Katie Hunt, founder of Tradeshow Bootcamp takes a minute to thank the TSBC speakers who have helped shape Tradeshow Bootcamp into what it is today.
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New York Times Best-selling author, Jon Acuff has written five books including his most recent, FINISH which focuses on goal setting and follow-through . Jon has helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team. He’s spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at companies such as Microsoft, Nissan and Comedy Central.
On today’s episode we’re talking about misconceptions around productivity and goal setting, how to set yourself up for success and why it’s ok to let yourself be bad at certain things!
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Emma James and Bailey Rivera are the owners of Antiquaria. These savvy business women have made some big transitions in their business over the last 7 years. They started selling vintage pieces, hand calligraphic work and now focus their product line on stationery products such as gift wrap, notebooks and greeting cards.
They attended our Paper Camp E-Course in 2013 prior to launching wholesale. Their products are currently carried in Anthropologie, BHLDN, Paper Source, Terrain and independent boutiques internationally.
On today’s episode, they’ll tell their story of starting the business, talk about how pivoting at different points strengthened their business model and how prioritizing their personal happiness has enabled them to grow too. They also shared nuggets about what inspires them when creating new products as well as logistics for how they determine which product categories to tackle next.
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TSBC alum, Stephanie Clarke is the founder of Dahlia Press, a boutique design and letterpress studio that offers custom design for events, as well as, a wide variety of stationery accoutrements for the retail and wholesale channels. Stephanie participated in our Paper Camp E-Course in 2014 before selling wholesale and exhibiting at the National Stationery Show.
On today’s episode, Stephanie and I are talking about how her business transitioned from a side hustle into a full time gig, how sales reps have enhanced her business and she shares her system for outsourcing packaging of her products.
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Katie Hunt, founder of Tradeshow Bootcamp has hosted 13 live events over the last five years for Tradeshow Bootcamp and even more when she was in the corporate world. Today’s mini episode focuses on four key tips for hosting live events:
1. Focus on your content first
2. Be mindful of your budget
3 web. Involve your audience in the planning proces
4. Set realistic goals for your event.
If you’re looking for more information about how I plan Paper Camp and build live events into my business model, check out my interview with Tara Gentile on Profit Power Pursuit podcast. Look for episode 96 at www.taragentile.com/podcast
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TSBC alumni, Julie Richardson started Julie Ann Art in 2008 as a side hustle and has seen great success over the last nine years. She got her start on etsy where she’s had almost 70,000 sales to date! Julie also sells to the wholesale market.
On today’s episode, we’re talking about building community with customers, how she handles copy cats and why she’s focused on creating products with purpose.
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TSBC Alum, Victoria Venturi is the founder of Paper Epiphanies, a paper and lifestyle brand that empowers women. Prior to being her own boss, Victoria worked in PR Marketing for really large brands such as FOX, Disney, Warner Bros., and Hilton Hotels.
On today’s episode, we’re talking about balancing wholesale and retail outreach, how to build relationships with the press and the importance of honing your message and articulating the why of your business.
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What's a mastermind? It is a small group of entrepreneurs who are at similar levels in business. The group fosters community, provides accountability and is often led by an expert who provides coaching, guidance and structure to the program.
On this episode Katie talks about how joining a Mastermind propelled her business, and how it led her to launching Tradeshow Bootcamp's newest program.
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Today’s guest, TSBC alum, Bryn Chernoff is the owner, calligrapher and creative director of Paperfinger. Paperfinger offers a range of distinctive and elegant contemporary calligraphy for weddings, events, branding & design. Bryn also teaches calligraphy on Skillshare and in workshops across the country. Bryn’s work has been featured in numerous publications including Martha Stewart Wedding, Real Simple, Esquire and Brides to name a few.
During this episode we talk about transitioning from a day job into your business full time, finding your unique voice and point of view when creating your work and how business retreats are a great way to refuel and find clarity in your business.
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TSBC alumni, Rosanna Kvernmo is the owner of Iron Curtain Press, a letterpress studio in Los Angeles. In the spring of 2016, she and her husband, Joel, also opened Shorthand, a little store specializing in beautiful supplies for your desk.
On today’s episode, Rosanna and I talk about her experience as both a wholesaler & a store owner, product development and finding your unique voice in your products and business.
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TSBC Alumni, Shayna Norwood of Steel Petal Press owns the letterpress studio and retail storefront based in Chicago. Shayna started Steel Petal Press in 2008 as a side hustle and it became her full time gig in 2010. In 2016, she opened her flagship retail shop selling her own products as well as stationery and office goods from other independent brands.
