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Kickstarter Wins, Manufacturing Nightmares and a Sink Brush That Broke the Internet: The YesECO Story with Jamie Phillips

Today I’m chatting with Jamie Phillips, founder of Yeseco, creator of the magnetic dish brush that completely changed the way thousands of people deal with their sink situation. His journey? Wild. Beautiful. Painful. Product-founder AF.

Jamie takes us through everything, including:
• the moment on a remote beach in Indonesia that changed his entire career
• why his first eco-friendly range worked but also didn’t work
• the messy truth of manufacturing a brand-new invention
• how he used Kickstarter to validate demand AND fund a very expensive mold process
• what 12,000+ customers taught him about product design
• why retail and DTC must work together (and how he balances both)
• his big mistakes, biggest lessons, and why perseverance beats everything
• what launching Version 2 looks like (spoiler: it’s live now)

Jamie is honest, generous, and gives you a real look at what actual product development looks like behind the scenes. If you’re a maker, product founder, wholesaler or inventor, you’ll want to take notes.

LINKS:
👉 Explore YesECO: https://yeseco.life

👉 Support the YesECO V2 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yeseco/yeseco-v2

👉 Follow me on Instagram: @thelotco

If you want to build a profitable product business you LOVE (without the burnout and chaos), come join me inside my Roadmap to Profit program. Details at thelotco.com.au.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

You’ve landed your dream retailer. Your products are on the shelf. Now what?
Most brands think their job is done once they’ve been stocked, but that’s just the beginning. In this episode, I break down the three stages of post-delivery success that turn a one-off wholesale order into consistent reorders (and loyal retail partners who sell your products for you).

You’ll Learn:
✨ Why getting stocked is just the start line, not the finish line
✨ How to support your retailers with marketing assets, education, and storytelling tools
✨ Simple ways to drive foot traffic and visibility for your stockists (without hurting your own online sales)
✨ How to build lasting relationships with buyers and retail staff that lead to repeat orders
✨ Why scarcity thinking is holding your brand back and how abundance thinking grows both sides

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Transform Your Wholesale Program: Learn how to get stocked (and stay stocked!) → thelotco.com.au/wholesale
  
  
• Free Wholesale Guide: Download your free copy →here https://thelotco.myflodesk.com/wholesaletips
  
  
• Book Mentioned: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Roadmap to Profit Program waitlist is here.

Join my Product Business Growth Club here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Welcome back to thelotco Business Podcast, I’m Melissa Robbins, your product-based business coach, retail strategist, and founder of thelotco.

After 25 years in the industry, I’ve seen behind the scenes of hundreds of brands and retailers and here’s what I know for sure: if your sales aren’t where you want them to be, it’s not your product.

Last week, we talked about why your product probably isn’t the problem when sales feel slow.
This week, we’re talking about the fix.

Because if you’re showing up online, posting Reels, and doing “all the right things,” but your sales still feel unpredictable it’s not because you’re bad at business. It’s because you’re relying on the wrong system.

In this episode, I dive into:

• Why Instagram is amazing for attention, but terrible for consistent sales
• The difference between visibility and conversion
• Why email marketing is your secret weapon for predictable profit
• How to set up simple systems that sell for you (even while you sleep)

I’ll also share stories from real founders who went from slow weeks to steady sales — all by turning email into their most profitable channel.

And I share real client stories of what changed when they shifted from posting more to building smarter systems.

If you’re ready to stop relying on algorithms and start building consistent, reliable sales this episode is your next step.

🎧 Tune in now and grab your freebie: 15 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website
.
And if you’re ready to make email your most profitable sales channel, join me for the Nail Your Email Marketing Live Series — we start Wednesday, November 5th! Details at thelotco.com.au/nailyouremail

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

If you’ve ever said, “My product is so good… why isn’t it selling?” then this episode is for you.

I’ve been getting message after message about this one since I sent an email earlier in the week, so I knew I had to dive deeper on the podcast.

The thing is, having a great product isn’t enough anymore. You need attention, anticipation, and action to turn your product into consistent sales.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• Why your amazing product isn’t selling (and what to do about it)
• The Product Attachment Loop that keeps founders stuck
• How to shift your mindset from “selling is pushy” to “selling is helping”
• What “building anticipation” actually looks like before a new launch
• Why showing up across multiple platforms matters more than ever
• And how clarity, confidence, and consistency create conversions

Whether you’re a maker, brand founder, or retailer, this episode will help you step out from behind the scenes, sell unapologetically, and start marketing your product like a pro.

Because your business needs more than a beautiful product, it needs visibility, storytelling, and you showing up again and again until people finally get how brilliant your offer is.

What You’ll Learn:

✨ How to stop perfecting and start promoting
✨ How to sell without feeling salesy or pushy
✨ How to build anticipation and momentum before your next launch
✨ How to multiply your reach by showing up in more than one place
✨ Why visibility builds trust and trust builds sales

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get More Sales
  — my special bundle to help you show up in more ways and sell with confidence
• The Product Business Growth Club
  — my membership for ongoing support, ideas, and accountability
• DM me “sales” on Instagram @thelotco
  to get my free Sales Clarity Prompts

Take Action:

After you listen, screenshot this episode and tag me @thelotco

Tell me — what’s one way you’re going to show up and sell differently this week?

Let’s make your next product drop your most profitable o

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my 20+ year journey with Life Instyle — from exhibiting her own kidswear brand Moppit, to becoming a buyer, educator, speaker, sponsor, and now judge for the Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship.

How we helped shape the Kids Instyle section, the lessons learned from decades in the trade show world, and the incredible opportunities that open up when you take action — even before you feel ready.

If you’re a product-based founder with big dreams of getting your products into stores, this episode will inspire you to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start applying for the opportunities that could change your business forever.

You’ll Learn:

• How trade shows like Life Instyle can transform a product business
• The story behind the Kids Instyle section and my 20-year involvement
• Why you should apply for the Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship (and how to know if you’re eligible)
• What judges are actually looking for in applicants
• The biggest mindset shift that separates brands that grow from those that stay stuck
• Life Instyle New Breed Scholarship (Applications close October 16th)
  → Prize includes a $10,000 value stand, exposure, mentorship, and more.
• Export Development Grant and other government funding options for product-based businesses

Links & Resources:

• Apply for the Life Instyle Scholarship here.
  
  
• Learn more about wholesale with my free training: thelotco.com/buildingawholesalesalemachine
  
  
• Join the Product Business Growth Club for mentorship + support
• Explore the Roadmap to Profit Program to grow your product business to consistent $50K months

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

A Melbourne winter. A real gap in kids’ wool headwear. A founder with a finance brain and a product heart. That is how Acorn Kids began. In this episode, Fiona Savaris shares how a winter beanie line turned into a year-round headwear brand that stockists love, why wholesale still wins for volume, and how she just launched swimwear by leveraging prints, suppliers, and existing demand. If you care about cash flow, indent, stockist relationships, and direct-to-consumer growth, you will love this founder story.

• Learn how to use indent orders to protect margins and place smarter production bets
• See how a wholesale-first strategy can fuel longevity and repeat stockist revenue
• Steal the exact assets that help retailers sell more hats, beanies, and swim hats
• Hear the behind-the-scenes of a category expansion into swimwear that makes sense

SEO keyword highlights
Acorn Kids, kids hats, children’s headwear, beanies, swim hats, swimwear launch, wholesale, stockists, indent orders, Brandboom, Klaviyo email marketing, Meta ads, product photography, lifestyle imagery, cash flow, margins, MOQ, category expansion, trade shows, agents, DTC growth, Melbourne brand, Brunswick production.

