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Episode 024 – Summer Bucket List Challenge Summer is not done yet! At the time of this recording, summer is coming to a fast close. But wait, there’s still a little more summer to be savored! This special mini episode (short!) shares a fun way our team makes sure we don’t miss the most important parts of summer. And a little competition helps spice…

Episode 023 – Gregg Shapiro, New England Made Shows Are Wholesale Giftware Trade Shows For You? If you’ve ever wondered how to determine if a gift show is for you, listen in. With more than 25 years of experience, Gregg Shapiro shares his expertise in the needed mindset and preparation for success in wholesale giftware shows. A little about Gregg G…

Episode 22– Ellen Feldman Ornato, The Bolder Company How To Survive The Dread of Networking and Actually, (Maybe!?) Enjoy It! Is there anything more uncomfortable than a networking event? For most of us walking into a roomful of strangers, it strikes dread in our hearts and makes us hide in the bathroom stall or dive into the punch bowl. However, y…

Episode 21 – Lisa Mossel Vietze, Archipelago Do’s and Don’t From A Seasoned Buyer and Artist What does a retail buyer look for? How do you handle exclusivity? How do you even get in the door?! Lisa not only has exceptional retail expertise, but also understands the mindset of an artist. She shares do’s and don’ts of approaching retailers – valuable…

Episode 020 Why do Martha Stewart, American Craft Week, and Yankee Magazine all find Matt Beaudoin’s work irresistible? Does his success come from the love of the work or the fear of failure? Listen in to hear how Matt has taken his grandfather’s lessons to build an anchor business for his community. A little about Matt and Mystic Knotwork Matt sta…

Episode 019 The road to wholesale does not usually start with genetic sequencing, but Holly Kenny of Elsie Kaye Glassworks has made her own path with a torch in hand. Listen in as she shares how she continues to evolve her business to support both her creative expression and the market she serves. A little about Holly Holly Kenny has been creating …

From Craft to Artists and More – A Conversation with the Maine Crafts Association Episode 018 The Maine Crafts Association works to support craft artists with marketing and educational opportunities. While craft doesn’t always successfully crossover into wholesale, Sadie Bliss, Director, knows the best practices of the most successful craft artists…

Denise O’Reilly likes to burn things. And they’re beautiful. Episode 017 As the owner of The Burnt Shop, Denise has been gone from making holiday gifts for friends to quitting her leader role at Whole Foods. How did she go from presents to profit? How does she create new products? With a lot of hard work and smart growth along the way. Learn how sh…

From monkeys to Mad Gabs, the kitchen to QVC—building a life with lip balm. Episode 16 From monkeys (yes!) and a failed math class to selling to retailers like Wegmans and Whole Foods Market, Gabrielle has grown up with her Mad Gabs business. How did she do it? One lip balm at a time and more. From her start selling out of the back of her car, list…

From 18 months to 275 stores–It’s A Wrap Episode 15 Michelle has always taken what’s around her and made something beautiful and useful. She also has a passion for learning. In the last 18 months, she’s taken her love of textiles and learning to the next level while solving a problem of single-use plastics in an elegant, practical way. Z Wraps are …

What You Need To Know About Sales Reps - Episode 14 What do giftware and specialty food sales reps do? How do they get paid? How much? When is it a good time to get one? What should you ask your sales rep and what do you do when it’s not working out. We cover all these and more from seasoned sale rep, Jane Hughes, and learn about her 26 years in th…

A conversation about living your life and having a business too. Where do you get your inspiration for your latest business? Sometimes it comes in a bag of chips! Heidi Feldman not only gets her inspiration from the magical island beauty of Martha’s Vineyard, but from assessing what resources are available and working to create a life that blends t…

It took 30 years for Suzanne’s idea to come to fruition, but today Port City Pretzels are enjoyed across the country…and boy, are we glad she’s brought her vision to the marketplace. While some her age would be slowing down, Suzanne is running full speed in growing a business. Her perseverance through hardship and a continued focus on moving forwar…

How do your products get from Whitinsville to the White House? It’s the little things! For Christine Guanipa of Little Man, it’s not about the work, but it’s about the people. Learn how she has built her line of textile handbags and accessories as well as a family business that cares for its community members. A little about Little Man Little Man i…

Episode 10 ‘Will this sink my business?’ Almost every business owner has had that disaster moment. Cyndi Prince had hers early on in her business. Listen in on how she got through a packaging disaster to grow a business that is sustainable in more ways than one. With a background in science and art, she’s navigated both the practical and creative n…

Have you ever struggled in your business trying to figure out how to grow or make a profit? Whether it’s for advice on starting a profitable business, a plan for growth or how to buy or sell your own business--the right advice can make all the difference. Peter Harriman is a Center Director of the Maine Small Business Development Center and he help…

Becky Wright has been selling pottery since the mid-90s and always knew she could make pottery a career. However, in the early days fear was her constant companion. Afraid of money, fear of failure and a fear of success. Becky almost gave up on wholesale. Listen in to how she got over those challenges to create a life where she’s proud to be able t…

Hey Coach! Scott Roberts is a business coach--mine specifically! Last year I hired a business coach --highly recommended! Scott's work is more of a calling than a career path and in this episode, he shares practical, actionable steps for building a profitable business. As a former CEO, Scott Roberts understands first-hand the challenges of running …

Tammy Knight has been surrounded by family makers from her earliest years (including her grandmother who taught her how to sew!). Her current role allows her to live vicariously through the creative members of Maine Made. She’s deeply committed to the success of her members and works tirelessly to support them through her resources. In this episode…

From her beginnings in a dream job on a Maine ski mountain to her work today leading a thriving agency, Nancy has built a career on relationships and the power of communications. PR is what she was born to do. With media relations as her superpower, she shares practical and seasoned advice for planning and promoting your story. A little about Nancy…

Noah Munro understands firsthand the challenge of growing a profitable food business through his work as co-founder of The Mill Fudge Factory. Munro drove the growth of the company from an idea into a well-run profitable food business with over 10 employees and steady annual revenue growth. Munro was also responsible for selling over $400,000 of fu…

What do you do when you lose your corporate job? In this episode, Michael Gaffney of Seawicks Candle Company discusses the challenges of starting up a company while raising a family. A little about Seawicks Candle Company It's so much more than wax. It's about community, culture & quality. Michael and Cara Gaffney are a husband-wife team creating 1…

The candy business is not always sweet. In this episode, Kate McCrea, McCrea’s Candies and I cover the challenges of cash flow and the importance of having a strong team to support your business growth. A little About Kate and McCrea's Candies McCrea’s Candies was founded by husband-wife team Jason and Kate McCrea. Building upon backgrounds in biol…

Summary Maggie Bokor joined our show to discussed how she has built confidence in communicating who she is through her work. We also talked about the financial realities of being a maker and how to adapt through the challenge of losing sales through bad seasons or galleries closing. A little about Maggie Maggie Bokor is known for her organic, elega…

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