Struggling Small Business: Deciding the Future | Aja Dang
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- Опубликовано: 18 апр 2024
- Delve into the world of entrepreneurship as I share the challenges of my struggling small business, MSTRPLN. Built using the layouts I used myself to get out of debt, MSTRPLN Budget Planners have helped thousands of people get out of hundreds of thousands of debt over the past 4 years. Unfortunately, the future of my small business is up in the air as we simply are no longer growing or selling planners. Experience the highs and lows of deciding the future of the company and the personal reflections that accompany such a journey.
We still have 300 2023 planners and 250 2024 planners left. If you'd like to help us keep planners out of the landfill, please visit mstrpln.co/.
If you're an organization interested in a planner donation, please email me at hello(at)mstrpln.co, and we can arrange delivery.
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This is just my opinion but I think the main reason people buy your planners is because of your RUclips videos but the less you plug them the less they will buy them. So your marketing is so intricately linked with you that the minute you stop making videos and mentioning the planners, people will slowly forget about them.
The Row is a good example of a business that doesn't rely on its founders as part of their marketing. I have no idea why they're so successful. It's just overpriced basic clothing. I say this confidently as someone who can sew and knit, has taken some classes at FIT, and resell clothes. I've owned The Row (that I got free/secondhand). I don't see how they can justify their prices even after factoring in the costs of operating a business. But hey kudos to them!
Good luck to Aja! I hope you can figure out the kinks.
I agree. I bought the planner the first year that it came out but as Aja’s finance and budgeting videos slowed down, I found myself reaching for that planner less. I enjoy the monthly resets a lot of RUclipsrs do, and I tend to try and use what they recommend because it’s motivating to do my monthly reset with them.
I agree. Marketing. Marketing. (Until you get tired of your own voice) I had a small business for five years. Business goes through it's ebbs and flows. It's good to have other things that branch off of your business. (Like your digital programs you mentioned about planning your wedding and home ownership.) What do you think about hiring someone who specializes in marketing or a business strategist. I think you have something great here. And your RUclips channel is a great platform for it and to keep it alive. Hang in there.
Yes I agree. Is a competitive world out there. Once disengaged with the audience, they will naturally forget ur existence. Improvisation and keeping one relevance is the way to go.
I totally agree. The videos regarding finances are the same anymore and so we can’t connect to her financial journey and therefore we not buying planners
I agree with the other commenters:
-undated planner
-show your planner on here cuz I honestly didn’t know you had a planner company until a couple months ago. I don’t have socials and only watch you on RUclips
Evolve it! MSTRPLN can be more about you helping people figure out the steps they have to take to reach goals, financial or other. You can still have the MSTRPLN planners digitally and add new pages as you find stuff you use in your life. I know we would love for you to do more videos. I even enjoy when you take stuff to get redyed, walking the dogs, trying food from different places, and working on your style.
Agree! Definitely can evolve into more of a consulting business for sure
I would love a Notion version of MSTRPLN!
Yes! If shipping costs and orders are the problem then focus on the digital. If it goes well then maybe you can put all resources related to the business under an app
Based on the last few minutes of the video, it sounds like your digital products, wedding and home, are selling well while your physical one isn’t. Due to shipping cost, maybe you should cut the physical products from your business
I agree Aja maybe just continue digital items?
Great idea! Digital products are way more cost efficient.
100% as an international user physical is just not an option ☹️
agree with this! I find it difficult having to carry a laptop around already, I wouldnt even want to carry anything extra. just make it all accessible digitally
You could just do pre-orders only.
Yes! Avoids wastes and then leaves room to focus in on digital products and the course. That could work well
agree! this is the smart way to pay for production/manufacturing to have some in stock.
Physical product is a very honed skill. I have spent my career in product management, now a business leader. All products have challenges with forecasting. You have one of the absolute hardest being a time bound physical product. One path is to make “blank” yearly planners and allow the customer to fill in months/days. You could take it virtual completely (but I do think there is still a market for physical paper planners). I see a few paths to alleviate the issue of “expiration.” Also, give yourself grace. You have done an incredible job even coming up with the business in the first place. Not something many could do, let alone actually bring to market.
agree make 'blank' yearly planners and allow the customer to fill in months/days"
My two cents:
1. I love the planner but it’s huge I like to carry a planner around and it just doesn’t fit in any bag I have except for a full-size backpack. I’d love a smaller one, like an A5 or even A6 size
2. One thing that might be hindering it is the focus on budgets. That limits your potential customer-base. If you have a planner that’s just for planning, you can attract new customers. Those of us who know you and love the budgeting aspect are more likely to buy-in as it is now, but some may just want a “normal” planner.
