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Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Stefa Normantas. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Stefa Normantas ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
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Episode 000 – Host, Stefa Normantas
Manage episode 216098538 series 2431246
Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Stefa Normantas. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Stefa Normantas ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
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26 επεισόδια
Manage episode 216098538 series 2431246
Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Stefa Normantas. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Stefa Normantas ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
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26 επεισόδια
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×Episode 024 – Summer Bucket List Challenge Summer is not done yet! At the time of this recording, summer is coming to a fast close. But wait, there’s still a little more summer to be savored! This special mini episode (short!) shares a fun way our team makes sure we don’t miss the most important parts of summer. And a little competition helps spice it up! Take our Summer Bucket List challenge. Download our summer bucket list challenge here.…
Episode 023 – Gregg Shapiro, New England Made Shows Are Wholesale Giftware Trade Shows For You? If you’ve ever wondered how to determine if a gift show is for you, listen in. With more than 25 years of experience, Gregg Shapiro shares his expertise in the needed mindset and preparation for success in wholesale giftware shows. A little about Gregg Gregg Shapiro is Vice President of Sales & Business Development for Green Tree Event Consultants, producers of the New England Made Shows. For over 25 years he’s developed a keen knowledge of business-to-business media across myriad platforms. An alum of Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, prior to joining Green Tree he has worked in media sales and marketing for the International Health and Racquet Club Association (IHRSA), United Publications and Diversified Communications. To reach Gregg, you can email him at gregg@nemadeshows.com or call him at 207.517.6816. Thoughts from Gregg You need to be absolutely certain that the products that you are considering offering to wholesale are turning an appropriate profit to your business and can be made and can be scaled. I always get a little bit concerned when somebody says most of their products are one-of-a kind/made-to-order because that doesn’t typically align well with mass production and wholesale. You need to create a booth environment that really talks about the merchandising of your product and how it’s going to be best displayed for selling. Quotable “Wholesale has to be a multi-year enterprise.” “A show environment allows you over the course of a two, and in the case of our spring show, a three day period to get in front of a very qualified audience.”…
Episode 22– Ellen Feldman Ornato, The Bolder Company How To Survive The Dread of Networking and Actually, (Maybe!?) Enjoy It! Is there anything more uncomfortable than a networking event? For most of us walking into a roomful of strangers, it strikes dread in our hearts and makes us hide in the bathroom stall or dive into the punch bowl. However, you’ve got to increase your network to grow your business. In this episode, Ellen Feldman Ornato gives us tips and new strategies for making networking and public speaking a skill you can master. Pull up a chair and take notes…there’s gems in this one. A little about Ellen Feldman Ornato Ellen Feldman Ornato is a serial entrepreneur from a family of entrepreneurs! Her formal education is in city planning & economic development but she grew up in a “retail family” and has owned businesses in addition to full time jobs since 1990. Ellen launched The Bolder Company with her friend, Jenny Drescher, in 2014 and the two have been on a growth trajectory since then! Their business focuses on increasing connection and performance at the heart of workplaces. To learn more about Ellen and The Bolder Company, you can visit www.theboldercompany.com. Thoughts from Ellen Let’s abolish the name ‘networking’ and call it ‘meeting people.’ Lower your expectations, say ‘how can I meet these people this evening and have a nice conversation.’ Meetings that happen in the morning tend to be more substantive than evening receptions. Make small notes on the back of business cards right after the event so you don’t forget who they are. Recommended Resources Small Business Association SCORE Connecticut: The Entrepreneurial Center & Women’s Business Center Quotable “Nobody can represent you and what you do better than you.” “Try improv!” “Remember where you came from.”…
Episode 21 – Lisa Mossel Vietze, Archipelago Do’s and Don’t From A Seasoned Buyer and Artist What does a retail buyer look for? How do you handle exclusivity? How do you even get in the door?! Lisa not only has exceptional retail expertise, but also understands the mindset of an artist. She shares do’s and don’ts of approaching retailers – valuable advice for anyone looking to connect with a specialty retailer. Listen in now! A little about Lisa Mossel Vietze Lisa has been Director of Archipelago for 11 years. She combines her experiences of working in retail and non-profit environments as Archipelago is not only a retail space [store, gallery and online] but a program of the Island Institute as well. She’s also a fine art photographer and have been making images for 30 years, with photography exhibits around New England and collected throughout the U.S. Her website is www.LisaMosselVietze.com To learn more about Lisa and Archipelago, you can visit www.thearchipelago.net Thoughts from Lisa It takes different skills to do art and make art and be creative than it does to run a business. I love helping artists uncover their voice as well as guide people through the process of being an artist. I think one of the most exciting things is seeing someone who is truly being themselves and sharing that vision with the world. Make sure you let your buyer know what’s new in your line. Recommended Resources Maine.gov/business Art Business Institute CERF+ – the artist’s safety net Imaginarium by Claire Rosen Quotable “One of the really important things for an artisan is to know if they want to be a business.” “Narrow your focus when you transition from doing craft fairs—focus on the best products that can reach your customers.” “Good retailers really want you to succeed and have a partnership in doing that.” “I hope that everyone who is running an arts business maintains a piece of themselves and their creative process for that real fun piece that keeps them engaged and inspired and doing what their vision is in the world.” “Trust your intuition, trust your own process and be your best self and engaged and see where that leads you.”…
Episode 020 Why do Martha Stewart, American Craft Week, and Yankee Magazine all find Matt Beaudoin’s work irresistible? Does his success come from the love of the work or the fear of failure? Listen in to hear how Matt has taken his grandfather’s lessons to build an anchor business for his community. A little about Matt and Mystic Knotwork Matt started nautical knottying from his earliest memory. His grandfather Alton Beaudoin encouraged him to learn fancy knotwork since he was 7 years old. He’s been active in the knot tying hobby for 41 years and left his IT job in 2009 to pursue this full time. Mystic Knotwork now serves over 400 shops around the country and has two workshops open to the public in Downtown Mystic, CT. “My grandfather won the first Mystic Outdoor Art Festival in 1957, which is what we use to mark the start of our business. Our first ‘modern’ award was the 2014 Heritage artisan award at Martha Stewart American Made. 2015, American Craft Week named us their Artisan Extraodinaire. 2016, we were named SCORE’s Small Business Champion, 2017, Business Insider named our work the #1 Souvenir for Connecticut, 2018, we won the Governor’s Award for CT Tourism as well as the Small Business of the Year by the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. This year, Yankee Magazine recognized us as their Editor’s Choice for Connecticut Made work.” To learn more about Matt and his company, visit MysticKnotwork.com . Thoughts from Matt Price your wholesale first, then mark up to your retail. That way if somebody buys wholesale, you’ll feel the celebration when somebody buys retail. We are challenged by politicians that don’t understand artisan or manufacturing businesses built on trades skills and not automation. I’m most proud to be an ambassador for the state of Connecticut. Recommended Resources Asana – project workflow Small Business Association SCORE E-Myth by Michael Gerber Quotable “Be ready for a ride and be ready to be a student of the game.” “Hire people you can trust and help foster that trust in people. “It takes time to get traction and go.” “Don’t let opportunities slip by, but don’t also expect returns you can see.”…
Episode 019 The road to wholesale does not usually start with genetic sequencing, but Holly Kenny of Elsie Kaye Glassworks has made her own path with a torch in hand. Listen in as she shares how she continues to evolve her business to support both her creative expression and the market she serves. A little about Holly Holly Kenny has been creating unique artisan jewelry, giftware and kitchenware using a torch and glass rods since 2008. She owns Elsie Kaye Glassworks, an artisan studio and gift shop that features the work of New England artisans. To learn more about Holly and Elsie Kaye Glassworks, you can visit https://elsiekaye.com/ . Thoughts from Holly I’m most proud of developing an artist community here in my town, and my area because right around me there’s not whole lot of that… that’s been pretty amazing. Go after what you want. I was afraid it wouldn’t work, but just don’t be afraid to try it and see how it goes. Recommended Resources Lewis Howes School of Greatness podcast Profiting by Design: A Jewelry Maker’s Guide to Business Success by Marlene Richie Quotable “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and make sure that you surround yourself with really good people to help you do the things that you can’t do it.” “Focus on what you’re good at and not compromising the quality of the work that you do to grow bigger, but just focusing on what you do–do it well.”…
From Craft to Artists and More – A Conversation with the Maine Crafts Association Episode 018 The Maine Crafts Association works to support craft artists with marketing and educational opportunities. While craft doesn’t always successfully crossover into wholesale, Sadie Bliss, Director, knows the best practices of the most successful craft artists and shares them with us in this episode! A little about Sadie Sadie grew up in New Hampshire where her mother was a professional craft artist making a living from her ceramic work. While in graduate school receiving a degree in Arts Administration Sadie worked for the Society of Arts and Crafts, managing Craft Boston. She moved to Maine in 2008 and began working for the Maine Crafts Association at the Center for Maine Craft and in 2012 moved into the director role. The Maine Crafts Association offers educational, marketing and retail opportunities to members, including professional development focused on wholesale. To learn more about Sadie and the Maine Crafts Association, you can visit https://mainecrafts.org/ or email her at sadie@mainecrafts.org . Thoughts from Sadie I think what people really need is to have some income from craft shows, some income from open studios, some income from wholesale, some income from maybe a consignment arrangement so that as each one of those different sources ebbs and flows, the other ones can carry you. The mistake is when people make decisions a little bit too quickly about what’s working and not working and limit their income. If you start imagining things and how you would want them to be and how growth could look, sometimes things will start falling in place. Recommended Resources Indie Retail Academy Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts Maine Crafts Association Quotable “I love it when people quit their jobs and then move over and just do this craft business they’ve been building. It’s a really wonderful and scary and a brave step.” “The most successful craft artists have honed in on their best income streams and they also continue to take risks and to grow.” “Successful artists are finding the balance of sticking to their vision and their style and spending their time making the things that they want to make while making small adjustments that meet the demands of the market.”…
Denise O’Reilly likes to burn things. And they’re beautiful. Episode 017 As the owner of The Burnt Shop, Denise has been gone from making holiday gifts for friends to quitting her leader role at Whole Foods. How did she go from presents to profit? How does she create new products? With a lot of hard work and smart growth along the way. Learn how she’s heating up her wholesale business in this episode. A little about Denise Denise O’Reilly, owner artist at The Burnt Shop, moved her home and business to Maine in 2018 from Glastonbury, Connecticut. She launched her line of botanically inspired kitchen and barware 4 years ago by selling at farmers markets and art shows. She transforms her pen and ink drawings into etched and woodburned pieces out of her home studio. Her creations of beautiful, eco-friendly items for the home, are now being carried in close to 50 stores across the Northeast. To learn more about Denise and her company, you can visit www.theburntshop.com or email her at info@theburntshop.com . Thoughts from Denise I can make an item, maybe even take a little video while I’m making it, post it [on social media] and within minutes know whether it’s a win or not. That feedback is so valuable. If you decide you want to do something, simplify your home life and go all in. Don’t wait until you’re ready because you never going to be ready. You don’t have to settle for the grind. Recommended Resources The Nutmeg Collective – business support Creative Live – online classes https://www.creativelive.com/class/how-make-living-selling-what-you-make-megan-auman Healthy habit: eat healthy, live a simple life. BONUS PRO TIP: Before you consider renting additional space for your studio, first see if you can reclaim space by putting rarely used things in a local storage unit. Usually it’s a cheaper option! Quotable “It’s important for my sanity to live a very frugal and simple lifestyle.” “There’s such a community out there [on social media]. If you’re just helpful, appreciative and respectful to your other fellow makers….everyone gets lifted up.” “Even when things go wrong, I’m pretty good at sitting back and saying…’all right, what’s this going to teach me.’”…
From monkeys to Mad Gabs, the kitchen to QVC—building a life with lip balm. Episode 16 From monkeys (yes!) and a failed math class to selling to retailers like Wegmans and Whole Foods Market, Gabrielle has grown up with her Mad Gabs business. How did she do it? One lip balm at a time and more. From her start selling out of the back of her car, listen in to hear the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. A little about Mad Gabs Gabrielle Melchionda began making lip balm while studying anthropology at Umass Amherst in 1991 searching unsuccessfully for a lip balm that wasn’t greasy or waxy but was made with natural ingredients. She created her own formula using beeswax from her neighbor and gave to friends and family who couldn’t get enough. They convinced her to start selling in stores locally and Mad Gab’s was born. What began as a kitchen-based hobby became a small business and ultimately Gabrielle’s life work. Mad Gab’s celebrated 28 years in business in 2018—and currently works with retailers around the US like LL Bean, Wegmans, Cracker Barrel, Whole Foods Market and countless amazing independent stores. Mad Gab’s products have appeared on QVC, and in a variety of magazines including Vogue, Elle, Seventeen and Business Week. When not playing Maestra of Mad Gab’s, Gabrielle enjoys life with her two sons, Silas and Jasper, traveling, writing, cooking and working with startup companies and budding entrepreneurs. To learn more about Gabrielle and her company, you can visit www.madgabs.com or email her at gab@madgabs.com . You can also learn more about how she’s working to empower girls at her GabsGirls program . Thoughts from Gabrielle If we can take something and give it different identities and put those products into different markets. How beautiful is that? Pro tip: pick an airline, pick a hotel and pick a car for your brands and stick with them. The loyalty pays off. Even if you’re not traveling a ton. It does make a difference. We should all seek counsel on a regular basis. Gabrielle’s Consulting Gabrielle is currently providing consulting support. “I’m a great fit for small business owners and startups who want counsel on the following: strategizing, sales, marketing, packaging, copy-writing-editing, trade shows selection and booth design, art direction, sales reps, goal setting, work-life balance support, and general coaching. What I do tends to blur the lines between a sounding board, a coach, and a bit of emotional support. I’m all about free resources, too and often work in conjunction with folks also in touch with SCORE, SBDC, CEI, etc.” Email her for more info! Recommended Resources SCORE – free volunteer mentors SBDC – free business support New Ventures – business support Startup Maine, Portland, Maine 3 day conference Greenlight Maine – business competition show Quotable “One of the most powerful things in small business is the pause. Whenever you don’t think you have time to stop is when you need to stop the most.” “Your body doesn’t just belong to you. It belongs to those who love you.” “We become part of people’s lives. And the relationships that we have with our retailers, our reps, our consumers, our employees or former employees… and without them, we aren’t anything in our lives or as a business.…
From 18 months to 275 stores–It’s A Wrap Episode 15 Michelle has always taken what’s around her and made something beautiful and useful. She also has a passion for learning. In the last 18 months, she’s taken her love of textiles and learning to the next level while solving a problem of single-use plastics in an elegant, practical way. Z Wraps are a beautiful, reusable beeswax food wrap. They are a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. You can use it to keep your bread, sandwiches, snacks, veggies, and hard cheeses fresher, for longer. Michelle shares her inspiring story of how she’s taken her idea to 275 stores in less than 2 years! A little about Z Wraps Michelle started working on Z Wraps in April 2017 and sold her first wraps into stores starting in January 2018. Her husband Steve is the wizard behind the scenes waxing the fabric as well as working the numbers for inventory management. Michelle also has 2 girls, Sage who is 6 and Eva who is 3. They all live and work in Western, MA. To learn more about Michelle and her company, you can visit www.myzwraps.com or email Michelle at michelle@myzwraps.com . Thoughts from Michelle When I find something that I’m really interested in, it just lights a fire underneath me and I can’t forget about it. I’m proudest about the responses that I’m getting from our customers and the stories that I hear people say about how excited they are that we’ve given them a solution to single-use plastic. There’s no such thing as a well-oiled machine. Recommended Resources Podcast – How I Built This with Guy Raz From NPR Mentors – Valley Venture Mentors Quotable “It’s not going to happen if you don’t love it.” “It’s ok to be wrong. Be ok with being in the right 80% of the time.” “Talk to people. Get out there and talk to people. Share your ideas. Nobody is going to steal your idea. They don’t have time to steal your idea!”…
What You Need To Know About Sales Reps - Episode 14 What do giftware and specialty food sales reps do? How do they get paid? How much? When is it a good time to get one? What should you ask your sales rep and what do you do when it’s not working out. We cover all these and more from seasoned sale rep, Jane Hughes, and learn about her 26 years in the business! A little about Hughes & Co. Jane Hughes of Hughes and Co., a Vermont-based rep company, has been an independent sales rep for 26 years. She also now offers retail consulting to retail store owners to help them increase sales and/or set up a new store. To connect with Jane, email her at Jane.hughesco@gmail.com . Thoughts from Jane Sales reps allow a business to focus on producing their product, not selling Reps are paid by commission only, usually ranging between 15-20% for giftware, 10-12% for specialty food Reps are not distributors If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, it may be time to consider a rep Do your homework—get out there and see what else is out there. If you’re putting in all this work, you want to be able to sell your product! Recommended Resources Healthy Habit – Fresh air and yoga! Social media – Instagram Book – In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney Quotable “Listen to your customers before you start talking to them.” “Don’t judge a book by its cover. You just never know what someone could be dealing with in their life.” “Get some fresh air, get some sunshine, and then come back to your work!”…
A conversation about living your life and having a business too. Where do you get your inspiration for your latest business? Sometimes it comes in a bag of chips! Heidi Feldman not only gets her inspiration from the magical island beauty of Martha’s Vineyard, but from assessing what resources are available and working to create a life that blends the most essential items together. A little about Martha’s Vineyard Sea Salt Martha’s Vineyard Sea Salt is produced by husband and wife team of Heidi Feldman and Curtis Friedman, a tech consultant-turned-entrepreneurial farmer and carpenter who share a commitment to local, sustainable food production and a deep love of Martha’s Vineyard. Part geek, part farmer, and 100% able to “make meaningful conversation with wallpaper,” Heidi is co-owner with Curtis of Down Island Farm. Heidi is passionate about living local and reviving the tradition of making sea salt on Martha’s Vineyard. To learn more about Heidi and her company, visit https://www.mvseasalt.com/ Thoughts from Heidi We very much try to promote our retailers through social media I’m proud that we have a nearly zero carbon footprint My business has taught me to shut up and listen! Recommended Resource Design/Web - Carmine Morra - carminemorra.com SEO - Brian O’Connor - https://www.brunch.money/about EcoBags Products Inc - Sharon Rowe - The Magic of Tiny Business Roadfood.com for food while traveling ( https://roadfood.com/ ) Quotable “You’ve got to give away that which you are not either proficient in or don’t like doing.” “Don’t break yourself for your business. It’s not worth it.” “Don’t be so shy!”…
It took 30 years for Suzanne’s idea to come to fruition, but today Port City Pretzels are enjoyed across the country…and boy, are we glad she’s brought her vision to the marketplace. While some her age would be slowing down, Suzanne is running full speed in growing a business. Her perseverance through hardship and a continued focus on moving forward no matter what the challenge holds plenty of lessons for all of us. Listen in and learn her best advice and how she uses the expertise of organizations like SCORE, Women’s Business centers and SBA/SBDCs to help her navigate growth in the specialty food market. A little about Port City Pretzels Suzanne Foley had the idea of bringing a food product to market over 30 years ago, but instead held management positions for most of her career. In 2015, at 57 thinking retirement was on the distant horizon she suddenly found herself unemployed. At the same time, she suffered overwhelming personal heartache. However, she never stopped believing in herself. With a solid resume and a hard work ethic, in the fall of 2015 she launched Port City Pretzels. Her passion for independence and creativity was the driving force behind her decision to introduce a specialty food product into stores. She has seen significant growth and finds herself now with a national presence and a prediction for greater future success. Her business concept has been recognized by the Small Business Development Administration for entrepreneurial activities and she is a 100% Women Owned Business. With a great deal of enthusiasm, she captures the essence of a true entrepreneur. To learn more about Suzanne and her company, visit https://portcitypretzels.com/ . Thoughts from Suzanne When I started, my family thought I was nuts! I’m proud that I’m providing gainful employment. I have a number of workers with disabilities which just evolved, and I love that…it comes from my heart proud. Age is not a barrier The challenge is maintaining the sweet spot of growth—not growing too fast or too slow. Ask for help, you can’t do it all Recommended Resource Small Business Association SCORE Quotable “I have more energy when I can step away and come back.” “It’s easy for us to put the love and the passion into our product, service or craft…but you’ve got to know your cost of goods. You’ve got to know your margins and understand your financials.” “Believe in yourself!”…
How do your products get from Whitinsville to the White House? It’s the little things! For Christine Guanipa of Little Man, it’s not about the work, but it’s about the people. Learn how she has built her line of textile handbags and accessories as well as a family business that cares for its community members. A little about Little Man Little Man is a simple, functional collection of textile handbags, accessories, and baby goods made for everyday living. Their prints are vintage-inspired, modern driven and created by hand in limited production from their Massachusetts studio. To learn more about Christine and her company, you can visit www.littlemanoriginals.com or email Christine at littlemanoriginals@yahoo.com . Thoughts from Christine What’s really exciting is when our pieces got picked up and sold at the White House. It’s been awesome. As you start your own business, it’s really your own personal journey. You can take different principles people tell you, but because your business is so personal—it’s very organic and evolves—there are successes and lessons that are really your own. As I’ve told my daughters, appreciate giftings and celebrate giftings you see in other people. Stay in your own lane and don’t compare—it’s not good. Thankfulness…gratitude goes a long way. Recommended Resource Book: Crash The Chatterbox by Steven Furtick Quotable “The most important thing that the business has taught me is that it’s not about me, it’s about people. Even as much as I love creating, making the bags, I love curating my bag selection, but I love serving people…it’s about making people happy, even if it’s just a little handbag.”…
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