Gift Biz Unwrapped | Women Entrepreneurs | Bakers, Crafters, Makers | Startup

Take the 2 Word Challenge! By eliminating these two words from your vocabulary, you'll become a stronger, more purposeful communicator and create an achievability mindset. People are more likely to listen to what you have to say and you'll be seen as more professional too. Are you taking me up on this challenge? Let me know by direct message over on Instagram @giftbizunwrapped. Let's do this! CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here. Thanks for listening! Resources for Growth of  Your Handmade Biz 5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE) Start with Confidence Networking Ninja Content for Makers Inspired! Daily Planner Makers MBA Check out the Merch Shop Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch o

What's your relationship with money? If you're like me, you know numbers are an important part of your business. But truthfully, you'd rather be working on something creative.Today's down-home honest girl chat all about things financial will help you feel a little bit more friendly toward your budget so you can start building a healthy relationship with money and numbers. Connie is a cash flow and business mentor. And even with her 35+ years of accounting experience, it didn't prepare her for the monster of a business she created. It had $50,000 in debt and she didn't pay herself for 6 years! So, what did she do? Connie crafted a solution with an easy system that worked to turn things around. Then she started sharing it with others. Now she works one on one with women entrepreneurs, blending the how-to with the mindset to create a healthy, long-lasting relationship with money. It's not about what your topline revenue is, it's what you do with it that matters. While a budget is the first step, you also have

Today I present a new way to think about your product business. It's about the reciprocal exchange of giving and getting that exists with every exchange of product and money. By reframing your thinking along these lines, selling becomes easier and the relationship between maker and customer grows richer. Particularly with handmade product businesses, a relationship between the artisan and the recipient of a product powers repeat business. You're not only buying a beanie, you're supporting the quilter. You don't just love candles, you know the candle maker. And you're selecting that special birthday cake because you have a personal connection with the baker. These things enrich the lives of both the giver and the getter. It not only positions your business for growth, it makes the world a happier place. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. T

If you've ever wondered how to sell corporate gifts to companies, today's guest has some tips that will definitely help you out. Chelsea is the co-owner of Noms Bake Shop, the industry expert in the art of convenient corporate gifting that leaves a lasting impression. In a noisy world of email marketing and forgettable corporate tchotchkes, Chelsea and the Noms Bake Shop team provide a premium solution to corporate and personal gifting that delights clients and showcases their brands. Chelsea has extensive experience in marketing and real estate and is passionate about helping companies impress, retain and grow their customers and client base. She lives in Scottsdale Arizona with her husband Trevor and two dogs. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS When someone you don't know has a powerful response to your product, that's a great validation there’s a market for your product. Create connections with potential clients by getting them to experience your product. Putting your product in front of them will do a lo

Instead of thinking about craft shows as a stand alone sales generator. I want you to start considering all the tools in your arsenal and layering them on top of each other. That's what you do when you combine social media on top of craft shows, farmer's markets or church bazaars. Have you heard the saying, "The sum is greater than it's two parts?" That is what's at play here. You'll learn new ways to use social media throughout all the different phases of a show: When you're preparing, day of setup, just before opening, and during a craft show. You'll also discover creative applications for social media that strenghen your business reputation long after a show is over and things you can boost sales when things aren't going your way. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that h

If you've ever dreamed of creating a baking business empire (or any empire, for that matter), this episode is for you. Today’s guest is Roshell Ingraham. If you check her out on Instagram, right in her bio she starts with “It’s Yo Girl Ro.” And that pretty much sums up the spirit behind this powerhouse of a lady. The room lights up when she enters and her energy is contagious. Roshell is a well-known and popular baker, pastry artist, and confectioner. She serves as Head Instructor and CEO of Your Sweet Connections, a company that serves other bakers with the knowledge and techniques to develop their own baking businesses. She’s been featured in American Cake Decorating Magazine, seen on Tasty, and was a quarter-finalist in the Greatest Baker competition. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS In order to grow, you have to step outside the box. Do what you do because you love doing it and not just for the money. Just be great at it. Be you. Be unique. You can be like nobody else. You can monetize your gifts by

