"Nobody wants to share the stuff that doesn’t work."
Susan Bradley is the rare person who's willing to share publicly the good and the bad as she launches a Shopify store from $0 to $50K.
Honestly, I don't think I'd have the courage to do what Susan's doing - sharing step-by-step, in real time, the building of her online store.
It's fascinating and inspiring.
In this episode, she tells us about choosing a niche and then pivoting away from it, doing a proof of concept event, and the "sideways launch" that wasn't really meant to happen but happened anyway.
Susan is awesome and you're going to LOVE this episode.
"My mission was to show you exactly what I did, what happened, and what I might change if I were doing it again." - Susan Bradley
Show Notes and Links: www.janehamill.com/susanb
Monthly Business Coaching with Jane: www.janehamill.com/membership
When was the last time you considered what kind of business you really want? There's a difference between the RIGHT business for you and the RIGHT NOW business that you currently have.
What if you give yourself some space to think a little bigger? To consider the end goal of what you REALLY want for your business and yourself -- not just what you think you could get, or what you think you should want.
Today's episode will expand your brain and help you make a simple PLAN for the next year of your life.
Let's talk about selling $12,000 from a B2C market. How fun would that be? Fo realz...
That’s exactly what my guest did at a recent event in Philadelphia.
In today’s episode, I interview Kendra from Char-Coal and she shares exactly what she did differently at this show and reveals all of her brilliant secrets.
And get this...her product's price point is under $300. That’s a lot of merchandise sold. Yowza!
She cracked the code on how to get people to buy from her booth.
Walk around any direct to consumer market, craft show, or art fair and you’ll notice a peculiar phenomenon. Some booths are busy with shoppers while others are dead.
Which results in some very happy vendors with money in their pockets and some who are miserable.
I want YOU to be the happy vendor - to be like Kendra and sell twelve grand.
Have a listen...
www.janehamill.com/kendra
Today is Part 2 of my interview with David Peck and whoa - you guys LOVE his fascinating story so far! Thanks for all your feedback, I appreciate it! (if you missed Part 1, click here).
David Peck is an entrepreneur who's been on the rollercoaster of owning his own fashion and manufacturing business. He is SO HONEST in this interview about what it's really like to run a company.
He's done it all. He went fashion school in Paris, owned a high-end sustainable clothing line in New York worn by Taylor Swift, purchased a factory in Houston that he still owns and operates, sold his collection to first-class boutiques, sold millions one year only to declare bankruptcy the next. Yowza.
We continue the story in this episode...
David scrapes himself off the floor and starts a new business - again. He tells us how he did it and why AND what he's doing differently this time to make it the business he wants.
Enjoy!
Today I’m excited to have a successful entrepreneur on the show who tells us what it's really like to run fashion business. David Peck is a Houston designer who's been on the rollercoaster of owning his own business and he is SO HONEST in this interview.
David's pretty much done it all -he went to fashion school in Paris. owned a high-end sustainable clothing line in New York worn by Taylor Swift, purchased a factory in Houston that he still owns and operates, sold his collection to first-class stores including Tootsies, opened a retail store, sold millions and then went bankrupt only to rise again with his current business.
His story is FASCINATING. This is Part 1 and I'll be back next week with Part 2.
www.janehamill.com/david
Does being an entrepreneur mean you never get to take time off?
Sometimes it feels that way...
Our brains can spin with all the reasons we shouldn't or can't take time away. These reasons seem logical but like so many "crazy brain" entrepreneurial thoughts, it's all B.S.
I'm so excited for this episode because what my guest teaches us today will change your life. Not kidding.
You will be a better entrepreneur if you listen and implement even half of what you learn from this episode. You'll be more focused, organized, thoughtful, and calm.
Erika Neumayer is the owner of Rare Dirndl, a Chicago-based company that designs and sells a very niche product - dirndls. A dirndl is what you wear to Oktoberfest and what the St. Pauli Girl wears - only Erika's are bad-ass versions of the traditional dress.
Don't miss this one because you will learn some serious tricks to getting your shizzle done - whether you're taking a leave or not, you need this info.
Download the Links and Notes from this episode:
https://janehamill.com/maternityleave/
The Imperfect Action monthly coaching program:
https://janehamill.com/membership/
Holy Moses this is episode 100!! I'm pretty excited about it so I nixed the topic I'd planned for today in favor of something a little more personal - 10 things no one ever told me about owning my own business.
