Proof to Product

Katie Hunt
  • 4.9 (283)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Ranked in the top 1% of ALL podcasts, the Proof to Product podcast is your trusted resource for sustainable business growth - especially if you make and sell physical products! Join Katie Hunt, each week as she shares strategies & solutions to enhance your sales & marketing so that you're building a business that supports your best life. If you've ever asked yourself can I make money selling physical products? Am I ready to sell my products wholesale to stores like Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble? When should I consider hiring a sales team or sales reps? Can I really turn my passion into profits? Whether you're a just starting out on your business journey or you've been at it a while growing an empire, this show is for you. Proof to Product is like on-demand business school for product sellers spanning a wide range of industries. Whether you're in home decor, apparel, beauty, food & beverage, hand-made items, jewelry, consumer gifts or the stationery world, you'll gather new ideas each week to help you grow your profit, build your team and lead with integrity. Host Katie Hunt and her guests bring you actionable ways to expand your product line, manufacturing overseas, optimize your e-commrce websites on Shopify, Faire, Etsy, Abound, Tundra, Squarespace or in brick & mortar locations. How to start or scale wholesale sales including pitching stores, wholesale outreach, trade show exhibition, working with sales reps, managing inventory, warehousing product, sales systems, wholesale follow-up strategies and working with key accounts. Marketing strategies for small businesses including content creation, leveraging tik tok and instagram tactics without feeling burned out, why you can't rely solely on social media for sales and why email marketing systems on platforms like Klaviyo, Flodesk and Active Campaign are so powerful. Listen in as Katie and our guest experts help you strategize and tackle your biggest business goals. Host Katie Hunt brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she's helped thousands of product brands get their products on the shelves of their favorite retail stores through her Paper Camp program (www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp). Prior to that she worked in the corporate world for over a decade leading business development and marketing teams. She has two MBAs - one in finance and one in marketing. And, she owned & operated her own product based business for over 8 years, selling her products to stores throughout the world from her garage. Katie knows the struggles you face as a product based business and she's here to pull back the curtain and share her best kept secrets so that you don't have to learn things the hard way. Find our free trainings & resources for product based business owners at www.prooftoproduct.com/resources

  1. We're on winter break!

    12/23/2025

    We're on winter break!

    The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, January 6, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're gone, be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 420+ incredible episodes to help you strengthen your business. Have a great two weeks and I will see you on January 6th!

    1 min
  2. 423 | Indie Retail Update: Trends, Challenges & How Buyers Are Adapting with Jen Palacio, Tiny Turns Paperie

    12/16/2025

    423 | Indie Retail Update: Trends, Challenges & How Buyers Are Adapting with Jen Palacio, Tiny Turns Paperie

    Today's episode is a look at what is going on with independent retail shops right now.  I sat down with my friend Jen from Tiny Turns Paperie. She's one of our Paper Camp speakers and a longtime advocate for small businesses. We talk honestly about some of the hardships that shop owners have been facing during 2025: everything from operational curveballs to tariffs and other things that have impacted the way they do business. We did get into some specifics about unpredictable buying patterns, last-minute shopping, the rise of treat yourself, and community-driven products.  We also talked about some of the less glamorous stuff that goes into running a brick & mortar like inventory delays, tariffs, shipping headaches, and things like that. I think it's important for you to hear today's episode because the things that the indie buyers and brick and mortar shops are navigating do impact how they're doing business with you, too, so Jen's perspective is invaluable as always. You'll hear specifically how she's possibly adjusting her buying, why planners are hot right now, and why she's focusing on collaboration across indie businesses to really strengthen customer loyalty. If you want ongoing analysis like this about trends, data, systems, sales, and marketing strategies for your product-based business, come join us in LABS. We break down what's happening across the industry and help you apply it directly to your business REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/423  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    35 min
  3. 422 | How Athletic Brewing Doubled Subscriptions — And How You Can Apply It with Katie Hunt

    12/09/2025

    422 | How Athletic Brewing Doubled Subscriptions — And How You Can Apply It with Katie Hunt

