Podcast appearances and mentions of meg sutton

Meg Sutton epitomizes someone who "does it all." From her role as financial advisor at Baird, to impacting her community with the MADE program, Meg is always on the go - making a difference at every stop! Today, Meg joins us in the podlab to talk about the MADE program and how a lifetime of loving Lexington has made her the fabulous friend, coach, mom, and neighbor she is,

Meg Sutton started her career as a Financial Advisor with Hilliard Lyons in 2013 after three years coaching collegiate lacrosse and soccer at Ohio Wesleyan University. Meg is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA where she earned a degree in Managerial Economics and was a lacrosse student athlete. Since returning to Lexington, she has become involved in the Lexington community serving on different boards. She currently serves on the board of the High Street YMCA, is a lacrosse coach at The Lexington School, and is the co-founder of the Sizzle Select Lacrosse Club. Meg was a member of the first ever girls' lacrosse team in Lexington and continues to be active today by running, lifting, spinning, and chasing around her toddler. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with her husband, Kyle and their daughter Ellie.

Hey friends! I know right now has been a very confusing time for so many of us... I actually brought on Meg Sutton today for a hot seat episode to really dive deep into where she should be focusing in her business.  You might be familiar with Meg as she has been on the podcast a few times before and is a long time client of mine. Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle and Union and As her company has evolved and COVID has changed the economy, she’s felt unsure of where she should be focusing her time and energy to ensure long-term stability for her business.  We take a look into her numbers including income percentages, expenses, the challenges she’s facing and her future goals. We did an exercise and I gave her some of my best advice to help her gain some clarity around what channels of her business she should make her priority. The chat I had with Meg revealed some things that she could focus on and think about over the next few months. I advised her to take a deep look at what she could do to cut down expenses in her brick and mortar shop and why she should do some forecasting when looking into her next brick and mortar location. I know many seasoned business owners are facing similar situations to what Meg is going through right now so I wanted to share this conversation in hopes it could inspire you and help bring clarity for you in your own business!  ON TODAY’S EPISODE: What Meg does in her business, Belle & Union What she’s working on and what she needs help with right now in her business The things that Meg is hoping to rethink business-wise What her business revenue looks like for the wholesale, retail and custom channels What her time, money, heart and impact looks like in relation to those channels Katie’s advice for Meg about referring out for the custom side of her business What Katie advised Meg to do about the wholesale and retail side of her business Meg’s experience with the landlords for her retail space and thoughts about moving spaces Katie’s homework for Meg around vision planning, trimming expenses and forecasting For full show notes and resources, head to: bit.ly/PTPEp163 Small Wins Lead to Big Wins Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ ​​Slow sustainable growth is how strong businesses are built and we want to help you get there. ​Join Proof to Product Labs, our new community experience OPEN NOW! SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!  ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Have you ever wondered what it's like to totally pivot your business as a product-based shop? If so, this episode is for you!Today I'm chatting with Meg Sutton, who is the founder and creator of the products over at Belle & Union, which is a company that sells Letterpress printed cards are printed southern-inspired wrapping papers and handcrafted Artisan goods. The shop has been featured in Country Living, Rachel Ray, Southern Living, Southern Lady, and Oh So Beautiful Paper.In this interview, we are talking about her recent decision to pivot the products that she was selling in her shop because they just didn’t align with where she was at in her life as well as how she actually went about making that transition and introducing that to her audience.She’s actually still in the middle of the transition, so we got a bit of the behind the scenes of what that looks like, what it feels like to be in such a big transition, and what the rest of the year looks like for her now that she is making this shift.If you are ready to hear a successful shop owner talk about what is actually happening behind the scenes, make sure to listen in!

