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

Masterminds. Perhaps you've invested in one before that included a professional moderator and was timebound - a few months or even a year. These is the traditional structure of a formal mastermind. I'm talking today about how you can create your own local mastermind group. It brings a level of support that will prove to be a powerful resource to move your business forward. And it's free! I've also created a blog covering all the points I bring up in the podcast. To read or print this out for your own mastermind development use, you can access it here. 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 Con

What does it really take to get into subscription box creation and participation - and succeed? Today's guest is sharing exactly how he does it. Eric is first and foremost a proud husband and father of five beautiful kids (four boys and one girl). But he's also the co-founder of Louis and Léa, a subscription box for expecting and new moms, filled with products made by small businesses and local makers. Eric is also the host of The Subscription Box Show. A podcast dedicated to the subscription industry. He interviews the world's top subscription box founders and industry-leading tools.   BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to do things you are not comfortable being a part of. Have new experiences that will activate the creative side of you. There's enough business for everyone. You just have to separate yourself by doing different things. Start by having the idea, do market research, study your competitors, and try to put together an email list. Before pu

This is the first activity most new business owners jump into - naming the business and then creating a logo and brand colors. That makes sense because it's what you see as a consumer and how you identify other businesses. So naturally it's what you gravitate to as the necessary starting point. Perfect. But don't spend too much time here. In this episode you'll get direction on the important first three steps to your branding and then where your focus should go next. It's the NEXT step that will get your business on track to bringing in 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

Please welcome Pinterest expert Laura Rike back to show us exactly how to run Pinterest ads that will help build your handmade business. As a Pinterest Strategist, Laura helps high-performing business owners & content creators implement content growth plans, outsource their visibility, and steadily grow their monthly revenue. All without tantrums over tech and trading sleep for success. She describes herself as a quirky, spunky, social butterfly who values open, honest relationships in every area of her life. She’s also the mother of two boys who are the center of everything. Ready to learn how to run Pinterest ads for your craft business? Let's dive in! How To Run Pinterest Ads Pinterest ads can be more direct than Facebook ads, for example, because it's all about behavior instead of general demographics. Get Started With Pinterest Advertising Make sure you have a business Pinterest account. You won't be able to do ads on the account if you don't have that setup. For your first try at Pintere

You may never encounter a PR crisis. But if you do, response time and properly addressing the issue are key to upholding the reputation of your business and retaining your sales growth. Spoiler Alert: Sometimes it's best not to do anything. Find out step by step how to analyze the situation and determine if and what the right actions are so you can smoothly move through what is always an uncomfortable situation. CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast so you automatically receive your new episodes right when they air - no waiting! 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

There are so many online selling options these days, it can be overwhelming to keep track of it all. Socials, email marketing, blogging, advertising, and more. That's why today, we're looking at a way to manage all those moving parts in a single all-in-one platform. Springbot enables growing eCommerce businesses to manage their email marketing and paid advertising in a single platform. Georgia started at Springbot as an onboarding manager on the customer success side. In that role, she helped e-commerce businesses navigate the platform and consulted with them on marketing best practices. Today she’s a lead senior account manager, working closely with clients to ensure they are maximizing the features available to them on the Springbot platform. I learned about this program through one of my Makers MBA VIPs – shoutout to Shelia of Heavenly Treats 4 You. Once I researched Springbot, I knew I should bring this option to your attention, too. So here we go … BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Implement time-saving

Not all tasks are created equal. As you know, it's easy to get distracted and without even knowing it, go down the social media rabbit hole - or any other number of daily activity "fillers" that don't produce results. Today I'm going to define and give examples of revenue producing tasks. We'll talk about why they're important and how to ensure you do some of these every day. It's in this way your energy and time spent in your business will bring in new customers and sales.   CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast so you automatically receive your new episodes right when they air - no waiting! 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 Ni

I'm so excited to share this week's episode. My guest is Adam Kingman, the most recently titled Master Maker. It's fun to hear all about behind the scenes of the show, of course. But the goal of this interview is to help YOU be a winner, too. By taking away ideas and inspiration you can apply to your business. So, let's meet Adam, the winner from Season 3’s “Making It” show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Adam is an industrial designer and creative director from Lake Tahoe. Growing up, the mountains were his playground, influencing his stewardship of the planet and resourcefulness of craft. With recycled and retired materials, Adam is a modern-day MacGyver, using design thinking to create simple, intuitive solutions. Outside of work, Adam loves to write stories, direct short films, and explore the Sierras. Adam believes we’re all just kids at heart and imagination is our finest resource. His dream is to be a Disney Imagineer and someday a design professor.   BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS E

The Sales Channel Panel is the strategy that is key to maintaining sales and managing through any crisis or unforseen selling challenge. It includes all the elements for getting visibility, communicating your messages and bringing in orders. In this episode I give an explanation of the strategy including all the elements and how it works.   CONNECT with me here: Website | Facebook | Instagram SUBSCRIBE to the podcast so you automatically receive your new episodes right when they air - no waiting! 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

Wondering how to start a handmade business that will fit into your life? Then you'll love today's episode because my guest shares how she figured out how to create a work studio at home, work with her spouse, and make it all fit into their lives. Yuliya is the owner and maker of Wolf Leathers alongside her husband, Ari. All of the leather used is the finest quality oil-tanned leather from Wisconsin. Working out of their farmhouse, Yuliya and Ari have converted several bedrooms into a work studio. This allows their entire product to be made out of our home. Yuliya believes everyone can express themselves in a unique way by embracing their imperfections. They represent this in their products by incorporating imperfections and brands from the leather into their work, giving each product extra uniqueness, just like each one of us.   BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Be genuine when selling. Avoid being pushy and aggressive. Continue to create unique products that people haven't seen before to keep them int

Your logo is the front and center asset for your business. Most likely it includes the company name, special colors that define your vibe and an image that pulls it all together. You've given it a lot of thought and worked hard to make sure it's absolutely perfect. So now you want to show off your logo everywhere, right? Wrong! There are some do's and don'ts for where your logo should appear and that's what I address in this episode. You'll also find out all the places your logo should go and the one place it absolutely should NOT appear. Let's do this right. 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 Nin

Ready for a feel-good journey full of twists and turns? I can't wait for you to meet today's guest, who transformed herself from a firefighter to a fiber and quilting business success story. Brandy is a quilt art teacher, speaker, judge, and author of Kristy’s Quilt. Her business Quilter on Fire explores the texture, color, and boundless possibilities of fabric with her passionate quilting community. Brandy travels the world to educate, speak and ignite creativity with the tagline 'More Joy, Less Overwhelm,' and hosts her weekly podcast sharing the stories of inspiring quilt professionals.   BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Take that one step forward especially if you're afraid because that fear probably means you're going in a direction that's really exciting. Stay connected with your community and your audience in a way that really supports them. What brings you the most joy is what you really need to do. Do what you love and just make a difference in that niche. Find that thing that is in your

Certainly this varies from day to day and in different situations, but having a solid level of confidence overall is necessary in order to be a successful business owner. Small handmade product businesses in particular need a leader who projects confidence. You are the focal point as the maker right beside your fabulous products. Pulling from a talk by Lisa Paden at the Gift Designer's Conference, let's talk about 5 Traits of Low Confidence and how to address these obstacles to get the results you're seeking. Here are the traits we'll address: Doubting your abilities Feeling ilsolated Running from challenges or taking risks No self grace Upgrade your ranking in these areas and you'll see an impact on your sales and happiness! 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

Bob Doyle is best known for his contribution to the global phenomenon film and book “The Secret,” as a law of attraction expert. Boundless Living, Inc. has been in the business of helping people create lives they love using Law of Attraction principles and the science of Neuro Plasticity since 2002. Through online programs, speaking, training, and coaching programs for groups and individuals, Bob Doyle helps people get clarity on their vision and then shows them exactly what to do to make that vision a reality. He has been teaching these principles through programs, live events, podcasts, live streams, coaching, writing, and even virtual reality, since 1998. He is driven by his passion for creative self-expression and his work is heavily focused on helping people decide who they want to be and how they want to express themselves. Bob believes that all of this should be the MOST fun and creative endeavor we can ever undertake if we will only allow it to be so.   BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS It's nev

Oh no! A competitor encroaches into your "territory" and your first thought is that all is lost. They must be so much better than you - with a higher quality product at a lower price. Please press the pause button. Let's take the emotion down a level and talk logically about what to do in this situation. Because it's inevitable. We all encounter competitors on a regular basis. Everything will be just fine and I think some of my suggestions will surprise you! 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

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT For 4 weeks beginning next week, the podcast will be published on Saturday instead of Monday to hopefully be more convenient for listeners. After this test, I'll review and decide if the change stays or goes. Let me know what you think. Now, on with this week's episode. Instagram can be a powerhouse of connection and traffic for your business. But if it just feels too complicated, today's episode is for you. We're breaking down the basics of Instagram for beginners so you can finally get started with this key social platform. Today, we are joined by Allison Scholes. And you're going to love the name of her company - are you ready? Boss Lady in Sweatpants. So perfect, right? Allison helps mompreneurs build their Instagram presence through coaching, creative copy, and content. On her podcast called Social Media for Mompreneurs she guides busy moms on how to build their brand online in just minutes a day. Even when those minutes are super hard to come by. Allison believes social m

It often looks like brands you admire have had a smooth path to get the attention and business success they enjoy today. It's just not true. Every company goes through struggles, deadends, disappointing results and yes, failures to get to what you see today. But you don't see them because they don't share the backroom stories. That's where the illusion of perfection comes from ... and our misperception that these things don't happen to others. They do. In today's show, I emphasize this point and present steps you can take to eliminate the emotional attachment to "failures." The truth is, only by failing will you find the path to your successful profitable 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! Resou

If you've been neglecting your email list for whatever reason, today's episode is for you! My guest shares the perfect get-started guide for your email marketing process so you can finally make it work for you. Kate is all about helping ethical entrepreneurs open the hearts and wallets of their small but mighty audiences thanks to fun email marketing. She believes you don’t need to bleed the alphabet or be a dirty rotten spam face to write emails that jolt your community into taking action, whether that's building a long-lasting relationship, buying directly from you, or checking out one of your affiliate partners. Kate is the host of the "Inbox Besties" podcast and creator of the Love Your List 2.0 email marketing mega-course. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Do the brave thing. When you default to always doing the thing that's a little bit braver, you're going to get results faster. Build up your "brave" muscle by using it regularly. Start small and just get a little braver each time. Get Started Guide F

It's inevitable. If you run a business, no matter how buttoned up your services are, you'll encounter an angry customer. How you handle it is what will determine the future of your relationship. Here is what to do when your customer is made and the process to follow to not only turn the situation around, but make it play in your favor. What happens in the end? A happy customer! 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 an

Did you catch episode #321 a few months ago? Well, that show got a lot of attention! That episode gives a deeper dive into the details and benefits of blogging for your handmade business. At the end of that show, I presented a challenge to my listeners. The Business Blog Challenge The Challenge: Post a blog article dated after the airing of the episode and tag me over on Instagram. The first 10 people to do so would be the winners – including a prize. This was all spur of the moment and two things were running through my mind. First, maybe I should have only said 5 because would there even be 10 people to do this? I mean, it is a big challenge given blogging isn’t something typically connected with product sales. And second – what would the prize be? But I knew I could wing that. Much to my surprise, by the deadline date I had 8 people follow through. Which, I have to say, was completely impressive! And I decided the best prize I can give is to get more eyeballs on their businesses. Because after all,