Shows
The Product Entrepreneur Podcast#106: Make the Right Pick: Dior Forever Skin Glow or Fenty Sheer FoundationWhether you’re a full-face glam type or a natural face girlie, you probably already know one of the most important (and hard to perfect) steps of the makeup routine: Your foundation. I was struggling with this myself this past year. My usual go-to—the Fenty Sheer Glow foundation—just never really agreed with my skin, no matter what I tried. It looks so bomb on other people, but on me, it just sat kind of cakey and dry. My skin never drank it up like I wanted it to. Enter my new fav: the...2024-04-2416 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#105: The REAL Reason Your Product Isn't Flying Off the Shelves (and how to fix it!)Picture this: You’ve poured hundreds (if not THOUSANDS) of hours into designing the perfect product. You know it works. You went through dozens of prototypes to iron out every single kink. It addresses a particular problem and makes things 10X easier. Heck, you use it yourself! People should love this. And yet…it’s not flying off the shelves. Lots of you are probably in this predicament yourself. And if you are, I want to tell you something super important: You have a great product—but that’s not en...2024-04-1019 min
Entrepreneur ConundrumBrand Expression: Crafting Identity and Standing Out in the Market with Maureen MwangiKey Questions:(01:06) How did you get on this journey and get to where you are today?(03:50) Who is your ideal avatar or client?(05:21) How do you get in front of them?(06:33) Do you do many lives on social media?(07:51) Is there a common misunderstanding or mistake that a lot of your clients tend to have when they first come in to start working with you?(09:28) Do you mind sharing a tip on how to overcome that part?(13:25) How would that goal change your business?2024-04-0123 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#104: Pitch With Confidence To Get Funded Faster With Kat WeaverCould you use more money? Maybe the answer to that is obvious. As entrepreneurs, we’re always asking ourselves where we can get funding. Funding gives us the chance to pour ourselves into our business. It gives us opportunities to grow our product lines, our inventories, and our marketing outreach. It gives us peace of mind as we use our time for our families, our projects, and our brand. Funding gives us freedom. We talk a lot about how to increase our sales, but there’s another source of funding out there: i...2024-03-2726 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#103: What's In and Out In Marketing In 2024If you’re looking back on the last three months of 2024 and still feeling lost, then today’s message is for you! A long, long time ago (aka December 2023), I found myself wistfully thinking ahead to what 2024 might have in store. (Not to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty good at nailing down trends!) Now, I’ve gotten to see some of those trends in action, and I’m bringing my results straight to you! Think of where you’re at now that we’re into the thick of 2024. Maybe the thing...2024-03-2028 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#102: Here are 4 Common Reasons Why You Are Experiencing A Sales Plateau or Capped GrowthAs we head into Q2, you may be pouring over the bills on the table with a heavy heart. It probably feels like there’s not enough to work with—too little in the bank, too many expenses popping up, and no room to breathe in between. You may have even seen your sales plateau, despite doing EVERYTHING right. You’re showing up, you’re putting in the work, and yet, your sales aren’t matching your energy. If this hits close to home for you right now, then I’m here to share one of th...2024-03-1325 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#101 Who Should You Hire To Support The Growth of your eCommerce BrandPicture this: You’re doing all the right things. Your content is getting clicks, your sales are trickling in. Things are finally starting to move in the right direction. In fact, things are almost going too well. As the CEO, you are the one responsible for everything. The planning, the marketing, the writing, the accounting. Everything. And you are tired. So what do you do? The marketing gurus online seem to all point to one thing: hiring a team. That should make things easier, but now you’re faced with anot...2024-03-0646 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#99 Q1 Sales Don't Have to Suck! Ditch the One-Size-Fits-All Trap (and Watch Your Profits Soar)If you’re bracing for poor sales in Quarter 1 this year, then I need to tell you: Inevitably low Q1 sales are a myth. “But Maureen,” I hear you say, “everyone says that Q1 sales are always low. My market is dead right now!” Trust me, I’ve been there. Q4 is full of a lot of highs (thanks, Black Friday + Cyber Monday), so we’re used to seeing things cool off a bit right after. But the fact that Q1 sales have to be poor is a self-fulfilling prophecy—and something that’s f...2024-02-2120 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#98: Make It Bigger: Transitioning To Product-Based Entrepreneurship With The CEO Of Necessary NutritionGrowing up, Robin’s mother always told her to “take what I have and make it bigger”. First, she put that advice to work 15 years ago by getting serious about nutrition. She went from being prediabetic, overweight, and clueless about nutrition to fully discovering just how powerful food was—and making it her life’s mission to reach others how to use food and nutrition to build their bodies for the better. Hence, Necessary Nutrition was born! Robin started out Necessary Nutrition as a service-based brand, but over time, she had a dream to sh...2024-02-1441 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#97 From Likes to Sales: Learn How To Turn Your Followers Into SalesYour follower count on social media is climbing. Your site is getting hits. Likes, comments, and shares are rolling in. And yet, no matter how good those numbers are, they’re not turning into conversions. Attention is great, but it can’t pay your bills. You need sales. And now, I’m here to tell you how to get them! In this week’s podcast episode, we dive into the first part of a two-part series on this meaty topic, AKA: how you can turn your window-shoppers into repeat c...2024-02-0727 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#96: How to Align Your Brand, Business, and Marketing Strategies To Achieve Your eCommerce Annual GoalSo many entrepreneurs get scared of looking at their numbers. It’s frustrating, it’s disheartening, and it can even be paralyzing. If this sounds like you, then I have to ask you: . What if you could get excited to look at your numbers every month—BEFORE those major sales start to come in? What if looking at your numbers could feel you with hope, energy, and excitement? What if everything just stopped feeling like a slog and more like the start of something new? And now, you don’t have to do...2024-01-3127 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#95: How To Speak To Your Ideal ClientHave you ever tried to make friends as an adult? It kind of sucks! Things just seemed so much easier as a fourth grader. You shared your juice box, told each other your favorite animal (unicorns, duh) and then BAM, you were bonded for life. When did things get so complicated? It’s hard enough to make connections in your personal life, but the stakes are ramped up even more when your business is on the line. Now, you don’t want to make friends with just anyone. You...2024-01-2420 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#94: Dreams Do Come True: From Inconsistent Sales To Consistent Daily Sales With CEO Of Glow VillageWhat would it take for a mother of three and registered nurse to transition into full-time entrepreneurship? Just ask my friend Maame! Maame is the founder of Glow Village, a beauty brand for the wellness-conscious. She’s also a teacher, mother to three wonderful kiddos, and an RN to boot. When we met her, her brand was ten years in the making. And yet, she hadn’t gotten nearly as far as she had hoped. Over the past decade, she had started over and over again. She always th...2024-01-1740 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#93: Conversion Content For eCommerce Brands Part 2The content that you make can help get your customers unstuck from wherever they are in “The Funnel.” Whether it’s the person who just scrolled across your ad online to someone who finally hits that “add to cart”, you can hold their hand through the journey—without being pushy or annoying. You can design your content calendar to address key points about your offer, all carefully timed to nudge your customer in the right direction. Imagine: No gaps or writer’s block when it comes to your content calendar. Data-driven stra...2024-01-1011 min
Make Each Click Count Hosted By Andy SplichalMistakes To Avoid When Building Your eCommerce Brand with Maureen MwangiPodcast Episode 181 of the Make Each Click Count Podcast features Maureen Mwangi, the founder and CEO of Startward Consulting.Maureen emphasizes the importance of being the voice of the customer and using data to make informed decisions in scaling a product-based brand. She shares actionable steps for audience engagement and increasing sales from existing customers, highlighting the value of connecting with the audience at a deeper level. Throughout the conversation, Maureen provides insights into customer experience, adding new products to a brand, and the changing landscape of consumer demands with the rise of AI. She...2024-01-0521 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#92: Conversion Content For eCommerce Brands Part 1Many of us lean heavily on organic marketing strategies to grow our business. This can be a world-changing way to bring your business to new heights—as long as you leverage it the right way. Getting attention for your product is great. Getting sales is even better. In fact, that’s the thing that really moves the needle. So what DO you need to do to create content that ACTUALLY converts? In this week's podcast episode, we’re going to talk about the three things you need to know to make c...2024-01-0412 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#91: It's Not Your Marketing Plan - The #1 Reason Why You're Missing Your eCommerce Annual Sales GoalsAs an entrepreneur, you face constant stress, decision fatigue, and cashflow concerns. In this episode, Maureen shares the top reasons that people don't achieve their eCommerce business goals. Her #1 tip? Plan for your priorities and goals! You'll learn how to... ✨ Prioritize profit to bring lifeblood to your business, support growth, and pay yourself ✨ Prioritize product and product mix to maintain consistent sales ✨ Prioritize production to prevent surplus product or shortages Ultimately, without a strategy to prioritize profit, it will be impossible for you to hit your annual goals. If...2023-11-0827 min
Marketing Tips for Women Business Owners: Educated Empowered Inspired#47 Maureen Mwangi | Grow Your Brand and Scale Your BusinessIn this episode, Maureen Mwagni, a brand growth expert who helps entrepreneurs scale their product-based businesses to become household names through precise sales and marketing strategies, shares her incredible journey of growth, pivoting, and finding success through organic marketing. Discover the power of clear messaging, the importance of humanization in branding, and the significance of embracing your unique story. Maureen takes you through her pivot from a paid ad-driven business to a more sustainable organic marketing approach, offering valuable lessons for emerging entrepreneurs. Learn how to attract the right audience, refine your messaging, and build a strong f...2023-11-0640 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#90: Is your E-Commerce Business Ready For 2024 Success?Learn 3 Strategies to Increase Your Visibility and Exceed Your Sales Goals in 2024 ✨ GET CUSTOMERS LIKE CLOCKWORK IN 2024 LIVE WORKSHOP Join our LIVE Annual E-Commerce Planning Workshop and discover the 3 Strategies to Increase Your Visibility and Exceed Your Sales Goals in 2024: SAVE YOUR SEAT HERE ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? Schedule a strategy call. ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: Startw...2023-11-0113 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#89: Dreams Come True: The Google Maps I needed To 3X My Profit Margins & Launch With Scientific Precision feat. ColetteCollette Small is the CEO and Founder of Superstar Naturals hair products. In this episode, she shares how Maureen coached her into growing an extremely profitable product business through branding, marketing, and sales systems. Listen to see how you can implement the same strategies and 3x your profits! ________________________________________________________________________________ ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: Uncap Your Growth & Bring in More Product Sales without Changing Your Branding or Packaging ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready...2023-10-2539 min
The Women's Vibrancy Code: Women's Health And Wellness w/ Maraya Brown93. Owning Your Voice: Standing Out in a Saturated Market featuring Maureen MwangiWelcome back to another episode on the Women’s Vibrancy Code podcast! In this compelling episode, we're joined by Maureen Mwangi, a distinguished brand growth strategist known for her transformative work with some of America's most cherished brands, including L'Oréal, Chobani, Dove, and Lays. As the visionary force behind Big Brand Academy, The Product Profit Lab, and Startward Consulting, Maureen's mission is clear: to empower product-based entrepreneurs with the precise sales and marketing strategies needed to elevate their brands into household names. Maraya and Maureen share personal stories and strategies on how to overcome self-imposed limitations and...2023-10-2533 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#88: The Secrets to Building a Product Brand That ScalesI often get asked, Maureen, why do I feel like I will never get there? Why does this feel so hard? My answer tends to be: Most product based business owners struggle to succeed because they start with a bloated product assortment and a confusing brand message. This then creates a lot of complexity in the initial stages making it impossible to quickly take off at the rate the CEO desires. It is important to recognize that while there are several strategies to scale your brand, you need to identify what wor...2023-10-1815 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#87:Success Sabotage: Why You Keep Saying "It's Not Working" and How to StopAre you stuck in a strategy slump that doesn’t seem to be paying off? I’m not even talking about a FAILING strategy. At least then we can see what’s working and what’s not. The worst thing that can happen is if nothing happens. Because then, we’re not even getting any feedback after putting in all this effort. Plateaus SUCK. And unfortunately, they’re also inevitable. Maybe you’re not seeing the changes you were hoping to see, and you’re starting to wonder if you need to change gears befo...2023-10-1127 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#86: GRWM: How I would Market the Different Products in My Everyday Skincare RoutineWe don’t always think about ourselves in the marketing equation. However, the products we pick have an impact on us. The question typically is - what’s the reason why you swiped your credit card to purchase? Is there anything you can glean from your own purchasing behavior? For a fun peek at my own newly minted skincare routine (and my thoughts on how I would market those same products, based on my experience), be sure to check out my newest podcast and Youtube episode on Getting Ready WIth Maureen - aka Learn...2023-10-0415 min
