Proof to Product
Episodes
359 | Strengthen Your Brand Identity with Kiwi Schloffel [Inside Look at our LABS Program]
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have all heard that we need to showcase our authentic selves for our businesses, but what does that actually mean? What does that look like in our ...
358 | Paper Camp Alumni Growth Stories
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are gearing up for our next round of Paper Camp and we are so excited! This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun ...
357 | The Most Important Sales Tool for Wholesale with Katie Hunt
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A wholesale catalog's purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can't be there with them in pe...
356 | Two Wholesale Metrics To Monitor with Katie Hunt
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's no "easy mode" in business. Selling physical products is a lot of work and being a product entrepreneur requires grit, tenacity, and courage. ...
355 | How Big Box Stores Buy Wholesale with Sally Diguette, Anthropologie
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pitching large retailers is a completely different process and timeline than working with independent retailers. Having worked with thousands of brand...
354 | Paper Camp Alumni Panel with Janine Kwoh, Jesse Regis, and Lucia Saisse Morris
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we have our eyes set on a specific business goal, something like selling wholesale, it is incredibly beneficial to hear from people who are a few...
353 | How to Apply for a Paper Camp Scholarship with Katie Hunt
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're listening today that means you're likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here a...
352 | 5 Myths About Selling Wholesale with Katie Hunt
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Selling wholesale can be a valuable and lucrative strategy for businesses of all sizes, but there are a few myths about the process that can discourag...
351 | Getting into Your Dream Store After Being Told No with Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It is so deflating when we put our work out into the world and either don't hear back or we're told that now isn't the right time. Our students feel t...
350 | How to Audit Your Product Line with Katie Hunt
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is short but very detailed, so find a quiet place to listen and grab a notebook. This is a quick training that I recorded for our LABS...
349 | Sales Rep Challenges & Opportunities with Keli Faw, Crow & Canary
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I love bringing a variety of perspectives and people from the retail space to this podcast. Buyers, sales reps, you name it, they've been on the Proof...
348 | Optimize Your Faire Shop with Kristin Fisher, Bocu
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to hear from someone who has more than 18 years of corporate retail buying experience and who knows what buyers are looking for when they ...
We're on Summer Break!
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Proof to Product team is practicing what we preach and we are going on summer break for the next two weeks! We will be back in your ears mid-July ...
347 | State of Product Industry Survey with Katie Hunt
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every day, I hear from product-based business owners who are curious about other people's business models, revenue streams, team structure, tech stack...
347 | State of Product Industry Survey with Katie Hunt
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every day, I hear from product-based business owners who are curious about other people's business models, revenue streams, team structure, tech stack...
346 | Tripling Revenue by Focusing on Wholesale with Rachel Kroh, Heartell Press
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if you lived in a different state than your business? Meaning, all of your products, your inventory, your team, and your operations were in a com...
345 | Redesigning Products to Create More Ease in the Business with Janine Kwoh, Kwohtations
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've been telling you a lot of stories here on the podcast about brands making big scary shifts in business, and part of the reason we're doing this ...
344 | Normalizing the Hard Stuff in Business with Tammie Bennett, Show Up Society
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Running a business sure is a roller coaster, isn't it? We have our ups and downs. We have to balance the future forecasting and envisioning while also...
343 | 5 Tips for Creating an Effective Wholesale Catalog with Katie Hunt
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A wholesale catalog's purpose is to sell your products, tell your story, and build a relationship with a buyer when you can't be there with them in pe...
342 | Replacing a 6-figure Revenue Stream with Ready-Made Products for Wholesale with Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wanted to make a transition in your business, but you resisted because the thing you wanted to move away from brought in the largest chu...
Bonus | State of Product Industry Survey
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are seeking 1,000 product-based business owners who are willing to anonymously share their details for the 2024 State of the Product Industry Repor...
341 | How Fashion Influences Her Product with Priyanka Batra, My Darlin'
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I love using the podcast to spotlight our different community members and their unique businesses and stories because we know that no two businesses a...
340 | How To Pitch Holiday Gift Guides with Nora Wolf, Wolf PR
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I know what you're thinking. Why are we talking about holiday gift guides when it's only spring? I know. But just like how product development cycles ...
339 | New Laws about Independent Contractor with Kira La Forgia, Paradigm Consulting
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you work with independent contractors in your business, you will want to listen closely to this podcast episode. In March 2024, the US Department o...
338 | Exiting and Acquiring a Business with Kiwi Schloffel & Meghan Hopkins Sokorai
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ever considered exiting your business or even acquiring another person's business, today's podcast episode is for you. My guests today are...
337 | Exclusivity and Ethics in Retail with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Measure Twice
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the things that sets Proof to Product apart from other people teaching about wholesale is the breadth and depth of not only my personal knowled...