Or maybe somebody told me but I wasn't listening or just didn't get it.
Being an entrepreneur - well...it's not for wusses. It's hella easier to get a job, have a boss around to tell you what you should do each day, and be able to do things like take a (paid) sick day and a (paid) vacation.
But we are NOT like other people. We're always up for a challenge -- the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. (If you're too young to remember that, it's from an ad for the Olympics where the skiier wipes out and appears to have died). I digress.
So today I share with you what I've learned from working with hundreds of entrepreneurs in my courses and membership and from being my own boss since I was 25 years old.
#7 on this list could be an issue I'll take heat for since it smacks of "first world problems" but I'm willing to risk it.
I'd love to know what you think.
Have a listen...
www.janehamill.com/episode100
What if your weekly marketing tasks were EASY. Fast, simple, cheap, and mostly able to be delegated or outsourced? How cool would that be!!
In this episode, I lay out a simple weekly strategy to stay consistent with your marketing. There is NOTHING as easy as this strategy.
One of the biggest struggles my members face - and all entrepreneurs, really - is how to stay consistent. They have great ideas and bursts of activity, but the lack of consistency hurts their sales and causes them stress.
It's tough to get consistent sales without consistent marketing, right?
After today's episode, you have no more excuses. :) You can do this! Get started now and PLEASE let me know what you think in the comments on the blog, OK?
Show Notes and Links:
www.janehamill.com/quickandeasy
We're doing something cool today. We're getting an insiders look from a fabric rep. My guest today is Jay Arbetman. We'll hear about the patterns and secrets of entrepreneurs that succeed and those that have troubles succeeding.
Jay is the owner of The Sourcing District which is a sales agency that sells fabric, textile products and garment production necessities and before this manufactured women's outerwear and sportswear for 30 years so Jay knows what he's talking about when it comes to production.
I'm going to find out from Jay what people are doing NOW that's working.
janehamill.com/jay
Things are about to get BUSY and it won't be the most wonderful time of the year if you're not ready for action. Don't let the Holiday season sneak up on you! It's time to get your shizzle together to be sure you get all the sales you can. None of these tips are hard or expensive and you can get started NOW.
Enjoy!
Jane
Show Notes and Links:
Who do you get your information from?
Who do you listen to for business advice?
On today's episode I'm on a mission to help you decide who to let IN to your brain, and what voices to keep out.
This is Salty Jane. I'm on a bit of a rant because this is important. Don't EVER EVER EVER EVER do this!! EVAH.
I hope you listen to this episode and take it seriously.
xoxo - Jane
It's a tricky balance to think about ditching your day job as you build the business of your dreams. When is the right time? How much money should you save? What if you're terrified?
My guest today walks us through how to make the transition when you have one foot in your full-time day job (the one that's paying the bills) and the other knee deep in entrepreneurship.
Girl's got rent, ya know...but the girl also deserves a chance to build the business of her dreams.
Elizabeth Stiles is a fashion brand consultant in the UK. She's worked in all aspects of the fashion and apparel industry. She had a lot of great jobs that paid well, but something was missing. She wanted something bigger, something better.
She tells us how she used her 3 hour London commute to prepare to launch her own business and the specific steps you can take to prepare to ditch the day job.
Show notes and links:
janehamill.com/elizabethstiles/
Monthly Coaching Program:
janehamill.com/membership
"How can I improve my email open rates for my online boutique? I feel like I'm doing everything I should but not getting results."
Are your email open rates low?
My client wants his email open rates to improve and I’m assuming he cares about it so much because he feels it will lead to more sales (he and his partner own an online clothing & jewelry boutique hosted on Shopify).
Why are my email open rates so low? Let’s start with the basics…
1. Is your list fresh? Scrub it! Newer subscribers are more highly engaged
2. Where did the names come from? JH client story – LINKEDIN. Nooooooo!!!
3. Consistency matters more than you think
4. “Occasional” emails actually lower your open rates, unsubscribes, spam reports
5. Best time to send – not as important as you think
6. Too sales-y or gasp!! BORING.
If you want increase open rates and ultimately make more money, think about it. The big picture. We want the CUSTOMER. Not the one-off sale.