The Mastery Matrix Podcast125. How to add a successful product brand to your offer portfolio with Maureen MwangiMany of you have sculpted your businesses to the 7-figure ++ mark 🚀 —congrats! But what about diversifying? What about adding a tangible product to your empire and making your product stand out and become a household name? In today's episode, Maureen Mwangi - a brand growth strategist with a remarkable track record, who has worked with renowned brands like L'Oréal, Chobani, Dove, and Lays - shares her insights and strategies on the alchemy of turning products into iconic brands💎 Maureen has a unique ability to connect with markets and transform data into brand growth strategies, which has propelled...2023-09-2630 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#84: Why eCommerce Holiday Plans Fail and How to Fix ThemThe top 4 mistakes I see eCommerce brands making (and how to fix them). If you: ✨think you have to run a promotion because everyone else is doing it. ✨don’t have a clear goal for the holiday sale you’ve planned. ✨aren’t in tune with matters most to your customers RIGHT NOW. ✨Know you need to shift the trajectory of your sales, but you don’t know how. This episode is for you. Let’s fix those today! ✨ JOIN OUR HOLIDAY PLANNING BUSINESS RETREAT 2023-09-2023 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#83: Never Feel Overwhelmed Again - Mastering the Art of Holiday PrepIf you want to get as much as you give this holiday season, check out this week’s podcast episode to learn more about: What to avoid in Q4 when trying to increase conversions, How to stay relevant with your audience during this time How to strategically plan discounts and make them profitable How to drive excitement with your audience by tapping into relevant cultural moments, …and more. ✨ JOIN OUR HOLIDAY PLANNING BUSINESS RETREAT Let’s create your Holiday Planning Blueprint together! On September 23...2023-09-1322 min
The Brand Builder Show83. Getting Your Brand On Retail Shelves w/ Maureen MwangiAs the eCommerce industry grows, so does the range of different sales channels you can explore.
But our guest on this week’s podcast episode believes you shouldn’t discount more traditional channels when looking to grow your business.
Maureen Mwangi is a ‘big box’ retail expert and helps her clients get stocked on some of the biggest retail chains in the US.
In this episode, I quizzed her about when a brand is ready for retail, how to get it ready, and how to create agreements with retail buyers that are a win/win...2023-09-0729 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#82: Holiday Sales 101 - Your Go-To Guide for Scoring the Best SalesSales are a touchy subject any time of year, but around the holiday season, they take on a life of their own! Is your holiday sales season an exciting or frustrating time for you? If you said the latter, you’re not alone; many brands struggle to balance having an enticing discount that doesn’t cripple them in the long run. In this episode, we talk about the dreaded question that every brand asks themselves around the holiday season: what kind of seasonal promotion should I do this year? Am I stuck giving a steep holiday...2023-09-0644 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#81: Growth Series: Strategies to Reach Seven-Figure Goals in Your Ecommerce BusinessOne thing I have personally learnt in this journey is that making money is the easiest part of business. However, the hardest part is maintaining that money. You may ask me why? It’s because when you move to new levels of growth, you have to shift your identity to adapt to the things you want. So what do you need to do in order to break past your fears and accept the success you’re stepping into? In this week’s podcast, we’re diving into the Mindset and Strategy required to...2023-08-3014 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#80: Growth Series: How to Reach 100K-500K Figures in Your Product-Based BusinessMost entrepreneurs seek to shift into hypergrowth once they begin to see results. I have personally done this, and nearly tanked my business and my mental health. Instead, I want to share what you can do to successfully scale your business In this episode, learn the shifts you can implement in order to get to your first $500k in your business. Looking for support? Let’s chat about how I can support you as a fractional member of your marketing team to create an adoring customer base that generates repeat sales. https://startwardconsulting.as.me/gro...2023-08-2323 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#79: Growth Series: How to Reach Your First $100k in Ecommerce SalesWe are in the second episode of our growth series this week! (If you missed Zero to Launch, you can find it in Episode 78!) Today, I want to ask you one simple question: Are you ready to dominate in your market? I understand the unique challenges that your competitors bring to your business, from cheaper international dupes to local businesses undercutting your pricing. So how do you create a product that stands out from the rest and supercedes the price war to finally dominate in your market? Getting your product to sell like hot cakes r...2023-08-1619 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#78: Growth Series: A Step-by-Step Marketing Guide for