or scroll down to get the highlights

How Erica Campbell Turned Her Faith-Based Gift Shop Into A Profitable Business

Erica Campbell had been flying under the radar in The Inner Circle for the past year, but she got my attention recently when she made a post in the group that truly lit me up. Erica’s business Be A Heart, a faith-based gift shop, saw what can only be described as meteoric success. Swept up in her business’s momentum, she did what so many “successful” store owners do and lost sight of the key metrics that should have alerted her to trouble ahead. As Q4 approached, Erica came to the terrifying realization that she was so short on cash she couldn’t afford holiday inventory.

Read on to find out how Erica righted the ship, went from stressed and exhausted to relaxed and excited to keep building on the solid foundation she’s created for her business.

Be A Heart’s Humble Beginnings

Erica’s journey to entrepreneurship started small, when she was a 20-something living in Brooklyn, New York. Working thankless hours at a school and facing some personal challenges, she decided to take up calligraphy in the evenings. She started to post her designs on Instagram under the handle @beaheart , and quickly gained a large following. This early success landed her a new career, this time in LA, creating wedding and event invitations.

After getting married and starting a family in 2018, Erica was ready to let go of the hustle of client work, and decided to strike out on her own selling products featuring her designs. From her original offering of cute baby swaddles, she quickly expanded the range to include other giftable items with a Christian point of view.

More Money, More Problems

Bolstered by her large social media following, Be A Heart saw big success from the get-go. But with no background in business, Erica joined an accelerator program which encouraged her to hire a team to support her fast growth. Because her revenue had surpassed 7 figures, Erica felt confident hiring a team that would allow her to “be the thinker” and stop sweating the small stuff.

But the problem with leaving the details to her team and only looking at the top line numbers is that they weren’t giving Erica an accurate picture of the true health of the business. And with Q4 fast approaching (her biggest season of the year), Erica had a very scary realization – her credit was maxed out and she still couldn’t afford holiday inventory. In the past she had foregone a paycheck at the end of the year, but with a growing family and another move to a new city, she couldn’t afford to do it again.

Something had to give.

“When I started, I wanted to employ other women…to provide for more people. But the reality was that in doing so, my family was paying for it. You know, it wasn’t the business [providing] it was my kids who had a stressed out mom who couldn’t be present.”

Doing The Hard Thing

On a friend’s advice, Erica read the book “Profit First” and quickly realized she needed to be prioritizing profit, not revenue. If you want to learn more about this type of accounting, check out Episode 82 She began the process of auditing her entire operation to find the leaky bucket – the places in her business that were draining cash without adding value. It was a painful decision, but she let go of most of her team and her ad agency, slashing expenses by 286%. She got into the nitty gritty of her books and applied the Profit First method to her monthly accounting, which much to her surprise revealed that she could pay herself and replenish her inventory. With her finances in order, Erica was able to look at her year holistically and reframe her concept of what “success” looked like.

Revenue Down, Profit WAY UP

So the post I mentioned at the top that really got my attention was Erica’s Inner Circle update – that although her sales were down 11% that month (April) her profit was up ONE THOUSAND PERCENT. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. And what stood out to me really was the confidence in her post. Whereas before Erica would have seen a decrease in revenue and thought she was failing, now she looks at her profit and knows that ultimately her business will be able to weather a bad month here and there.

We should always celebrate good sales, but what we should truly celebrate is the store owner who understands the financial health of her business. Most of our students are women who know how to manage debt, provide a good income for their families and themselves, and can sleep peacefully at night. They’re not lying in bed worrying about credit card balances, lines of credit, payroll, or upcoming bills. When you constantly worry about these things, you end up making decisions based on fear.

How Erica Scaled Back To Boost Profitability

Erica knows better than to wear all of the hats, but she’s much more discerning now when it comes to delegating. Certain jobs, like social media management and email, are tasks she actually enjoys and is able to manage as long as she schedules them out ahead of time. She is realistic about the time she has each day to dedicate to her business (about 4 hours) and has learned to embrace efficiency, using her time to do only the tasks that will get her closer to her big goals. As a designer, it takes discipline to invest in only her best sellers, but she understands now that there are times when she can’t afford to add new products.

As for her team, Erica learned a lot about what not to do when she was managing a big one. Even though she had promised herself she would not be the type of boss to text her team in the middle of the night with urgent requests, she had found she’d become exactly that. Moving forward, Erica is honest with herself about her ability to manage a bunch of employees. Rather than looking at revenue as the measure of the team’s success, she defines what success looks like for each role. 

She is also now committed to selling more of what she already has (she credits our Ads Made Easy course with enabling her to manage her own social media ads and drive more traffic to her site) and leveraging her inventory management software to keep her best sellers stocked at all times. 