336 | Utilizing Abandoned Cart Emails to Drive Sales with Katie Hunt
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that almost 70% of shoppers abandon their online shopping carts and don't follow through with a sale? That means that only 3 out of 10 ...
335 | In-Person Retail Markets with Emily Chiang, Danella McKinnon, and Kate Pinto
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our focus here at Proof to Product is teaching people how to successfully sell their products to the wholesale market. But many of our community membe...
334 | Expanding into 1,000 Stores with Brittany O'Brien, Brittany Paige
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The last time Brittany O'Brien was on the podcast was back in 2022, and we were talking about how she scaled her business to 500 wholesale accounts. E...
333 | Scaling without Employees with Beth Roszkowski, Tiny Hooray
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have shared many incredible business growth stories here on the Proof to Product podcast. One thing that I always try to emphasize is that business...
332 | Rebuilding Self-Trust and Confidence as a Business Owner with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 2)
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last week on episode 331, you met my friends Ginny and Elli from the Supported CEO. They very candidly shared their stories of experiencing burnout in...
331 | Back From Burnout with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 1)
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The topic of burnout is popping up a lot in my business circles. People are tired, and they are struggling with decision fatigue. Many people I talk t...
330 | How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Team with Tatiana O'Hara, T. O'Hara Consulting
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're looking for ways to be a stronger leader within your business or you're considering expanding your team, please block off some quiet time to...
329 | How These 9 Businesses Have Grown Since Attending Paper Camp
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are gearing up for the 43rd round of Paper Camp and we are so excited! This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun ...
328 | An inside look at what Paper Camp is like
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend our Paper Camp program? If so, today's episode is for you! I am sharing an inside peek into one of o...
327 | How to apply for a Paper Camp scholarship with Katie Hunt
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're listening today that means you're likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here a...
326 | The State of Trade Shows in 2024 with Katie Hunt
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I have been doing so much good content for other people and I'm doing my best to bring it back around so that you all have access to it and know about...
325 | How To Plan Out New Wholesale Product Releases With Divya Guruju, Mellowworks
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've been thinking a lot about how our past work experience and general lived experience shape how we start and build our businesses. For me, I spent ...
324 | New Year Business Checklist for Product Brands
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and relaxing holiday season. I enjoyed a lot of downtime with my family and also worked on a few things behin...
We're on winter break!
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast epi...
323 | 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Doing Monthly Wholesale Promotions
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot of noise on the internet. Lots of gurus, experts, and other people claim you have to do things a certain way in order to be successful....
322 | Navigating the Ups & Downs of Entrepreneurship with Katie Hunt
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey everyone! I was recently on Shirlee Fisher's podcast, The Tillage Podcast, where we talked about a variety of topics: how to navigate challenges ...
321 | Wholesale Trade Shows & Buying Patterns with Retailer, Audrey Woollen, Urbanic
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that wholesale buying patterns and in-person trade shows have shifted substantially over the last few years. Where buyers were once pla...
320 | The challenges of bringing a new product to life with Zeba Parkar, Treleaf
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The best products solve a problem or create an emotional connection. The ideas for these products stem from our own pain points or challenges as well ...
Happy Thanksgiving!
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast is taking a break this week so that our team can celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends. We will be back next week with an i...
319 | 2024 Market Trends For Product Based Businesses with Jessica Totillo Coster
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We recently did a two-part series on the State of Retail where I talked to two independent brick-and-mortar retail shop owners [episode 1] [episode 2]...
Shop small this holiday season!
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm popping in with a call to action and that is… I want you to shop small this holiday season. To make this as easy as possible for you, we'v...
318 | You need to be selling each and every day with Katie Hunt
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You know we like to keep things real with you here at Proof to Product and the truth is, there will be a lot of businesses that will close their doors...
317 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 2]
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the state of independent retail right now. If you missed last week's episode, I encourage you to ch...
316 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 1]
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last few months, I've had a lot of private conversations with store owners about the state of independent retail. They've confided in me abou...
315 | His candles (and your products) aren't for everyone with Jesse Regis, Virgins On Fire Candle Co
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are excited to host Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company and today, we talk to him about the evolution of his brand, the importance of ...
314 | Shopify Invests in Faire. What this means for you with Katie Hunt
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
News recently broke that Shopify was closing Handshake, its wholesale sales platform, and investing as a shareholder in Faire. Today's episode is brin...
313 | How To Integrate Inclusive Marketing Into Your Customer Experience With Sonia Thompson
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Making your customers feel like your product or service is tailored specifically for them is the key to inclusive marketing. Inclusive marketing exper...