Launching Your Product Business From ScratchSometimes, the hardest part of the whole “starting your own business” thing is the STARTING part of it. Well, believe it or not, most entrepreneurs didn’t go to school for this stuff. Many are relying on pure passion and wit, and finding themselves in short supply some days. So how do you get from the fresh, shiny idea in your head to a real flesh-and-blood business? You don’t need to be the next Zuckerberg to do this! All you need is a plan, an 8-step manual to getting from the scary step A to t...2023-08-0917 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#77: Dreams Do Come True: The Magnetic Pull of a Unique Brand Message With Veerpal Founder of EO Healing“Maureen, you talk pretty big about the power of my brand message, but how do I know if it’ll actually work for me?” If you’ve ever asked yourself that question—or anything similar along those lines—then this week's episode is a must-hear for you! Because this week, we’re not just talking in hypotheticals. This week, we talk to the wonderful Veerpal, the founder of EO Healing and a true believer of the brand message magic! How Veerpal went from medical professional to brand builder...2023-08-0245 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#76: 3 Secrets To Cash Confidence In Your BusinessWhether you want your business to be a small passion project on the side or your full–time dream job, your success is ultimately going to come down to cash confidence. The good news? You DON’T need an overblown marketing budget, huge product assortment, warehouses of inventory, or even a huge audience to get cash confidence. All you need to do is 3 simple things: ✅ Get awareness ✅ Get considered ✅ Get selected That’s it! How do these three things look in real life, and how can you apply t...2023-07-2619 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#75: Escape the Grind: Discover the Secret to Sales Certainty In Your BusinessYou don’t need the biggest sales to get you through the dry spells. You need a continuous stream of sales—even small ones!—that eliminate those dry spells all together. A lot of product-based businesses are just grinding along. They’re running out of fuel and patience, all while pouring in the last of their energy and funding. In this week’s episode, we talk about how to boost that conversion mechanism in your favor. P.S. I want to help YOU (yes, you, specifically!) reach cash confidence i...2023-07-1915 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#74: Why Quitting Corporate Is Hard: Battle The Fear and Succeed With Your Product Brand.In this week’s podcast, we’re giving you the game plan to battle that fear of quitting your corporate job and pursuing your business full time, including: ✨How to show up for your business with the same effort as your day job ✨Breaking the ruminating cycle to get unstuck ✨Creating safety within yourself (NOT your paycheck!) Leaving behind that steady 9 to 5 can mean leaving behind a sense of security. But it also means embracing something much more important—yourself! Product Br...2023-07-1219 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#73: The Complexity of Life and Its AdversitiesI’ve learned that even when the world seems to be turning upside down, there's one thing that remains constant - the love of God and the peace it brings. And guess what? It's the most valuable currency. If you're feeling isolated about something, remember it's a season for appointment. It's a season for learning. ✨ SIGN UP FOR OUR 3-HR LIVE EVENT Learn how to get your product brand to stand out, get in front of the right customers, scale up sales, and generate word of mouth exposure. Discover how to become t...2023-07-0521 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#71: Dreams Do Come True: You're Not Too Old For Retail Placement with Vanessa“I’m 68. If I can do it, everybody can do it. I’m not the computer queen, but I learned. I’m still learning. But that’s the point. Continue to learn, continue to build, continue to birth.” —Vanessa, new entrepreneur on her way to becoming a millionaire Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? Schedule a strategy call. Schedule Your Consultation ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: https://www.startwardconsulting.com/ 📷 Instagra...2023-05-1743 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#69: The Breakthrough Product Brand MindsetThere are so many sabotage patterns and poor choices that can cap your growth. It’s not that you don’t WANT to do the right thing. You just don’t know any different. Today I wanted to share the way real CEO’s make decisions about growth. ✨Connect With Kara: https://www.instagram.com/karagaisiecoaching/ ✨WORK WITH US Let’s prime your brand for explosive growth and scale: Schedule Your Growth Consultation ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: https://www.startwardconsulting.com/ 📷 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/maureenmwangiofficial/ 2023-04-1250 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#68: The Curse Of Momentum Is StrategyIn this week’s episode, we talk about how to shake off our obsession with strategy and replace it with something much more energizing and fulfilling. This includes: Avoiding the “prevent defense” mechanism The role a strategist should play in your business (aka a support, NOT pulling the cart before the horse!) How to incorporate emotional resilience into how we think about our business And more! There is some good advice out there, but if trying new things is what’s needed for your brand’s momentum, then being T...2023-03-2929 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#67: The 3Ps Of Marketing: This Is What SellsTune in to this week’s podcast episode to learn how mastering the 3Ps leads to falling in love with marketing—aka, the key to getting your brand the revival it deserves! In this week’s episode, we talk about how to fall in love with marketing again by following the 3 P’s, including: Tapping into your desired narrative Why you NEED to be the face of your brand How to drop the guilt and fear around selling your product Identifying the micro moments ✨ LEARN MORE FROM US2023-03-1239 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#61: Gearing Up For 2023: How to Rock Your Product SalesNew year, new energy. 2023 is the year to tackle your business with fresh vigor! So how can you make the most of this fresh new year? In this week’s podcast episode, I’m talking about how to gear up for 2023 — and the 3 areas to focus on to increase revenue. In this episode, we talk about: Relationship building with your customer (and your community) to make your interactions personal, surprising, and above all, repeatable How to build your omni-channel presence with in person events and brand-building exposure The key to better retailer partnerships Fin...2023-01-0224 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#58: Frustrated With Low Sales? Do This!Did you have a goal that you didn’t accomplish this year? Is this period starting to feel like it was a blow? If you’re frustrated with low sales this holiday season, it’s time to recharge your approach; it’s easier than you may think! In this episode, we talk about: How to acknowledge your emotions in a way that’s fruitful, not frustrating Realizing that not reaching a goal is NEUTRAL, not negative Recognizing what message your sales are ACTUALLY trying to tell you (hint: it’s not “you’re a failure!”) Default thinking vs intent...2022-11-2829 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#57: How To Stand Out In A Saturated MarketIn this episode, we dive into: The psychology of a buyer, specifically the type of buyer you want to attract. (There is a difference!) That means you need to understand how your customer makes a buying decision, and how they weigh the pros and cons of a purchase. How to motivate your customer to (literally) buy what you’re selling; it’s rarely going to be solely about your product features! You need to get down to the “why behind the why”, aka what changes your product will actually make on their quality of life, and when they would use...2022-11-2130 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#56: The Holiday Sales Promotional StrategiesIf the words “Black Friday” send a shiver down your spine, you’re not alone! Brands all over the world enter this holiday season with the same, unnerving question: To discount, or not to discount? Everyone’s hunting for a good deal this time of year, but on the other side of things, your business still needs to stay sustainable. So how can you do that while doling out seasonal promos and discounts that eat into your profit margin? Are you stuck giving discounts away to stay relevant this Black Friday? Here’s the good new...2022-11-1426 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#55: The Key Differences in Building a Product Brand vs. a Service BrandOne of the most common things I see in this industry is some people treating their product-based brand as a service-based brand, or even vice versa: aka, people start a product and try to add being a coach or other service on top of it. The result? Your messaging gets muddled, your to-do list multiplies, and all that extra effort still doesn’t translate into an equal rise in sales. In this episode, you will learn: What the key differences are between product and service-based brands How those differences actually look in practice, and How...2022-11-0733 minThe Product Entrepreneur Podcast#54: The 3 Profit Stages For Product Brands| What To Do In Each StageIt's disheartening to put so much energy into building a business, only to find yourself in a never-ending cash crunch. Spending your limited resources on worthless things or perfection is a key contributor. That's why we made this episode. You'll get insight into the three profitable stages associated with product brands, figure out where you are in that cycle, and discover how to allocate your resources accordingly and get the most out of each phase. Episode Highlights [02:04] The three profit stages of beauty brands: Stage 1: The emerging stage Stage 2: The growth stage St...2022-10-2442 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 52: How To Breakthrough to 6-figures in revenue per year.Earnings are a great perk that come as a natural consequence of launching your business. Having a clear rationale for doing what you're doing can help you weather the inevitable storms that will inevitably arise as you build your business. And when your why is so strong that you're prepared to keep going even when