If you want to sell, stop trying to sell. Do the opposite.
In this episode, I'll explain the the nitty gritty of getting people to OPEN your emails.
Enjoy!
Jane
I’m so excited to share this episode with you today!! In today’s show, I interview Claire Wolfson, the co-owner of Bean Goods, a dachshund-centric online store devoted to “radical people who love their wiener dogs”,
Claire’s an entrepreneur whose business is breaking through. In fact, it’s exploding.
Claire has DOUBLED her sales and in this episode, she’s going to tell you EXACTLY what she’s doing differently this year. What’s different about how she’s running the business AND how she shows up entrepreneur and a boss.
And not just things like, oh, you’re doing Facebook ads this way or that way, but the specific list of what Claire’s doing differently that’s allowed her to double her sales without working any harder.
Her sales are up 100%, she’s not working any harder, she feels less overwhelmed, and she and Chris enjoy their business more.
Whaaaaaa??? How is this happening?
Enjoy the show!
Jane
Show Notes and Links:
https://janehamill.com/claire/
Jane's Coaching Membership:
https://janehamill.com/membership/
I should really call this episode...
“My Big Dumb Newbie Mistake and How I Lost $25,000 Selling to a Big Box Store”.
No, it’s not a joke. My biggest mistake in business was when I screwed up an order with a major department store and it cost me waaaaaay too much money. And confidence. And shame.
It's never fun when you screw up, and I've made a gazillion business mistakes during my gazillion years as an entrepreneur, but the mistake I'm sharing today is particularly epic.
I didn't trust my gut and I lost $25,000. Here's what happened...
After you listen to the episode, tell me this...
Have you experienced something like this?
Could you give me a specific example (in the comments on the blog - janehamill.com/mistake) of a business mistake and what you learned from it? I can’t wait to read your comments!
Show Notes and Links:
https://janehamill.com/mistake
My Monthly Coaching Program:
Today you'll hear about my client Claire Wolfson's best sales day this year. Boom. Claire is the co-owner of Bean Goods, an online store for people who own and love dachshunds. This week on Wednesday, I got a message form Claire at 8:56 am that sales from her Shopify store were already over 4K. This episode about is Claire's story.
Show Notes:
https://janehamill.com/whatspossible/
We interrupt this podcast for an announcement.
I have a book for you.
Actually, I'm writing you a book. Like writing you a letter, but a book instead. Or a book-let. A booklet kinda thing.
A Book for You. I’m Writing You a Book. There, I said it again. I know the grammar is off but I don't care. And BTW if you really, really care about those things you should prolly just skip my book anyway. Prolly.
OK, this is SCARY. Because now I announced that I'm doing this. And I'm feeling all the feels...
So my book – it’s not going to be War and Peace.
It’s more like a pocket guide to help you with those EVERY.DAY.ENTREPRENEUR experiences. Every darn day.
Like a little pistol you’d strap to your thigh if you were an international spy, it’s a little book(let) you could strap to you thigh to help you through the crazy brain moments.
Honest stories and tips – so you know you’re OK. You're not doing it wrong.
Because Chekov and I agree, this every day living stuff - entrepreneuring, if you will - can really get to you.
“Any idiot can face a crisis; it's this day-to-day living that wears you out.” ― Anton Chekhov
Please listen to this episode and help me out! In it, I ask you a favor. So if you've ever gotten value from this show, I hope you'll consider it. :)
Jane
Show Notes & Links:
janehamill.com/janesbook
Business Coaching:
janehamill.com/membership
Today's episode answers this question from one our coaching members and Shopify store owner.
"Jane, we do pretty well with sales when we launch a new product for about 2 weeks or so and then things die off. I feel like my team and I are always hustling to release NEW NEW New!! It’s exhausting and I feel like a hamster on a wheel?"
Launching new products all the time is so exhausting for product-based entrepreneurs. I'd actually call it bone crushing. And product launch after product launch will burn out your audience as well.
So how do you get sales BETWEEN new product launches? What do you do to drive traffic and sales when you don't have anything new to promote?"
Today's episode lays it out for you.
Show Notes: janehamill.com/newproduct/
Free Class: How to Create Your Content Calendar bit.ly/ContentClassJane
Business Coaching: janehamill.com/membership
“I have a great product and a nice online store but I don’t have enough customers. What am I doing wrong?”
This is probably the top question I get every single week from coaching members and students in my courses. You’re working hard, you’re getting some traffic to your site, but it’s not enough (or not consistent enough) to make you really happy with your results.
And usually, you think the answer is the “right” ads, the “right” collaborations, the “right” new product launch – the “right” something if only you knew what it was…
Before you get to the specific marketing tactics to get more customers, I really want to make sure you understand why you don’t ALREADY have the sales.
This episode is the basis of how to get more customers. Listen now!
"Sometimes people are really, truly insane. But you're in retail so you stay nice no matter what. Retail Lesson number one -- the magic is in being nice."
There's what you think it will be like to own a retail store and then there's the every day reality. I owned a women's boutique for 14 years and let me tell ya, it's not for wusses. It's more fun than you ever imagined and it's waaaaayyyyyy harder than you ever imagined.
My guest today tells us what it's really like to own and operate a boutique. Kirsten Skoglund owned a knitting shop with her sister for 10 years in Minnesota. Like most people who go into retail, she never thought she would. She's a former HR executive who had a passion for knitting - and a business was launched.
Kirsten is funny, smart, and honest in this interview. She's also the new accountability coach (woot!woot!) in my Imperfect Action membership. She ROCKS.
Some snippets from the interview:
Show Notes and Links:
www.janehamill.com/10things10years
We're diving back into our discussion with Zoe Hong on the 5 Ugly Truths about the Fashion Industry.
If you missed the first episode, you can listen as a podcast or watch the video interview at this link:
http://janehamill.com/zoehong/
In this episode, Zoe touches on the last 2 Truths.
4. It's About Who You Know
5. If You are Not Implementing Sustainability You are Already Behind.
These last two Truths are especially valuable and necessary to understand for those wishing to succeed in the Fashion Industry - or any industry really.
My special guest is a fashion industry insider and breath of fresh air on the interwebs. I came across on of Zoe's videos on Facebook and immediately loved her. Zoe's YouTube channel has over 185,000 subscribers and in her videos she makes NO apologies and just tells it like it is.
Zoe doesn't mince words and today's episode is no different - 5 ugly truths about working in the fashion industry.
Show Notes and Links:
People land on your site but they don't buy. Why not?
In today's episode, I'm giving you 9 more tips to increase your e-commerce conversion rate. My goal in life is to help you make money so you can support your family, pay your bills, pay yourself, go on vacation, and enjoy life. Let's turn thos lookers into buyer.
Show notes and links:
http://janehamill.com/conversions2/
Do you want a website that looks great to your eyes? Or do you want a website that MAKES YOU MONEY? I think I know the answer.
In today's episode, I'm going to teach you the 6 main things your site needs to do to increase your conversion rate. I want to help you to support your family, to pay your bills, pay yourself, go on vacation, and enjoy your life. Let's do it!
Show notes and links:
What would it be like to do something totally different? One day you're designing a clothing line and the next you decide you want to be a writer. Boom - business pivot.
A lot of us THINK about making a switch like that but my guest today is actually DOING it.
Adeline Olmer has owned a fashion business for quite a while, she's owned a retail store, worked as an artist. Her work is lovely. Her clothing line is architectural and fun. But she tells me about owning a fashion business...
"It was NOT easy." - Adeline Olmer
I'd say that's an understatement.
The business pivot started when she finally committed to writing her blog every week - no matter what. She's been blogging for years but never consistent with her content. She wanted more traffic to her site and I was always telling her that creating consistent content is a key component. I'm always telling everyone that.
She blogged weekly and things started happening. Her email list grew "without even trying", people reached out and thanked her for her blog stories, her posts became the topic of conversation at cocktail parties.
In other words, it was working. So she shifted from writing posts designed to help sell her apparel line to writing stories about her experiences, her past, and things happening in life - good and bad. And now, she's writing a book. A huge change in career.
"I started writing my blog every single week and it brought me so much pleasure and feedback. People were responding. It brought me such joy to write these stories. It changed everything."
Going from fashion design to being an author and a workshop leader has been...interesting.
"Easier than I imagined. And harder", she says.
Adeline's stories make me think about things in a slightly different way. I look forward to getting them every week.
I hope you enjoy this episode!
Jane
Show Notes and Links: