What would you do if your factory closed down overnight? How would you cope?   Megan from Second Scout is a guest on the podcast today and generously shares her journey and  some of the ups and downs of having a product-based business. Last year, Megan went through a major down and we discuss how she was able to come back from it better than ever. If you ever start a product business, a good rule of thumb is to always be prepared. You never know when a stockist is going to pull away, a...

Kip&Co is an Australian Lifestyle brand that never stops evolving. From the early days of the croc print bed linen (anyone have that print?) to developing beautiful womens and kids apparel, lighting, pet accessories, tableware and so much more.  If you have ever wanted to build your own brand or you are doing so right now then  this is a must listen. I spoke with Alex McCabe about how she and her two business partners  (sisters) Hayley and Kate built Kip&Co from the ground...

Email marketing is a huge game changer for any business, especially product-based businesses. Think about all the times you’ve gotten an email from Target or Amazon. Did that prompt you to buy something from their site or at least think about it more? Today, I share the best email marketing strategy with you for product-based businesses. This will help you make sure you’re not only selling your products but also ensuring a positive customer experience. I discuss all of the...

Bumping in and bumping out of markets is A LOT of work. Besides the sales and the sore feet you get, what else is a reason to attend a market? We all know it can be great for brand awareness, exposure for your brand and products, a great way to build your mailing list and for customers to see products in real life (IRL) as well to touch and feel them. Today I sharing 5 More Unexpected Perks of Attending Markets that may make you stop and reconsider the cost vs true value of your next...

How are you sabotaging yourself? Do you even realise you are doing it? Money Mindset some of those topics that you might not even be aware of...BUT once you are, you start to notice little things in your daily life that you may need to work on to help improve the way you deal with money, how you are potentially self sabotaging yourself from earning more or holding your business back because of fears. Are there things that trigger you that maybe you need to reviewing and trying to figure...

As a former buyer for my own Retail store I got to meet some amazing brand owners and see some absolutely stunning collections each and every season. Walking into the most amazing French inspired trade event 12 years ago (Mama and Papa) I spotted a beautiful collection of girls dresses, sequins, tulle and embroidery from the brand Bella and Lace.   Now anyone who knows me will know I flocked to those gold stars and sequins pretty fast.  I got to meet Kate, the owner and designer of a brand...

VM (visual merchandising) is a real combination of art and science. It can't just be beautiful. It has to work to sell your products also! I spend a lot of time in Retail stores and after nearly 40 years working in it (yes i started dery early!). I have picked up a thing or two! In this episode I dive into 10 common mistakes Retailers (bricks and mortar physical stores and at markets and pop ups too) make that can be tweaked and changed to help you boost sales and provide alternative...

Hands up if you want more sales?  Whether that is selling more on your own ecommerce store (DTC) or selling wholesale there are 3 ways to increase your sales. Get more customers (new ones) Get the customers you have to buy more each time (AOV). Get the customers have to buy more often  (frequency) Today I am giving you 5 quick tweaks and updates you can make to your website that can go a long way to boosting your conversion rate. Things that don't break the bank nor take hours and hours...

I myself love a good trade show.  I have just spend 4 days in Sydney at the @life_instyel and @reedexpo trade shows for lifestyle , beauty and fashion products. Why do I love them though? Why do they work and why should you attend? Whether as a buyer or as an exhibitor? They are not a cheap investment in your business so why put yourself out there and take the risk? What are the things you need to when looking at whether they have been successful or not.  What should you  consider to...

Ahh Mindset ...I have heard some people audibly sigh when they hear it mentioned.  But call it what you will the way you speak to yourself, the beliefs you hold and the way they impact your actions can also impact your business and your levels of success.  In this episode I discuss the importance of mindset in business.  How your limiting beliefs impact your behaviour and the actions you take.  I explain the most common 3 limiting beliefs I have seen that I believe may be holding you back...

How much spirituality do you incorporate into your daily business practices ? Is it something you want to do more of, are you exploring this side of yourself and how it can help you in your business? The past few years I have really started exploring this area so much more. From tarot readings, to crystals to daily journaling, affirmations, visualisations and manifestation. The woo side of business excites me and I want to start sharing more of this with you here as well.  For such a...

When you think of an offer or a promotion do you only revert to price discounts? There are so many different things you can offer you customers to get them excited, get them adding to cart and hopefully increasing their LTV with you. Whether it is a gift with purchase, a special bundle offer or adding in priortiy shipping. How can you go above and beyond for your customers? How can you get them waiting in anticipation about what you are doing next, and what is coming up for you? I run...

You don't know what you don't know right. IKYYK. After over 20 years in Wholesale there are just things you can't google. These 5 are on the list. Want to increase sales or even get some sales from Wholesale listen in to this episode for some insights to help you in that domain. Want even more insights?  Come along ot my FREE webinar on the Essentials to Wholesale success. Register here: https://www.thelotco.com/wholesaleessentialsfreewebinar I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Register for...

Have you ever wondered what a Business Coach actually does or if they are right for you ?  I am a Product-Based business Coach so specifically work with product-based businesses on how to grow, scale and build a sustainable profitable and thriving Retail store or Brand.   Someone asked me the other day if I could come in and give a 'fresh eyes' perspective on what opportunities there may be, how to refine and streamline aspects of their business, how to add more sales channels or edit their...

How the heck do you use AI in your business? Have you embraced it yet? Even started to add it into your daily life? It can save so much time and money in business and can streamline processes, free up valuable time, add new dimensions to your content creation, and just amek life that little bit easier. Woh doesn't want that! Ok some of you don't. But bare with me. You might just not even realise what AI can do to help you manage your time and life better.    In this episode I dive into...

Do you want to get in front of 80 million customers? What could that do to your business? How would it feel to get 1000's of new eyes on your product and 100's of new orders every month? Monica Little has been using Etsy for selling her product for years and she shares how Etsy is such a great sales channel and an amazing tool to get in front of new customers.  They have over 80 million users and it is such an under utilised sales channel. Don't think that it is such for those with product...

Retail is not for the faint hearted but who says it is all doom and gloom.  Lauren Henry started Common Circus (a Newcastle-based business ) 9 years ago now and in this episode she shares the what, why, and how to do with  running and building her Retail stores. The freedom and choices it allows. The parts she absolutely loves and then some of the parts that are not her favourite aspects!! Come along for the journey of what it means to build a retail business, how she supports other...

What should your Instagram content look like in 2023 and heading into 2024 if you are a product-based business? Things have changed in recent times but after chatting with a number of clients who are telling me they are struggling to get sales and struggling to get in front of new customers I started asking what they are currently doing to market their business? Some answer with just instagram (which I do not recommend!) however even their instagram has minimal posting or content on it.  Or...

How well are you using Email marketing right now? Whether you are using Klaviyo, Flodesk, Mailchimp or one of the other many email systems you must be using one of them! I am passionate about helping ecommerce and bricks and mortar retail stores use Email marketing more effectively. The impact it can have on your business and the way it can generate sales for you is a big part of being a long term successful and profitable product business. You need to have strong and solid email marketing...

3 short years ago....was when I first met sisters Alicia and Jacinta from @thelittlepotionco. The Little Potion Co (a mindful magic potion making brand) was a side hustle for them both and they made everything from Jacinta’s back shed and by hand. Now 3 years later they are over a Million dollars in sales and it is testament to how much they have continued to evolve, to listen to experts and to their customers, to invest, to take risks and to thank goodness understand their margins and...

Do you want bumper sales for your last quarter of the year? It can be so hard to figure our where to focus your time and energy when you are 'doing it all'. Being we are about to hit the last 90 days of the year. Here’s 4 things to focus on in your product business and make sure you have maximise your chances. 1. Stock- have you made sure you have enough stock (and of the right stock) to get the sales you want? Your supply chain is crucial to plan out prior to this and make sure you have...

Imagine waking up tomorrow and your website sales have doubled! 🙀 And not just one day, but everyday from now on.  And they keep growing and they continue to exponentially scale. 📈 How would you feel? 💃🏻 What impact would it have on you and your family? 💰 What would you do with the extra income into your business? 🎉 Well, this is possible.   And without spending $1000's on facebook ads to achieve it. You need to want make sure your website is converting as high as possible.    What does...

Build a website and they will come. If only.  It is a mistake many product entrepreneurs are guilty of. Relying on only one sales channel. Having a product business means you need to find many ways to sell your product.  And ideally you would have multiple sales channels so you are not relying on just one.  Only selling on your own ecommerce site means you  going to paying a lot to acquire your customers.  So where does that leave you? Well, you need to explore other options.  And that is...

Hands up if you run a business and have never had any down times or low points? Yes thought so.  Not many business owners and entrepreneurs have ever had a perfectly smooth ride and perfect business.  There are always ups and downs and hard times.  It's what to do when things are tough that matters though and how to lift yourself out of the slumps and lower energy levels or try and counteract low sales that matters. You have to get scrappy and innovative and adapt and look after yourself....