Business of Craft

How Violent Cat Lady Used "KnitTok" to Build her Own Business

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:42:00 +0000

Before she became Violent Cat Lady, one of KnitTok's top designers, she was Jade Berghoff, a finger-knitting enthusiast on the school bus and a bow seller in high school. Now, with over 2,000,000 likes and 100,000 followers on TikTok, plus another 66,000 on Instagram, Jade has turned her craft business into her full-time job. She not only designs patterns and knit kits but is also releasing a new yarn line, Bloom, inspired by the Montana wilderness surrounding her backyard.

Welcome to the Business of Craft podcast, where we'll talk about business models, marketing strategies, and crafting tactics so you can grow your business and your passion for your craft.

One viral TikTok video helped Jade go from a full-time marketing job to a yarn-sourcing, pattern-designing, knit-kit-bundling career. Jade grew her business organically, through social views, a (surprisingly powerful) email list, and a focus on her audience, not the view count. If you want to get into the monetization of your following, Jade offers some crucial considerations: Will you be an influencer with brand deals, or will you use the following to monetize your own business? And: why views aren't the point; why Instagram Stories are much more effective than you think, and why being the brand is a double-edged sword (that's worth the balancing act!).

Stitch Markers from Jade:

Why selling patterns, not production crafts, may be what your audience really wants
You don't need to go viral to build a following (and a brand), but you do need to do this
Email is far from dead: how Jade uses it to reach a more dedicated audience than she imagined
What you should (and shouldn't) be selling on TikTok Shop
Being the brand: how to grow a business when it relies on your time, energy, and face
Turning your small craft community into advocates for your products

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Schedule Your Free, 30-Minute Consultation with Lisa

Check Out "Bloom," Jade's New Yarn Line!

Follow Jade on TikTok

Follow Jade on Instagram

Get the Pattern Jade Wore on Today's Show!

Using Your Analytics to Set SMART Goals

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:43:00 +0000

Let's jump into today's topic: using your analytics to set your future SMART goals.

In 2023, we surveyed over 900 retail business owners in the craft space. One of the most shocking data points was that only 14% were collecting marketing data — and even more shocking, only 4% were using that data to inform strategy.

Business of Craft: The Power of Spaces in Marketing

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:29:00 +0000

Whether your shop is physical, virtual, or a blend of both, this episode is your blueprint to transforming that space into a community-building, customer-magnetizing powerhouse.

Business of Craft 2025 Influencers, Content Creators & Community Leaders

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Today we're diving into a topic that has completely reshaped modern marketing—influencer and content creator partnerships.

For this season, we're excerpting chapters from our book Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses that you can purchase on our website stitchcraftmarketing.com. This is chapter 14 We call this chapter "Alchemical Alliances," because when you find the right content creator or influencer, it truly feels like magic. Let's break down what you need to know to create those powerful partnerships that can elevate your brand.

Business of Craft 2025 Scale Your Brand with Advertising

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:47:00 +0000

Today we're exploring how to scale your brand using digital advertising—yes, the kind that doesn't have to feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall.

So whether you're boosting posts or venturing into more advanced ad strategies like programmatic or geofencing, this episode is your incantation for attracting, converting, and scaling.

This season we're pulling from our book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that we released in May of 2025. You can buy a copy from us directly by going to our website stitchcraftmarketing.com/magic where you can get it as hardcopy or on kindle edition.

Business of Craft 2025 Building Community with Social Media

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:13:00 +0000

Today we're jumping into the topic of utilizing social media to build your community.

Today's content is a snippet from our book Marketing magic for savvy craft businesses that we released in May of 2025. You can buy a copy from us directly by going to our website stitchcraftmarketing.com/magic where you can get it as hardcopy or on kindle edition.

Business of Craft 2025 Mastering Newsletters

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:22:00 +0000

Welcome to Business of Craft, a show designed to help entrepreneurs with fabric or fiber businesses become more successful.

This is our 8th season of BOC and today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses. I'm super proud of this book which my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version (and soon to be audio) on our website or Amazon.

Today we're talking about the topic in chapter 11 of our book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses: Mastering Email Newsletters for Deeper Engagement.

Blogs: The Foundation for Your Online Presence

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:03:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 9 of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version (and soon to be audio) on our website, http://StitchcraftMarketing.com or http://Amazon.com.

Today we're talking about a tool that's been around since the '90s but still packs a major punch when it comes to marketing your brand: blogging.

Business of Craft 2025 SEO Spellbook: Enchanting the Algorithms

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:21:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 7 of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version (and soon to be audio) on our website, http://StitchcraftMarketing.com or http://Amazon.com .

Hey there, crafty entrepreneurs — it's Leanne Pressly with Stitchcraft Marketing again. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "SEO? I think I set that up years ago," or "I'm not even sure what an algorithm is," then this episode is your cue to step up your digital game.

Because today, we're discussing both topics.

Now, don't worry — you don't need to be a wizard of code. But you do need to understand how search engines and algorithms work for your business — or else they might be working against it.

Generosity Marketing

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 18:44:00 +0000

Welcome to another episode of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version on our website, Stitchcraft Marketing - Specialists in social media help for craft businesses - Home or Amazon.com.

