Proof to Product

Sarah Parrott is the founder of Parrott Design Studio and this is Part 2 of her interview. If you missed Part 1 which was Episode 81, I recommend you head back and listen to that one first.

Here on Part 2, Sarah talks about hiring a team, how she started slowly delegating and fears she had around letting go of things in her business, we talked about her multiple revenue streams and the pros / cons of having multiple businesses, navigating tough seasons in life while owning a business and how Sarah's definition of success for her business has changed over the years.

As background, Parrott Design Studio is a letterpress studio in Sebago, a lake town in Western Maine. The studio was established in 2007 by Sarah Parrott with a small Print Gocco, an inexpensive and easy to use screen printing tool that originated in Japan. That same year she took her first course in letterpress, learning to use a Vandercook press.

In 2008 she purchased her own press, an 1898 Golding Jobber platen press. At the time there were no courses to learn on that type of press, and she spent a year teaching herself how to use it. She fell in love with the centuries-old artisinal printing technique and the process of feeding the press one piece at a time, one color at a time. In 2010 she left her job as an event planner to pursue Parrott Design Studio full time. Sarah is one of our original Tradeshow Bootcamp alumni. She attended our very first round of Tradeshow Bootcamp classes in 2011 before exhibiting at the National Stationery Show in 2012.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How her team has shifted during different seasons
• The event space Sarah & her husband opened
• How her multiple revenue streams are intertwined
• The pros and cons of running three businesses at one time
• How she managed her businesses through a difficult season in her personal life
• Sarah's definition of success and how it has changed over the years
• Her advice for someone just starting out in a product-based business

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"There's a lot of benefit to hiring people that already understand your business or have followed you for a while." - Katie Hunt

"I always love weddings, no matter what I'm doing, and still doing wedding-related things." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"It's so funny because we never set out to be in weddings or even to be entrepreneurs, and it all seemed very natural. Nothing's been forced. It just worked." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"They kind of all have different times where they are busy, so I'm not depending on just one of them as my main source of income." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"It's okay to say no and it's okay if something doesn't work or it's okay to walk away from something because it's your business and you can make that decision for what works the best, because if you don't, why are you doing it?" - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"One person's startup story is not the same as another person's story, and neither one is right or wrong. It's whatever works for you." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"When you're first starting, you're looking to a lot of people because they're your inspiration, and you just have to know that how they did it might not work for you. It might, but it probably won't." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

CONNECT WITH SARAH PARROTT BIANCULLI

Website: http://parrottdesignstudio.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Parrott-Design-Studio-245078337090/

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

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

SPECIAL OFFER:

Proof to Product listeners get 3 free months of Gusto when they run their first payroll. Go to www.gusto.com/proof for more information

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

SUBSCRIBE

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.

WRITE A REVIEW

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

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

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.

SHARE

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

Sarah Parrott is the founder of Parrott Design Studio and I'm excited for you to hear her story. Parrott Design Studio is a letterpress studio in Sebago, a lake town in Western Maine. The studio was established in 2007 by Sarah Parrott with a small Print Gocco, an inexpensive and easy to use screen printing tool that originated in Japan. That same year she took her first course in letterpress, learning to use a Vandercook press.

In 2008 she purchased her own press, an 1898 Golding Jobber platen press. At the time there were no courses to learn on that type of press, and she spent a year teaching herself how to use it. She fell in love with the centuries-old artisinal printing technique and the process of feeding the press one piece at a time, one color at a time. In 2010 she left her job as an event planner to pursue Parrott Design Studio full time.

Sarah is one of our original Tradeshow Bootcamp alumni. She attended our very first round of Tradeshow Bootcamp classes in 2011 before exhibiting at the National Stationery Show in 2012.

We covered a lot of topics in this interview. So much so, that we're going to break this up into two separate episodes. Episode 81 is Part 1.

