017 | Finding your unique voice in your products with Rosanna Kvernmo, Iron Curtain Press

Paper Camp alumni, Rosanna Kvernmo is the owner of Iron Curtain Press, a letterpress studio in Los Angeles. In the spring of 2016, she and her husband, Joel, also opened Shorthand, a little store specializing in beautiful supplies for your desk.

On today’s episode, Rosanna and I talk about her experience as both a wholesaler & a store owner, product development and finding your unique voice in your products and business.

ON TODAY’S EPISODE:

The start of Iron Curtain Press as a side business making invitations for her friends
Lessons she learned in the first several years of business
Refining the services offered by Iron Curtain Press
Rosanna’s experience in the retail space as both a wholesaler & a store owner
Her advice for people pitching retail stores
Opening her retail shop, Shorthand
The types of products sold at Shorthand and where Rosanna finds them
The National Stationery Show
Planning & launching new product lines
The importance of knowing why you are adding a new product
Understanding that every business is unique & finding your own voice

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KEY TAKE-AWAYS

“It’s important for people to remember that they are in control, that they set the rules for their business and if something’s not quite working the way they want it to, they can pivot and change gears and make those decisions.”– Katie Hunt

“Here’s the bare bones honest truth, as a person with a store like mine, that when you add product categories in a hurry and haven’t thought through what it is, it’s pretty apparent to me on my end.”– Rosanna Kvernmo

“If you’re going to invest in something and go into a new product category, you need to do your homework.”– Katie Hunt

“With my very small business, every decision that I make really matters. The passion behind what I do is what makes my business stand out from a mass market store.”– Rosanna Kvernmo

“No two people, no two companies are going to make the same decisions. Their paths are going to be different.”– Rosanna Kvernmo

“But I think finding your voice is really important because that’s the quickest killer to your line, is being too similar to anybody else.”– Rosanna Kvernmo

CONNECT WITH ROSANNA KVERNMO

Connect with Katie Hunt

Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

Website: prooftoproduct.com | Instagram: @prooftoproduct