Proof to Product – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

440 | How to Stop Second Guessing Yourself with Tammie Bennett

Episode 440

mardi 28 avril 2026 • Duration 34:35

Today's episode is for anyone who has been feeling stuck lately, overthinking decisions, second guessing yourself, or just not taking action the way you want to be taking action.

If I'm being honest, this is something that I'm seeing more and more right now. The world feels heavy, things feel uncertain, the economy is soft, and that's causing a lot of business owners to hesitate, not move at all, or to second guess themselves.

That's exactly why I wanted to bring back today's guest Tammie Bennett and we are talking about what it really looks like to get unstuck to trust yourself again and to start taking action even when things feel messy or unclear. Tammie was previously a guest on the podcast back in episode 207 and episode 344.

During our conversation, we're digging into why overthinking is actually keeping you stuck, how to build your decision making muscle, and why you don't need a full plan, you just need the next step.

Today’s episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. Tammie will be joining us for a special “Unstuck Session” where she will help you gain clarity, build confidence, and strengthen your decision making muscle. She's not going to make the decisions for you, but she will help you figure out your next best step. If you're interested in this or in any other programming we have going on in LABs, join us!

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You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/440

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434 | Navigating Pinterest's AI Changes & Tips for E-commerce Brands with Heather Farris, Heather Farris Co

Episode 434

mardi 17 mars 2026 • Duration 28:54

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!

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You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/434

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354 | Paper Camp Alumni Panel with Janine Kwoh, Jesse Regis, and Lucia Saisse Morris

Episode 354

jeudi 8 août 2024 • Duration 14:58

When we have our eyes set on a specific business goal, something like selling wholesale, it is incredibly beneficial to hear from people who are a few steps ahead of us in the process, which is why we close out every round of our Paper Camp program with an alumni panel. I want our students to hear from their peers. In today's podcast episode, we're sharing a portion of our alumni roundtable with all of you.

This alumni panel features Janine Kwoh from Kwohtations, Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company, and Lucia Saisse Morris from Lucy Loves Paper.

Each of these Paper Camp alumni shares details about their brand, how many stores they're working with, what has been challenging about growing wholesale, and more.

Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit.

Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners.

Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for the next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you'll get early access to enroll.

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353 | How to Apply for a Paper Camp Scholarship with Katie Hunt

Episode 353

mardi 6 août 2024 • Duration 06:42

If you're listening today that means you're likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship!

Giving back is one of our core values here at Proof to Product and we give back through our time, knowledge as well as financial scholarships.

Since 2011, we've awarded over $275,000+ in scholarship funds to creative entrepreneurs who sell physical products to the wholesale market. These brands had big dreams of seeing their products on the shelves of their favorite stores and they have obtained huge results.

These scholarships are a big deal and we treat them that way. We typically have anywhere from 80-90 scholarship applications every round of Paper Camp. My team and I dedicate several days to view all the videos, read the applications, review websites, and ultimately whittle it down to one full tuition scholarship winner.

It's never an easy choice, but we do put a lot of care into our selections. And, today I want to share 5 ways that you can stand out when submitting your Paper Camp application.

You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/353

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352 | 5 Myths About Selling Wholesale with Katie Hunt

Episode 352

jeudi 1 août 2024 • Duration 10:34

Selling wholesale can be a valuable and lucrative strategy for businesses of all sizes, but there are a few myths about the process that can discourage some entrepreneurs from exploring whether wholesale is a good fit for them or prevent some brands from pushing further into wholesale and expanding the revenue stream. Listen in to hear 5 myths about selling wholesale and the truths behind each!

Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right For You masterclass! During this free, on-demand masterclass, we'll walk through 12 questions to ask yourself to determine if you, your products, and your business are ready to sell wholesale. I'm sharing my own tips for you to move forward confidently with your next steps.

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You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/352

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351 | Getting into Your Dream Store After Being Told No with Nellys Siria, Cocoa Loves Grey

Episode 351

mardi 30 juillet 2024 • Duration 33:59

It is so deflating when we put our work out into the world and either don't hear back or we're told that now isn't the right time. Our students feel this deeply when they are pitching wholesale accounts, but today's guest is reminding us that a no today doesn't always mean that it's a no forever.

