Podcasts about thimblepress

In this episode, Kristin Ley of Thimblepress shares her personal journey of realigning after experiencing rapid success and financial setbacks. She reflects on the importance of core values, detaching one's identity from their business, and embracing trust and courage in the creative entrepreneurial journey. Join Kristin as she provides practical tips for setting attainable goals, prioritizing self-care, and finding balance while navigating the ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship. Sign up for my FREE 3 day long workshop, "Get Out of Your Own Way Bootcamp." July 19-21 at 10 am PST / 1 pm EST every morning.  Interested in my membership? Join ⁠⁠Tillage Village Waitlist⁠⁠⁠⁠! Doors open July 24-31st. Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and more. Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign Up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEWSLETTER --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shirlee5/support

BPF has an insightful conversation with Mississippi's own, Kristen Ley, founder and owner of Thimblepress - a nationally recognized, creative and innovative line of greeting cards and gifts that spring from her faith-based mission.  Listen in to Kristen'a journey with her achievements and challenges that provide some insight for those desiring to pursue their own start up.

What is success exactly? That is the question Kristen Ley began asking herself following the meteoric rise of her paper and gift brand Thimblepress. Taking her creations from Etsy shop to Target shelves in a few short years was a dream come true, but at what cost?Caught up in a mindset of "hurry rush do," Kristen became scattered. "I was spinning out, doing way too much, and not taking care of my mental and physical self," she wrote me. "I had put off doctor's appointments for years, I was cutting my own hair, and I was eating a very poor diet that kept me in a perpetual cycle of sickness. I was a mess."So, Kristen decided to look inwards, slow down to an almost complete halt — including on social media! — and truly reevaluate what was actually going on in her business and heart.As a result, she completely restructured her business — and mindset — so that Thimblepress serves her, not the other way around. These days you will find Kristen not only developing her own product range, but collaborating with others for a true design win-win. Whatever role you play in our community, you'll be inspired by this industry powerhouse's grace, strength and wisdom.

Kristen Ley, founder of Thimblepress® shares her wholesale secrets from being in the stationery businesses for more than a decade. Thimblepress is an international lifestyle company that encourages kindness and inspires fun, through her artisan cards, Push-Pop Confetti, and viral hits like the "Your butt looks great in those jeans!" card. In their interview with attorney for creators Brittany Ratelle, Kristen dives into her creative process, how she launched Thimblepress and grew it to an internationally successful company as a passionate creative, businesswoman, coach, and woman of faith. Kristen has grown Thimblepress as a reflection of her life, love of her family, and reflecting back on one of her favorite places in the world; one of them being her home in Jackson, Mississippi. In this episode:  How Kristen got started with an antique letterpress The journey from side hustle to “burning the ships behind her” when she left a safe corporate job Pros and cons of trade shows (and how Kristen did her first few all on her own!) How she decides what she wants to offer for wholesale - and how she coaches other people through these decisions Pricing for wholesale profitability What sparks her creativity for new art products Why Kristen shares about her faith alongside her business How Kristen teaches her coaching clients who want to get into licensing or wholesale Kristen's advice for overcoming “noise” on social media How to hire the right way The three things your customers want – guaranteed! Online wholesale outlets Kristen mentions (where you can find Thimblepress):  ABOUND  Bulletin  Kristen's questions for creatives who want to expand:  Where are you actually making your money? Where are you spending your time? (What you're doing over there – is that actually making you money?) Are you excited about it? Don't invest in something that doesn't excite you, just because others are. What about YOU? Have you done the “time, heart, money” analysis like Katie Hunt from Proof to Product recommends? Have you developed a brand book?  Can you make a pitch about your work?   Quotes:  “I have been running this business since 2012 and it looks very different than it did, but the integrity and the core values of our brand have always remained the same.”   “When you hire, if people don't align with your core values, it's going to make communicating with them and them going out and communicating for your brand super difficult.”   “You need saved three months of being able to pay your employees in a savings account because those times will get hard – things can happen out of your control.”   “One of the worst things I've done in my business is having to let people go – and that usually comes from hiring too fast.”   “I feel like I'm making a difference in people's day-to-day – even if they're little small differences. I visualize all those little small products, like every greeting card that goes out, those hundreds of thousands of push-pops of confetti, out into the world. And I think of every time we send something out, it's like a little red heart. So I picture all these little red hearts everywhere.” “A legal lesson I learned the hard way - if you file for a provisional patent application, make sure you follow up within a year later and file the actual patent, or you lose that right forever.” “Don't look around at what everyone else is doing and make the right decisions for you, your family, your company, your faith, all those things like are so important.” “Don't make work your idol – make it part of your life, but not the hero. Because you're the hero - not what you do.” “I always say people don't ask for what they want enough. Pitch yourself as much as you can. The more you ask - just mathematically - the more yes's you're going to get.” “You have to big be your biggest cheerleader. If you're not going to be excited about the things that you're doing, how do you expect anyone else to be excited for you? “For promoting yourself, sometimes you have to yell when even when you think it's a whisper, especially on social media. Sometimes, I feel like I'm saying things over and over again, and that I feel like I'm yelling at them but truthfully, it's not that because we're all inundated with noise.” “I always say it boils down to three things. People just want to feel seen, loved, and heard. If you can make your customers feel seen and loved and heard, I would say job well done.”   Resources:  Wholesale Agreement Template Pop-up shop Agreement Template Website BUNDLE    Kristen:  Thimblepress Business Coaching by Kristen Ley (1:1 creative call, monthly mentoring and weekend workshops) Kristen's Stronger Together Facebook Group Her Vision Board and Dream Workshop download   OTHER EPISODES   Episode 74: 7 Biggest Legal Mistakes Physical Product Companies Make   Contract Templates mentioned in this episode:   Website BUNDLE Wholesale Pop-up shop Independent Contractor Agreement     Brand Protection: Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.   Ready to get your business legally legit? Download my free legally legit workbook HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business. Like to listen and learn?  Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify &  iHeartRadio   Let's Connect Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.   Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.   Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.

Kristen Ley knew at an early age what creating art and beautiful things meant. She grew up loving hands-on projects and anything that involved paint. After completing her high school AP art class , Kristen went on to Mississippi State University where she did not even hesitate when choosing a major. After graduation in 2007, Kristen opened up Cultigraphic Creative with a fellow MSU classmate. Both of them had a passion for art and design which translated nicely into design work for their long list of clients. In 2011, curiosity for the best of Kristen and she purchased a 1925 10x15 Chandler + Price from Lexington, KY and hauled it all the way back to Mississippi on a tiny trailer. With the press acquired she decided to open up Thimblepress. The name was derived from her childhood, now continued on the her adulthood, collection of thimbles from her travels. Every time she traveled to a new state she got a thimble to mark her visit. Kristen hopes to make Thimblepress a reflection of her life, love for her family, and her favorite places in the world; one of them being Mississippi. Get Inspired Y'all!