On today’s episode, Shayna shares how she manages both a wholesale business and a retail storefront, the challenges she’s faced while growing her business and her advice to designers who are pitching their products to wholesale buyers.
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TSBC Alums, Allison Brennan & Jessica Tree are the owners of The Social Type. They launched their foil-pressed greeting card line in 2010 and have since expanded into other gift categories including their very popular matchboxes. On this episode, Jess and Allison talk about their inspiration for creating new products, how they split responsibilities as business partners and we talk about the importance of slow, but steady growth in business.
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TSBC Alum, Heather Harris has been designing day planners and desk products since 2004 for clients including momAgenda, Barney’s, Brooks Brothers, and Tiffany & Co. In 2015, she branched out on her own to start Copper Bottom Design Co. where she and her team help product based businesses with design, proofreading and overseas production. On today’s episode, we’re talking how to know if you’re ready for overseas manufacturing, common errors people make when creating day planners and how her past experiences and skills have led her to create a thriving, enriching business for herself.
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Jen Gotch is the chief creative officer and fearless leader of Ban.do. Jen founded the company in 2008 with no prior business experience and was able to transform it from a small, vintage, one-of-a-kind hair accessory company into a million dollar brand within years. I had the pleasure of working with Jen when she was a speaker at our Tradeshow Bootcamp Business Camp conference. She not only offers a wealth of information, but she’s passionate about helping creative entrepreneurs succeed. On today’s episode, we’re talking about how Ban.do evolved into the lifestyle brand it is today, why having a strong brand is the best thing you can do for your business and the importance of making time for self-reflection no matter how many years you’ve been in business.
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Tara Gentile is the founder of CoCommercial, a digital small business community for entrepreneurs serious about making money, impacting their communities, and transforming the lives of those they love. She’s also the host of Profit. Power. Pursuit., a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of successful small businesses. Entrepreneur named it one of 24 top women-hosted podcasts for business owners. Tara’s work has been featured in Fast Company, Inc, DailyWorth, Forbes, and The Huffington Post.
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Rachael Hetzel is the owner of Pistachio Press, a boutique letterpress printing and design studio based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2007, Pistachio Press produces a wholesale line of sweet and slightly snarky stationery products that are sold nationally and internationally. Pistachio Press also creates social invitations, business stationery, and prints commercially for a variety of clients. She’s been a Tradeshow Bootcamp speaker since 2011 and is an excellent teacher and mentor for creative entrepreneurs. On today’s episode Rachael and I dish about mindset shifts that come with more experience as a business owner, juggling running a business with small children in tow and why we feel it is important to give back to our industry.
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Erin Ozer is the owner of Knot & Bow. Erin got her start on Etsy in 2010 and has had tremendous, but organic growth, over the last seven years. Her stationery, gift wrap and party goods can be found in more than 1500 retail shops around the world, including Paper Source, Anthropologie, Container Store, and Hallmark just to name a few. On this episode Erin talks about her humble beginnings, manufacturing challenges she experienced, and how she slowly but strategically added members to her team.
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Kimberley is the New York sales representative for Crow + Canary. During her 15+ year career in the stationery industry, Kimberley has worked at Crane & Co., Kate’s Paperie, as well as two of her own independent boutiques. She got her start running a letterpress studio, and has since worked all sides of the business – manufacturing, wholesaling, custom printing, multi-unit retail, buying, merchandising, and now repping. Kimberley’s vast experience in the industry provides a unique and valuable perspective. On today’s episode Kimberley talks about the role of sales reps, why you need a printed catalog for wholesale and the importance of giving back.
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Owned and operated by Briana Feola and Jason Snyder, Brainstorm is a print shop and collaborative design studio rooted in the production of original art prints inspired by science, nature, and the outdoors. Briana & Jason have done some creative collaborative projects with big brands such as Lollapalooza, Patgonia, Airstream trailers and an upcoming project with L.L. Bean. On today’s episode Briana and Jason talk about how their love of learning inspires their work, using a strong brand to attract the right clients and why your business should always be in some state of transition.
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Meg Sutton of Belle & Union Co., started her business in 2012 with a focus on creating handmade, American-made goods. Belle & Union has seen a ton of growth in their business in the last five years expanding from the world of letterpressed greeting cards into textiles, home goods, kitchen wares and paper gift products. On today’s episode, Meg and I talk about research & development of new products in the handmade space, working with sales reps, goal setting and how running a business is a marathon, not a sprint.
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