to a landfill." - Alex Gagne

"Bottom line is, people want to have an experience these days. They don't necessarily need a lot of junk in their lives, but they want to have an experience, and I think people have an experience with our products." - Alex Gagne

"Once we get something set up, then we can turn, and focus on other aspects. But it's always shifting." - Katie Hunt

"It's been a lot of hustle. It's been a lot of late nights, and I'm really fortunate to not have to really do that as much anymore. There was definitely a time there, where I was staying up until 2:00 in the morning, every night, reaching out to retailers, finishing out orders, just trying to make it work." - Alex Gagne

"It's hard to delegate. I am a control freak. And I think being a letterpress printer is probably really a good indication of that." - Alex Gagne

"The brand perception for people who are very wary of curse words, or snark and sassy humor, has been a challenge for us. But it's also been a reason we've done incredibly well." - Alex Gagne

LINKS

Website: https://www.chezgagne.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/chezgagne/about/?ref=page_internal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chezgagne/?hl=en

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

Katie Hunt walks us through how she swapped her Instagram handles during the Proof To Product rebrand and shares three lessons she learned in the process. Find us @prooftoproduct on Instagram and tell us what you thought of the episode! And check out our new site and resources at www.prooftoproduct.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Our guest today is Allie Nute, the creative lady behind Verb House Creative. Allie provides content creation, digital marketing management and consulting services to incredible, creative businesses - businesses with personality, heart and dedication. Allie calls them her client-friends.

On this episode, we are talking about misconceptions that creative entrepreneurs have around marketing and how Allie helped one of her customers increase their wholesale sales by 250%. We also find out why fewer emails is often-times more impactful, why you don't need to be focusing on all of the social media platforms, and when it's best to pick one and run with it.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• What types of services Verb House Creative offers
• The difference between social marketing and digital marketing
• How Allie got started with her marketing career
• Common misconceptions product based business owners have about creating and executing a marketing plan
• The benefits of getting an outsider's perspective
• Advice for handling marketing logistics
• How Allie helps clients transform their businesses
• Simple steps and tips you can implement in your business today
• The importance of knowing your audience and product cycles and avoiding "vanity metrics"
• How having a family has changed her approach to business
• The Bespoke Content Club and what's coming up next for Verb House Creative

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I wish I could tell everybody in every industry in the world, try to pick the channel that's gonna be best for you. Is it gonna be Facebook or is it gonna Pinterest?" - Allie Moris Nute

"It's really key to get some outside help, because marketing is hard, it is paralyzing and you have a million other things to do, but this really has to get done." - Allie Moris Nute

"We can undersell ourselves, or undersell our successes we've had, but somebody coming from the outside can take a look at the bigger picture and bring a unique perspective to it." - Katie Hunt

"Too many people are trying to do too many things." - Katie Hunt

"We all feel like we are really, really busy, and that's because we are. But if you don't sit down to actually make time for strategic marketing, it's just not gonna get done." - Allie Moris Nute

"We can tell if a brand or retailer is just sending out emails just because they feel like they need to hit that certain mark, or if they're really taking the time to create content that we really care about and that their customer really cares about." - Allie Moris Nute

"I'm a firm believer that it takes a solid, good two to three months to really see the effects of good marketing, good content and good strategy." - Allie Moris Nute

"I wanna make sure that we're a good fit in terms of how this person's fitting in with the group but also that their business is at a point where they'll be able to really, truly leverage the group and all that we're doing to enhance their business." - Katie Hunt

"When you're a small business owner it's not just your business, you are so wrapped up in your business, and your business is so wrapped up in every other aspect of your life, it really extends to everything." - Allie Moris Nute

LINKS

Website: http://www.verbhousecreative.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/verbhousecreative

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/verbhousecreative

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, have you had the chance to visit the famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles? This mile long street located in Southern Venice is home to amazing creative galleries, internationally recognized brands and one-of-kind local shops like, Urbanic Paper Boutique. Audrey Woollen founded Urbanic thirteen years ago, and since then, her original lifestyle brand and retail shop has attracted a great deal of press, a large social media following, and has developed collaborative signature lines with some of the nation's top designers.

