Info

Thrive By Design: Business and Marketing Strategy for Fashion, Jewelry and Creative Brands

I’m your host, Tracy Matthews, Chief Visionary Officer of Flourish & Thrive Academy. After 20+ years in the jewelry industry, I believe you deserve to make money doing what you love, without spending every waking minute doing it. I’ve built two jewelry businesses: one that totally flopped after years of stress and burnout, and then one that I built around MY desired lifestyle, which is still thriving to this day. Both were fueled by equal passion and dedication. The only difference is that I realized your business should be built around your lifestyle, not the other way around. I founded Flourish & Thrive Academy because it’s my mission to help independent jewelry designers and handmade product makers like you build a business that THRIVES in today’s market and aligns with what YOU want. Every week, I’m dedicated to demystifying the secrets of the jewelry industry and teaching you tips and strategies that are working now, so you don’t have to learn the hard way, like I did. My Desired Brand Effect Methodology has helped thousands of jewelry designers and makers build and scale businesses that create financial freedom in their lives. Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and you don’t have to do it alone. I’m so happy to be on this journey with you. You can subscribe to the show here and watch every episode on YouTube here. Follow us on Instagram @flourish_thrive or slide into my DMs @tracymatthewsny. Visit flourishthriveacademy.com to learn more about our mission and our high-level coaching programs for dedicated business owners, Laying The Foundation and Momentum. And if you want to learn more about The Desired Brand Effect, I wrote a whole book about it! Read the first chapter for free here. Welcome to the #ThriveTribe, m’dear. I’m always dropping new resources, masterclasses, and opportunities for independent makers, so stay tuned!
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Thrive By Design: Business and Marketing Strategy for Fashion, Jewelry and Creative Brands
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: January, 2019
Jan 29, 2019

Who are some of your favorite icons in the world? Maybe it’s Beyonce, or Marie Forleo, or Oprah, or a world leader.

They’re people that we look up to and admire, and may even want to be like in some capacity.

They are A Players.

What if I told you that you could be an A Player in business too? You might not believe me. When I was first creating my businesses I probably wouldn’t have believed me either.

But it’s true. Every single one of us has the capability to become an A Player in business and get exactly what we want.

That’s what today’s episode is all about. I’m taking all of the lessons about how to be one of the best that I’ve learned from the 3 (yes THREE) businesses that I’ve started, and sharing them all with you.

Do you want to play in the big leagues, and grow a business that makes a difference in your world? Then you need to be an A Player.

Jan 22, 2019

Think about all of the important lessons you’ve been taught in your life.

Whether it was from a parent, or a college class, or an elderly person you met in line at the grocery store. Why are those the lessons that stick with you all of your life?

Don’t think too hard on it, because I’m going to give you the answer.

I can pretty much guarantee you that the reason they’ve stuck with you for a lifetime is because they were delivered using the art of storytelling.

Because 65% to 75% of information shared through stories is retained by the people listening to the storytelling as opposed to only 5% of information that is retained through a scripted presentation or the delivery of facts.

And it works the same way in business that it does in life…but I like to call it STORYSELLING when I’m talking selling my jewelry.

Stories create connections. Sales can get a bad rap for being all about pushing and trying to manipulate a potential buyer.

But the truth is if you're a good storyteller you have the opportunity to invite them into your world and show them the story behind why you create what you do in the way that you do it.

It's much easier and nicer feeling and it's not hard. It really isn't.

My good friend and co-founder Robin Kramer is joining me today to teach you the art of storytelling in Episode #185 How to Use Storyselling to Sell More Jewelry.

Jan 15, 2019

Do you ever feel stressed about money in your business? 💳

No matter how hard you try to make sales and keep the cash flow coming in, you can’t seem to keep the money in your account or even pay yourself?

Trust me, I hear ya! There was a time when I had a measly -$2.02 in my bank account. (Yes negative). And payroll was due the next day.

Talk about being stressed…my hair started falling out and I was losing tons of weight.

I’m ashamed to admit this, but I even started smoking cigs like a chimney. Gross!

Until I realized there was a better way to run the business…


The truth is most start-up jewelry businesses are broke for a few simple reasons (at least the ones that don’t “get it” yet).

First and foremost, they treat their jewelry business like a hobby instead of like a real business.

A business is a for-profit entity that pays its owner a salary.

A hobby is not something that’s typically profitable or paying its owner anything.

Let me highlight the difference….

A business owner invests in the people and programs that actually grow their business (themselves, team, consultants, coaches, etc.)

They get excited about reading a business book and putting 10% of their profit into a savings account.

A hobbyist spends all of their money on supplies, gems, and widgets that consume cash flow making them broke.

They get excited about the next gem or bead show and want to cry when they leave the Tucson with exactly $5 left in their bank account.

Who will you be: profitable business owner or expensive hobbyist!?!
Allow me to help you shift your business paradigm and build a more profitable business.

There’s no shame if you aren’t there yet. Awareness is the first step!

In fact, I’m hosting a brand new masterclass to help you stand out in a saturated jewelry market (so you can kiss 💋 “being broke,” goodbye).

Let’s dive into today’s episode #184: The Truth About Why Most Jewelry Businesses are Broke (and What to Do About It)

Jan 8, 2019

What’s your word of the year?

My word of the year for 2019 is ELEVATE!

Last year, my word of the year was SIMPLIFY here’s why…

Have you ever felt that making money is hard because there are so many things you have to do to make your business work?

…no shame in honesty here because I’m 🙋🏻‍♀raising my hand, too.
Here’s an interesting idea…

What if simplifying your business was actually the EXACT thing that would make you more money this year.

I don’t know about you, but as a highly creative being, I have a tendency to make my business complicated. It was driving me crazy!

Maybe it’s because I’m a Visionary and I know that Visionaries get paid for their ideas.

More ideas, more offers, more money, right?

What if it the exact opposite was true? That simplifying your business was actually the quickest road to growing your sales and enjoying your life more?

I hope you have really big goals this year and you’re facing your fears to make your goals happen.

One of my mentors, Ryan Levesque, said to me several years ago that “more is just more,” instead we should be focused on….
Less But Better!

That shift was huge for me! I have so many ideas! It’s hard to know which are the best ones to move forward without driving my team absolutely bat s#!t 🦇💩crazy.

Today, I want to walk you through the Framework I’ve been refining to simplify all of my businesses. This Framework has helped me evaluate what’s really important, increase my revenue and sales and make my life easier.

You’ll also hear some inspiring stories of designers we’ve worked with. They started out by taking our Laying the Foundation Course and have built 6 to multiple 6 figure businesses.

I’m excited for you to dive into EP183: How to Simplify Your Business to Make More Money This Year.

Jan 1, 2019

Happy New Year #ThriveTribe…

Last week, I wrote about 5 words to live by (and tools to set the precedent for your New Year) because, well, it’s the New Year! Time for some massive change!

Which leads me to a kinda personal question…because it’s time to Sage that S#!zz and clear space for an awesome year ahead.
Ready?

Have you ever felt completely paralyzed about achieving your business or life goals? Or creating what you REALLY want in life?

So logically you make excuses about why now is NOT the time. Or I’m not ready for XYZ. Or better yet, I don’t deserve to have what I want. Or my fave, Artists don’t make money.

Even though you need to make changes, you hold your face in your hands and cry out loud saying “Why Me!”

(Hey, this is a judgment-free zone here – I get stuck in the same BS all the time.)

Without going deep into the reasons why this happens to all of us, the root of the problem starts with the “F” word.
FEAR!

Fear is the thing that derails you when you self-sabotage, fall short of your goals, don’t go after what you REALLY want or stay stuck feeling overwhelmed.

I know what it feels like to fall short and let fear RULE you instead of letting fear FUEL you…and that’s why today’s episode is so important.

I asked my friend, Rhonda Britten to come onto the show today to talk about her stretch, risk or die framework to use FEAR as FUEL to reach your goals and grow your business fast this year.

Listen in now to EP182: How to Face Fear to Grow Your Business FAST This Year!

1