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What is something you wish you could tell your wholesaler?

In this episode, I talk about all the things retailers want the brands they work with to know.

As a wholesaler, it’s your job to build a long-term relationship with your retailers.

Wholesalers: get out your pens and papers to take some notes!

I discuss all of the following:

00:30 My background in retail

02:35 16 things retailers want you to know

22:54 What you can do as a retailer

23:11 Offering an experience

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

Being surrounded by some amazing speakers and panellists last week in Orange County at the Ultimate Product Party I wanted to share some takeaways.
The takeaways cover various topics such as selling the problem you solve, adding storytelling elements to your business, exploring TikTok Shop, utilizing AI, understanding your value, optimizing your website's product page, saving time with phone widgets and tech shortcuts, balancing customer attraction and retention, adding customer experience to your business, and implementing tests in the hiring process.

These are just a few of pieces of valuable information I gained from attending as speaking at the event.

I can't wait to have some more guests on the podcast to discuss some of these topics in greater detail.

Takeaways

• Sell the problem you solve, not the product you have.
• Add storytelling elements to your business.
• Explore TikTok Shop as a potential marketing platform.
• Utilize AI to streamline processes and save time.
• Understand your value and confidently communicate it.
• Optimize your website's product page with multiple photos and reviews.
• Save time with phone widgets and tech shortcuts.
• Balance customer attraction and retention efforts.
• Add a customer experience element to your business.
• Implement tests in the hiring process to find A players.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever wanted to start a product business?

But you aren’t sure you’re ready for the business risks or potential copycats?

In this episode, I bring on Nareen Holloway to discuss her journey of creating Marmoset Found.

Nareen has experienced it all - From marketing to stock to work/life balance to copycats.

Tune into this episode to hear us discuss the following:

00:53 Who is Nareen Holloway and what is Marmoset Found?

06:38 Taking risks with your business

08:09 Managing stock and stockists

11:32 Using imagery for product businesses

13:40 Marmoset Found’s team members

16:16 Using photoshoots for marketing

20:13 What is the hardest part of business for Nareen?

25:34 Would Nareen do anything differently with her business?

30:50 Dealing with copycats

33:29 Where does Nareen get her inspiration from?

35:07 What advice does Nareen have for anyone starting out?

37:05 Why wholesale and how can you support wholesalers?

Connect with Marmoset Found on Instagram.

Shop all things homeware at the Marmoset Found website.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

What would you do if your factory closed down overnight? How would you cope?  

Megan from Second Scout is a guest on the podcast today and generously shares her journey and  some of the ups and downs of having a product-based business.

Last year, Megan went through a major down and we discuss how she was able to come back from it better than ever.

If you ever start a product business, a good rule of thumb is to always be prepared. You never know when a stockist is going to pull away, a factory will shut down, or the market will shift.

Listen to this week's episode to learn all about Megan and how she has created a product for kids that actually helps out adults too!

We discuss the following:

01:06 What is Second Scout?

12:09 Second Scout’s supply chain issues

19:57 Balance with retail and wholesale

22:49 Advice for anyone starting out 

27:54 Megan’s experience with marketing

35:44 What new products are coming to Second Scout?

Shop all things Second Scout here.

Follow Second Scout on Instagram here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

Kip&Co is an Australian Lifestyle brand that never stops evolving.

From the early days of the croc print bed linen (anyone have that print?) to developing beautiful womens and kids apparel, lighting, pet accessories, tableware and so much more. 

If you have ever wanted to build your own brand or you are doing so right now then  this is a must listen.

I spoke with Alex McCabe about how she and her two business partners  (sisters) Hayley and Kate built Kip&Co from the ground up.

Alex explains how much hard work it took to get Kip&Co where it is today and what they’re looking forward to in 2024.

Kip&Co has mastered the balance between wholesale and retail by dedicating separate teams to each channel. Alex highlighted the importance of transparency and communication with stockists, ensuring a unified approach to sales and distribution.
 
For those starting or looking to grow their brand, Alex's advice is simple: just get started. Don't wait for perfection; instead, be realistic about your financial situation and give your brand the time it needs to flourish. Enjoy the process, and don't be afraid to adapt and evolve.

Alex and I discuss all of the following:

00:35 The brains behind Kip&Co

07:56 What is outsourced at Kip&Co?

09:18 How Kip&Co sources their products and materials

13:34 Determining how much to order

16:58 Organizing wholesale vs retail

18:26 Kip&Co’s stockists

20:49 How Kip&Co achieved growth with branding

25:41 What collaborations do for a brand like Kip&Co

28:38 Alex’s advice for anyone looking to start a lifestyle brand

Shop all things lifestyle at Kip&Co here.

Follow Kip&Co on Instagram here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

Email marketing is a huge game changer for any business, especially product-based businesses.

Think about all the times you’ve gotten an email from Target or Amazon. Did that prompt you to buy something from their site or at least think about it more?

Today, I share the best email marketing strategy with you for product-based businesses. This will help you make sure you’re not only selling your products but also ensuring a positive customer experience.

I discuss all of the following:

01:13 What is email marketing?

03:37 Welcome sequence

04:50 Abandon cart emails

06:55 Browser abandonment emails

08:15 Post-purchase emails

09:27 Forever sequence

Listen to the welcome sequence episode on thelotco business podcast

Read for more email marketing stats

To get access to my Nail Your Email Marketing course click here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

Bumping in and bumping out of markets is A LOT of work.

Besides the sales and the sore feet you get, what else is a reason to attend a market?

We all know it can be great for brand awareness, exposure for your brand and products, a great way to build your mailing list and for customers to see products in real life (IRL) as well to touch and feel them.

Today I sharing 5 More Unexpected Perks of Attending Markets that may make you stop and reconsider the cost vs true value of your next market.

To get access to my FREE training on Maximising you next Market head here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

How are you sabotaging yourself?

Do you even realise you are doing it?

Money Mindset some of those topics that you might not even be aware of...BUT once you are, you start to notice little things in your daily life that you may need to work on to help improve the way you deal with money, how you are potentially self sabotaging yourself from earning more or holding your business back because of fears.

Are there things that trigger you that maybe you need to reviewing and trying to figure out why?

What thoughts are you having and telling the universe and therefore what are you getting back because of this!

Carla from @moneymindsethub and I explore what it means to work on your Money Mindset and some tactics to focus on to improve it today. 

The parable not fable about Good luck Bad luck is here.
 
The book mentioned The Surrender Experiment

Quote from Carla- "If you can begin to become the observer of your thoughts that wil change the trajectory of your life".
   
Take the quiz here.  

Money amplifies your authentic self & who you were born to be, so claim it.
In this episode of thelotco Business Podcast, I interview Carla Townsend, a money mindset and success coach. We explore the challenges female entrepreneurs face with money blocks and self-imposed limitations. Carla emphasises the importance of addressing one's mindset, behaviours, and societal conditioning around money. We discuss overcoming fear, the power of language in shaping beliefs, and the impact of upbringing on risk-taking. Carla shares a personal story, underscoring the role of perception in life events. The episode also covers the balance between persistence and pivoting, finding joy in work, and the significance of authenticity.

Money Mindset and Entrepreneurship (00:00:04) Melissa introduces Carla Townsend and they discuss the importance of overcoming money blocks and self-imposed limitations for female entrepreneurs.

Impact of In-Person Connections (00:01:07) Melissa and Carla discuss the impact of in-person connections and the importance of meeting and connecting with others in business.

Helping Female Entrepreneurs (00:02:57) Carla explains her role as a money mindset and success coach, helping female entrepreneurs overcome money blocks and monetize their genius online.

Understanding Money Mindset (00:04:02) Carla delves into the attitudes, opinions, and behaviors around money, and the societal and self-worth aspects attached to it.

Pricing and Self-Value (00:05:55) The discussion revolves around pricing strategies, self-value, and the subjective nature of money, as well as the importance of understanding one's own behaviors and patterns.

Behaviors and Money Habits (00:07:48) Carla highlights the importance of recognizing and changing behaviors related to money, such as underpricing, discounting, and seeking validation.

Spending and Money Planning (00:10:35) The conversation covers overspending, emotional spending, and the necessity of having a money plan for business success.

Investing in Progress (00:13:19) The discussion focuses on the fear of investing in oneself and the value of time versus money in decision-making for business growth.

Self-Imposed Limitations (00:16:14) Carla discusses self-imposed limitations, such as the fear of outearning family members, and the impact of personal relationships on entrepreneurial success.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

As a former buyer for my own Retail store I got to meet some amazing brand owners and see some absolutely stunning collections each and every season. Walking into the most amazing French inspired trade event 12 years ago (Mama and Papa) I spotted a beautiful collection of girls dresses, sequins, tulle and embroidery from the brand Bella and Lace.   Now anyone who knows me will know I flocked to those gold stars and sequins pretty fast. 
I got to meet Kate, the owner and designer of a brand new Brisbane children's fashion brand called Bella and Lace.  That was it- I ordered the range for my store and continued to do so until sold it a number of years later. 
Kate and I have been catching up at trade events ever since.  Part of my conversations with brands long after I had sold my store was where the foray into consulting started.  I would be offering tips and guidance for them to grow and how to sell DTC or Wholesale and what the latest Instagram marketing tips were (at the time). 
Kate has been a friend and client now for many years.  And having insight into her brand and how amazing and gorgeous it is I knew I wanted to get her to share her story. 

Welcome to the enchanting world of Bella & Lace, a whimsical brand of children's clothing and accessories that captures the magic and wonder of childhood.  
Kate sells the brand around the world and wholesale is her main revenue stream.  She is a multi 6 figure company and has continued to evolve and grow and adpat t market conditions. 

Passion and using your skill set are key in starting and growing a brand.

• Adapting and evolving with the industry is crucial for long-term success.
• Wholesale is an important channel for reaching customers and growing sales..
• Building relationships and showing longevity are important in the wholesale industry. Building relationships with agents and retailers can make entry into stores easier.
• Persistence and consistently showing up are key to success in business.
• Trade shows can provide valuable brand exposure.
• Understanding landed price and shipping times is crucial for exporting brands.
• Product testing and compliance can be challenging, especially for certain types of products.
• Having a strong team is essential for running a successful business.
• Focus on sales and invest in the right areas from the start.
• Adaptability and constant evaluation are important for business growth.
• Long-term customer relationships are valuable for business sustainability.
• Resilience and passion are necessary qualities for entrepreneurship.
• Celebrate the journey and milestones in business.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us Fan Mail

VM (visual merchandising) is a real combination of art and science.
It can't just be beautiful. It has to work to sell your products also!
I spend a lot of time in Retail stores and after nearly 40 years working in it (yes i started dery early!). I have picked up a thing or two!
In this episode I dive into 10 common mistakes Retailers (bricks and mortar physical stores and at markets and pop ups too) make that can be tweaked and changed to help you boost sales and provide alternative strategies.
Some of the mistakes include positioning items too low, not pricing all products, not allowing movement through the store, not having enough stock, lack of visuals, ineffective signage, neglecting store cleanliness, staff not understanding customers, underutilizing the checkout counter and change rooms, and underutilizing the window. By addressing these mistakes, retailers can improve their VM and increase sales.

Want more?  Check out thelotco.com.au blog for more stories and imagery to go hand in hand with this content. 
 
Time stamp.
00:00
Introduction

00:57
Mistake 1: Positioning things too low

 03.23
Mistake 2: Not pricing your products

 07:32
Mistake 3: Not allowing movement through the store

09:26
Mistake 4: Not having enough stock

11:54
Mistake 5: Lack of visuals

14:39
Mistake 6: Ineffective signage

16:34
Mistake 7: Neglecting store cleanliness

20:35
Mistake 9: Underutilizing checkout counter and change rooms

23:43
Mistake 10: Underutilizing the window

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from  @thelotco

Join my Skool Group here: https://www.skool.com/product-business-growth-club/about

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product?  Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.