450 | When Your Business Outgrows Its Space: Navigating Storage & Warehouse Options with Samantha Rubenstein, WareSpace & Jodi Kostelnik, The Neighborgoods
Proof to ProductShow Notes
Today's conversation is for anyone who has ever looked around their home, their studio, or their storage unit and thought: “we officially have too much inventory and we are running out of space.” Today we're talking about what happens when your business starts to outgrow your space and how to know when it might be time to make a move. Whether you're currently packing orders from your dining room table, juggling multiple storage units, or debating if a warehouse or even a 3PL is the step for your business, then this episode is going to highlight some options for you. I'm joined by two guests, returning guest Jodi Kostelnik of The Neighborgoods, who shares candidly about her experience moving from a multiple floor studio space into a warehouse space that was much better suited for supporting her team, her inventory and her business's growth. Jodi is a longtime Proof to Product member and a Paper Camp alum, and she shares generously in this episode like she has before. We're also joined by Samantha Rubenstein of WareSpace, a company creating flexible warehouse solutions that are specifically designed for small businesses and specifically designed for product brands that are shipping and storing inventory. We talk about the operational bottlenecks that happen as a product brand grows, the shifts in mindset that come with investing more money in space and logistics, and the practical considerations around things like cost, logistics, staffing, and general scale. One of the things I really appreciate about this conversation is that it highlights something I talk about a lot here on the podcast, that there is no one specific way to grow your business. There's no one specific roadmap to follow for success. Different businesses need different solutions and have different challenges. Today's episode highlights what has worked for Jodi as she has grown. I love that she's sharing the different things that she's done along the way to help her business grow even faster. If you have been feeling squeezed by your current setup or you're wondering what's next in your stage of growth, what that might look like for your brand, then I think today's episode will give you a lot to think about. If you would like to set up a tour of WareSpace locations in your city, head to http://prooftoproduct.com/warespace. Proof to Product listeners can get 2 months free rent when they sign a 12 month lease agreement if you use our link. Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You workshop! This free 25 minute workshop will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business. After listening, two things will be true. You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business, and you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the workshop today! SIGN UP You can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/448 This episode contains affiliate links. You can view our affiliate disclaimer here. Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp Mentioned in this episode: Take the free quiz! Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz
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One pattern I've noticed time and time again after working with thousands of product brands across lots of different categories, is that while our products might be different or our tools and platforms might change, all of our core business foundations and fundamentals are not changing. And that's exactly why I wanted to share this short clip from the archive, something that I think is worth revisiting because the takeaways still hold true today. Maybe listening will spark an idea or help you take action on a decision that you've been sitting on. Really, the goal here is to help you take your next intentional step in business. That's what I want for you. Enjoy this clip! You can listen to the full episode with Reese Spykerman of Design By Reese here: http://prooftoproduct.com/224 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp Mentioned in this episode: Take the free quiz! Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz
"How did you get your products into so many stores?" Melissa Gullatte hears this question often. Her business, Gracefully Made Art, started with original paintings and wedding invitations. After her first daughter was born, she pivoted to officially licensed collegiate and sorority gifts. She took Paper Camp in spring 2023, thinking wholesale would be a nice side channel. Three years later, wholesale is two-thirds of her revenue and she's in more than 1,000 stores. In this episode, you'll learn: How collegiate and sorority licensing works: applying school by school, getting each product category and every piece of artwork approved, and planning six months to a year ahead of launch How Melissa landed Ole Miss after two years of rejections Why sorority licensing opened up a national market when collegiate products sell regionally How she prices for wholesale first, with royalties of 12 to 20 percent built in, then sets her retail price from there What tactics got her into 1,000+ stores How she keeps retailers reordering, and why fewer SKUs helped her business grow
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I know you have a lot on your plate right now. You've got products to make, orders to ship, and about a hundred decisions that you're making every day. I do not take it lightly that you are spending time with me today and I want to thank you for being here. Today's episode is a short, focused, throwback episode designed to give you one thing that you can do today to move your business forward. No fluff, no filler, just ideas that we've shared in the past that will benefit you today. Let's dive in! You can listen to the full episode here: http://prooftoproduct.com/419 Quick Links: Free Wholesale Audio Series Free Resources Library Free Email Marketing for Product Makers PTP LABS Paper Camp Mentioned in this episode: Take the free quiz! Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz