What is the mission of LABLD?

The ultimate mission of LABLD is to increase revenue opportunities for small businesses and emerging brands by providing simple and automated tools that don't add more work to an already full plate. We believe that with increased visibility and increased access comes growth. Our goal is to take away the barriers to entry to the retail world and truly democratize the wholesale and private label space for sellers. We want to give sellers and retailers a space to see and work with each other. We want everyone to grow!

Who does the platform serve?

LABLD is made BY small biz owners, FOR small biz owners! We (Monique and Sarah) each have spent years running our own handmade brands and deal with the same barriers and inefficiencies when it comes to our sales relationships. We’re creating this platform with businesses like ours (and not like ours) in mind. LABLD is for: 

• Small business owners/sellers
• Retail owners
• Other businesses who buy from or collaborate with makers

Why do brands need LABLD?

When it comes to wholesale and private label transactions, there is no current system to manage the end-to-end sales process, from prospect to post sale follow up. We surveyed both sellers and retailers finding that the sales process is inconsistent, inefficient and, frankly, all over the place. Small businesses are using multiple platforms just to conduct one order. 

For example, a vendor and retailer could meet at a local market, connect on Instagram, discuss a potential opportunity over DM, move the conversation to email and then complete the transaction on Shopify. After the transaction, if the vendor wants feedback, they need to create a form, email it to their retailer and follow up. They may want to retarget the customer, but then begins the trouble of tracking your wholesale partners information, maintaining engagement and using external platforms to display and promote new products. IT’S A LOT!

LABLD would simplify the process by keeping the entire relationship (or most of it) all in one place.

Additionally, we’ve found that most marketplace platforms are built to make sales and revenue generation easier for the buyer, but not the seller. This makes it harder for sellers to market, prospect, and engage with potential retailers, stifling potential revenue.

Who are we (the extended version)?

We are two small business owners who became fast friends after running into each other at multiple markets in Austin: Monique Parker is the owner of Blow Candle Co, a creative studio that specializes in fine home fragrances, and Sarah Miller is the leading lady at Awkward Auntie, a company that specializes in unique concrete home decor. Upon spending more time with each other, we found that our passion for our businesses isn't the only thing we have in common, we also share a love of connecting and helping others, especially within the small business world.

The idea for LABLD came from multiple conversations about our triumphs and struggles as small business owners. After reflecting a bit, we brainstormed about how we could help other small businesses and emerging brands by alleviating some of the pain points that come with working solo and having to wear so many hats. We touched on the desire and need to grow our businesses via wholesale and brand partnerships, and the frustration that comes with adding another task (outreach, emailing, sample shipping, follow ups, etc.) to our ever-growing to-do lists. We wondered what it would look like to have a platform that genuinely keeps the seller in mind and has everything they need to increase visibility and profit through wholesale, private label, and collaboration with retailers. 

Then we stopped wondering and got to work!

We will continue to update this FAQ as we receive more questions!