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

Understanding the 5 Gift Biz Growth Stages will be a huge source of insight into where you are in your business journey and why you might be struggling right now as you try and grow.You'll easily identify which stage you're in as I describe each one. The magic here is that you'll also learn exactly what steps to take to move from one stage to another.No more chasing shiny objects or trying to do "all the things" at one time! Easy does it, step by step, from one stage to another. You get to take a deep breath and enjoy the process versus feeling like you're always behind.What's In This Bash Party?Free training on the 5 Gift Biz Growth Stages plus action steps you can take for each to help you growQ&A with Bash attendeesShowcases - attendees share their upcoming events, unique collaborations, and discount promo codes! << Tune in to grab these deals! Listen to this Bash episode now to learn the 5 Gift Biz Growth Stages and hear all the Showcases!Resources Mentioned:Content for MakersGift Biz Unwra

“No” feels terrible. It’s a rejection. And who likes to be rejected? Most likely your reaction to the word “no” is to shut down. You feel defeat with whatever possibilities the “no” shut out. And to protect yourself, you give up on the person who made you feel bad and you move on to other people or activities. What if I told you there’s a way to use this “no” to your advantage? There is! Here’s how to settle down your emotions so responses to selling your products doesn’t feel like such a rollercoaster. And then – what to do in these situations that could turn a permanent “no” to a future “yes” as a strategy to grow your sales. Be part of the newest Gift Biz Opportunity! The Gift Biz Bash offers you the chance to get added visibility for your business - for free. Who can't use that?! But seats are limited. To see the dates and times and to grab your spot, go through the link above. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Amy had a solid Amazon business. It was growing and expanding, as is the dream for all our businesses. But guess what? She didn’t enjoy it anymore. Nothing was wrong, it just didn’t light her up like it once did. So – time for a change. That’s what this episode is all about - reigniting your handmade business passion. And what we can learn from the journey Amy took to discover what was next for her. Spoiler alert! It wasn’t a smooth jump from one thing to another. But it was definitely worth it. Her passion and energy is back! We get into: How Amy started and scaled two successful businesses in e-commerce over 10 years The transition out of both businesses in search of something new. Pivoting to something that brings you joy and allows you to bring out your talent How to know if this kind of change and transformation is right for you. Listen in to hear what gets her out of bed in the morning now and Amy's new life as a furniture artist, thrift-a-holic & mom of two. Resources Mentioned Ep

Would you categorize yourself as a procrastinator? When I think about people I know, I can see how they do lean one way or another. On the extremes, there’s the excessive planner. Someone who has everything buttoned up way before a due date. And then there’s the “get it done at the last minute” style. I fall fully on the plan-ahead side. I like to eliminate as many surprises and rush jobs as possible. But of course, we come in all shapes and sizes as they say. I’m not saying one is better than another. However, there are definite times when, not only is it okay, but you should ignore your natural tendencies and do things differently. We talk about how to know which way to go in today's show. Be part of the newest Gift Biz Opportunity! The Gift Biz Bash offers you the chance to get added visibility for your business - for free. Who can't use that?! But seats are limited. To see the dates and times and to grab your spot, go through the link above. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSC

What if you didn't have to dread tax season? Unfortunately, putting on a blindfold doesn't help. But the small business tax prep tips in this episode absolutely will. I get it. Right after that deadline passes, you want to forget about taxes until it comes around again next year. But the reality is - it’s going to show up again whether you like it or not. So why not be prepared and make the process as easy and smooth as you can? Small Business Tax Prep Tips For Handmade Products Our expert today walks us through the steps you can implement now so that your tax filing experience is less painful next time. We cover ... Who should be part of your financial team (+ why they're so important!) Specific actions to take every month Common mistakes to avoid The best tools to use for Tips to reduce taxes as you become more profitable How to take the dread out of tax prep Whether you’re a newbie in business or a seasoned pro, I think you’ll pick up a tip or two to ensure tax filing sanity next time aroun

Makers of all sorts are leaning into this up and coming sales strategy because it provides a solution to one of the biggest challenges you have as a handmade creator – limited production time. Even if you hire people to help you in certain facets of your business, there is a ceiling to how much you can make without taking the leap to factory production – which I know is a major turnoff to most of you. Enter in this perfect solution. One that allows you to scale your business while retaining and actually enhancing, your position as an expert in your field. I’m talking about offering workshops. Guided trainings where the result is the attendee learns the techniques and completes a project using their newfound skill. We’re going to go deeper into ways you can do this here. But first let’s address the obvious advantage. You teach a class one-to-many in a live face-to-face setting or even more online where your attendee count is unlimited. There is no cap on your earning potential as there is when selling your

Today we're covering 3 specific Pinterest strategies you can use right now to market your handmade products. We dive into Interest Targeting, Idea Pins, and Promoted Pins. And true to form, Cali has some amazing Ninja tips coming your away with regard to these features - and Pinterest overall. Cali is a Pinterest Marketing Strategist and owner of The Halcyon Hive - a marketing agency that helps female-led creative businesses leverage Pinterest as a powerful marketing platform. She'll help you grow your business by getting new subscribers, sales, and leads through an optimized Pinterest funnel. Consider this Part 2 – an extension of sorts from Episode #354 that aired in January of this year. In this prior podcast, Cali gave us a current look at the Pinterest platform and the role it can play for your business – very different from social media platforms. I encourage you to go back and listen to that. But as we were talking, it became clear there were other enhanced opportunities offered on Pinterest that

“Not easy” times can happen at any stage in your handmade product business journey – it’s not only reserved for newbies. And I’m here today to reset your thinking when you’re working through rough patches. These are times to be celebrated! They actually offer you great opportunity. I’m not going to give you the pep talk here about how you can overcome everything – even tho you can. I’m also not going to get all strategic giving you steps to get past these “not easy” times. That’s not the point of this episode. The point is for you to think differently about what these challenges offer you AND why they are a great thing. Be part of the newest Gift Biz Opportunity! The Gift Biz Bash offers you the chance to get added visibility for your business - for free. Who can't use that?! But seats are limited. To see the dates and times and to grab your spot, go through the link above. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify PAY IT FO

What does pivoting in business really mean? It's all about responding to market changes and what you want your business to be. Marshmallow MBA has taken its share of twists and turns. That’s something to remember as you’re starting out. You won’t “land it” right out of the gate. It takes experimentation and adjustments based on what your market shows you to get it right. For Amy, it was narrowing in on the ideal customer, adjusting products to fit their needs, and rebranding so it all aligns. Amy’s career path to the confectionery industry is as non-traditional as the handcrafted marshmallows coming out of the MarshmallowMBA kitchens. After a 20+ career as a government consultant, Amy founded MarshmallowMBA in 2016 (more about that in episode 80). MarshmallowMBA is a woman-owned small business handcrafting gourmet marshmallows in more than a hundred flavors for retail and wholesale customers. Its products are available in 28 states across the US and Canada through more than 150 independent retailers and i

At what point in your business do you turn from a hobbyist to a pro? And why does this even matter? In today’s show I give an example of a maker’s journey, at what point they become a specialist (or pro) and most importantly, what actions to take to incorporate this into your business for added visibility and 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 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

Have you ever wondered how to approach product creation? In this episode, you'll hear how my guest Rachael went from idea all the way to finished product and promotion. And there's so much to learn from her story. We all know how much strength and power women possess. It's all around us yet we often diminish that trait when it comes to ourselves. Rachael is on a mission to change that through the creation of a product that reinforces, for each of us, that we too have these traits and can do great things within our world. It's called 'Messages From Her' and you'll hear what it is and the full product creation story from initial idea through development and promotion to the upcoming event of being able to see it in real life. Rachael is a Colorado-based writer, designer, and entrepreneur who holds a BA in Communication Design and Ethical Business. She has used these skills to help solo entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies develop ethical business strategies, improve design and presentation, and increase c

In this episode I give you 5 tips to get your listening skills up to par. Listening is a skill that seems so elementary but is often completely ignored. The next time you’re engaged in a conversation, observe your own behavior to check in on your listening skills. Sure, you may be hearing what someone says, but are you really listening? Unfortunately, what often happens is we’re so busy figuring out what we want to say next that we miss subtle cues that, if not taken into account in your response, affect the entire interaction. Not listening leaves the person talking feeling misunderstood and not valued. If this is a potential customer, you just lost the sale. 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

What's the trick of how to go from idea to business? My guest today shares her business journey that illustrates what it takes to make that happen. Naa Ardua helps crafters learn how to use digital art to make handmade craft projects for their families and friends. While living in France as an ex-pat mom, she started making digital illustrations as a way to use her artistic skills and be creative every day. She saw that she could reach people with her art and help fellow artists, crafters, and small businesses with their projects. So she started creating SVG designs and selling them online. She now has over 10,000 sales in her Etsy shop. All of while still working a 9-to-5 job. Now she runs her business as a full-time mompreneur, doing school pick-ups and drop-offs and running a household from abroad. How To Go From Idea To Business One Step At A Time Be your own biggest cheerleader. Take action. Take the steps little by little even if it seems impossible at the beginning. <-- So powerful! Put y

The key to super charge your productivity lies in one simple 5-letter word.L-I-S-T-S!I bet you’ve heard the term Operating Procedures. In essence, each Operating Procedure is a list of documented activities to perform any function within your business. They are particularly beneficial if a task is repetitive. That way you don’t have to remember all the steps and in what order. Just follow the list.Imagine how useful it can be when you bring on employees. They can follow the same system you’ve already created. Easy and a great way to minimize errors too!Mentioned in this show is the FREE VIDEO training on productivity that is part of the Inspired! Daily Planner process. You can apply this to any planner you currently use or even start with a blank journal!CONNECT with me here:Website | Facebook | InstagramSUBSCRIBE to the podcast:Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | SpotifyPAY IT FORWARD by leaving a rating and review.I'd love to hear your comments. Tell me how the show has helped y

Lack of a financial mindset is a very common block experienced by small business owners like us. And usually, nobody wants to talk about it - even though it can make or break the business. Well, buckle up because that's the topic of today's show. You may gain some insight into yourself as we dive into the 5 reasons we tend to avoid numbers – our business financials that is. And that leads us to another big topic this is usually left out of financial conversations; how your business numbers transfer over to affect your personal life. Obviously, there’s the income you make from your business for living expenses … but it’s more than that. Taking control and planning out your complete financial strategy, no matter how large or small the numbers are you are working with, can enrich your life more than you can even imagine. As a money management and mindset coach, Erinn empowers female entrepreneurs to design a business that is not just profitable but actually grows their personal wealth. Born with an entrepren

Today we’re talking about the value of a fleeting moment how it’s a strategic way to create anticipation and desire for your products. Instead of having the same offerings month after month (except for holiday designs – that’s obvious) why not strategically plan limited time offers into your business? 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

Running a for-profit business with a social cause isn't for everyone. But if the idea resonates with you, this show will give you some things to think about. Get ready to hear a story about a maker whose deep-seated impact goes way beyond her product. You’re going to hear Jennifer’s business development story and how and why she’s incorporated a health initiative overlay to a level I’ve not seen before. We get into the difference between truly integrating a social entity into the mission of your business versus raising money for a cause you hold dear. Both are important, of course, but different. Being true to yourself and your life, and taking your reality to help change someone else’s experience now. And even better, using your handmade product as the pathway to do so. Jennifer had always wanted to create a successful creative business. And she’s done just that! Within the last five years, she’s married her love of art and design with a social give-back business model to launch MARNIE & MICHAEL. J

I heard something a long time ago, during my corporate days, and it’s one of those statements that holds true over time. “Don’t tell people you have great customer service, show them.” It’s too easy to talk about a level of care and service you offer your customers. Let’s face it, everyone does that. But actually following through on it is where the majority of businesses fail. They talk one thing and do another. It’s surprising because having top-notch customer service, in the majority of cases, doesn’t add to the costs of running a business. Going the extra mile and adding in special touches is more a matter of planning and implementing a process than anything else. Most businesses pay very little attention to this. So why should you? Repeat business – that’s why. I want you to think about your customer service? Not what you say but what you’re really doing? I break this review into 2 categories. That’s what we talk about in today’s show. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIB

If you've ever wondered, "Do I need a website for my small business?" - today's show is for you. Your website is the headquarters of your business – even if you don’t have a brick-and-mortar shop. It’s the cog off of which everything else for your business connects and expands. It wasn’t like this in years past. But now, an online presence is essential. And make no mistake about it – your own website is what you should strive for. It's great to have a shop on Etsy or sell through Amazon. But long term, you want your own self-controlled site for the most stable business structure. So, today we’re talking in depth about websites. Including the most important first question to answer before you even go one step further. Chase Clymer is the Co-founder at Electric Eye where he and his team create Shopify-powered sales machines from strategic design, development, and marketing decisions. He’s also the host of Honest eCommerce, a weekly podcast that provides online store owners with honest, actionable advice t

In my messy “catch all” drawer, guess what I found? A key. But … a key to what? Usually, I have an identifier of some sort. Not this time. So now what do I do? If I knew what the key went with, it would be really valuable. But holding it in its current state - without knowing where it goes, it’s useless. That struck me as such a powerful thing. In my hand was this single key that, with one important piece of information, could easily open the right door/box/treasure chest. Simple, done within seconds, and without another thought because access with the key is so effortless. But if you reach a door and don’t have the key, you’re stuck and can’t go any further. Or you have to waste a lot of time looking for the key, calling a locksmith or breaking down the door. Something easy that usually requires very little thought, turns into a big chore. All because of one little key. This is what happens in business too. I see women every day working so hard – trying to open doors without having the right key – and gett