Everyday I hear from product-based business owners who are curious about other people’s business models, their teams, their tech-stack, how much revenue they are earning and what other product business owners pay themselves.

And although we know that every business is different, it is natural to want to see behind the curtain of other brands in your industry.

But it is more than curiosity. 

We know the industry has experienced major shifts over the last several years. Everyone has been pivoting and recalibrating.

We're experiencing new normals.

You need to know what’s happening in our industry.

So, the Proof to Product team decided to take an industry-wide temperature check.

And, 925 product based businesses owners answered the call, anonymously sharing their business details with us for the 2024 State of the Product Industry Report

My goal when joining the Proof to Product Mastermind was to build the wholesale arm of my stationery business. Two months in, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States, forcing many small businesses to close their doors and the economy to take a worrisome dip. I needed to redirect my immediate focus. Had I not been a part of the Mastermind group, I know my confidence and my ability to react with clarity would have suffered. Yet instead of floundering, I was inspired by our coach, Katie’s ideas for actionable steps, and her wise advice to do what felt right for my business, once I felt ready. Katie’s reassurance, plus the ability to speak openly with our group, helped prevent me from spiraling in a time of high stress and uncertainty. It allowed me to sit with our current circumstances and take everything in, then move forward. The biggest help for me was to embrace connection, reach out for support, and offer it back in return. All while giving myself some time and grace. The Mastermind group gave me the perfect outlet to do so, and then to take the same approach within my business.

Francesca Fuges was in the process of launching her business Loudhouse Creative when she came to Paper Camp.

 She knew she wanted to sell wholesale and exhibit at the National Stationery Show the following year but she needed help developing her product line, building her sales tools and preparing for the show.

 In her scholarship application for Paper Camp, Francesca set her sights high sharing that Paper Source was one of her dream stores that she hoped to work with one day.

Meet Ariel of Woodsy Foxman. She's one of our Paper Camp alums!

Ariel's dream store was located too far away for her to connect in person, so she wrote a handwritten, personalized note and sent a few extra samples since she didn't a physical catalog.

She followed up a week later via email and the buyer wrote back gushing about the samples and placed an order right away.

It took Ariel three touch points (snail mail, email and connecting on social media) to get the sale and now the store re-orders month.

When Alex Gagné from Chez Gagné came to Paper Camp, she had been in business for just under 2 years and had created a collection of 80 greeting cards.

She knew that wholesale was her end game, so she soaked up a ton of info at Paper Camp; then went home and put what she learned into action sourcing new products, reaching out to buyers and streamlining her processes.

Within one year of coming to Paper Camp, Alex’s hard work and hustle landed her products in more than 500 stores, including Paper Source.

About two years ago, Paper Camp alum Inklings Paperie was exhibiting at NY NOW for the first time, in a shared booth and on a bootstrap budget.

Inklings Founder and Creative Director Lindsay Henry happened to get to talking with a kind person at that trade show...who happened to be the Brand Manager of Global Merchandise for Starbucks.

In the paper industry, many brands look to the National Stationery Show to serve as their wholesale debut. It’s a great place to meet buyers, get feedback on your products and build relationships with press, reps and other designers. It's where I launched my wholesale line in 2009.

However, this isn't the only way to launch your wholesale brand.

Many thriving businesses are introducing their product line to buyers outside of shows and doing it successfully. A great example of this is Paper Camp Alum, E. Frances Paper.