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In this episode, I’m giving you the ultimate insider scoop from the recent Australian trade show circuit Life Instyle, Reed Gift Fairs, and AGHA.

Whether you were there, thinking about exhibiting next time, or wondering what the heck goes on behind those branded stands, this one’s for you.

From the buzz on the floor and real sales numbers, to the unexpected brand collaborations and cringe-worthy mistakes I saw some newbies make—I'm breaking it all down.

I’ll talk about what really makes a trade show successful (spoiler: it’s not just the orders), the importance of shelf-ready packaging and smart starter packs, and why connection not just conversion is your secret weapon.

I also dive into the question I get asked all the time: Which show should I do? Life Instyle vs. Reed vs. AGHAvand the truth about what suits who.

If you’re a brand looking to grow through wholesale or a retailer wondering how to make smarter buying decisions, this episode is packed with gold. Think of it like your own private trade show debrief, minus the sore feet and overpriced food.

What I cover:

• The real results exhibitors experienced.
• Common mistakes I saw brands make (and how to avoid them)
• How to make your booth unforgettable (even upstairs!)
• Why shelf-ready packaging and starter packs are non-negotiables
• The unquantifiable wins—like friendships, packaging hacks, and collabs
• A comparison between Life Instyle, Reed, and AGHA shows
• Why showing up is more than just standing at a booth

Bonus tip: If you're prepping for your first (or next) trade show, I share how to turn this opportunity into long-term revenue—and how to avoid becoming the brand that buyers forget the minute they walk away.

Mentioned in this episode:
Trade Show Bootcamp – My mini-course to help you prep, pitch and profit from your next show Transform Your Wholesale Program – Learn how to build a wholesale strategy that works long-term
✨ Product Business Growth Club – My membership for product-based businesses that want to grow without burning out

Rate & Review:
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review and tell me what your biggest takeaway was from this episode!

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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

Let’s talk about one of the most underrated, powerful tools in your business toolkit REVIEWS. They cost you nothing but can absolutely skyrocket your credibility and sales. And yet… so many of you forget to ask for them, or don’t know how to use them to their full potential. Sound familiar?

In this episode, I’m diving into:

• Why reviews are way more powerful than any marketing copy you could write yourself
• How they boost your website conversions, SEO, and even wholesale success
• The exact tools I recommend to automate the whole process (no awkward follow-ups needed)
• Where to put reviews on your website to maximise their impact
• Clever ways to ask for them (without sounding desperate or robotic)
• And why YOU need to be giving reviews too—not just asking for them!

Whether you’re selling direct-to-consumer, through retail stores, or wholesaling to stockists, reviews matter. And if you’re not collecting them (and using them!) you’re leaving money and trust on the table.

🛠 Tools I mention in the episode:

• Trustpilot
• Judge.me
• Loox (perfect for visual reviews with customer pics)
• Stamped.io
• Yotpo
• Google Forms for post-program feedback

💬 Quick reminder:
If you’ve ever listened to an episode and thought “Omg that helped so much,” please scroll down in Apple Podcasts and leave a review. It means the world to me and keeps this podcast going. Plus, I read every single one!

🎯 This episode is for you if:
→ You’re running a product-based brand or retail store
→ You want to build trust fast and boost your online sales
→ You need better copy but don’t have time to write it—use your customer words instead!

Let’s get those reviews working for you.

Take 30 seconds to scroll down and leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it’s free for you and priceless for me!

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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 raw and refreshing episode of thelotco Business Podcast, I chat with Lucy Moss founder of Mink and Me, a vibrant lifestyle brand that blossomed from a tiny rural shop into a bold online store and now a budding wholesale business.

Lucy shares her incredible 10-year journey, starting from a collaborative store in Coonamble (yep, population 2,500!) to navigating ADHD diagnosis, burnout, a booming Christmas season, a massive pivot, and a spontaneous buying trip to India that changed everything.