Kristen Ley is the founder & creative director of Thimblepress®. Thimblepress® loves to create products to help elevate & showcase personal style, make memories, fill a room with color, create smiles & deliver happiness. Kristen & Thimblepress has worked or collaborated with Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, Paper Source, Target, Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Speak Wines, Eccolo, Calypso Cards, Avanti Linens, Prima, Enchante, Homegoods, T.J. Maxx, Dillard's, Staples, Barnes & Noble, Altar'd State, Keds, & many more licensing partners & retailers.One of Kristen's biggest passions is encouraging others. She launched KristenLey.com in 2018 & offers monthly mentoring, creative calls, resource guides & templates to help an individual or brand take next steps in developing products, marketing plans, new revenue streams, or levering artwork for licensing.In Kristen's free time, she enjoys traveling, & hanging out with her fiancé Bill Allen and her two pups, Willow & Henry.Listen to this episode on sarahstoryartlife.com, Spotify, or apple podcast. You can follow us on instagram @sarah_story_artlife, @Thimblepress, @Kristen_ley, Thimblepress.com, and KristenLey.com . Hope you enjoy! Please DM any questions or comments on my instagram. 

Taylor speaks with Kristen Ley of Jackson, MS. They discuss the challenges of balancing life and business, as well as the highs and lows Kristen has faced as an entrepreneur.Kristen Ley is the founder, owner and creative director of Thimblepress®. Founded in a garage back in 2012, Thimblepress® is a design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy. Each product is designed by Kristen and filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in retail shops internationally and her products are also available on Thimblepress.com.Kristen also runs kristenley.com where she focuses her efforts on mentoring and creative consulting with individuals and brands. One of Kristen's biggest passions is encouraging other's to see their potential and chase after dreams. Kristen offers monthly mentoring & creative calls to help an individual or brand take next steps, develop products and/or marketing plans and work to achieve goals. Soon she will begin offering online courses, so be sure to check it out!For more information on Kristen Ley:Instagram:@kristen_ley@thimblepressWebsite:thimblepress.comkristenley.com

It’s true that when you know, you know. And unless you’ve felt that before, it’s hard to explain. For Kristen she knew pretty quickly that her fiancé, Bill, was the one. Kristen Ley is joining us today to talk about how you know when you’ve found your person. Kristen owns a design and lifestyle company, Thimblepress, that she founded in her garage more than eight years ago. Her products are sold online and in over 1500 stores, internationally. She has collaborated on lines with big names like Target, Homegoods, TJ Maxx and Keds. She also runs her own website where she focuses her efforts on mentoring and creative consulting with individuals and brands.

As a result of COVID-19, many people are dealing with uncertainties around how life is changing, managing their finances, and worries about their careers and businesses. And so on this episode, I have a real conversation with Kristen Ley as to how she's navigating life through these uncertain times. This conversation will bring a sense of calm and inspire you to keep going and doing your best no matter what. Kristen is the founder, owner and creative director of Thimblepress®. Founded in a garage back in 2012, Thimblepress® is a design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy. Each product is designed by Kristen and filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in over 1500 retail shops internationally and her products are also available on Thimblepress.com. Thimblepress has worked and collaborated with Target, Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Throw Pillow, Speak Wines, June & January, Keds to name a few. Kristen also runs kristenley.com where she focuses her efforts on mentoring and creative consulting with individuals and brands. One of Kristen’s biggest passions is encouraging other’s to see their potential and chase after dreams. On this episode we discussed: 1. How Kristen is navigating her emotions and mental wellness in this season 2. The key changes she’s made in her personal finances as a result of this uncertainty 3. How she is pivoting her business 4. The things she plans to do differently in life and in business when things hopefully get back to normal PLUS much more How to keep in touch with Kristen: - Via her websites at https://thimblepress.com and https://kristenley.com - Also, be sure to check out the amazing Thimblepress push pop confetti! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg8l4peBMsr/ ❤ Access our FREE COURSES at clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages/ (All 30+ courses are free right now) ❤ Get the Clever Girl Finance book: clevergirlfinance.com/book ❤ Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlfinance

Earlier this week, my friend Kristen Ley of Thimblepress and KristenLey.com and I hosted a free webinar where we talked about taking our business temperature.   As small business owners so much of our time is spent working with our head down working on the most urgent and pressing things that need our attention.  Taking your business temperature means that you’re intentionally making time to stop and look at the bigger picture vision, strategy and execution of your business plans. Today’s episode is a replay from the live webinar we hosted.  We talked about how often you should be taking your business temperature, where to start if you’ve never taken your business temperature, and Kristen and I share examples of things we’ve learned about ourselves and our business by doing these check-ins.  I also share the four key factors I consider when making decisions in my business and explain how you can leverage them, too. Before we jump in, I wanted to remind you that May 8th is the last day to join Proof to Product Labs as a Founding Member.  Founding members get 5 incredible bonuses including my profitability calculator and production schedule planner AND they lock in our discounted rate of $49/month for as long as they are a member.  The bonuses will go away and the price will jump to $79/mo starting May 9th.  So head to prooftoproduct.com/labs to secure your founding member spot! ON TODAY’S EPISODE: How often we should be taking our business temperature What types of things we should review & look at in our business Examples of something I started doing more of based on these check-ins Examples of things I started doing less of Four key considerations for making business decisions Where new businesses should start with their business check-ins When to hire a bookkeeper   RESOURCES:Kristen Ley’s free Facebook Group PTP Podcast episode with Greg Higdon of Grow the Books CONNECT:  Kristen Ley, Thimblepress - @kristen_ley and @thimblepress   YOU DON’T HAVE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS ALONE! Get 12 months of coaching & community inside Proof to Product Labs ✔ Live monthly masterclass​✔ Live monthly group coaching calls✔ Resources & tools built for product businesses✔ Private community (not on Facebook!)✔ Exclusive discounts from our PTP Partners Plus 5 Founding Member bonuses that will save you time, money and effort! ​All for only $49/month through May 8th!  Join us!     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!

Jacksonian and Thimblepress owner Kristen Ley chats with Editor Katie Eubanks about how we can make the most of a pandemic, prioritize our time, and even find ways to celebrate life's little moments while sheltering in place. Kristen is a strong believer in Christ. She works mostly out of her studio, located downstairs from her apartment, so she's been "working from home" for a while! As the creator of everything from push-pop confetti to colorful coffee mugs, beach towels and greeting cards, Kristen believes in bringing people joy in the everyday.

Kristen Ley recently asked me and our peer mastermind group to come together for a free webinar to support & encourage other small business owners.  It was such an amazing conversation that I asked Kristen if we could rerun the audio version here on our podcast, so today’s episode is just that. Today’s episode features feedback from me,  Kristen Ley of Thimblepress, Tonya Dalton of Inkwell Press, Jenn Jett of The Well Summit and Myrna Daramy of Myrna & Co.   We discuss how we’re handling COVID-19 in our own businesses, recommendations for other small business owners, how to serve your customers, what to prioritize right now and we even share how we’re navigating working from home with children. ON TODAY’S EPISODE: How small businesses can navigate COVID-19 Why community is so important Why now is the perfect time to invest in yourself & your business What we’re prioritizing in our own businesses Tips for working at home with children What we’re optimistic about during this weird & crazy time. For full show notes and resources, visit bit.ly/PTPEP149 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 the wait list for Proof to Product Labs, our new group coaching experience coming soon!   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!

