Podcast Summary: Art + Audience - Ep. 08: Scaling Up: From 30 Shops to 170 - With Rebecca Woolbright
Introduction
In Episode 08 of Art + Audience, host Stacie Bloomfield welcomes Rebecca Woolbright, a remarkable artist whose business has soared from supplying 30 shops to an impressive 170. This episode delves into Rebecca’s entrepreneurial journey, the strategies she employed to scale her art business, and the pivotal decisions that transformed her approach to art licensing and sales.
Rebecca’s Journey: From Humble Beginnings to a Thriving Art Business
Rebecca Woolbright shares her initial foray into the art business during the challenging times of 2020. Balancing her role as a snorkel shop owner on Maui with her passion for art, Rebecca found solace in creating washi tape inspired by her honeymoon in Japan. Struggling with creating patterns and building a portfolio, she ventured into sending personalized emails to stores, hoping to break into the wholesale market.
“I knew I wasn’t ready for licensing yet, so I built a product-based business to gain confidence and build my portfolio.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [05:56]
The Challenge of Scaling as a Solopreneur
As a solo entrepreneur and a new mother, Rebecca faced the daunting task of managing every aspect of her business alone. The manual process of researching buyers, crafting individualized emails, and following up was time-consuming and overwhelming, especially while balancing family life.
“I was spending so much time writing perfectly crafted emails and following up that I felt like I couldn’t keep up, especially while nursing a baby.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [00:49]
Stacie highlights the common struggle among artists of wearing multiple hats, especially the intimidating aspect of sales and outreach.
“Everyone is terrified of the sales part. It’s vulnerable to send pitch emails and face potential rejection.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [07:36]
The Power of Automation: Transforming Rebecca’s Business
Rebecca discovered automation as a game-changer. Introducing Google Streak, a free Gmail plugin, she was able to create templated emails and schedule follow-ups effortlessly. This shift from manual emailing to automated systems allowed her to save precious time and focus on expanding her reach.
“Automation is a magical word where you can do something once and then put it on repeat, doing it again and again.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [07:37]
Implementing automation not only streamlined her pitching process but also significantly increased her outreach capacity.
“After setting up automation, my time freed up, allowing me to research more stores and grow my list to 170 shops.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [10:33]
Lessons Learned: Scaling Up and Effective Pitching
Rebecca emphasizes the importance of viewing pitching as a numbers game. Consistent and systematic follow-ups increase the chances of securing contracts. Her initial strategy of pitching five stores a week grew to 25, demonstrating the exponential benefits of automation.
“If you can imagine sending one templated email to three shops and scheduling follow-ups, it opens up so much time and potential.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [23:40]
Stacie adds that automation should be the first step before considering more expensive methods like trade shows, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
“Automation is the least expensive option because you are leveraging the tools you already have to maximize your outreach.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [17:50]
Mindset Shifts and Setting Boundaries
A significant part of Rebecca’s success stems from her mindset adjustments. Overcoming the fear of rejection and setting personal boundaries to manage thoughts and prevent overthinking were crucial. By detaching emotionally from each pitch and trusting the process, she maintained focus and resilience.
“I would just say to stop thinking about it. You have to try it. The only way to know is to take action.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [24:46]
Rebecca also shares her experience of setting boundaries to avoid distractions, such as not checking emails during personal time, which further enhanced her productivity and mental well-being.
“I set a boundary to not check my emails on weekends, which helped me stay focused and reduce stress.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [29:11]
Conclusion and Advice for Artists
Stacie and Rebecca conclude with valuable advice for artists looking to scale their businesses. Rebecca encourages artists to embrace automation tools and persist through fear and rejection, emphasizing that consistent effort leads to growth.
“If you have products that aren’t selling, try sending templated emails to a few shops and automate the follow-ups. It’s a simple yet effective way to scale.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [24:13]
Rebecca invites listeners to explore her class on automation and scaling available at manufactureawesome.com, providing a resource for artists to implement similar strategies in their businesses.
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace Automation: Tools like Google Streak can drastically reduce time spent on manual tasks, allowing for greater outreach and business growth.
- Consistent Pitching: Treat pitching as a numbers game. Regular and systematic follow-ups increase the likelihood of securing contracts.
- Mindset Matters: Overcome the fear of rejection by detaching emotionally from each pitch and maintaining a resilient mindset.
- Set Boundaries: Protect personal time by setting boundaries around work tasks, such as limiting email checks to specific times.
- Leverage Resources: Utilize available resources and classes to learn and implement effective business strategies.
Notable Quotes:
-
“Automation is a magical word where we can just make something once and then put it on repeat and do it again and again.”
— Stacie Bloomfield [07:37] -
“I thought automation was something only big corporations could afford, but it turned out to be the perfect solution for my small business.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [15:41] -
“If you don’t put yourself out there, nobody knows your existence. Consistent effort is key.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [18:51] -
“Stop thinking about it. You have to try it. The only way to know is if you try it.”
— Rebecca Woolbright [24:46]
Resources Mentioned:
- Rebecca Woolbright’s Class on Automation: Available at manufactureawesome.com, the class titled "Automate and Scale" offers comprehensive guidance on implementing automation in art businesses.
- Stacey Bloomfield’s Membership Programs: Including Leverage Your Art and Creative Powerhouse Society, designed to help artists build and scale their businesses.
This episode of Art + Audience provides insightful strategies for artists aiming to scale their businesses efficiently. Rebecca Woolbright’s journey underscores the transformative power of automation, disciplined pitching, and a resilient mindset in achieving substantial growth.