Proof to Product
Ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts, Proof to Product is a trusted resource for sustainable business growth, especially for those who make and sell physical products. Host Katie Hunt shares weekly strategies and solutions to enhance sales and marketing, helping listeners build a business that supports their best life. The show covers topics like selling products wholesale to major retailers, hiring sales teams, and turning passion into profits. It serves as on-demand business school for product sellers across industries such as home decor, apparel, beauty, food and beverage, handmade items, jewelry, consumer gifts, and stationery.
Episodes
464 | How to Grow Repeat Customers Instead of Always Chasing New Ones with Elizabeth Rees, Chasing Paper
How do you decide what to make next, what to cut, and where to put your limited time and money? For Elizabeth Rees, founder of Chasing Paper, the answer has come from her customers for nearly 13 years. She shares how customer feedback shaped her product format, her materials, her wholesale approach, and her newest line, and why she checks every instinct against the data before acting on it.In this
Quick Hit: Should I Create My Own Gift Guide For the Upcoming Holidays?
I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You've got products to make, orders to ship, and about a hundred decisions that you're making every day. I do not take it lightly that you are spending time with me today and I want to thank you for being here. Today's episode is a short, focused, throwback episode designed to give you one thing that you can do today to move your business forward. No
463 | How NY NOW’s New Ownership is Reimagining the Experience For Brands and Buyers with Dorothy Belshaw
Dorothy Belshaw has spent more than three decades in the gift, home, and trade show industries. She's led some of North America's biggest markets—from NY NOW to Atlanta Mart, and Las Vegas Market.Earlier this year, Dorothy partnered with industry veterans William Lacey and Karen Olson to acquire NY NOW through Rockview Management Group and bring the iconic 100+ year-old show into its next chapter.
Quick Hit: Is My Business Serving Me What I Really Want?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a conversation with one of our incredible Proof to Product community members. I love sharing these conversations because building a product brand doesn't follow a single pathway. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy that works for everyone because no two businesses are the same. We learn so much by hearing how other people are making decisions, the ideas t
462 | The 5-Day Exercise That Sets Your #1 Business Priority Every Quarter with Katie Hunt
Most product-based business owners do their strategic planning late at night or in the car with ten spare minutes. Or they make a big list of everything that needs fixing and try to work on all of it at once. Either way, a few months go by and it's hard to tell whether the business is headed where you want it to go. In this episode, I walk you through a five-day exercise, about 30 minutes a day, t
Quick Hit: How Do I Decide What New Products to Add to My Line?
I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You've got products to make, orders to ship, and about a hundred decisions that you're making every day. I do not take it lightly that you are spending time with me today and I want to thank you for being here. Today's episode is a short, focused, throwback episode designed to give you one thing that you can do today to move your business forward. No
461 | How to Use Faire Without Paying Commission on Every Order with Katie Hunt
I've been having a lot of conversations lately, both private and public, about Faire. Some of you love the platform. Some of you hate it. And a lot of you are somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out your next move. Should I get on Faire? Should I get off? Should I let it run on cruise control?There's a lot of noise right now, and a lot of nuance to every situation. Here's the part that gets
Quick Hit: Do You Really Need to Know Everything Before You Start?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a conversation with one of our incredible Proof to Product community members. I love sharing these conversations because building a product brand doesn't follow a single pathway. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy that works for everyone because no two businesses are the same. We learn so much by hearing how other people are making decisions, the ideas t
460 | Building a Cohesive Product Line with Amita Nair, Amicreative
When you're deciding which products to add to your line, you probably think about sales data first. But that's only part of the story.Amita Nair has built Amicreative into a cohesive, intentional brand by making product decisions from four angles: financial performance, design aesthetic, what customers actually want, and whether the product fits her brand voice.In this episode, she walks through h
Quick Hit: How Can I Practice Self-Care During a Busy Work Season?
Over the years, we've had hundreds of conversations on this podcast about what it means to build a sustainable, profitable product brand. And some of those conversations are just too juicy. They're too good to live in the archives. Today, I'm bringing one back. What you're about to hear is a short clip from a past episode. It's a topic that has stuck with me and still feels very relevant today.The
459 | What Happens When You Build a Successful Business You No Longer Want to Run with Lisa Congdon
Today I'm talking with someone I've admired for a long time— artist, author, illustrator, and creative entrepreneur Lisa Congdon.Lisa has been building businesses around her art for nearly 20 years, and in this conversation we talk about something that I think a lot of established brand owners will relate to, and that's what happens when you've built a successful business but you realize it's no l
Quick Hit: How Do I Find My Unique Voice as an Artist When The World is Hard?
Over the years, we've had hundreds of conversations on this podcast about what it means to build a sustainable, profitable product brand. And some of those conversations are just too juicy. They're too good to live in the archives. Today, I'm bringing one back. What you're about to hear is a short clip from a past episode. It's a topic that has stuck with me and still feels very relevant today.The
458 | How to Build Multiple Revenue Streams in a Product Business with Melissa Hyatt with Melissa Hyatt
What happens when one client makes up 85% of your income, and then that client cancels the contract? For Melissa Hyatt, that moment became the reason she built a business with several ways to earn. Melissa shares her path from design director at Waverly Fabrics to running her own stationery and watercolor brand, and how a sketch on a piece of copy paper turned into a line of watercolor kits that h
Quick Hit: Should I Be Collaborating More in My Business?
Over the years, we've had hundreds of conversations on this podcast about what it means to build a sustainable, profitable product brand. And some of those conversations are just too juicy. They're too good to live in the archives. Today, I'm bringing one back. What you're about to hear is a short clip from a past episode. It's a topic that has stuck with me and still feels very relevant today.The
457 | The Cost of Not Doing Paper Camp with Katie Hunt
What did it cost you to not do Paper Camp last round?Not what it costs to join the program — we'll get to that. I'm talking about the other number. The invisible one.The wholesale orders you didn't land because your pricing wasn't dialed in. The reorders that never came through because you weren't sure how to follow up and you didn't know what to say, or when to send it. The stores that passed on
456 | 690 Wholesale Accounts and We Still Found Money Left on the Table, Case Study with Rachel O’Neill, Loftipop
Thirteen years in business. Nearly 700 wholesale accounts. And the biggest shift Rachel O'Neill of Loftipop made this year was admitting her wholesale business was being run like a D2C channel.If you started in direct-to-consumer and layered wholesale on top, this episode will feel familiar. Rachel came into Paper Camp with a thriving business at Loftipop and left with major enhancements: separate
455 | From 3 to 50 Wholesale Accounts With a Day Job and a New Baby, Case Study with Sherry Lam, Sherry's Palette
"My business is too young for this." If you've ever said that about wholesale, this episode is for you. Sherry Lam joined Paper Camp with fewer than 20 SKUs, a handful of inconsistent accounts, a full-time day job, and a brand-new baby — and decided that was exactly the right moment to build her wholesale foundation. She went from 3 shaky accounts to more than 50. This is her story, in her own wor
454 | From 75 to 125 Wholesale Accounts including Her First Key Accounts, Case Study with Charina Cabanayan, Orchid & Pine
You know that moment when your business starts asking more of you than your systems can deliver? A key account shows interest, your line is scaling, and you can feel the gap between where you are and what's coming. That's exactly where Charina Cabanayan was when she joined Paper Camp — 75 independent accounts, a sales rep group, and a growing pressed floral line at Orchid & Pine Studio. This e
Quick Hit: What Do I Do If My Wholesale Pitch Isn’t Working?
