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.
Read MoreToday’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.
Read MoreTSBC 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.
Read MoreTSBC 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.
Read MoreTSBC 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.
Read MoreTSBC 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.
Read MoreJen 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.
Read MoreTara 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.
Read MoreRachael 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.
Read MoreErin 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.
Read MoreOwned 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.
Read MoreMeg 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.
Read MoreKatie Wilson is the owner of The Good Twin, a stationery company known for its playful illustrations and hand-rendered type. Katie’s story is a unique one in that The Good Twin is her second successful business in the stationery industry. On today’s episode, Katie and I will talk about the pros and cons of being ahead of trends, the importance of slow sustainable growth and why we should never ever compare ourselves to other people’s businesses.
Read MoreSara McNally is the owner of Constellation & Co., a letterpress studio and retail shop based in Seattle. She attended Paper Camp in 2013 prior to jumping into wholesale and doing her first trade show. On today’s episode Sara talks about juggling a manufacturing business and retail shop, utilizing interns and falling in love with letterpress.
Read MoreKristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life’s moments, big and small. Kristen created Thimblepress out of her garage in 2012 and the company has seen tremendous growth since then. She now has a team of 15 full-time and part time employees and the company occupies 7000 square feet that includes 2 brick and mortar retail locations. Kristen’s products are now sold in over 1500 retail stores internationally and she continuing to work with brands to create unique collaboration and partnership opportunities! Kristen attended Tradeshow Bootcamp in 2013, prior to launching to the wholesale market. On today’s episode we’re talking about hiring from within, fostering a team environment, things to consider when entering professional partnerships and how she fell into business backwards.
Read MoreLindsay Henry, the founder and creative director of Inklings Paperie opened up shop in 2011 via Etsy and launched the wholesale market in 2015. Her paper products and party goods can now be found in more than 200 retail shops, including Target, Paper Source, and Anthropologie. On this episode we’ll talk about creating excellent client experience, slow but thoughtful growth, and why both of us need to make more time for self-care.
Read MoreSam Kramer, the head boss lady at Near Modern Disaster got her start in business in 2009 and amped things up in 2014 when she began selling wholesale, did her first trade show and she expanded her product line into greeting cards, mugs, notepads and enamel pens. On today’s episode, Sam talks about her process for developing new products, the importance of releasing new products regularly and how working with sales reps has helped her scale her business. Sam attended Tradeshow Bootcamp’s Paper Camp in 2013 prior to launching her wholesale program.
Read MoreJen Pham-Corbett and Lisa Towns, the founders of Farewell Paperie attended Tradeshow Bootcamp’s very first Paper Camp conference in 2012, when it was just a handful of us sitting around on the living room floor of a bed and breakfast, and since then, they’ve had a ton of growth in their business. They’ve exhibited shows, expanded their product line. They’ve hired a team, and they’ve worked with sales reps. They’ve also been TSBC speakers for the last few years. These ladies are super smart business women and fantastic mentors to others in the creative field.
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