build your profitable product business with mel robbins thelotco business podcast

Melissa Robbins
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thelotco business podcast is dedicated to helping businesses in the fashion, retail and design industries not just survive but also thrive!! It’s a show that brings you tips, tricks and strategies to help you as an entrepreneur start, manage, and grow your creative business.   If you are a small business and feeling stuck on what to do next or how to actually kick start your idea, then tune in for some straightforward, practical business advice as well as interviews with inspiring females in the fashion, beauty and homewares space who will share not just what they do, but also how.   We cover marketing, finance, motivation, mindset and so much more. Walk away inspired to know how to start your own business or take these tips to help you grow and love the business you have now.   For coaching, courses and business advice with me check out  link text or come say hi in the DMs on my socials  @thelotco I can’t wait to help you guide you on your small business journey!!!

  1. 9 OCT

    The Power of Saying Yes: How One Opportunity Can Change Everything

    Send us a text In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my 20+ year journey with Life Instyle — from exhibiting her own kidswear brand Moppit, to becoming a buyer, educator, speaker, sponsor, and now judge for the Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship. How we helped shape the Kids Instyle section, the lessons learned from decades in the trade show world, and the incredible opportunities that open up when you take action — even before you feel ready. If you’re a product-based founder with big dreams of getting your products into stores, this episode will inspire you to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start applying for the opportunities that could change your business forever. You’ll Learn: How trade shows like Life Instyle can transform a product businessThe story behind the Kids Instyle section and my 20-year involvementWhy you should apply for the Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship (and how to know if you’re eligible)What judges are actually looking for in applicantsThe biggest mindset shift that separates brands that grow from those that stay stuckLife Instyle New Breed Scholarship (Applications close October 16th) → Prize includes a $10,000 value stand, exposure, mentorship, and more.Export Development Grant and other government funding options for product-based businessesLinks & Resources: Apply for the Life Instyle Scholarship here. Learn more about wholesale with my free training: thelotco.com/buildingawholesalesalemachine Join the Product Business Growth Club for mentorship + supportExplore the Roadmap to Profit Program to grow your product business to consistent $50K monthsSupport the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    16 min

  2. 26 SEPT

    From Beanies to Bestsellers: How Acorn Kids Grew a Seasonal Niche into a Year-Round Brand

    Send us a text A Melbourne winter. A real gap in kids’ wool headwear. A founder with a finance brain and a product heart. That is how Acorn Kids began. In this episode, Fiona Savaris shares how a winter beanie line turned into a year-round headwear brand that stockists love, why wholesale still wins for volume, and how she just launched swimwear by leveraging prints, suppliers, and existing demand. If you care about cash flow, indent, stockist relationships, and direct-to-consumer growth, you will love this founder story. Learn how to use indent orders to protect margins and place smarter production betsSee how a wholesale-first strategy can fuel longevity and repeat stockist revenueSteal the exact assets that help retailers sell more hats, beanies, and swim hatsHear the behind-the-scenes of a category expansion into swimwear that makes senseSEO keyword highlights Acorn Kids, kids hats, children’s headwear, beanies, swim hats, swimwear launch, wholesale, stockists, indent orders, Brandboom, Klaviyo email marketing, Meta ads, product photography, lifestyle imagery, cash flow, margins, MOQ, category expansion, trade shows, agents, DTC growth, Melbourne brand, Brunswick production. Top takeaways Play the long game with wholesale. Protect full price windows. Communicate. Make reorders easy.Indent = clarity. Use retailer orders to decide production and where to “back” winners.Be specialist. Headwear-specific makers and equipment show up in quality and fit.Add categories with purpose. Swim hats → swimwear leveraged prints, fabric, and brand equity.Invest in assets. Great photography and videoSupport the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    47 min

  3. 19 SEPT

    Why Your Product Isn’t the Most Important Part of Your Product Business.

    Send us a text Your product might be beautiful, high-quality, and everything your customer needs… but here’s the truth: that alone isn’t enough to grow a profitable business. In this episode, I’m diving into the mistake so many founders make, putting 99% of their energy into the product itself and forgetting the bigger picture. Because while your product matters, what matters more is how you get it into people’s hands. We’ll cover: Why “build it and they will come” is a dangerous mindset for product-based foundersThe role of retailers, stockists, and partners in helping you growThe power of distribution and getting your product in front of more peopleWhy supporting your stores and stockists is just as important as landing them in the first placeThe shift second-time founders make that first-time founders overlookWhat else matters more than the product itself (pricing, marketing, visibility, and customer experience)By the end, you’ll know exactly where to shift your focus so your product doesn’t just sit pretty on a shelf - it actually sells. ✨ Free Training Alert: Want to build a 90-day roadmap for more sales and consistent profit (without relying on social media)? Join my upcoming live training here → https://www.thelotco.com/trainings Support the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    10 min

  4. 12 SEPT

    Perseverance, Passion and Desire To Build A Unique Jewellery Brand- With Vania Truchsess.