everything else in your life suggests that you shouldn't, that's when you know you're on the right track. This is what it's like building a six-figure business. It begins with understanding why you're setting it up in the first place—and that re...2022-10-1049 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 51: Diagnosing the real reason for lagging product salesWe all face periods when we feel like trashing our businesses and giving up. This occurs when you have tried a strategy and committed significant resources or juggling an excessive number of responsibilities, but your sales remain flat or fluctuate erratically. So you might be scratching your head now, wondering what you're doing wrong. This is the episode for you if that description fits your experience. In this episode, I will examine five potential causes for your inconsistent sales. In a nutshell, they are as follows: A lack of vision Doing it on your...2022-10-0345 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 49: The Marketing Mistakes Costing You $10,000 Per Month In Your eCommerce BusinessAs long as marketing remains a mystery to you, you’ll struggle. Chasing random shiny-objects on the internet won’t work. Throwing spaghetti won’t work. The only thing that WILL work is to design a marketing strategy with scientific precision. In this episode, I explain why your marketing efforts aren't yielding the desired results. If you are looking to turn your product-based business into a well-oiled profit machine, you need to understand that marketing follows a very specific framework. And if you’re not following it, you’ll be banging your head against a revenue ceiling of your ow...2022-09-1336 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 48: The Hidden Growth SaboteursAre you asking yourself any of these questions? What should I do to start making money? What can I do to boost my sales? How can I accelerate the of my business? What do I need to do to advance to the next level? Sometimes, what you have to do is not the solution; it’s what you must refrain from doing. In this episode, I talk about three things you should stop doing if you want to get to where you want. Episode Highlights Three growth-inhibiting habits you must quit doing: [02:10] #1: St...2022-09-0529 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 47: Dreams Do Come True: How Telia Styles Went from Obscurity to $10,000With me today are Anna Maria and her sister Jackie, co-founders of Telias Styles and Design. Before Telias Style And Design, Anna Maria worked in retail for Dress Band for 17 years. When Dress Band closed at the end of 2019, it allowed her to focus on Telias and bring it to life. Telia started by making masks during COVID and then rolled into fashion, then decided to zero in on home décor, starting with making throw pillows. However, it was not all smooth sailing with Telias. They operated on a purely mom-and-pop standpoint with no positioning statement. T...2022-08-2827 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 46: How to Scale a Product Biz Past a Growth PlateauSo, you've been successful in launching your business. Your target market embraced the idea you developed, and you put it into action. Your efforts and financial commitment were rewarded within the first 6 to 12 months. You actually expanded more quickly than you anticipated. Although the process was somewhat unpredictable, you managed to complete your goal! Suddenly, things begin to alter. You stop making progress for a sustained period. No matter how hard you work, you can no longer have the same success. You're baffled as to why growth is slowing down. If this is how things...2022-08-221h 01The Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 45: The Obsession-Brand Positioning Tool You Absolutely Must Have to Become the #1 Product ChoiceWhenever we reach a certain point in the growth of our brand, many of us seek the next most effective tactic to scale our businesses. I've been there and learned that constantly changing strategies is not the best course of action when it comes to scaling. We overburden ourselves every time we learn a new tactic. We end up placing ourselves in situations where we feel like we need to know more, which can be overwhelming. Therefore, we become paralyzed because it's one more thing to do. So in today's episode, I'll provide advice on the fundamental...2022-08-1437 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 44: Product Messaging & Story Telling That Sells With Sienna DexterEveryone is trying to save time. So the faster your product on the shelf can 'speak' to consumers, the more money you will make. This is why a lot of groundwork has to be done to understand your ideal customer demographics and behaviors and tailor your branding and messaging accordingly. In this episode, you will gain insights into predicting and understanding consumer behavior. You will appreciate the people-first approach to solving consumers' problems and why you need to focus on connecting with your customer more than selling them your product. In addition, you will understand how data...2022-08-0631 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 41: How to Build Your e-commerce Business Organically with Kerrie Fitzgerald"Most businesses don't make you feel appreciated. You are simply a number. When you turn someone from a number into feeling appreciated, that is how you build a loyal customer, a super fan." In this episode, you'll receive highly practical advice on getting your e-commerce business to six figures with no ads, escaping the comparison syndrome on Instagram, and creating a community of raving fans without losing your sanity. You will also gain insights into productivity tools for customer engagement after their first purchase. Kerrie highlights three fundamental guidelines to get to six figures:...2022-07-1736 min
The Road to SevenWhat It Takes To Build Successful Brands With Maureen Mwangi“It’s so easy for you to come in and price yourself at market level. It’s another thing for you to understand the transformation that you’re offering people and price accordingly.”- Maureen MwangiWhat do businesses need to do in order to become the breakout brands that define their industry?Maureen Mwangi’s superpower is turning raw data into incredibly successful brand growth strategies. Growing up in Kenya, Maureen’s parents were the only entrepreneurs she knew. She enjoyed their dinner table conversations about business strat...2022-05-0327 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 34: Scaling Through Digital Advertising with FlairstIn this special episode, Maureen chats with Flare Agency owners Jessica and Amy about all things digital marketing. Jessica and Amy have over 10 years of digital ads and content creation experience, and they’ve been in business together at Flare Agency for the past 4 years. They shared some of their top tips and advice for business owners. Learn more about Flairst at https://www.flairst.com/ 2022-03-2834 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 33: Create Brand Obsession Through Your ContentAre you ready to write content that converts for your eCommerce business? Get ready to learn how to write content that speaks to your ideal customer, take your audience (successfully) through every stage of the customer journey, and ultimately create brand obsession. Remember to subscribe to this podcast and write a review! Maximize Your Product Sales with Maureen's Free Download: https://www.startwardconsulting.com/maximize-your-product-sales Learn more about Maureen's business incubator: www.startwardconsulting.com/product-profit-lab Connect with Maureen on Instagram: www.instagram.com/maureenmwangiofficial 2022-03-2122 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 30: Doing Business Internationally with Ryan MargolinToday on the podcast, Maureen chats with Ryan Margolin, CEO of Professional Hair labs. Started in 1994, Professional Hair Labs has dominated the hair care industry while staying true to its vision of clean, healthy and environmentally friendly hair adhesive products. Ryan shared his take on not only building a highly successful business from the ground up, but also advice on scaling, manufacturing, IP protection, international trade, and dealing with product counterfeiting. Connect with Ryan at https://prohairlabs.com/ or @professionalhairlabs on Instagram and Facebook. Get Maureen's free training to maximize your product sales: https://www.s...2022-02-1430 minThe Product Entrepreneur PodcastEpisode 28: The Role Of Packaging In Marketing with Smash Brand's Michael KeplingerIn this episode, Maureen interviews Michael Keplinger of SmashBrand on the role that packaging plays in marketing, how to stand out in a saturated market, and why building a strong brand is foundational to having great packaging. With online shopping, things are changing. However, some products will always be on the shelf. With those products, like food items, packaging has to do almost all the work. Until a brand becomes more well-known, it’s up to packaging to attract consumers in the store. In eCommerce, packaging still has a huge focus. You’re so limited on what you can...2022-01-1730 min
Ecommerce Speak with Vincent TandionoMaureen Mwangi - Marketing & Sales Strategies To Focus On For Each Phase Of Business LifecycleIn this episode, Maureen shares the metrics, strategies and tactics businesses should focus on depending on their lifecycle stage.Maureen Mwangi of Startward ConsultingToday’s guest is Maureen Mwangi. She is the brand growth strategist behind some of America’s most beloved brands, like L'Oréal, Chobani, Dove, and Lays. She is the creator of Big Brand Academy, The Product Profit Lab, and Startward Consulting - a consulting firm dedicated to teaching product-based entrepreneurs the sales and marketing strategies you need to scale with scientific precision, so you can turn your product brands into...2021-12-2125 min
The Real Life BuyerHow can you launch new products on a budget? Maureen Mwangi shares her thoughts.PODCAST GUESTToday I'm excited to introduce you to Maureen Mwangi from the state of Texas. Maureen was born in Kenya to entrepreneurial parents with a flair for business success. Being surrounded by innovation, energy and business competence Maureen was soon learning and contributing to the family business and was drawn to product development and marketing. It wasn't long before Maureen then moved to the US to study for a master's degree in marketing. Maureen is a highly sought after at brand growth expert due to her unique track record for launching and...2021-12-2143 min