Business of Craft AI + ChatGPT with Lori Highby

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.   

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.

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!

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.