3. Ok, 3 cents - maybe not feasible now but different color covers! Maybe have a black and then every year a special color? Something different to excite and bring people in.
Love you, Aja! Using my 2023 as we speak
I will forever buy the physical planner each year as long as they are available. Satisfied customer!
I love the physical planners! Perhaps switch to undated versions for the future?
She has undated planners. You mean just get rid of the dated ones all together?
Yea, that’s what I was going to say. Having it dated is a very small window for relavency. And if people are going to buy the old ones just to white them out anyway, might as well just keep them date neutral. 🤷🏻♂️ Unless there’s a reason otherwise.
I’ve bought a physical mstrpln planner in the past and I really loved its quality! The main factor that deterred me from buying it again was that it wasn’t very portable - it was a bit heavy especially as a commuter. Wish it came in smaller size / perhaps in 6 month increments so it could be more lightweight
Someone else mentioned it but an undated planner might be the next step for 2025. Gives the MSTRPLN a journal feeling to it.
Also, maybe create a series where using MSTRPLN is at the core of every video. I know back in the debt payoff days, you used to do videos on how to budget, track payments etc. Maybe you can do the same but using subscribers stories.
Has no one been to her site? She has an undated planner.
@@ccap3211 Maybe they mean a new layout, colors, sections ,etc
I would really miss you from youtube 🥺 whenever you post a new video you make my day❤️
I'm a planner girl and I found you and started following you because of your video about getting out of massive debt. You helped me so much during that time as I had a lot of debt and it was honestly taking its toll on my mental health. You helped me budget (even without the release of the MSTRPLN yet) and I got myself out of debt and am doing amazing enough that i dont really have a need for a specific budget planner. I know a lot of serious budgeters also do online spreadsheets or apps for budgeting as well. I know that finance was what made you blow up but that video was years ago and a lot of your OG viewers have probably grown and did well for themselves BECAUSE of your help. If you came out with a regular non budgeting specific planner I would LOVE to get one.
Hi Aja, longtime fan here. I’m so obsessed with my MSTRPLN if there’s some way that we as an audience and consumers can help you move forward or grow as a business that would be incredible. I’d be so lost without my MSTRPLN. I’m going through a debt payoff journey alongside planning a wedding. You’re incredible and such an inspiration and bright light
Aja, hiya! Just a not-so-brief comment here, I fully respect you taking a critical examination of your business. Sounds like something a smart owner would do : ) It's wise, too, to assess all of your products, the quantities, what sells & doesn't - exactly as you are. Likewise, a sage business owner would look at their year on year, too - and just as you're doing now : )
The only part about this that I kindly do not support is questioning that maybe you may not be cut out to be a business leader! Just don't buy that for a minute. You are speaking as one, you are one - and you have been one with this entire channel, building such a massive audience which very few could ever accomplish.
I've loved watching your journey. Like you, I also climbed my way out of debt. So I know this, and can say this, you can accomplish anything you set out to do. I would wager that you know that's true, too.
If you don't want to be a business owner, then by means. As one myself, I wouldn't blame you a bit! It's incredibly challenging, often times isolating too, isn't it? Very well may be best & more profitable working for an employer, there are so many benefits. And you would bring so much value to any company you join.
Just remember, tho, a P&L is just a P&L. It's not a reflection of skill or promise, or what you are capable of. And so many entrepreneurs fail before they succeed. Just imagine if you had, say, let debt define your potential. It would be like thinking you would never be able to get the other side. And look at you!
That's my $0.02. I hope this is helpful. I'm a fan of yours, I'm rooting for you & will be rooting for you in whatever you do - and I believe in you, Aja!
I'm sorry things have been hard. Don't give up!! All small business go through learning periods. I really enjoy our youtube videos so it would be sad to see you go. But I understand the desire to grow into other areas. Sending good vibes and prayers your way!
Budget planning is just getting started in the planner community. I think if you push for another season of business it could still go up!!
Your planner has helped me pay off half of my student debt & start a "Family Planning" sinking fund for the future!
Have you considered focusing more on the digital side of master plan and maybe for the physical planners having them be dateless? I personally don’t like planners with year specific dates because I don’t want to start partway through the year or skip a month for whatever reason and have wasted chunks of planners
I think a good idea to get the business to the next level is to meet your customers. People buy your products mostly because they are fans of you and we support what you put out. Most RUclipsrs have merch, but you have a more unique product where there’s a lot of potential. Maybe having meetups where you have in-person meetups to show us how to use the planner instead of just videos. Maybe have a meetup at a small business around LA and/or OC? Wishing you the best!
As a small small business owner, I've found myself to be super impatient for success. I expected my hard work to be rewarded with numbers but I've had to accept being rewarded by personal growth (proud of myself of my diligence and patience as well as making decisions about who I am and what I want). Like budgeting, I have my long term goals for the business and I've started to accept my small steps as small goals.
You know how I feel about the planner (obsessed beyond words)! And grateful to you for all of our years working together on all the MSTRPLN things! It would be interesting to see if there is a way to get the planner into the hands of more people in the planner community (there are a lot of planner influencers out there) and what could happen if so.
I LOVE my MSTRPLN. I can't live without it honestly. I've gotten another friend to use it also. Would prefer dated but if undated is the future, that's totally fine with me. If we don't have physical planners at all, I'd be sad but I understand. I def think u should share more about the planner and market more on your channel. Thanks for everything Aja!
Agree on evolving it. Undated and adding a financial component does with your brand. Mint has closed down and a lot of ppl were upset that they were being transferred to Credit Karma with terrible functions. Most your channel is on finances and her wedding so I feel like a digital, undated planners marketed towards your financial/wedding goals makes sense. RUclips is a business so you are a business owner. Every business has to evolve or it fades.
A huge reason I stopped buying physical planners is because I couldn’t be consistent in writing things down. I have one now (Passion Planner) but I mainly use it for notes in the back. I would have preferred an expanded digital calendar but there are no app integrations on ical/etc which allow for more notes/tracking.
will second that mint shutting down is what caused me to buy your planner (and because i'm a fan of you). I agree it's tweaking the physical product to be undated so you aren't on the hook to sell out every year, and work on diversifying your products. the digital products sound great, along with the course. figure out which products require less overhead
Working on short feedback loops from your customers like small surveys every quarter on what planner they are interested in and working with a freelance data analyst to set up for you some forecast/sales dashboards maybe helps. Sending lots of energy, starting business are hard work but these might be just growing pains! You tested products and that’s how one learns what sticks. 🎉❤
I feel like you were not taking about the business much on this channel and even IG to where I forgot about it.
I agree undated might work best and also maybe a 6 month calendar. Taking planner and budgeting in chunks
Excited to get the 2023 planner! I’ve been wanting to get a mstr planner for a while but bc of the price and amount of content I was waiting until I got a full-time job after graduating college, but I’m going to try out the planner with the discounted price! I hadn’t seen your post about it so I’m glad you decided to post this on RUclips too.
I absolutely LOVE your physical planners. I’ve gotten one for the last 3 years and idk what I’d do if they were no longer available. I swear on them any time someone asks where I got them.
Seeing your journey developing the planners from concept to production has been enjoyable but I would understand contemplating the small biz owner life because of this process. My two cents is this feels like a small bump in the road and an opportunity to evaluate what matters to you as a small biz owner/product developer and if this product (the physical planners in particular) is really what you want to invest in.
As a viewer you've translated to me throughout the journey that 1) the product(s) were made to address a huge need of yours and 2) you hope that these products would help others like you on their financial journeys. I think these are huge points in marketing and makes your product 10x more personal since you've tried and tested these yourself. You have a lot of knowledge to share with the world so I'm hoping this isn't the end of your journey!
Girl keep going! If it were me I would focus on the following:
-marketing. mention it in your videos (new followers may not even know about it), targeted ads before the new year (November maybe?), etc.
