014 | Heather Harris, Copper Bottom Design on how to know if you're ready for overseas manufacturing, how the whole process works, and common errors people make when they're creating day planners.

TSBC Alum, Heather Harris has been designing day planners and desk products since 2004 for clients including  momAgenda, Barney’s, Brooks Brothers, and Tiffany & Co. In 2015, she branched out on her own to start Copper Bottom Design Co. where she and her team help product based businesses with design, proofreading and overseas production.  On today’s episode, we’re talking how to know if you’re ready for overseas manufacturing, common errors people make when creating day planners and how her past experiences and skills have led her to create a thriving, enriching business for herself.   ON TODAY’S EPISODE: Heather’s rich background in the industry & what led her to starting Copper Bottom Design. Manufacturing overseas & what the process looks like. How she helps product makers manufacture overseas. Fears surrounding manufacturing overseas. Benchmarks or metrics to determine if manufacturing overseas is right for you. Common mistakes she sees when people create day planners. What’s upcoming for Copper Bottom Design Co. KEY TAKE-AWAYS:   “There are strategic reasons for choosing overseas manufacturing”  Heather Harris   “When I went out on my own it was lonely.  Then I met the Paper Camp community and I craved a team again.” - Heather Harris   “Manufacturing overseas is just like getting ready to hire an employee. You're at a certain point where you've grown so much that you can't handle it anymore, and you're looking to outsource.” - Heather Harris   Ask for samples.  You can’t create a product without seeing it. - Heather Harris   RESOURCES: Ultimate Holiday Guide E-Book   MEET HEATHER: An avid organizer, list maker, and devoted print girl, Heather has been designing day planners and desk products since 2004. She arrived at the world of fine stationery by way of Graphic Image, where she learned the ropes designing planners internally and for clients like Barney‰Ûªs, Brooks Brothers, and Tiffany & Co. Her love of high-end paper products is a near obsession, shaped by how a carefully crafted design becomes a beautiful, functional part of our daily lives. Her time as Director of Creative Services at momAgenda further expanded this passion to product development; aside from leading all design, she spent years managing the editorial process and overseas production.   In 2015, Heather decided to expand her client base and founded Copper Bottom Design Co., where she and her team take the helm of design, proofreading, and overseas production for growing stationery companies.   CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Website: http://www.copperbottomdesign.com/ Facebook: @copperbtmdesign Instagram: @copperbtmdesign Pinterest: @copperbtmdesign Twitter: @copperbtmdesign   JOIN THE TSBC FAMILY: Need help streamlining your business operations?  Are you feeling a bit stuck in your business? Maybe you're worried about things like marketing, technology, or hiring a team. If so, you are not alone, and we've got a course for you. The Business Camp e-course includes lessons from Tara Gentile, Jen Gotch of Ban.do, Chelsea of Sugar Paper, as well as experts in public relations, websites, email marketing, and much, much more. This course includes eight hours of video content, and a 30 page workbook. You will finish this course feeling confident, energized, and armed with concrete information to help you refine your business systems. Plus the on-demand format lets you jump around to topics that are most relevant to you when you need them most   As you guys know by now, I'm a firm believer in working smarter, not harder, and this course is gonna help you streamline your business, whether you're product-based, or service-based business. Head over to tsbcvizcamp.com. That's TSBCbizcamp.com for more information. And for a limited time, our proof to product listeners will receive $50 off with promo code prooftoproduct.   ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is brought to you by Tradeshow Bootcamp and hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, TSBC has worked with hundreds of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode.