437 | Why In-Person Retail Markets Still Matter & How To Make The Most of Them with Lib Ramos & Jessie Tyree Jenness
07/04/2026 | 41 mins.
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 with our customers face-to-face. That human connection is hitting differently right now. And people are craving that in person connection. What I love about today's episode is that we are looking at this from both sides of the table. We have Lib Ramos, she runs Indie Craft Parade with her team. This is an incredibly well respected, longtime running show. And we also have Jessie Tyree Jenness, founder of Root and Branch and one of our Proof to Product community members who has exhibited at shows like this multiple times. In the episode we're digging into what organizers are actually looking for when you apply for these shows, how exhibitors can decide if a show is worth it, and how to also measure ROI following a show and then how to think about your strategy so that you're not just showing up for the shows, but you're showing up with true intention. Applications are now open for exhibiting at Indie Craft Parade, you can apply now through April 20th! If you are planning to exhibit at retail shows this year, I want to tell you about some resources we have inside of our LABS community so that you can do this more strategically. We have checklists, tools, and things that will help you bring your booth plus to life, but also have community discussions about things like inventory, sales goals, and strategies for upping your AOV. If you want support as you plan for your in-person retail events, join us! REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/437 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
436 | Turning Visibility Into Sales with Kaila Uli, The Bok Agency
31/03/2026 | 36 mins.
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 specifically for product folks, which is unusual to see. She does an incredible job of breaking down what actually works when it comes to organic video content on TikTok and Instagram, especially for product brands that want to grow their audience and sell more of your product. During our conversation, we talk about the role that organic content should realistically play in your overall marketing strategy, the difference between content that simply gets views and content that actually converts to sales. We also talk about the biggest mistakes that product brands make when they show up online. Kaila also shares her perspective on something that I know a lot of you wrestle with, which is whether or not to show your face on camera or if your product can truly be the hero of your content. We dig into what intentional conversion-focused content actually looks like, the formats that are driving results, and why chasing virality is not the strategy that most people think it is. If this sounds interesting to you, I think you're really going to enjoy this episode. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. Inside of LABS, we host expert workshops with incredible industry leaders, including Kaila. She's coming soon to teach a workshop on how to turn visibility into sales so you're not just creating content that gets attention. We want to create content that moves the customer towards purchasing. Members also get access to coaching calls, our template vault, audits on things like emails, catalogs, and e-commerce websites. Join us! REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/436 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
435 | Follow Your Art with Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo, Goodtype
24/03/2026 | 34 mins.
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 creative process. In today's conversation, Ilana and Katie share their story behind the new book and the deeper message at the heart of it— that building a creative career isn't just about making art. It's about learning to trust yourself and your perspective as an artist. We talk about what it actually looks like to find your creative style, especially when you feel like the market is already crowded. They share their thoughts on identifying your special sauce as an artist, why perfectionism can keep so many creatives stuck, and how putting your work out into the world before it feels ready is often the thing that helps your voice emerge. If you've ever struggled with confidence in your creative voice, or you just needed a reminder that your perspective in art matters, this conversation is for you. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You private podcast! This free 12-part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/435 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
434 | Navigating Pinterest's AI Changes & Tips for E-commerce Brands with Heather Farris, Heather Farris Co
17/03/2026 | 28 mins.
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 then, particularly with Pinterest rolling out more AI-driven tools and features. In this episode, Heather breaks down what's actually new, what's just a rebrand, and what product-based businesses should be paying attention to right now. We talk about tools like the new Pinterest Assistant, the growing influence of generative AI on the platform, and what all of this means for brands that make handmade or small batch products. Heather also shares how businesses can stand out when so much content online is starting to look and feel AI generated. You'll hear practical advice on getting started with Pinterest, optimizing your product listings, tapping into trends, and using the platform in a way that actually supports your sales. If you've been wondering whether Pinterest is still worth your time, or if you're adapting to all the new AI changes, this conversation will give you some clarity. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. LABS is where product-based business owners come to get support with real decisions behind growing their business. We're talking sales, marketing, operations, and just being in community with other people who understand what you're going through. Inside of LABS, we do talk about things like using Pinterest to drive direct-to-consumer sales, building out welcome sequence sequences for your emails, cleaning up your bookkeeping systems, and a whole lot more. Plus, you'll find us doing website audits, peer masterminds, and coaching calls with me. Join us! REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/434 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Creating Products That People Actually Want to Buy with Biff Ulm, Nice Enough Stickers [Replay]
10/03/2026 | 38 mins.
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. During this replay episode, Biff and I had a lot to catch up on, but one thing that stood out was that his observations at the Las Vegas gift show were about product development strategy. He has much to say about it, and I'm excited for you to listen in. For background, Biff's stickers are now in over 300 stores with 8,000 locations, so he knows a thing or two about creating products that people want to buy. Biff also owns a wildly successful retail shop, which provides him with a unique viewpoint as both a wholesale buyer and seller. In this episode, we discuss the importance of patience, iteration, and customer feedback in developing successful products. We also discuss how to leverage data and understand buying behaviors. This episode is brought to you by our Email Marketing For Product Makers guide. 49% of our customers want to hear from us consistently, yet, only a small percentage of product-based business owners are actively sending monthly emails to their customers.  If you've struggled with what to say, when to send, or how to plan out your email marketing strategies, we've got just the tool for you. This tool and the optional training have helped hundreds of product makers plan out an entire year's worth of emails. And, the best part… they are creating templates that they can rinse & repeat year after year.  DOWNLOAD NOW You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/361 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp
Ranked in the top 1% of ALL podcasts, the Proof to Product podcast is your trusted resource for sustainable business growth - especially if you make and sell physical products!
Join Katie Hunt, each week as she shares strategies & solutions to enhance your sales & marketing so that you're building a business that supports your best life.
If you've ever asked yourself can I make money selling physical products? Am I ready to sell my products wholesale to stores like Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble? When should I consider hiring a sales team or sales reps? Can I really turn my passion into profits? Whether you're a just starting out on your business journey or you've been at it a while growing an empire, this show is for you.
Proof to Product is like on-demand business school for product sellers spanning a wide range of industries. Whether you're in home decor, apparel, beauty, food & beverage, hand-made items, jewelry, consumer gifts or the stationery world, you'll gather new ideas each week to help you grow your profit, build your team and lead with integrity.
Host Katie Hunt and her guests bring you actionable ways to expand your product line, manufacturing overseas, optimize your e-commrce websites on Shopify, Faire, Etsy, Abound, Tundra, Squarespace or in brick & mortar locations. How to start or scale wholesale sales including pitching stores, wholesale outreach, trade show exhibition, working with sales reps, managing inventory, warehousing product, sales systems, wholesale follow-up strategies and working with key accounts. Marketing strategies for small businesses including content creation, leveraging tik tok and instagram tactics without feeling burned out, why you can't rely solely on social media for sales and why email marketing systems on platforms like Klaviyo, Flodesk and Active Campaign are so powerful. Listen in as Katie and our guest experts help you strategize and tackle your biggest business goals.
Host Katie Hunt brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she's helped thousands of product brands get their products on the shelves of their favorite retail stores through her Paper Camp program (www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp). Prior to that she worked in the corporate world for over a decade leading business development and marketing teams. She has two MBAs - one in finance and one in marketing. And, she owned & operated her own product based business for over 8 years, selling her products to stores throughout the world from her garage. Katie knows the struggles you face as a product based business and she's here to pull back the curtain and share her best kept secrets so that you don't have to learn things the hard way.
Find our free trainings & resources for product based business owners at www.prooftoproduct.com/resources
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