All is ready to go. You've registered for a show where attendees should be your perfect customer. And you've planned your booth display and strategically estimated and made products to sell. Now you get to "go live" and interact with customers in person. So exciting! But hold on ... It's time to talk about the challenges that can happen during a craft show. Some are completely unexpected and some may be your worst fears. But no need to worry because when you're prepared, you can handle anything. Let's go through the top three challenges that may appear during the show. Solutions are coming your way. Because when you know how to manage through these obstacles, you'll be confident in your actions and boldly move towards rewarding results. That means strong sales AND realizing how much fun craft shows, farmer's markets, church baazars, flea markets, (on and on) can be! Warning: Pen and paper may be required for this one. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Appl

One of the biggest challenges every business owner faces is how to get customers to buy. In today's show, we've got some incredible brain hacks and messaging techniques that help you make more sales - and I guarantee you've never heard these before! Melina is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 160 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics for many universities and businesses. Think about this … Are you charging the right prices and are they nudging customers to buy? Are your brand’s nuances sending the right signals to your customer’s brain? Melina teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and her first book, What Your Customer Wants (And Can’t Tell You), is scheduled for publication in May 2021. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS

Selecting and registering for a craft show is a great start. Now we need to make sure you're prepared to get the best results possible. OR you may be sitting in the other camp, thinking of all the things that could go wrong ... so you never actually did sign up for that show. (Busted!) Let's go through the top three questions that arise as you prepare for a show. Solutions are coming your way. Because when you know how to manage through these obstacles, you'll be confident in your actions and boldly move toward rewarding results. That means strong sales AND realizing how much fun craft shows, farmer's markets, church baazars, flea markets, (on and on) can be! Warning: Pen and paper may be required for this one. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can

Today, we're talking about how to sell your business - and some things you can do now to set yourself up for a profitable sale later. Because even if you just started a business, things do change over time and the day might come when you're ready to sell. Chelsea is a content monetization strategist and business broker. She helps investors acquire profitable online businesses while providing a way for content creators and small business owners to have gainful exits from those businesses. Chelsea founded BlogsForSale.co, a boutique brokerage and marketplace for buying and selling niche websites, eCommerce sites and media properties. She’s obsessed with the strategy behind growing an online business, from growth-hacking to funnels to creative monetization. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Enjoy the journey. Focus on what you are doing, believe in your vision, and stay focused on that path. Find and connect with the people who will become your customers and your community. Collect email addresses.  Focus o

Celebration Time! Craft shows are finally coming back and we're all ready to be together and have face-to-face (screenless) conversations again. Whether you've just started your business and are looking for your first sales, or you've just never considered a local consumer show as a way to sell your products, here's how to figure out which show(s) is right for you. Craft shows, farmer's markets, church bazaars, county fairs and flea markets - there are a lot of options! And guess what? There's still more to do when the show is over and you've packed up and left. Now it's time to analyze your results to decide if it's a repeat for next time or you should move on. This isn't as obvious a decision as you may think. It's not only about sales. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point

Do you see other people selling their handmade products and wonder how to start a craft business from home yourself? That's what we're diving into today. Sophy is the face behind Miss Paper Craft, a Paper Quilling store, making intricate jewelry, ornaments, and keepsake dolls. She paper quilled as a hobby when she was in India, making gifts for friends and family. After moving to the US, she noticed that Paper Quilling wasn’t widely known here and jumped at the opportunity. Her goal is to share the paper quilling experience with more people through her jewelry, DIY craft kits, and online classes. Side fun fact - Sophy is also a Chartered Accountant on the side. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Give your customers an amazing experience with your products. Be consistent with social media. Be more present through videos where people can see you demonstrate how you create your products. Have great photos on Instagram to stand out from the crowd. Collect emails to reach out to potential customers. You lea

When you start your business, you have dreams of sharing your products with the world ... and also making money. That's where the script flips, doing this to create income versus being a hobby. But how do you know what's possible? I've seen too many makers discouraged by their results because they've pulled a number out of the sky with no concrete plan to achieve it. So what's really possible in the beginning when you are the only one working in your business? Pull out a pen and paper because I give you the formula and examples. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here. Thanks for listening! Resources for Growth of  Your Handmade Biz 5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE) Start with Confidence Networking Ninja Content for Makers Inspir