On this episode, Sarah shares how she started her business with a Gocco printer and Etsy shop, how her business model shifted from retail to custom to retail and wholesale, how she expanded into new product categories, why she strives to find local manufacturing partners and we also talked about her process for deciding which products to discontinue.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How she got started with a Gocco printer
• When she transitioned into letterpress
• When Sarah realized she was going to pursue this as a business instead of just a creative outlet
• The evolution of her business over time
• The three arms of her business and the products she currently offers
• How she came up with the idea of acrylic cake toppers and how she brought them to market
• The specific challenges she faced when starting to offer pencil pouches
• How she manages inventory
• How she decides to discontinue a product or design
• The confidence she feels in her business and how it is impacting next year's release

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I really just learned by doing." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"All of a sudden I realized, I'm set to make more money doing this than my current day job." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"As my business has gone on, I'm trying to have as many of my suppliers be as local as possible and that's been, it's 11 years, I'm still working towards that goal and constantly searching." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"It's very rare that the first person we work with on a project is going to be the person we work with long-term." - Katie Hunt

"I'm pretty ruthless every year cutting out anything that's not working." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"My style has absolutely changed since I started this. I look at things when I first started to what I'm doing now, it doesn't even look like the same person." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"It just doesn't make sense to keep these things that aren't selling and it just allows more room for new things as well." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

"I feel the best I've ever felt in all the businesses I've had and I'm working on next year's release and it's looking a lot different than anything I've ever done before." - Sarah Parrott Bianculli

CONNECT WITH SARAH PARROTT BIANCULLI

Website: http://parrottdesignstudio.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Parrott-Design-Studio-245078337090/

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

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

SPECIAL OFFER:

Proof to Product listeners get 3 free months of Gusto when they run their first payroll. Go to www.gusto.com/proof for more information

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

SUBSCRIBE

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.

WRITE A REVIEW

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

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

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.

SHARE

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

Christina Stemble is the founder of Farmgirl Flowers, which she started 7 years ago from her living room table. She invested $49,000 of her personal savings to start the business and Farm Girl Flowers is projected to hit $23M in revenue for 2018.

Christina disrupted the floral industry with new options for consumers, less waste and higher quality products. Farmgirl Flower arrangements are designed by hand, in-house in San Francisco California.

On today's episode, Christina is sharing why it is so important to know your numbers, the struggles of scaling and how she's pivoted more times that she can count. We also talked about how she's been proactive about business education and why she focuses on caring about people, but not what they think about her.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Her career background prior to starting Farmgirl Flowers
• The research that lead her to an e-commerce floral boutique
• How her business model has changed over the years
• The importance of knowing your numbers as an entrepreneur
• How she predicted numbers at the beginning of her business
• The advantages of pivoting often in your business
• Her attitude towards copycats
• The very first position Christina hired for & how adding team members impacted her business
• Farmgirl Flower's marketing strategy
• What success looked like for Christina in the early days & what it looks like now
• How she learned business concepts
• Lessons Christina has learned as an entrepreneur
• The importance of focusing on team culture to avoid burn out
• Her advice for someone just starting out as an entrepreuneur
• What's next for Farmgirl Flowers

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"Younger consumers, it's not rocket science what they want. They want something that's beautiful, they want to feel like they weren't ripped off or robbed in the process. They want a good value for the money." - Christina Stembel

"There's 27 million new box companies or socks companies or toothbrush companies, but there's nobody that's reinvented this space yet, so let me see if I can be the one to do it." - Christina Stembel

"My goal from day one was to build a billion dollar company, and I have no qualms saying that." - Christina Stembel

"Everybody always asks if we're profitable. We have to be profitable." - Christina Stembel

"As an entrepreneur, you have to know your numbers. You have to know your forecast. You have to know your projections, and you have to go back and check them often." - Christina Stembel

"Our consumers are telling us what they like and don't like, and so listening to them, seeing what's selling, not selling, and then pivoting." - Christina Stembel

"Every two weeks, our company looks different than it did two weeks ago." - Christina Stembel

"I think the fact that we can change so quickly without any red tape allows us to ensure that we are a very healthy, financially healthy company." - Christina Stembel

"If everybody's making things that look strikingly similar to us and creating businesses that look strikingly similar to us, that means we're the best." - Christina Stembel