Today I'm diving into one of my favorite topics from the book: Generosity Marketing.

We call this chapter "The Generosity Charm" because, truly, this is where the magic starts

Be SMART about Our Smart Goals

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:03:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 6 of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version (and soon to be audio) on our website, http://StitchcraftMarketing.com or http://Amazon.com .

What are you working toward in your business right now?

Not just surviving or winging it. I mean real, tangible, measurable goals. That's what today's episode is about.

Crafting your Crafty Brand Narrative

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:36:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 4 of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version on our website, http://StitchcraftMarketing.com or http://Amazon.com.

"Storytelling" gets thrown around a lot these days. But while that's important--- really important- branding is more than an engaging paragraph on your About page or slapping a fun tagline on your packaging.

Avatars: Who is your craft customer?

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 4 of Business of Craft. Today we have another solocast to cover one of the topics in our new book, Marketing Magic for Savvy Craft Businesses, that my whole team wrote in 2025. The book is available for sale in Kindle and print version (and soon to be audio) on our website, Stitchcraft Marketing - Specialists in social media help for craft businesses - Home or Amazon.com.

I'm your host, Leanne Pressly- I'm the founder and CEO of Stitchcraft Marketing and we talk about all things craft marketing here on the show. Today we're asking a really fundamental question. Who is your customer, really?

If you're tempted to answer with, "Oh, anyone who likes to knit," or "People who buy fabric," then stick around — because this episode is definitely for you.

Differentiating Your Craft Business: Know Like Trust Loop

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:05:00 +0000

Hi friends, it's Leanne, and I'm back with another episode of Business of Craft. Today, we're opening up the next chapter in our marketing spellbook to explore a little concept we call… Brand Magic — and one of the most powerful tools in that kit: the Know, Like, Trust Loop.

Business of Craft 2025 Changing Landscape for Marketing Crafts

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:02:00 +0000

This episode gives you a snippet of the first chapter or the prologue of our book.

Business of Craft Email Marketing and AI Efficiencies with Nicole Moore

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:01:00 +0000

Today our guest is Nicole Moore, of Sew Much Moore and Creative Day Job. It wasn't until Nicole left her full-time corporate job in 2013 that she delved into "serious sewing." From craft shows to Etsy, boutique shops, and Amazon Handmade, and a viral YouTube channel, Nicole's first business Sew Much Moore, flourished. While growing Sew Much Moore Nicole learned to leverage technology, conquer overwhelm, and foster a robust online community. Recognizing those same aspirations in countless other talented women, she founded the Creative Day Job—a platform devoted to empowering creative women on the path to transforming their hobbies into lucrative businesses.

Business of Craft Karley Cunningham on Differentiating Your Brand

Wed, 15 May 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Karley Cunningham has been diving into the worlds of business development, branding, and design for over two decades. As the Creative Strategist & Growth Accelerator at her company, Big, Bold Brand, Karley brings her big thinking and innovative problem-solving to the table. She's also a sought-after speaker and mentor, sharing her wisdom with national and international business organizations. Today we're chatting about differentiating your brand.

Business of Craft Buying and Selling a Business with Richard Parker

Wed, 01 May 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Today our guest is Richard Parker, the President of Diomo Corporation, who has dedicated his career to advising and mentoring people who want to buy or sell a business. He has purchased and sold 13 of his own companies and understands firsthand the emotional journey that buyers and sellers experience. This is a very relevant topic in the craft industry as many of the businesses are independent and/or family owned. As owners age and are looking toward retirement, there is often a question of how to position the business for sale, or where to even find a buyer? On the flipside, for buyers, who often come to the industry as hobbyists and enthusiasts first, how should they assess a business for purchase?

Business of Craft Pam Slim on Tiny Marketing Actions

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:53:00 +0000

Today our guest is Pamela Slim, celebrated author and small business expert who has dedicated decades to shaping and enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She is a co-founder of the KEH community lab in Mesa, Arizona, alongside her husband, Darryl. This innovative hub serves as a grassroots, community-based think tank dedicated to accelerating small business growth. Pam's insights and expertise frequently grace the pages of esteemed publications, including The New York Times, Forbes, and BusinessWeek. She has written several books including "Escape from Cubicle Nation," which was recognized as the Best Small Business and Entrepreneur book in 2009 and her follow up, Body of Work. Her latest book, "The Widest Net," helps you grow your business by connecting with customers outside your usual field of view.

Business of Craft Competitive Research and Data Analysis with John Li

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Today we have John Li, the startup and co- founder of PickFu.com who believes in the transformative power of consumer insights to drive business success. Recognizing that better insights lead to better decisions, John advocates for frequent and in-depth market research. With experience spanning from tech giants like Microsoft to bootstrapped startups, he's witnessed the exponential benefits of well-executed market research and the pitfalls of ignoring consumer voices.

Business of Craft Adrian Koehler on Fearless Leadership

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 05:05:00 +0000

Today, our guest is Adrian Koehler, and we're jumping into leadership and how to use emotions in leadership to lead fearlessly. Adrian works with coaching leadership engagement and is senior partner at the executive coaching powerhouse, Take New Ground. They've worked with companies such as Lululemon, Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream (which we LOVE at Stitchcraft Marketing) and Nike. Adrian has carved a niche in coaching executives and entrepreneurs alike. His goal is always to empower these leaders to bring out the best in themselves, rally their teams, and serve their clients in ways that not only break new ground but also infuse a deep sense of fulfillment in their professional lives.

