The Jenna Rainey Show

Is this a bad time to get into the licensing industry as a designer? What products are people buying now?

These are great question and ones that I got asked a couple of weeks ago. To really explore this topic with an insider's perspective, I'm stoked to have my licensing agent Julie Turkel back on the show.

Julie has been in the licensing industry for 25+ years now (check out Episode 13 for more of her story). She is also my co-instructor for our course, Brand Plus Brand, all about starting a building a licensing business.

It's fair to say that Julie knows a thing or two about trending categories, trending themes, when to pivot, and working with manufacturers and retailers to get your designs on products.

In this bonus episode, we talk about where it might be beneficial to focus your energy and time during this global pandemic to keep your licensing business moving forward. And yes, art is still very much alive.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/futureoflicensing/

Is it too late to start—a new hobby, a business venture, or a creative journey?

I get emails like this often: "I would love to paint like you but I'm too old now."

It breaks my heart when aspiring creatives brush aside their dreams because they think the "window of opportunity" has passed.

In this short and sweet episode, I address this common limiting belief and give examples of people who achieved great things in their later years. The bottom line is: It's never too late. Dream big, my friend. And keep chippin' away at it.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/toolatetostart/

You've got questions? I have answers. A couple of weeks ago, I posted on Instagram Stories wondering what you would want to know if you could ask me anything. Within the responses, there was a wide range of topics—from what the early business days were like to whether I had morning sickness while pregnant. It's a fun, chill, let's-hang-out-type episode.

I'm want to do more of these Ask Me Anything episodes so be sure to follow me on Instagram and keep a lookout for my next call for questions! https://instagram.com/jennarainey Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/askjennaanything/

What is visual storytelling?! When you hear the term brand storytelling, the first thing a lot of people think about is the "About" page on your site, social media captions, and general website copy. But don't forget about the VISUALS (photographs, artwork, colors, etc) as incredibly powerful storytelling assets!

Nick Onken, world-renowned photographer, joins me for this crazy good episode. He's photographed personalities including Justin Bieber, Tom Hanks, and Jessica Alba, Little John, and is the host of Nion Radio Podcast.

Nick's current mission is to refine and explore the intersection of creativity, consciousness, and culture. Seriously... so many good things to unpack there!

This episode is not just for photographers. It's for anyone who has a brand and has a story to tell (Spoiler: Everyone has a story to tell!!). Tune in and learn how to use visual storytelling to elevate your story and cut through the noise to stand out among the competition.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/nickonken/

Wondering how to build a profitable business in a world with LOADS of competition?

In this era of technology, competition is stiff! I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Now, more than ever, it's critical to get clear on the why behind your business, your values and brand story, and then to connect with your ideal customers...outside of social media and e-commerce platforms like Etsy.

To go deeper into strategies for standing out and building connection, I'm so excited to introduce you to Tracy Matthews.

Tracy is a jewelry designer and entrepreneur mentor to creative visionaries and the host of the top rated Thrive by Design podcast. Her jewelry and her story has been featured in InStyle, Elle, US Weekly, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Weddings, Entrepreneur Women and on the Today Show. And she's the Chief Visionary Officer of Flourish & Thrive Academy where she helps other jewelry brands launch, grow and scale profitable jewelry businesses.

In this episode, Tracy shares her best tips and advice for growing a profitable creative business. They are pearls of universal wisdom that can be applied to so many industries—whether it's jewelry, photography, fine art, hairstylist, etc.

Get out your notebooks. This is a good one...

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/tracymatthews

"Should I have a blog? Is blogging still a thing?" The short answer is absolutely YES.

Your potential customers are on the internet, looking for information that you could be providing.

The more blog posts you have, the more chances you have to rank higher on Google, the more traffic you have on your site, the more people will be interacting with your brand, which all lead to more sales, more customers and growth.

Do you struggle coming up with topics to write about? Don't worry. I'm also giving you some of my quick tips for generating ideas for valuable content.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/shouldihaveablog

Do you want to learn more about SEO and becoming more discoverable? Check out my SEO Crash Course: https://jennarainey.com/shop

Have you ever written a pitch email to a client or customer and wasn't quite sure what to say to make it feel genuine? Or if you haven't tried it yet, what's stopping you?

Pitching your work is vital to growing your business, generating more revenue and pivoting.

Whether you're hurtin' for your next client or you want to pitch to your dream brand, there are some key things to keep in mind when writing a good pitch email.

In this episode, I'm sharing my 4 top tips for what to do (and what to avoid) when writing the all important pitch email.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/pitching/

Do you sit for much of the day? Are you looking down at a phone, laptop, etc? It's not uncommon for creatives.

But why is Jenna Rainey talking about spinal health and posture?

Because I know that supporting our health is fundamental for everything we do.

Especially now, spending more times indoors, many people are sitting more than usual. That's why I wanted to share with you information from someone who has helped me a ton with my own pain and health—Bill DeMoss, DC of DeMoss Chiropractic in Southern California.

Dr. Bill is certified in chiropractic, spinal trauma and biophysics. He's super knowledgeable, not just about posture and spinal health but about immune health and cognitive health. His goal is to educate and empower people with an understanding of how the human body functions so that wise decisions can be made about their health and wellbeing.

Even if you don't go to a chiropractor or you've never been to a chiropractor, this episode gives you a glimpse into the world of chiropractic care and strategies to support your spinal health and your overall health.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/billdemoss/

Beating the feast or famine cycle in your business is key to growth and sustainability. What is the feast or famine cycle?

It's the lack of consistency in workflow that often happens with busy seasons and slow times.

Have you ever landed a new job to only start to neglect your sales, marketing, bookkeeping, IT projects, and nurture content...all because you had to focus on completing that new job?

This happened often to me, especially in the first 5 years of my business. I eventually learned how to find a balance and how to apply certain strategies to keep the workflow steady and consistent.

Because at the end of the day, we all want consistent income.

In this episode, I'm sharing with you the strategies I used myself to gain clarity, security, and stability in my business.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/feastandfamine/

The importance of curiosity and creativity has never been outlined more effectively than in my interview with Brit Morin. Have you ever been curious to try and learn a new creative skill?

If so, what's stopping you?

I have heard SO many people tell me, "I just wish I was creative." OR "I don't have a creative bone in my body!"

Well guess what? We are ALL creative. It's literally a part of our DNA! And since I know Brit Morin shares this same passion of igniting people's inner creative voice, I am super excited to have her on the show!

Brit Morin is the co-founder and CEO of Brit+Co—a lifestyle brand and online learning company. They provide content, products and experiences geared towards young women with a creative DIY spirit. Brit+Co has an engaged community of over 125 million women and over 200,000 online class enrollments.

Brit is also the author of the bestselling book Homemakers: A Domestic Handbook for the Digital Generation. She is a regular lifestyle expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Rachel Ray and more.

In this episode, we talk about Brit's experience in product development and marketing roles at Google and Apple and why she pivoted to create her own business (inspired by keyword research!).

What do I love most about Brit (besides her sweet personality)? She is always learning something new, staying curious, and staying creative.

Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/britmorin