I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You've got products to make, orders to ship, and about a hundred decisions that you're making every day. I do not take it lightly that you are spending time with me today and I want to thank you for being here. Today's episode is a short, focused, throwback episode designed to give you one thing that you can do today to move your business forward. No
453 | 2026 Faire Summer Market Recap with Katie Hunt
Here it is, your long-awaited, highly anticipated Faire market recap for this summer season.I've been watching brands in our community have wildly different experiences during this Faire market, and I've also been studying a lot of what people outside of our community have experienced.Some walked away with 6-figure orders over 4 days, others didn't get a single order, and we're talking about the s
Quick Hit: What Does It Take to Get Into My Dream Store?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a previous conversation I had with one of our amazing Paper Camp students.I really love using this podcast to spotlight the incredible things that our students are doing because there is so much value in hearing how other product brands are navigating wholesale in real time. These episodes are also a great reminder that there is no singular path to success w
452 | Are You Leaving Money on the Table? with Katie Hunt
Today's episode is going to be a little bit of tough love, but it is all in an effort to help you run your business more profitably and with more ease. Over the years, I have watched so many incredibly talented, hardworking product sellers that are underselling themselves. They're undercharging and they're underestimating what their business is actually capable of. Today, we're going to talk about
Quick Hit: Why Are Systems So Important to Wholesale Success?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a previous conversation I had with one of our amazing Paper Camp students.I really love using this podcast to spotlight the incredible things that our students are doing because there is so much value in hearing how other product brands are navigating wholesale in real time. These episodes are also a great reminder that there is no singular path to success w
451 | Listening to Customers Without Letting Every Opinion Dictate your Direction with Kirstie Lee, A Jar of Pickles
Today's conversation is all about growing your business intentionally, experimenting with new ideas, and building a brand that evolves alongside you. Today's guest is Kirstie Lee, the founder of A Jar of Pickles, a product company that creates playful gifts and accessories that celebrate Asian appetites. Kirstie's been in business for 12 years, starting as an Etsy hobby while she was in college, a
Quick Hit: Does Cold Mailing Your Products to Retailers Work?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a previous conversation I had with one of our amazing Paper Camp students.I really love using this podcast to spotlight the incredible things that our students are doing because there is so much value in hearing how other product brands are navigating wholesale in real time. These episodes are also a great reminder that there is no singular path to success w
450 | When Your Business Outgrows Its Space: Navigating Storage & Warehouse Options with Samantha Rubenstein, WareSpace & Jodi Kostelnik, The Neighborgoods
Today's conversation is for anyone who has ever looked around their home, their studio, or their storage unit and thought: “we officially have too much inventory and we are running out of space.” Today we're talking about what happens when your business starts to outgrow your space and how to know when it might be time to make a move. Whether you're currently packing orders from your dining room t
Quick Hit: What Are Some of the Biggest Benefits of Exhibiting at Trade Shows?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revis
449 | How to Get Wholesale Reorders From Retailers You Already Have with Katie Hunt
You have retailers sitting in your order history who bought from you six months ago and haven't heard from you since. Not because they were unhappy — because nobody followed up. Meanwhile you're on Instagram, tweaking your Faire shop, chasing people who've never bought anything. In this episode I make the case for rebalancing, and I give you three places to start.In this episode, you'll learn:Why
Quick Hit: What Makes a Retailer Say No to Buying Your Product?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a previous conversation I had with one of our amazing Paper Camp students.I really love using this podcast to spotlight the incredible things that our students are doing because there is so much value in hearing how other product brands are navigating wholesale in real time. These episodes are also a great reminder that there is no singular path to success w
448 | How Many SKUs Should You Have with Katie Hunt
Today I want to talk about SKU numbers because a question that I often get asked is how many SKUs should I have before I start selling wholesale? Unfortunately, the answer is it depends. Which I know you all want like a solid number and we do give some solid recommendations and guidance for like how much we want you to have in Paper Camp and also how many you should have before you start exhibitin
We're on Summer Break!
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 soon and we are so excited about our upcoming episodes!In the meantime, we are gearing up for another round of our Paper Camp program which will start soon. We only run Paper Camp twice a year, so if you are wanting to learn how to start with wholesale, click
Quick Hit: What Does Your Brand Story Have to Do With Wholesale Success?
Today's episode is a short excerpt from a previous conversation I had with one of our amazing Paper Camp students.I really love using this podcast to spotlight the incredible things that our students are doing because there is so much value in hearing how other product brands are navigating wholesale in real time. These episodes are also a great reminder that there is no singular path to success w
447 | Embracing Change in Business & What It’s Like to Close Your Retail Shop with Audrey Woollen, Urbanic
This week I'm sitting down with returning guest Audrey Woollen of Urbanic and we're talking about navigating a huge business transition. About a year ago, Audrey decided to close her retail shop and we'll talk about that today. Audrey opens up about the difficult decision it was to close after being open for nearly two decades. We talk about the challenges and emotions of stepping away from someth
Quick Hit: What Should I Do When I’m Not Motivated To Finish The Tasks I Need To Finish?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revis
446 | How To Have a Successful First Wholesale Trade Show with Karen Sawyer-Meehan, Pier Six Press
Today's episode is a really practical conversation for anyone that is preparing for wholesale trade shows, especially if you're newer to exhibiting or you're trying to decide whether trade shows are the right next step for your business. I'm joined by Karen Sawyer-Meehan of Pier Six Press. She is a longtime Proof to Product client, a seasoned trade show exhibitor, and also one of the co-chairs of
Quick Hit: Is Selling Wholesale Only For Large, Established Businesses?