"I think part of the thing that makes us different and more special than our competitors, in my opinion, is that we have a heart." - Christina Stembel

"The number one thing that to me means that I'm being successful is that I don't run out of money." - Christina Stembel

"I think if we focus on building a business that we believe in, that has the core values that really mirror our own personal core values, then that'll breed success." - Katie Hunt

"You can learn anything you want just on the internet now." - Christina Stembel

"The number one thing that I've learned from it is that it doesn't matter if you make mistakes. The only thing that matters is that you get back up." - Christina Stembel

"Just because they say it doesn't make it true." - Christina Stembel

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA STEMBEL

Website: http://www.farmgirlflowers.com

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/farmgirlflowers

SPECIAL OFFER:

Proof to Product listeners get 3 free months of Gusto when they run their first payroll. Go to www.gusto.com/proof for more information

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

For our Thanksgiving break, we've lined up something special just for you. We'll be airing two episodes I recorded with my friends Kelly and Caroline at Creative Biz Rebellion.

These ladies were kind enough to have me on their podcast, not just once, but twice. The first time we talked about all things wholesale, and then then invited me back to talk about trade shows. This week we're running both episodes over here on Proof to Product.

Big thanks to Kelly and Caroline for having me on their show. If you're not already familiar with Creative Biz Rebellion, go check it out. Kelly and Caroline do an amazing job of supporting product based businesses through their programs and podcast. They were also guests on Proof to Product — visit the links below to find them over at Creative Biz Rebellion and here on Proof to Product.

Links:

Creative Biz Rebellion

Proof to Product with Caroline Hull (Ep 45)

Proof to Product with Kelly Parker Smith (Ep 56)

Have a wonderful week friends and thank you for listening to and supporting Proof to Product. I'm so grateful for each and every one of you!

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

For our Thanksgiving break, we've lined up something special just for you. We'll be airing two episodes I recorded with my friends Kelly and Caroline at Creative Biz Rebellion.

These ladies were kind enough to have me on their podcast, not just once, but twice. The first time we talked about all things wholesale, and then then invited me back to talk about trade shows. This week we're running both episodes over here on Proof to Product.

Big thanks to Kelly and Caroline for having me on their show. If you're not already familiar with Creative Biz Rebellion, go check it out. Kelly and Caroline do an amazing job of supporting product based businesses through their programs and podcast. They were also guests on Proof to Product — visit the links below to find them over at Creative Biz Rebellion and here on Proof to Product.

Links:

Creative Biz Rebellion

Proof to Product with Caroline Hull (Ep 45)

Proof to Product with Kelly Parker Smith (Ep 56)

Have a wonderful week friends and thank you for listening to and supporting Proof to Product. I'm so grateful for each and every one of you!

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

Alison Prince is an e-commerce expert and a woman on a mission. She is a business-savvy determined woman who knows how to create something amazing out of nothing. Over the last seven years, Allison has started eight e-commerce businesses, many of which are multi-million dollar brands. She's sold everything from apparel to technology to household items — she's sold everything under the sun — growing dollars into millions and pennies into thousands.

On today's episode, we talk about how Allison built her deal of a day website and then leveraged best selling products to create their own site and brand. She also shares how she leverages influencers to sell her product and why testing your product is the most important thing you can do in e-commerce.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Alison's career background
• Why she left the classroom for entrepreneurship
• Her first experience selling products online
• The different types of products she has sold online & how she decides what to sell
• How & when she first introduced her daughters to entrepreneurship
• Where she is selling products
• The benefits of testing a product before investing in a large quantity
• What she does with overstock of products
• How she uses influencers in her marketing
• Alison's tips on approaching influencers
• How she leverages discounts on her products
• The biggest driver of Alison's success in business
• How she uses ClickFunnels & the success that she has had with it
• What's next for Alison

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I started going to the library and checking out books and magazines on how people made money." - Alison Prince

"I realized the entrepreneur journey isn't a straight line. It is literally a rollercoaster ride, and if I got in, I'm going for that ride." - Alison Prince