Nellys Syria is the owner of Cocoa Loves Grey, a colorful accessories brand that sells very popular and beautiful laser-cut earrings. Nellys believes in the power of bright colors to draw people in and make them happy. She's always coming up with fun and unique items to keep her business fresh and interesting. She's a 1st generation Latina and the 1st business owner in her entire family. Nellys sells her earrings to both direct-to-consumer audiences and wholesale and her product line expanded when her husband bought a laser cutter for Christmas. We talk about how her dream store originally told her no, but eventually came back to purchase her gorgeous earrings.

Nellys shares how she was on the verge of burnout, but pushed pause to reset how she was running her business.

Today's episode is brought to you by our free, on-demand wholesale audio series. In this audio series, I'll walk you through the biggest mistakes and most common questions folks have when they are starting and scaling wholesale—so you don't make the same mistakes myself and others did. You can binge this audio series in less than an hour and you can listen on the go in your favorite podcast player. No fluff here, just concrete action steps and answers to help you simplify and strengthen your wholesale sales.

You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/351

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350 | How to Audit Your Product Line with Katie Hunt

Episode 350

mardi 23 juillet 2024 • Duration 11:27

Today's episode is short but very detailed, so find a quiet place to listen and grab a notebook. This is a quick training that I recorded for our LABS members. Our LABS members are Paper Camp alumni, so they have been through our intensive program. This is something that we walk you through in Paper Camp as well, but I wanted to bring it up here publicly on the podcast because I know from the 2024 survey results that many of you need to do a product audit.

In this episode, I walk you through the step-by-step instructions on how to audit your product line, including how to collect the data and what data to collect, analysis and what to look for, as well as how to apply what you're learning from the data to your business moving forward.

Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for our next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you'll get early access to enroll.

You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/350

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Get Access to the Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview Series

349 | Sales Rep Challenges & Opportunities with Keli Faw, Crow & Canary

Episode 349

mardi 16 juillet 2024 • Duration 38:12

I love bringing a variety of perspectives and people from the retail space to this podcast. Buyers, sales reps, you name it, they've been on the Proof to Product podcast.

This week's episode, I'm joined by Keli Faw, who is the owner of Crow & Canary. Crow & Canary might sound familiar as we've had the previous owner, Carina Murray, on the show in episode 232. Carina has also been a long-time Paper Camp speaker and supporter of our Proof to Product community.

Keli took over Crow & Canary in early 2023 after being a sales rep for the agency and a shop owner in Seattle. With over 13 years of experience as a retailer and a background in communications and PR, including stints at Microsoft and Nordstrom, Keli brings a wealth of knowledge to our conversation.

In this episode, Keli shares the challenges retailers face, from managing seasonal returns to making strategic buying decisions. We discuss the impacts of online platforms like Faire and Amazon on the wholesale markets and why there needs to be transparency and strong communication between buyers, reps, and brands.

Keli also shares her insights on navigating the sales rep relationship amidst the changes brought on by the pandemic and social media and the importance of understanding individual store dynamics and product diversification. Whether you are a retailer, a sales rep, or a brand owner, this episode offers valuable takeaways on optimizing those wholesale relationships and staying proactive in your business planning.

Today's episode is sponsored by our Unlock Buyer Secrets Interview series. To make a strong first impression with wholesale buyers, we need to do a few things really well:

We need to make it easy for stores to purchase from us
We need to have clear pricing and terms & conditions
We need to clearly communicate and add value at each touchpoint
We need to focus on building strong relationships with our customers.

And all of this becomes infinitely easier when we actively listen to our customers. This on-demand interview series will give you a competitive edge by providing an exclusive window into what buyers want and need from you. And, the best part, it's only $27 bucks.

You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/349

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348 | Optimize Your Faire Shop with Kristin Fisher, Bocu

Episode 348

mardi 9 juillet 2024 • Duration 29:56

If you want to hear from someone who has more than 18 years of corporate retail buying experience and who knows what buyers are looking for when they are shopping on Faire, you are in luck because today's guest on the podcast is Kristin Fisher of Bocu.

Kristin owns the gifting brand, Bocu, and she is also a retail strategy mentor for brands and independent retailers, as well as the host of the Buyerside Chat podcast.

In this episode, Kristin and I discuss the essentials of optimizing your Faire shop, including how to avoid common mistakes that other brands are making, maintain strong buyer relationships, and stay ahead of your competitors with effective pricing.

Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for the 44th round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you'll get early access to enroll.

You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/348

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