    Today, I'm sharing a case study and an analysis that I originally shared with our LABS members.  The reason I'm doing this is, one of the most valuable things that we can do as a product-based business owner is look outside of our industry for inspiration, ideas, and new ways of thinking about our own business.  When we study how other industries structure their revenue models, how they build community or how they create demand for their products, we really start to see new and fresh opportunities that we can adapt in our own way for our own business.  In this episode, we're looking at Athletic Brewing Company and how they doubled their D2C subscription sales in 2025 by positioning their membership as a VIP lifestyle experience rather than a discount program. It's a simple shift, but a strategic one.  It really sparked two ideas that I think you can use: One will be for your D2C sales ecosystem, and one is for your wholesale channel. We will walk through what Athletic Brewing Company got right, why their approach works, and how you can apply versions of this inside of your own business in a way that again fits your particular audience, your product line, margins, and, of course, your capacity.  If you want to see more case studies like this, real examples from outside of the consumer gift world, and you want to see how we break them down into actionable insights and ideas for your product brand, this is exactly the type of work we do inside of Proof to Product LABS every single week.  This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. We have member-only events inside of LABS, so request your invitation to join below!  REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/422  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    13 min
  4. 421 | End-of-Year Financial Planning for Product Business Owners with Mary Beth Storjohann, Allora Wealth

    12/02/2025

    421 | End-of-Year Financial Planning for Product Business Owners with Mary Beth Storjohann, Allora Wealth

    On today's episode, we are digging into the financial side of running a creative product business and I've invited someone that I deeply trust with both my personal and business finances.  It's Mary Beth Storjohann from Allora Wealth. Mary Beth and I have worked together since 2016 and she has guided my husband and I through everything from financial planning for the family to long-term business strategy.  She's one of the few financial planners and advisors who really understands how intertwined your life and your business become when you are a small business owner. Her approach to "whole life wealth," is exactly what so many founders need. It's a practical framework for building stability today while also setting yourself up for future security. In this conversation, we're going to get into real, actionable steps that you should be taking before the end of the year. These are things that can save you money come tax time and also support your long-term financial health. We will talk about blind spots that she sees most often with creative entrepreneurs and why getting clear on your enough number can change how you plan and make decisions. Now, if you want to finish the year on solid financial footing and also set yourself up for success in the future, this episode is going to be incredibly useful for you.  Before we get into today's conversation, if you are serious about growing your product-based business, you need to be inside of Proof to Product LABS. LABS is where creative product brands go for coaching and strategies, community and accountability that actually move the needle.  We're talking stronger sales, better systems, smarter marketing, and a clearer plan for profit. If you are ready to stop guessing and start really growing with proven guidance, then come join us in LABS. REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/421  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    34 min
  5. 420 | Communicating Your Holiday Shipping Deadlines with Katie Hunt

    11/18/2025

    420 | Communicating Your Holiday Shipping Deadlines with Katie Hunt

    I know you are deep in preparation for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Q4 holiday sales season. So I want to make this a real quick episode, but I want to make it tactical and actionable for you.  I want to talk about setting your holiday shipping deadline and where you should be updating your website to reflect the shipping deadlines. This is something we're talking about in depth in our LABS program. If you're looking for further support in your business, check out our Proof to Product LABS coaching program. This is a coaching program specifically built for product-based business owners, with members from across industries and across the globe. We have member-only events inside of LABS, so request your invitation to join below!  REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/420  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    7 min
  6. 419 | How To Create Your Own Gift Guide and Boost Holiday Sales with Katie Hunt

    11/11/2025

    419 | How To Create Your Own Gift Guide and Boost Holiday Sales with Katie Hunt

    One of the things we've been talking about in our LABS program is Q4 sales strategies because we are heading into the holiday season which as you know, is one of the busiest times of year for product-based business owners.  Today, I want to talk about one really powerful marketing strategy that often gets overlooked, but it's a good way to help drive sales for Q4.  That strategy is being your own gift guide.  I think there's a misconception for smaller product brands that big media or working with influencers on their product roundups is the only way to get more eyes on your products. While yes, these are good options and you can and should be pitching yourself to these opportunities, getting placement in larger media isn't the only way to shine a spotlight on your product.  In fact, you can create your own gift guide experience and you can do this on your website, through your email list, across wholesale and retail channels. It's all done in the name of making it easier for your customers to purchase from you. So I'm going to walk you through how to do this, including how to set up your gift guide collections on Faire and Shopify, how to create emails that highlight those products, and how you can collaborate with other like-minded brands to expand your reach of your gift guide and perhaps share theirs too. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library. It's where you can get your hands on our free resources to help you start, streamline and scale your business in your own way and at your own pace.   GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/419  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    17 min
  7. 418 | Expanding into Tabletop Products with Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love

