Proof to Product

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.These throwback episodes are intentionally short and to the point because sometimes you don't need a full deep dive.All right, let's...

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 longer the business you want to run.Lisa recently made the decision to close her retail business after 20 years, not because it was failing, but because she wanted more time an...

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.These throwback episodes are intentionally short and to the point because sometimes you don't need a full deep dive.All right, let's...

Today's conversation is about building a business that truly evolves alongside your life and also having the courage to reinvent yourself more than once along the way. I'm joined by one of my clients, Melissa Hyatt. She is an artist, a surface pattern designer, and an entrepreneur.Before launching her own product brand, Melissa spent more than 2 decades designing textiles, wallpaper, home decor, and licensed products for major brands in New York. She eventually served as the design director for Waverly Fabrics. Today, she brings all of that industry experience and knowledge into...

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.These throwback episodes are intentionally short and to the point because sometimes you don't need a full deep dive.All right, let's...

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 your line because your minimums didn't align with industry standards.The nights you spent Googling "how much should I charge fo...

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 pricing logic, a leaner product line, and a strategy built around the retailers she already has.In this episode, you'll learn:Why wholesale is not an extension of your D2C...

"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 words.In this episode, you'll learn:Why Sherry started wholesale with fewer than 20 SKUs — and how starting early with the right foundation paid offHow she grew from 3 inco...

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 episode shares her experiences participating in Paper Camp.In this episode, you'll learn:How Charina grew from 75 to 125 wholesale accounts — including her first 3 key accounts — by building systems before chasin...

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 fluff, no filler, just ideas that we've shared in the past that will benefit you today. <...

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 same platform, the same market, the same 4 days.I'm going to share with you what I saw behind the scenes, what worked, what didn't, and what this means for...

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 when it comes to selling wholesale. You get to decide what works best for you and your brand. Today you're getting an...

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 money. Specifically, we're talking about the money that you are potentially leaving on the table right now without even realizing it.There are 4 big areas...

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 when it comes to selling wholesale. You get to decide what works best for you and your brand. Today you're getting an...

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, and she kept it running alongside her corporate job for 8 years. Then, she went full-time about 5 years ago after having her kids. Her brand now sells online, at craft shows, and through wholesale...

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 when it comes to selling wholesale. You get to decide what works best for you and your brand. Today you're getting an...

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 table, juggling multiple storage units, or debating if a warehouse or even a 3PL is the step for your business, then this episode is going to high...

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 revisiting because the takeaways still hold true today. Maybe listening will spark an idea or help you take action on a decision that you've been sitting on. Really, the...

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 a 5% improvement in retention can move revenue 25–95% — and what that looks like with real numbers when you have 100 wholesale accountsThe difference between acquisition tactics and retention tactics, and why almost...

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 when it comes to selling wholesale. You get to decide what works best for you and your brand. Today you're getting an...