002 | Sam Kramer, Near Modern Disaster on releasing new products, working with sales reps and treating your business like a business.

For full show notes and access to additional resources for this episode, visit: prooftoproduct.com/002

Sam Kramer, the head boss lady at Near Modern Disaster got her start in business in 2009 and amped things up in 2014 when she began selling wholesale, did her first trade show and she expanded her product line into greeting cards, mugs, notepads and enamel pins. On today's episode, Sam talks about her process for developing new products, the importance of releasing new products regularly and how working with sales reps has helped her scale her business. Sam attended Tradeshow Bootcamp's Paper Camp in 2013 prior to launching her wholesale program.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

[01:30] Near Modern Disaster's story[03:00] Treating your business like a business[05:00] Realizing help was out there. She didn't have to grow this business alone.[07:00] Inspiration, design process & product development.[13:00] Expanding into new product categories.[16:30] Working with sales reps & building a partnership.[22:00] Getting on a regular release schedule.[24:30] Moving her business to a different state & how she prepped.[28:00] Near Modern Disaster in Buzzfeed.[31:30] What's next for Near Modern Disaster

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

"I realized there were resources to help me. I didn't have to try and create this business by myself without help." - Sam Kramer

On product development: "you need to look at the numbers and make sure the margins are here." -Katie Hunt

"I've been scared to hire because that requires trusting others and delegating" - Sam Kramer

"You need to have your house in order before you start reaching out to reps." - Katie Hunt

"You need to keep things fresh for the buyers" - Sam Kramer

LINKS:

Paper Camp

Near Modern Disaster

Papillion Press

Fig. 2 Design

Buzzfeed

MEET SAM KRAMER:

Near Modern Disaster is a one-lady operation fronted by Sam Kramer. Sam has been working under the name since 1999 - and Near Modern Disaster has gone through many incarnations over the years. (It was a killer Geocities page back in the day.) Its current (and most memorable) form as a line of greeting cards has been around since January of 2009 when Sam posted her first Valentine's Day cards on Etsy. She initially touted the line as "cards for people you want to make out with" a sentiment that still stands.

Though 2009 was the initial start for the stationery line, it was more of a hobby than a business until 2014 - the year Near Modern Disaster debuted at the National Stationery Show in NYC. AKA the year shit got real.

Since 2014, Near Modern Disaster has grown from a line of greeting cards to a small gift line - adding different items over the years like notepads, coffee mugs, and enamel pins. You can now find Near Modern Disaster products in about 250 stores nationwide - and a dozen or so stores across Canada.

Website: nearmoderndisaster.com

Facebook: @moderndisaster

Instagram: @moderndisaster

Twitter: @moderndisaster

JOIN THE TSBC FAMILY:

Interested in learning more about launching or refining a wholesale line or exhibiting at trade shows? Join us for our Paper Camp conference this September 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 me, 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.