-product evolution. There’s always room for improvement and it sounds like people may want different sizes or different colors?
-partnerships. Maybe send a few to influencers who can help promote it for you, or sell bulk to organizations.
I would also love to see you using your planners. It helps with inspiration. Love the videos of the front pages of the planner and walk throughs. Especially seeing your debt flow chart videos. When I need to be reminded of what I'm doing I will watch your financial journey playlist on youtube.
Would love additional pages as journal format as someone who regularly journals! Then it would have multiple purposes and I would def buy it every year!
I work as a budget consultant for individuals and small businesses. I give them the tools to keep track of their finances and forecast their goals but what ive realized is that people need to be motivated and inspired to gain financial freedom. I have to continuously sell them on a good idea which is hard to believe. you can help them all you want, but they have to believe it. even though your excited about your product and you have thousands of people watching your channel, a lot of people are really skeptical that they can gain financial freedom so they wont try. it becomes a pipe dream for them, especially when they have access to thousands of dollars through credit that they can slowly pay off, but never do. they dont really feel or understand the consequences of debt. people dont feel the immediate pressure to change and it's become common place to accept everyones in debt and everyones miserable. you have to get people to believe in financial freedom and that will get people excited to buy it.
Hi Aja! I love the planner so thought I would offer my thoughts! I think budgeting is growing so don’t stop, adapt!! I recommend posting a lot of short form videos using your planners. I loved your old monthly videos of you doing your expenses! Also, I think a year for an excel budget is wayyyyy too long, I know there’s more too it but I made a perfectly useful budget on excel for my friends and I in a week. The formulas should not take that long so I would recommend getting that out there and then you can see what changes need to be made. I think that’s also cutting into your profits because again a year is way too long and you’re wasting unnecessary resources on that. I don’t think you’re doing too much I just think you need to put some of your passion back into it!
2nd year buying my MSTRPLN planner and I love it. My feedback would be undated planners AND closer to the end of the year a big marketing push and get preorders. Buy/ship only what you sell in the preorders and ship that out like early December. Then you won’t overbuy for the next year. Buy a smaller stock for January!
Just bought a 2023 planner. Your videos with the Texas house helped me so much and I’ve been wanting to try out the planner but couldn't see doing so.
It may be a total loss, but if there are more 2023 planners left you may be able to leave them as a free grab at coffee shops and bookstores. It’s at least a little free marketing and allowing the possibility that someone could use it without you having to pay for shipping. Good luck!
I think there would be much less sales for the planner if your content creation stopped. I think they go hand-in-hand. But with that said, I would recommend including portions of your videos, showing you using the planner, or specifically plan with me videos. I’m a planner junkie, but I don’t always buy a planner right when I hear about it. Just for financial reasons, but usually when a person mentions it multiple times that’s how it stays fresh in my mind and then I purchase it when I am able. that’s what I would suggest, talk about and show it more in your content.
Hi Aja. For your overhead view tripod setup, there might be a 1/4” threads on the other end of that screw. You would have to flip it around. Some tripods come with 3/8” to 1/4” reversible tripod screws. Good luck!
Suggestion: do like Franklin Covey - do live/in-person workshops per industry to go through how to use your products. When they buy the product, give them a link to an in-person or zoom workshop going over the proper way to use it
Love your videos! I agree with some other comments that sticking to undated planners could be the move if you want to continue producing a physical planner
OMGGGG AJA! The 2023 planner is on a super sale! I ordered and will now get a bunch of stickers and washi tape as you said. I usually get next year’s planner in the fall because I love being prepared but ok I am super prepared for 2025. 😁😆
Well, I used to make handmade leather planners for years and I enjoyed doing it, but after a while, it became very difficult because handmade is never perfect and so it was hard to compete with items made with animated machines overseas. So I rode the wheels to the wheels fell off, but I think in your case you should develop an app. Related to master plan so good can use it in their phones
What I've seen work best for other product-based small business owners is making a lot of videos about using the product or vlogs incorporating the product naturally, Day in the life of the small business owner seems to work really well too! I would love to watch all these videos from you! I know you want to take a step back from content creation but maybe once Mstrpln is booming again a content creation team could lessen the burden on you.
I'm super interested in notion but it's so overwhelming. I would 1000% take more notion templates!! Love you Aja
As someone who is neurodivergent, sometimes I write in my planner and sometimes I don’t. I bought a planner where I can write in the dates and that works perfectly for me! 😊 if there is a way for your customers to alter things but still have prompts and guidance, I think they can be more successful. I also saw that some companies do 3 month planners. 👌🏽
Keep going Aja! We believe in you~
I agree with the comments about promoting the product, including it in your content frequently. Business always requires pivoting. Figure out what your "cash cow" is. 80% of your efforts/marketing should go to that. I think you could market the product way more. Also, launching your product every holiday. Launches aren't just one time! Start listening to business podcasts, get in a master mind or a business coach. Maybe you are in isolation growing your business and you need support. A product business is difficult! I personally use your planner. One recommendation I have is the weekly expense tracker. I have more categories than 4 so I never use it! Maybe get rid of the categories and do it more like a spreadsheet instead. I hope this helps, Aja!
For the next iteration, simplify your planner and make it undated. You can give the 2023 planner for free or low cost to anyone who buys a 2024 planner. You can come up with a challenge that asks your audience to use their 2023 planner in a creative way, maybe turn it into a scrapbook, write affirmations, journal, drawings, etc.
Aja, do you consume financial content? I love yours & Caleb Hammer, and thought it would be a killer episode to see you on Financial Audit! You could inspire his audience with your huge debt pay-off journey, and gain new followers who would be potential customers for mstrpln. As always, adore your honesty and integrity. You are so refreshing in this space 🤍
I think that’s exactly the point. Aja isn’t in the same financial place she was in when she was using the planner more. As much as she can “market” her planner, her life isn’t so focused on tackling bad debt. I do watch older videos to watch her methods on sinking funds. I’ve started to watch other channels on tackling debt but Aja’s sinking fund concept has always been helpful to me. There is something special when feeling less alone about tackling debt.
Maybe in the future, if you still want to do dated planners you can open up pre-orders for planners starting in August of the year prior.
For example, for 2025, try to open up pre-order no later than August 2024, assuming that gives you/your producer enough time to have them made and delivered by December 2024/Jan 2025?
I usually hate pre-order situations, but that may be the only way to start getting better at estimating demand.
Maybe a lot of people are just not financial literate. I guess once you launch your budget course, more people would buy MSTRPLN. Also, you can make customizable/undated budget planners so they have longer shelf lives and make dated ones on a per order basis. Just my two cents.
Relaunch, reset, facelift add new exciting things... you don't have to give up.
Small business ecosystem changes and so do popular demand.. just pivot 😊
I love the physical, undated planner. The size & format of it were such a great fit for me when I was working in a corporate appointment based job. I recently made a switch career wise and need one that is more project based instead of time/appointment like the MSTRPLN weekly layout 😭 i haven’t found one i love as much as MSTRPLN & don’t think I really will. I hope things turn around for you & the business & at some point hope to be able to purchase one again!
If your goal and dream is to keep on selling physical products just focus on doing presale launches (with a limited number you announce) where people pay for the product before you even produce it. This will prevent you from having unsold items sit in a ware house🌺
Hey Aja 💕 I've been following you since the very first Video you posted on YT and I would be so devastadet if you would step back from SM, but I would completly understand and maybe we can help you Figure out what to do next.
First - you gotta give yourfelf a little break, cause we all now how stressful the last year was and your focus was with your house. So, one thing at a time! Maybe you could invest a little more in Promotion your planners and share what people can expect. Like shipping costs for people who live in europe or maybe habe different colors of the planners available?
Please don't give up this easily, this isn't necessarily your fault, a lot of Businesses struggle these days :( everything is so expensive, so you gotta try and let people think, that this is what they wanna spend their money on. Wish you all the best! Love your videos 🥰
They are literally perfect!! I use it the weekly expense tracker every Sunday, I do my quarterly goals, monthly planning. I'm so sad, I hope they do better so you never stop selling them. Can you sell them via target? Thanks for making them, I wish you all the best whatever you choose ❤
I agree that the undated planner is the way to go in the future! I love the physical planners because I’m not a digital person at all!
