Part 2 behind the why of closing my product business.  You may have heard that I recently announced the closing of my beloved gifting shop, Bocu. Inside this bonus episode, I’m sharing six lessons learned this year as I’ve navigated the decision.  Whether you are at a crossroads in your own business, considering closing, or just in the thick of it - these lessons will encourage you to give yourself grace and open you up to a new perspective as you weigh your choices.  Video Referenced in...

You may have heard that I recently announced the closing of my beloved gifting shop, Bocu. Inside this (very raw, real) episode, I share the full story behind the Why.  How I came to the decision.  What went into it.  And what happens when you give yourself the permission to evolve.  Trigger Warning: this episode discusses infertility If you are currently in this season, know that you are not alone. CONNECT FURTHER WITH KRISTIN! Listen to the private podcast series UNLOCKING FAIRE - Get...

Have you ever wondered how you could get into TJMax or Home Goods? Or wondered if it’s right for your product brand? This Buyerside Chat episode is with my friend, Jennifer O’Hare - founder of gift box studio Belle Box Co and former Senior Merchant at TJX Companies. She shares invaluable insights into the off-price world!  In this episode you’ll learn about -  The power of the off-price marketTips to get into off-price retailers and negotiate with the corporate buyersTips to leverage...

Today’s chat is about getting comfortable with your numbers and facing them head on! We’re talking about how to set sales goals for your product business, and how having a sales and inventory plan can help reduce anxiety around peak sales times.  We will go over how to either set a plan, or to revisit your existing plan for Holiday to make sure you feel really good about it. We will talk though how to do this by: - Having a plan for the full floorset AND specifically Black Friday and Cyber...

Have you ever found yourself sitting on a TON of inventory for a product that you thought for sure was going to be a best-seller but ended up being a total flop?  We’ve all been there (it even happens in major corporate retail, too). But there is a way to strategically search for and test out new product ideas to find your next best-seller without losing money.  In this episode of The Buyerside Chat, you’ll learn Tips to find white space opportunities in your product assortment How to...

In this episode, I sat down with Deonnah Carolus of Ecommerce Savvy to chat about all things optimization. Deonnah specializes in all things Shopify & SEO!  With Q4 Holiday sales right around the corner, now is the time to optimize your product listings leveraging modern ways of using SEO to drive traffic and conversion!  What you’ll hear in this episode:  Tips to optimize your product pages and structure your website to get the most out of SEOLeveraging how modern shoppers consume...

Have you lost sight of your goals? Are you a hamster on a wheel? Chasing shiny objects? Exhausted? With just over 5 months to go this year, now is the perfect time to pause, reflect and reset your intentions for the remainder of the year.  In this episode, you’ll be guided through an exercise to evaluate both your business and your personal life to create needle-mover, attainable goals.  Grab the FREE Download to guide you through this episode:...

What’s really working in Wholesale in 2024?  In this episode of the podcast, Katie Hunt, CEO of Proof to Product, shares her unique journey from building her own product brand to coaching thousands of product business owners in the wholesale business.  We chat about: - The state of the wholesale industry in 2024 - How to take your business temperature - What to focus on when sales are slow - How to stay true to your goals and being intentional in your business decision-making Tune in to...

The key to a successful business lies in your ability to create goals and a schedule that aligns with your life goals first and foremost.  In today’s episode of The Buyerside Chat Podcast, I share the journey that I have been on inside my own business to shed the “corporate hustle culture” and schedule.  You’ll learn about Tips to make your business work for you (not control you)Evaluating your goals to make sure that you won’t have to sacrifice your top priorities in life in order to reach...

This week on the Buyerside Chat Podcast, I chatted with Ciara Stokeland about the importance of focusing on:  - Existing customers  - Simplifying your business model  - Leveraging historical sales data to make informed decisions. We also dive into strategies for managing inventory, optimizing profit margins, and navigating economic downturns. Grab a pen and enjoy the chat! About Ciara: Ciara Stokeland is an author, speaker, podcast host and 3x Ironman who has built and sold multiple...

GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE FAIRE BOOTCAMP >> HERE! Are you ready for the Faire Summer Market? One of the biggest wholesale buying periods is right around the corner. The market is more saturated than ever. Oh and not to mention - it's a crazy time of year for all of us with summer kicking off, kids out of school, graduations, and just ... life! The energy that you put into your business right now needs to guarantee results. You should be laser focused on results-oriented, needle...

In this episode of the Buyerside Chat Podcast, I sat down with Dianna Allen of Terra and Inventora to discuss how she scaled her candle business with just $100 to start and has since launched Inventora, an inventory and materials management system for makers.  You’ll hear us chat about: - The power of creating a wholesale strategy that aligns with your vision for your business - Tips to find your sweet spot for trade show success - How to find creative outlets in your business without...

What if I told you that the secret to your wholesale success is as simple as building a solid relationship with your ideal buyers? I’ve received hundreds of pitches from brands, and I’ve been honored to mentor brands over the last few years on this very topic… creating a wholesale buyer outreach strategy that will ACTUALLY convert.  In today’s episode, I break down my top tips to creating your own strategy that is set to scale alongside your business. Here’s what you’ll hear… Why it’s not...

Are you ready to step into your leadership role? Whether you are contemplating your first hire or you have a full team, this episode with Kira La Forgia of Paradigm Consulting will give you the clarity that you need to ensure that you and your employee(s) are protected.  What you’ll learn on this episode: - Stepping out of the business to allow your team to flourish and own their roles - How to craft the positions on your team to truly support your business needs - The difference between an...

What if I told you that you could make more money by selling LESS product? This episode of The Buyerside Chat Podcast is a foundational conversation around the retail buyer’s skillset of editing a product collection. I share how you can look at the data in your business to determine your ideal product offering that ultimately helps to reduce decision fatigue and increase conversion and profitability. In this episode, you’ll learn: The importance of removing emotion from decision...

Let’s make email marketing simple, shall we? Today’s episode is all about breaking down your marketing data to make smart email marketing decisions that save you time AND grow your list! Meet today’s guest, Jessica Totillo Coster of eCommerce Badassery. In this episode, we talk about: - Your customer’s journey with your product brand - Digital Advertising in 2024 and the importance of optimizing conversion - Ways to create enticing pop-up’s and lead gen strategies to grow your email...

Changes are coming! There is no question that AI has changed the retail industry forever. Google has been at the forefront of leveraging AI to enhance the platform, and 2024 will bring a massive change to the Google that we all know today. I am so honored to have Nina Gibson back on the podcast to discuss the new Search Generative Experience (SGE) coming to Google. In this episode, she shares: - What changes are coming to Google - The way that these changes will impact not only how...

What’s trending for 2024? Part 2! Design trends. In last week’s episode, I spoke with Jessica Richards of JMR Trend & Creative, about how trends take shape and how you can work macro and micro trends into the product that you design. In this part 2 episode today, I’m sharing what I am seeing out there as Spring 2024 design & fashion trends based on what I saw at the Winter ‘24 tradeshows in NYC and the runways. And more importantly, how to filter trends through your brand...

What’s trending for 2024? In this episode, Jessica Richards of JMR Trend & Creative, shares her insights into how trend forecasting goes beyond the latest “core” trend on TikTok and can influence now only the product that you design or buy for your boutique, but also your marketing. We reminisce on our early days working together in the fashion industry, and then get into the good stuff. In this episode, Jessica shares: - Her 2024 fashion industry trend predictions - The trend...

Today we are talking about Tradeshows! This episode is for both the brands and the buyers. Whether you are at the tradeshows or not, we’re talking about how to maximize the tradeshow season opportunity. For the brands that attend the tradeshows, you’ll get my exact email strategies to stay top of mind for buyers after the shows. For the brands that DON’T attend the tradeshows, you’ll get inspired by a few ideas to help you take advantage of the biggest buying seasons of the year. And...

Meet Jillian Oliver, the artist & owner of Gert & Co - a stationery and home goods line inspired by her home state of Maine. Prior to Gert & Co, Jillian spent nearly a decade curating home furnishings brands and creating product for mass markets while working at a large e-commerce furniture company and later an area rug manufacturer. In today’s episode of The Buyerside Chat Podcast, we’re chatting about her path from corporate to entrepreneur and how her ecommerce experience...

Ready to scale your product biz profitably and without overwhelm? Check out The Product Scaling Intensive - Created for established product biz owners to give you mentorship and education tailored specifically for your unique business needs. In today’s episode of The Buyerside Chat Podcast, we’re chatting about investing in mentorship and education for your business. I got vulnerable and shared what the last few months have been like in my business, the decision I recently made to invest...

Introducing… The Product Scaling Intensive! (The ONLY way to work with me through Q2…) You asked. I’m answering! In today’s episode of the Buyerside Chat Podcast, I’m answering your questions that were submitted on Instagram and inside The Buyerside Club. We’re spilling the tea on Wholesale and Mindset while you’re scaling your product brand. The topics covered in this episode are: - working with brand reps to get your product into big retail stores - production capacity for handmade...

The retail landscape is continuing to change and evolve as it always does. In order to stay relevant and create a brand that can scale, you must be open to evolving alongside your consumers and buyers. In today’s episode of The Buyerside Chat podcast I breakdown my top 5 predictions for retail consumer trends. From technology, to marketing, to value-based shopping, these are the trends that I gathered from my research and conversations to help guide you as you set out to crush 2024 and...