You can't pour from an empty cup. We've talked about this idea a few times on the show, and it's so true. I couldn't wait to bring on my friend, Kristen Ley, founder of Thimblepress, to chat about celebrating little wins, taking care of your wellbeing, and so much more. We dive into everything from getting back to her North Star, to gaining back her mental and physical health. She shares why you need to learn to say no to the things that don't serve yourself or your purpose and why she's such a big believer in having a morning routine to set your day up for success.   What's In This Episode: Detoxing from the lifestyle of doing everything for everybody Creating a morning routine to set yourself up for success The number one rule for maintaining harmony in your life How to celebrate your wins, big or small

This week I had the honor of chatting with the founder, owner and creative director  of Thimblepress, Kristen Ley. Founded in a garage back in 2012, Thimblepress® is a design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy. Each product is designed by Kristen and filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in over 1500 retail shops internationally and her products are also available on Thimblepress.com. Thimblepress has worked and collaborated with Target, Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Throw Pillow, Speak Wines, June & January, Keds. In this episode we chat about: How Kristen’s career as a graphic designer led her to launching Thimblepress How she works with manufactures from all over to bring her products to life How she has been able to build a huge community around her brand How she continues to market her products And how she branched off into working as a coach who now helps other creatives bring their business to life.  You can find the show notes for this episode over at www.livingoverexisting.com/episodes/103 This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Taupe Coat, a boutique nail polish brand that blends beauty with wellness! Use code LOE at checkout to receive buy one get one free when you purchase your first bottle of polish! Don't forget to rate the show and leave a review over on Apple Podcast! Ready to finally take action on that big business idea of yours? For a limited time, you can become a member of The LOE Collective and get your first month for only $10!

Happy 2020 friends! For our first episode back in the New Year, my friend Kristen Ley of Thimblepress is back on the show. Kristen was first featured on Episode 4 of Proof to Product back where we talked about how she fell into business backwards and discussed tips on partnerships and collaborations. That episode was recorded back in early 2017 and since then, Kristen has done a lot of soul searching and ridden the waves of transition and upheaval in both her business and personal life. On today's episode, Kristen bravely shares what she learned from her journey. She talks about why she decided to let go of all her sales reps, say goodbye to 15 employees, downsize her warehouse and office space and discontinue over a hundred SKUs in the Thimblepress line. Kristen not only shares her journey of reevaluating what she wanted to get out of her business, but also how she implemented those changes. Today's episode is a heartfelt one full of advice, wisdom and encouragement for anyone feeling stuck in their business or worried about the changes they need to make. Friends, remember this is your business. You set the rules and at any time you can decide to go a different way. I hope Kristen's story helps you and I hope you enjoy it.   ON TODAY’S EPISODE: -        What external success can look like from an internal perspective -        Big wake-up calls and dealing with worse case scenarios -        Differentiating personal success from society -        Advice for individuals and business owners walking through tough times -        Getting back to the basics & reevaluating the model -        How to avoid social media comparison traps -        Why Kristen decided to cut all her sales reps and get back to the drawing board -        The importance of keeping direct communication with wholesale & retail partners -        Having the courage to say goodbye -        The heart-wise money tool -        How to deal with feelings of imposter syndrome -        What’s selling and how to deal with what’s not -        Balancing wellness and business -        Kristen’s big plans for 2020   KEY TAKE-AWAYS:  “It was keep going, go, go, go, go, keep achieving, keep achieving, keep achieving. And I don't think I even registered how I was functioning in my daily life until I had a really big wake up.” – Kristen Ley “I got to a point I was so sad that I was like, "All I can do is pray and move forward." – Kristen Ley “I really looked to the world to define what is successful. I looked at others to define what I should be doing. I looked at everybody else except for me to say what do you want? So I had to redefine what I wanted." – Kristen Ley “I just love to make products. I love to draw art. I love to create. And I love to create joy in other people's lives. That was my why. ” – Kristen Ley “In the world we live in, we get so caught up in what other people are doing on social media. It’s just the world we live in. We see the beautiful pictures, but we don’t see the things behind those photos.” – Kristen Ley “It is easy to get wrapped up in feeling like you're chasing the next thing in your business, especially when you're just hustling and growing.” – Katie Hunt “It’s not about getting off the phone quickly, it’s about asking, “What’s going on in our world, in our economy? Tell me about your life.” Because at the end of the day it’s all about relationships.” – Kristen Ley  “We need to regularly be reassessing why we're doing this. To make sure that we are on the right path and we're focused on the right things.” – Katie Hunt “If it's not taking up a whole lot of time and it's not draining you emotionally, and it's still making good money. That's where you need to be spending your time.” – Katie Hunt “Working with female entrepreneurs has been one of my most cherished heart passion projects of my life. It brings me so much joy, and if I can prevent one person from walking through that struggle that I walked through, let's rock and roll.” – Kristen Ley “Don't put yourself into shock by trying to do all the changes at once. Give yourself grace.” – Kristen Ley “Don't go just dumping energy into things without walking through the journey of how it will impact your person.” – Kristen Ley “Running a business is hard work. You can't change that, but you can change your mentality of how you approach things, and you get to choose.” – Katie Hunt LINKS Website: https://kristenley.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/thimblepress Https://instagram.com/kristen_ley   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!