Are you ready for round two? Because we are! This is the second of two special episodes this week, featuring Paper Camp alumni who are taking us behind the scenes of what it’s like to run a manufacturing business and brick and mortar retail shop simultaneously. Yesterday, on Episode 129 we heard from the Los-Angeles based, Katie Wilson. Now today, on Episode 130, I’m sitting down with Meg Sutton, the founder of Belle & Union, based in San Antonio Texas. Meg first shared her startup story back on Episode 7.  If you’re curious about how Meg launched Belle & Union and the motivation behind her products, definitely head back to give that episode a listen. Today we’re diving even deeper into Meg’s business journey. We’re sitting down to talk about how Meg decided to open her brick & mortar shop, how she layered that into her existing business model, and how she keeps perspective through it all.  ON TODAY’S EPISODE:  -       How Meg balances time between wholesale and her shop -       The importance of great employees -       What Meg does to carve out time for creativity -       Some misconceptions about stocking for retail vs wholesale -       How Belle & Union has evolved over the years -       What Meg wishes she knew before opening her shop -       Choosing your location wisely -       Advice on how to deal with the unexpected -       How diversifying revenue streams has impacted neighborhood visibility -       What’s up next for Meg and Belle & Union   KEY TAKE-AWAYS:   “I need to be better about saying, "Okay, Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 1:00, that's my creative time. But as any creative knows, you can't really force it.” – Meg Sutton   “I'm not a great people manager. I can be a leader. But when it trickles down, like I kind of need somebody else to handle that.” – Meg Sutton   “Having a good support system truly helps, especially as you start to scale your business. You can't do it all. You shouldn't be doing it all.” – Katie Hunt   “I will be the first to admit I have not been the best about figuring out that balance with my time to the point that I know our product line has suffered because of it.” – Meg Sutton   “There are things we're not good at. There are things that drain us. There's things that just we shouldn't have our hands on, or we don't need to have our hands on.” – Katie Hunt   “No matter what your business is. Wholesale, retail, pantomiming on the sidewalk, whatever it is,  know your numbers.” - Meg Sutton   “It's totally appropriate to keep something in the retail space, even if you're not selling it in the wholesale space. I think that's another misconception.” – Katie Hunt   “As hard as this last year has been in retail, I don't regret it. I love having the store.” -  Meg Sutton   “I love the community that we've built, and I want to be able to expand on that even more.” – Meg Sutton LINKS KENDRA SCOTT HOW I BUILT THIS WEBSITE: Belle and Union Co.  FACEBOOK: @belleandunionco   INSTAGRAM: @belleandunionco   TWITTER: @belleandunionco   SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!    ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

This week on Proof to Product we’re bringing you not just one, but TWO episodes with two special Paper Camp Alumni who are sharing what it’s like to run a manufacturing business and brick and mortar retail shops simultaneously. Today on Episode 129, Katie Wilson, founder of The Good Twin, and owner of two Los Angeles-based retail shops, Crush and Touch, returns to the show to share what it’s like to be a buyer, how being a retailer has changed over the years, and how she markets her own wholesale line to other buyers. You might remember Katie from Episode 6 of Proof to Product where she first shared her startup story with us. If you haven’t heard that episode yet, it’s definitely worth heading back for a listen. Katie’s had an amazing business journey, and over the years, she has been a contributor to many tradeshow recap episodes, a frequent speaker at our Paper Camp conference and an incredible mentor to many in our industry. We’re thrilled to have Katie back today to share more of her experience and we hope you take away some great nuggets of advice. Coming up tomorrow, Episode 130 with Meg Sutton of Belle & Union. ON TODAY’S EPISODE:  -       Katie’s first shop -       What inspired her to expand -       The types of products sold at Crush and Touch -       How Katie decides what to stock -       Dealing with concerns about competition -       Forging a unique experience for customer retention -       Calculating risk -       The importance of knowing what you want & need -       Making the most of handiwork & imagination -       Startup costs and maximizing labor hours vs dollars -       Planning for the best and the worst -       The do’s and don’ts of pitching and presenting to stores -       Reframing failure to make improvements    KEY TAKE-AWAYS:   “I smash everything in, and I get it all done, and I really love it, but it's amazing how much your hours in a day can expand if you need them to.” -  Katie Wilson   “Sometimes when we want to do something, we kind of undermine ourselves in terms of how much work, how much time, how much energy this really, truly takes.” – Katie Hunt    “I actually carry nail polish, because I'm a big proponent of nail art is actual art.” – Katie Wilson   “It's a very fun little baby, but it's a totally different side of my brain that I have to access to run it.”  ¬- Katie Wilson   “I love the things that I make, but I'm really passionate about a lot of the things that my friends make, or other people that I admire make.” – Katie Wilson    “I'm okay with a healthy amount of financial risk. But in terms of the entrepreneurs that I know, I would say that I tend to go small and steady versus just jumping in with both feet.” – Katie Wilson   “My mantra is, always play the long game. You want to make sure that you know what's right for you, that you know what you need, and what your expectations are out of your businesses, and what you need to survive, and also what you need to be happy. Because those are two different things.” – Katie Wilson   “That initial push is a lot of money, and you got to stock that store, and even if you're doing bonkers business, that's a slow game to earn that money back.”  ¬- Katie Wilson    “I always plan for my absolute worst month, and I say like, "Okay, if I can run on this, then I can do anything,” – Katie Wilson.    “I'm living out here. I'm just trying to do my thing, and not to hurt your feelings, but I have days when I'm back there, I'm not wearing lipstick. Don't call me. I don't want to see you right now. I'm not public ready.” – Katie Wilson    “If you are going out and leaving samples, or if you're mailing samples to stores, only send two to three at most. Do not send your entire product line, especially if you're selling something other than paper products.” – Katie Hunt   “Following up is key. And so is taking cues.” – Katie Wilson   “Just remember that everyone's human, the buyers are human, we're human. Sometimes we need those reminders.” – Katie Wilson   “That not so good stuff is how we make improvements, and it's how we build stronger business. So they're not failures. It's just another way to expand what we're doing and do it well.”  - Katie Hunt       LINKS Website: http://thegoodtwin.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodtwinco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodtwinco/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegoodtwinco   SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!    ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Meg Sutton of Belle & Union Co. is on the podcast today! Meg started her business by jumping into wholesale at the National Stationery Show. She shares her journey and what led her to pursue that path into the product world. Meg also shares the decision to open a brick & mortar and the challenges and triumphs she’s experienced since opening her store. She even shares a little but about what is to come for Belle & Union Co.!   From Meg Sutton: A little bit sweet, a whole lot sassy, Belle & Union is the creation of Meg and Josh, two honeys known for cookin’ up all sorts of homegrown goodness with their whimsical writings, wrappings and wares. It all started in 2012 with a relationship: a Southern art student and a Northern soldier fell in love along the sandy beaches of Tybee Island and the shady moss-draped oaks of Savannah, Georgia. But life took us from Georgia to Texas, where we now have our very own brick and mortar in sunny San Antonio. The shop, just like our own collection, only carries 100% made in the USA wares for gift and home.   Website: https://www.belleandunion.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belleandunionco/   Links: To get 50% off your first year with Honeybook, go to positivelycreative.net/honeybook! Proof to Product: https://www.prooftoproduct.com   About The Positively Creative Podcast: The Positively Creative Podcast was created by Dorothy Collier, artist of Dorothy Art, for creative entrepreneurs. When Dorothy started having a positive outlook on every aspect of her life, including her art career, the creativity and opportunities started overflowing! Join her as she chats with other small business owners, discussing the ins and outs of how to run a creative business and how they make it in their respective fields. To learn more about The Positively Creative Podcast, visit our website or head over to our Patreon page! You can also find Dorothy on Instagram at @positivelycreativepodcast and @dorothyart!

My guest today is Meg Sutton, owner of Belle and Union, a specialty paper and home goods retailer in San Antonio Texas. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop. Meg and her husband Josh run the business together with a focus on a brick and mortar model with all American sourced goods--which we’re going to delve into during our show today.

Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle & Union, a company that sells letterpress printed cards, art prints, southern-inspired wrappings, and hand-crafted artisan goods brimming with vintage wit and wisdom that tote a bit of a foodie twist - all 100% made in the USA. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop. In this episode:  The difference from going from wholesale to brick and mortar.  The differences in her business since she made the change.  How she went from hustling to business owner.  How she handled giving over some power and hiring her team.  How she realized it was time for things to shift.  Why you have to listen to your intuition.  How she leans on her community.

Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle & Union, a company that sells letterpress printed cards, art prints, southern-inspired wrappings and hand-crafted artisan goods brimming with vintage wit and wisdom that tote a bit of a foodie twist – all 100% made in the USA. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop. Surprisingly she went from concept to wholesale in just a single year. Belle & Union launched their first brick and mortar store in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2018. The shop houses the working studio as well as offers creative workshops across a variety of subject matters. Meg values encouraging people to slow down and enjoy the sweet moments in life, gathered ’round a table filled with smiles and laughter. When she’s not doodling or coming up with Belle & Union’s next great product, you can find her sipping chai tea, chasing her pup with her husband and curling up with a good book. Belle & Union’s products have been featured in Garden & Gun, Country Living, Rachael Ray, Southern Weddings, Southern Living, Southern Lady, and Oh So Beautiful Paper. Meg has been interviewed on KENS 5 in San Antonio, SA Live, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Proof to Product podcast, and more. Business Building InsightsContinually taking the next step will get you where you want to go. If you’re struggling, take some time to stop and look around and see what you’ve already built. Sometimes we forget how far we’ve already come. Create a cohesive brand identity and vision. By doing this you present a line to retailers that they can merchandise. Running a business is a marathon not a sprint. Look beyond that one show. For wholesale, make sure you offer your re-sellers a variety of product options to make it easier for them to reach your minimums. Shows are not just about orders. They’re also about networking and planting seeds for the future. Follow up is key to building relationships with clients. Take time to remember them after your order has been received for feedback and additional opportunity. Invest in avenues that bring new people through the door. For Meg it is in-store workshops. Treat your small business like a big business right from the start. Resources Mentioned Verb House Creative (https://www.verbhousecreative.com/) Katie Hunt and Tradeshow Bootcamp – GBU Podcast #199 (http://giftbizunwrapped.com/katiehunt/) Contact Links Website (http://belleandunion.com) Facebook (http://facebook.com/belleandunionco) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/belleandunionco) Twitter (http://twitter.com/belleandunionco) Gift Biz ResourcesJoin our (https://www facebook.com/groups/GiftBizBreeze) If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a review in Google Podcasts (http://www.giftbizunwrapped.com/GooglePodcasts) . That helps us spread the word to more makers just like you. Thanks! Sue

What is it really like to own a brick & mortar retail boutique in the current economic climate? My guest today – Meg Sutton of Belle & Union – has an interesting business trajectory. She was working full-time, doing wedding invitations on the side… and then decided she wanted to launch her own business. Instead of just opening an online shop, she worked for a full year behind the scenes, then launched her business at a major trade show in the USA. It was a big success, and her business grew from there – to moving from strictly wholesale to also selling online – to now, where she has been running her own brick & mortar shop in San Antonio, Texas. In this episode, we discuss her journey, and the realities of owning a b&m business – the ups and the downs. If you've ever dreamt of opening your own shop (and let's be honest – who hasn't?!) don't miss this episode.

Taking a product from idea to the shelves can be daunting especially if it has to be manufactured. We wanted to talk to someone who has been in the trenches so on today's episode we are chatting with Nicole Ketchum of Hey Girl Decor. Nicole tells us all about how her chandeliers came to be and the process it took to get them manufactured overseas.   About Nicole Hi I'm Nicole, Founder and Designer of Hey Girl Decor, formally Chandelier By NK. Hey Girl Decor is a modern acrylic decor company — founded in 2014. It started as an idea to create an easy, chic chandelier without lights. The idea of making a chandelier and then flipping it on it’s head and redefining it was so much fun!   Our mission statement is simple: We take designing seriously — but don’t think decor should be serious.   We are currently scaling our brand, with the goal of retailers for licensing opportunities, and rolling out a new name and logo next week.   Connect with Nicole Website | Instagram | Pinterest Links Episode 56 - Simplifying Manufacturing and Business with Emily Ley Episode 99 - Shop Talk with Meg Sutton of Belle & Union   Become a supporter of the podcast today! Head to www.patreon.com/creativebizrebellion for more information!   Introducing the Creative Rebel Base: THE place for Creative Rebels to collaborate, learn, and support each other! THE place to go online if you want to connect with, learn from, and support other product-based business owners, artists, and makers. We created this community to help you along your journey, but also to give you a safe place to learn with and interact with other like-minded business owners whether you are just starting your biz or have been doing this a while, let's all move forward TOGETHER!   For more info and to join today, head to www.creativerebelbase.com   WANT TO CONNECT WITH CREATIVE BIZ REBELLION?   SUPPORT the podcast. Become a Patron today! JOIN our Facebook Group! FOLLOW us on Instagram and use #creativebizrebellion. Tag us in a photo of you listening! LEAVE us a review on Itunes or on your favorite podcast app. We will give you all the virtual fistbumps! SIGN UP for our email list and be the first to learn about workshops, rebel sessions and more CONNECT WITH KELLY on her websites here, here, and her Etsy shop. CONNECT WITH CAROLINE on her website and Etsy shop.