312 | Expanding into Licensing with Betsy Garcia, Bloomwolf Studio
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Licensing is an excellent opportunity to extend the reach of your brand and expand your business offerings. But finding the right partnership can be t...
311 | 4000% Increase in Wholesale Orders this Year with Lauren te Velde of Paper Farm Press
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's podcast guest, Lauren te Velde Paper Farm Press, a woman-owned stationery and gift design shop in Kingsburg, CA, is a big fan of having a bran...
310 | What is a SKU and why do I need them? with Katie Hunt
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find yourself fresh in the wholesaling journey? Are you asking yourself whether you need stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers? And if you do, how d...
309 | Business Contentment Over Business Growth with Brigida Swanson, Yardia
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing business contentment over business growth can be a great reminder to all of us that there are seasons in business, and sometimes what we have...
308 | Benefits & Challenges of Running Two Brands with Stephanie Clarke, Dahlia Press
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If there's one constant in business, it's change. But making big shifts as an entrepreneur can be pretty daunting. After all, it's one thing to plan a...
307 | Elevate Your Sales with These Two Wholesale Metrics with Katie Hunt
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's no "easy mode" in business. Selling physical products is a lot of work and being a product entrepreneur requires grit, tenacity, and courage. ...
306 | Always learning, improving & evolving business with Jill Shephard, Ruff House Print Shop
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You have heard me say it before, and I'm gonna remind you again, strong businesses are built through slow, steady, intentional growth. Today's guest i...
305 | Hiring Family & Creating Boundaries in Your Business with Katie Hart, Odd Daughter Paper Co.
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are continuing our conversation with Katie Hart of Odd Daughter Paper Co. If you missed the first part of our conversation, head back and lis...
304 |You Can Be Successful with Wholesale without Trade Shows with Katie Hart, Odd Daughter Paper Co.
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, friend, you can be successful with wholesale without exhibiting at trade shows. This is a question that I frequently hear from our Paper Camp stu...
303 | What Retail Shops Look for When Buying Wholesale with Ginger Diaz, Feliz Modern & Rancho Diaz
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Opening a retail storefront is no joke. It's a whole lot of work and a completely different business model than selling products online or to the whol...
From the Archives | Scaling to 500 Wholesale Accounts with Brittany O'Brien, Brittany Paige
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Brittany O'Brien...
From the Archives | Scaling Wholesale with Beth Roszkowski & Tiffany Grimes
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we're on a short break for the summer, we're re-airing some of your favorite Proof to Product episodes, including this one with Beth Roszkowski ...
We're on Summer Break!
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a summer break! We will be back with a new podcast epi...
302 | Paid Advertising for E-Commerce Brands with Taylor Frame, Focus Funnels
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're gonna talk about paid advertising. I have spent years searching for someone that has extensive experience in the e-commerce space, and who...
301 | You Are Your Number One Resource with Michelle Angenent, 417 Press
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"You are your number one resource." This is a direct quote from today's guest, Michelle Angenent. Michelle is a Paper Camp alum, LABS member, and the ...
300 | Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I am incredibly proud to share our 300th episode of the Proof to Product podcast! It's just incredible to me that we started this show in May of 2017 ...
299 | Supply Chain Issues, Paper Shortages & What to Expect Going Forward with Ronnie Williams, DeFrance Printing
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Supply chain issues, paper shortages, production problems, shipping delays, and increased labor costs; these are just some of the issues that our comm...
298 | Why You Should Never Accept a $25 Wholesale Order with Katie Hunt
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I completely remember what it was like in the early days of selling wholesale. I felt like I was winging every single decision. I questioned everythin...
297 | Building a Handmade Food & Beverage Brand with Ashleigh Evans, InBooze
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just follow your instincts that seems to be the thread throughout today's podcast episode. Paper Camp alum, Ashleigh Evans of InBooze, joins me to tal...
296 | Live from *Noted and SF Now
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I recently spent the day with many of our Proof to Product students at the *Noted & SF Now trade show in San Francisco, CA. Seventy-four of our Proof ...
295 | Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Hobby that They Aren't Monetizing with Sam Kramer, Near Modern Disaster (Part 2)
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome part two of my interview with Sam Kramer of Near Modern Disaster! If you have not yet listened to part one, make sure to check out episode 29...
294 | 4 Things that Made the Biggest Impact in Her Business Growth with Sam Kramer, Near Modern Disaster (Part 1)
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You have heard me talk about this time and time again, but there is no singular pathway in business! Even though we may all be running physical produc...
293 | Turn Trade Show Leads into New Customers with Katie Hunt
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you're getting ready for upcoming trade shows, I want to share how you can create a simple, but effective way to turn your trade show leads (people...
292 | Task Management vs. Energy Management with Ashley Brown, Routines & Things
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all have big goals, dreams, and plans for our businesses. In order to meet those milestones, we need to take action. What do you do when you look a...
291 | Working through feelings of failure & coming out better on the other side with Alyssa Manoleas, Grey Street Paper
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many entrepreneurs are high achievers! We work hard. We go above and beyond. We care deeply about the work we do, whether it's for ourselves or for ot...
290 | The Pros and Cons of Using Your Personal Name for Your Product Business Name with Katie Hunt
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Think back to when you started your business. Was choosing a name an easy or difficult task for you? I'm terrible at naming things—particularly my...
289 | Product photos & video made easy with Rikin Diwan, soona studios
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Way back in 2008, when I had my stationery brand I purchased a light box off of Amazon, borrowed my sister's DSLR camera and spent hours reading photo...
288 | SMS & email marketing strategies with Arianne Foulks, Aeolidia
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Research has shown that you have about 8 seconds to capture people's attention when they come to your website. That's the average attention span for...
287 | Preparing Your Handmade Product Business for Economic Downturns with Jess Van Den, Create & Thrive
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does the economy have you worried? I know that the words inflation and recession have been hot topics in several small business groups that I'm in, an...
286 | Is it an accident or an intentional decision with Katie Hunt
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When I talk to people about their business, they often say they "fell into business" or became an "entrepreneur by accident." It's a common story, esp...
285 | Live from NY Now & Shoppe Object
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back from a whirlwind trip to New York where over 50 of our Paper Camp alumni were exhibiting at NY Now and Shoppe Object - two wholesale trade sh...
284 | 4 Common Wholesale Mistakes and How to Correct Them with Katie Hunt
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did you decide that it was time to start wholesaling for your business? This is one of my favorite questions to ask my coaching clients, our Paper...
283 | Monica Sharma-Patnekar, Business with Monica
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How well do you know your customers and I'm not talking just their demographics or their buying preferences; I'm talking about their lifestyle, their ...
282 | From Corporate Product Designer to Intentional Business Owner with Amy Frazer, Keller Design Co
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know that one of my mantras is that slow, steady growth is how strong businesses are built. ...
281 | 5 Myths about selling wholesale with Katie Hunt
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Selling wholesale can be a valuable and lucrative strategy for businesses of all sizes, but there are a few myths about the process that can discourag...
280 | Selling wholesale to Nordstrom, Anthropologie & REI with Lana Effron, Lana's Shop
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Don't you love hearing other people's business journeys? I sure do. Today I'm joined by Lana Effron of Lana's Shop. Lana is a Paper Camp alum and a ...
279 | Shopify Apps & Strategies with Erin Alexander, Product Powerhouse
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fun fact: Approximately 75% of our Proof to Product community sells their products through a Shopify site. One of the most commonly asked questions th...
278 | What's New in LABS in 2023! 🎉
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our labs program is getting a major upgrade for 2023 with more accountability, incredible trainings, in-person meetups, and a wider range of support f...
We're on Winter Break!
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast epi...
277 | Maximizing online sales on Amazon and Shopify with Grace Hayden | Shopify Simplified
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For those just starting out on their commerce journey, selecting a sales platform can sometimes be intimidating. Do they go with something like Amaz...
276 | Attracting customers, collaborations & partnerships with Kathy Cano-Murillo, Crafty Chica
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you casting a big enough vision for your brand and are you considering all of the different ways to attract new customers and diversify your reven...
275 | How to Improve Your Customer Journey with Jordan Kentris, A Good Day
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are your marketing & sales efforts focused on customer acquisition or customer retention? This quarter inside of Proof to Product LABS, we've been foc...
274 | Focusing on SEO led to over 600% growth in website visitors with Ashley Jankowski | The Typeset Co
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we allocate our time, money, energy and effort in specific areas of our business, we are guaranteed to see growth. For 2022, Ashley Jankowski o...
273 | How she found her overseas manufacturing partners with Ashley Jankowski, The Typeset Co
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Manufacturing partners aren't simple or easy to find, but it becomes even more complex when you're trying to manufacture complex products that are bes...
272 | Creating an entirely new product category with Kristina Schlegel, Make Bake
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a product idea that has never existed before? If so, you may be wondering what it takes to bring an entirely new product to market or how ...
271 | Reducing Overwhelm with Hiring & Delegating with Katie Hunt
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are the tasks and projects that you have going on in your business leaving you feeling overwhelmed? In today's episode, I'm sharing how to reduce that...
270 | Opening a Retail Store Front with Lisa DiVito, Tiramisu Paperie
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is a retail store an avenue you've been wanting to explore in your product-based business? Lisa DiVito of Tiramisu Paperie joins us today to share her...