On today's episode, Audrey shares how she discovered her passion for paper and product based business. She tells us how she got started, how Urbanic has evolved over the years, and how she turned her weekend hobby into a thriving retail shop. Audrey also talks about the challenges she faced along the way, including an IRS audit in her third year, and the store getting robbed at times. Audrey brings us into her journey, talking about the passion she has for her industry, the creative community which she's in, and why creating a strong customer experience is so important to her and the brand.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• The inspiration and motivation behind Urbanic
• How Audrey found her true passion in Los Angeles
• The benefits of working festivals and farmers markets
• Establishing a customer base and curating your brand
• Giving up a big paycheck for a bigger dream
• The types of products merchandised at Urbanic
• Choosing specialty items that keep things exciting
• Making the most of a small space
• How Urbanic has evolved since opening 13 years ago
• Creating events that bring the LA design community together under one roof
• The power of a positive customer experience
• How Audrey balances business and motherhood
• The challenges of running a brick-and-mortar store
• Seeking out new lines, tradeshows, and what Audrey looks for in submissions
• What's up next for Urbanic and what Audrey has planned for next year

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"Ever since I was a little girl, I had a huge passion for paper products, whether it be sending people cards or picking out my back to school supplies. I took that very seriously." - Audrey Woollen

"I remember having the moment, literally stopped in my tracks, and tears came to my eyes, I'm like, "This is what I wanna do." I would feel so happy to create an environment for people to come shop, and to be able to curate that." - Audrey Woollen

"It was all really a hobby at that point, it was just something I loved, and it wasn't generating much income at all. But it was pushing me closer to wanting to do more." - Audrey Woollen

"I was getting more and move involved in the industry, and seeing what was out there, and falling more in love with what I was finding, and wanting to have a, create a bigger experience." - Audrey Woollen

"When we're in a corporate job or a freelance job and we're trying to build our business on the side, there's no perfect time to go all in the business, right? There's usually something that pushes us over."- Katie Hunt

"Because I was on Main Street and Santa Monica, I was able to set up at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market each Sunday. I could do more in that day than I did, like, an entire week." -Audrey Woollen

"It was completely a huge risk. But the spot opened up, and I just sorta got there at the right place and time, and just sort of went for it." - Audrey Woollen

"I knew that if I was gonna continue just doing that for a paycheck, then I was gonna lose out an opportunity to do something that I really wanted." - Audrey Woollen

"We have a customer base of people that are faithful to us and have made it a destination even in greater LA." - Audrey Woollen

"In the industry that I'm in, and this avenue that I picked, there's always something that is a feel good moment, not to mention babies and birthdays and celebrations and weddings, it's like all the best stuff in life." - Audrey Woollen

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

This is Part 3 of our three-part series exploring Proof to Product's exciting new rebrand. On Part 1, which was Episode 101, guest host Caroline Hull and I talked about why I decided to change my business name from Tradeshow Bootcamp to Proof to Product. On Part 2, we dove into the logistics, business formation, legal decisions, and building out the new website. If you missed those two episodes, I encourage you to head back and listen to 101 and 102 first!

On today's episode, Caroline and I are breaking things down to talk about the marketing plan. Specifically, how we rolled out the new site and the news about the Proof to Product name change.

Our audience has been such an important part of this process, and I'm so excited to share all of these new changes with you. I hope you enjoy Part 3 of this three-part series and be sure to check out our new online home at prooftoproduct.com!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How to communicate a big business change to your audience
• Why Katie decided it was important to tell alumni first
• Creating the I Am Proof to Product Campaign
• Identifying and marketing high impact programs
• Doing fewer things better
• Why Katie is offering more free content
• Storytelling instead of selling
• How to join the #iamprooftoproduct celebration

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"It's a celebration of our community that we're all growing up because we are all growing up together." - Katie Hunt

"Proof to Product brand is not just about me. It's about all of us." - Katie Hunt

"I love in-person events, I love live classes where people are on live and asking their questions and we have the back and forth collaboration and conversation about it." - Katie Hunt