Business of Craft Cathy McKillip on Inventory Management

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:05:00 +0000

Today's guest is Cathy McKillip, CEO and president of RETAIL PROFIT MAKERS, a consulting business designed to help independent retail companies maximize profits through better inventory management.

Cathy has over 30 years of business and retail experience and sold her retail business after growing sales to a tenfold multiple in 10 years.

Business of Craft Mark Myers on Tax Strategies

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Today, we have a very special guest joining us, who refers to himself as a tax savings architect. Mark Myers is the CEO of Peak Profit Solutions, and a former Marine Corps Sergeant.

Mark has over 20 years of successful business operation, ownership, and consulting experience under his belt. He has helped thousands of individuals increase their profits and permanently reduce their annual tax bills, enabling them to better grow their businesses. We're excited to have him on the show today to share his insights and strategies with our audience.

Business of Craft Wendy Batten on Coaching Creative Retailers and Entrepreneurs

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Today I'm excited to welcome our guest, Wendy Batten, also known as the Retailer's Mentor. She is a coach, consultant and host of the podcast, "Creative Shop Talk" She also runs a membership group called the Retailer's inner Circle.

Wendy comes to us as a champion for small shop owners and creative business owners in particular. She knows firsthand the challenges of running a creative business and has overcome burnout to build a successful venture. Now, Wendy is passionate about helping others achieve their dreams, offering one-on-one guidance, signature courses, and live retreats. She's bringing her years of business experience and warm approach to becoming a trusted mentor and coach for creative retailers and entrepreneurs all over the world.

Business of Craft Meagan Rodgers SEO and Search

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Meagan Rodgers is an Account Manager at the agency with mad skills in the area of writing for SEO. She is a lifelong writer and former educator with a PhD in English. Like all of us at Stitchcraft Marketing, she's a maker including embroidery, crochet, sewing, and knitting. She also publishes a writes for her website, craftculturestyle.com, where she writes about crafts in society.

Today, Meagan is going to walk us through SEO. We'll explore the ins and outs of SEO, including how it can help small craft businesses improve their website's search rankings, drive targeted traffic, and boost their online presence. We'll discuss the integration of SEO into various online platforms, such as websites, blogs, and social media, and how it can complement other marketing efforts.

Business of Craft Carly Brush on Live Selling

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today my guest is Carly Brush, she is the General Manager of Arts and Handmade at Whatnot, a new live selling platform. Carly is an expert in live selling and she's here to share her insights on how it's changing the game for both retailers and customers. She's got a wealth of experience and knowledge in live selling, and she's going to dive into how it's transforming the shopping experience and why it's becoming a must-adopt strategy for retailers in today's competitive market.

Carly's passion for this platform and approach to retail is contagious, and we can't wait to hear her insights today. So, let's dive in and learn all about it.

Business of Craft Insights in Influencer Marketing with Anneliese Johnson

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 04:05:00 +0000

Today's guest is Anneliese Johnson. Anneliese is on-half of the mother-daughter design duo behind Eye Candy Quilts, which focuses on quilt pattern and fabric design. Anneliese also has experience working in local brick -and -mortar quilt shops, and most importantly, she's also an account manager over here at Stitchcraft Marketing. She is an expert in influencer marketing and is here to share her insights today on influencer marketing and the crafting business sphere and how they can kind of both coexist and maybe learn from each other and of course support each other.

Business of Craft Being Creative and Business Savvy with Jeffrey Madoff

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 04:05:00 +0000

Today's guest is Jeffrey Madoff, an accomplished director, writer, and educator who has spent over four decades working in the creative industry. He is the founder of Madoff Productions a video production company based in New York City. He is also an adjunct professor at Parsons School for design where he teaches a course on his book, Creative Careers: Making a Living with Your Ideas. In his book, Jeffrey shares insights from successful creative professionals who have proven that you can be both creative and business-savvy. Jeffrey is here today to discuss the importance of breaking down the myths surrounding creativity and how anyone can reach their full potential in a creative career. Welcome to Business of Craft, Jeffrey Madoff.

Business of Craft is a show designed to help entrepreneurs with fabric or fiber businesses become more successful. Our guests share best practices and teach effective marketing skills, that help crafty business owners learn to grow and scale. Let's start crafting a better business together!

Business of Craft Craft Retailer Research Results with Anneliese Johnson

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:05:00 +0000

Welcome to Business of Craft, a show designed to help entrepreneurs with fabric or fiber businesses become more successful. Our guests share best practices and teach effective marketing skills, that help crafty business owners learn to grow and scale. Let's start crafting a better business together!

Today we welcome you to our kickoff for season six of Business of Craft. Leanne and Anneliese present our findings from the 2023 Craft Retailer Research project. The 2023 Craft Retailer Survey organized by Audience Audit and Stitchcraft Marketing included 923 respondents from April to May 2023. Respondents included manufacturers, distributors and retailers of craft products. The research has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Four distinct attitudinal segments emerged among respondents; these are groups of craft business owners who share a set of attitudes. The data that came out of this study is going to inform a lot of the shows we have planned for this season.

Business of Craft AI + ChatGPT with Lori Highby

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today my guest is Lori Highby. Lori Highby is an accomplished entrepreneur and a marketing expert with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As the founder and CEO of Keystone Click, a digital marketing agency based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lori has been helping businesses of all sizes to improve their online presence and grow their brands since 2008. Her passion for helping businesses succeed in the digital age is a driving force behind her continued success.

Lori's knowledge and passion for helping businesses succeed in the digital age is a driving force behind her continued success. Today we're going deep into the newest technological advancements, artificial intelligence and what it means for your business.

Business of Craft Creativity and Wonder with Jennifer Keltner

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

My guest today Jennifer Keltner has been a maker of things from a very early age. Her first truly independent crafting involved melting crayons in an Easy-Bake Oven. She's passionate about all things fabric, quilting, embroidering, and sewing—always trying to squeeze a little "making" into every day. As President and Chief Visionary Officer for Martingale, Jennifer leads an employee-owned company with 45 years of book publishing history, now producing 36+ new titles per year.

Business of Craft Creating Community through Podcasting with Meg Goodman

Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Our guest today, Meg Goodman, is an award-winning podcast host and producer, and the founder and CEO of Flint Rock LLC an audio production company. Early in her career, she entered the world of advertising agencies managing notable Fortune 100 accounts. After 25+ years in advertising, including a stint running an agency, she returned to her native Chicago roots to create Pure Audio for her clients.

When not writing, hosting, producing, or running Flint Rock she serves as an Elder in her church and

volunteers for several philanthropic and civic boards. She been skydiving, has a black Belt in Hapkido, and enjoys scuba diving and riding motorcycles with her family.

Business of Craft: Be a Disruptive Retailer with DeAnna McIntosh

Tue, 02 May 2023 15:26:32 +0000

DeAnna McIntosh is a business strategist and retail consultant at Retailing Evolved specializing in helping retailers drive sales and increase conversions in their business. In 2020 she founded Diversify Retail Inc to bring more attention to the issue of diversity in retailing. She joins our podcast today to give our craft retail listeners some special insights into future-proofing your business and how to be a disruptive retailer.

Business of Craft: Good Math, Smart Business with Michelle Walker

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000

My guest today is my colleague Michelle Walker. She's a Financial Strategist and an Account Manager here at Stitchcraft Marketing who began her artistic endeavor at a young age with painting and sewing. She's a small business owner of Weaverwalker, an Eco-conscious macrame-focused DIY kit & supplies business on a mission to deliver the meditative experience of macrame to everyone's home. In May, Michelle is launching a new mastermind for Stitchcraft Marketing called Good Math, Smart Business to help crafty business owners really get a handle on their financial numbers. So, today we're going to talk about math monsters and her philosophy which we loosely call profit first-ish.

Business of Craft Product Development with Nicole Schneider

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

My guest today Nichole Schneider is the founder and CEO of Coley International, a product development company for the craft industry. Nichole specializes in helping craft companies bring a product from concept to retail ready. She has over 20 years of buying, sourcing and product development and is an avid sewist and knitter.

Business of Craft POS Analytics with Morgan Huff and Jim Huff

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

My guests today are Morgan Huff and Jim Huff, Co-Founders at Impact Analytics Group. We're discussing data analytics and software that is compatible with most point of sale (POS) systems, such as POSIM, Shopify, and even LikeSew, to provide additional information that can guide your marketing efforts.

Business of Craft Mark Hyland

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Mark Hyland is the CEO of Handi Quilter and former CEO of Premier Needle Arts. Mark has been involved within the craft and hobby industry for more than 18 years, manufacturing, producing and marketing of leading world wide consumer enthusiast brands found within Crochet, Knitting, Sewing, Quilting, and Longarm Quilting categories. Mark currently serves on several boards of directors within these segments both for profit organizations and non-profit organizations, including the National Quilt Museum.

Business of Craft Lyric Kinard

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Lyric Kinard, founder of the Academy for Virtual Teaching. Lyric is a fiber artist, quilter and author of the book, Art + Quilt: design principles and creativity exercises. In 2011, she won the award for International Association of Professional Quilters Teacher of the Year. She has written extensively for Quilting Arts Magazine, appeared on Quilting Arts TV, and The Quilt Show.

Business of Craft Anastasia Williams

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:01:00 +0000

My guest today is Anastasia Williams, founder of M1R Marketing. She specializes in creative direction, consulting and coaching for the fiber world, and hosts the podcast "Fiber Radio". She joins us today as a marketing expert to talk about a grab bag of four often misunderstood topics: funnels, understanding your ideal customer, finding your why and discounting.

