Have you ever been told, “You need to grow your email list,” and immediately thought, “Okay… but how?”

In this episode, Julie shares why one of the smartest things you can do for your small business is start growing your email list before you feel fully ready - not when your website is perfect, not when your product line is huge, and not when you have a complete email strategy mapped out.

You’ll hear the imperfect way Julie started her own list, why email gives small business owners more control than social media alone, and how to start inviting the right people in without overcomplicating it.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your email list is one of the few marketing assets you actually own
• How Julie started her list imperfectly and barely emailed it at first
• Why social media is great for discovery, but not something you fully control
• Why unsubscribes are not always a bad thing
• Why a healthy, engaged list matters more than a huge list
• How to give people a clear reason to join your email list
• Where to place your sign-up form so people can actually find it
• Why your list can grow while your business grows

Best quote from the episode:

“People are busy. They don’t need another email just for the sake of getting another email. So if you’re asking someone for their email address, ask yourself: what am I giving them in return?”

If your newsletter list is tiny, untouched, or still just an idea in your head, check out The Email List Growth Fix - Julie’s beginner-friendly guide for small product-based business owners who want to grow an email list full of people who actually want to buy from them.

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, I’m joined by Jessi McNeal of Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping.

Jessi started as a maker, artist, singer, and songwriter before evolving into marketing and bookkeeping support for other small businesses. Today, she helps product-based business owners with websites, email marketing, wholesale pitching, bookkeeping, and the behind-the-scenes systems that make business feel less overwhelming.

We talk about what makers often overthink in marketing, how to start when everything feels like too much, what’s working in wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales, and how small business owners can use AI without losing their own voice.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Jessi’s journey from music and art to product-based business
• Why her handmade pet products gained traction
• The reality of labor-heavy products and burnout
• How she shifted into marketing and bookkeeping support
• What makers are overthinking in their marketing
• Why your website is often the best place to start
• Wholesale pitching tips for makers and product-based brands
• How to use Faire without losing track of your margins
• Why email marketing still matters
• How AI can help small businesses without replacing their voice

Favorite quote:
“Deep breath, number one. Quiet the voices. Maybe take a little Instagram break from all the business influencers and your peers, and just get a little quiet.”

Connect with Jessi
Website: jessimcneal.com
Instagram: jessimcnealmarketing

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

Today I’m chatting with artist and muralist Darcie Gray, the creative behind RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray.

Darcie’s work is immediately recognizable: natural landscapes, a limited palette of blue, green, black, and white, and this beautiful balance of calm and energy that feels so connected to nature.

In this conversation, we talk about what keeps her creating - how she stays motivated, builds momentum as an artist and business owner, and keeps the work feeling playful and alive even when it became her livelihood.

Darcie shares how her background in apparel design shaped the way she sees art in people’s everyday lives, why recognizability builds connection, and how saying yes to new creative ideas - like murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art - has helped her business grow in unexpected ways.

Favorite Quote

“You’ve gotta infuse fun in your work and do things just because you want to.”
- Darcie Gray

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Darcie’s limited color palette became part of her signature style
• Why her apparel design background influences the way she creates art today
• How artists can forget their work is still new and exciting to everyone else
• What helps Darcie stay motivated as a self-employed artist
• Why deadlines, calendars, and saying yes can create momentum
• How she protects joy, curiosity, and experimentation in her business
• The story behind her murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art

Connect with Darcie:
My website is: www.rangedesignstudio.com
Print Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RangeDesignStudio
IG: @darciegray_art

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

If you’ve ever pieced together your business across Etsy, Squarespace, in-person sales, email, and wholesale inquiries, this episode is for you.

This week, I’m sharing why I outgrew the platforms that helped me get started, how Shopify became the home base for my business, and what I think every product-based business owner should consider when building an online store that actually supports growth.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why outgrowing a platform doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice
• The difference between having places to sell and having a connected business
• Why Shopify works so well for product-based businesses
• How apps, analytics, and integrations can help your business grow
• The role of product photos, video, and descriptions in building trust
• How to make your website work harder by answering customer questions
• Why your website should support your brand, not just your checkout

If you’re building a handmade or product-based business and craving a stronger system, this one is for you.

"A beautiful store gets attention, a strategic store gets conversions, and a strong store gives you room to grow."

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Mary Morris Solomon, the artist and storyteller behind MaryGold Tales, to talk about her path from secret childhood art to building a creative business filled with small-batch stationery, illustrations, paintings, and live event portraits.

Mary shares what it looked like to leave behind a career that no longer felt aligned, start creating during a season of massive change, show up to her first market with a four-foot table and seven card designs, and learn to trust the gut feelings that kept opening the next door.

We also talk about:

• Building a creative business without a rigid plan
• Why in-person markets can create instant connection
• Seeing social media as community, not just content
• Saying yes to opportunities, then knowing when to realign
• Why artists and makers need to understand their numbers
• Building something that feels like you, not someone else

Favorite quote from the episode:
“Don’t chase my dream. Chase yours, and let me clap for you.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether the creative thing you keep quietly making could become something more, this conversation will remind you: start where you are, follow what feels aligned, and let your story unfold.

Connect with Mary:

Website: https://www.marygoldtales.com
Instagram: @marygold.tales

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

Helen didn’t plan to rebuild her business because of a trademark issue - but that’s exactly what happened.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Helen Worthington, the designer and maker behind Three in Kind, to talk about her journey from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business owner. Helen first built CAVU Creations, a brand deeply connected to her aviation background and love of making, but after years in business, she received a letter about a trademark issue that forced her to make a difficult decision: fight it, rename it, or close that chapter and start again.

We talk about what small business owners should understand about naming, trademarks, research, business insurance, and protecting your work - not as legal advice, but as a real, honest story from someone who lived it.

Helen also shares what the early days of selling on Etsy looked like, how she brought her kids into her business and markets, why she eventually wanted to move away from handmade production, and how she created Three in Kind as a brand with more room to grow.

If you’re naming a business, launching a product, building a brand, or wondering what to do when your business needs to pivot, this conversation is such an important reminder: do your research, ask questions, and know that starting over does not mean starting from scratch.

Favorite Quote:
“Sometimes you do not choose the timing of the change, but you still get to choose what comes next.”

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Helen went from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business owner
• The early days of CAVU Creations and selling on Etsy
• What CAVU meant and why the name was so personal to her
• The trademark issue that forced Helen to decide whether to fight, rename, or rebuild
• What small business owners should consider when naming a business or product
• Why business insurance does not always cover the issues you might expect
• How she chose the name Three in Kind and built a brand with more room to grow
• The role her kids played in markets, making, and the heart behind her business
• Why research, community, and asking questions matter so much for makers

Connect with Helen:

Website: https://threeinkind.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeinkind/

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, Julie sits down with Rhiannon Troutman, owner of Fringe Boutique in Bellingham, Washington, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the maker and retailer relationship.

Rhiannon shares how Fringe began from her lifelong love of styling, curating, and small business retail, and how she has intentionally created space for local makers from the very beginning. Julie and Rhiannon talk about what boutique owners are really looking for when deciding whether to carry handmade products, and why a “no” from a shop does not mean your product is not good.

They also break down the difference between wholesale and consignment, why pricing matters so much, how branded packaging can help products sell, and what makers should understand before approaching boutiques.

If you are a maker dreaming of getting your products into shops, or a small business owner trying to build thoughtful relationships, this episode is full of practical, honest, and encouraging takeaways.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How Fringe Boutique got started
• Why Rhiannon has always made space for local makers
• What makes a handmade product a good fit for a boutique
• The difference between wholesale and consignment
• Why pricing is one of the biggest things makers need to understand
• How branded packaging helps products feel more special
• Why a full display can help products sell
• How makers can handle rejection without taking it personally
• Why not every creative hobby needs to become a business
• What healthy maker and retailer relationships can look like

Favorite Quote:

“Don’t be afraid of nos. Show up authentically as you, and the right audience will find you.”

Connect with Rhiannon and Fringe Boutique:

Website: https://wearfringe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearfringe/
Visit Fringe in downtown Bellingham on the corner of Holly and Commercial Street.

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com

In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, Julie sits down with Teresa Remple, textile artist and founder of Texture Clothing - a brand she officially launched in 2001 after years of selling at festivals and markets.

Teresa shares what it looked like to build a clothing business through farmers markets, wholesale, festivals, and even a brick-and-mortar shop, and how that journey has evolved into the small-batch and custom work she focuses on today. This conversation is full of wisdom about longevity, following your own rhythm, and creating products that carry care, intention, and real heart.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build a business over decades instead of just seasons, this episode is such a beautiful reminder that meaningful growth doesn’t have to be fast or flashy.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Texture Clothing began and the early festival years
• What Teresa learned from 16 years at the farmers market
• The role of wholesale in growing a product-based business
• Why slow transitions are still valid transitions
• How she shifted from large-scale production to small-batch and custom work
• The emotional value of handmade products and personal connection
• Why follow through matters so much in business
• Getting clear on what’s really written on your heart

Favorite quote:
“May you feel wrapped in love every time you wear this thing.”

Connect with Teresa:
Texture Clothing: www.textureclothing.com
Instagram: Texture Clothing
Craft A Life You Love: https://craftalifeyoulove.com

Connect with Julie | Moss Bags:
Website: https://mossbags.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags

Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com