Top takeaways

• Play the long game with wholesale. Protect full price windows. Communicate. Make reorders easy.
• Indent = clarity. Use retailer orders to decide production and where to “back” winners.
• Be specialist. Headwear-specific makers and equipment show up in quality and fit.
• Add categories with purpose. Swim hats → swimwear leveraged prints, fabric, and brand equity.
• Invest in assets. Great photography and video

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

Your product might be beautiful, high-quality, and everything your customer needs… but here’s the truth: that alone isn’t enough to grow a profitable business.

In this episode, I’m diving into the mistake so many founders make, putting 99% of their energy into the product itself and forgetting the bigger picture. Because while your product matters, what matters more is how you get it into people’s hands.

We’ll cover:

• Why “build it and they will come” is a dangerous mindset for product-based founders
• The role of retailers, stockists, and partners in helping you grow
• The power of distribution and getting your product in front of more people
• Why supporting your stores and stockists is just as important as landing them in the first place
• The shift second-time founders make that first-time founders overlook
• What else matters more than the product itself (pricing, marketing, visibility, and customer experience)

By the end, you’ll know exactly where to shift your focus so your product doesn’t just sit pretty on a shelf - it actually sells.

✨ Free Training Alert: Want to build a 90-day roadmap for more sales and consistent profit (without relying on social media)? Join my upcoming live training here → https://www.thelotco.com/trainings

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.

Send us a text

What if one partnership could change your entire brand trajectory? Meet Vania Truchsess—Venezuelan-born, New Zealand-based jewelry designer whose handmade pieces landed in Karen Walker stores and unlocked a flywheel of credibility, stockists, and DTC growth.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Vania went from babysitting to building a handmade jewelry label in NZ
• Why wholesale increased her direct-to-consumer sales (not the opposite)
• Pricing, margins, and range editing (and why you must revisit them yearly)
• Trade shows as a one-good-stockist play (LTV thinking > vanity order counts)
• Using markets, email (Flodesk), and workshops to fuel DTC demand
• Collaborations that borrow audiences and build brand equity
• Balancing creativity with cash flow, admin, and sustainable routines
• The mindset that keeps her shipping: perseverance (and a bracelet to prove it).

SAVE YOUR SPOT IN MY NEW FREE LIVE TRAINING HERE: https://www.thelotco.com/trainings

Vania Truchsess is the founder of Vania, a handmade jewellery brand inspired by nature and gemstones. Her ranges span everyday unisex pieces to woven “Daydreamer” earrings and gemstone necklaces using freshwater pearls and 14k gold-filled elements.

Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Vania + what the brand stands for
02:20 Early making roots in Venezuela + family influences
04:45 Markets, morphing to the Kiwi aesthetic, and first “real job” detour
08:30 Range, pricing, and staying differentiated in a saturated category
09:50 The Karen Walker moment—and how credibility compounds
12:40 Why wholesale boosts DTC (yes, really)
14:50 Seasonality, Australia expansion, and realistic timelines for conversion
16:45 Trade shows: playing the long LTV game
18:20 DTC levers: email, paid/organic, markets, and beading workshops
21:10 Risks, bulk buying, duties, and owning what you do
27:40 What success looks like beyond revenue (impact stories that matter)
32:10 Evolving into fine jewelry; skills, vision, and authenticity
34:00 Creative vs. CEO time: routine

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco
Grab my free training:
Your 90-Day Plan to a Profitable Product Business Without Relying On Social Media

From not enough sales to effortless abundance and creating consistent sales in your business with this roadmap.

Want a Roadmap to Building a Profitable Product Business head here for directions!

Looking for ongoing support to grow your brand and sell more of your product? Join the Product Business Growth Club here.

Find more details at https://www.thelotco.com.au/

Business Coach for product-based businesses. Teaching creative business women how to build a scalable and profitable million-dollar product business whether a physical Retail store or Brand.

Over 25 years as a Retail and Wholesale Strategist (Sales and Marketing for Brands).

Grab my 8 step checklist on building a profitable product business.