I also wanted to express that your videos and planner helped me become debt free this month! Thank you for being so open about your financial situations!
aw aja!!! i really believe you can do anything you put your mind to. you have such a good head on your shoulders.
my brother is also a small business owner in la and it's his LITERAL BABY. it consumes him! it's on his mind 24/7, he's been busy non-stop for at least the past 3 years with no breaks and he barely answers back non-work related texts, calls, etc.
not saying you need to pour your life into it....but i can only imagine all the work youve been doing either way.
while i agree with you that some people arent cut out for it, i think tha'ts okay!!!!!
for a small business to thrive and be successful financially the creator/owner has to be deeply involved and make tons of personal sacrifices.
have you ever thought about talking to other successful small new business owners that are in different fields?
seeing how they run their company might give you inspiration and ideas as well.
i think your planner is something special!!!!
I'd opt for an undated planner where people fill in the exact dates for each month to give you more flexibility in shifting last year's stock until you can nail forecasting.
As a marketer, my first question is: are you reaching the right audience? Before diving into whether the products are right or wrong, you also need to look at if you're reaching the right people. And are you reaching enough of them with content that resonates with them? Educational pieces seems to be what you're missing. Can you look at collabs/partnerships to expand your reach to a wider audience? Should you focus on PR to get coverage in the right places AKA wedding magazines for the wedding planner. Some rambly thoughts 🙂
I LOVE the physical MSTRPLN dated planner. Size and all! I used the passion planner in the past but I never want to go back 😿
I considered buying it at the beginning of the year, however it was outside the price range I wanted to spend on a planner. I did buy it in April with the discount and I am enjoying it. I would suggest reducing the amount of blank pages and creating small areas to write within the pages. Possibly reduce the manufacturing cost and price overall where you can find a compromise in price and vision 💛
Just a thought, but what if instead of a 12 month planner, do a longer monthly planner, like an 18 month one. Stretching it out a little bit to give it more time to sell and increasing the value and use of it. That why by the new year you can see what’s left and it’s still sellable. Also people can still use it in the new year or buy it at a discounted rate as well for the remaining 6 months.
The nonprofit organization I work at just held personal finance workshops for our staff and students. We’re based in LA! I hope you’re able to sell them all but nonprofits like ours would gladly accept donations to give to individuals 🙂
Have you invested in ads on Facebook and Instagram? Small budget, target audience, and then test video/image ads. I feel like a $1000 budget for ads to start would give you some good insight and you can adjust the ads as needed. Drive traffic to the website for the planner.
I think your planners are good ones. You haven't been uploading as much as you used to so that may be why people haven't been purchasing. I think if you post more about the planners and have more pictures uploaded on your website. That way people can see how it looks inside. There are only a few pictures.
Secondly the size of the planners may be an issue. Lots of people like it smaller and lighter to carry it with them.
Identify the various revenue streams within MSTRPLN and calculate gross margin, decide then what to double down on, what to shrink back or retire.
I think what would be helpful is to market it more clearly because I didn’t know how your planners are like and so I tried to find a playlist or video that shows me that and it was hard to find since there’s no playlist, highlights, and/or videos titled with MSTRPLN included, or at least I felt like I couldn’t find it easily.
I do love this planner it helped me get back to physical planning! I enjoy the vison board and I do look back at my goal pages quite often to keep reminding myself. I love that there are multiple bookmarks because I do use the blank pages ALOT for bullet journaling. I not only use this planner for financial planning, but I also use it for journaling, making lists for groceries or To-Do, etc. I'm wondering if you created a less intensive planner, it could cut the cost for you by using less paper? I found myself not gravitating to the weekly time slotted sheet simply because I don't have much going on other than doctor appointments, a few events here and there. I guess I'm boring :') I sometimes forget to use the weekly budget sheets because some weeks I only spend on gas. I still buy your planner every year because I want to support you and your business! :D Also its bugging me people are saying undated planners because she already offers that! LOL just throwing it out there.