As we head into the holidays, I want to take a moment to reflect back on 2019 and look forward to what’s in store for 2020. I encourage you to do the same!   2019 was an amazing year around here.   We published 58 podcast episodes this year and surpassed 400,000 downloads.  This show has been live for almost 3 years and during that time we’ve taken very few breaks.  We bring you fresh, new content weekly and sometimes multiple times a week and I have a small team of highly talented people that ensure each episode gets to your ears — and I’m eternally grateful for each and every one of them.  This podcast wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for them.   We welcomed over 150 new students to the Paper Camp family through our conference and online course.  Our conference moved to a new venue that gave us more room to spread out both inside & outside — and lots of amazing natural light.    I often joke that I want people that come to Paper Camp to feel like they are being welcomed into my home and surrounded by new friends — this venue is a great spot for us to connect, learn and grow together.   And, this year, we underwent a major rebrand transitioning my 8 year old business from its original name Tradeshow Bootcamp to our new name Proof to Product.  This project stretched me in so many ways as a business owner — I re-evaluated our audience, our programming and we made some major shifts to ensure that we’re serving our audience and making the biggest impact possible.      We built out a new website that has a ton of resources specifically for product based businesses — we have three free masterclasses, the blog, podcast episodes, case studies & alumni highlights, plus our favorite tools & vendors that we love.   2019 was a year of reflection and stripping away the things that were no longer working for me, the business and all of you so that we can bring you even more in 2020.   Looking ahead — We have some incredible things lined up for all of you in 2020.    For the podcast, we’ll be back on January 7th with a new episode featuring my friend and Paper Camp alumni, Kristen Ley of Thimblepress.   Kristen has made some incredible and intentional shifts in her business Ince the last time she was on the show.  She let go of her national sales reps, downsized her product line and reduced her team of employees.  She re-evaluated what she wanted in her life & her business, then made changes that have led to beautiful results.  I’m excited for you to hear her story.   We’ll host our Paper Camp conference February 25-26th in Los Angeles to talk about product development, selling wholesale, sales & marketing strategies as well as exhibiting at trade shows.  This is more of a workshop vibe than a conference — we cap the program at 30 people so that you can get to know everyone there and we have time dedicated to 1-1 time with our speakers.  February will be the only time we offer our Paper Camp program in-person.  But, we will have the 4-week online course available twice in 2020 — once in the Spring and once in the Fall.  Stay tuned for more detail there.   And, we’re bringing you something brand new in 2020 that we’re still working on and I can’t share, yet.  But it will involve live trainings with me and guest experts on things like marketing, sales and scaling your business, regular office hours where you can pick my brain and ask me questions and access to a wider community of product developers across multiple industries.   I’m not quite ready to spill the beans on this one, but we’ll share more details as its ready.   And, lastly as we head into the holidays I want to thank all of you for being here and making Proof to Product what it is.  I firmly believe that by sharing our stories, our expertise and resources — all of our businesses will thrive.   So, thank you for being here, thank you for listening, for sharing the show with your friends.   I hope you had a wonderful holiday season surrounded by family and friends.   I’ll see you in 2020!

Today on the Brava Podcast we're going to hear from a powerful creative entrepreneur and CEO who turned her passions into a thriving business by simply celebrating life's moments. I'm SO excited to introduce you to Kristen Ley, CEO, er, actually I should say, “Chief Confetti Maker and Founder” of Thimblepress. Keep on listening to get real with Kristen and her start-up story, learn more about differentiating products in a competitive space and advice on how to make your dream a reality.

Melia and Gill interview entrepreneur Kristen Ley, founder of creative studio Thimblepress, which has a loyal following around the world. Kristen talks about letting her heart guide her toward her dream job and how she’s adjusted course to stay true to what makes her happy. She shares advice for making your own dreams real and believing that you will succeed.

Today on the Dear Handmade Life podcast I’m talking about building a business around your core values with founder of Thimblepress and consultant/mentor for creative business owners Kristen Ley. I chat with Kristen about how having defined core values can increase brand strength, help you make difficult decisions and inform successful planning and goal setting. We share our stories of how we developed our core values, why it’s good to start before you’re 100% ready, starting a business without a plan and the ups and downs of running a creative business (including why the downs are so valuable).

Kristen Ley began her company ThimblePress as a crafting hobby, out of her garage in 2012.  What began as a desire to express herself and create has turned into an online store with over 300 products on it, including gifts, wall art and party goods that are all in line with her brand that creates fun and functional products to elevate your space and celebrate life’s moments (think cards, planners, fun gifts, etc.).   About two years into her business journey, Kristen did something that has forever changed her marketing, her manufacturing, her partnerships...literally everything about how she does business: she got super clear on her avatar.     And her name is Felicity.     During this conversation, Kristen and I discuss…   Strategies she has implemented to stand out in a saturated market. How she’s leveraged collaborations with other brands in order to skyrocket her growth How she prioritizes what products she’s launching or marketing at any given time How to tell stories in the images she creates What social media platform is the best one for her and the strategies she uses to convert sales Overriding ALL these practical strategies, you’re going to hear how Felicity - Kristen’s avatar - has influenced them ALL deeply!     So, she also shares what questions to ask yourself to get just as clear about YOUR avatar - and it’s relevant, whether you’ve been in business for 3 months or 3 decades!   You can find out more about Kristen and Thimblepress here → https://thimblepress.com ***   I have a big secret for you: you do NOT have to struggle for years to create a profitable and purposeful business that you actually enjoy showing up for every day! It takes 3 things to create relatively fast results: Clarity, Focus and INTENTIONAL Actions.  These are the 3 things I continue to provide support and accountability for for my private coaching clients and it’s work that lights me up! (and gives them accountability, guidance, strategy and massive mindset shifts!).   If you are ready to give up the struggle and have your BEST YEAR YET in the year ahead, then apply today for my 1 Year Coaching Program!   From March 2019 through March 2020, I’m working deeply with just a handful of driven, passionate and determined women entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their greatness and finally see the results they know they deserve!   As of now, just 6 more spots remain!     Find out more about my 1 Year Private Coaching Program and apply today at http://bizwomenrock.com/mybigyear   PS: Yes, I’m on maternity leave as you’re listening to this and yes, I’m responding to applications as they come in!  They are so much fun to read!   I know you have a big why and I know you have the fuel inside of you to make the shift from “just getting by” to truly having the business of your dreams.  And that’s what I’m here to support in my 1 Year Private Coaching Program.   I can’t wait to hear from you! http://bizwomenrock.com/mybigyear ***

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Kristen Ley -- founder and owner of Thimblepress, which is sold in 1500 stores across the United States -- shares what it takes for you, as a maker, to successfully grow your business, sell your products wholesale, optimize the benefits of retail shows and truly connect with your customers.

Kristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress®, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life’s moments, big and small. She created the company out of her garage in 2012 and since then have been going strong, growing her team, and continuing … Continued

This week is a special one in that we’re bringing you a series of episodes that closely mirror what we teach during our our signature Paper Camp program.   We’ve cut together some of our favorite episodes featuring our Tradeshow Bootcamp alumni and speakers where we discuss product development, sales strategies for wholesale and exhibiting at wholesale trade shows.   During this episode we hear from: Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Crow & Canary Katie Wilson, The Good Twin Rebekah Tennis, Wild Ink Press Rosanna Kvernmo, Iron Curtain Press Jeanette Champion-Fanning, Sweet Perversion   I hope these compilation episodes inspire you to push forward in your business, and if you need a helping hand we invite you to join us for the Paper Camp E-Course which starts next week.  It’s a four week course featuring live group coaching calls with me and some of my favorite guest experts including Kristen Ley of Thimblepress, Carina Murray of Crow & Canary, Rachael Hetzel from Pistachio Press and Heather Haynie of Rock Paper Scissors.  For more information head to http://www.tradeshowcamp.com/pce.  Registration closes on Friday and this is the last time Paper Camp will be offered in 2018!  Join us!     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!

This week is a special one in that we’re bringing you a series of episodes that closely mirror what we teach during our our signature Paper Camp program.   We’ve cut together some of our favorite episodes featuring our Tradeshow Bootcamp alumni and speakers where we discuss product development, sales strategies for wholesale and exhibiting at wholesale trade shows.   During this episode we hear from: Kathryn from Blackbird Letterpress Kim from Ramona & Ruth Pippi from E. Frances Paper Stefanie from Halifax Paper Hearts   I hope these compilation episodes inspire you to push forward in your business, and if you need a helping hand we invite you to join us for the Paper Camp E-Course which starts next week.  It’s a four week course featuring live group coaching calls with me and some of my favorite guest experts including Kristen Ley of Thimblepress, Carina Murray of Crow & Canary, Rachael Hetzel from Pistachio Press and Heather Haynie of Rock Paper Scissors.  For more information head to http://www.tradeshowcamp.com/pce.  Registration closes on Friday and this is the last time Paper Camp will be offered in 2018!  Join us!   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!

This week is a special one in that we’re bringing you a series of episodes that closely mirror what we teach during our our signature Paper Camp program.   We’ve cut together some of our favorite episodes featuring our Tradeshow Bootcamp alumni and speakers where we discuss product development, sales strategies for wholesale and exhibiting at wholesale trade shows.   During this episode we hear from: Katie Wilson, The Good Twin Heather Harris, Copper Bottom Design Sara McNally, Constellation & Co Cara Underwood, Underwood Letterpress Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Crow & Canary   I hope these compilation episodes inspire you to push forward in your business, and if you need a helping hand we invite you to join us for the Paper Camp E-Course which starts next week.  It’s a four week course featuring live group coaching calls with me and some of my favorite guest experts including Kristen Ley of Thimblepress, Carina Murray of Crow & Canary, Rachael Hetzel from Pistachio Press and Heather Haynie of Rock Paper Scissors.  For more information head to http://www.tradeshowcamp.com/pce.  Registration closes on Friday and this is the last time Paper Camp will be offered in 2018!  Join us!   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!

We're taking the next two weeks off for an end of summer break. While we’re gone, we’re bringing you four of our most popular episodes pulled from the archives.   I hand picked these episodes based on feedback in our Proof to Product Facebook group, emails I’ve received from listeners and convos I’ve had with all of you.   We hope you enjoy these episodes and learn something new!   Kristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life's moments, big and small. Kristen created Thimblepress out of her garage in 2012 and the company has seen tremendous growth since then. She now has a team of 15 full-time and part time employees and the company occupies 7000 square feet that includes 2 brick and mortar retail locations. Kristen’s products are now sold in over 1500 retail stores internationally and she continuing to work with brands to create unique collaboration and partnership opportunities!  Kristen attended Tradeshow Bootcamp in 2013, prior to launching to the wholesale market. On today’s episode we’re talking about hiring from within, fostering a team environment, things to consider when entering professional partnerships and how she fell into business backwards.   ON TODAY’S EPISODE: [01:00] Thimblepress’ story[02:00] Two ways to start a business: Intentionally or falling in backwards.[03:00] Naming Thimblpress[05:30] Making the jump to wholesale & googling what wholesale means.[08:00] HIring and growing the Thimblpress team & promoting from within.[12:30] Using partnerships & collaborations to diversify revenue streams[13:00] Setting clear expectations in partnerships with contracts.[15:30] Collaborating with Hallmark[17:00] Negotiating & protecting yourself when big brands want to work with you.[18:30] Transitions, shifting in business & what she credits her success to.[23:00] Kristen’s advice on product development and how she gathers new ideas.[26:00] Thimblepress’ social media tips, planning tools & how far out they schedule their posts.[33:30] Creating sub-brands to reach different markets[39:00] Taking a break from trade shows this year.   KEY TAKE-AWAYS: “I think there's two ways you start a company. You literally fall into it from a hobby or you start with a purpose of wanting to start a company.” - Kristen Ley “Sometimes our line is very eclectic and just all over the place. Honestly, that's my personality. I used to get really down and out about it. I was like, "Man, I wish I had a more cohesive look to all my products, like Megan Bellannion." I feel like she has a great cohesive look. I sat there one day and I thought, "You know what though? This is totally my personality." I'm wacky, and crazy, and weird. I love lots of color. I love drawing. I love painting. I love trying new things. Truly, this line is my personality come to life. Because I never wanted to ask for help, but I've learned how to now.” - Kristen Ley “We're very picky with all of our products and make sure they're the highest of quality standards.” - Kristen Ley   “I never want to stop learning and stop trying to make Thimblepress better. Because I think when you stop, you become complacent.” - Kristen Ley   Running a business can get very uncomfortable at times because you are making tough decisions that play into the longevity of the business, the sustainability of the business. If you’re not feeling a little uncomfortable in whatever you’re doing, then you’re doing something wrong. - Katie Hunt   “Your products need to solve a problem for your customer” -Katie Hunt   “Social media is intended to be social. It is a place to have conversations” -Katie Hunt   “You don’t need to do trade shows to have a successful wholesale line.” - Katie Hunt   “I’ve always done things how I wanted to do it.  March to the beat of my own drum and not let the industry decide for me.” -Kristen Ley   LINKS: Paper Camp Thimblpress ShopThimblepress for Target (the secret March release she alluded to!) Grum.co   MEET KRISTEN LEY: Kristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress®, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life's moments, big and small. I created the company out of my garage in 2012 and since then have been going strong, growing my team, and continuing to develop products that I truly love. I create all the art for every single one of our products. Thimblepress now has a team of 15 full-time and part time team members, occupies 7000 square feet, has 2 brick and mortar retail locations, is sold in over 1500 retail stores and is continuing to work with other brands to create unique collaboration opportunities!   Website: thimblepress.com Facebook: @thimblepress Instagram: @thimblepress Pinterest: @thimblepress Twitter: @thimblepress   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.

*Affiliate disclaimerOn today's show, I have Kristen Ley who is the Founder and Owner of Thimblepress, located in Jackson Mississippi. Kristen and I were introduced through episode guest Katie Hunt (link to /005 episode) and we immediately hit it off. I get the pleasure of working with Kristen to help get Thimblepress even more press than it already attracts. Talk about dream job!Kristen and I talk about what it's like to run a profitable, online business, how she started partnering with brands such as Hallmark and Target, her proudest moments and hardest struggles, and more!Excited for you to tune in and hope you enjoy!   In today’s episode, you'll find out:   What she struggles with the most being the owner of an online business. How she initially connected with big brands like Hallmark and Target and what it was like to get those emails. How she sets boundaries at work and in her home space so she's not constantly working. How to connect on a deeper level with your customers. Advice Kristen would offer to someone who wants to start their own business. Full show notes at: brittneyllynn.com/017 Links mentioned: Thimblepress website: https://www.thimblepress.com Hug Your Customers by Jack Mitchell: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401300340/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=brittneylly07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1401300340&linkId=1474fef7c8c5f7c8e7fd9ffea2ffab8b Essentialism by Greg McKweon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804137382/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=brittneylly07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0804137382&linkId=bfe0ece97258dcacd1e7b2b2717cc167 Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=brittneylly07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=858aa9825a90b146b33fff5134130daa Rising Strong by Brene Brown: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081298580X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=brittneylly07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=081298580X&linkId=38977807d73db3d4e33a09165888c8ec Asana: http://asana.com Small Squares, Mighty Words: https://www.thimblepress.com/shop/product-category/small-squares-with-mighty-words?v=7516fd43adaa Day Dreamer journal: https://www.thimblepress.com/product/the-day-dreamer?v=7516fd43adaa Boomerang Chrome Extension: https://www.boomeranggmail.com/ The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080241270X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=brittneylly07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=080241270X&linkId=0100a6750e6bb70bf83828d4424f53a7 Waiter app: https://www.waiter.com/app Enneagram test: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/ Follow Kristen & Thimblepress:Thimblepress Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thimblepress/ Kristen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristen_ley/ Thimblepress Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thimblepress/ Kristen's Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/Kristen_ley/ Thimblepress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thimblepress Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, 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

I’m feeling so lucky this week to interview Kristen Ley, founder and owner of Thimblepress. Kristen and I talk about how to show up authentically online, and connect with your people in a real way. She also shares how she tunes into her intuition and her creative process. Thimblepress site: thimblepress.com Kristen's IG: https://www.instagram.com/kristen_ley/   Books Kristen Mentions:   Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile   Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown   Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results Hardcover by Jack Mitchell     Chat system Kristen and Thimblepress uses: https://www.intercom.com  

On this week's episode of the Blogged Podcast, we sit down with Kristen Ley as she shares insight into working with bloggers from a brand's perspective. She talks about how to create collaborations that are a perfect fit, and gives some tips and advice for creating a personal brand that is truly authentic and an […] The post 010: Brand X Blogger Collabs from a Brand’s Perspective + Building an Authentic Personal Brand with Thimblepress founder Kristen Ley appeared first on MY HAUTE SOCIETY.

What does celebration mean to you? Is it the birthday parties, the weddings, the engagement dinners or the anniversaries? Is it the cakes, and the centerpieces and all of the sparkly gifts? But, what if the celebration, itself, IS the gift? What if we reframed celebration as a way to give (and to receive) love… and a vital part of the foundation that you could build an entire empire off of? Are you wondering what in the world I am talking about? You're going to want to stick around for this one. In 2012 Kristen Ley didn't just “start a business”. What she did was find a way to make a living celebrating others by simply trusting her passion and following some truly Divine guidance. Starting with an $800 letterpress and a yearning for something more, Kristen gave birth to her company Thimblepress; a lifestyle brand contributing magnificently designed and crafted products to the world. Products that not only tell a story; products that help people tell and *celebrate* THEIR story. Thimblepress has evolved from a garage housing an old letterpress that was collecting dust; to a team of 15 souls, retail in over 1500 stores, and 2 brick and mortar shops. Kristen Ley has used her passion, her faith, and her vision to celebrate not only the BIG moments in life, but more importantly, the seemingly tiny and often missed moments that are oh-so worth honoring. If you're wondering how to build a business that gives more than just a product... if you're wondering  how to learn how to use your stumbles as stepping stones... and if you're wondering how to stay true to yourself and your beliefs, while simultaneously creating an epic brand that is an extension of who you are; look no further. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: What is celebration and how important is it to make it a part of our lives How you can use your “love languages” to do your sacred work What she is REALLY selling to people (Hint: It's not just confetti) Why you don't need to have a big vision right away to start a business How to turn your weaknesses into your greatest assets How trusting God has played a pivotal role in creating her business, and building a team of people she loves and honors Where Kristen gets her inspiration from and why she will never step away from designing and creating IN THIS EPISODE I ASK:  Why does celebration play such a central role in your life and in the sacred work you do? Where did that level of intentionality come from for you? Did you imagine Thimblepress being what it is now? How did you make a beginning? What has continued to pull you forward? What has been most challenging about the growth and what has been the most surprising? How do you go from being the person who does it all by herself to bringing in team members in a way that feels really good? Are you still doing every single design that comes through? What are some of your non-negotiables? Where do you get your inspiration for your designs? SOUL SHIFTING QUOTES: “Celebration does not just mean a birthday party, or a wedding…there are so many different ways we can honor each other and celebrate each other, little and big. And I want to be a part of that in people's lives.” “I was surrounded by so much love as a child. I see what encouragement can do for you not only as a child but as an adult, and you can encourage through celebration.” “Weaknesses manifest into the best qualities that make you up.” “When you start a business you either go into knowing you're starting a business. Or you have a passion for something…and that passion becomes a business.” “I wouldn't have been able to continue this business, if I didn't have faith. Because I believe worry and fear stop so many people from doing what they were meant to do. “ “It's so hard, when we're in a season of little fruit, to see that that season isn't going to be forever. And to also accept that time we have to breath…” “I want people to feel honored and celebrated that work here, because…at the end of the day, I see these people more than I do my family.” “I need people that are different than me- that bring different thoughts and different opinions to the table. I need people that will challenge me to grow this brand in a bigger way.” “Sometimes it's the prayers that we don't want to pray…that God says, “Alright, I was just waiting on you.” “The happiness and the environment that I want to cultivate with my team is a non-negotiable.” “Take time to cultivate the roots of what you're doing and take time in your decisions, even through quick growth. But don't take too much time to feel like you have to have things perfect…that you don't leap.”

It's a Courage AND Clarity mega episode with Kristen Ley, Founder of Thimblepress! In this episode, you'll hear both the Courage & Clarity components stitched together with some music inbetween so you know when we're switching. We talk about: Kristen's story of how she hustled Thimblepress out of her garage while she had a day job she actually liked Why she had zero fears nor doubts about her business, and how you can feel this in your business too 6 big ideas for creating a compelling story for your brand How to make selling easier, lighter and more fun by leveraging a story

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK: ”A business is an ever-evolving thing … Sometimes that means stepping back. Sometimes that means redirecting. Sometimes that means offering something different that you feel scared to offer.” with Kristen Ley LISTEN! WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE? It all started in her garage over five years ago, with zero clue how to use a letterpress and a Christmas demonstration gone bad. But today her products are sold in over 900 stores around the world and she recently created an exclusive line of products for Target. Kristen Ley is sharing her story of how it all began. We talk about the name Thimblepress and the story (and collection of tacky gas station thimbles) behind it, her first business pre-Thimblepress, first opening her shop, and why she no longer dreams of building it into this huge business. SUBSCRIBE + LISTEN iTunes Stitcher SPONSORED BY Yoga Club is a monthly subscription box that delivers a hand-curated box of the most amazing brand name yoga apparel and athletic gear straight to your door for up to 60% off retail prices. As a TRFE listener, you can save 20% off when you use code TRFE at checkout. And every box you buy donates one yoga class to a child in need. So, head to www.yogaclub.com and grab yours now! SAVE 20% NOW WHO IS KRISTEN LEY? Kristen Ley is the founder, owner and creative director of Thimblepress®. Founded in a garage back in 2012, Thimblepress® is design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy and encourage celebrating each other and ourselves. Each product is filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in over 900 retail shops internationally and Thimblepress® products are also available on Thimblepress.com. Thimblepress® recently sold an exclusive line of products in Target stores and Target.com, and has collaborated and/or with many different brands such as Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Throw Pillow, Speak Wines, June & January & Keds.   Thimblepress® loves unique products that help elevate & showcase personal style be it on a desk, in hands or on walls. Thimblepress® wants to be a part of helping you create lasting memories, fill a room with color, bring a smile to a face & make you feel unique & special. Thimblepress® ultimately wants to be a small part of helping spread joy around the world. In Kristen’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends & her Goldendoodles Willow and Henry in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. She also loves Jesus, painting, travel, perusing the local flea markets & a good movie on Netflix.  MORE OF KRISTEN www.thimblepress.com Thimblepress on Instagram and Pinterest Kristen on Instagram and Pinterest

This week, meet Kristen Ley, founder, owner, and creative director of Thimblepress. Kristen majored in graphic design in college, then opened a design firm in Charleston, South Carolina. Kristen loved her job, but she longed to do something more out-of-the-box, and wanted to “get her hands messy” (aka, CREATE!). In need of a creative outlet, Kristen started an Etsy shop, which became the springboard for Thimblepress. Join Kristen and Annie as they talk trusting your gut, preventing burnout, and moving forward.

Hey Rebels!   Today we are chatting with Kristen Ley of Thimblepress!  We could have seriously chatting with Kristen for hours!  She is sweet as a peach and really knows her stuff!  Here is a little bit about her:   Kristen Ley is the founder, owner and creative director of Thimblepress®. Founded in a garage back in 2012, Thimblepress® is design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy. Each product is designed by Kristen and filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in over 900 retail shops internationally and her products are also available on Thimblepress.com. Thimblepress recently sold an exclusive line of products in Target stores and Target.com, and has collaborated with many different brands such as: Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Throw Pillow, Speak Wines, June & January & Keds.   Thimblepress® loves unique products that help elevate & showcase personal style be it on a desk, in hands or on walls. Thimblepress® creates products that help create memories, fill a room with color, bring a smile to a face & make you feel unique & special. In Kristen’s free time, she enjoys painting, traveling, perusing the local flea markets & hanging out with her two Goldendoodles, Willow & Henry!   Some Links From the Show Book for contracts and pricing guidelines:  Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines Thimblepress Links: Website: www.thimblepress.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thimblepress/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thimblepress Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/thimblepress   Some of the collabs Kristen talks about in the show: Thimblepress Collaborations Page   Our favorite Thimblepress products: Push Pop Confetti | State Flower Collection | Confetti Tape | Confetti Cards   Want some sweet headphones like us?  We have the Regent headphones from Sudio Sweden and we LOVE them!  The Regent is their premium on-ear model, with impeccable clarity in the instrumental tones and well balanced sound. With 24+ hours of active battery life, and 20 days of standby life, the Regent is the perfect companion for you at home or on the go. It will connect to any device that has Bluetooth, but there is also an auxiliary cord if you don't want to use the wireless option. You can also personalize your Regent interchangeable caps, such as white or black marble designs. SO COOL!  The combination of high polished metal and matte surfaces embodies the vision of Scandinavian design.   Seriously, Rebels!  These are so good!  AND for the month of October, Sudio Sweden is donating 10% of their profits on all our pink products to the Pink Ribbon Foundation in Sweden.   You can get yours here https://goo.gl/rwSyDh and use the code CREATIVEBIZ15 for 15% off your purchase!   Follow us on instagram (@creativebizrebellion) and use hashtag #creativebizrebellion for a shop shout out!!! 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! JOIN THE REBELLION! Signup for our newsletter and get our fave list of Instagram hashtags FREE! 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 SHOW YOUR REBEL SPIRIT WITH SOME AWESOME GEAR FROM THE CREATIVE BIZ REBELLION SHOP: www.creativebizrebellion.com/shop

Since dressing up as an artist for her kindergarten career day, Kristen Ley has known what her future profession was meant to be. Even at that early age, she knew what creating art and beautiful things meant. Both her grandmothers were avid seamstresses and craft gurus, so they are a huge part of who she is today and she continues to honor them in her work. After completing AP art classes, Kristen went on to Mississippi State University and did not hesitate on choosing art as her major, with an emphasis in graphic design and minor in marketing. After graduation in 2007, she opened up a successful art and design business called Cultigraphic Creative® with fellow MSU classmate Catherine Yerger. In 2011, curiosity got the best of Kristen and she purchased a 1925 10 x 15 Chandler + Price from Lexington, KY and hauled it all the way back to Mississippi. With the press acquired, she decided to open up Thimblepress®. The name was derived from her childhood, now continued on to adulthood, collection of thimbles from her travels. Every time she traveled to a new state, she got a thimble to mark her visit. She still keeps her collection in old letterpress type drawers in her dining room. Kristen hopes to make Thimblepress a reflection of her life, love of her family, and her favorite places in the world; one of them being Mississippi.

Today Dorothy’s speaking with Liz Cooke of Lionheart Prints, a paper and gift company in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Liz creates hand lettered messages for the kind, brave, and fun.  We discuss how Lionheart Prints got its start to now opening and running a successful brick and mortar shop, about her selling her work at the National Stationery Show, and how she hustles to get it all done.     "I want to be your life coach on paper!" -Liz Cooke   See more of Lionheart’s work:   www.lionheartprints.com www.instagram.com/lionheartprints www.instagram.com/lizmautecooke www.facebook.com/lionheartprints   Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   On Today's Episode:   (5:00) Paper Source (12:00) Whitney Engllish (13:00) Stationery Academy / Society for Creative Founders (15:00) Gemma O'Brien (17:00) Fleurty Girl (21:00) Yeaux Leaux cups (31:00) National Stationery Show (33:00) Creative Mornings - Tattly (34:00) Little Histories (52:00) Charlie / Emily McDowell (54:00) Liz's NSS booth fiasco (54:00) Fox + Fallow (54:00) Kristen Ley (1:30:00) Rifle Paper Co. (1:34:00) Thimblepress for Target    

Today’s Positively Creative guest is Kristen Ley, founder and owner of Thimblepress, a lifestyle company that encourages kindness and inspires fun, through her letterpress and watercolor greeting cards, kindness cards, Push-Pop Confetti, and tons of other adorable products!  Kristen fills us in on her creative process, ranging from how she came up with the "Your butt looks great in those jeans!" card to The Day Dreamer Journal.  Kristen and Dorothy discuss the backstory of Thimblepress' early days, how she manages her team and working on collaborations all inside the Thimblepress headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, and how she stays positive by leaning on her faith to stay optimistic.     "You really want to hire your weaknesses." -Kristen Ley "If I could laugh through my whole life, I would be a happy girl. Keeping that kid-like innocence and mentality I think is one of the biggest things you can do for enjoying your life." - Kristen Ley "There's bravery in seeking after opportunity." -Kristen Ley "When you're passionate about something, sometimes you can put blinders on.  Which is good and bad." -Kristen Ley   See more of Thimblepress' work: www.thimblepress.com Thimblepress' The Thread Blog Thimblepress for Target   Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   On Today's Show: (10:00) Double Decker Art Festival  (11:00) Renegade Craft Fair (16:00) Thimblepress won best booth display (20:00) National Stationery Show (22:00) State Flower Collection (24:00) On Hiring Employees (28:00) Visual Layout of Brick & Mortar Thimblepress (38:00) Her Creative Process / Kindness Cards / The Day Dreamer (48:00) Thimblepress x Target Collaboration (57:00) pillows throwonline.com (58:00) Speak Wines  

For full show notes and access to additional resources for this episode, visit: prooftoproduct.com/004 Kristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life's moments, big and small. Kristen created Thimblepress out of her garage in 2012 and the company has seen tremendous growth since then. She now has a team of 15 full-time and part time employees and the company occupies 7000 square feet that includes 2 brick and mortar retail locations. Kristen’s products are now sold in over 1500 retail stores internationally and she continuing to work with brands to create unique collaboration and partnership opportunities!  Kristen attended Tradeshow Bootcamp in 2013, prior to launching to the wholesale market.  On today’s episode we’re talking about hiring from within, fostering a team environment, things to consider when entering professional partnerships and how she fell into business backwards.     ON TODAY’S EPISODE: [01:00] Thimblepress’ story[02:00] Two ways to start a business: Intentionally or falling in backwards.[03:00] Naming Thimblpress[05:30] Making the jump to wholesale & googling what wholesale means.[08:00] HIring and growing the Thimblpress team & promoting from within.[12:30] Using partnerships & collaborations to diversify revenue streams[13:00] Setting clear expectations in partnerships with contracts.[15:30] Collaborating with Hallmark[17:00] Negotiating & protecting yourself when big brands want to work with you.[18:30] Transitions, shifting in business & what she credits her success to.[23:00] Kristen’s advice on product development and how she gathers new ideas.[26:00] Thimblepress’ social media tips, planning tools & how far out they schedule their posts.[33:30] Creating sub-brands to reach different markets[39:00] Taking a break from trade shows this year.   KEY TAKE-AWAYS: “I think there's two ways you start a company. You literally fall into it from a hobby or you start with a purpose of wanting to start a company.” - Kristen Ley   “Sometimes our line is very eclectic and just all over the place. Honestly, that's my personality. I used to get really down and out about it. I was like, "Man, I wish I had a more cohesive look to all my products, like Megan Bellannion." I feel like she has a great cohesive look. I sat there one day and I thought, "You know what though? This is totally my personality." I'm wacky, and crazy, and weird. I love lots of color. I love drawing. I love painting. I love trying new things. Truly, this line is my personality come to life. Because I never wanted to ask for help, but I've learned how to now.” - Kristen Ley   “We're very picky with all of our products and make sure they're the highest of quality standards.” - Kristen Ley   “I never want to stop learning and stop trying to make Thimblepress better. Because I think when you stop, you become complacent.” - Kristen Ley   Running a business can get very uncomfortable at times because you are making tough decisions that play into the longevity of the business, the sustainability of the business. If you’re not feeling a little uncomfortable in whatever you’re doing, then you’re doing something wrong. - Katie Hunt   “Your products need to solve a problem for your customer” -Katie Hunt   “Social media is intended to be social. It is a place to have conversations” -Katie Hunt   “You don’t need to do trade shows to have a successful wholesale line.” - Katie Hunt   “I’ve always done things how I wanted to do it.  March to the beat of my own drum and not let the industry decide for me.” -Kristen Ley   LINKS: Paper Camp Thimblpress ShopThimblepress for Target (the secret March release she alluded to!) Grum.co   MEET KRISTEN LEY: Kristen Ley is the sole owner and founder of Thimblepress®, a lifestyle brand that focuses on creating products and experiences that make you smile and want to celebrate life's moments, big and small. I created the company out of my garage in 2012 and since then have been going strong, growing my team, and continuing to develop products that I truly love. I create all the art for every single one of our products. Thimblepress now has a team of 15 full-time and part time team members, occupies 7000 square feet, has 2 brick and mortar retail locations, is sold in over 1500 retail stores and is continuing to work with other brands to create unique collaboration opportunities!   Website: thimblepress.com Facebook: @thimblepress Instagram: @thimblepress Pinterest: @thimblepress Twitter: @thimblepress   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.

Kristen Ley is the founder of Thimblepress in Jackson Mississippi. Kristen and her team sell prints, greeting cards, notepads, tote bags and many other fun and creative products. Through their products they want to encourage kindness and inspire fun with the colorful, happy, and innovative products they create. This interview was done in Kristins office, but we did have a guest appearance a few times by her awesome dog Willow.    Kristin tells of the transition from her day job to a dream, the ability to see trends in her life, and the value of being creative. She currently supplies her products to Urban Outfitters, Paper Source, and over 1000 independent retailers. 

On this episode I talk to Kristen Ley, Founder of Thimblepress a lifestyle brand based in Jackson, MS.

This week, I had the good fortune of interviewing Kristen Ley of Thimblepress for Raise Your Hand Say Yes and our conversation was one of my favorites! Kristen's story is the epitome of my raise your hand and say yes philosophy, and it was so inspiring to hear about how she built her business in just a few years by taking risks and keeping her eye on the prize.  In this episode, we also talk about the power of both faith and hustle and how you can keep going when you're trying to juggle a million different things. Kristen also offered up wonderful advice to anyone who's wanting to get started with a business of their own, especially if you're nervous about marketing! PS. Like it, love it, and want some more of it? Check out my previous interviews with Leigh Standley of CurlyGirl Designs and Emily McDowell to get even more inside secrets from today's most popular stationery designers!  PPS. Applications are now open for the upcoming round of It's Business Time and spots are going quick! Want to make 2016 the year you start a business of your own? Hop to it!    Show Notes: Connect with Kristen Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Emily McDowell CurlyGirl Designs Thimblepress Core Values Little Things Studio Kristen's business story Push-pop Confetti Oh So Beautiful Paper Oh hello friend Connect with Tiffany on Instagram     Join the RYHSY Fb group  Subscribe in itunes

This week, I had the good fortune of interviewing Kristen Ley of Thimblepress for Raise Your Hand Say Yes and our conversation was one of my favorites! Kristen's story is the epitome of my raise your hand and say yes philosophy, and it was so inspiring to hear about how she built her business in just a few years by taking risks and keeping her eye on the prize.  In this episode, we also talk about the power of both faith and hustle and how you can keep going when you're trying to juggle a million different things. Kristen also offered up wonderful advice to anyone who's wanting to get started with a business of their own, especially if you're nervous about marketing! PS. Like it, love it, and want some more of it? Check out my previous interviews with Leigh Standley of CurlyGirl Designs and Emily McDowell to get even more inside secrets from today's most popular stationery designers!  PPS. Applications are now open for the upcoming round of It's Business Time and spots are going quick! Want to make 2016 the year you start a business of your own? Hop to it!    Show Notes: Connect with Kristen Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Emily McDowell CurlyGirl Designs Thimblepress Core Values Little Things Studio Kristen's business story Push-pop Confetti Oh So Beautiful Paper Oh hello friend Connect with Tiffany on Instagram     Join the RYHSY Fb group  Subscribe in itunes