"Remember the school teacher who was qualified for food stamps? Like, I had a multimillion-dollar business because I didn't give up." - Alison Prince

"I think that's where a lot of people can flub up, is they go and they buy a couple grand in product. Don't do that." - Alison Prince

" I couldn't go and build a huge eCommerce site with a whole bunch of SKUs and a whole bunch of variations, because I literally could not afford to do that, so I could only put up one product a day." - Alison Prince

"Just test it. Buy a small amount, get a small amount, and then send out an email list. If it doesn't sell, that's fine; you've got Christmas presents for all your friends and family." - Alison Prince

"I think the reason why I succeeded is because I failed so much." - Alison Prince

"Don't be so confident and stuck in your head that you're not willing to test. You have to test your product, and then you can invest the money." - Alison Prince

"The key to success is a micro-influencer. Don't go after the big guys." - Alison Prince

"The more engagement you can have, the better results you're going to have. It's not about the numbers anymore; it's all about community." - Alison Prince

"I have to make sure my product's good, I have to make sure my pricing's good, I've got to make sure it will convert, because an influencer can drive traffic, but it's up to you to make sure that you've got a good offer." - Alison Prince

"I love discounts because it helps me to control my lifestyle." - Alison Prince

"I feel like you can create a Black Friday special any day of the year." - Alison Prince

"I'm not afraid to test. I'm not afraid to fail. I'm not afraid to be a hot mess, because that's just who I am, right?" - Alison Prince

"With ClickFunnels, you can put blinders on your customers to help them focus." - Alison Prince

"We don't have to go out and get big huge bank loans anymore. We don't have to have brick and mortar, we don't have to go to China anymore to manufacture our products. We've got technology, we've got the Internet right here in our hands to be able to use." - Alison Prince

'My heart is in watching others succeed." - Alison Prince

CONNECT WITH ALISON PRINCE

Website: https://www.alisonjprince.com

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIRyTXZMYxyyhB8VTpthLpw

LINKS

Shopify

ClickFunnels

PickYourPlum

PTP Episode 067 | Don Hejny, Nerdwax

Nerdwax

Fiverr

Because I Can Clan

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

Taylor Elliott is the founder of Taylor Elliott Designs, a fun desk accessory and gift company. Taylor started this company as a side hustle while working a full-time job, but through a lot of hard work and persistence, she has grown this into a thriving gift company whose products are sold in more than 450 stores nationwide.

On today's episode, Taylor talks about why she decided to use a fulfillment house to store and ship her products, what questions she asked when she was choosing a partner and what her priorities were for outsourcing this piece of her business. She also talks about how she's brought on 40 sales reps and how working with them and attending markets with her reps has enhanced her business.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• The products Taylor Elliott Designs offer
• How Taylor originally started her business as a side hustle while working a full-time job
• How her product offerings have evolved over the years
• What systems she has in place to streamline both the retail and wholesale arms of her business
• Why she decided to outsource her shipping to a fulfillment house
• How she found the fulfillment house she is currently working with
• The questions she asked during the process of finding a fulfillment house
• How pricing works for a third party warehouse
• The time that she saves by outsourcing her shipping
• How she found the 40 sales reps that she is working with
• How going to market with her sales reps has enhanced her business and her reach to new wholesale accounts
• The upfront cost of working with 40 sales reps and how she determined it was worth it
• How she nurtures relationships with her sales reps & the tools she provides them with
• Taylor's advice for someone just starting out in a product-based business
• What's next for Taylor Elliott Designs

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I started with my laptop and an inkjet printer from college, and I started making customized stationery on Etsy." - Taylor Elliott

"It was a nights and weekends hustled for quite a while until it wasn't, and it became my full-time job." - Taylor Elliott

"I've tried very hard to keep true to me and what I love, and I've tried to stay true to the bright colors and very upbeat and motivational products." - Taylor Elliott

" I really try to work smarter and not harder, and one of the ways that have streamlined my process is by outsourcing all of my shipping to a third party fulfillment house." - Taylor Elliott

