build your profitable product business with mel robbins thelotco business podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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I’m switching things up in this episode and getting straight to it.

No fancy intro, no long-winded warm-up. Just a real conversation about assumptions, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves that quietly shape how we show up in our business.

Because lately, I’ve been hearing the same things again and again from product-based business owners.
 People aren’t buying anymore.
 Everyone only wants discounts.
 Nobody opens emails.
 January is dead.
 I don’t want to annoy my audience.

And honestly? Most of these are not facts. They’re beliefs. And beliefs are just thoughts you’ve repeated long enough that they feel true.

In this episode, I unpack some of the most common assumptions I see brands and retailers making about selling, marketing, email, Christmas, sales seasons, pricing, and customer behaviour. I also talk about where these beliefs come from, how negativity bias sneaks in, and why assuming the worst is one of the fastest ways to stall your growth.

We talk about why selling is not pushy or icky, how marketing is actually service, and why your job is not to guess what’s going on in someone else’s wallet.

If you’ve been holding back, second-guessing yourself, or quietly wondering if it’s even worth promoting right now, this episode is for you.

Listen in, then ask yourself one simple question.
Is this actually true, or is it just a belief I’ve been carrying around?

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

5 Things Every Promo Email MUST Have (If You Want Sales!)**

If your promo emails are getting meh opens or zero clicks, this quick-hit episode is your wake-up call. After reviewing dozens of client emails inside Nail Your Email Marketing and in my 1:1 sessions, I’ve seen the same mistakes again and again… especially during sales season.

So today, I’m walking you through the 5 non-negotiables every promo email should include to actually get opened, read and clicked.

This is your micro-masterclass in writing emails that convert, not collect dust in the inbox.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why your subject line needs to slap, not snooze

Boring subject lines get ignored. You need curiosity, clarity, or straight-up benefits. I share what makes a subject line irresistible and why A/B testing should be your new best friend.

2. The must-have CTA above the fold

If your audience has to scroll to find the link, you’ve already lost them. I break down what “above the fold” actually looks like and why clarity always wins.

3. High-contrast design that people can actually read

Pastel on pastel? Tiny fonts? Hard pass. I share my go-to readability tool and the simple graphic design rule that will instantly improve your emails.

4. Clear, non-waffly copy that respects your customer’s time

Promo emails should be quick, direct and obvious. No filler paragraphs, no “hope this finds you well.” Tell them the offer, why it matters and why they should care right now.

5. One email, one goal

If you give people too many choices, they choose nothing. I walk through why your promos need ONE job and exactly how to structure them.

+ Bonus tip

A little movement goes a long way — think GIFs, scrolling marquees, or icon-style features that communicate essential info fast.

• Subject Line Examples: here
• My favourite contrast checker: https://coolors.co/contrast-checker

• Nail Your Email Marketing Program: Learn how to create emails that convert like crazy.

Want help boosting your sales, getting your emails actually opened, and creating a marketing system that makes

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Andrew from Mennie Brand is back for part two, and we’re cracking open the real trade show debrief from his first time exhibiting at Melbourne Life Instyle. We talk expectations vs reality, what actually moved the needle (hello, SMS follow-ups), and why visuals + storytelling at your stand matter more than you think. Andrew shares hard numbers, how he organised setup on a budget (including the furniture plot twist), and what he’s changing next time to turn browsers into buyers faster.

In this episode:

• The honest verdict: pride, perspective, and the big-brand imposter syndrome that didn’t stick
• The rollercoaster after the show (and why day-10 texts lit everything up)
• Why your pitch + story need reps (and how to avoid sounding “salesy”)
• Stand strategy: show the brand world (lookbook, lifestyle shots, POS) not just products
• Relationship ROI you can’t quantify: neighbours, buyers, and in-person feedback
• Logistics on a budget: flying with stock, painting the stand, marketplace furniture backup plan
• What’s next: considering Sydney (Feb) where Life & Style and Reed combine—and how different buyers = fresh opportunities
• Collabs & customs: ~200 unit MOQs with options to split across brands

Mentions & resources:

• Book: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
• Find Andrew: Instagram @menniebrand | Stockist & custom enquiries
• Want help planning your own show? Check out my Trade Show Bootcamp and Wholesale program.
•  Retailers: want the comfiest socks your customers will rave about? Reach out to @menniebrand for stockist info or custom collabs.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Are you attending your first TRADE SHOW? Are you nervous? Excited? Freaking out?
How much money have you spent on your stand???
If you have you invested to exhibit at a trade show or are thinking about it soon, this episode is for you.

Trade shows are such a great way to boost your wholesale sales and find new stockists but they can be expensive. So if you are now freaking out….or maybe this your 3rd or 4th show and you know you have to make some tweaks to maximise your investment then take heed of these 10 can I call them commandments?

I have been involved in over 60 trade shows whether as a buyer, an exhibitor, an educator or a consultant.

There are definitely some things you need to tick off to make sure you have a successful show.

I hope these tips help you consider some extra elements you may not have thought of and also help prepare you so you are going in with eyes wide open!

