Hey Julie by Moss Bags

Julie Simon
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship

Hey Julie by Moss Bags is a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build a small business that lasts. Hosted by Julie, founder of Moss Bags since 2013, this podcast blends honest storytelling, practical systems, and sustainable growth strategies for makers, handmade sellers, and product-based entrepreneurs who don’t want to feel alone in the journey. From Shopify and Etsy to wholesale on Faire, in-person markets, email marketing, and Pinterest, Julie shares real-life experience across multiple sales channels - without the hype or hustle culture. As the founder of Moss Bags - known for its bestselling Hero Dogs that give back to rescue and service dog organizations - Julie brings over a decade of real-world experience to every conversation. Each week, you’ll hear: honest conversations with fellow foundersrelatable stories from the messy middle of entrepreneurshippractical insights to help you grow with intention - not burnoutIf you’re building something meaningful and want community, clarity, and sustainable momentum, you’re in the right place.

  1. 5d ago

    How Marisa Papetti of Marie’s Bees Grew Backyard Honey Into a Thriving Product-Based Business

    Marisa Papetti, founder of Marie’s Bees, didn’t set out to build a large product-based business. What started with honey, beekeeping, family, and caregiving slowly grew into a thriving Pacific Northwest brand with wholesale accounts, farmers markets, in-person events, cooking classes, employees, and a full production setup. In this episode, Marisa shares the real story behind Marie’s Bees - from caring for her grandmother and delivering farm baskets, to discovering the grounding magic of bees, to learning how to build a business that could keep going even when life gets messy. We talk about: How Marie’s Bees started and the personal story behind the nameWhat the early days of selling honey and farm baskets looked likeWhy Marisa moved from pouring honey at home to a commercial kitchenHow she built systems, hired employees, and stopped doing it all herselfWhat she learned from past business challenges and burnoutHow she works with her husband without stepping on each other’s toesWhy finding your people and building community matters in small businessHer best advice for starting a product-based business todayThis conversation is honest, funny, and full of practical wisdom for women in small business, especially anyone building a product-based brand, selling at markets, growing a team, or trying to create a business that can last. My Favorite Quotes “Stop thinking you can do it alone.”“If you don’t have systems in place for when actual life happens, you’re dead.”“A good business owner is like a business ninja - you constantly adapt, adapt, adapt.”“The secret to keeping good people is to take care of good people.”“You need to prepare to build a business, not build a hobby that has a business name.”“People have their talents. You have to go with their strong suits.”“Stop overthinking it. Get out of your own way. Stop being so damn scared.”Connect with Marisa: Shop Marie's Bees online: www.mariesbees.com Text Marisa Papetti: (360) 224-2387 Events + Classes: https://mariesbees.com/pages/events IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariesbeeswa PNW Artisan Marketplace: https://pnwartisanmarketplace.com Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    53 min

  2. Jun 25

    Sales in the Background: How to Make Your Email List Work While You’re Not

    You started growing your email list… now what? In this episode, I’m talking about the next step after list-building: setting up email automations that help your business keep working even when you’re not manually sending every single email. Because your email list shouldn’t just sit there waiting for you to remember to send a newsletter. With the right automations in place, your email can welcome new subscribers, bring interested shoppers back to your site, recover missed sales, and follow up after someone buys. And no, your emails don’t always have to be long, emotional, or packed with personal stories. Sometimes the best sales email is short, clear, and direct - with one goal: getting someone curious enough to click over to your website. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why growing your list is only the first stepWhat email automations are, even if your platform calls them flows, sequences, or workflowsWhy business and marketing are a numbers gameThe 4 foundational automations I’d start with: welcome, abandoned cart, browse abandonment, and post-purchaseHow these automations support the full customer journey: acquire, recover, reengage, and retainWhy post-purchase emails have become one of my favorite ways to connect with Moss Bags customersWhy simple, repeatable systems help your business keep moving without everything depending on you doing moreFavorite takeaway: A newsletter is something you send. An automation is something you build. And when your automations are working, your email list becomes more than a list - it becomes a system that supports your business. Join the Waitlist: I’m currently building The Email Flow Fix, a fast-action course for product-based business owners who know email matters but don’t want to figure out every automation, email, and setup step from scratch. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when it’s ready: https://heyjulie.systeme.io/flowwaitlist Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    18 min

  3. Jun 18

    Start Growing Your Email List Before You Think You’re Ready

    Have you ever been told, “You need to grow your email list,” and immediately thought, “Okay… but how?” In this episode, Julie shares why one of the smartest things you can do for your small business is start growing your email list before you feel fully ready - not when your website is perfect, not when your product line is huge, and not when you have a complete email strategy mapped out. You’ll hear the imperfect way Julie started her own list, why email gives small business owners more control than social media alone, and how to start inviting the right people in without overcomplicating it. In this episode, we talk about: Why your email list is one of the few marketing assets you actually ownHow Julie started her list imperfectly and barely emailed it at firstWhy social media is great for discovery, but not something you fully controlWhy unsubscribes are not always a bad thingWhy a healthy, engaged list matters more than a huge listHow to give people a clear reason to join your email listWhere to place your sign-up form so people can actually find itWhy your list can grow while your business growsBest quote from the episode: “People are busy. They don’t need another email just for the sake of getting another email. So if you’re asking someone for their email address, ask yourself: what am I giving them in return?” If your newsletter list is tiny, untouched, or still just an idea in your head, check out The Email List Growth Fix - Julie’s beginner-friendly guide for small product-based business owners who want to grow an email list full of people who actually want to buy from them. The Email List Growth Fix A simple 5-day system to start growing an email list full of future buyers. https://heyjulie.systeme.io/elistsales Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    16 min

  4. Jun 11

    Marketing, Wholesale, and AI for Small Businesses with Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping

    In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, I’m joined by Jessi McNeal of Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping. Jessi started as a maker, artist, singer, and songwriter before evolving into marketing and bookkeeping support for other small businesses. Today, she helps product-based business owners with websites, email marketing, wholesale pitching, bookkeeping, and the behind-the-scenes systems that make business feel less overwhelming. We talk about what makers often overthink in marketing, how to start when everything feels like too much, what’s working in wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales, and how small business owners can use AI without losing their own voice. In this episode, we talk about: Jessi’s journey from music and art to product-based businessWhy her handmade pet products gained tractionThe reality of labor-heavy products and burnoutHow she shifted into marketing and bookkeeping supportWhat makers are overthinking in their marketingWhy your website is often the best place to startWholesale pitching tips for makers and product-based brandsHow to use Faire without losing track of your marginsWhy email marketing still mattersHow AI can help small businesses without replacing their voiceFavorite quote: “Deep breath, number one. Quiet the voices. Maybe take a little Instagram break from all the business influencers and your peers, and just get a little quiet.” Connect with Jessi Website: jessimcneal.com Instagram: jessimcnealmarketing Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    49 min

  5. Jun 4

    RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray: Motivation, Murals, and Building a Creative Business

    Today I’m chatting with artist and muralist Darcie Gray, the creative behind RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray. Darcie’s work is immediately recognizable: natural landscapes, a limited palette of blue, green, black, and white, and this beautiful balance of calm and energy that feels so connected to nature. In this conversation, we talk about what keeps her creating - how she stays motivated, builds momentum as an artist and business owner, and keeps the work feeling playful and alive even when it became her livelihood. Darcie shares how her background in apparel design shaped the way she sees art in people’s everyday lives, why recognizability builds connection, and how saying yes to new creative ideas - like murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art - has helped her business grow in unexpected ways. Favorite Quote “You’ve gotta infuse fun in your work and do things just because you want to.” - Darcie Gray In this episode, we talk about: How Darcie’s limited color palette became part of her signature styleWhy her apparel design background influences the way she creates art todayHow artists can forget their work is still new and exciting to everyone elseWhat helps Darcie stay motivated as a self-employed artistWhy deadlines, calendars, and saying yes can create momentumHow she protects joy, curiosity, and experimentation in her businessThe story behind her murals, hand-painted clothing, and public artConnect with Darcie: My website is: www.rangedesignstudio.com Print Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RangeDesignStudio IG: @darciegray_art Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    42 min

  6. May 28

    Shopify Isn’t Just a Website - It’s the Ecosystem My Business Needed

    If you’ve ever pieced together your business across Etsy, Squarespace, in-person sales, email, and wholesale inquiries, this episode is for you. This week, I’m sharing why I outgrew the platforms that helped me get started, how Shopify became the home base for my business, and what I think every product-based business owner should consider when building an online store that actually supports growth. In this episode, I cover: Why outgrowing a platform doesn’t mean you made the wrong choiceThe difference between having places to sell and having a connected businessWhy Shopify works so well for product-based businessesHow apps, analytics, and integrations can help your business growThe role of product photos, video, and descriptions in building trustHow to make your website work harder by answering customer questionsWhy your website should support your brand, not just your checkoutIf you’re building a handmade or product-based business and craving a stronger system, this one is for you. "A beautiful store gets attention, a strategic store gets conversions, and a strong store gives you room to grow." Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    17 min

  7. May 21

    Mary Morris Solomon of MaryGold Tales on Building a Creative Business One Yes at a Time

    In this episode, I’m sitting down with Mary Morris Solomon, the artist and storyteller behind MaryGold Tales, to talk about her path from secret childhood art to building a creative business filled with small-batch stationery, illustrations, paintings, and live event portraits. Mary shares what it looked like to leave behind a career that no longer felt aligned, start creating during a season of massive change, show up to her first market with a four-foot table and seven card designs, and learn to trust the gut feelings that kept opening the next door. We also talk about: Building a creative business without a rigid planWhy in-person markets can create instant connectionSeeing social media as community, not just contentSaying yes to opportunities, then knowing when to realignWhy artists and makers need to understand their numbersBuilding something that feels like you, not someone elseFavorite quote from the episode: “Don’t chase my dream. Chase yours, and let me clap for you.” If you’ve ever wondered whether the creative thing you keep quietly making could become something more, this conversation will remind you: start where you are, follow what feels aligned, and let your story unfold. Connect with Mary: Website: https://www.marygoldtales.com Instagram: @marygold.tales Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    51 min

  8. May 14

    Helen Worthington of Three in Kind on the Trademark Issue That Forced Her to Rebuild Her Business

    Helen didn’t plan to rebuild her business because of a trademark issue - but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Helen Worthington, the designer and maker behind Three in Kind, to talk about her journey from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business owner. Helen first built CAVU Creations, a brand deeply connected to her aviation background and love of making, but after years in business, she received a letter about a trademark issue that forced her to make a difficult decision: fight it, rename it, or close that chapter and start again. We talk about what small business owners should understand about naming, trademarks, research, business insurance, and protecting your work - not as legal advice, but as a real, honest story from someone who lived it. Helen also shares what the early days of selling on Etsy looked like, how she brought her kids into her business and markets, why she eventually wanted to move away from handmade production, and how she created Three in Kind as a brand with more room to grow. If you’re naming a business, launching a product, building a brand, or wondering what to do when your business needs to pivot, this conversation is such an important reminder: do your research, ask questions, and know that starting over does not mean starting from scratch. Favorite Quote: “Sometimes you do not choose the timing of the change, but you still get to choose what comes next.” In this episode, we talk about: How Helen went from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business ownerThe early days of CAVU Creations and selling on EtsyWhat CAVU meant and why the name was so personal to herThe trademark issue that forced Helen to decide whether to fight, rename, or rebuildWhat small business owners should consider when naming a business or productWhy business insurance does not always cover the issues you might expectHow she chose the name Three in Kind and built a brand with more room to growThe role her kids played in markets, making, and the heart behind her businessWhy research, community, and asking questions matter so much for makersConnect with Helen: Website: https://threeinkind.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeinkind/ Start Your Store on ShopifyThe ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

    44 min
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About

Hey Julie by Moss Bags is a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build a small business that lasts. Hosted by Julie, founder of Moss Bags since 2013, this podcast blends honest storytelling, practical systems, and sustainable growth strategies for makers, handmade sellers, and product-based entrepreneurs who don’t want to feel alone in the journey. From Shopify and Etsy to wholesale on Faire, in-person markets, email marketing, and Pinterest, Julie shares real-life experience across multiple sales channels - without the hype or hustle culture. As the founder of Moss Bags - known for its bestselling Hero Dogs that give back to rescue and service dog organizations - Julie brings over a decade of real-world experience to every conversation. Each week, you’ll hear: honest conversations with fellow foundersrelatable stories from the messy middle of entrepreneurshippractical insights to help you grow with intention - not burnoutIf you’re building something meaningful and want community, clarity, and sustainable momentum, you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Julie Simon
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hey Julie by Moss Bags
  • Show Website
    Hey Julie by Moss Bags