We unpack:

• How her dog’s name (RIP Minky!) sparked a business name and legacy
• The power of collaboration and building a retail hub in a small town
• What she learned from buying “dud” products and how she refined her retail buying over time
• Why selling 760 Queen Elizabeth Christmas decorations was a pivotal moment (yes, really!)
• How burnout led her to hit pause and what that looked like
• Her candid experience with an ADHD diagnosis and what changed afterward
• The unexpected decision to close her physical store (despite strong sales) and go all in on online
• Why her India trade show trip with Christine from She.Freights opened a whole new wholesale opportunity
• Her advice for evolving with your business, listening to your gut, and not being afraid to pivot

Lucy gets real about the highs and lows, from toddler chaos to trade show prep, and gives insight into what it truly takes to stay resilient, creative, and profitable in today’s retail and product landscape.

Links + Resources:

• Follow Lucy at @minkandme
• Check out her online store: minkandme.com.au
• Want to prep for your own trade show? Grab the Trade Show Bootcamp
• Listen to more episodes at thelotco Business Podcast

If this episode sparked an “OMG I need to pivot too” moment or you’ve been toying with launching wholesale or shutting your physical store send me a DM @thelotco. Lucy’s story is proof you don’t have to stick to one version of success. You get to evolve. ✨

Be sure to subscribe, share this with your biz bestie, and leave a review if this episode hit home.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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’re still shipping your gorgeous product in a plain satchel with an invoice and a whisper of bubble wrap… we need to talk.

In today’s episode of The Lotco Business Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most underestimated but high-impact opportunities you have as a product-based business owner: the unboxing experience.

Your packaging isn’t just about protection—it’s about emotion. It’s a brand moment. It’s the post-purchase piece that turns a one-time buyer into a raving, repeat customer.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• Why unboxing taps into psychology (and how TikTok + YouTube prove it)
• The difference between packaging that gets ignored… and packaging that gets shared
• Low-cost, high-impact ways to elevate your unboxing experience—even if you're on a tight budget
• Real brand examples (including my own past retail experience!) that prove small touches create big impact
• A mindset shift: why every box you ship is a chance to build brand trust and customer retention

Plus, I share:
A Pinterest board with creative and scroll-stopping packaging ideas https://pin.it/2oz5v2iY6

Why packaging is performative marketing in a scroll-happy world

How to spark emotion through scent, stickers, samples, surprise, and story

Whether you're a new brand or scaling rapidly, don’t underestimate this part of the customer journey. Because once they click “Buy Now,” it’s your moment to turn excitement into loyalty.

Want more help mapping your entire customer journey from attraction to unboxing to retention?
Come join me in Roadmap to Profit or grab the Get More Sales Bundle for actionable tools you can implement right away.

Because every order you send out is a branding opportunity. Let’s make it magic.

Unboxing Pinterest Board here

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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’m pulling back the curtain on what really builds a thriving, profitable product-based business—and spoiler alert—it’s not just more Instagram reels or new packaging.

After decades in this industry, from fashion lecturer to founder, and coaching hundreds of creative entrepreneurs through my Roadmap to Profit program, I’ve identified the 7 key systems that separate profitable brands from the ones stuck in hustle-mode.

I call it thelotco Method, and today I'm sharing each of these systems with you—including how you can spot your weakest link and what to fix first.

You'll learn:

• Why vision (not just vibes) is the first system to set up
• What your brand really needs beyond a cute logo
• How pricing can make or break your entire business (even if your products are selling)
• Why relying on just one sales channel is risky
• How to attract traffic without burning out on content creation
• What numbers you actually need to know
• And the often-forgotten system that allows you to finally take a break (yes, really)

These are the systems that have helped my clients go from kitchen-table businesses to stocked-in-store and scaling with ease. If you’re done flying by the seat of your pants and ready to build something that actually pays you—this is for you.

🎧 Listen now and DM me @thelotco to tell me which system you're focusing on first.