    Send us a text What if one partnership could change your entire brand trajectory? Meet Vania Truchsess—Venezuelan-born, New Zealand-based jewelry designer whose handmade pieces landed in Karen Walker stores and unlocked a flywheel of credibility, stockists, and DTC growth. In this episode, we cover: How Vania went from babysitting to building a handmade jewelry label in NZWhy wholesale increased her direct-to-consumer sales (not the opposite)Pricing, margins, and range editing (and why you must revisit them yearly)Trade shows as a one-good-stockist play (LTV thinking > vanity order counts)Using markets, email (Flodesk), and workshops to fuel DTC demandCollaborations that borrow audiences and build brand equityBalancing creativity with cash flow, admin, and sustainable routinesThe mindset that keeps her shipping: perseverance (and a bracelet to prove it).SAVE YOUR SPOT IN MY NEW FREE LIVE TRAINING HERE: https://www.thelotco.com/trainings  Vania Truchsess is the founder of Vania, a handmade jewellery brand inspired by nature and gemstones. Her ranges span everyday unisex pieces to woven “Daydreamer” earrings and gemstone necklaces using freshwater pearls and 14k gold-filled elements. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Vania + what the brand stands for 02:20 Early making roots in Venezuela + family influences 04:45 Markets, morphing to the Kiwi aesthetic, and first “real job” detour 08:30 Range, pricing, and staying differentiated in a saturated category 09:50 The Karen Walker moment—and how credibility compounds 12:40 Why wholesale boosts DTC (yes, really) 14:50 Seasonality, Australia expansion, and realistic timelines for conversion 16:45 Trade shows: playing the long LTV game 18:20 DTC levers: email, paid/organic, markets, and beading workshops 21:10 Risks, bulk buying, duties, and owning what you do 27:40 What success looks like beyond revenue (impact stories that matter) 32:10 Evolving into fine jewelry; skills, vision, and authenticity 34:00 Creative vs. CEO time: routines and grace over perfection 41:20 Long-term partners > one-night collabs 43:15 Final advice: perseverance + smart risk Support the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    47 min

  5. 4 SEPT

    From First Trade Show Nerves to 6 New Stockists: Inside Mennie Brand’s Melbourne Life & Style Debut (Costs, Leads, Follow-Up Wins + What We’d Do Differently)

    Send us a text Andrew from Mennie Brand is back for part two, and we’re cracking open the real trade show debrief from his first time exhibiting at Melbourne Life Instyle. We talk expectations vs reality, what actually moved the needle (hello, SMS follow-ups), and why visuals + storytelling at your stand matter more than you think. Andrew shares hard numbers, how he organised setup on a budget (including the furniture plot twist), and what he’s changing next time to turn browsers into buyers faster. In this episode: The honest verdict: pride, perspective, and the big-brand imposter syndrome that didn’t stickThe rollercoaster after the show (and why day-10 texts lit everything up)Why your pitch + story need reps (and how to avoid sounding “salesy”)Stand strategy: show the brand world (lookbook, lifestyle shots, POS) not just productsRelationship ROI you can’t quantify: neighbours, buyers, and in-person feedbackLogistics on a budget: flying with stock, painting the stand, marketplace furniture backup planWhat’s next: considering Sydney (Feb) where Life & Style and Reed combine—and how different buyers = fresh opportunitiesCollabs & customs: ~200 unit MOQs with options to split across brandsMentions & resources: Book: Building a StoryBrand by Donald MillerFind Andrew: Instagram @menniebrand | Stockist & custom enquiriesWant help planning your own show? Check out my Trade Show Bootcamp and Wholesale program. Retailers: want the comfiest socks your customers will rave about? Reach out to @menniebrand for stockist info or custom collabs.Support the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    35 min

  6. 28 AUG

    Abundance vs Scarcity Mindset: How to Shift and Grow Your Product Sales

    Send us a text Abundance Mindset Isn’t Woo — It’s Your Business Superpower Is “abundance” just another fluffy buzzword? Nope. In fact, your mindset may be the difference between giving up on your product business too soon or building one that actually pays you. In this episode, I’m breaking down: What abundance mindset really means (hint: it’s not about ignoring reality).The difference between abundance vs. scarcity thinking — and how each shows up in your day-to-day business.Real examples from launches, wholesale pitching, and sales that prove why scarcity spirals kill momentum.Practical tools to rewire your thinking — journal prompts, affirmations, gratitude practices, and the “not yet” reframe.Why combining mindset + numbers (aka your data) gives you clarity, stamina, and resilience when sales feel slow.If you’ve ever found yourself refreshing your Shopify dashboard on repeat, comparing yourself to competitors, or assuming “no one wants this,” this episode is for you. 👉 Grab my free Abundance Mindset Journal Prompts + Affirmations here, and stay tuned for the upcoming 30-Day Abundance Challenge. Because mindset alone isn’t enough. Mindset + strategy is how you build a profitable product business that lasts. Support the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    18 min

  7. 14 AUG

    From Factory to Front Door: The Realities of Freight & Logistics for Product Businesses

    Send us a text If you’ve ever felt like freight is a dark art shrouded in mystery, you’re not alone.  In this episode of thelotco Business Podcast, I sit down with Christine Kanin from Pivot Freight Solutions to unpack (pun intended) the real world of freight and logistics and why getting it right can save your product business thousands of dollars (and a whole lot of headaches). Christine has over a decade in the freight forwarding industry, helping small and medium-sized businesses confidently navigate the messy, unpredictable world of importing and exporting. She’s here to pull back the curtain on what really happens between “my product is ready” and “it’s on my doorstep.” We cover: The biggest misconceptions product-based businesses have about freightWhy relying solely on your supplier’s shipping quote can be an expensive mistakeThe acronyms and terms (like Inco terms and HS codes) every founder must know before signing anythingThe real process your goods go through — from packing at the factory to clearing customs and quarantine in AustraliaHow to decide between sea freight, air freight, and couriers (and the hidden cost traps in each)Landed costs: what they are, how to calculate them, and why they should guide your pricing from day oneSeasonal and global events that can blow your shipping timelines out of the water (literally)Christine’s unique “She Freights” tours to India, helping women find manufacturers and products while learning the freight side from the ground upWhether you’re placing your very first order with an overseas supplier or managing multiple containers a year, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you stay in control, protect your margins, and avoid costly surprises. 📦 Listen in to finally get freight and logistics off your “too hard” list — and onto your “nailed it” list. Resources & Links Mentioned: Pivot Freight Solutions → find hereShe Freights Tours → hereAustrade Go Global Toolkit → hereSupport the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    39 min

  8. 8 AUG

    Inside the Trade Show Trenches: What Really Went Down at Recent Australian Trade Shows

    Send us a text In this episode, I’m giving you the ultimate insider scoop from the recent Australian trade show circuit Life Instyle, Reed Gift Fairs, and AGHA. Whether you were there, thinking about exhibiting next time, or wondering what the heck goes on behind those branded stands, this one’s for you. From the buzz on the floor and real sales numbers, to the unexpected brand collaborations and cringe-worthy mistakes I saw some newbies make—I'm breaking it all down. I’ll talk about what really makes a trade show successful (spoiler: it’s not just the orders), the importance of shelf-ready packaging and smart starter packs, and why connection not just conversion is your secret weapon. I also dive into the question I get asked all the time: Which show should I do? Life Instyle vs. Reed vs. AGHAvand the truth about what suits who. If you’re a brand looking to grow through wholesale or a retailer wondering how to make smarter buying decisions, this episode is packed with gold. Think of it like your own private trade show debrief, minus the sore feet and overpriced food. What I cover: The real results exhibitors experienced.Common mistakes I saw brands make (and how to avoid them)How to make your booth unforgettable (even upstairs!)Why shelf-ready packaging and starter packs are non-negotiablesThe unquantifiable wins—like friendships, packaging hacks, and collabsA comparison between Life Instyle, Reed, and AGHA showsWhy showing up is more than just standing at a boothBonus tip: If you're prepping for your first (or next) trade show, I share how to turn this opportunity into long-term revenue—and how to avoid becoming the brand that buyers forget the minute they walk away. Mentioned in this episode: Trade Show Bootcamp – My mini-course to help you prep, pitch and profit from your next show Transform Your Wholesale Program – Learn how to build a wholesale strategy that works long-term ✨ Product Business Growth Club – My membership for product-based businesses that want to grow without burning out Rate & Review: Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review and tell me what your bigg Support the show I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco Grab my free training: Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap. Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions! Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here. Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/ Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand. Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands). Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

    20 min
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About

thelotco business podcast is dedicated to helping businesses in the fashion, retail and design industries not just survive but also thrive!! It’s a show that brings you tips, tricks and strategies to help you as an entrepreneur start, manage, and grow your creative business.   If you are a small business and feeling stuck on what to do next or how to actually kick start your idea, then tune in for some straightforward, practical business advice as well as interviews with inspiring females in the fashion, beauty and homewares space who will share not just what they do, but also how.   We cover marketing, finance, motivation, mindset and so much more. Walk away inspired to know how to start your own business or take these tips to help you grow and love the business you have now.   For coaching, courses and business advice with me check out  link text or come say hi in the DMs on my socials  @thelotco I can’t wait to help you guide you on your small business journey!!!

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