It has made all the difference to know her numbers, dig into the data, and make decisions based on figures, not feelings.

 Looking Ahead

“My goal this year is NOT growth. The goal this year is just more profit at the end. And to have that that peace of mind. And to find joy in it again.”

Erica has a third baby on the way, so she’s realistic about her goals for the remainder of the year. She’s focused on scheduling things out ahead of time, preparing to spend a little less time working in her business, and filling up her COGS account so that when Q4 hits she isn’t stressed about purchasing inventory.

And the best part is that now she knows exactly how she’s going to make that happen.

If you want to learn more about Erica, the “About Us” page on her website beaheart.com is really exceptional. You can also follow her personal journey on Instagram @EricaTigheCampbell.

RELATED LINKS:

Be A Heart’s Website

www.beaheart.com

instagram.com/beaheartdesign

instagram.com/EricatigheCampbell

3 Things You Can Do To Be More Profitable Today

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/3-things-you-can-do-to-be-more-profitable-today-episode-219/

How To Create Profit Goals

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/

Do This Now And Be More Profitable

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-this-now-and-be-more-profitable-episode-204/

Gross Profit: Will You Take Charge And Pay Yourself More?

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/gross-profit-will-you-take-charge-and-pay-yourself-more-episode-188/

Pricing To Maximize Profit

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/pricing-to-maximize-profit-episode-167/

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New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

or scroll down to get the highlights

Mastering Cash Flow for Six and Seven-Figure Ecommerce Stores

Before we dive in, I want to let you know that this post is especially for store owners with annual sales in the six, seven, or even multi-seven-figure range. It’s also great for those who are on the brink of hitting six figures.

Here’s the backstory: over the past month, I’ve had conversations with four store owners about money. What’s surprising—and it might shock you too—is that out of these four store owners who have annual sales of seven figures or more, three are facing significant cash flow issues.

There’s a common belief that once our sales hit a certain level (insert your dream number here), everything will get easier and money problems will vanish. We chase sales, thinking that reaching that magic number will solve all our problems. But for most store owners, it’s not true. 

I can relate to this personally. In my first business, which I ran for 20 years, I struggled with cash flow for years. It made me feel awful, wore me out, and led to poor decisions. This happened even though my accountant and banker assured me I was doing well and on track. I figured this was just the way business is, that it was normal. But it was truly exhausting.

I’d love to say I’m a genius who just knows all this stuff. But the truth is, everything I’ve learned about financial literacy, I’ve learned the hard way—by doing it. When I started my first business, I avoided looking at the numbers because I didn’t understand them and was maybe a little afraid of what I would find. I didn’t value that part of the business, which led to cash flow problems.

What I wish I had known when I was struggling with cash flow is this: If you’re running a six-figure-plus store and have cash flow problems, it’s a red flag. You need to stop, slow down, and figure out the cause. If you’re nearing six or seven figures, you know how to sell, so there’s a fundamental problem that needs fixing.

The 3 Most Common Causes Of Cash Shortage

• Mounting inventory. Inventory purchases can eat up the cash you need for operating expenses, leaving you short for payroll or rent.
• Debt repayments consuming your operating cash, especially with the ease of obtaining Shopify loans. They solve an immediate problem but take money back quickly, which doesn’t help in the long run.
• You’re not generating enough profit in actual dollars, even if your margins look okay.

What NOT To Do When You’re Short On Cash

When cash is tight, it’s scary. As a problem solver who knows how to sell, your instinct might be to rush to fix the problem. But often, you’re just stopping the immediate issue, and not solving the root cause.

Here are two common mistakes that can make things worse.

• Having a giant sale to generate quick cash.

It might solve your problem temporarily, but it won’t fix the underlying issue and could leave you in worse shape.

• Borrowing more money.
  
  It’s tempting and easy with Shopify Capital, but it’s a band-aid that leads to more debt and less operating cash.

Instead of these quick fixes, address the fundamental problem causing your cash flow crisis.

3 Steps To Fixing Your Cash Problem

Step 1: Set Up a Dedicated Inventory Bank Account

First, set up a separate bank account specifically for your cost of goods. Each week, transfer the cost of your sales into this account. This account should be used exclusively for inventory purchases.

You may need to adjust how you currently manage payments, especially if you’re using a credit card. Determine a percentage of your sales, based on your margin, and deposit that amount into this inventory account every week.

Do not use this account for any other expenses, and avoid purchasing inventory with money that isn’t in this account. This practice helps ensure you’re managing your cash flow effectively and puts you on the path to increased profitability.

Step 2: Quickly Increase Your Business Profit

Next, focus on creating more profit in your business quickly. In episode 219 , I shared some ideas around pricing adjustments and adding a shipping option, both of which can boost your bottom line with minimal effort.

Additionally, if you’re spending heavily on marketing, consider cutting back on those expenses and leveraging the assets you already have. For example, reducing your marketing spend by 20% but increasing the number of emails you send by 20%. Look into collaborations [Learn more in episode 215] where you can acquire customers without incurring high costs.

Make a short list of actionable steps you can take right away to generate more profit and start implementing them.

Step 3: Take Time to Assess and Get Help

Finally, set aside dedicated time to stop running in circles and really examine your financials. Whether it’s for a day or a few days, step off the treadmill and focus on identifying the root of your cash flow problems.

Seek help in pinpointing the issues and discussing strategies to address them. This is where the hard work comes in. Many people resist facing these tough tasks, but remember, you didn’t end up here overnight, and you didn’t get here intentionally. Tackling the hard things now will pay off in a few months, and you’ll be grateful you did.

Get assistance from a professional who understands product-based businesses or from a friend who has been through a similar situation. Whatever you do, ensure you have the support you need because most cash flow problems are fixable, and you deserve to sleep well at night.

Don’t Normalize Struggle

Once you regain stability and predictability in your business and feel financially secure, you’ll be in an even better place. I don’t want to see you struggle. Having been there myself for many years and thinking it was normal, I can tell you it’s not pleasant. It’s critical to slow down and address these issues correctly. You’ll thank yourself later.

Remember, I’m cheering for you. If you know anyone who could benefit from this post, please share it with them.

-Susan

RELATED LINKS:

3 Things You Can Do Today To Be More Profitable

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/3-things-you-can-do-to-be-more-profitable-today-episode-219/

A Lesson On Fixing Your Cash Flow

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/a-lesson-on-fixing-your-cash-flow-episode-166/

Formula For An Easy Collaboration You Can Do This Month

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-formula-for-an-easy-collaboration-you-can-do-this-month-episode-215/

How To Create Profit Goals

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/

How To Get Control Of Your Cash

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-get-control-of-your-episode-158/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

or scroll down to get the highlights

Turning Dreams into Dollars: Your Roadmap to Full-Time Freedom

If you dream of taking your online store from side hustle to full-time gig, this episode is for you.

When I heard that one of our Inner Circle members, Lindzee Barrera had reached the point where she could leave her full time job and turn her full attention to her business Birdie Girl Golf, I knew I had to ask her to share her story with you.

Lindzee caught my attention when she joined us about a year ago. Even though she had a busy job and a young family, I could see she had an organized, systematic approach to turning her side hustle into a Business that pays her well.

I sat down with Lindzee just as she was about to walk away form her corporate job for full time entrepreneurship, and I know that her story will inspire you. 

From Burnout to Birdie Girl Golf

Lindzee was a full-time digital marketer when she founded Birdie Girl in 2022. She had been feeling burned out, but wasn’t interested in moving to another corporate job (or the stress and ladder-climbing that come with it). Feeling stuck and seeking more, Lindzee resolved to channel her creative energy into building a future for her family rather than giving her all to her 9-to-5.

A lifelong golfer herself, she was well aware that golf’s popularity had surged among women during the pandemic. But golf products marketed specifically to women were few and far between. And so Birdie Girl Golf was launched with a single product: a ball marker necklace.

Lindzee quickly realized the market potential for plain ball markers—easy-to-produce items with high margins—and the business grew from there into a full line of women’s golf accessories.

While the marketing side of entrepreneurship came more naturally to Lindzee due to her background, transitioning from B2B digital marketing to B2C consumer ecommerce was new for her. She found that there weren’t many resources available that provided a clear framework for marketing directly to consumers.

When Lindzee joined the Inner Circle a little more than a year ago, her business was making about $10,000 to $15,000 a month in sales. She was thrilled by the positive response to her products, with daily sales and heartwarming stories from women gifting her products to friends and family. But she struggled to figure out what marketing strategies truly worked and where to focus her efforts. She had started running some ads and knew the importance of building an email list from day one, but she wasn’t consistent with her emails and was really just dabbling.

Mom, Marketer, Mogul: How Lindzee Got To $15K Months

Lindzee has two small kids and a husband who supports her goals, but she had to be laser-focused on time management to get it all done. She would wake up every morning at 5 a.m. and spend about an hour and a half on her priorities. Email was a non-negotiable task because it generated significant revenue and kept her connected with her audience. She also aimed to post on social media daily, doing the bare minimum due to time constraints.

In the first year, Lindzee packed orders herself. Once orders reached about 20 per day, she transitioned to a 3PL, following advice from a podcast to get her books in order and prepare for scaling. Customer service was also a top priority; she was committed to  addressing customer issues promptly, and to making things right.

But what got Lindzee to $15k in monthly sales was her focus on marketing activities right from the start. She prioritized tasks that brought the most impact – consistent email, and daily social media posting. Any extra time she had, she dedicated to Inner Circle trainings, learning and improving her business.

Lindzee was off to a strong start, but joined the Inner Circle because she needed to know what to do next to scale her business. With so many resources available in the classroom, and given her limited time, she had to decide what to focus on during the hours she could steal from her vacation for training.

Unlike other marketing courses she had taken, the Inner Circle “Big Picture” training simplified the sales funnel, so she could see clearly where to focus her time just by looking at her numbers. She took advantage of 1:1 calls with the Inner Circle coaches and experts to direct her energy towards only what would move the needle: scaling her ads, improving her email strategy, and improving customer retention. 

“What I really like [about working with Inner Circle coaches] is when people are honest with me. Because I feel like you’re just being nice about what I’m doing, but they’re like, you know what, you could be doing this better. And I really appreciate that.”

The Big Leap: Quitting the Corporate Job

Lindzee’s next (and biggest) move was to quit her corporate job. We’re talking about years of security, a reliable paycheck, vacation pay, and probably some health insurance. How did she know she was ready to make that leap?

Despite admittedly not giving her corporate job her all, Lindzee was promoted to a more demanding position. Around the same time, she attended a PGA show in Orlando, got accepted as an inventor, and her sales skyrocketed from wholesale. February was a record month, followed by even better sales in March and April. 

Lindzee had already started taking a paycheck from her business in February, which helped her focus on her business’s profitability. (This financial preparation ensured that her business could support her paycheck, even in the slow season.) And although she had been in her corporate role for 15 years, and they took good care of her,  she realized she was burnt out and ready for a change.

She says one practice that mentally prepared her for the leap was scheduling “white space” into her week. This is time and space without distractions—no kids asking for dinner, no business tasks—just existing and thinking. Taking a step back helps you see things more clearly and determine what’s truly important.

With the space to think deeply about what she could and could not let go of, Lindzee quickly saw that she was ready to spread her wings.

She also advises ensuring financial security first. If you’re financially stable, have steady growth rates, and your books are in order, you’re in a good position to consider leaving your job.

Knowing your numbers is crucial. Lindzee admits that understanding financials wasn’t second nature to her. She didn’t have her books in order before joining the Inner Circle. Listening to podcasts and following Ciara Stockeland helped her learn about paying herself and managing inventory, which gave her the confidence she needed to strike out on her own.

Building Bigger: Lindsay’s Future Plans

While Lindzee has been working hard to get her net profitability to a staggering 35% (and that’s after she pays herself!!!) her next goal is to improve that even more. She also aims to establish better processes to make things easier, especially for email and social media. Collaborations have been successful, so she wants to do more of those. Her focus is on refining what’s working and eliminating what’s not. Getting her house in order is her primary objective, along with completing her Reliable Revenue training, where she’ll implement an automated email marketing system that will generate sales in the background with very little effort on her part.

Lindsay’s Playbook for Success

Lindzee’s advice to others is to keep it simple. Follow the funnel, know your numbers, and things will start to come together. Identify your gaps and outsource when necessary. For example, although she handled Google ads at her corporate job, she hired coach Leona to run her Google ads for her business. Outsourcing high-touch, repetitive tasks frees up time for her to manage the business.

She also emphasizes that learning how things work initially is essential. Having a grasp of the various aspects of the business helps in managing it effectively. However, doing everything yourself can hinder your vision for the business because you’d be too busy with tasks.

The Inner Circle’s approach of teaching members to fish, rather than doing everything for them, is invaluable. It equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge to run their businesses successfully. Working with ad agencies and consultancy firms is more effective when you can question their methods and understand the processes involved. 

To learn more about Lindzee and her inspiring journey, visit Birdie Girl Golf’s website at birdiegirlgolf.com. Or connect with Lindzee on Instagram at @birdiegirlgolf, where she regularly posts updates and engages with her community.

RELATED LINKS:

Birdie Girl Golf’s website: birdiegirlgolf.com
How To Create Profit Goals: https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/
We’re Getting Consistent Revenue Now: https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/were-getting-consistent-revenue-now-episode-202/
ToyCycle’s Sales Have Doubled Due To This One Monthly Marketing Task: https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/toycycles-sales-have-blossomed-from-1-monthly-marketing-task-episode-211/
How To Grow To Multi Six Figures When You’re Strapped For Time: https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-grow-to-multi-6-figures-when-youre-strapped-for-time-episode-45/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

or scroll down to get the highlights

How Consistency and Focus Transformed Wendy’s Online Business

A few weeks ago I was in the Inner Circle group and I saw a comment on a post. The “poster” was asking for some encouragement that it was possible to reach her sales goals. One of the comments stopped me in my tracks. When I read Wendy’s comment about how she doubled her sales last year – and she broke it down into steps – I knew I had to share it with you!

I’m so thrilled to finally chat with Wendy Aughe, founder of Log Cabin Vintage, face to face. Log Cabin Vintage is an online children’s bookshop with a mission to reconnect people with the books they loved as kids, and she’s passionate about helping people find and share those beloved books with their own children and grandchildren.

Wendy’s journey hasn’t been a straight line; initially, she sold vintage home decor. And while it may seem counterintuitive, she had much bigger success niching down to just children’s books than when she sold to a broader audience.

Wendy’s Big Pivot

In 2014, Wendy started selling vintage home decor on Instagram, gradually expanding her business to Etsy, local markets, and antique stores. After growing frustrated with Etsy, Wendy decided to take control by launching her own website. For about a year, she continued selling vintage home decor on her site. But the constant struggle of packaging and shipping large items made her rethink her business model. Aafter spending an hour building a box one afternoon, her husband suggested something that seemed impossible at the time– ditch the big items altogether and focus on books exclusively.

An avid reader all her life, Wendy had  always enjoyed finding children’s books the most, so after some consideration she took her husband’s advice and decided to specialize in vintage children’s books.

This niche focus turned out to be a smart move. Wendy noticed that there were very few booksellers solely dedicated to children’s books online. While many booksellers carried children’s books, hardly any specialized in them.

By narrowing her focus, Wendy carved out a unique space in the market, leading to greater success and satisfaction in her business.

A Methodical Approach to Success

Wendy’s superpower is that she is incredibly consistent and focused. She picks a goal and sticks to it, and this methodical, step-by-step approach has unlocked success for her new venture.

When she first started her business, Wendy had no idea how to run a Shopify store or manage emails. Coming from Etsy, where everything is done-for-you and sellers have little control over their own brands, she faced a steep learning curve when launching her own website. There was so much to learn.

To avoid overwhelm, Wendy broke everything down step by step. She admits there were times she felt frustrated and tempted by “shiny objects”— distractions that make you want to jump ship and try something new. But she always stayed focused on her goals, understanding that success doesn’t come from the first attempt (and sometimes not even from the second or third.) Wendy believes in doing things repeatedly until she gets it right.

She rebuilt her website not once, but twice—first for vintage home decor and then again when she shifted to selling books. This repeated effort gave her plenty of practice rebuilding and adapting her business. 

Wendy’s Secret Weapon: 1:1 Coaching

Wendy’s other secret weapon is getting help when she needs it. Many of our Inner Circle members hesitate to book coaching calls because they don’t know what to talk about or ask. But Wendy started booking calls early on, initially with Claudia (our email marketing coach). Wendy didn’t have time to learn everything at once, so rather than wasting time figuring out her email  service provider, she focused on listing products and getting them up for sale while Claudia worked on her email templates.

With Claudia’s help, Wendy got two master email templates designed with her branding. And Claudia didn’t just create the templates; she also showed Wendy how to use them, even filming the training sessions as part of their coaching calls.

How Regular Coaching Sessions Keep Wendy on the Fast Track to Success 

As Wendy narrowed her focus to vintage children’s books, she realized she needed regular guidance to stay on track. Enter Coach Tina, who meets with Wendy every two weeks, assigns tasks, and reviews her ads to ensure they’re running effectively. Tina helps Wendy by creating a game plan, telling her which Inner Circle trainings to prioritize and which steps to take next.

Wendy doesn’t have to prepare extensively for these calls. She simply outlines her goals and asks for help in creating a plan to achieve them. This approach helps manage her expectations and provides clear direction for where to focus her time and efforts.

From 25 to 200 Web Visitors a Day: How Wendy 10x’d Her Traffic

When Wendy first started, she was getting only about 25 web visitors a day. It was a real struggle—hardly anyone knew about her shop or what her business was about. With such low traffic, making sales was nearly impossible.

Despite having been an Inner Circle member for a while, Wendy had avoided Facebook ads for a long time.

But after completing our Big Picture Training and reviewing her numbers for the past month to identify gaps in her sales funnel, she had an aha moment. She needed a bigger audience if she had any hope of meeting her sales goals.

This is where tools like a brand video become essential for audience building – the video reaches a large audience, and then a second retargeting ad drives traffic to your site, which can significantly boost your numbers. Using these strategies, Wendy almost 10xed her traffic (and doubled her sales).

On track to double her sales again this year, Wendy finds it exciting to compare year-over-year progress. Even if day-to-day numbers feel stagnant, looking at sales data from the same month last year shows just how far she’s come. For example, by the 17th of the current month, she had already tripled her sales compared to last April.

And the butter to her paid marketing bread? Email.

Alongside her paid ads, Wendy is diligently building her email list and sending them campaigns weekly. She’s also in the process of creating automated flows that will keep her subscribers looped in with very little effort on her part.

Even though she’s got a lot to stay on top of, Wendy is the first to say that the weekly effort is paying off.

Wendy tries to limit product-listing to one or two hours a day to avoid getting distracted from other essential tasks. She emphasizes that marketing should always come first, not last. This disciplined approach helps her maintain steady growth and achieve her business goals.

The Biggest Win Of All: Wendy Is Paying Herself Now

Rather than waiting to hit specific sales goals or order numbers each month, Wendy has started paying herself a percentage of her gross profit each month. Whereas before, she would only take money out of her business sporadically, usually for personal expenses like her daughter’s summer camp or braces. Now, she sets aside 25% of her gross sales every month into a money market account. She’s saving up for a big dream, but after a chat with her mentor, Tina, she realized that if she didn’t start saving now, her dream would never become a reality.

Using a percentage to determine her pay took the pressure off hitting specific financial targets and made the habit of paying herself much easier. She recommends starting small, even with just 10%, and adjust as you feel more comfortable.

Wendy also continues to invest in her business growth through things like personal development and keeping her membership in the Inner Circle active. Nurturing her business’s growth while still enjoying the rewards of her hard work helps keep Wendy motivated and ensures both she and her business are financially healthy.

Advice Wendy Would Give to Her 2021 Self

Wendy says that if she could go back and chat with her 2021 self, she’d tell her to pivot sooner. Back then, she was worried about losing her audience if she switched from vintage decor to books. But after making the switch, she realized that while some followers did drift away, many who loved vintage decor also loved using books to decorate their spaces.

She also began to discover her true audience—people passionate about collecting books or those seeking to reconnect with beloved books from their childhood. These are the folks who had cherished memories tied to these books, perhaps ones they lost or that were damaged over time.

Wendy would also be less afraid to seek help. She now believes in the power of coaching calls for gaining insights and support, which at first she hesitated to take advantage of. Getting consistent advice from experienced coaches has made a huge difference, fast-tracking her progress and helping her stay accountable.

What’s Next For Wendy

Wendy recently launched her YouTube channel and plans to create more content throughout the year. She’s excited to continue growing her sales and expand her business’s reach to the homeschooling community looking to add depth to their curriculum with classic literature.

Wendy is eager to dive into this niche, although she acknowledges she has a bit to learn about the community and their needs. Most importantly, Wendy is careful not to rush into it. She’s focused on making sure her business’s current operations are smooth and effective before branching out.

Wendy believes in ensuring everything is running well before taking on new challenges.

Consistency Is Your Compass

Wendy’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of consistency and the value of steady, incremental progress. Each step she has taken, whether pivoting her business model, expanding into new markets, or diving into social media ads, reflects her commitment to moving forward thoughtfully and deliberately. Wendy’s willingness to seek guidance through coaching and to adapt her strategies based on what she learns has significantly contributed to her growth.

By putting one foot in front of the other and knowing when to seek help, Wendy continues to build a sustainable and flourishing business. Her story is a lesson to all online store owners to embrace consistency as their compass and to recognize that sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race.

RELATED LINKS:

Log Cabin Vintage

How Many “Eyeballs” See Your Product?

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-many-eyeballs-see-your-products-get-past-this-roadblock-to-success-episode-175/

Here’s How To Find Your Future Buyers

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/heres-how-to-find-your-future-buyers-episode-206/

What Happens When You Put Marketing First

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-happens-when-you-put-marketing-first-episode-198/

Build A Massive Audience With A Brand Video

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/build-a-massive-audience-with-a-brand-video-episode-162/

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GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

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Joining Forces: The Magic of Brand Collaboration

If you’ve been around The Social Sales Girls long, you know that we’re all about traffic. Driving new eyeballs to our websites and converting them to customers. In the Inner Circle our students learn all about how to identify their ideal audience and how to leverage social media, SEO strategies, and paid ads to bring those people in.

But what if I told you there’s a SHORTCUT?

A way to reach your perfect audience, without spending a dime? We call it “collaboration” and our Member Success Coach Tina Bar-On is our resident expert on this strategy that will introduce your brand to folks who might never have stumbled upon it otherwise, boost your site traffic and, grow your email list with engaged, potential customers.

Back in episode 120 Tina told us about her year of monthly collaborations. Initially, she wasn’t blown away by the results—some collaborations seemed to fizzle out. But when she looked back and really analyzed the data, the outcome was impressive. From all those collaborations, Tina ended up growing her email list by thousands. What’s more, these weren’t just any subscribers; they had a phenomenal 5% conversion rate, with several making multiple purchases. This was a prime audience that really resonated with the ethos of shopping small and valued her brand’s unique qualities.

The big takeaway from Tina’s experience? Even if in the moment a collaboration doesn’t feel like a win, the cumulative effect can be significant.

How Collaborations Can Multiply Your Sales Opportunities

A brand collaboration is basically teaming up with another business to help each other reach more people and grow. It’s about pooling your resources—like your audiences and your marketing platforms—to give each other a boost. You could share each other’s social media posts, promote each other’s products, or even team up for a joint giveaway.

The idea is to introduce your brand to folks who trust and buy from your collaboration partner, leveraging their credibility to gain new followers or customers. And here’s why I think every single online store owner should be embracing collaboration: you’re not shelling out big bucks for ads, you’re using what you both already have to reach a wider audience. It’s like getting a friend to vouch for you, making new potential customers feel more at ease checking you out since someone they already trust thinks you’re great.

Blueprint for Success: Crafting Your Collaboration Strategy Step-by-Step

Here’s how Tina likes to roll out a collab. She starts with a couple of teaser posts on Facebook, her go-to platform. She’ll drop hints like, “Hey, something cool’ss on the way!” and maybe show off a pic of a favorite product from her collab partner’s collection, or their logo to stir up some interest.

Next, she dives into a full week of sharing their products and content. She might post their brand video, a cool discount code they’ve given just for her audience, and she’ll send out some emails to spread the word. But she keeps it to a limited time—no more than a week or a week and a half. Then it’s back to business as usual, focusing on her own store.

What Tina loves about this method is that it’s quick and impactful. We know people need to hear a message a few times before they act on it, so packing it into a short burst helps drive that message home. It might seem like a lot to share their content for a whole week, but it’s effective.

Tina doesn’t make any new content; she uses what her partner already has. She’ll browse through their feed, pick things that align with what her audience likes, and share those. She might add a personal touch like, “Check out this amazing behind-the-scenes look at how this jewelry is made—I think you’ll find it as cool as I do!”

Since it’s Tina sharing, people who know and trust her taste get that extra nudge to check out what she’s recommending.

Keep it simple at the start. This makes everything less intimidating, and you’ll feel good knocking out those smaller wins, which amps you up to take on more.

What’s Stopping You? Common Barriers To Collaboration

Each month in the Inner Circle we have focused training in the classroom. And as part of that monthly theme, we host a live call with two of our coaches where students can ask questions, meet other members (and potential partners), and start to plan out their monthly activities. Our focus in April was collaborations, and on the live call, Tina was able to hear firsthand some of the barriers that store owners encounter when trying out this strategy.

Here’s how you can tackle some common hang-ups that make collaborating feel tougher than it is:

Hang-Up 1: Finding the right partner

Issue: Many store owners struggle to identify collaboration partners because they think they need to be selling something similar.

Solution: When you’re on the lookout for a collaboration partner, keep it straightforward and easy. Start by finding common ground. For example, if you’re independent store owners, that’s a great starting point because you’re likely attracting customers who aren’t just hunting for the cheapest deal—they’re not your typical big box store shoppers. They’re looking for something unique, something that big retailers don’t offer.

It’s also smart to partner with someone who serves the same geographic area as you do (i.e. find stores who ship to the same countries as you do). This way, your audiences are more likely to overlap, which can make logistics and marketing smoother.

Sometimes, people worry about potential partners being too similar to their own brand. But remember, each brand has its unique story. Tina sells artisan-made home decor and jewelry, and she’s successfully partnered with other jewelry shops, vintage bookstores, and even food stores. It works because both shops’ offerings connect with different facets of our customers’ interests.

In the end, it’s all about getting your brand in front of new eyes. Focus on shared interests and values rather than worrying too much about product overlap or audience size. Let the audience decide what resonates with them. Keep it simple, and you’ll find the right partners who can help you reach new customers and grow your business.

Hang-Up 2: Feeling Too Small to Play

Issue: If your social media following is small, you might think you’re not a good enough partner for a collab.

Solution: It’s all about quality, not quantity. Even if your follower count isn’t massive, every store owner struggles with what to post that will delight their audience. Can you create a post for them that has great photos? Can you tell a story that will get their customers laughing or excited about what you do? Do you have a stellar brand video they could share? That’s what your partner and their audience will value most, not the size of your audience.

Hang-Up 3: Fair Play Fears

Issue: Worrying about whether it’s a fair trade if your new collab buddy has a smaller list or fewer followers can stall you before you even start.

Solution: Think generosity over reciprocity. It’s not about matching up stats—it’s about mutual growth and reaching new customers. If it really bugs you, the store with the larger list can send only to a segment that’s equal to the size of your list. But remember, this is more about helping each other out than keeping score.

Hang-Up 4: Making Mountains Out of Molehills

Issue: Overthinking every little detail? That’s a surefire way to never get past the planning phase.

Solution: Start with something small and simple. Share each other’s posts, team up for a mini-event, or swap blog features. Get a feel for working together on little things before you dive into anything too deep.

“When you start out, just get it done, done is better than perfect. And success really just looks like, okay, I did it. My products in front of a whole new engaged audience. Somebody has shared my story on social media.”

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: Measuring Success

When your collaboration has ended and you’re evaluating whether it was a hit or miss, here’s what you should consider:

• Did They Deliver? Check if your partner did everything they promised. It’s all about whether they stuck to the plan.
• Communication Check: Did you guys manage to have a post-collab chat? It’s good to talk things through—what went well, what didn’t, and learn from each other.
• Repeat Potential: Is this someone you’d be keen to team up with again? If you’re nodding yes, that’s a pretty good sign it went well.
• Engagement Metrics: Did your links get clicks? How about the emails they sent out—did those drive traffic your way? These numbers can tell you a lot about the practical impact of the collab.

Before you dive into more complex projects like giveaways, these are the basics to nail down. They give you a solid idea of whether you’re on the right track for future successful collaborations with this partner.

And if a collaboration doesn’t pan out, don’t stress over it. You always end up learning something valuable. Maybe you find out that the product or brand just didn’t click with your audience, or perhaps the strategy you chose wasn’t the best approach. Next time, you might try tossing in an extra email or maybe including a discount to see if that spices things up.

Sometimes, it turns out the person you chose to collaborate with isn’t the right fit, and that’s totally fine. Don’t just throw in the towel and decide collaborations aren’t for you. Keep pushing, keep trying. Here’s the thing: it’s a numbers game. It’s all about taking action and getting your brand in front of new eyes. The more you do, the better your chances of striking gold.

How Often Should You Collaborate?

Tina has a pretty big network, so she collaborates every two or three months. But if you’re just starting out, aiming for at least two collaborations a year is a solid beginning. And if you click with someone awesome, why not suggest another collaboration the following month?

Remember, it’s all about spotting opportunities. Whenever you meet another brand or store owner, think about whether they could be a good fit for a collaboration. Open up that conversation! And if they’re not already in the know—like not part of your usual circle—you might need to spell out what collaborating involves because sometimes people assume it’s going to be a huge deal.

Realistically, you could collaborate as often as once a month if you’re up for it and have partners lined up. It should definitely be part of your content strategy. After all, it’s about getting more eyes on your products without extra costs—purely a numbers game. So, don’t hold back. The more you do, the more your audience and traffic will grow!

How Do You Nurture Collab Leads?

Treat them just like you would any other contact, it’s as simple as that. Sometimes we overthink it and start creating all these complex rules—like if someone came through a popup, they need a certain type of message, or if they came through another route, they need a different approach.

But here’s the thing: these are all warm leads. They’ve shown interest; they’ve opted in. So just loop them into your regular communications. Send them the same engaging content and brand stories you send to everyone else on your list. Keep it straightforward and consistent. Whatever you think they should know about your brand, that’s what you should be sharing right from the start.

Get Over Yourself And Collaborate!

I know I’m a broken record about this strategy, but I really encourage you to just dive in and start. Don’t let anything hold you back. Find a partner without overthinking it. If you’re part of our Inner Circle, you’ve got a pool of potential partners right at your fingertips. Decide what you’re going to swap—maybe a story, a brand video, or something cool like “Tina’s favorites” or your own version of that. Settle on what you’ll exchange and when, and then just give it a shot.

Try it out and stick with it for a while. You’ll see how all those small steps add up over the year. And the best part? It’s not just about business growth. This is also about connection. E-commerce can be a lonely place, but through collaboration, you end up making friends, learning new things, maybe picking up a tip or two.

RELATED LINKS:

Organic Results That Will Shock You (Tina’s Year Of Collaboration)

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/a-year-of-results-that-will-shock-you-episode-120/

The Story of A Profitable Makers Collaboration

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-story-of-a-profitable-makers-collaboration-episode-30/

How To Use Collaborations To Get Traffic And Sales

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-use-collaborations-to-get-traffic-and-sales-episode-18/

Think Out Of The Box For Organic Growth

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/think-out-of-the-box-for-organic-growth-with-suzi-dafnis-episode-101/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.