I agree with the overall sentiment of evolving. TBH I never invested in a MSTRPLN planner because its hard for me to faithfully use a planner. Based your content, it seems like the overall goal of MSTRPLN is to help with preparedness. So maybe thinking of products and/or guides that are relevant to various levels of preparedness. For instance, its very hard for me to do long term planning, but I can handle a to do list. Thank you for your transparency!
Usually those who sale budget products are successful when they share their budget and how they manage their money so maybe reconsider sharing more about your finances with the master planner
another vote for undated planners! takes a little pressure off of sales since they're not dated. i will also say that i personally prefer smaller planners which is why i never pulled the trigger on purchasing a mstrpln one. also agree with comments mentioning evolving the brand or doing things digitally instead. overall, i hope things work out because i think the finance space does need a business like yours!
She already has them on her site. They obviously aren’t selling. I keep seeing people commenting this over and over and it’s so clear that they haven’t even looked at her products or been to her site.
you could change the layout of the planner to not be year/date specific so inventory management is not as difficult. Like roterunner purpose planners.
I love and cannot live without my physical and digital planners - maybe just make the physical one Undated and keep making the Yearly dogital ones; I’m surprised people found the physical ones confusing / intimidating especially since there’s a key and brief description at the beginning of the planners every year, but if they haven’t really watched your YT videos for the last few years I guess it makes sense they’re not as familiar. Keep posting them, people will get familiar through your short form videos and then maybe Segway that into the YT videos so not only will it be informative for them, but it’ll drive traffic for you :)
I agree you could market it more. I love your old budgeting videos when you were in debt- I literally still watch them to remind myself I can deal with the debt I have. Maybe do RUclips videos with your viewers or volunteers/ friend and show them how to use the planner and film it. Give examples of other people using it because I think for a lot of us now, your finances aren’t really relatable anymore.
I love the planner and have purchased one every year since they first came out. I love having something physical to write in but it seems like focusing in more on the digital products is the way to go. Also, I do believe the aspects of the physical planner could be pared down a bit more. I would take out the weekly timed schedule and the vision board and would focus more on the financial aspects. I use it mostly for the financial tracking and goal setting. I almost never use the pages that do not pertain to finances/goals. Extra blank pages are nice for random notes
Definitely evolve it! Focus on digital productivity products instead - goal and habit trackers, budget planners, life/work organisation, creative journals, moodboard makers, specific things for business owners and wives-to-be and dog moms and students, etc.
By digital I mean Notion, Google Sheets, and Excel instead of just Goodnotes templates :) in terms of small businesses that do productivity stuff, I love The Productivity Method by Grace Beverley, Press Reset by Kaylan Kerbler, and The Line by Raisa Martin. I love your personal brand and you definitely can pivot MSTRPLN to something even bigger and more digital 💗
I am chockad! You planner is awsum! I tried to buy it for me. My niece has a friend in USA so I bought a planner and send it to her. Then she was going to send it to me here in Sweden but I never got it. It costed me about $150 but no calander! 😔 I hope you dob’t give up! I have already planned to buy several things from you when I go to Florida in November….
Digital is where it’s at. Please consider selling a budget spreadsheet template. I recall a video where you have a budget/ financial planner spreadsheet. The categorization and color options looked impressive. I would buy.
It depends if you still feel passionate about it. I made the hard decision this week to quit self publishing romance novels because I was seeing a decline in sales and my motivation level. It might require a pivot on your end but I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out!
How about ring binder inserts? It will have to be a new product though. But based on the masterpln planner. You can tap into the ring binder market. Make dividers, envelopes, which could be great for those who do cash stuffing, another niche. But if you want to test this idea out without committing to a new product how about offering printables of some msterpln pages in pocket rings size see how people like it. Then maybe offer physical products after.
I think you shouldnt give up on the budget course, it could accompany the planner for free as an insentive or be purchased on its own!
Focus on your digital product suite and continue to update them. I love all of your video types: vlogs, financial, etc.
One way to possibly help with the cost is printing and binding them yourself, that way there won't be an excess, you would just print and bind based on orders received.
Oh another idea if you continue the dated planner split the 12 months into two 6 month planners less bulky
Don’t be to hard on yourself, last year was rough. Perspective, I didn’t know still where selling the planners. I think if i saw you use it more on day to day it would remind me of them. Also, don’t date them maybe for a few years just as sales ramp up.
