A Maker’s Store in Beautiful Petaluma, ~Truck and Barter
Thrilled for our interview with Julia Hohne of @truckandbarter. Both a maker a retailer, Julia creates a curated collection of independent American makers & distinctive brands in her store in Petaluma, CA. Check out her interview.
SKUE: Hi Julia! Thanks for being with us today. As you are also the maker of an apothecary line, how do you balance between maker and retailer mode?
JULIA: Thank you so much for having me!!! 🖤 The two are very much separate businesses so at times managing it all can be tricky! But I think approaching my candle brand with a retail buyer frame of mind has helped me tremendously. I know what I expect from makers as a retail shop owner, so going into the wholesale side of my candle business was sort of a natural progression. Here are my most valuable takeaways that helped me as a maker, thinking like a buyer:
1. Keystone pricing at a minimum is essential.
2. Keeping inventory in-stock and ready to ship is a huge plus.
3. Answer emails and write orders within days (24 hours is my goal!). When buyers are reaching out, they are ready to place their order!
4. Quick shipping. I try and send out wholesale orders to my shops within 3–7 days of the order being paid for.
5. If possible, incentives like testers help sell your products = quicker reorders and shops love this.
I am such a huge fan of small-batch American made goods, I feel honored to even be a part of that community. 🖤
SKUE: Love those tips! What new habit has had a positive impact on your business in the past 5 years?
JULIA: Great question! My business is only 3 years old, and in the past three years I’ve launched an e-commerce store with multiple sales channels, designed, developed + created my own line of products and opened up a brick + mortar. I’ve also had a baby (he’s now 2.5!) and have another one on the way!!! I’m due to have my second boy next month! So I have a lot of balls in the air at any given moment to say the least. As small biz owners we are literally in charge of everything: marketing, HR, accounting, design, operations, etc. So time management has been a key habit for me to really hone in on to get things done. I make detailed to-do lists, prioritize what needs to get done when, and also remind myself that I’m just one person! When I run into things that I’m unfamiliar with I seek guidance and professional help when possible. I’m working with a great digital marketing specialist right now to help with SEO for the web-store, for example.
I’m also answering this question at 4am because my son just woke up and needed me. So balancing the work-mom element of things can be extremely difficult. I have so much respect for working mamas!!! ❤️❤️❤️
SKUE: Seeking guidance when you run into unfamiliar territory is key, one person can only do so much! Thank you for the suggestion. Last question — what things do you look for in a brand when considering items to bring into your store?
JULIA: Above all else I look for quality and craftsmanship. If it’s beautiful and well made, it’s a top contender! Most of the items in the shop are American made, but we do have some top quality items from around the world. I buy with my heart. If I love an item and would want it in my own home, it’s probably going to end up on the shelves of the shop! ❤️
Every week we do live interviews on Instagram @skue.co with our makers & buyers before featuring them here. Interested in joining our wholesale collective? Apply at skue.co/merchants