"I want to make sure that we're putting our time and attention into the things that are making the biggest impact for our community and allowing me to serve them the best." - Katie Hunt

"I want to show that we're just growing up, we're tightening things so that we can do a better job." - Katie Hunt

"Everyone should go back to the beginning and look at why they're doing what they're doing because it really will help shape what you do moving forward." - Caroline Hull

"Highlighting our community members is truly what we're all about." - Katie Hunt

"I want to just give. I want to give, give, give, give, give as much as we possibly can to our audience." - Katie Hunt

"We just want people to tell friends. We want people to go sign up for the new options that we have, watch the videos we have, really engage with what we built." - Katie Hunt

"If my story can help somebody else, that's what I'm here for. That's the whole reason I do this podcast and why we do the programming that we do." - Katie Hunt

LINKS

Squarespace Web Developer: Susannah Carpenter

SEO Consultant: Myrna Daramy

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 brought to you by Tradeshow Bootcamp and hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, TSBC has worked with hundreds 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

Welcome to Part 2 of a three-part series exploring Proof to Product's exciting new rebrand. On Part 1, which was Episode 101, guest host Caroline Hull and I talked about why I decided to change my business name from Tradeshow Bootcamp to Proof to Product, and all the fears I had going into the transition. So if you haven't caught that episode yet, I encourage you to go and start there!

Today, on Episode 102, Caroline and I are diving into the logistics behind the rebrand, from the business formation and legal decisions to marketing planning and building Proof to Product's new website. Tomorrow, on Episode 103, I share our marketing plan, how we're rolling out the new name and the best parts of our beautiful new website.

Our audience has been such an important part of this process, and I'm so excited to share all of these new changes with you. I hope you enjoy Part 2 of this three-part series and join in to celebrate with us!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• The value of starting with a website analysis
• How Katie tackled the new web build and transition
• Her decision to switch from Wordpress to Squarespace
• Choosing the right web developer for the job
• The importance of breaking tasks up into manageable chunks
• Why Katie started the rebrand process by getting advice from an attorney
• What goes into a trademark
• Little logistics that pop up along the way
• How to dream big without getting overwhelmed

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I looked through all of the blog posts and looked at the traffic of like how many people were really looking at these things. And we narrowed it down to our top performing content." - Katie Hunt

"One of my motivations for wanting a new site was just a clean slate. I wanted to start over on a new host where things were secure and everything felt good." - Katie Hunt

"I had done so much work. I wire-framed the whole thing, I knew exactly what I wanted on the site, and I just needed somebody that could build it." - Katie Hunt

"It's like anything you're hiring for, you know, you want to make sure that it's a good fit, whether it's a long-term position or routine or position or even just a per project. You know, you want to make sure you're getting the right people on the bus. " - Katie Hunt

"When you have these big projects that take up so much time, it's really nice to have that help." - Caroline Hull

"I will say it's a huge team project… everyone had their piece and it wouldn't have been possible without everybody." - Katie Hunt

"If you're considering changing a name like this, you want to make sure you have your ducks in a row, that your business is being treated like a business and you want to make sure you get that right before you launch." - Katie Hunt

"It's ironic because I've done this for other people, helped build and figure this out for other people, but sometimes it's so hard to do for yourself." - Katie Hunt

"You do the best you can. You get the big pieces done and out there. Then, if there are other things that you can tackle, you can do those later." - Caroline Hull

"One thing I would tell people, whether it's a rebrand or launching a new site or whatever it is, take that time to dream big, map out your big wishlist as if time and money and everything were no option." - Katie Hunt

LINKS

Squarespace Web Developer: Susannah Carpenter

SEO Consultant: Myrna Daramy

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!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey Friends, it's so good to be back! Did you catch yesterday's announcement? We have BIG news! Tradeshow Bootcamp is now Proof to Product, and we've launched a brand new website for the Proof to Product brand. To celebrate, we are doing things a little bit differently on the Podcast! We are turning the tables and I'll be your guest for the next few days. TSBC Alum, Caroline Hull guest hosts and we go behind the scenes for three full episodes, unveiling the exciting shifts I made in my business.

This week, on Episodes 101, 102 and 103, Caroline and I dive headfirst into the Tradeshow Bootcamp to Proof to Product rebrand. Today, on Episode 101, we're talking about why I decided to change my business name and all the fears that were behind it. Tomorrow on Episode 102, Caroline and I tackle the logistics including Proof to Product's new website, the legal decisions, and the business model. Then on Thursday, during Episode 103, I share our marketing plan, how we rolled out the new name and the new website.

Our audience has been such an important part of this process, and I'm so excited to share all of these new changes with you. I hope you enjoy this episode, and listen in to find out how to get involved to celebrate with us!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Why Katie made the decision to rebrand and change her business name
• How Tradeshow Bootcamp evolved over eight+ years
• Facing fears around outgrowing and rebranding
• What Katie did to find the right look and feel for Proof to Product
• Finding the confidence to lean into growth
• The importance of getting back to basics
• Katie's process for reconnecting with the audience
• How Katie handled the switch
• The amazing new resources available at prooftoproduct.com

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I'm going to get super vulnerable here with all of you guys. Because all of you are my people and this has been a process." - Katie Hunt

"I felt like, 'Gosh, Tradeshow Bootcamp just doesn't articulate all the different things that we do and how we help business owners.'" - Katie Hunt

"I worked with, no joke, four different designers who I highly respect and admire and I love their work. And we just couldn't land on anything that felt right." - Katie Hunt

"I felt we're outgrowing the brand. I felt it was growing up and yet I kept hitting walls." - Katie Hunt

"We had all these resources available on all these different ways, but we weren't communicating it. And that was really frustrating for me." - Katie Hunt

"We started Proof to Product and that kind of took a life of its own." - Katie Hunt

"I broke it down to the basics. I went back to whose our audience? What kind of programming do they need? What kind of problems do we need to solve for them?" - Katie Hunt

"Rebranding isn't just about picking a new name and picking a new logo. This is about looking at the entire picture. And making sure that it all works and fits together and makes sense for your audience." - Caroline Hull

"I'm a firm believer that we need to go back as entrepreneurs and constantly be reevaluating. Who are we working with? And what are we giving them and how are we providing maximum value to them?" - Katie Hunt

"We grow and evolve as people, and our businesses grow and evolve too." - Caroline Hull

LINKS

Squarespace Web Developer: Susannah Carpenter

SEO Consultant: Myrna Daramy

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 brought to you by Tradeshow Bootcamp and hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, TSBC has worked with hundreds 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

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

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

Hey friends, can you believe it?! This is Proof to Product's 100th Episode! It's been amazing to watch this podcast, which began as a creative way to connect with members of the stationery community, grow into so much more - a platform, resource, and launching point for stationery and creative entrepreneurs alike.

Over the last year and a half, we've heard some incredible, inspiring startup stories from entrepreneurs making physical products, just like you. We have talked about successes and struggles, mindset shifts, and the importance of taking action to reach your goals. Entrepreneurs like Katie Wilson of The Good Twin, Rachael Hetzel of Pistachio Press, Mary Phan of Very Mary Inspired, Ronnie Williams of DeFrance Printing, Taylor Elliot of Taylor Elliott Designs, Natasha Case of Coolhaus, and Viola Sutanto of Maika Goods, just to name a few, all shared their stories, struggles and advice of growing and thriving in business.

To celebrate this 100th milestone, we're revisiting our favorite episodes and the Proof to Product lessons that continue to inspire our lives and business. We're honored to share the personal stories of our amazing audience members and hope you enjoy this special edition episode!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Jean Marie Opus, Little Feet's Opus

Amanda Farrand, Grief Biscuit

Elana Hopman, Annabel Reese

Christina Green, The Cardinal Collective

Mele Williams, Plucky Press

Brooke Spare, Cheeky Beak

McKinley Bryson, Lucky Bat Paper Co

Janine Kwoh, Kwohtations

Lauren Ashley Barnes, Pineapple Sundays Design Studio

Rongrong Devoe, Rongrong Illustration

Mackenzie Vance, Smitches

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ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is brought to you by Tradeshow Bootcamp and hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, TSBC has worked with hundreds 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!

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