Business of Craft Austin Rivers

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:01:00 +0000

My guest today is the founder of Knit the Rainbow, Austin Rivers. In addition to being a Diversity, Equity, and iInclusion professional and activist, he is also a professional actor –having toured the USA as well as 20 countries worldwide. He holds a BA in Politics as well as a Masters of Public Administration. Lastly, Austin currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer at Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Business of Craft Cecilia Nelson-Hurt

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:00:00 +0000

My guest Cecilia Nelson-Hurt is currently the chief diversity officer at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive talent and leadership advisory firm. Prior to that position, Cecilia worked at L'oreal USA and JPMorgan Chase in prominent VP roles, further refining her expertise in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. In our industry, she goes by the moniker @creativececi and has been an avid knitter and crocheter for more than 20 years. She also has a passion for travel and takes pride in the fact she's visited over 150 shops in the USA and abroad.

Business of Craft Elizabeth Townsend Gard

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 04:01:00 +0000

Today's guest is Elizabeth Townsend Gard, Endowed Professor of Law at Tulane University. She is the co-author of the a two-volume casebook, "IP: Doctrine and Application in Two Volumes" and she is also the host of the podcast Just Wanna Quilt, a research podcast focused on quilting, entrepreneurship and copyright. Elizabeth is also the director of "Durationator", a software system that aims to determine the worldwide copyright status of every kind of cultural work.

Business of Craft Rebecca Inkrote

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 04:01:29 +0000

Rebecca Inkrote, goes by the name Bex Marie, owns the company Bex Marie Design. Since 2010 she's been building websites for creative professionals. Bex is going to chat with us today about new challenges in website design. This is an encore show with Bex as we had her on BOC back in January 2020 with our wantrepreneurs series where we learned all about the basics of building a website.

Business of Craft David Jenyns

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:17:35 +0000

David Jenyns is the founder of Systemology and SystemHub software. He is the author of the book SYSTEMology: Create time, reduce errors and scale your profits with proven business systems which has over 350 reviews on Amazon scoring 4.6 stars. He also hosts the podcast Business Process Simplified. He's a frequent keynote speaker and has a Tedx talk called "The Systems of Life" available on Youtube.

Business of Craft Business Development 101

Sun, 15 May 2022 04:11:31 +0000

Our guest today is Erik Jensen, Chief Strategy Officer at Predictive ROI. Erik developed the podcasting strategy that helped bolster the agency to over $2M, which was featured in the book Profitable Podcasting. Erik is also a co-author of the book, Sell With Authority.

Business of Craft Virtual Event Planning

Sun, 01 May 2022 04:00:28 +0000

Since 2006, my guest Benjamin Levisay has been the CEO & Director of Marketing and Sales for XRX also known as the Knitter's Universe. Founded over 35 years ago by his uncle and father, XRX is the publisher of the now retired Knitter's magazine as well as books and Stitches events.

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Business of Craft Season 3 Episode 4 Supply Chains and Labor Issues

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:05:26 +0000

Chad Hendricks is the founder and president of Brand Outcomes, an agency focused on helping businesses recruit and retain truck drivers. He also hosts the podcast "Recruit and Retain: Trucking Edition" on the same topic.

Business of Craft Season 3 Episode 3 E-Commerce

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:05:48 +0000

Michael Bird is the co-founder and CEO of Spindustry, a digital marketing agency based in Des Moines IA. Spindustry is a leader in producing e-commerce solutions, web applications, and digital marketing programs for their clients. In Episode 3 Leanne and Michael discuss bringing on an e-commerce component to your business and some of the challenges involved.

Business of Craft Season 3 Episode 2 Planning a Trade Show

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Our guests today are Abby Glassenberg and Darrin Stern. Abby co-founded Craft Industry Alliance and now serves as its president. She's also a sewing pattern designer, teacher, and journalist. Darrin Stern is the Business Development Director at Koelnmesse, Inc. Darrin and Abby have partnered together to bring Koelnmesse's successful European industry tradeshow model, h+h Cologne, to the United States this summer in h+h Americas. We'll be discussing trade shows and how participation in a show can help fortify your business.

Business of Craft Season 3 Episode 1 The 80:20 Rule

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 11:00:54 +0000

Have you been thinking about how your fiber or fabric business can continue to adapt and thrive? Well, you're listening to the right show because that's our theme for Business of Craft season three…Resiliency!

Today Leanne Pressly is chatting with Laura Cameron, Director of Operations at Stitchcraft Marketing. The two cover lots of topics and tips you can use to focus in on your ideal customer and maximize your marketing ROI.j

Business of Craft Season 3 Coming Soon!

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:41:24 +0000

A quick preview of what's coming up in Season 2 of Business of Craft, launching March 1, 2022.

Business of Craft Amy E. Smith on Being a Female Bad-Ass in Business

Fri, 15 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

[Just a quick warning that we're going to be throwing around some curse words in today's episode so if you've got little ears listening or that kind of language just isn't your thing, you can make an informed choice about that.]

My guest today is Amy E. Smith, aka The Joy Junkie. Amy is a certified professional career coach and her personal mission is to help aspiring bad-ass women to create joyful lives by accessing radical self love, worthiness and self-acceptance.

Business of Craft Glenn Martin on Human Resources

Fri, 01 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Glenn Martin, a business consultant with over 30 years of experience. In 2002 he founded Trakstar, a human resource software application which he grew to 250K online users in 35 countries before he sold the company in 2016. Glen is formally retired but lends his expertise as a counselor with the Central Mountain Small Business Development Center here in Colorado.

Business of Craft Bex Marie on Websites

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Bex Marie of bexmarie.com. Bex, short for Rebecca, is a graphic design professional and since 2010 she's been building websites for creative professionals. Bex is going to chat with us today about considerations in launching a new website.

Business of Craft Season 2 Jamie Billesbach on Business Plans

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome everyone to the second season of Business of Craft where our theme is wantrepreneurship-- and our episodes are covering all the baby steps you need to take to launch your new business in 2020. My guest today is Jamie Billesbach, she is the Center Director of the Small Business Development Center for the Central Mountain Region of Colorado. Jamie has more than 20 years of experience in brand development, merchandising, graphic design and marketing planning for companies such as LavAzza coffee, Clif Bar, Annie's Gourmet and Hershey's. She also worked for the Mexican government developing the Mexican Chiapas Shade Grown Coffee company with over 25,000 growers.

Business of Craft Susan Dunn on Financials

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome everyone to the second season of Business of Craft where our theme is wantrepreneurship-- and our episodes are covering all the baby steps you need to take to launch your new business in 2020. My guest today is Susan Dunn, she is a graphic designer by trade but a whiz with the numbers. She's been a consultant with the small business development center in Colorado for 10 years and her specialty is helping new business owners get their financial books set up.

Business of Craft Shawn Allison Preparing a Business Plan

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Shawn Allison, a business and marketing consultant with the Central Mountain Small Business Development. Shawn has more than 20 years of experience in business development, direct marketing, strategic planning, budgeting, marketing automation and graphic design. Shawn is joining us today to give the down and dirty lowdown on how to write an effective business plan.

Business of Craft Season 2 Robin Waite

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today Robin Waite is one of the most successful professional business coaches in the United Kingdom and author of the book "Take Your Shot: How to Grow Your Business, Attract More Clients and Make More Money". I wanted to have Robin on the show today to talk about some of the struggles that new entrepreneurs face in starting off on the right foot.

Business of Craft Season 2 Coming Soon!

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

A quick preview of what's coming up in Season 2 of Business of Craft, launching February 15, 2020.

Business of Craft Episode 71 Amy Singer

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today Amy Singer is pioneer publisher of the quarterly digital e-magazine Knitty.com. We discuss the evolution of pattern publishing and Patreon support.

Business of Craft Janet Kafadar on Building Your Business After Hours

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Janet Kafadar, an online business coach who's passionate about helping entrepreneurs package their brilliance into a sustainable, profitable online business. She's come on Business of Craft show today to talk about starting a business after hours.

Business of Craft Steve Koenig on Selling Books in a Digital Age

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today Stephen Koenig is the co-founder of Sommer Street Associates, a publishing intermediary working to connect craft publishers and retailers utilizing a whole new model. Steve is also adept at building audiences, monetizing content and helping digital brands grow to their full potential.

Business of Craft Katie Salmon on Email Marketing

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest Katie Salmon is the founder and CEO of a digital marketing consultancy business called Katie Does Marketing. Katie helps shop owners and makers develop strategies to simply SELL MORE STUFF.

Business of Craft Laura Bellows on Cultural Appropriation in Craft

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Laura Bellows, owner and founder of Jul Designs, an internationally collaborative company producing knitwear and body jewelry designs. Doctor Laura Bellows also happens to be a PhD trained cultural anthropologist, well-versed on the issues regarding cultural appropriation in business. She joins our show today to help crafty entrepreneurs understand cultural appropriation and what it means for their businesses.

Business of Craft Benjamin Krudwig on Millennial Buying Behaviors

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Some listeners might recognize my guest today as a friend and former employee at Stitchcraft Marketing, Benjamin Krudwig. Benjamin makes his mark in the fiber industry as a talented weaver, garment-maker and fashion designer. He is currently the social media manager at Schacht Spindle. I wanted to have Benjamin come on the show today to talk about his expertise on millennial buying behaviors in the craft industry.

Business of Craft Felicia Lo on Intentional Growth

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Felicia Lo, is the founder and creative director of Sweet Georgia Yarns. Since 2005 Felicia and her team have focused on bringing "unapologetic colors" for fiber enthusiasts. Felicia is the author of Dyeing to Spin & Knit: Techniques & Tips to Make Custom Hand-Dyed Yarns. She is also a lecturer and teacher and has offered classes through Craftsy/Blueprint, and her new venture, the School of Sweet Georgia.

Business of Craft Meg Sutton on Bucking the Trends

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

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.

Business of Craft TL Robinson on Starting a Passion Based Business

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is TL Robinson. She is the founder and CEO of Mass Eden, a natural body care products business. I wanted to have her come on the show to share her journey about leaving her corporate job to take the leap and following her passion into creating natural body care products. Today we discuss the attributes you need to be a successful entrepreneur when passion is what's leading you, the concept of failing fast, and why inclusion is one of the most important aspects of her brand.

Business of Craft Episode 62 Louis Boria Unique Differences

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Louis Boria, is the founder and owner of Brooklyn Boy Knits, a company that produces custom knitwear. In addition to building a thriving business, Louis is on a mission to combine his love of fiber arts with his passion to combat bullying and to champion inclusion and diversity in the fiber arts community. He has been featured in the media like New York 1, CBS News, Reuters, and Telemundo. In this show, I want to explore with Louis the idea of how unique differences in your personal and business brand can help you to grow your craft business.

Business of Craft Episode 61 Mike Michalowicz Profit First and Clockwork

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is so very highly anticipated. I've been a fan of Michael since I was first introduced to his work through his book, Profit First. Michael's personal mission is to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and he does that first and foremost through his best selling books including, Pumpkin Plan, Surge and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. He is the founder of Provendus Group, a consulting firm that utilizes his business growth methodologies. He hosts the Profit First Podcast and he has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Box Pro Magazine, Entrepreneur and Harvard Business Review.

Business of Craft Episode 60 Scott Beebee Working On Your Business

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Scott Beebe, is the founder and head coach of MyBusinessOnPurpose.com, a coaching and consulting business designed to help liberate entrepreneurs from the chaos of working in their business rather than on their business. Scott also hosts the Business on Purpose Podcast and is the author of "Let Your Business Burn". He currently coaches over 50 business owners.

Business of Craft Episode 59 Kristy Glass on Fear and Growing Your Business

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Kristy Glass, started her career in NYC on the stage and screen and then came to knitting after convalescing from some health issues. From there, she started Kristy Glass Knits and has grown it to meteoric new levels. Today, she boasts 26K Instagram followers and 24K subscribers on her youtube channel. She also has a robust Patreon account where she offers premium video content. Today we're going to talk about some of the steps Kristy took along the way to arrive at this place so quickly.

Business of Craft Episode 58 Stacy Jones on Branding and Influencers

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Stacy Jones, is the founder and owner of Hollywood Branded, an agency recognized as one of the top entertainment marketing agencies in the industry. They specialize in building brand recognition and creating consumer desire for what influencers endorse. Stacy has worked with brands such as BlackBerry, Bumble, Canadian Club, Crayola, Pilot Pen, and White Cloud.

Business of Craft Episode 57 Katie Hunt on Trade Shows

Wed, 15 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today, Katie Hunt is the founder and CEO of several businesses including Kelp Designs, a stationary manufacturing company and Tradeshow Bootcamp which we're going to chat about today. Katie has hosted more than 200 webinars, 12 conferences and spent hundreds of hours providing 1-1 coaching to independent artists and small businesses. She is also the host of the Proof to Product podcast where she interviews mostly stationary and paper folks about growing their businesses. She received the Emerging Gift Industry Leader Award in 2015 and was included on the industry's 40 Under 40 list in 2017.

Business of Craft Episode 56 Sara Taylor

Wed, 01 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest, Sara Taylor is the CEO and founder of DeepSEE Consulting, a training and consultancy firm specializing in diversity and inclusion. Sara is a nationally recognized speaker with over 25 years of experience in leadership and diversity. She's recently written a best-selling book, Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World.

Business of Craft Episode 55 Gwen Bortner

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is a well-known personality knitting world. Gwen Bortner has been a figure in the scene since the early '80s. Gwen is an idea generator, confidence builder and momentum creator in a variety of roles including consultant, coach, and teacher. This is her second appearance on our podcast having done Episode 12 on Organizational Optimization. We're thrilled to have her do an encore episode on habits.

Business of Craft Episode 54 Schacht Spindle Company Anniversary

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guests today are Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht of Schacht Spindle Company located in Boulder, Colorado. Jane and Barry have not only had a successful marriage for 37 years, but they've also been successful business partners running Schacht Spindle for 50 years. They discuss different recessions, the shift of business over the years, and key components to running a successful business.

Business of Craft Episode 53 Otto Strauch on Selling a Business

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Otto Strauch, owner of Strauch Fiber Equipment. This episode is about the ups and downs of selling a business. Listen to Otto explain why it's a good idea to hire a broker, and how to make sure you are selling a business and not just a job.

Business of Craft Episode 52 Rohit Bhargava on Spotting Trends

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Rohit Bhargava is an innovation and marketing expert and the founder of the Non-Obvious Company. He spent 15 years as a marketing strategist for Ogilvy and Leo Burnett, is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of six business books and also teaches marketing and innovation at Georgetown University. He has a new book out, The Non-Obvious Guide to Small Business Marketing (without a big budget), and we're going to chat about his insights on marketing today.

Business of Craft Episode 51 Solocast 2019 Trends

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Today's short and sweet episode is about 2019 trends!

Business of Craft Episode 50 Jen Geigley on Being an Influencer

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

My guest Jen Geigley is a graphic designer by trade but also she's a prolific knitwear designer and has published several design books including Weekend, Everyday, Visions, Visions Kids, Luna, and Chroma. She's also been published in several magazines including Simple Magazine, Noro Magazine, Knitsy, and Rowan's online publications. She lives in Des Moines Iowa. Jen is one of our influencers in our blogger outreach program and she's got a lot to teach our listeners about how to be a good marketing influencer.

Business of Craft Episode 49 Brian Edman on New SEO Strategies

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today Brian Edman works as an account executive with our friends over at predictive ROI. He has spent his career thus far focusing on search and optimization strategies and he has a lot of new insights about how to do SEO well that I wanted our listeners to know about.

Business of Craft Episode 48 Nancy Marshall on Public Relations

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 14:30:17 +0000

My guest today Nancy Marshall is an award-winning Public Relations expert and the CEO of Marshall Communications, a marketing firm headquartered in Augusta, Maine. Also affectionately known as the "PR Maven", Nancy recently launched a new public relations podcast.

Business of Craft Episode 47 Listener Questions

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Today we tackle listener questions we've notice come up time and time again in email, conversations, and online forums.

Business of Craft Episode 46 Denise Ackert on Mindfulness

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Today our guest is Denise Ackert, owner of Innerlight Healthworks located in Salida, Colorado. I wanted to have Denise on the show because I've personally learned so much from her in the realm of mindfulness and self-care and I know that during the holiday season, we could all use a little reminder about all those things.

Business of Craft Episode 45 Scott Smith on Business Entities and Taxes

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Scott Smith, founder, and CEO of Royal Legal Solutions based in Austin, Texas. I have been involved in so many questions in the legal and tax realm that I knew I HAD to have someone like Scott on the show. We chat about questions regarding business entities and taxes.

Business of Craft Episode 44 Susan Baier on Segmenting

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Susan Baier, head honcho at Audience Audit, a company specializing in attitudinal audience segmentation research. We chat about how crafty businesses can harness the power of segmenting for better customer engagement.

Business of Craft Episode 43 Mary Ann Pruitt on Media Buying

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:20:21 +0000

Mary Ann Pruitt is the CEO and founder of two companies. One is PS Strategies, a marketing agency, and more recently, Mosaic, a media buying agency located in Anchorage, Alaska. Mary Ann and I are part of the same agency network, Agency Management Institute, and we work together to provide media buying services to Stitchcraft marketing clients. I've asked her to come on the show to give our listeners an introduction to media buying so that our crafty entrepreneurial listeners can utilize this tool in their marketing strategies.

Business of Craft Episode 42 Stacey Trock on Difficult Customers

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today we chat with Stacey Trock, who got her start in the industry with her company Fresh Stitches, a crochet subscription club featuring amigurumi patterns. In recent years, Stacey has focused her attention on marketing consulting and teaching. Stacey is also a designer and the author of three crochet books. At the most recent needle arts trade show, she offered a class on dealing with difficult customers which I thought would be a great podcast topic so we'll delve into that today.

Business of Craft Episode 41 Leanne Pressly on Brand Logo Design

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In this quick solocast, Leanne Pressly shares her thoughts and experience on logo design for your brand and why it might be time for an update.

Episode 40 Heidi Gustad on Video Production

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We invited Heidi Gustad to come on our show to talk about video production because this is one of those areas that is so underutilized and is often a source of fear for crafty entrepreneurs.

Episode 39 Lori Highby on GDPR and SSL

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today, we chat with Lori Highby about recent changes Google favoring SSL certification and encryption. We also give listeners action items for the new GDPR laws.

Episode 38 Julie MacDonald on Print Media

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today's guest, Julie MacDonald, is a longtime friend from the days when Leanne worked at Interweave Press. She asked Julie to come on the show to speak about print media in the digital age and to help our listeners evaluate that aspect of their marketing spend.

Episode 37 Kylie Gersekowski on Masterclasses

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Kylie Gersekowski is the owner of Little Moo Designs located in South West Queensland Australia. Kylie started out her crafty career in crafts in 2009 which included making baby clothes and then in 2011 bespoke hobby horses. Her business evolved again and in 2014, with sewing designs for handbag and purse clutches made from combinations of leather and fabric and cork. In addition to selling bag patterns, Kylie also is a master at offering masterclasses and that's the subject of our episode today.

Episode 36 Leanne Pressly on Planning Your Program

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today Leanne Pressly presents a solocast with content from the new online course, Magic Wand for Social Media. She covers different mistakes you might make with your social media and how to plan your social media program in 30 minutes per day.

Episode 36 Leanne Pressly on Planning Your Program

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Episode 35 Sue Monhait on Evaluating an Online Course

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today refers to her community as Gifters-Bakers-Crafters-Makers and she is an expert in helping crafty business owners go from just a dream to a profitable business. Sue Monhait has over 25 years of experience in retail, e-commerce and sales and marketing strategy. Sue is joining us today to talk about how to make the most of participating in an online course.

Episode 34 Kelbourne Woolens on Pivoting Your Business

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 15:24:13 +0000

My guests today are both accomplished authors and knitwear designers. Kate Gagnon Osborn and Courtney Kelley discuss distributor arrangements, the shift to their new business model, and GOTS certification. and I have all been friends and colleagues for a long time. Their evolution story is a great tale about managing change and just good old fashioned entrepreneurial chutzpah.

Episode 33 Chris Wright on Digital Advertising

Tue, 15 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is Chris Wright of Prime Publishing. Chris has worked in publishing since 1988 and has a lot of knowledge about digital advertising. I wanted to get his take on the current landscape and pull out some best practices for our listeners.

Episode 32 Garrick Arnold on Buying an Existing Business

Tue, 01 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

My guest today is a serial entrepreneur with his latest venture in the yarn space. In 2015, Garrick Arnold acquired Yarn Pop, makers of canvas accessory bags made in the USA. I asked Garrick to share his knowledge and expertise in buying an existing craft business.