build your profitable product business with mel robbins thelotco business podcast

Melissa Robbins
  • 4.4 (7)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 12/21/2025

    Busy Isn’t the Same as Profitable: A Year-End Business Reality Check

    Send us a text As we head toward the end of the year, I wanted to do something a little different with this episode. Instead of rushing straight into goal-setting, planning, and “new year, new energy” vibes, I wanted to create space to pause. To reflect. To actually look at what just happened in your business before you try to fix, change, or overhaul anything. Because every year I see the same pattern. We finish the year tired, relieved it’s over, and already thinking about what’s next. New goals, new plans, new strategies. And while I love that energy, what often gets skipped is reflection. Not reflection to beat yourself up. Not reflection to replay every mistake. But reflection so you don’t carry the same patterns into a new year and expect different results. In this episode, I walk you through the questions I think every product-based business owner needs to ask themselves. We talk about effort versus effectiveness, busy versus profitable, and why “fine” is not the same as sustainable. I also share why looking at your numbers matters more than ever, how to review your time and energy honestly, and why enjoyment and creativity still need a seat at the table if you want a business you actually want to grow. This episode is your permission slip to slow down, get curious, and reflect without pressure. If you want support with this process, I’ve linked my free Business Review & Reset download here, along with a vision board exercise if you like planning visually. You’ll also find links to Transform Your Wholesale and Roadmap to Profit, depending on where you’re at in your business. And if you’re already multi-six figures and thinking about what’s next, there’s a waitlist link here for a new next-level option I’m building for 2026. I’m taking a short break from the podcast after this episode to reflect, refine, and build what’s next with intention. Thank you so much for being here, for listening, and for growing alongside me. 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.

    9 min

  2. 12/15/2025

    Stop Assuming. Start Selling. The Beliefs Quietly Killing Your Sales

    Send us a text I’m switching things up in this episode and getting straight to it. No fancy intro, no long-winded warm-up. Just a real conversation about assumptions, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves that quietly shape how we show up in our business. Because lately, I’ve been hearing the same things again and again from product-based business owners.  People aren’t buying anymore.  Everyone only wants discounts.  Nobody opens emails.  January is dead.  I don’t want to annoy my audience. And honestly? Most of these are not facts. They’re beliefs. And beliefs are just thoughts you’ve repeated long enough that they feel true. In this episode, I unpack some of the most common assumptions I see brands and retailers making about selling, marketing, email, Christmas, sales seasons, pricing, and customer behaviour. I also talk about where these beliefs come from, how negativity bias sneaks in, and why assuming the worst is one of the fastest ways to stall your growth. We talk about why selling is not pushy or icky, how marketing is actually service, and why your job is not to guess what’s going on in someone else’s wallet. If you’ve been holding back, second-guessing yourself, or quietly wondering if it’s even worth promoting right now, this episode is for you. Listen in, then ask yourself one simple question. Is this actually true, or is it just a belief I’ve been carrying around? 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.

    14 min

  3. 11/21/2025

    5 Things Every Promo Email MUST Have (If You Want Sales!)**

    Send us a text 5 Things Every Promo Email MUST Have (If You Want Sales!)** If your promo emails are getting meh opens or zero clicks, this quick-hit episode is your wake-up call. After reviewing dozens of client emails inside Nail Your Email Marketing and in my 1:1 sessions, I’ve seen the same mistakes again and again… especially during sales season. So today, I’m walking you through the 5 non-negotiables every promo email should include to actually get opened, read and clicked. This is your micro-masterclass in writing emails that convert, not collect dust in the inbox. In this episode, we cover: 1. Why your subject line needs to slap, not snooze Boring subject lines get ignored. You need curiosity, clarity, or straight-up benefits. I share what makes a subject line irresistible and why A/B testing should be your new best friend. 2. The must-have CTA above the fold If your audience has to scroll to find the link, you’ve already lost them. I break down what “above the fold” actually looks like and why clarity always wins. 3. High-contrast design that people can actually read Pastel on pastel? Tiny fonts? Hard pass. I share my go-to readability tool and the simple graphic design rule that will instantly improve your emails. 4. Clear, non-waffly copy that respects your customer’s time Promo emails should be quick, direct and obvious. No filler paragraphs, no “hope this finds you well.” Tell them the offer, why it matters and why they should care right now. 5. One email, one goal If you give people too many choices, they choose nothing. I walk through why your promos need ONE job and exactly how to structure them. + Bonus tip A little movement goes a long way — think GIFs, scrolling marquees, or icon-style features that communicate essential info fast. • Subject Line Examples: here • My favourite contrast checker: https://coolors.co/contrast-checker • Nail Your Email Marketing Program: Learn how to create emails that convert like crazy. Want help boosting your sales, getting your emails actually opened, and creating a marketing system that makes 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.

    7 min

  4. 11/13/2025

    How Yeseco Used Kickstarter To Build A Brand (special guest Jamie Phillips).

    Send us a text Kickstarter Wins, Manufacturing Nightmares and a Sink Brush That Broke the Internet: The YesECO Story with Jamie Phillips Today I’m chatting with Jamie Phillips, founder of Yeseco, creator of the magnetic dish brush that completely changed the way thousands of people deal with their sink situation. His journey? Wild. Beautiful. Painful. Product-founder AF. Jamie takes us through everything, including:  • the moment on a remote beach in Indonesia that changed his entire career  • why his first eco-friendly range worked but also didn’t work • the messy truth of manufacturing a brand-new invention • how he used Kickstarter to validate demand AND fund a very expensive mold process • what 12,000+ customers taught him about product design • why retail and DTC must work together (and how he balances both) • his big mistakes, biggest lessons, and why perseverance beats everything • what launching Version 2 looks like (spoiler: it’s live now) Jamie is honest, generous, and gives you a real look at what actual product development looks like behind the scenes. If you’re a maker, product founder, wholesaler or inventor, you’ll want to take notes. LINKS: 👉 Explore YesECO: https://yeseco.life 👉 Support the YesECO V2 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yeseco/yeseco-v2 👉 Follow me on Instagram: @thelotco  If you want to build a profitable product business you LOVE (without the burnout and chaos), come join me inside my Roadmap to Profit program. Details at thelotco.com.au. 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.

    51 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Getting Stocked Isn’t the Finish Line, It’s the Start Line

    Send us a text You’ve landed your dream retailer. Your products are on the shelf. Now what?  Most brands think their job is done once they’ve been stocked, but that’s just the beginning. In this episode, I break down the three stages of post-delivery success that turn a one-off wholesale order into consistent reorders (and loyal retail partners who sell your products for you). You’ll Learn: ✨ Why getting stocked is just the start line, not the finish line ✨ How to support your retailers with marketing assets, education, and storytelling tools ✨ Simple ways to drive foot traffic and visibility for your stockists (without hurting your own online sales) ✨ How to build lasting relationships with buyers and retail staff that lead to repeat orders ✨ Why scarcity thinking is holding your brand back and how abundance thinking grows both sides Mentioned in this Episode: Transform Your Wholesale Program: Learn how to get stocked (and stay stocked!) → thelotco.com.au/wholesale Free Wholesale Guide: Download your free copy →here https://thelotco.myflodesk.com/wholesaletips Book Mentioned: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraRoadmap to Profit Program waitlist is here. Join my Product Business Growth Club here. 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.

    15 min

  6. 10/30/2025

    Why Email Is the Secret to Consistent Sales (When Social Isn’t Working Anymore)

    Send us a text Welcome back to thelotco Business Podcast, I’m Melissa Robbins, your product-based business coach, retail strategist, and founder of thelotco. After 25 years in the industry, I’ve seen behind the scenes of hundreds of brands and retailers and here’s what I know for sure: if your sales aren’t where you want them to be, it’s not your product. Last week, we talked about why your product probably isn’t the problem when sales feel slow.  This week, we’re talking about the fix. Because if you’re showing up online, posting Reels, and doing “all the right things,” but your sales still feel unpredictable it’s not because you’re bad at business. It’s because you’re relying on the wrong system. In this episode, I dive into: Why Instagram is amazing for attention, but terrible for consistent salesThe difference between visibility and conversionWhy email marketing is your secret weapon for predictable profitHow to set up simple systems that sell for you (even while you sleep)I’ll also share stories from real founders who went from slow weeks to steady sales — all by turning email into their most profitable channel. And I share real client stories of what changed when they shifted from posting more to building smarter systems. If you’re ready to stop relying on algorithms and start building consistent, reliable sales this episode is your next step. 🎧 Tune in now and grab your freebie: 15 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website . And if you’re ready to make email your most profitable sales channel, join me for the Nail Your Email Marketing Live Series — we start Wednesday, November 5th! Details at thelotco.com.au/nailyouremail 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. 10/24/2025

    Your Product Is Great. Here’s Why It Isn’t Selling

    Send us a text If you’ve ever said, “My product is so good… why isn’t it selling?” then this episode is for you. I’ve been getting message after message about this one since I sent an email earlier in the week, so I knew I had to dive deeper on the podcast. The thing is, having a great product isn’t enough anymore. You need attention, anticipation, and action to turn your product into consistent sales. In this episode, I’m breaking down: Why your amazing product isn’t selling (and what to do about it)The Product Attachment Loop that keeps founders stuckHow to shift your mindset from “selling is pushy” to “selling is helping”What “building anticipation” actually looks like before a new launchWhy showing up across multiple platforms matters more than everAnd how clarity, confidence, and consistency create conversionsWhether you’re a maker, brand founder, or retailer, this episode will help you step out from behind the scenes, sell unapologetically, and start marketing your product like a pro. Because your business needs more than a beautiful product, it needs visibility, storytelling, and you showing up again and again until people finally get how brilliant your offer is. What You’ll Learn: ✨ How to stop perfecting and start promoting  ✨ How to sell without feeling salesy or pushy  ✨ How to build anticipation and momentum before your next launch  ✨ How to multiply your reach by showing up in more than one place  ✨ Why visibility builds trust and trust builds sales Mentioned in this episode: Get More Sales — my special bundle to help you show up in more ways and sell with confidenceThe Product Business Growth Club — my membership for ongoing support, ideas, and accountabilityDM me “sales” on Instagram @thelotco to get my free Sales Clarity PromptsTake Action: After you listen, screenshot this episode and tag me @thelotco Tell me — what’s one way you’re going to show up and sell differently this week? Let’s make your next product drop your most profitable one yet 💜 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.

    17 min

  8. 10/09/2025

    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
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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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