    11/04/2025

    418 | Expanding into Tabletop Products with Alyson O'Connor, Rust Belt Love

    Friends, you know that I am all about simplifying and systematizing your business, but I'm also about taking risks and experimenting within your business. When we run these experiments, sometimes we have to adjust our thinking and our normal processes to make it happen.  That's what we're talking about today: taking risks, experimenting, and releasing a new product category during an off-cycle season.  Today's interview is with Alyson O'Connor of Rust Belt Love.  Frankly, it's your permission slip to lean into the things that you're excited about, even when it doesn't feel like the timing is right.  Alyson is an Advisory Board member, and I invited her on today because she recently launched a brand new tabletop collection. Think paper placemats, napkin rings, and table tents. These products are available now, just in time for the holiday season.  We talk about where her inspiration for this collection came from, what it took to get this product to market, and the logistics of quickly launching. We talk about the easy things and the more difficult parts of this process, and the perks of her having manufacturing in-house. We talked a lot about her manufacturing processes and how this has changed over her 15-year career in this business. So if you're just getting started, this is going to be really enlightening for you to hear how they've done things both in-house and also outsourced.  Alyson also reflects in this episode on her 15 years in business, the evolving landscape of wholesale, the pricing and margin challenges that are unique to this season, and the importance of staying agile, especially during uncertain times like we're in right now. Today's episode is brought to you by our Proof to Product resource library. It's where you can get your hands on our free resources to help you start, streamline and scale your business in your own way and at your own pace.   GET FREE ACCESS You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/418  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    31 min
  8. 417 | 8 Ways to Prepare for the Holiday Sales Season Now with Katie Hunt

    10/28/2025

    417 | 8 Ways to Prepare for the Holiday Sales Season Now with Katie Hunt

    Today, we're talking about getting your website ready for the biggest sales season of the year Q4. I know this time of year can feel super hectic. Between prepping for holiday markets and promotions, fulfilling orders, and managing inventory, the last thing you want to do is lose sales because of a preventable website issue or overlooking something that you hadn't really been paying attention to. So today, I'm walking you through a quick checklist to make sure that your online store is buttoned up and ready to handle the traffic and the sales, and any last-minute shoppers that are headed your way.  Before we jump in, I wanted to let you know that our LABS community just got a major glow-up. We switched platforms and have some major upgrades coming to the program. More community connections with businesses at a similar level. More support from industry experts, plus experimentations and case studies, so that you can truly see what is working for other product-based business owners and how to apply similar strategies to your business. REQUEST YOUR INVITATION You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/417  Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp

    15 min
See All (502)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
283 Ratings

About

Ranked in the top 1% of ALL podcasts, the Proof to Product podcast is your trusted resource for sustainable business growth - especially if you make and sell physical products! Join Katie Hunt, each week as she shares strategies & solutions to enhance your sales & marketing so that you're building a business that supports your best life. If you've ever asked yourself can I make money selling physical products? Am I ready to sell my products wholesale to stores like Target, Anthropologie, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble? When should I consider hiring a sales team or sales reps? Can I really turn my passion into profits? Whether you're a just starting out on your business journey or you've been at it a while growing an empire, this show is for you. Proof to Product is like on-demand business school for product sellers spanning a wide range of industries. Whether you're in home decor, apparel, beauty, food & beverage, hand-made items, jewelry, consumer gifts or the stationery world, you'll gather new ideas each week to help you grow your profit, build your team and lead with integrity. Host Katie Hunt and her guests bring you actionable ways to expand your product line, manufacturing overseas, optimize your e-commrce websites on Shopify, Faire, Etsy, Abound, Tundra, Squarespace or in brick & mortar locations. How to start or scale wholesale sales including pitching stores, wholesale outreach, trade show exhibition, working with sales reps, managing inventory, warehousing product, sales systems, wholesale follow-up strategies and working with key accounts. Marketing strategies for small businesses including content creation, leveraging tik tok and instagram tactics without feeling burned out, why you can't rely solely on social media for sales and why email marketing systems on platforms like Klaviyo, Flodesk and Active Campaign are so powerful. Listen in as Katie and our guest experts help you strategize and tackle your biggest business goals. Host Katie Hunt brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Since 2011, she's helped thousands of product brands get their products on the shelves of their favorite retail stores through her Paper Camp program (www.prooftoproduct.com/papercamp). Prior to that she worked in the corporate world for over a decade leading business development and marketing teams. She has two MBAs - one in finance and one in marketing. And, she owned & operated her own product based business for over 8 years, selling her products to stores throughout the world from her garage. Katie knows the struggles you face as a product based business and she's here to pull back the curtain and share her best kept secrets so that you don't have to learn things the hard way. Find our free trainings & resources for product based business owners at www.prooftoproduct.com/resources

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Hunt
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    502
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©Proof to Product & Katie Hunt
  • Show Website
    Proof to Product

You Might Also Like