I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You've got products to make, orders to ship, and about a hundred decisions that you're making every day.I do not take it lightly that you are spending time with me today and I want to thank you for being here.Today's episode is a short, focused, throwback episode designed to give you one thing that you can do today to move your business forward.No flu
445 | What Indie Retailers Want in Their Stores Right Now with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Measure Twice
Today I'm joined by my friend Kimberley Yurkiewicz, owner of Measure Twice, an independent gift shop in Brooklyn, New York. Kimberley has worn a lot of hats in the consumer gift industry. Over the years, she worked retail managing large gift shops. She had a successful career as a sales rep. She worked closely with brands behind the scenes, mentoring them as they made decisions about their product
Quick Hit: How Can I Gain a More Holistic Understanding of What My DTC & Wholesale Customers Want?
Over the years, we've had hundreds of conversations on this podcast about what it means to build a sustainable, profitable product brand. And some of those conversations are just too juicy. They're too good to live in the archives. Today, I'm bringing one back. What you're about to hear is a short clip from a past episode. It's a topic that has stuck with me and still feels very relevant today.The
444 | Don't Call It Art with Austin Kleon
Today I am joined by best selling author Austin Kleon, the author of Steal like an Artist, Show Your Work, Keep Going, and his newest book, Don't Call It Art. This conversation feels timely because I've been hearing from so many people lately who are just feeling creatively exhausted. They've built businesses around something that they once loved making, but somewhere along the way the creativity
Quick Hit: How Do I Differentiate My Products from Everyone Else?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revis
![4 Ways To Increase Your Product Profit Margins with Katie Hunt [Replay]](https://artwork.captivate.fm/532fd595-cc7e-468a-934d-7c9f674a294a/Proof-to-Product-square-album-art-3000x3000px.jpg)
4 Ways To Increase Your Product Profit Margins with Katie Hunt [Replay]
Hey, friend. I'm pulling an amazing episode from the archives with over 440 episodes here on the Proof to Product podcast.There is a gold mine of information for you to help you grow your business, and, frankly, it can be hard to take it all in.Today's episode is a look back at a solo episode about how to increase your product profit margins. This episode is important now more than ever with infla
Quick Hit: Do I Really Need Wholesale Terms & Conditions?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing.And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revisi
443 | How to Confidently Raise Your Prices with Katie Hunt
Today we are diving into a topic that I know makes some of you really uncomfortable, but I need you to lean in and listen because this conversation is not only timely, but it is necessary. And honestly, it may save your business.We're talking about raising your prices. Now, before you convince yourself that this does not apply to you, I want to share a story that I came across from a restaurant ow
Quick Hit: Where Can I Find Grants to Help Fund My Business?
Over the years, we've had hundreds of conversations on this podcast about what it means to build a sustainable, profitable product brand and some of those conversations are just too juicy.They're too good to live in the archives. So today, I'm bringing one back.What you're about to hear is a short clip from a past episode. It's a topic that has stuck with me and still feels very relevant today.You
442 | How Kitsch, Boxfox, and Postable Are Segmenting Their Email Lists with Katie Hunt
Today's episode is pulled directly from a case study that I wrote and shared inside of our LABS community.The case study is about email segmentation. This is a really good example of the kinds of conversations we're having inside of LABS every single day.We of course talk about sales strategies, cash flow, and marketing systems, but we're also looking at real world examples from brands within our
Quick Hit: How Can I SEO Optimize My Products on Faire?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing.And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revisi
441 | How To Protect Your Work as an Artist with Daniel Lachman, Justice for Artists
This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Daniel Lachman, founder of Justice for Artists.Daniel is an artist and a longtime Etsy seller who has dealt with his fair share of creative work being copied, and instead of just being frustrated by it, he has built an entire platform to help other creatives protect what they've created.During the episode, we get into the realities of art theft in today's di
Quick Hit: Is Following Up When You Don’t Hear Back Annoying?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing.And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revisi
440 | How to Stop Second Guessing Yourself with Tammie Bennett
Today's episode is for anyone who has been feeling stuck lately, overthinking decisions, second guessing yourself, or just not taking action the way you want to be taking action.If I'm being honest, this is something that I'm seeing more and more right now. The world feels heavy, things feel uncertain, the economy is soft, and that's causing a lot of business owners to hesitate, not move at all, o
Quick Hit: Do I Need An Email List When I Mainly Communicate via Faire
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revi
439 | Lessons Learned from 25 Trade Shows in 4 Years with Andrew Fegler, That's So Andrew
This week I'm chatting with Paper Camp alum Andrew Fegler, the founder of That's So Andrew.Andrew has a really interesting pathway into the stationery world. He started selling cupcakes in high school. He later built a home decor business and eventually pivoted into stationery during COVID when he realized that he wanted his work to feel more meaningful and aligned with who he is.We dive deep into
Quick Hit: Do Your Customers Need to See Your Products In Person?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revi
438 | How To Decide What Trade Shows To Do With Karen Sawyer-Meehan & Alyson O'Connor
We just wrapped up our 47th round of Paper Camp a few weeks ago, and I am still riding high from working with this cohort.It's an intense four weeks, for me, for our coaches, for our students. But so much progress happens in a short amount of time. I love hearing about their light bulb moments, their clarity, answering their questions, and there's so much forward momentum that comes.One thing that
Quick Hit: Do Your Products Need to Be Cohesive?
One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revi
437 | Why In-Person Retail Markets Still Matter & How To Make The Most of Them with Lib Ramos & Jessie Tyree Jenness
Today's conversation is a really good one, especially if craft shows, retail markets, or in-person events are on your radar for this year. The market is shifting, fees to exhibit are higher, competition to apply and get into shows is stronger, and buyers are showing up differently than they did even a few years ago.At the same time, I keep seeing how valuable it is to get offline and to connect wi
436 | Turning Visibility Into Sales with Kaila Uli, The Bok Agency
This week I'm joined by content strategist Kaila Uli. If you're trying to get more visibility for your product brand online and actually turn that visibility into sales, you are going to love this conversation.I originally started following Kaila on social media because her videos kept popping up on my feed and every single one of them was packed with just practical, no-nonsense advice specificall
435 | Follow Your Art with Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo, Goodtype
This week I am joined by Ilana Griffo and Katie Johnson, the founders of Goodtype and the authors of the new book Follow Your Art.If you're not familiar with Goodtype, it started as a platform celebrating lettering artists and creatives around the world. Over time, it's grown into a community that encourages artists to develop their voice, share their work, and support one another in their creativ
434 | Navigating Pinterest's AI Changes & Tips for E-commerce Brands with Heather Farris, Heather Farris Co
This week I'm welcoming back Pinterest marketing expert Heather Farris to the podcast for a conversation about what's really happening on Pinterest right now, especially if you sell physical products.Heather first joined me back on episode 385 where she shared some incredibly practical strategies for product-based brands that are using Pinterest to drive traffic and sales.A lot has changed since t
![Creating Products That People Actually Want to Buy with Biff Ulm, Nice Enough Stickers [Replay]](https://artwork.captivate.fm/1361e2af-811d-4bb0-aa9c-83baa6bfef43/proof-to-product-square-album-art.png)
Creating Products That People Actually Want to Buy with Biff Ulm, Nice Enough Stickers [Replay]
Hey, friend. I'm pulling an amazing episode from the archives with over 430 episodes here on the Proof to Product podcast. There is a gold mine of information for you to help you grow your business, and, frankly, it can be hard to take it all in. Today's episode is a look back at an interview I did with Biff Ulm of Nice Enough Stickers who I recently hosted a Paper Camp call with last week. Durin
![This is Strategy with Seth Godin [Replay]](https://artwork.captivate.fm/d80b7a5d-dccc-445f-ab11-a0c648206682/proof-to-product-square-album-art.png)
This is Strategy with Seth Godin [Replay]
Hey, friend. I'm pulling an amazing episode from the archives with over 430 episodes here on the Proof to Product podcast. There is a gold mine of information for you to help you grow your business, and, frankly, it can be hard to take it all in. Today's episode is a look back at an interview I did with Seth Godin who needs no introduction, but it would be a complete disservice to not share all of
433 | How to Navigate the Seasonality of Retail with Angie Chua, bobo design studio
Hiring can feel like a huge big leap. It's expensive. It's vulnerable to let other people into your business. And if you've been doing everything yourself, it can also feel maybe unnecessary.But what if building a team isn't a risk? It's actually a smart move for stabilizing and scaling your business. That's what we're digging into today with Angie Chua of bobo design studio and bobo Palm Springs.
