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EP213: Want to Make $100K Salary as a Jewelry Designer? Here's what it takes... Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

For most designers, making a $100,000 salary is what it will take for you to quit your job or achieve your goals.

I hear it all the time. “Tracy, I want to make $100,000 a year. What does it really take?” The truth is, it’s… complicated.

Someone who is bringing $1 million in revenue still might not be able to take home $100,000 if their business isn't run like a well-oiled machine. At the same time, a smart business owner bringing in $250,000 could still take home that $100K if they do it right.

People like you and I, we’re idea generators. Seeing our visions come to life is what really drives us. Finances, profitability, break-even points, margins… Those aren’t the things that come naturally to us.

But it can be learned!

You don’t have to sacrifice your creative passion to be a smart business owner. When you really hone your visionary and leadership skills, you will be blown away by what you can accomplish.

When I started my first company, Tracy Matthews Design Inc., I was NOT approaching my business like a visionary. That’s totally changed. Instead of CEO, I call myself the Chief Visionary Officer.

That has a better ring to it, don’t you think?

So how did I go from being a hopeful hobbyist with no business experience to the CVO of Flourish and Thrive Academy? It started with a simple goal to transform my jewelry business so I could take home $100,000 a year. Let’s talk about it…

EP212: How to Get People to Open Your Emails with Tarzan Kay Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Wanna know what’s crazy? Business owners notoriously underutilize their email list. They’re missing out on a HUGE opportunity for growth.

This week I chatted with the clever and energetic Tarzan Kay! She might be even more passionate about email marketing than I am. And that’s saying something…

She started as a copywriter and soon discovered the magic of well-written emails. With only 37 people on her email list, she found stunning growth through bi-weekly email marketing.

With thousands of people on her list now, Tarzan works with businesses to help them grow their company and define their brand.

Plus, she has the coolest name ever…

Listen to this week’s episode to catch a bit of her genius!

EP211: Taking Responsibility in Sourcing to the Next Level with Meri Geraldine Jul 22, 2019

Show notes

I am so thrilled about this week’s guest, you guys! She’s the kind of woman who talks the talk and walks the walk.

Before getting into jewelry, Meri Geraldine worked as a sustainability consultant. But after having her daughter, she wanted to be able to work from home. That’s how her jewelry company, Gardens of the Sun, got started.

There aren’t enough conversations about building a sustainable brand in the jewelry industry. Meri is out to change that.

Part of her company vision is to know every part of the supply chain, right down to the people mining and cutting the gems.

She’s traveled all around the world to source her jewelry sustainably and has become a leader in the ethical jewelry movement.

Today, she sat down with me to talk about how the everyday designer can be more conscious and responsible about their sourcing.

EP210: How to Recession Proof Your Business Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

Today’s topic is very close to my heart: recession-proofing your business.

If you’ve listened to my story, you know my first business got wiped out by the Great Recession of 2008.

I used to carry a lot of shame about it until a good friend of mine made me see the light. I didn’t fail my business, it got taken down by the recession.

This isn’t something to feel bad about, it’s something to learn from.
But there were some things I could have done to that might have saved my business. Like they say, hindsight is 20/20.

I’m no economist, but things are shifting. Small boutiques are closing down, wholesale is slowing and sales are moving online.
While other business owners scramble to react to these changes, you can prepare in advance and stay calm when chaos hits.

In this episode, I cover six things you can do to proactively protect your biz from the worst-case scenario.

Listen to episode #210 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to How to Recession-Proof Your Business.

EP209: How to Find the Courage to Face Your Fears and Create a Life You Love with Ruth Soukup Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

I’m beyond stoked about this week’s topic because it's something the Flourish & Thrive Academy community knows all about… FEAR.

Being an entrepreneur by definition pretty much means facing your fears…

Putting yourself out there

Taking risks

Doing things that make you nervous

It's all part of this wild ride we’ve chosen as business owners. We know it can be tough, but we also know it's soooo worth it!

The thing about fear is that it has multiple layers… At its core, fear is designed to protect us. To keep us safe.

But because our innate desire to protect ourselves is so strong, it can end up backfiring and leading to things like procrastination, overwhelm, excuses + self-doubt.

We’re all working on mastering that fine line between pushing our edges and playing it smart. And on this week’s podcast, I had the honor of talking to New York Times bestselling author, Ruth Soukup about her incredible journey of overcoming fear and using it to fuel her success.

Ruth’s book, Do It Scared is a guide to understanding what’s really behind the fear that’s holding you back – and transforming that fear into power and action!

In the episode, she takes us through the 7 types of fear, what’s really behind them, and what we can do to overcome and create a life we really love. Ruth’s story is truly inspiring and you won’t want to miss what she has to say!

Listen to episode #209 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to How to Find the Courage to Face Your Fears and Create a Life You Love with Ruth Soukup.

EP208: What it REALLY Takes to Go From $50K to $1 Million in Revenue Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

It’s birthday season here at Flourish & Thrive Academy lately! If you didn’t know, our company is turning 7 this week! And we just passed Robin’s birthday too…

In honor of this huge milestone, Robin and I got together on the podcast this week to chat about what we’ve learned… Both in growing F&TA, as well as our other ventures – and to share our biggest insights with you.

We’re diving into the topic of scaling…

What does it take and how do you do it?

The fact is certain characteristics set apart the brands that make it to multiple 6 figures and above and those that hover around the $50,000 a year mark.

Firstly, if you’re the designer or the visionary in your company, you need to figure out if you are your own bottleneck.

A lot of designers get stuck at this point because they never set up systems. They don’t learn to effectively delegate.

So they can only grow as much as their time allows. And one person can only do so much!

This means letting go of doing everything yourself and stepping up as Chief Visionary Officer…

If you’re ready to overcome this hurdle and learn what Robin and I have discovered about how to scale and grow a successful business, listen to the full episode now!

EP207: How to Increase Customer Lifetime Value to Scale Online and Off with Austin Brauwner Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

Have you felt like you’re ready to scale your business for a while – but every time you think of getting started you just freeze up??

This is all too common…

It can feel daunting! Where are you supposed to start?

Consider this…

You don’t actually need a million customers, you just need to keep your loyal customers happy.

“Customer lifetime value” is fancy business lingo for how much revenue each customer brings to your business over their lifetime.

This isn’t usually the first thing people associate with scaling, but it’s actually a huge deal! It’s WAY easier to sell to someone who already loves your brand than it is to acquire new customers.

The goal is to maximize the impact you have on your existing customers…

To keep them always coming back for more.

This is what thinking like a business owner is all about.

EP206: How to Transform Your Website Homepage to Make More Sales Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

Did you know that when someone lands on your website you only have 30 seconds to make an impression?

Kinda scary, right?!?

After all of the love and hard work you pour into creating a beautiful page, a lot of the people who visit will be in and out in moments.

So how can you get them to stick around?? And better yet… how can you get them to actually CONVERT into sales?

It all comes down to the impression and the feeling they get when they visit your site.

If your website isn’t doing your product justice in terms of design, story and beyond… you’re actively LOSING sales and potential customers.

There are a few key components every homepage needs to really stand out and grab the attention of a potential customer…

As a designer or business owner, sometimes you’re a little too close to the problem to see whether what you have is really working or not.

That’s why we brought in Darian Chavez of DNC coaching (who also happens to be one of our amazing SOS coaches), to talk about how to transform your homepage to bring you more sales. You won’t want to miss all of the juicy knowledge she shared with us…

EP205: Where do your diamonds and gemstones come from? Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

As designers, we’re aware of how much our industry is changing…

A lot of jewelry sales is moving online.

Wholesale isn’t the same as it used to be. It's tough these days to find buyers who will buy the product outright – not on memo.

Things are moving faster than ever. And the processes for success are shifting.

But a common obstacle we’re facing is the fact that the backend of our industry isn’t really keeping up…

That is to say, the supplier section of the jewelry industry can feel like it's stuck in the past.

Here at F&TA, we get super excited when we find companies and brands who are on the cutting edge of these new models…

That’s why I’m so stoked that on this week’s podcast, I got to chat with Ashkan Asgari of Dream Diamond.

EP204: How to Elevate Your Brand with Packaging Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Unboxing experiences are a big deal these days…

If you want to sell your product for premium prices, you have to think about packing!

When customers open their purchase, they want it to be fun – to feel good.

New designers sometimes think of packing as an added expense… just another thing they have to spend money on.

But actually, packing is an investment in growing your business. It's an opportunity to elevate your brand – and stand out against the competition.

And there’s a lot that goes into great packaging…

You need to be considering…

Your customer and what aesthetic they’re attracted to…

The sustainability of the materials you’re using…

What colors are trending this year…

Customers are more and more aware these days of fashion trends. And a brand with really unique packaging STANDS OUT.

It's a way to be remembered and noticed. It raises brand awareness along with elevating your product…

This week I got to chat with Barbara Whitney from Packaging Specialties about what designers need to know to create great packaging… and how to use it to stand out against the competition.

Barbara is also giving away a really amazing deal on materials in this episode!

Listen to episode #204 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to How to Elevate Your Brand with Packaging with Barbara Whitney

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