What is Gift Biz Unwrapped?
Sue started her career in corporate marketing. She worked with hundreds of boutiques and big brand retailers before deciding to leave the corporate world behind to be a stay-at-home mom. Once her children got older, she returned to the world of business by launching her first company. She started a handcrafted gift basket business called Basket Thyme. After successfully growing the company into a profitable 6-figure business, she decided to walk away in order to move on to new and exciting ventures while allowing herself time to stay close to her rapidly growing teenagers. “I’m an advocate of your business fitting into your life,” Sue told us in an interview, “not overtaking your life.”
Today her focus is on her two businesses. The first is a custom ribbon printing business, called The Ribbon Print Company, which helps small business owners personalize their studio and shop products and packaging. The second is Gift Biz Unwrapped, which helps handmade makers start up and run profitable small businesses. And, in keeping with that business-life balance, we can’t forget to mention the other current focus of her devotion, her family’s new “not-so-little” puppy Biscotti, a Great Pyrenees, Great Dane, and Boxer mix!
Gift Biz Unwrapped is first and foremost a resource designed to help handmade makers develop their businesses and monetize their craft. Sue hosts an active podcast and blog chucked full of useful information for running small handmade businesses. She also offers strategy sessions and consultations to help makers optimize their businesses on a more case-by-case basis. “You have creative skills and a product that we admire and we’d like you to share that with us!” she tells her audience. “But you may not feel you’re equipped on the business side to make this happen. That’s where we come in. Gift Biz Unwrapped has step by step guidance as you start up your business and also provides support as you grow.” If you’ve ever felt lost trying to start your business or taking an existing business to the next level, Gift Biz Unwrapped could be the perfect resource for you. “I stand behind the fact that it’s easy to start a business. The hard part is making money at it and incorporating it into your whole life so you stay in love with what you’ve created.”
Exploring the Podcast and Blog
One of the primary features of Gift Biz Unwrapped is its free podcast. On their website, you can find hundreds of hours of content featuring predominantly women entrepreneurs talking about their personal experience in the handmade industry. They share tips, tricks, and strategies on how they’ve started their businesses, improved them, and what direction craft business owners should be moving towards in the future. “I feature the stories of handmade product business owners at all levels of development,” Sue says, “Depending on where they’re at with their business, we talk about how they got started, how they get business today, challenges along the way – lots of things!”
And all this information is free! Even if you don’t create the same product as the seller that’s being featured, there is always so much to learn. “There is valuable information to glean even if a maker creates something different than you do or is at a different stage,” Sue said. “I also interview experts with tools or skills that we need to run our businesses. That can be social media, time management, handling the financial end of things, how to photograph your products, and build your website. There are so many things to know!”
There are also Show Notes Pages connected to each podcast episode which summarize key points of the episode and provide links for every resource referenced in that episode. Furthermore, if you’re more of a reader than a podcast person (those exist right?), her blog contains evergreen articles covering numerous profitable business best practices that can help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey.
You can start learning from the podcast right now for free on the Gift Biz website! But if tackling hours upon hours of content sounds like a daunting task (I mean where would you even start?) never fear. Sue’s recent episode, Tips & Talk #93, is actually a designated directory on how to best find what you’re looking for within her archive of podcast episodes based on what your needs are today.
Talk to Sue: Could you Benefit from a Gift Biz Strategy Session
In addition to the wealth of knowledge that is her podcast, Sue also offers strategy sessions to small business owners who need help getting started or taking their business to the next level. “My strategy sessions are more intense one-on-one time with me. I offer a one hour call where we deep dive into a specific topic you’re stuck on,” Sue explains. “You walk away knowing what your next steps are to get over whatever obstacle we’ve talked through. It’s surprising how much can be accomplished in an hour.”
And if you need a little more tlc than that, she also offers day-long intensive strategy sessions where you dive into everything about your business. “We go back to the beginning and confirm you have everything in place and fill in the gaps, we talk strategy, and get gritty where we need to so that your business has a solid foundation and you see profitable growth moving forward.”
She also offers several small courses covering specific topics that small business owners typically need help with. For example, her Start with Confidence program which “will help you with one of the most important first steps – validating your product. This is what 98% of people miss.”
Gift Biz Breeze and National Baker Crafter Maker Day
“It warms my heart more than anything else to see someone go after their dreams. Handmade creators often think about starting a business around what they make… but never do. It is my honor to help them bring their beautiful products into the world for all of us to enjoy.” – Sue Monhait
If you’re looking to further your engagement in the Gift Biz creator community you can also check out their free Facebook Group, Gift Biz Breeze. This is a highly interactive group of women where you can ask questions, get inspiration, and share your story with others. “I’m very proud of this group because of the generosity and friendliness of our members,” Sue reflects. “It’s nice to know you don’t have to do this alone and figure everything out by yourself. That there’s a safe, comfortable space to get all sorts of help.” “The Breeze” is a community full of women on a similar path as you.
Another amazing contribution that Gift Biz Unwrapped has made to the handmade seller community is the founding of a nationally recognized day to honor all handmade creators. It’s called National Baker Crafter Maker Day and is celebrated on January 21st of every year. “It’s intended to recognize all makers, whether you create as a hobby or for your business,” Sue says. So, make sure you mark your calendars for the upcoming date and remember to reflect on all the great work that you’ve done, everything that you’ve created. As you look forward into the new year and think about where you’re going next, check out all the advice and skills taught by Gift Biz Unwrapped to help you figure out the next step in your creative journey.
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