432 | From 75 to 400+ Wholesale Accounts in 3 Years, Case Study with Ashleigh Evans, InBooze
Today, I want to share one last case study with you featuring one of our Paper Camp alums, Ashleigh Evans of InBooze.I hope you've enjoyed this series. If you haven't listened, check out the last 3 great stories of founders in our community doing really cool things, links to those below. What I love about this is showcasing how each has done it in their own way and at their own pace.Today's episod
431 | Growing Wholesale Orders by 400% in Just 5 Months, Case Study with Brianna Reagan, Brianna Reagan Creates
Today I'm sharing another Paper Camp case study, and I'm especially excited about this one because it is from a recent Paper Camp student.Brianna Reagan of Brianna Reagan Creates just went through Paper Camp in August of 2025, so it's only been about 6 months since she's participated in our program, and she has seen some incredible results. She took what she learned, put it into action, and she is
430 | From One-Off Orders to Predictable Wholesale Sales, Case Study with Taylor Carroll, The Stray Shop
I'm back sharing another case study with you featuring one of our Paper Camp alum, Taylor Carroll of The Stray Shop.Before we dive in, I wanted to remind you about the free workshop that I'm hosting on February 18th at 10:30am Pacific Time.This wholesale buying season has been really eye-opening. I've been in this industry for 17 years and I've worked with tens of thousands of brands. I've seen a
429 | Fix the Wholesale Foundation Before You Scale, Case Study with Zeba Parkar, Treleaf
Today I want to share a case study with you featuring one of our Paper Camp alum, Zeba Parkar of Treleaf.Before we dive in, I wanted to tell you about a free workshop that I'm hosting on February 18th at 10:30am Pacific Time.This wholesale buying season has been really eye-opening. I've been in this industry for 17 years and I've worked with tens of thousands of brands. I've seen a lot of the same
428 | How She Added 200 New Stores in 2.5 Years with Lesa Muehlstein, Birdie Mae Designs
Our Paper Camp alumni are doing incredible things and growing their wholesale businesses in a very intentional and meaningful way. Today's guest is Lesa Muehlstein from Birdie Mae Designs, and she is no exception.I've been keeping tabs on Lesa's progress ever since she attended Paper Camp in early 2022.Lesa added 200 new stores within 2.5 years of attending Paper Camp, and as she will share today,
427 | Nurturing Relationships with Key Accounts & Independent Retailers with Kate Murray, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress
One of my favorite things to do is to shout out our student wins and community wins from the rooftops. And part of that is also bringing people back to share their story.Today's episode is with my friend Kate Murray of Quick Brown Fox Letterpress. She is back on the podcast to share where she's at now and all the new things that are happening in her business. Last time Kate and I talked here publ
426 | Amazon is Listing Brands' Products Without Consent, Angie Chua, bobo design studio
You may have seen on social media that Amazon recently scrapped dozens of small business e-commerce websites and added people's products to the Amazon Buy for Me platform. This is a new platform that Amazon rolled out and they did this without consent from the brands.Now, as you can imagine, this has created a lot of outrage from small businesses that sell online and who intentionally chose not to
425 | How Doing Trade Shows Landed Her Artwork in Target & HomeGoods with Isabella Montano Ghazarians, Isabella MG
Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Isabella Montano Ghazarians, the founder of Isabella MG. Isabella MG is a Latina-owned stationery brand known for its cheerful, light-hearted cards and cositas, that's Spanish for little things.One of the things I really enjoy about Isabella's work is how naturally she weaves her culture into her products, creating designs that are both in English and Spanish
424 | The Reality of Juggling Multiple Business Models with Stephanie Clarke, Dahlia Press
This week on the podcast, we have my friend and Paper Camp alum Stephanie Clarke of Dahlia Press and Chloe Clarke Paper. Stephanie has been on the show a few times, sharing how she started her business and different pivots along the way (episode 021, episode 160, and episode 308). But today, we are discussing where she's at now, including the complexities of running two sister businesses.She has
We're on winter break!