You have been such a huge inspiration to me! I have always hated to go through budgets, numbers and how much to save etc. Inspired buy you I drew my own charts and filled in every month how much we save etc. And with the charts it is for the first time fun! I hope you find a way to move forward and keep both the physical planners and and the digital things. I do think though that without you on RUclips and other platforms it won’t sell very well. You are the inspiration that makes people want to try it. How about you asking if anyone wants help and show the process on RUclips when you help them. Maybe people making much less money than you! How can they use your planners etc. I think a bit of the beeing intimidated could be that you make much more money so you can have different goals etc. and you dob’t see how you could use it to help yourself. Does that make sense???
I would market using the 2023 planners as 2023 picture/scrap books! It’s a way to use them as they are, and encourages people to keep them long term!
I haven't watched one of your videos in a while. I see you really took that Dave Ramsey angle and ran with it. Dave Ramsey's success proves that there's no shortage of people who know nothing about budgeting and finances, so there's a customer base there.
transitioning to a full digital product might be the way to go! notion templates scale while physical products are much harder to scale, not to mention the inventory problems. Also, do pre-orders and send out emails /surveys to your potential customers. Ask for suggestions before any product is made. Good luck!
Aja you inspire me with you ability to pivot in tough situations. As a person who loves planners and organizing the digital spreadsheets look great and the content is useful. Where I see the physical planner struggle is that it’s sleek, but is that the demographic you’re going for? While they’re not as helpful as your’s the ”fru-fru” planners end up all over my ads page because they’re eye catching either in color or size.
Please do undated inserts for A5 ring planners! I’ve been using a ring agenda for a while now as an effort to be more eco friendly and always looking for better inserts out there
I love my physical planner. Due to my line of work I get an undated one. I work in horticulture so there will be months I don't look at a planner in the summer. I want to change this but this is what I see from my trends. The planner is quite heavy but I'm not sure if that can be changed. I also get overwhelmed by the goal section. I do that with any goal-related things though. I love what you have done with mstrpln and hope you can grow as a company.
#1 problem I didn’t even know you had a planner business; I’m a viewer who watches more of your life videos but I still like budgeting too
go to an hardware store and look for adapters for your overhead rig. just like adapter that convert lighting to usd c. if not camera store or something like that. something simple, small, cheap cause i got it ages ago at radio shack😅
I used paper form planners I prefer, but in this economy, I had to re-think my priorities, and I had to change to a digital form. It’s cheaper and always available from my devices-no need to carry it around.
Also I thought you were doing so well with the planners and that’s why you weren’t plugging them in videos. You certainly should include them in some videos because if it’s your consistent viewer or a new viewer, they’ll know about the products
Aww dang. Definitely think going the dateless route could cut back on waste and naybe have the dated ones be on demand. I think expanding into Excel could work, lol mainly because i suck at Notion. You could look into developing an app, adding more digital planner add ons like the sticker icons, and even offering classes on how to set up Notion and Excel. Expanding into digital planners could save money and allow for ease of use for consumers. Someone suggested using the planner more, which could be a good idea. I personally didn't buy one because i just use a blank dotted journal for notes and planning and then an Excel spread that I made for organizing everything. I personally didn't see how I could use the planner, it felt a bit restricted. Perhaps general marketing could be an issue. To me the branding clashes a bit. The planner seems really formal, structured, and boss girl, but the marketing is millennial, youthful, really fresh, down to earth, and fun. Perhaps you could add new colors to match that vibe. Or, maybe showcase the planner with different aesthetics. I am not sure if the planner is strictly for financial planning, but maybe people viewing the site could think it's not suitable for general planning. Maybe you could launch a general planner if this one is only for budgeting.
I bought an undated planner 2 yrs ago and I did feel overwhelmed by it. For me it was more a my brain just didn't know where to start. Maybe providing an ADHD friendly guide? I mean I think its a great idea but I definitely have a hard time focusing and identifying how to set up metrics/goals. But I am definitely ordering some to share with friends and my sisters.
Thanks for sharing. I don’t sell products but I’m a part time freelancer and honestly for the last 2 months I’ve been thinking about quitting. I’m just tired…but I need the money 😭