"It was also very important to me that they handled my products with care. My brand is very girly and it's very fun, we package a lot of our products in hot pink bubble mailers." - Taylor Elliott

"In general, the more simple the pricing is, the more I liked the warehouses. If it was just easy and clear to understand." - Taylor Elliott

"I think as a small business, that's one of the things that help set me apart from much larger businesses is that we're able to be so efficient and so quick." - Taylor Elliott

"We calculated it right after we transitioned to the fulfillment house and it saves me about 25 hours a week." - Taylor Elliott

"I really feel like by outsourcing fulfillment that that has really allowed me to work on the business and not as much in the business." - Taylor Elliott

"I love how Instagram, it's a great market for selling things, but it's also a great way to connect with other people in the industry whether it's buyers, or reps, or even just colleagues." - Katie Hunt

"Market is an amazing exposure especially like these gift markets, there are so much foot traffic. During markets, wholesalers are looking to buy, they're looking for new brands to bring into their store, they're looking for new products." - Taylor Elliott

"Attending market and working with rep groups has helped me grow my wholesale business so much." - Taylor Elliott

"Don't go into debt buying the fancy stuff, you don't need it." - Taylor Elliott

"You have to keep showing up. Consistency is one of the most important things in starting a business." - Taylor Elliott

"Very rarely does opportunity come knocking, but you have to go out and make that opportunity for yourself." - Taylor Elliott

CONNECT WITH TAYLOR ELLIOTT

Website: http://www.taylorelliottdesigns.com

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

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

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

LINKS

The E Myth by Michael Gerber

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

TSBC Alum, Tanya Wheeless is the founder of Happy Grace and author of three workbooks on soulful living. She has leveraged her decades of experience as a CEO, senior executive in the NBA, and community leader to teach women how to live the good life while struggling to balance work and family.

In 2016, Tanya saw a need in the market for physical products that busy women could use daily to motivate and center themselves. With that, Happy Grace was born! She took all of her coaching goodness, combined it with her love of paper and created a beautiful line of guided journals, inspiration decks, lip balms and more. When she's not working, you can find her traveling the globe with her husband and son.

On today's episode, Tanya shares why she never wanted to be an entrepreneur, how she's weaved both products and services into her business and why she prioritizes and invests in professional development.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How she became an entrepreneur when she didn't originally want to be one
• The catalyst to starting her own business
• The first service she offered
• The physical products that Happy Grace offers
• Why design almost kept her from pursuing physical products
• What the design process is like for her products
• Tanya's coaching services and how they have shifted over time
• The importance of wellness self-care
• Happy Grace's new digital membership program
• Why it's important for her to invest in professional development
• What Tanya finds most challenging about being an entrepreneur
• How she has updated her brand story
• Tanya's advice for someone just getting started in a product-based business
• What's next for Happy Grace

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"In my mind, I wanted to show up every day, know what I was supposed to do, know that the paycheck was going to be there, and have a ladder that I could climb because I'm all about climbing ladders." - Tanya Wheeless

"I can't figure out Asana. I can't do Trello. And you know what? We got through. We used Google Docs. We used Gmail. It was all fine." - Tanya Wheeless

"Timeout on the "shoulds" and really get clear about what you actually need, because I think every team's different, and I do not believe there's one way to do this whole entrepreneurship thing." - Tanya Wheeless

"Product's a whole different ballgame because I had to outlend a lot of money before I ever had anything to sell — designers, production, and my coaching funded that." - Tanya Wheeless

"We tend to think that there are two of us. There's work Katie, and then there's mom Katie, and there's not. There's just one Katie." - Tanya Wheeless

"It feels safe for people to hire a leadership coach or an executive coach but what I know most of us really need is more of that wellness self-care." - Tanya Wheeless

"Mental health, self-care, just being kind to ourselves is such an important facet for all of us regardless of whether we're an entrepreneur or not." - Katie Hunt

"It's okay to have your hands in multiple things until you find the thing that really excites you, and that you can make sustainable and fuel yourself financially as well as like in your heart." - Katie Hunt

"If you are a newbie, go to Paper Camp because the women and the men that you are going to meet, some of them will be at your level, but so many are going to be far ahead." - Tanya Wheeless

"There's so much value in being curious and learning about things that may be of interest to you because even finding out, "No, that's not for me," is incredibly valuable." - Katie Hunt

"One of the things that I did not appreciate when I started, Katie, was the importance of me and my brand, and people having a connection with who I was and what I was about." - Tanya Wheeless

"When people were exposed to me, when they got my personality, when they saw my passion what I was doing, they lined up to buy my product." - Tanya Wheeless

"Know that everyone started exactly where you started with an idea, with your computer, and with a hope that someday someone was going to send your card to someone for a meaningful birthday." - Tanya Wheeless

"Be patient with yourself because it's not as easy as everyone else is making it look." - Tanya Wheeless

CONNECT WITH TANYA WHEELESS

Website: http://www.happygrace.com

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyHappyGrace

LINKS:

The One Thing: https://amzn.to/2NNYj6E

Essentialism: https://amzn.to/2wKR9ti

Big Magic: https://amzn.to/2wH1ju8

Soul Pancake: http://soulpancake.com/

Funny or Die: https://www.funnyordie.com/

Indigo Faire: https://www.faire.com/

Pinners Conference: https://www.pinnersconference.com/

Magnolia: https://magnolia.com/

Digital Lizard: http://www.digitallizard.com/

PAPER CAMP

What if you could sit in a room with 30 other product makers who are doing exactly what you're doing -- building a business they love! You could share resources, leverage each other's experiences and learn from those who are where you want to be. Imagine the growth potential!

Join us March 14-15th in Los Angeles for our Paper Camp Conference.

Over 800 brands have attended Paper Camp. Brands that sell to stores like Target, Paper Source, Container Store, Anthropologie and independent boutiques internationally.

This program is for you if you're a stationery or gift company interested in selling wholesale, exhibiting at trade shows or looking to expand your outreach to wholesale customers.

We believe in the power of community, collaboration and sharing everything we know. Get all the details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp

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

Kaye Putnam is a psychology-driven brand strategist for entrepreneurs. Through work with hundreds of clients from global brands to solo business owners, she developed The Clarity Code. She believes that when you have a clear brand, that your clients love and respect, they will be willing to pay premium prices for your work. Kaye believes that a strong brand gives you the clarity and confidence to scale your impact and income. When she's not transforming brands, she's exploring the world with her husband and two little ones. They love eating their way across their home of Naples, Italy.

On today's episode, we talk about key components of a strong brand, how Kaye has created a location independent business and she shares a branding exercise that you can do right now!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• A misconception that online business owners have about branding
• How Kaye helps clients define their unique brand advantage
• How she works with companies to figure out their "why" and the meaning behind what they're doing
• What key components that go into creating a strong brand
• The common fears she sees among her clients
• The challenges Kaye faced early on in her business
• How her brand culture impacts her hiring decisions
• How moving every few years has impacted her business and how she works with her clients
• Kaye's experience with transitions and how she handles things when they don't go as planned
• The things Kaye tells people to take a look at first and foremost to strengthen their brand
• What's next for Kaye

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"Instead of trying to mold your brand or mold your business into what you thinking that the market wants from you, it's actually much, much more productive to first figure out who you are at your best, at your strongest." - Kaye Putnam

"Let's name your strength so that you can step into it, and own it." - Kaye Putnam

"You want to build your brand on a truth not trend." - Kaye Putnam

"When you're building a brand, you're building a long-term relationship with your clients and customers." - Kaye Putnam

"It's a feedback loop where you're putting stuff out into the market, you're getting responses from the market, and then you're continually getting better and better being your brand." - Kaye Putnam

"Once we're consistent and cohesive and compelling, then people start to pay attention." - Kaye Putnam

"Scale has always been my arch nemesis, and it's actually where my focus is now." - Kaye Putnam

"Figure out what that higher order movement is behind your brand and that's what also gets your team really excited about building this bigger thing." - Kaye Putnam

"We've been traveling all over Europe for the last couple of years, two toddlers in tow, because this business is set up this way." - Kaye Putnam

"I've had times in my business where I'm really focusing on the business and then you also need to have times where you're really just focusing on life." - Kaye Putnam

"There's a lot to be said for building up your own website or creating the blog post because you own that space, it's not at the mercy of algorithms or Facebook rules or whatever it might be." - Kaye Putnam

"I think people are fearful of repelling people that aren't the right fit but really, it just enables you to take to the right people more clearly and speak to their needs better." - Kaye Putnam

CONNECT WITH KAYE PUTNAM

Website: http://kayeputnam.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketingkaye

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kayeputnam

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kayeputnam

LINKS

Free Five Day Challenge: https://kayeputnam.com/miniclass

BOOTH BLUEPRINT

If you're gearing up for trade show season and need help creating a beautiful booth that doesn't break the bank, I want to invite you to my free masterclass.

I'm sharing my three secrets to maximize your trade show investment and keep wholesale orders coming in long after you trade show end. To join me for this FREE workshop, head to www.theboothblueprint.com to register!

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

TSBC alum, Shelley Seguinot began her creative journey in 2013 when she opened I'm Inkpressed, a wholesale stationery company specializing in children's products. As the paper industry evolved and she saw the digital market expanding, she adjusted her business to focused her effort on the art licensing world. She now licenses her art to various companies that put her work on a wide range of products.

On today's episode, Shelley shares how she left a 20-year career in law enforcement to start her businesses. She tells us how she got her first licensing deal, fears she had when she first started licensing her art and why it's so valuable to find mentors and community if licensing is something you want to pursue for your business.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Shelley's career path prior to starting her stationery business
• How she knew she wanted to jump into her business full-time
• When she realized licensing was a potential revenue source for her
• Her first licensing deal
• The fears she had surrounding licensing her art
• The process of licensing artwork
• When she transitioned her business to solely licensing work
• How she makes it easier for people to see her work & the importance of seeking out companies for licensing opportunities
• The buying seasons for licensing art
• Whether she likes working within parameters or having freedom and flexibility in her work
• What a buyout is versus a limited buyout
• The industry standard price ranges
• Shelley's favorite licensing project
• Her advice to someone just getting started in licensing
• The common misconceptions around licensing
• What's next for Shelley

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I just don't mind putting myself out there and speaking to people and just digging in and getting to the root of things." - Shelley Seguinot

"I saw a big change in the paper industry. Everything was starting to go digital." - Shelley Seguinot

"This affords me the opportunity to still make money while I'm mostly just producing art." - Shelley Seguinot

"For artists like myself who aren't represented by an agent, you really have to go out there and seek these companies." - Shelley Seguinot

"It's a lot of follow up. It's just about building a relationship, because there's a lot of artists and they have a lot of places where they can go and buy their art." - Shelley Seguinot

"I like freedom. I definitely like freedom because I have a color problem." - Shelley Seguinot

"Everyone has their own model and not everything's licensing. A lot of them just want to buy the art outright." - Shelley Seguinot

"Once you're in front of the customer, you really just have to wing it and come up with your own. You have to price out how attached you are to the art." - Shelley Seguinot

"I'm one of those diehard snail mail people, so I know that paper is where my heart is at. It's what gave me my start. So, designing greeting cards and designing invitations is still my passion." - Shelley Seguinot

"The best money you could ever spend if you're trying to make it in that industry is just get someone to give you professional advice." - Shelley Seguinot

"It takes a lot of research. It's a lot of making connections and building that community and finding people to guide you." - Shelley Seguinot

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY SEGUINOT

Website: http://www.shelleyseguinot.com

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

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

LINKS:

Blueprint

Ronnie Walter

Shelley's Skillshare Courses

BOOTH BLUEPRINT

If you're gearing up for trade show season and need help creating a beautiful booth that doesn't break the bank, I want to invite you to my free masterclass.

I'm sharing my three secrets to maximize your trade show investment and keep wholesale orders coming in long after you trade show end. To join me for this FREE workshop, head to www.theboothblueprint.com to register!

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