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 episode on Tuesday, January 6, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're gone, be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 420+ incredible episodes to help you strengthen your business. Have a great two weeks and I will se
423 | Indie Retail Update: Trends, Challenges & How Buyers Are Adapting with Jen Palacio, Tiny Turns Paperie
Today's episode is a look at what is going on with independent retail shops right now.I sat down with my friend Jen from Tiny Turns Paperie. She's one of our Paper Camp speakers and a longtime advocate for small businesses.We talk honestly about some of the hardships that shop owners have been facing during 2025: everything from operational curveballs to tariffs and other things that have impacted
422 | How Athletic Brewing Doubled Subscriptions — And How You Can Apply It with Katie Hunt
Today, I'm sharing a case study and an analysis that I originally shared with our LABS members.The reason I'm doing this is, one of the most valuable things that we can do as a product-based business owner is look outside of our industry for inspiration, ideas, and new ways of thinking about our own business.When we study how other industries structure their revenue models, how they build communit
421 | End-of-Year Financial Planning for Product Business Owners with Mary Beth Storjohann, Allora Wealth
On today's episode, we are digging into the financial side of running a creative product business and I've invited someone that I deeply trust with both my personal and business finances.It's Mary Beth Storjohann from Allora Wealth. Mary Beth and I have worked together since 2016 and she has guided my husband and I through everything from financial planning for the family to long-term business str
420 | Communicating Your Holiday Shipping Deadlines with Katie Hunt
I know you are deep in preparation for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Q4 holiday sales season. So I want to make this a real quick episode, but I want to make it tactical and actionable for you.I want to talk about setting your holiday shipping deadline and where you should be updating your website to reflect the shipping deadlines. This is something we're talking about in depth in our LABS p
419 | How To Create Your Own Gift Guide and Boost Holiday Sales with Katie Hunt
One of the things we've been talking about in our LABS program is Q4 sales strategies because we are heading into the holiday season which as you know, is one of the busiest times of year for product-based business owners.Today, I want to talk about one really powerful marketing strategy that often gets overlooked, but it's a good way to help drive sales for Q4.That strategy is being your own gift
418 | Expanding into Tabletop Products with Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love
Friends, you know that I am all about simplifying and systematizing your business, but I'm also about taking risks and experimenting within your business.When we run these experiments, sometimes we have to adjust our thinking and our normal processes to make it happen.That's what we're talking about today: taking risks, experimenting, and releasing a new product category during an off-cycle season
417 | 8 Ways to Prepare for the Holiday Sales Season Now with Katie Hunt
Today, we're talking about getting your website ready for the biggest sales season of the year Q4.I know this time of year can feel super hectic. Between prepping for holiday markets and promotions, fulfilling orders, and managing inventory, the last thing you want to do is lose sales because of a preventable website issue or overlooking something that you hadn't really been paying attention to. S
416 | 2025 Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales Strategies with Jessica Totillo Coster, eCommerce Badassery
According to Experian, Black Friday 2025 spending in the US is predicted to reach over $12 billion in online sales alone, and global spending is forecasted to be between $80 and $82 billion.That's a lot of money.Despite consumer caution and economic pressures here in the United States, this represents an 8 to 10% increase over last year. 2024's Black Friday buying season totaled almost $11 billion
415 | Wholesale vs DTC: Why These Are Different Business Models with Katie Hunt
I'm going to give a little tough love: some of you are new to selling wholesale, and it shows. I am seeing a lot of people using direct-to-consumer strategies when they're launching their wholesale program and then feeling frustrated when the orders don't come in.Here's the thing: it's not your products that aren't a great fit for them, and you're not doing anything wrong.It's that wholesale and r
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