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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!
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Thrive By Design: Business and Marketing Strategy for Fashion, Jewelry and Creative Brands
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Now displaying: April, 2019
Apr 30, 2019


Pssst! There isn’t a “holy grail” to gaining big exposure. It’s gonna take some TRIAL and ERROR.
After a lot of years as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned a few things about content…

What works, what doesn’t, and the best ways to get noticed.

Ironically, one of my biggest lessons was that there’s no “holy grail” to getting your content seen.

It’s more like a little of this, a little of that… and a LOT of trial and error.

There are seriously ENDLESS things you can try…

Mastering hashtags…

Creating quality video production…

Learning social media algorithms…

Storytelling through emails….

Paid and organic marketing strategies…

The list goes ON!

I’m here to empower you to start thinking about exposure for your brand…

The end game is to for that exposure to convert people and get them engaging with your content!

It’s time to take more unique approaches to digital marketing.

On this week’s podcast, I’m talking to one of the most unique Creatives I’ve connected with through Instagram.

Meet Laura Powers: a premiere LA psychic, actress, model, producer, host, writer, singer and speaker.
Laura hosts podcasts on design, music, the entertainment industry, writing, health, spirituality, business, AND empowerment!

Talk about well rounded!

And she’s been using her platforms to not only scale her businesses – but to expose her brand in super creative ways.

Laura opened my eyes to some amazing ways to have your brand and your message seen, felt and heard!

Listen to episode #199 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to How to Get Big Exposure with Alternative Media Opportunities with Laura Powers.

Apr 23, 2019

Finally! The weather is warm and days are getting longer. A perfect time to look forward to GROWTH in your business.
Springtime is all about new possibilities, right?

Time to get your spring hustle on!

As designers and business owners, it's super easy to get stuck in the day-to-day…

Making more product…
Responding to customer messages…
Managing the books…
Posting on social media…

Just one big laundry list of stuff!

The thing is, not one of these tasks is really gonna lead you to EARNING $$ at the next level. Or scaling your business.

It's time to ask yourself – are you using these assignments as an excuse to keep playing it small?
If you want to take a leap this year and see big results, you have to make a change.You have to stop doing everything yourself. You have to outsource and delegate.

You might outsource social media or marketing but it could also mean…

It's time to start working with a manufacturer! I know what you’re thinking, “But that’s scary! What if they rip me off for my designs?”

I get this question all the time. And that’s why this week’s podcast is totally on point…

I’m PUMPED to have the amazing Emma Gregory Boudah of Spokes Jewelry as my guest this week. We’re talking about manufacturing overseas – how to protect your intellectual property and do things right from the start.

If you’ve been keeping your production in-house in order to minimize mistakes and keep a close watch on your designs, I get it. But at some point this becomes inefficient. Both in terms of time and cost.

What will you do when…

a big buyer wants to know your plan for scalability?
you start losing customers because of slow turn around times?
your small time jeweler can’t make what you’re asking for?
Together, we’re going to help you identify when you’re ready to work with a manufacturer and how to avoid getting ripped off once you do.

Listen to episode #198 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to Protecting Your Intellectual Property with a Manufacturer with Emma Gregory Boudah.

Apr 16, 2019

Does talking about making money in your biz make you squirm a little bit?
It's super hard when you pour yourself into your biz but aren’t making any money. It feels like no matter how amazing your work is, you’re “not good enough.”

I’ve been there, I know…

I have this crazy idea: I want to dust off the old stigma around being a “starving artist” and reframe it to be the “thriving artist” – or jewelry designer! Whatever your creative passion is, YOU CAN make money doing what you love!

I’m extroverted so I love to chat and connect with my customers. But really anyone can attract more money to their biz.

Don’t believe me??

A few weeks ago in San Francisco, we invited our SOS members to a 2-day workshop – which was SO. MUCH. FUN!

During the workshop, I challenged the designers to personally text, email, DM or call at least one customer and make a sale.

Not everyone was game at first…

Some designers felt awkward or shy. Others didn’t know who to reach out to or didn’t want to bug people.

BUT, in the end, they totally showed up and came through with HUGE wins.

In just one hour, the designers sitting in that room (there were about 25) brought in over $17,000!
Shut-the-front-door, AMIRIGHT?! So amazing!

And the sales didn’t stop there… By the next day, the total had reached $35,000!

So what if you sent a text, DM or follow-up email asking if a customer would like to check out a piece they commented on? Or suggest a gift for a loved one? Or show them something new you’re working on? Or just asked if they needed help?

What if YOU started that conversation?

All I’m sayin’ is to show up for your customers in a way that actually helps them.

On the podcast today, I talk all about the “dirty” making money in your jewelry biz and it’s called the 75% Rule.

Apr 9, 2019


There’s lots of confusion. What really matters to grow your business?

Is it finances, sales, admin, social media, marketing, photography, pixeling your website, cleaning the dirt under your fingernails from that red rouge buffing compound…?

The list is endless. The answer is simple…it’s the 75% rule.

In fact, when I first presented the 75% rule – jaws were dropped.

When I was asked about the 75% rule at the Gold Conference, same thing… I got a lot of weird looks.

Here’s why…

Most “creative-maker-designer” types love creating and making.

So they start a business and continue to create – make – design (oh yeah and do a lot of busy work) and wonder why their business isn’t growing?

If you want your business to grow, you have to spend your time on revenue generating activities.
That’s where the 75% rule comes in.

Finding the levers in your business to sell jewelry online or land those massive wholesale accounts requires a commitment and focus on the “RIGHT” activities.

Your ability to double your jewelry business’ sales starts with today’s episode.

On today’s episode, I am going to share why you should be saving those $10 and $20 tasks for someone else to do and focusing at least 75% of your time on making your VISION and GOALS a reality.

I am also going to help you identify the things that are not moving your business forward.

 

Apr 2, 2019


What are you waiting for?

I asked my good friend Aggie Burnett, co-founder of Nomaterra fragrances, what she was waiting for to get to the next step in her business.

Since her early 20’s, she’s nourished relationships with beauty brands through good ol’ fashioned networking: asking questions, following up, and taking notes.

In her 300 sq ft NYC apartment, she spent time mixing and matching oils until she created what felt most aligned.

Fast forward to having her products sold in every, single Sephora nationwide!

Talk about GOALS!!

Even after 5-6 years of experience in the beauty biz, Aggie knew she needed to drive things to the next level.

That’s where those guerrilla marketing tactics came in handy.

And they’ll come in handy for you too!

 

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