Petia is a transformation coach who helps women who have been pushed down and have been playing small create a life that is true to them and their soul purpose. Her mission is to help women who are on the path to healing from toxic relationships or unhealed childhood trauma move through their limiting beliefs and internal blocks so they can finally take action on what they want to do and what feels good to them. Petia pairs feminine flow with strategic planning to give entrepreneurs immense clarity and the exact steps to transition from side-hustler to CEO. If she’s not interviewing on her podcast Unapologetically Abundant, working out, or reading, you’ll find her in nature disconnecting from the world and connecting to herself. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS No matter what kind of business you have, you are your business. You're the one who will create a product or be the leader in your business. It all starts with you. Build a business based on your core values. When you have your core values backing yo

Over time your logo can get stale, look outdated and be in need of a makeover. This does not need to be an overly drawn out process. Just follow these steps and you'll be refreshed in no time! CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here. Thanks for listening! Resources for Growth of  Your Handmade Biz 5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE) Start with Confidence Networking Ninja Content for Makers Inspired! Daily Planner Makers MBA Check out the Merch Shop Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here. Join our community of handmade product makers Gift Biz Breeze is an active and inspiring group of creators at all levels of business development. Ask quest

You may think that "brand values" are something only big corporations have to worry about. But the reality is staying true to your brand is something every business - no matter how small - should focus on. Today's guest shares how staying true to her brand helped her build a successful and thriving handmade business. Ximena is the hands and heart behind the handwoven creations of Entrelanas Designs. Her love for yarn and textiles began in her early teens when she first started knitting. This led to crocheting, needle felting, and when she started weaving on a rigid heddle loom – that became her passion. Coming from Uruguay, where wool and wool products are part of the country identity, she found that creating handwoven garments using Uruguayan pure wool was a way to stay connected to her roots. Today Ximena shares that part of who she is through Entrelanas Designs. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Test the market. It's different when you hear it from people that you don't know as compared to hearing it from

Something happened last week that reminded me of this very important and free way to attract and strengthen relationships. It's free, it comes in all different shapes and sizes ... and it's a true gem. Shoutout to my awesome VA, Michele who is the inspiration behind this episode. Resources I mentioned here are Bomb Bomb and Bonjoro. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here. Thanks for listening! Resources for Growth of  Your Handmade Biz 5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE) Start with Confidence Networking Ninja Content for Makers Inspired! Daily Planner Makers MBA Check out the Merch Shop Gifts for you or your biz friends that will make the days brighter and add a touch of inspiration and happiness. Enter the shop here. Join our co

With all the changes in news media over the years, you might wonder ... are press releases still relevant? In this episode, we talk all about press releases and how you can use them for your handmade business. Mickie is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. He founded eReleases 22 years ago after realizing that small businesses desperately needed a press release service they can afford. One that gives them access to the media and to a national newswire – all with a personal touch. Mickie lives in Baltimore County with his family and two feuding cats. He enjoys British science fiction and acknowledges an unhealthy addiction to diet soda. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry and still writes poetry most Monday nights (virtually) with a group of fellow misfits in Maryland. HOW TO GET PRESS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Start with local then grow from there: Start small for free by doing it yourself and approaching local med

As a solopreneur this is most likely a question that comes up from time to time. Should I be referring to my business as "We" or "I". Of course, saying "we" (aside from sounding french) makes you appear to be a more established business. More professional, more successful and perhaps shifts the scale in your favor. But does it? You lose out on a big opportunity if you reprepresent yourself as "we" if it's only you. I explain what it is in this episode and also my thoughts on the topic from several other angles too. Listen in to get the scoop. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review. I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped you or a specific guest or point that had an impact. You can do that right here. Thanks for listening! Resources for Growth of  Your Handmade Biz 5 Rookie Mistakes Webinar (FREE) Start with Confidence Networking Ninja Content for

Don't let the challenges of owning a small business crush your dreams of success. Because today, we're diving into exactly how to have a successful handmade business - step by step. Cassie is the owner of Cassie's Country Cupboard, a small food manufacturing company based in rural West-Central Ohio. Learning to love cooking from a young age, Cassie has held a variety of positions in the food world including short-order cook, quality assurance inspector at a rice cake factory, and summer camp cook assistant. Cassie's Country Cupboard began in 2011 as a small cottage-food-based business and has grown into a commercial business serving customers nationwide with the help of Cassie's husband Curt and her two sons aged 9 and 12. Along with creating pantry items such as soup starters, baking mixes, and spice blends, Cassie also offers co-packing services to small companies who want to expand without investing in huge amounts of product. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Things don't need to be perfectly in place at