010 | Erin Ozer, Knot & Bow on her humble beginnings, manufacturing challenges and the benefits of strategically and slowly adding members to your team

Erin Ozer is the owner of Knot & Bow. Erin got her start on Etsy in 2010 and has had tremendous, but organic growth, over the last seven years. Her stationery, gift wrap and party goods can be found in more than 1500 retail shops around the world, including Paper Source, Anthropologie, Container Store, and Hallmark just to name a few. On this episode Erin talks about her humble beginnings, manufacturing challenges she experienced, and how she slowly but strategically added members to her team.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

[01:30] Building a business while staying home with the kids and with $200. [03:30] Starting on Etsy.[05:30] Adding new products to the line.[07:30] Utilizing customer feedback in product development.[09:30] Manufacturing challenges as Knot & Bow grew.[12:00] Picking & choosing which products to move forward with.[13:00] Expanding to wholesale.[15:30] Selling to Terrain -- her first wholesale order![17:00] Selling wholesale before doing trade shows[18:00] Working with Sales Reps[22:00] Hiring her first employee & growing her team[24:00] Hiring Process & having an operations manual[28:00] Knot & Bow retail shop & selling retail vs selling wholesale[30:00] What's next for Knot & Bow

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

'It is always a challenge to bring new product to the market and be innovative in some way but you also have a budget and spatial constraints to take into account' - Erin Ozer

"Housing 1000 greeting cards is one thing. Housing 1000 plates is a totally different thing." -Erin Ozer

"The numbers can get really, really big with custom manufacturing sometimes and it can be tough when you're really small." - Erin Ozer

"The wholesale side of our business grew pretty dramatically when we first signed with reps." - Erin Ozer

MEET ERIN OZER:

Knot & Bow is a line of simple and stylish paper goods and party supplies. Erin Ozer started the brand as a solo venture in 2010, inspired by simple gifts wrapped with kraft paper and twine. The line has developed to include a wide variety of paper goods and colorful party supplies, and is now sold at more than 1500 stores around the globe. Products are manufactured in the United States and assembled in Knot & Bow's Brooklyn studio. Knot & Bow also launched a flagship retail location in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn in late 2015.

Website: https://www.knotandbow.com/

Facebook: @knotandbow

Instagram: @knotandbow

Twitter: @knotandbow

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.