Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Bartolotta. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kim, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

They are too much about competition. I am all about helping each other succeed. I am all about community over competition, and the gift industry has become so “cut-throat”…no longer a fun place to be. Im creating a community of like-minded individuals where we can sell our product to buyers who want to support local makers. Its a win win!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

With 35 years in the Wholesale Gift Industry, I’ve experienced most every aspect of what it takes to wholesale your product. I also have a gift in knowing what kind of product retails well, as I AM that customer! There is a psychology behind how and why people buy impulse items, and Im using this ability to help women owned businesses get their product in front of the right gift shops.

Over the years I have seen too many talented “makers” struggle with wholesale, which is why I began Elevationbykim. To help women break into the gift industry, where I have spent most of my career.

.I also offer consultations, teaching people the ins and outs of the wholesale market while also teaching them how to sell themselves to buyers. “When you are new and dont have the proper guidance, it’s intimidating. And if you dont have confidence, you’re never going to sell your product into a store.

My goal is to boost confidence and guide makers to success with a combination of offerings, ranging from a 7-step video series “how to wholesale”, to one on one consultations, from my Secret Seller Markets™ to a monthly membership where like-minded individuals share their experiences and learn from myself as well as each other. There truly is something for everyone, regardless of your experience.

Whatever it is you’re making, there is a way to scale it for wholesale. It’s much more doable than most people imagine and it “creates an additional stream of income” for them.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

This is a great question because this is where I can help people realize their potential both financially and emotionally. I believe that in order to truly be successful, you need to have several streams of income, especially in this day and age.

In my business, because my trade shows (my main source of income) are so spread out time-wise, I NEEDED to create additional streams of income in order to stay in business. I have 3 additional streams that all compliment each other and are (mostly) passive income for me. To start, in addition to my trade shows, I created a video series “how to wholesale”, where I teach the 7 steps taken to wholesale your product. I also offer one on one consultations and have recently added a monthly membership, offering a platform to introduce like-minded individuals to each other to share experiences and learn together. A nice community.

If you are a “maker” (meaning you make product and sell it), more than likely you are selling on line and at outdoor pop up markets, as they have become extremely popular over the past 2-3 years (especially). That’s 2 streams. Why not add a third? Wholesale can be your answer. I offer a free 20 minute consultation to see how I can best help you meet your goals.

Have you ever had to pivot?

This is easy, and with covid happening, I am sure there are thousands of similar, but here is what happened to me.

I was a VP of sales for a very large gift company. Total corporate job making more money than I ever could have imagined. I managed the US sales force, helped source products overseas and traveled all over the country working with reps and attending trade shows. It was a dream job…until it wasn’t. A financial company came in and basically changed everything. By the end of year one, which was December BEFORE COVID, my position was abruptly ELIMINATED! Not too much of a surprise as the writing was on the wall, however, major shock to go from a serious income to zero, in less than 3 months.

Fast forward to covid, fortunately for me I was just beginning to collect unemployment, so I was already in the system and that number doubled and lasted for a good year and a half, helping me at least stay on my feet and create something new for myself.

Having been in the corporate world for so long, I looked at this as an opportunity to finally fulfill a passion of mine which is helping women owned businesses. Ive always wanted to “give back” in some way but never had to time, due to my time consuming position as VP of sales.

Elevation By Kim started as a small rep group, representing talented artisans, but has evolved into a much more rewarding business, helping others make the connections needed to grow their business. I help women understand their potential and show them how “doable” it actually is!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elevationbykim.com/
• Instagram: @elevationbykim
• Facebook: Coming soon
• Linkedin: Elevationbykim
• Yelp: Coming soon

Image Credits
Shipyard Photography Kim Bartolotta