I deep dive even further into this in my Trade Show Bootcamp which is a 3 part series that covers all your questions you might have about attending and gives you clarity on what to prepare and act on prior to the show, during the show and after the show.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Walking around the NZ Gift Fair was the first time I met Janet from product-based business Fox and Fallow.   It was her third trade show in just a few short months over 3 countries (NY, USA, Sydney, Australia  and Auckland, NZ).  They had won the award for best stand with a huge pink and peach plywood stand built mostly by Darrell!

Getting thrown into the deep end is how Janet likes to roll and it has helped her launch her brand onto the international stage. She likes a deadline!!

With over 2000 stockists worldwide and now a multi million dollar business she has learnt a thing or two along the way.

Listen to hear how Janet and Darrel have built their gift and stationary range from a side hustle to main hustle.   And how being scrappy and cheap can lead to the business of your dreams.
 
You can check out more about Fox and Fallow here and follow along on instagram here
 

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Hands up if you want sales from your website?

Err of course you do right?
 
Well in this episode today I am sharing 5 things your home page needs to help turn lookers into buyers.

These 5 simple little essentials help you to convert more sales and get customers adding to cart!!

Go on and check out your website now, trying to view it as someone who does not know you at all (this is hard to do)
 
And if you want more help with converting your traffic head to my 5 day boost your web sales mini series to help you 👇🏼
 BOOST YOUR SALES

The book I mentioned Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller is available here 
and other fab books you might like to help you build your business.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

How many Email Automatons do you already have set up in your business?

 An abandoned cart email sequence?

A thank you?

A welcome series or nurture sequence that tells customers a little bit about who you are?
Or are you scared to send any emails to your customers for fear they will unsubscribe?  You now how that sounds right? (they may as well not be in your list if you never send them anything!)
In this episode I dive into 5 Email Automations you should make sure you incorporate into your ecommerce marketing now.

To get more help with your Email Marketing have it bring in more income into your ecommerce business  and nurture your customers more.  Find out about how you can Nail your Email Marketing here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Everyone wants more profit right? And you have heard the saying "Sales are Vanity Profit is Sanity' but why still is all I see business owners focus on is their top line sales and not their bottom line?

Clearly they impact each other but you can get a better bottom line in more ways than just focussing on the top.

We dive into what things to focus on in your profit and loss and why setting a time for a monthly meeting with yourself and tracking KPI's is the next step to more income.

Want help nurturing your current customers more?  Sign up to my Nail your Email Marketing program now .  

In this episode of thelotco Business Podcast, business coach Melissa Robbins discusses how to increase profit in your business. She emphasizes the importance of understanding profit and loss statements, and offers practical advice on how to improve profit margins without necessarily increasing sales. Melissa suggests focusing on foundational aspects of your business, such as pricing and product mix, and nurturing existing customers to increase their lifetime value. She also recommends grouping tasks together, outsourcing, and regularly reviewing expenses to save time and money. Overall, Melissa's advice is geared towards helping listeners have a long-term, scalable, and profitable business.

- How to Increase Your Business's Profit: Tips and Strategies from a Business Coach

- Profit and Loss Statements: The Key to Long-Term Business Success

Timestamp

Understanding Profit and Loss [00:00:38]
Melissa explains the importance of regularly looking at your profit and loss statement to make better decisions about your business moving forward.

Focusing on Profit [00:03:45]
Melissa emphasizes the importance of focusing on profit as a key metric as opposed to just sales.

Cost of Goods [00:04:34]
Melissa explains the importance of understanding how much your goods actually cost you to generate sales and how to calculate your gross profit.

Understanding Profit and Loss [00:08:22]
Melissa explains the different aspects of profit and loss statements, such as top-line sales, cost of goods, and expenses, and emphasizes the importance of regularly looking at them.

Improving Gross Profit [00:10:38]
Melissa offers practical advice on how to improve gross pro

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Things have changed right!!

Without sounding like a total boomer 'back in my day I had to post 3-4  times a day and blah blah blah....' the point is Instagram has changed so much in the past 6 months let alone the last 5 years!

So what should it look like now?  What is the ideal amount of content (hint whatever you can manage but more is more 😬) that you should try and make sure you post/share/create?

I dive into all the detail in this episode and share what your stories, reels, feed, highlights and bio should include.

I try and break it down for physical retail stores and also online DTC ecommerce businesses also.

But really focused on  product-based businesses here cos it should look quite different to service based instagram models.

Got some questions after listening ?  Hit me up in the DM. And remember social media is not a marketing strategy but just one little slice of the pie that your marketing should focus on.

Want help with how the hell to market you product business?  Join my Roadmap program for a deep dive into this and so much more.

You can also grab my 100+ ideas for more content here:

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Build a mailing list they say. Grow you email database. Use email marketing more.

Ok but how do you actually grow your email list in the first place?

I started out with 5 ways to boost your email list but ended up with 10! 

Having a constant stream of new clients is important and crucial to ensure you can get the as promised 43 x ROI on email marketing.

From making sure you have an attractive website pop up, to creating QR codes and trying to build that elusive FOMO.

In this is episode I dive into the 10 ways you can use to boost your email database.

Let me know what you are using right now and what ways work for you to build  your list.

To get access to my Nail your Email Marketing click through here.

And if you want to grab some ideas on content and planning you can download my free content planner here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.