312 | Expanding into Licensing with Betsy Garcia, Bloomwolf Studio

Licensing is an excellent opportunity to extend the reach of your brand and expand your business offerings. But how does licensing work? And when it comes to finding the right partnership, it can be tricky, and it’s not always easy knowing where to start.

Joining us on the podcast to share her story and talk about her journey into licensing is returning guest, Betsy Garcia. Betsy is the co-founder of Bloomwolf Studio, a paper goods company specializing in greeting cards, art prints, and other paper goods that she runs with her indispensable teammate and husband, Luis Sosa.

If you’d like to go back and hear our initial conversation with Betsy, check out Episode 173, where we talk about her startup story and her commitment to creating social change through her product line and intentional business practices.

In this conversation, Betsy shares how she first got into licensing, how her partnership with Recycled Paper Greetings came together, how she hired a full-time employee and moved their studio, and why her experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

You’ll also find out how the Proof to Product Advisory Board empowered her with the resources and advice she needed to navigate her first meetings with American Greetings and how their structured approach helped her as a newcomer to licensing.

Join us for an informative case study on what it’s like to venture into licensing and what it can do for you and your business!

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Updates for Bloomwolf Studio

Betsy is the talented artist behind Bloomwolf Studio, a Latina-owned illustration and design studio based in Orlando, Florida.

Since we last spoke with Betsy on episode 173, a lot has changed for her!

When we last spoke, Betsy was working with her sister inside her home. Since then, her sister left Bloomwolf to begin her career in accounting. Betsy & her husband, Luis, also moved into a new warehouse to help separate their work & personal lives.

Betsy is also one of our Proof to Product community members joining the movement to get off of certain (or all!) social media apps.

Through intentional business practices, Betsy has created a successful product line and fostered positive social change.

Bloomwolf Studio's products can be found in over 1100 small shops and boutiques nationwide, and they have successfully exhibited at trade shows and participated in pop-up markets.

How Does Licensing Work?

In this episode, Betsy shares her experiences and insights on licensing art. Members inside of our LABS community frequently ask questions about how licensing works and what protections to put in place when starting out.

Betsy's journey with licensing began when the studio partnered with Recycled Paper Greetings. They reached out to her & while she was doubtful that it was even legit when she saw the first email, she clicked open & could tell immediately that this was a real pitch.

Recycled Paper Greetings admired the fact that Bloomwolf Studio is Latina-owned and their commitment to diversity. They initially wanted to license some cards for Target for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Betsy admits to initially feeling nervous but discovered that surrounding herself with a supportive community, including the Advisory Board, helped her gain confidence.

This new opportunity allowed her to make money licensing her artwork while also continuing to run her direct-to-consumer retail site and attend various markets throughout the year.

text overlay: "It's been fun working with recycled paper greetings. I feel like theyve made licensing so easy for me. Betsy Garcia"

Finding Community

Through the Advisory Board, Betsy was able to get advice from Cecily Moore of the Paper Curator who also has experience with licensing work. Our mastermind group was able to support Betsy with a list of things to look for before signing a contract with any company for licensing:

Timeline for projects
Number of designs expected
Projected volumes
Payout terms
Exclusivity targets
Expected retail price
Cobranding of cards or not
Examples of previous collaborations

In the world of art licensing, a strong network of like-minded individuals can offer guidance and invaluable insights. Betsy encourages listeners to take chances and risks, reminding them that the worst outcome may not be as dire as imagined.

If you are looking for more resources on how licensing works, check out these other podcast episodes:

text: "If I was starting over again, I think the first thing I would say would be to find a community, other like-minded people, people that will be ther for you when you need them whether it be in business or in your personal life."

Moving Locations

Betsy shares the evolution of her studio space, from starting in a bedroom to transforming a garage into a workspace. However, as her business grew, it began to encroach on her personal life.

Determined to maintain a healthy work-life balance and separate her business from her home, Betsy embarked on the search for a dedicated warehouse space.

Securing a suitable warehouse proved challenging due to the market's competitive nature. However her desire to hire a new team member and create a separate workspace further heightened the need for a dedicated location.

Ultimately, finding the right space took time, but Betsy recognized the importance of separating her work and personal life.

Hiring a New Team Member

As her business continued to flourish, Betsy sought a team member to share the workload. She took the time to figure out what she needed from this new role & ultimately decided that she needed to hire two part-time employees.

However, after interviewing several candidates, one stood out as the perfect fit. The candidate expressed a preference for full-time work, opening up the possibility of hiring a single full-time team member instead.

Hiring the new team member allowed Betsy to delegate packaging and fulfillment, enabling her to focus on other crucial tasks. She emphasizes the importance of finding individuals who can take initiative and help create systems that streamline operations.

Two of our Proof to Product Team's most valuable resources for training new hires are the Tango Chrome extension and Loom video tool for documenting standard operating procedures and computer-related tasks.

text: "Now that we have a full-time team member, I'm starting to find time to do all the things that I've been pushing off for so long. Betsy Garcia"

Conclusion

Betsy Garcia's journey with Bloomwolf Studio exemplifies the power of embracing new opportunities, forging supportive connections, and making strategic decisions.

Betsy has expanded her business and achieved remarkable growth by figuring out how licensing works, moving her studio, and hiring a team member.

We hope that Betsy's story has inspired you to explore new avenues and consider how licensing, creating boundaries, and empowering your team can transform your business.

Quick Links

Here is a quick recap of links to other helpful blogs and podcasts shared in this post.

If you have ever wanted to pick my brain, or get my eyes and ears on your business, Proof to Product LABS is the place to do it. We cover many of the strategies Brigida talked about in her episode & you can get access to those same trainings!

We have monthly group coaching calls and a wide range of On Demand training specifically for product-based business owners. We open up the doors a few times a year so be sure to sign up to learn more!

learn more about LABS

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MEET BETSY GARCIA

Bloomwolf Studio is a Latina-owned & operated illustration and design studio based in Orlando, Florida.

Launched by wife and husband, Betsy Garcia & Luis Sosa, Bloomwolf Studio was started in November of 2015 after Betsy forewent her plans of applying to medical school. With the unwavering support of Luis, and no formal art training, Betsy began illustrating again in the summer of 2015, after not doing so for many years. This period helped renew her passion for art and helped cement her purpose, pushing her to follow her dreams of pursuing art as a career. Since then, thanks to Betsy’s passion and Luis’s continued support, Bloomwolf Studio has evolved into the creative business it is today and has exhibited at national trade shows, participated in hundreds of pop-up markets, and their products have been carried in over 1,100 small shops and boutiques nationwide.

Bloomwolf Studio’s mission is to spread joy and promote social change through our products, and to create the cutest stationery and art that will help you connect with loved ones, commemorate special moments, and feel celebrated.

CONNECT WITH BETSY

WEBSITE: bloomwolfstudio.com | INSTAGRAM: @bloomwolfstudio | TIKTOK: @bloomwolfstudio

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