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Belle & Union stationery shop owner Meg Sutton gives us the real deal on the bumpy road to building a successful brick and mortar business. In an honest interview about the challenges entrepreneurs face, Meg shares why she chose to wholesale her stationery products first, why she decided to open her own shop and the important lessons she has learned throughout the process as she builds her San Antonio, Texas-based business

Today's interview is with my good friend and client Meg Sutton, the owner of a shop called Belle & Union located in San Antonio. Meg opened up her first brick and mortar shop in July of 2018 after running her shop strictly online for years. We talk about what it's really like to open a brick and mortar store and how she even figured out how to open a retail shop, how and why she produces all of her products 100% in the U.S., imposter syndrome, why Meg stopped sharing her personal life on social media as well as why I stopped following the news. Yes, we get real deep in this episode and I'm excited for you to tune in!As always, join in on the conversation with other Day in the Life listeners in our private Facebook group. Would love to have you over there so I can get to learn more about you!Excited for you to tune in and hope you enjoy!   In today’s episode, you'll find out:   How Meg figured out how to open a retail shop. Misconceptions people have about what it's really like to run a brick and mortar store. What lights her up the most about being a small shop owner. The struggles and sacrifices she's made as a business owner. The process for producing products domestically. Advice she'd give to anyone who wants to open their own small brick and mortar shop. Imposter syndrome and how to fight it. Why Meg stopped sharing her personal life on social media. Why I stopped following the news. Full show notes at: http://brittneyllynn.com/059 Links mentioned: Day in the Life interview with Pastry Chef Sarah Bruggeman Day in the Life interview with Katie Hunt of Tradeshow Bootcamp   Follow Meg:   Website Facebook Instagram Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or Google Play Leave an honest review on iTunes. The ratings and reviews help for two reasons: 1) Most importantly, I get to know you, the listener, and what content you enjoy the most. 2) The more reviews the podcast has, the better chance it has at getting in front of new listeners. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Join the Facebook group to interact with guests and other listeners Join the Day in the Life newsletter

Do you know what "fair trade" is? Molly Stillman is on the show today to help us understand fair trade and it's importance. We also chat with Molly about how you can start making a difference, no matter how big or small, with your business.   Links: Business with Purpose Podcast EP 104: Kelly Parker Smith, Hello World Paper Episode 99 - Shop Talk with Meg Sutton of Belle & UnionEthical Brand DirectoryBusiness with Purpose Podcast EP 110: How to Know if a Brand is Ethical   About Molly: Molly Stillman is the founder and creator of Still Being Molly, a life and style blog started in 2007, and the host of the Business with Purpose podcast. Her true passion lies in helping inspire women to know that they were created on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose. Molly has had the honor of collaborating with brands such as Stitch Fix, Target, Elegantees, The Root Collective, Sseko Designs, Noonday Collection, and more.  She is honored to have been featured in such publications and media as US News & World Report, Scary Mommy, The 700 Club, Cary Magazine, and was named as one of “the Carolina’s 75 Most Stylish People” by Carolina STYLE Magazine. She is a wife to John, mama to Lilly and Amos, dog mom to Tater and Audrey, a loud laugher, lover of Jesus, Diet Coke and all of the Chipotle burritos. You can find her on the internets at stillbeingmolly.com.   Connect with Molly: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Youtube WANT TO CONNECT WITH CREATIVE BIZ REBELLION?   SUPPORT the podcast. Become a Patron today! JOIN our Facebook Group! FOLLOW us on Instagram and use #creativebizrebellion. Tag us in a photo of you listening! LEAVE us a review on Itunes or on your favorite podcast app. We will give you all the virtual fistbumps! SIGN UP for our email list and be the first to learn about workshops, rebel sessions and more CONNECT WITH KELLY on her websites here, here, and her Etsy shop. CONNECT WITH CAROLINE on her website and Etsy shop.   * Some links may be affiliate links! Thank you!

Meg Sutton of Belle & Union is chatting with us today about how she started her business and created her own supply chains to have her products made in the USA. We also chat about how Meg started in wholesale and what made her decide to open a Brick and Mortar shop. This episode is full of wisdom about knowing your products value, knowing your numbers and staying true to your brand.   About Meg: Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle & Union, a company that sells letterpress printed cards, art prints, southern-inspired wrappings, and hand-crafted artisan goods brimming with vintage wit and wisdom that tote a bit of a foodie twist - all 100% made in the USA. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop.   Belle & Union launched their first brick and mortar store in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2018. The shop houses the working studio as well as offers creative workshops across a variety of subject matters. Meg values encouraging people to slow down and enjoy the sweet moments in life, gathered ’round a table filled with smiles and laughter.   When she's not doodling or coming up with Belle & Union's next great product, you can find her sipping chai tea, chasing her pup with her husband, and curling up with a good book.   Belle & Union’s products have been featured in Country Living, Rachael Ray, Southern Weddings, Southern Living, Southern Lady, and Oh So Beautiful Paper. Meg has been interviewed on KENS 5 in San Antonio, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Proof to Product podcast, and more.   Connect with Meg: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest   Have you joined our Facebook group yet? We've worked hard to create an awesome space for Product Based Biz Owners who are ready to rock! We don't bite so come join us! Want to dive deeper? Head to creativerebelbase.com for workshops and much more! If you have a second please jump over to iTunes and leave us a review! Click on the link and then click on “view in iTunes” to leave us a review. We give you all the virtual fist bumps. Thank you! YOU CAN FIND KELLY ONLINE AT: www.helloworldpaperco.com www.kellyparkersmith.com www.helloworldstamps.etsy.com YOU CAN FIND CAROLINE ONLINE AT: www.carolinecreates.com www.carolinecreates.etsy.com

