Resilient as F*k!

The Year of Yes: A Sweet Journey with Katie Merchant

Episode Summary

From a backyard beekeeping experiment to a booming honey production business, Katie Merchant, founder of The Honey Merchants, joins Vivian Perez to share her sweet journey. This episode explores the power of saying "yes" to every opportunity, the emotional toll and triumph of massive markets like the Calgary Stampede, and how to build a purpose-driven, community-focused brand.

Episode Notes

"I thought, I'm going to make mistakes and that's okay. And I was okay with it all. So just be kind to myself about it. But learn as much as I can."

In this episode of Resilient as F*k!, host Vivian Perez (Vamp Brand Studio) sits down with Katie Merchant, the beekeeper and visionary behind The Honey Merchants, to discuss her transformation from a stay-at-home mom to a thriving CPG founder.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Spark: How her toddler's fear of a house fly inspired Katie to buy 20,000 bees and eventually start a honey empire.
• The "Year of Yes": Leveraging ADHD as a superpower to hyper-focus and jump from doing just 1 or 2 markets to 47 in a single year.
• Scaling and Imposter Syndrome: Surviving a 10.5-hour booth setup at the Calgary Stampede and learning to hold her own alongside global, multi-million-dollar brands.
• Community & Education: Why going into classrooms to teach kids about bees—and handing out honey sticks and "I Love Alberta Bees" buttons—is her favorite way to build a brand footprint.
• The Power of "No": Learning to set boundaries, walking away from massive events for the sake of family time, and leaning into a direct-to-consumer sales model.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Honey Merchants: thehoneymerchants.com
• Events & Markets: Calgary Stampede, Saskatoon Farm, Lilac Festival, and The Brewery and the Beast
• Retailers: Main Street Market (Okotoks and Strathmore) and Jolene's Tea House (Banff)

Connect with Vamp Brand Studio:

• Website: https://www.vanpbrandstudio.com/

Services: Strategy, Identity, Packaging, Web, and Social Design for Resilient Founders.