✨ Want the full roadmap? My Roadmap to Profit program is now open—get access to the templates, coaching, and tools that help you build all 7 systems, without the overwhelm.
👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE

📚 Plus: Don’t forget to grab my free training: “How to Build a Thriving Product Business”

00:00 Introduction to Growing Your Product Business

00:46 The Seven Systems for a Profitable Business

02:19 System 1: Vision and Goals

03:59 System 2: Brand Foundations

05:27 System 3: Product and Pricing

06:51 System 4: Sales Channels

08:27 System 5: Marketing and Traffic

09:51 System 6: Money Management

11:38 System 7: Systems and Support

12:38 Conclusion and Next Steps

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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 today’s episode, I’m joined by Andrew from Mennie Brand—an art-inspired sock label that’s grown from humble garage beginnings to a wholesale brand with over 30 stockists and counting.

We recorded this before Andrew exhibits at his first-ever trade show: Life Instyle Melbourne. And let me tell you—we go deep on what it really takes (financially, mentally, and logistically) to step into this space for the first time.

You’ll hear:

• Andrew’s full cost breakdown for exhibiting at Life Instyle.
• How he’s preparing marketing materials, samples, and stand design with a super lean budget
• Why building strong relationships with current stockists has created surprising trade show support
• The fears, confidence wobbles, and smart choices that led him to say “now’s the time”
• His expectations for orders, ROI, and post-show follow-up strategies

If you’ve been tossing up whether a trade show is worth it for your brand—or wondering how on earth to pull it off without a giant team—this is the episode for you. And don’t worry, we’ll be back with Part 2 to hear how it all went!

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
Mennie Brand → menniebrand.com
Life Instyle Melbourne → lifeinstyle.com.au

Access the 3 part Trade Show Bootcamp here.

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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

Ever looked at your brand and thought, “This just… doesn’t feel like me anymore”?

Yep, same. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own rebranding wake-up call (hello five-year-old podcast cover 👋) and guide you through the emotional, visual, and strategic impact of being out of alignment with your brand.

Whether your product photos feel outdated, your Instagram bio makes you cringe, or you're attracting bargain hunters instead of dream customers—this one’s for you.

I’ll walk you through:

• The sneaky signs you’ve outgrown your brand (it’s not just a vibe—there’s strategy behind it)
• How small visual and voice tweaks can skyrocket your confidence and conversions
• The 4-step mini-brand audit to reconnect with your identity
• Why you don’t need a total rebrand to evolve - just a smart, soulful recalibration
• The journal prompt I use with clients to align their brand with their next-level business

This episode is part pep talk, part strategy, and 100% permission slip to grow.

🎧 Grab your notebook, your coffee (or in my case, your tea), and tune in. Let’s realign that brand energy and make sure it’s working for you, not against you.

👇 DM me @thelotco and tell me what brand shift you’re making this month!

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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're investing time, money, and energy into exhibiting at a trade show, the last thing you want is to walk away with zero results (or worse… minus dollars and dashed confidence 😬).

In this episode, I break down the 10 biggest mistakes I see brands make when preparing for—and showing up at—trade shows. Whether it's your first show or your fifteenth, these pitfalls can derail your success and cost you thousands in missed sales and opportunities.

I'll cover everything from:

• Why your trade show stand is not a market stall (yes, there’s a BIG difference)
• The one thing you must do before the show to drive foot traffic
• The silent killer of buyer relationships (and how to avoid it)
• The mindset shift you need to stop treating buyers like short-term transactions
• Why most of the gold is in the post-show follow-up

⚡ Plus, I share insider tips from my decades in retail, wholesale, and exhibiting at over 100 trade shows—so you don’t have to learn these lessons the hard way.

📣 Ready to make your next trade show your most profitable one yet? Join me inside my 3-day Trade Show Bootcamp and get the full strategy, templates, and support to prep like a pro and walk away with results. 🎯
👉 Join the Bootcamp here

Or want to Build a Wholesale Sales Machine? Join my free training here: https://www.thelotco.com/buildingawholesalemachine

trade show mistakes, exhibiting at a trade show, how to prepare for a trade show, trade show booth tips, product business, wholesale strategies, retail trade show, selling wholesale, trade show checklist

Support the show

I'm Mel Robbins! from @thelotco

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.