For full show notes and access to additional resources for this episode, visit: prooftoproduct.com/007 Meg Sutton of Belle & Union Co., started her business in 2012 with a focus on creating handmade, American-made goods.  Belle & Union has seen a ton of growth in their business in the last five years expanding from the world of letterpress greeting cards into textiles, home goods, kitchen wares and paper gift products.  On today’s episode, Meg and I talk about research & development of new products in the handmade space, working with sales reps, goal setting and how running a business is a marathon, not a sprint.     ON TODAY’S EPISODE: [01:00] Meg’s story of starting Belle & Union Co. [03:00] Diving head first into her business, launching wholesale & retail at the same time.[05:00] Finding her niche and expanding into gift and foodie products.[07:30] Why B&U focuses on creating handmade, American made products.[9:00] Research & development of new products.  Determining if profit margins work for new items.[10:30] Struggles of making American made goods while maintaining profit margin.[11:30] Costs is a large factor in determining what new products to move forward with.[13:00] Focus on handmade allows Meg to control quality of her products.[15:00] Working with sales reps & why she waited to sign with one.[18:00] Providing sales reps with the right sales tools to do the job.[22:30] Trade shows are a marathon, not a sprint.[26:00] Systems around new product releases[27:00] Outsourcing social media management & planning out content.[29:00] Goal setting and what that looks like for Meg.[32:30] What’s next for Belle & Union Co. KEY TAKE-AWAYS: “I wanted one order. That's all I wanted. And I walked away I think with close to 50 orders at that show, it was an incredible feeling” - Meg Sutton on her first trade show   “I can tell you personally, there is an end to Google, it does end.” - Meg Sutton on research & development.   “Our American-made goods are going to be around the same cost as something made overseas. And I think that's a really big accomplishment.” - Meg Sutton   “We did cutting boards for a little while and I loved them, they fit the brand great but we really just weren't making our margins on them. So at the end of the day it just didn't make sense [to produce them].” - Meg Sutton   ‘Your sales reps are part of your team, and you need to make sure they have the tools that they need to do the job”  - Katie Hunt     “It’s a marathon not a sprint.” - Meg Sutton   “A lot of us wear a lot of hats, so we juggle all of them and keep the business moving forward” - Meg Sutton   “Now we plan out content, we have a content calendar and a schedule that we follow. And it shows. We’ve seen growth in the last six months not only in our followings but that translates to sales.” - Meg Sutton   I would encourage people to take the time to write out their purpose or their mission statement.  Writing it down completely changed my perspective and enabled growth. - Meg Sutton   MEET MEG SUTTON: It all started in 2012 with a relationship: a Southern art student and a Northern soldier fell in love along the sandy beaches of Tybee Island and the shady moss-draped oaks of Savannah, Georgia. Everything you'll find at Belle & Union Co., is steeped in Southern hospitality, from the deepest grooves of our letterpress greeting cards to the very (literal) fiber of our signature tea towels: all proudly American made. We've got a soft spot for vintage American wit and wisdom and goods that tote a bit of a foodie twist. To us, nothing says home and comfort quite like the scents of Mawma's kitchen; it's the heart of the home and the memories made in it feed our souls.   Website: http://www.belleandunion.com/ Facebook: @belleandunionco Instagram: @belleandunionco Twitter: @belleandunionco   JOIN THE TSBC FAMILY: Interested in learning more about launching or refining a wholesale line or exhibiting at trade shows?  Join us for our next Paper Camp conference in Los Angeles. Get more details and register at www.tradeshowcamp.com/papercamp   ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is brought to you by Tradeshow Bootcamp and hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, TSBC has worked with hundreds of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode.