120: From Etsy To Big Box Retailer: Scaling Up
Ever wondered what it takes to grow from Esty to big box retailer? Where would you even start?
Juliana knows. Her playhouses are now sold in Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. Here in Part 1, she reveals key insights, triumphs, and setbacks.
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Ever wondered what it takes to get a side hustle product into a big-box store? Where would you even start? Today’s guest knows.
In late 2019, Juliana VanLanen and her best friend Samantha Alavi-Jackson started a small backyard Etsy shop selling homemade window boxes and refurbished playhouses.
Today their playhouses are sold in over 110 retail locations including Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Wayfair, FAO Schwarz, and Saks5thAve.
In this Part 1, Juliana dives into;
- how they scaled from Etsy to big box success,
- major hurdles of scaling their first year and how they tackled them,
- their strategies for customer engagement, market research, and maintaining product quality, and
- how Juliana and Samantha juggle not only a thriving business but also eight kids!
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Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things.
What You’ll Hear:
02:35 Early Days on Etsy
03:17 The Intent was for a Side Hustle
04:50 Biggest Challenges of Scaling Up
04:57 Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction
06:39 Marketing and Brand Building
08:25 Finding a Void in the Market
10:47 Building Credibility
12:08 Award Winning
13:13 Choosing To Be Higher End
15:03 Scaling Your Team Effectively
16:13 Your Employees Should Be Paying For Themselves
18:16 Fractional CFO Just Recently Became Full Time
18:44 Two Common Scaling Mistakes
19:28 The Role of Mentors and Advisors
20:35 Balancing Business and Personal Life
24:24 Lessons from Manufacturing Challenges
26:42 As CEO I Take Full Responsibility - Good and Bad
Wrap Up
27:45 An Exercise To Overcome Adversity
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