With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/159/

What do you need to have in place to have a solid business? What would you need to have in place should you decide to sell your business?

“But I’ll never sell! This is my passion!”

Never say never. Sometimes opportunities present themselves out of nowhere, or situations arise, and you never know when you may need to pivot.

There are four key areas that ALL shop owners need to have organized and under control. Today we are discussing your finances, systems, reputation, and growing your customer list. All of these are avenues to being able to sell, franchise, or expand your business.

Making sure these KEY foundational systems are in place will demonstrate professionalism, show growth, and bring bigger opportunities your way. It will also give you total control by understanding the back end of your business and proving that it is viable and healthy.

So grab your coffee and a pencil and take some serious notes on how to be a true CEO and prepare for any opportunities that may arise!

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 148: Four Thing Every Retailer Should Do Before Signing a Lease

Episode 109: Money Mindset, Abundance and Bad Ideas with Guest Expert Emily King

Episode 89: Money Talk & Mindset with Profits First Coach April Stroink

Episode 87: Retail Success Series: The Journey to CEO Level Confidence with Stacey Allgood

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten

 https://wendybatten.com/158/

Isn’t it flattering and exciting when customers make a day around visiting your shop!? Doesn’t it make you a little teary when people make visiting your shop a special event!? Today we’re talking about how to build that business that attracts all of the customers for all the right reasons.

It’s time to widen the net and become THE destination shop!

We have the opportunity to not just sell things, but truly create an experience for people and make them feel something. And this should be at the top of your list, and in order to make it happen, you have to know your ideal customer.

We discuss so many ideas in this episode on HOW you can get your customers excited to come in and experience your shop. Whether you own a bookstore, a vintage shop, a home decor store, a jewelry store, or a paint store - we’ve got you covered.

So, are you asking yourself the following questions…?

*What is something your ideal customer would love?
*What is it that your customers don’t love?
*Are you building a community?
*Are you creating an EXPERIENCE?

Overall, it’s all about trust, community, being 100% yourself, and intentional planning. None of this happens by accident. Let’s dive in and not just focus on our great inventory, but focus on expanding our customer footprint and becoming the beautiful business and attraction you were meant to be.

Let’s keep our shops enjoyable not only for our customers, but for us as well!

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 156: 6 Proven Ways to Improve Your Shop’s Merchandising

Episode 143: How to Plan and Host Successful Events in Your Shop

Episode 107: Turn Browsers into Buyers

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/157/

I’m so excited to introduce you to Jeff Lee! We have been working together for quite some time and Jeff has such an incredible story that I think will be really helpful to you.

Jeff calls himself an accidental entrepreneur like so many of us do. He started painting furniture and quickly turned into a gift shop, purchasing wholesale products. His growth journey from booth space to 7000 sq feet and running a profitable retail business has not always been linear. 

Jeff has seen the highs and the lows of business and gotten through it by putting on his CEO hat, digging in and doing the work. One thing Jeff will share with us is how he’s made hard decisions about product lines, branding, etc…including truly listening to what his customers want. 

Jeff will also share how he’s turned his shop into a local destination shop. From merchandising, product lines, the smell of his store, the lighting, the layout, the conversations - Jeff has mastered the FEEL of his store to bring in more customers again and again. 

I know that when you listen to Jeff’s journey and understand his mindset - you will gain so many takeaways! 

In retail, it's always: Start. Grow. Shift. Grow. Learn. Grow. Rinse. Repeat.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 88: Retail Success Series: Making Pivotal (and scary) CEO Decisions with Retailer Melanie Kolb
Episode 87: Retail Success Series: The Journey to CEO Level Confidence with Stacey Allgood

Episode 39: Retailer Success Series: How Jill Went from Hobbyist to Creative CEO

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

https://wendybatten.com/156/

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

In this episode of The Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing six essential merchandising tips for small independent shop owners. These tips aim to attract customers and encourage sales and loyalty, making your business strong and healthy.

Good merchandising can increase your sales with both new arrivals but also slower moving items. By following these tips, you'll be better positioned to welcome, engage, and increase sales from merchandising in your shop right now!  I encourage you to implement the following tips by this weekend and report back on how it helped your sales.

1. Offering repeat exposure on select items can maximize sales using cross-merchandising or multiple merchandising.

2. Consistent signage throughout the space can effectively communicate with customers.

   • Point out best sellers, locally made goods, quotes, etc.

3. Maximize the POS area with store information and inventory to increase sales.

   • Advertise return policy in a fun way, post upcoming events, merchandise grab-and-go goods

4. Identify your ideal customers and merchandise the store accordingly.

   • Have unscalable conversations to figure out pain points for customers

5. Offering how-to-tips within your displays can engage customers and encourage them to spend more money.

   • Utilize QR codes and tip sheets

6. Make use of prime real estate spots in the store to enhance the overall store merchandising experience.

   • Maximize the best spots for high return items

For additional support, join me and my fab retailers inside the Retailer’s Inner Circle for full access to my 5 Day Merchandising Series Masterclass, the Ideal Customer Workshop, and my signature course: Retail Made Simple.

This episode is sponsored by: 

H+H Americas

Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business.  Here are the details:

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)

https://www.hh-americas.com/

Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor

I’ll be hosting sessions on Hobby Mindset to CEO and How to Throw an Amazing Workshop/Event in your retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 55: Unscalable Conversations – A Free, Simple and Powerful Marketing Tool To Use

Episode 58: 3 Simple Sales Metrics Retailers Need to Measure for Better Sales

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

 Notes:

Today’s episode is all about the importance of prioritizing our energy, space, and mindset to achieve sustainable retail growth. It’s a “sister show” and a continuation from episode 154 with my guest, retailer Christie Carter-Tokairin. (Go have a listen here).

Let’s set the boundaries we need to keep life in our lifestyle businesses. 

Key points I dig into in this episode:

• Rest is essential - it’s NOT a reward.

• Excellent leadership requires boundaries and systems to protect ourselves from burnout.

• Setting “yellow lines” or boundaries is vital for protecting ourselves and our business.

• The golden egg analogy reminds us that taking care of ourselves is crucial for the success of our business.

If you struggle with boundary setting, start with these habits:

1. Communicate effectively with your staff and family about the boundaries you are setting.

2. Establish and stick to a schedule. Set your working hours and ensure your family and staff know these hours.

3. Delegate tasks to your staff and don’t micromanage them.

4. Unplug from your work.

5. Schedule days off and vacations - rest is not a reward, it is essential!

6. Utilize systems/tools that can help: binders at the counter to communicate with staff, auto responders on email, clear voicemail messages etc.

Thank you for listening to Creative Shop Talk. Remember to prioritize your energy, space, and mindset, and set boundaries to achieve sustainable business growth. Join me next time for more insights into the world of creative entrepreneurship.

“You are the golden egg. You are the biggest asset [of your business]. If you don't take care of yourself, your business will fall apart.” - Wendy Batten

This week’s episode is sponsored by: H+H Americas

Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business.  Here are the details:

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)

https://www.hh-americas.com/, tickets here: 

Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor

Other episodes you may enjoy…

Episode 154: Retail Success Series: Christie Carter-Tokairin 10 Years In 

Episode 122: Retail Success Series: CEO Mindset and Community with Sylvia Davis from Louisville Mercantile

Episode 33: The CEO Date: A Non-Negotiable Habit is Key to Creative CEO Success

Episode 70: Encore Series: You’re Not Just a Shopkeeper, You’re a Creative CEO

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

 Notes:

Today I’m chatting with Christie Carter-Tokairin, a fabulous retailer seeing such great success throughout her 10 years in business at her beautiful shop, Revived Vintage. Christie has been an active and invested member of The Retailer’s Inner Circle since it began. I’m so proud to have her share some of her wisdom and some of her success secrets as she navigates her 10th year as a small shop owner of a successful creative retail business. 

We discuss throughout the episode some of the biggest issues facing so many independent shop owners: (1) building and nurturing community with customers and in your real community, (2) working full time with your husband, (3) navigating mental health and being true to what matters, (4) how to have boundaries around your business (Christie doesn’t bring her laptop home at night), and so much more.  

“I used to think that if I was working on my business every minute of every day, it would grow faster, better, stronger. And I did that when it first opened, and I found that that was actually not true at all.” - Christie Carter-Tokairin

Pay particular attention to our conversation about taking care of ourselves, letting things go, and being open and honest about our mental health. She also shares my passion for being community minded in your town. Being a good active member of your own town has such an incredible ROI on your mind and pocketbook. 

“There is no gold metal for hustling.” - Wendy Batten

She exemplifies a shop owner doing it her way, making decisions based on life first, then around her beautiful business. It’s very inspiring. 

So, let’s go and listen in on our chat about life and business as a small shop owner! 

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

About Christie

Christie Carter-Tokairin is the owner of Revived Vintage in beautiful Qualicum Beach, BC.  Revived Vintage is a beautifully curated creative shop, featuring artistically inspired furniture, home decor, & accessories. She’s an incredible artist and also does custom painted furniture, offers workshops and is a go-to for creative paints and supplies. 

She has been reviving furniture for over 25 years and is well known, in both Alberta and British Columbia for her creative designs, knowledge of refinishing, the quality of her work and attention to detail. Her husband Craig has been sanding, repairing and building right alongside her and with his knowledge of refinishing and corporate career experience, this is a true family run, passion driven small business.

Christie and Craig have been featured in numerous newspapers and magazine articles, as well as interviewed on CBC radio. Their business model and logo were featured in a University Business Marketing program and in 2018, Christie was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Qualicum Beach Community Awards.  

Christie and Craig are celebrating their 10th business anniversary this summer!

Christie has been an active member of the Retailer’s Inner Circle since its inception, and one to follow. 

Follow Revived Vintage on Facebook

Follow Revived Vintage on Instagram

Website: Revived Vintage

Other episodes you may enjoy…

Episode 88: Retailer Success Series: Making Pivotal (and scary) CEO Decisions with Retailer Melanie Kolb

Episode 113: Retail Success Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee from The Vintage Nest

Episode 133: Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, and CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh

Episode 132: Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell | Episode 132

Episode 39: Retailer Success Series: How Jill Went from Hobbyist to Creative CEO

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

Notes: 

Do you watch The Lost Kitchen? Do you know entrepreneur Erin French?

Her approach to business has inspired me, so today I’m sharing some of my leadership and customer experience takeaways from Erin French, owner and chef of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine.

"In order to be successful in business, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and be willing to adapt and pivot when necessary." - Erin French

https://wendybatten.com/153/

In this episode, you’ll hear 4 business lessons that women (and men) in leadership can learn from Erin. Erin French's success story offers inspiration and practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses and achieve a healthy work-life balance. The episode covers the importance of passion, unique selling propositions, staff management, effective marketing, and financial management; with a focus on how these lessons can be applied by small shop owners. I’ll give you in-depth examples and practical tips for each of these takeaways. 

"The key to success in business is not just about having a great product or service, it's about creating a strong brand and marketing it effectively to your target audience." - Erin French

This episode is a must-listen for any woman in leadership looking for support and guidance in running a profitable and sustainable business.

About Erin French

Erin French is the owner, chef, and creative mastermind behind The Lost Kitchen, a renowned and very unique 40-seat restaurant housed in a historic mill in Freedom, Maine. Erin authored Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch. The Lost Kitchen’s tremendous story is featured in Magnolia Network’s The Lost Kitchen.

Website: https://www.findthelostkitchen.com/

Instagram: @thelostkitchen

This week’s episode is sponsored by: H+H Americas

Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business.  Here are the details:

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)

https://www.hh-americas.com/

Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor

Other episodes you may enjoy…

Episode 142: How to Make Real Progress in Your Business with Guest Expert Richard Ralston

Episode 98: My Top Business Books for Retailers 

Episode 109: Money Mindset, Abundance and Bad Ideas with Guest Expert Emily King

Key SEO words: Erin French, The Lost Kitchen, passion, unique selling proposition, staff management, effective marketing, financial management, sustainable business.

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/152/

Today we are answering a listener’s question about hosting outside vendors for pop-up shows/markets in your retail space. We’ll deep dive into what hosting a pop-up vendor(s) could mean for your shop, why you should consider it, and a few key tips on what works when it comes to hosting these types of events.

In this podcast you will discover:

• The benefits of hosting pop-up vendors are two fold: (1) it is a great attract strategy to get a new audience of people into your shop and (2) it is a great way to nurture your existing customers by giving them something new and exciting.

• Invite vendors who align with your brand, your space, and your customers. (Specific examples are in the episode!)

• Themed pop-up events throughout the year are a great opportunity to invite local makers/artists/community members/brand reps & experts into your shop and increase visibility.

• It is important to have the details (including fee, if applicable) in writing prior to the event. Charging vendors (or not) to pop-up in your shop takes consideration and there are times when it is necessary. Listen in for specifics on that hot topic!

• BONUS IDEA: Hype up your vendor by marketing (FB live, IG live) from THEIR location.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have a vendor in your shop in a different capacity to give your customers something exciting to look forward to.” - Wendy Batten

Listen to the full episode for more details. Let’s work together on new ideas to bring in some new customers to your business and nurture your current ones!

This episode is sponsonsored by: 

If you are ready to level up your retail business join the Retailer’s Inner Circle THE go-to for independent shop owners to connect, learn and grow. 

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 69: Becoming a Destination Shop

Episode 143: How to Plan & Host Successful Events and Promotions in Your Shop

Episode 145: How to Market Promotional Events in Your Shop

Episode 129: Community Attract Strategies with Inner Circle Member Michelle Emmons

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

Show Notes:

Hard conversations can feel awkward. You like your retail staff, but you have to bring up some things that are not going right and need attention. Maybe you “let it go” and grit your teeth. In today's episode, we're going to discuss a topic that many of my clients face and some tips you can use to make these conversations easier: how to have difficult conversations with good staff.

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

• It's essential to have policies and procedures in place, even if you have a small team. This will help you maintain a healthy work environment and avoid any misunderstandings. Do 

• To start a difficult conversation, use these three sentences: 1) "Here's what I would like you to stop doing," 2) "Here's what I would like you to start doing," and 3) "Here's what I would like you to keep doing."

• When addressing the issue, be specific, and clear, and provide examples. Offer solutions and reinforce positive behaviors.

• If you're struggling to find the right words or approach, seek guidance from a coach or mentor.

“You have to keep the ship upright. We have to keep things moving smoothly, and you deserve to have a business being run the way you want to run it. Your vision matters.” - Wendy Batten

Remember that as a leader, you set the culture, and it's your responsibility to ensure that your team members are meeting the standards you've established. Difficult conversations may be uncomfortable, but they're necessary for the success of your business.

Listen to the full episode for more details. Let’s keep your retail shop a happy place for both you and your staff. 

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

If you are ready to level up your retail business join the Retailer’s Inner Circle or reach connect with Wendy for one on one coaching here. 

Resources Mentioned:

Retailer’s Inner Circle

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 139: 6 Things to Focus on in 2023

Episode 33: This Non-Negotiable Habit is Key to Creative CEO Success

Episode 78: Retailer Success Stories: Learning to Level Up with Amy Hart

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/151/

Show Notes 

We all get caught up in what we “should” be doing in marketing, but what if that doesn’t jive with your vision for your business? What if it doesn’t feel authentic? Today on the podcast, I’m chatting with Natalie Davison: marketing guru, multi-passionate award-winning REALTOR®, and self-proclaimed local cheerleader about just that. She and I take a deep dive into this conversation on why being true to yourself matters in order to stay in alignment with your vision in business and in life.

“The most important thing for not only entrepreneurs, but every human I know, is to have a vision for the impact that they are going to create on the world...” - Natalie Davison

Throughout the discussion, we’ll also discuss why shopping local business is important (and why YOUR business specifically is important to YOUR community), how to create/reflect on your vision for your business (and life), why knowing the vision for your business is of utmost importance, and why it should drive your marketing decisions.

We also get into the exercise of “The Five Whys” that, when reflected upon, will help uncover some of the most driving forces behind your vision and how your work can change your community and future. 

Tips on Staying in Alignment with your Vision/Being True to Yourself

1. Identify your vision and really dig deep on The Five Whys.

2. Find an effective avenue for becoming confident with your voice/business/vision, i.e. therapy, coaching, etc.

3. Realize that your “Attract Strategy” is just as important as your “Repel Strategy.”

“...And isn't it amazing how you will attract clients who don't value what's amazing about you when you don't value what's amazing about you? And what's amazing about you is what's unique about you. So the things that we are most ashamed of are usually the things we try to hide are usually the things that make us different, that are usually the things that are most amazing.” - Natalie Davison

4. Know that it is okay to have a “non-sales” pitch and take necessary breaks as long as when you show up, you are being authentic to your true self and vision.

5. If your goal is to build/support your community, a small dedicated following on social media is more beneficial than a huge worldwide one.

“Marketing is just getting humans to take action.” - Natalie Davison

About Natalie:

Natalie Davison is a brand communications expert, REALTOR® and entrepreneur, known for her signature blend of wild optimism and truth-telling. Having consulted with dozens of entrepreneurs on their brand identities, Natalie's adept at casting a vision of what's possible while simultaneously embracing what's actually true.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/150/

Show Notes 

I often get asked my thoughts on going into business with friends and honestly, I have seen it succeed and I’ve seen it go sideways. Today, we are going to focus on the good. I’m interviewing Susan Mocker and Devon Cretella, owners of Extending Grace, a home decor shop in Hubbard, Ohio. They are sharing partnership advice and what worked for them and how two friends turned a shared creative hobby into a successful retail business partnership.

What Has Worked in Business for Susan and Devon

1. They are business partners whose skill sets compliment each other. Susan is great at social media and “front end” tasks while Devon takes on more behind-the-scenes tasks.

2. Susan and Devon trust each other’s decision making. They started their business with a shared belief that both of their intentions are good and that they are always working toward the same end goal. 

3. Neither is afraid to speak up when something isn’t working and both are willing to try new things.

4. Every year, they get away from their shop for an annual planning retreat. They plan Extending Grace’s year with intention away from home and their shop to avoid distractions.

“Write it in pencil because business is flexible.”

5. They have an intense focus on building and collaborating with their community. In the episode, you will hear them explain their incredible success with their own workshops, the online platform “CommentSold,” and bringing in outside teachers to host workshops in their store (for free!).

6. Both Susan and Devon knew when the time was right to start their business and how to balance life with work. (HINT: It wasn’t the first time the idea came to them!)

Advice for Friends Who Want to Go into Business Together

1. Put everything in writing.

2. Try working together first: learn how the other person operates and be sure your styles compliment each other.

3. Picture the partnership as a marriage: Can you move together in the same direction toward the same goal?

4. Be willing to make adjustments when things aren’t working and shifts when things are working very well.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask advice from people/mentors you trust.

About Susan and Devon:

Susan Mocker and Devon Cretella are the co-owners of Extending Grace in Hubbard, Ohio.

Friends since the 90’s, we opened the store in 2016. Both of us love all things vintage & creative, and our store reflects that.

Customers experience a home décor shop with a focus on antiques, vintage, DIY and the work of local artists and collectors.

We love hanging out with our customers and neighbors during workshops, events, and community projects.

You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, and on their CommentSold Webs

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/149-2/

Show Notes 

It’s easy for us as passionate retailers to quickly fall in love with the “perfect” space and location, but how do we know it’s the right business move? In this episode, I’ll talk you through four things you need to know and do before signing a lease for your retail business.

As a retail coach and the daughter of a father who was a retail leasing “guru”, I can share from experience that I have seen a lot of lease agreements go sideways or have surprises. 

Here are a few things shop owners need to consider when leasing a new location:

1. Set a budget.

Talk to leasing agents regarding price/square foot, average rental prices in the area you are looking to open a shop in. Be aware of what leasehold improvements you will want/need to make.

2. Do your due diligence. 

What can you negotiate?

• Lease length

• Rent increases

• Allowances

What should you look for in the lease that you might miss?

• Hidden costs

• Utilities/Internet

• Tax/Insurance requirements

3. Be sure everything is in writing and have a mentor and/or professional look it over.

4. Know what YOU can afford.

Do you know what % of your gross sales should go to rent, or how much you will need to make to pay that rent? I share that industry average % and more in this episode. 

“Our heart can convince our head of anything, so we want to make sure it doesn’t convince us to get into trouble.  So put your CEO hat on and your heart and head can have a conversation with all of the right information.” - Wendy Batten

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/148-2/

 Show Notes 

They say success is 80% mindset, but what happens when factors outside of your control (in this episode we will talk specifically about competition) leave you feeling defeated?  How can you get your mindset back to good? In this episode, I’m going to talk you through how performing a SWOT Test on your brand and business can help you reframe your mindset and leverage competition to improve your business.

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Doing this exercise will really help you brainstorm a bigger picture and overview of what is really going on in your business and where to focus your efforts.

Competition isn’t a Bad Thing

• Forces you to stay fresh in your business

• Brings more visibility to your shop and can actually funnel customers right to you

• Gives you a chance to focus on what you do well and what makes you and your brand unique (your strengths) and improve upon the things you don’t do so well (your weaknesses)

Getting Your Mindset Right

1. Ask yourself these questions when performing a SWOT Test on your business.

• Strengths - What is your unique selling point? What do you do better than anyone else? What do your customers love about your shop that is unique to you? What does your community say you are the “go-to” for? Focus specifically on the strengths of your brand.

• Weaknesses - What are some things you struggle with? Where are the gaps in your skillset? What things might hinder your success? Where can you spend time ensuring your brand is strong and well-known? Are there aspects of your business where you are just “winging it?”

• Opportunities - What external factors can help your business grow? What changes would your customers like to see? What additional revenue streams can be added? What emerging technology can you leverage? 

• Threats - What external factors can harm our business? Are there economic or social issues that can harm your business? What other risks/challenges do you face? When you assess threats, be sure to evaluate the truth in the things you are telling yourself.

2. Perform the SWOT Test on your competitor’s business.

Doing this will help you focus on reality versus the reality you’ve created in your mind. Don’t dwell on this step - it is meant just to give you a clear picture of what is actually happening.

3. Make changes to your business based on the results of the test you performed on YOUR business.

Push the gas on your strengths. Find a way to level up your weaknesses. Remember that by focusing on your weaknesses they become strengths. What opportunities did you identify that you can seize? How can you leverage your marketing plan, your community, and branding so that your competition feels like less of a threat? Focus specifically on the things YOU have control over. 

If you are looking for additional support and someone to bounce ideas off of, my Retailers’ Inner Circle is a great resource. Not only will you have access to me and the bright minds of over 100 fellow creative retailers, but you will also have access to my signature course, Retail Made Simple, and countless masterclasses that will help you level up every aspect of your retail business.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/147-2/

Show Notes 

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day duties of running your business within the four walls of your shop.  In this episode, my guest Darrin Stern and I will shine a light on the value and benefits of attending trade shows.

Darrin is the Show Director of the h+h americas trade show, a brand extension of a long-running show h+h Cologne in Germany. h+h americas unites makers and wholesalers of all crafting industries: a one-stop source for everything one would need as a professional maker, a retail shop owner, an e-commerce shop owner, and/or an educator. 

The Value and Benefits of Trade Shows

1. The Human Element: When sourcing materials, it is our nature to want to see and feel things before purchasing. We benefit from hearing about the products and their stories through human interactions. We want to truly understand how it will impact our bottom line. 

“Digital is a great way to source items to begin exploration, but when you're looking at a wholesale level, it's less of an impulse buy and it's more of a business decision.” - Darrin Stern 

2. The One Stop Shop: You can save so much time and money by attending trade shows when so many quality vendors and educators are under one roof.

3. Building Relationships: Spending time and listening to equally passionate people talk about their craft/product is a valuable way to make business connections.  Specifically, at h+h americas, there are multiple opportunities and components of education that make this trade show unique.  There are daily keynote speakers, fireside chats, masterclasses, business courses, retailer meet-ups, and demonstrations.

4. Connection with Like-minded People: You’ll have the opportunity to see/hear stories from others that are all part of this passion industry whose jobs aren’t over at 5pm. These valuable conversations are where the magic happens.

5. You don’t know what you don’t know: You have to leave your bubble to grow!

Join Darrin Stern (and me!) at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business.  Here are the details:

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)

https://www.hh-americas.com/

Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor

Full show notes here  https://wendybatten.com/146-2/

Show Notes 

Now that you know how to plan successful events and promotions, you need to market them with intention to ensure customers show up. In this episode, I share intentional marketing tips and ideas that will help you meet the goals you set for your event. (HINT: It’s more than just setting up a Facebook event, and calling it a day!)

A few marketing ideas I elaborate upon in this episode are behind the scenes posts and sneak peeks, in-store signage, nurturing your email list, press releases, loyalty programs, community apps, social media, and paid marketing.

A FEW MARKETING HINTS/TIPS

(1) Build up the event 6-8 weeks in advance by sharing sneak peeks and posts that will elicit emotion from your customers. 

(2) Market to your loyal customers by offering them - for example - an early opening, special door prize, etc. 

(3) Promote your event so much that it is visible on your social accounts at all times. 

(4) Think local! Invite other small businesses, pass out postcards, etc. 

(5) Do ALL of the free marketing! 

(6) Make sure any marketing you pay for is geared specifically toward you reaching your event goal and is targeted at your ideal client. 

(7) Continue your marketing strategy throughout the entire event (social posts, lives, photos, etc) 

“Show the crowd, show the people … the frenzy and the fun and all of the exciting things that are happening during your event. It's gold.” - Wendy Batten

(8) Have unscalable conversations during the event. 

(9) Make Instagrammable moments for your customers - invite your customers to share the event via a contest or other giveaway.

Key Questions to Guide You Through Intentional Marketing Planning

1. What can you do to attract new customers to this event?

2. What can you do to hype up our existing customers? 

3. What can you do on the day of the event to market and build the event up?

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/145/

Show Notes 

You’ve spent so much time curating an amazing brand, so now what? It’s important that your customers are having the beautiful experience in your dream shop that you intend for them, so creating a customer journey map can ensure that you are doing all you can to achieve that goal.

Key Touchpoints to Focus On in Your Customer’s Journey Map

1. Customer’s “awareness” of your shop: All of the things you did to ATTRACT customers: your website, Google My Business, social media, your front window - can customers find info easily on how to contact you?  

2. Customer’s first impression of your shop: Is the parking lot clean? Is it easy to park? How is the lighting in your shop? Are the mats clean? Did anyone greet the customer? 

3. Customer’s experience while shopping: Is your store properly merchandised? Is it clean? Are your staff members pleasant and helpful?  Do you play music?

4. Customer’s check out experience: Is your cash wrap neat? Are you offering conversation to your customer? Is the receipt process smooth? How are you and your team handling any missteps?

5. Customer’s experience after they’ve left: Do you have things in place for them to refer you, to easily contact you with questions, to leave a review?

6. Customer’s experience when they return: Is your staff good at recognizing repeat customers? Do you welcome them back?

As you walk through every touchpoint, the most important question to ask yourself is “What is my customer thinking and FEELING while they are experiencing every aspect of my brand and my shop?”

The customer’s journey map is ever-changing so be sure to go through this process regularly. This will help solidify your brand and improve your customer’s experience and in turn what they are saying about your business. 

Don’t forget, please leave a review or star rating! 

Resources Mentioned:

Retailer’s Inner Circle

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 141 - Are you Running the Store of Your Dreams?

Episode 139 - 6 Things to Focus on in 2023

Episode 97 - 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Website

Episode 126 - 10 Simple Ways to Level Up Your Shop

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

More ways to connect  with Wendy  

Retail Made Simple - Wendy’s on demand course for shop owners wanting more from their business

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/144/

 Show Notes 

If you want to drive traffic into your store, simply putting a storewide discount on your products isn’t the way to do it anymore. There is a better way and it starts with planning. 

Planning is the key to running successful marketing events and promotions. It will enhance your event’s “game plan,” it will build your confidence, and it will set you up for a successful event. 

Here are some event types to consider: free demonstrations, a guest vendor doing a pop-up inside your shop, girls’ nights out, community building events, hosting local real estate/interior design vendors, holiday-themed shopping events, etc.

Planning these events ideally should take place quarterly - and at least 4-8 weeks in advance of the event. 

Step One: Reverse engineer the event itself. 

What is the outcome you are looking for by holding this event? What is the objective of having it? This question should have a specific answer: say, “I want to bring in xx in revenue during this event” or “I want everyone to know about xx product.”

“Let’s think about the purpose. What is the objective? What is the reason we are doing this event?” - Wendy Batten

Step Two: Know how you will measure the success of the event.

When you look back at your objective (say, to bring xx people for a demo), how many people came?  How many people took promotional literature about the demo? If it was sales driven, did you meet your sales goal? If the objective was for 12 people from the media to show up, how many did? Did they talk about you to others? What wins can you track/celebrate?

Step Three: Write down all of the details of the event keeping the objective in mind. 

How will you “wow” our customers during this event? Can you add something unexpected to make them smile?

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/143/

Show Notes 

If we want to make real progress, we need to stop setting more goals.

I am thrilled to introduce you to a new way to think of progress with my good friend and fellow coach, Richard Ralston. 

Richard has been a coach/mentor for 30+ years and focuses on helping his clients realize their full potential and make true progress on their goals. A champion of community and for communities, he specializes in helping people make progress and has created a methodology called The Progress Pod Accountability Group System where he helps people set up small mastermind groups to help them continue making progress. Within those small groups, they use the Next Tiny Step Method.

We’ve all felt overwhelmed when it comes to goal setting and reaching our goals. We set goals, and when we don’t reach them, we set even more goals. More goals = Overwhelm. So, in order to reduce the overwhelm, Richard created the Next Tiny Step Method where instead of putting the focus on the end result, you start at the tiniest first step at the beginning.

It’s really down to two questions. What do you want? And when are you going to do it? 

The Next Tiny Step is the process of making one single action. An action that is so small it’s immediately doable and you see the progress right away, which in turn motivates you even more and rids you of overwhelm. If life happens to get in the way of your next tiny step - shift it to the next available white space in your calendar. It’s that easy!

So grab your pen and paper and take notes - we’ve got a mindset shift you’ll want to use not just in your shop, but in your life! It’s time to gain clarity on your goals, take action, and make progress!

“Goals are a direction to go in, not a destination to get to.” - Richard Ralston

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/142/

Show Notes 

Are you running the store that you dreamed of?

We all had a dream when we were that what our shop would be and look like, right?  We were meticulous and we carefully curated our shop to create that dream.

But things change and evolve over time. I often see two things happen:

1. Creep sets in - Simply put, things get off track and bad habits are created.
2. We stop dreaming - This is when we stop evolving our business. Whether that’s with your shop culture, your staff, front windows, inventory - things need to shift and change.

Here ere are four things to consider and that I share on this episode to help you level up your shop:

1. Shop Standards - Is everything the way you pictured it would be? Does it feel the way you want it to? 
2. Your Team - Is your team cohesive? Are they doing the things you want them to? It might be time for some team meetings, performance evaluations, etc. How about your business advisors - do you have the right team around you?
3. You are the CEO - Are you comfortable in this role? Has your CEO role evolved alongside your business? It’s time to level up your skills and knowledge!
4. Customer Experience - Is the customer experience actually what you had envisioned it to be? Understand your customer’s experience from finding you, to shopping, to buying, to sharing.

It’s time to walk through your shop with fresh eyes and put your Dreamer / CEO hat back on!

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/141/

 Show Notes 

How do we keep up with the ever-evolving retail trends?

Today’s Creative Shop Talk episode is all about how to make sure your business stays fresh and exciting as the inventory and customers buying trends change. 

Today’s episode covers 2 types of trends:

1. Product Trends and how to do the right research for your product lines
2. Buying Trends and what trends are predicted for customer buying patterns 

How do we know what to buy? Trends can change based on the time period or where you live. But it’s also important to not just go with what’s trendy because it’s new, but choose inventory that is aligned with your brand.

Know your inventory mix. It’s OK to dip your toes into what’s trending. But those trendy items shouldn’t make up the entire bulk of your inventory (for most shops). 

Stay true to your customers needs and wants. But how? Pay attention to what your customers are actually buying. Pay attention to brands, associations, newsletters, magazines, Pinterest/Etsy, and pop culture news. Travel, and go to trade shows or other shops - it’s all about the research.

As trends come and go,remember a key focus is on the customer journey, add a fresh new mix to your inventory as the trends are popular, and keep your CEO hat on so you can make the right choices for your brand, your customers, and your values.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/140/

Show Notes 

Welcome to Season 4 of The Creative Shop Talk Podcast!

Where we spend our time and attention it can be overwhelming. 

As we have been welcoming new members into my Retailer’s Inner Circle and Mastermind groups, we’ve been discussing different ways of running our businesses. Focusing on getting creative, innovative, and really putting new eyes on how we run things.

In 2023 seeing a small shop explosion, shopping local has new eyes and attention. Retailers are really working to pay attention to the needs of their customers.  I’m breaking it all down and sharing with you six things that we should be focusing on to help shift our energy into a positive focus for 2023.

1. We are in the hospitality business - Remind yourself of this. Although money matters, it’s all about the connection with people. Bring humanity to your business and focus on the experience and how you’re making your customers feel.
2. Build a positive marketing strategy - You need marketing that connects with your buyers to turn them into allies and believers. It also needs to align with your brand. 
3. Systems - This is the time to be stable and organized with your standard operating procedures. Ask yourself, “what would make this easier?”
4. Shop culture norms - Focus on HOW you do things. Your team, your mission, your values and shop standards - make sure they are all working for you and your team. Be the leader and be present for your team as well.
5. Profits - Make sure your numbers are under control. Pay attention to your margins, your expenses, as well as your products and inventory. Make sure you are paying yourself and your team. Be lean, but excellent.
6. Frictionless buying - Our customers and clients want ease. Make shopping with you easy , think about the way you serve, the hours you are open, the way people pay, and your policies etc.

2023 is the year to keep your CEO hat on tight and pay attention to all the details! 

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/139/

Resources to help you this week:

Business and Planning Guide - a free guide to help you plan your next steps
Retail Made Simple  - my signature course with special BONUSES 

Level Up Mastermind
Plan your best year series - Encore presentation, 4-part podcast series

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 115 - How To Tame All of Those Great Ideas

Episode 100 - Why It’s Important to Celebrate Your Business Milestones
Episode 94 - Where to Spend Your Time and Focus Within Your Business

For more support from Wendy

Retail Made Simple - the on-demand course for independent shop owners in the messy middle of business

One on One Consulting 

https://www.instagram.com/wendybatten.biz/

More ways to get support from Wendy 

Resources to help you this week:

Business and Planning Guide - a free guide to help you plan your next steps
Retail Made Simple  - my signature course with special BONUSES 

Level Up Mastermind
Plan your best year series - Encore presentation, 4-part podcast series

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 115 - How To Tame All of Those Great Ideas

Episode 100 - Why It’s Important to Celebrate Your Business Milestones
Episode 94 - Where to Spend Your Time and Focus Within Your Business

For more support from Wendy

Retail Made Simple - the on-demand course for independent shop owners in the messy middle of business

One on One Consulting 

https://www.instagram.com/wendybatten.biz/

More ways to get support from Wendy  

Show Notes 

It’s our final episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast for 2022!

At the beginning of my mastermind group sessions, members share quick wins, insights, lessons and struggles. It really makes us take the time to acknowledge what’s truly going on in our businesses.

Wins - what are you currently celebrating?

Insights - what have you observed lately?

Lessons - what have you learned?

Struggles - what areas within your business need the most help?

So, in today’s episode of Creative Shop Talk, I’m getting personal and sharing my wins, insights, lessons, and struggles:

Wins - 

1. I’m excited to say that I’ve gone back into coaching with my coaches. I invested heavily in hiring coaching with real determination of what I want. 
2. All of your wins are my wins as well. Hearing from so many of you this past year and all of the success you’ve had is a big win for me as well as working with all of my amazing retailer clients.
3. The Creative Shop Talk Podcast downloads are going up substantially every week.
4. I got out of my comfort zone and attended a conference for Canadian exporters.
5. My husband and I bought an RV and took a month-long trip to Newfoundland, Canada.
6. I have been very attentive to my health.
7. I faced another fear and invited Jo Packham be a guest on the podcast which in turn, provided many other opportunities to work with Jo. In 2023, I will be writing a business column inside her magazine, What Women Create. 
8. Lastly, I have a crystal clear vision and plan for 2023.

Insights -

1. We don’t have to be cookie cutter. We all need business foundations, but how we create those systems and foundations is going to be different than anyone else. There are many ways to run your business.
2. We need to be intentional about who we surround ourselves with. Be super selective and find your true allies.
3. Don’t play small. There’s zero growth in our comfort zone.

Lessons - 

1. Investing in coaching, teams, business growth, and myself has been huge for me and I see it huge for others as well this past year. 
2. Raise the bar when it comes to things like tech skills, and what I can do.
3. I am more comfortable with moving to the next level.
4. I need to remind myself that I am capable and a strong decision maker.
5. My wildly most important goals - I have my 3 big focus goals set.

Struggles over the past year

1. I have too many ideas. I need to corral all of my ideas and make strong decisions on what I can execute.
2. Imposter Syndrome. It was in my head this year that everyone else had it together and was bigger and better. I need to remind myself that I am not for everybody and that’s ok.
3. Impatience. I am impatient with my website updates, learning, making my team really cohesive, etc.

I am so excited for what’s coming in retail in 2023 - my clients, the podcast, and the ripple effect it all creates!

My Retail Made Simple course is OPEN and if you decide to purchase through December, you’ll get an amazing BONUS offer. A personal shop audit from me!
Jump in and say YES to a successful 2023!

Full show notes https://wendybatten.com/138-2/

Show Notes 

Cheers to another coffee break, friends!

I’ve had this particular phrase in my head for a little while now…

The Line of Fine.

Dr. Meghan Walker talks about it a lot on her podcast in conjunction with the healthcare system. For instance, let’s say you have sleep problems. You go into the doctor, they give you a few steps to help you sleep … and now you’re fine. But what caused the sleep issues in the first place?

Isn’t that something we should know?

There’s no investigation into the why, just the focus on treatment and moving on. I see this in business as well. Why are we not digging deeper and taking a forensic look at the root cause of what the problem is within our business?

We just keep working on “getting more customers” or “more social media”...but the root cause is deeper. 

No systems, poor foot traffic, team culture, poor inventory management…whatever may be going wrong, ask yourself these questions:

What is the root cause?
How did we get here?
What do we need to do?
What do we have to learn?
Who can help us through this?

The line of fine is not fine. Don’t settle for fine in your life or business.
You need to be more than fine so you can thrive!

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/137-2/

Show Notes 

Ready for another coffee break, friends? I sure am!

My husband John and I have been self employed for 27 years now. For the last few years, we’ve been intentional about doing an annual weekend excursion to plan goals and intentions for our life and businesses. I was asked to share what we do in these goal planning sessions when I shared this with my Inner Circle group. 

I share a lot about paying attention to your revenue buckets, how we’re making money, but today I’m focusing on the life buckets. 

During our annual planning sessions, we bring some “pre work” questions about what we’re thinking, how we’re feeling, etc. We also individually look back over the highlights from the past year. The good and the bad. It’s a lot of fun, and so good to take the time to reflect. 

We then look at our Wheel of Life and figure out what life buckets are important to us. Health, environment, hobbies, etc. We also look at our Thrive List. What do we need to thrive? Then we can focus on our business goals because we looked at our life buckets first. Designing a business to fit around our life.

When annual planning, don’t just focus on the 20-30% revenue increase you’d like to see in your business. Your life buckets have to be part of the equation.

Full show note here https://wendybatten.com/136/

Show Notes 

Let’s have a quick coffee break together. 

It’s Game on!
‘Tis the season to be all about the customer. They need your service, they want and need your products, and they need your expertise. 

At this stage of the game, it’s not about attracting new customers and putting marketing strategies in place. It’s all about nurturing the people you already know, love and trust. Remind them that you exist and that you can help them. Focus on your nurture marketing.

Here are two things you can do that will help you and your customers this holiday season:

Humanize Your Business via Social Media - Stop. Showing. Products. Instead, focus on videos showing your shop, your wonderful staff, and your holiday favorites.
Be genuine. Be real. Don’t focus on perfection.

Contact Your Email List - Whether you have 20, 2,000, or 20,000 people on your email list, send them updates and info throughout the holiday season that are intentional, nurturing and helpful.

To make your holiday email sending a bit easier, I’ve created six done-for-you email templates that you can copy, paste and schedule now. Grab them here while they are available. 

Let’s help our customers through the homestretch! 

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/135/

Show Notes 

Copy editor turned food writer turned freelancer turned blogger turned content agency.
Meet Lacy Boggs, content and copywriting expert! I think she can really help retailers in understanding the difference between copywriting, content, and the strategy surrounding the two and how to nail down their OWN brand voice! 

Copywriting

The copy that remains relatively static on your website

• Your website copy shouldn’t just show the facts. It needs to include your brand voice. 

Content

Words, videos, or audio that you produce in order to engage in a conversation with your clients or potential clients. Which hopefully will result in a sale.

• Think sideways! What else is your customer interested in besides the products you sell? Use that as content but keep it in your brand voice, all while humanizing your business.

Brand Voice

Lacy talks about outsourcing content, copywriting, and understanding your own brand voice and style for editorial/promotional calendars, content strategy, workflow, blogging, and so much more!

This episode will break down all the ways you can create more content, understand your brand voice more and how to effectively do it or outsource it. 

This is an episode of Creative Shop Talk you’ll want to keep in your back pocket for sure!

“It’s still a really good idea to have a blog because it gets Google looking at your website more often.” - Lacy Boggs

Make sure to grab Lacy’s free gift!

Brand Voice Style Guide
Use code: FREEBOOK

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/134/

Show Notes 

You’ll want your notepads out for this episode, friends!

We’re talking to Level Up Mastermind member Amy Cseh who started her family run shop, Schoolhouse Salvage, back in 2012 just outside of Cleveland. She started as a heavy architectural salvage business that has evolved into a 10,000 square foot brick and mortar antique shop in a vendor model. Half of the square footage is devoted to vendors and the other half is devoted to her own stock.

During covid, Amy made some huge shifts by opening a second location after seeing that her foot traffic was changing. She knows how to be the CEO of her business, makes quick decisions on the fly, and is not afraid to try something new. She’s also made huge strides with handing tasks over to her staff so she has time to be the true visionary.

Amy’s team is supportive of her mission, and of her family, and is the core of her success. Tune in to get great tips on how to make quick, expert decisions, create a positive business culture, and how to serve your community well so you don’t focus on the uncertainties of the future.

“Recognize where you need help and hire to your weakness.” - Amy Cseh

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/133/

Show Notes 

If you think you have to be on FB to grow your business, guess again!

Meet Millie Blackwell - Owner of Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop in Greytown, New Zealand!

Before opening her shop in December 2020, she and her husband owned digital businesses and did a lot of home renovations. Her shop is perfect for romantic, curious minds and romantic souls, a shop filled with books and creative items such as notebooks, jigsaw puzzles, fountain pens, stationary, etc.

Because Millie opened her shop during the height of the pandemic, she really had to work hard to build their market base in unique and creative ways. Storytelling has been a successful marketing strategy for them with print ads, Instagram, and their quarterly newsletter: The Blackwell Bugle. Fun fact: Millie doesn’t use FB!  

All of Millie’s business marketing decisions are based on building community and becoming a destination shop. Listen to her attract strategies, and how they go against the grain and are working for her. She’s doing it her way and making connections, human to human. 

Millie is a member of our Level Up and Accelerate Mastermind group and works hard at business development, and pays close attention to tracking, measuring, tweaking, training, and focusing on foot traffic. Millie is on her way to her 2023 goal of becoming a million-dollar bookshop!

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/132-2/

Show Notes 

There are two types of business mindsets I see a lot with shop owners: 

1. Fear & Lack mindset - Those just winging it and constantly thinking negatively.
2. Success & Solution mindset - Problem solvers who are confident and action-oriented.

Sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves about which camp we live in a lot. 

I want you to think like a pilot. Before you fly:

• Prepare your flight plan - know where you are going 
• Check your systems - get your business #’s and systems in place 
• Know how to get from point A to point B - map it out 
• Prepare your staff, team, coaches, biz advisors (your co-pilots)

It’s time for you to create your annual “flight” plan in order to prepare for what’s coming in 2023. When you choose to prepare, you choose to weather any storm that may come your way.

Join me on November 24th for my Annual Planning session which will include resources and help you prepare that “flight” checklist. Click here and register today!

More show notes here https://wendybatten.com/131-2/

Show Notes 

My Dad is considered a retail guru. He was a leasing and mall manager for many years and used to speak at educational events in North America. One of his standard speeches was about The Karate Kid. I know right? What? 

As I asked for more details about how The Karate Kid applied to business, I got a GREAT answer that I think you’ll love!

First, we all start out as enthusiastic beginners like Daniel. We have all the heart, hustle, and passion for every aspect of our business. 

Second, we become disillusioned. We start to realize that some tasks are not as fun as others. Just like Daniel, as he works through all of the boring basics. But he’s invested in a coach, Mr. Miyagi.

Then… it's practice, practice, practice. Over and over - refine and optimize.
Wax on, wax off. Over and over. 

And lastly, at the end of the movie, Daniel is equipped with the essential fundamentals. So much so that he’s able to overcome obstacles. Because they come easy, because he’s practiced. Just like retailers! When we have the basics set in place and we practice them every day, we’ve built up a great skill set to lead us to success. Refinement takes time and practice. 

So, my friends - “Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.” - Mr. Miyagi

Looking for more help? Invest in my Retail Made Simple four-module course. If you purchase before the end of the year, you will receive an annual planning bonus - don’t miss it!

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/130/

Show Notes 

Love on your people. That’s Michelle’s motto. 

I am so excited to introduce Michelle Emmons from Vintage Me Boutique to you all!

Michelle is a mom who started out crafting folk dolls, owned booths at various antique/crafter malls, and then opened her first shop in the 90’s. Everything she learned in those hard years building a business, helped lead her to opening her own boutique!

Like many retailers, covid certainly put a wrench in her “normal” routine, but Michelle made some massive business shifts during that time and came out on top. She now sells clothing, home decor, antiques, and painted furniture.

Michelle’s shifts include Facebook lives, where she’s built a strong community of regular shoppers, and she also now holds at least two events per month in her shop. She knows and understands her community well and gears her events and products toward their wants/needs.

Tune in to get amazing advice on how to let your business evolve, and how to build a strong community of loyal shoppers the right way. Making sure your customer base feels special and heard. 

“Act like a lady, think like a boss.” - Michelle Emmons

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/129-2/

Show Notes 

“Do a good job and you don’t have to worry about money.” - Disney

I recently attended a Women’s Leadership Conference at Disney World in Florida. Not only was the conference wonderful, but it gave me the opportunity to observe all the new things Disney is doing these days.

We all know that Disney has quite the strategy that makes people pull out their wallet and buy, buy, buy. So today we’re going over those strategies I observed and breaking them down one by one so you can apply them in your shop. 

Stay Fresh & New - Disney knows how to keep things exciting! New merchandise, new experiences, new adventures. But there’s also a consistency to their brand.

Empower Your Employees - An educated staff and flexible policies are so important. Use Disney’s L.A.S.T. philosophy - Listen, Apologize, Solve, and Think.

Value Prices - Disney prices for value. Improve your customers' perceived value with amazing service, beautiful displays, and a memorable experience.

Healthy Product Mix - Know your customers when it comes to your products. Have a mix of the classics, limited edition, high end, and trendy. 

Market Your Stories - It’s all about the Disney brand and customers wanting to be a part of its special story. Be more than just a shop and share your business culture. Nostalgia sells. Share stories about products you sell, customers, and your brand. 

So… how can you be a little more Disney? 

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/128/

Show Notes 

“Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development.” - Jim Rohn

When things get hard, it’s important to surround yourself with other like-minded individuals. People who understand what you’re going through, have unwavering faith, and will support, encourage and bring new ideas to the table. 

Today I’m answering some questions about my Level Up Mastermind group and how it can help you and your business. 

What the heck is a mastermind? 

It’s surrounding yourself with an intimate group of forward thinkers bringing their A game to support one another. It’s a combination of group support and coaching.

How it works?

1. 
   A high level look - We take a look at your goals, plan, and create action steps!
   
   
2. Share it all - We have those real conversations. You have to be willing to share honestly, all the highs and the lows.
   
   
3. It’s not a course - You do have access to my courses, programs, and my resource library but this group is really about support and education to help you move forward.
   
   
4. Type of support - One-on-one coaching as well as group meetings, strategy planning sessions, open office hours, guest experts, and “back-pocket” calls when you just need a quick bit of advice.

You basically have a built-in support system and someone to sit beside you.

Who is it for?
Retailers who want to see more life in their lifestyle business. To simplify and thrive. Retailers who are truly ready to make the next step.

Ready to join!?
Level Up Mastermind & Accelerator group is open for applications at this time!

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/127/

Show Notes 

Little things matter in the big picture. 

We talk about the customer experience a lot around here. That’s because we want their experience to be perfect, right? We want them to have that intangible feeling when they think about your shop. Here are ten ways easy ways to level up your business without having to revamp your entire strategy.

1. A Clean Shop - Observe all the nooks and crannies.
2. Visual Chaos -Behind the counter etc. Keep organized and get rid of the chaos.
3. Checkout Ease - Make it excellent, efficient, and fast.
4. Signage - It needs to be correct, legible, helpful, and obvious. Includes price tags as well! Clear is kind.
5. The Atmosphere - Don’t forget the sounds and smells of your shop!
6. Staff Appearance - An apron, a t-shirt. Have policies around this topic.
7. Flow - Merchandising for ease and flow. Make sure it works for your customers.
8. Be the CEO - Take the time to lead properly. 
9. Service - Be generous, attentive, and have a genuine mindset about service. It’s part of your business culture.
10. Shop Upkeep - Could be the flooring, the lighting, new equipment, staff uniforms, your POS system. If anything is outdated, slow, or in need of repair, it’s time to upgrade and enhance.

All of these are small but mighty shifts toward building an excellent business. 

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/126/

Show Notes 

Hi, I’m Wendy. And I’m imperfect.

I have made so many mistakes along the way and have lots of imperfections. I’ve had hard experiences and failures and am always working on improvement. We learn and grow from our mistakes, right? I’m sharing so that maybe you can learn from my mistakes/hard learnings. 

Grab your pen, tune in and maybe you’ll see some things that you’re doing and feel like, “you know what, we’re all a hot mess at times in our business, but I can always learn and grow.”

My 7 Deadly Sins (aka mistakes) as a Retailer:

1. Superwoman/Superman Syndrome - The I can do it my way mindset. Don’t DIY everything in your business. Invest in the right people who can help you.
2. Taking things personally - This can wear you out fast. We have to learn how to accept feedback and not let it tear us to pieces. The negative influences are not your people.
3. Comparisonitus - and maybe even Imposter Syndrome. Comparison is the thief of joy. Be the special CEO that you are and keep moving forward in your own direction.
4. Lack of Communication - This can make you a poor leader toward your staff and team. Have the proper training, policies & procedures, and manuals in place. 
5. Overworking - It’s time to draw a line in the sand and create boundaries for yourself. We can’t be on 24/7. It doesn’t serve you, your family, business, or your clients.
6. Not taking care of my health - Avoid the burnout moments by making YOU your biggest asset. Your physical, mental and emotional health should be on your priority list every day.
7. Passive Business Development - Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development. As we grow, we need to invest in ourselves. We always need to improve, tweak and educate ourselves. Find a coach, a mentor, mastermind classes, etc. If we aren’t always learning and growing, neither is our business.

Have faith in yourself, friends. Struggles are learning opportunities.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/125/

Show Notes 

A runway to freedom - doesn’t that sound amazing!?
My guest today, life coach and operating systems expert Andrea Liebross, helps ambitious women find just that - freedom. Freedom in their lives and businesses so their quality of life is exponentially better, balanced, and harmonious.

Most everything in your life really boils down to confident decision-making. Andrea discusses how to avoid that feeling of being stuck or stagnant and learn how to continue to grow and take action in a way that’s right for you. 

We discuss time, energy, mind management, confident decision-making, S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goal setting and so much more! I hope her advice and stories of past clients really help open your mind and help you begin building freedom and harmony in every aspect of your life.

“Confidence. It’s a journey. It’s a process. It’s a practice.” - Andrea Liebross

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/124-2/

Show Notes 

Today we are talking with my former right-hand woman, unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant - Emily Reagan. As a military spouse, Emily was moving a lot and trying to find a career that could move with her. For the past 13 years, she has been freelancing with mainly creatives, helping them with their Pinterest accounts and digital marketing strategies.

Now, Emily is helping other people build their unicorn Virtual Assistant businesses and helping them become well-rounded, multi-passionate freelancers who act as that unicorn that can do it all. From digital marketing, administrative tasks, social media, etc. - Emily helps upcoming VA’s with the ins and outs of what they need to start their business.

Wondering how your business can benefit from some extra help?
Emily dives into the various types of VA’s that are out there, what they do, and how they can help you and your brick and mortar business! Remember, just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should be doing it. She also shares how you can get training for your own team to support you more. 

“The whole goal is for you to be working 20% in your business, on the things only you can do that are true moneymakers and hiring out the other 80% to people who can help you do the work.” - Emily Reagan

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/123/

Show Notes 

Another Inner Circle and Accelerator member I’m excited for you to meet, Sylvia Davis is sharing her retailer journey with us. To say she’s an accidental entrepreneur is an understatement. She had the idea of being a shop owner after years of a career in finance, found a vacant space, and on a spur of the moment, three hours later it was hers back in 2016! 

Six years later, Louisville Mercantile now has two locations in her small town of Tennessee (about 4,000 people) and grew from only selling painted furniture to now selling DIY, gifts, consignment, home decor, vintage, and offering workshops. Not to mention she sells online on Facebook every week!

Learn how she grew into a CEO and manages two sister stores. Take in her sound advice on managing it all so beautifully. From hiring, inventory, marketing, standard operating procedures, and knowing her audience - we talk about it all!

“Business is a journey. Failure is not a failure. It’s just a learning opportunity.” - Sylvia Davis

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/122/

Show Notes 

We are ramped up right now in the middle of our Retailer’s Inner Circle Holiday Bootcamp! Sharing new ideas to help with foot traffic, marketing, growth, profits, and how to compete with the big box companies throughout the holiday season.

Whether you’ve owned your business for years or this is your first holiday season, there is always room for refinement. Our Holiday Boot Camp is really just a formula. Take notes because I’m going to share that 5 step formula with you, friends.

1. Know what you need and where you are headed - Identify specifically what you want from your business. Set your calendar for those big events and think about the time and profits you need.
2. Have a Revenue Plan - What are you going to sell? What types of products or events are you going to offer in order to reach your revenue goals? Know your average order value.
3. Map out your Calendar - Include a promotional calendar - set it and implement.
4. Set Up Your Marketing Plan - Know how you are going to consistently attract new customers and keep the existing ones happy. Marketing is not just about social media and Facebook ads. 
5. Mindset - You have to make the decision that this is all going to work and that you are going to put forth all of your efforts to make it happen. But it’s also about taking care of yourself.

Set it and IMPLEMENT. Plan now so you can focus on doing what’s important during the holiday rush.

More show notes here https://wendybatten.com/121/

Show Notes 

Inner Circle member Louise McManus has managed to find that balance - a profitable and enjoyable shop, balanced with a great quality of life! She’s here to share with us how that’s possible!

Seven years ago Louise McManus bought a house, built in 1856, in historic Erie Canal hamlet and had a dream of creating a beautiful shop the community would love, and the rest is history!  This was a new venture for Louise, as she came from working in a bridal boutique and as a jewelry designer. 

The Vischer Ferry General Store is both a café and a retail gift shop. Her journey as a retail shop owner has been one to watch not only because of her multiple buckets of revenue streams, but the atmosphere she has created for her customers - it truly is a destination shop! 

I have watched her grow into a CEO who is flexible and knows how to think in the future. I know her journey will help yours as well. Take some notes, Louise is living her best life as a shop owner and is still in love with it all!

“It’s my business, and it can be whatever I want it to be.” - Louise McManus

More show notes here https://wendybatten.com/120/

Show Notes 

My expert guest today started out as an owner of a website development agency as well as an owner of a professional organizing business. Brenda Cadman is now one of 25 people in the world who are verified, global Canva experts. She is here to talk to us about more advanced ways to use Canva for your retail business.

We’re discussing how to easily use Canva properly for your business so your online branding and overall marketing presence are consistent, well thought out, and make you easily distinguishable. 

But we also discuss how Canva is perfect for the shop owner and what else you can use it for besides just social media. Greeting cards, welcome packages, signage, bag stuffers, ads and so much more. Listen in and find out how Canva can work for you and how to organize it properly:

1. Delete and Archive
2. Review and Rename
3. Inventory your graphics (use Canva folders)
4. Create a hierarchy of folders
5. Create Brand Kit

Canva is an awesome tool that can really save you time as a shop owner and I hope these steps will help you save time in the long run.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/119/

The worst thing that can happen when you ask is they say no. Well, my guest today said YES! I am thrilled to introduce our featured guest expert, author, and speaker: Shep Hyken. Shep knows retail and is a customer service and experience expert and a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. 

We talk a lot about the customer experience and customer loyalty in my Retailer’s Inner Circle program, and Shep’s books are always suggested reading. His teachings focus on building loyal customers, how to be just a little better than average, and how that can help shop owners have an advantage over the big box competitors and even thrive, not just survive.

We talk everything from:

• His many books and the lessons inside
• The importance of community involvement
• Local advertising & marketing
• Hiring staff and including them in the customer experience
• Customer Behavior (CSAT)
• The top reasons customers come back
• The customer journey map (and a great exercise for you to do)

This is an episode you do NOT want to miss - so get your pen and paper ready, share this episode with a biz buddy, and listen closely. Learn the what and how of your awesome responsibilities of providing an amazing experience for your customers.

“Customer service, it’s not a department. It’s a philosophy.” - Shep Hyken

Full show notes here  https://wendybatten.com/118/

I just recently returned from a beautiful two week road trip. When I travel, I make it a point to shop small and visit as many shop owners as I can. Today, I want to share with you my experience and five important lessons that will help you be better found and look at occasional visitors in a new, lucrative way.

1. Get Found - Are you on Google My Business, Google Maps, are you in local business directories, etc? There is such value in being found by new people.
2. Get Reviews - Include them on your website, Google My Business, and social media platforms. They matter.
3. Shop Front & Signage - Is it visibly appealing, inviting and clear?
4. Do local businesses know you? - It’s all in the power of conversation. When other local businesses talk up your shop, it only brings more people in.
5. A reminder - take the vacation! - Refocus. Reset. Take care of your mental health and wellbeing. Make this a priority. It will help your business in the long run!

Put yourself in a position where you are easily found by as many awesome new humans as possible. 

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/117/

There’s always going to be seasons of quiet. Many times that happens in summer. Times when things are a little slow at the shop, not as busy… but don’t panic. This is normal.

So, for this episode, I have five strategies to help you optimize those slow seasons. Strategies that will help you move forward during a not-so-busy season.

1. Embrace a little downtime - Be OK with your shop not being crazy busy. Allow the slow times to happen and embrace the fact that rest is essential.
2. Refresh your space - This is not so much about the merchandising, but regular shop maintenance. Need touch-up paint? Need to organize? Dust? Try and focus on the little things you never have time for during the busy season, and don’t be afraid to get your team involved.
3. Plan your events - Have a team meeting and start planning for Q3 and Q4. Fill up your idea parking lot. No idea is a bad idea here!
4. Update your operations - Your contracts, policies & procedures, manuals, opening and closing checklists, operations etc. 
5. Learn something new - What do you wish you were better at? We all have something. Use this time to fill your skills gaps - our numbers, marketing strategy, POS systems, social media, your website, take a course. Whatever it may be, it’s time to level up!

Maybe you just need to rest.

That’s ok too. 

We want to show up at our very best when it gets busy again. Utilize your downtime to better prepare for what’s coming in Q3 and Q4. Be on the lookout for our Holiday Boot Camp in August!

NAME it. CLAIM it. Then you can TAME it.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/116/

Have you grabbed my four module Retail Made Simple course yet!? It’s now available on demand! It’s a success path for creative shop owners just like you.

We’re entrepreneurs, we’re creatives. We are naturally idea machines.
Having so many ideas, though, is a blessing and a curse.

So how do you tame all of those wonderful ideas? How do you know which ideas to say yes to and which to say no to? Here are three steps that will help you control and funnel through all of those thoughts in your head and help you put them in the right place:

1. Big Picture Planning - Put things through a funnel. Does this idea fit into our plan? Do you have the bandwidth to follow through?
2. Is it Passion Project: - Is this idea something you’d be willing to get up at 5 am for? 
3. The Ideal Parking Lot - When a wonderful idea comes to you, write them down either on paper or digitally.

Stay focused on what’s moving the needle and what’s making you revenue. Stay in the lane that’s working and add creative things as you pull them out of your parking lot when the timing is right.

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/115/

We aren’t in business to work 24/7, 365 days a year.

We need time away from it in order to avoid burnout and grow.

It’s ok to step away. 

Some of us aren’t very good at this, though. Me included. But I’m learning. So I am hoping that some of the ideas in this episode allow you to give yourself permission to step away and find that it isn’t impossible but extremely important.

Some of these strategies include:

• Stepping away during slow periods - Schedule your leave and provide a lot of notice ahead of time. I wouldn’t recommend doing it during Q3 or Q4, but, if you are super organized - go for it!
• Delegate - Trust the people that work for you. Provide them with all the tools and training they need so you feel good about stepping away.
• Avoid being a worrywart - Pre-plan! Put your phone away while on vacation and give your staff the autonomy to make decisions without you.
• Emails & Social Media - Batch your content and set up auto-responders.

Disconnecting from your business is important for your mental health, your family, your brain, and your creative growth. 

Full show notes here https://wendybatten.com/114/

I’m so excited to introduce you to Jeff Lee! We have been working together for quite some time and Jeff has such an incredible story that I think will be really helpful to you.

Jeff calls himself an accidental entrepreneur like so many of us do. He started painting furniture and quickly turned into a gift shop, purchasing wholesale products. His growth journey from booth space to 7000 sq feet and running a profitable retail business has not always been linear. 

Jeff has seen the highs and the lows of business and gotten through it by putting on his CEO hat, digging in and doing the work. One thing Jeff will share with us is how he’s made hard decisions about product lines, branding, etc…including truly listening to what his customers want. 

Jeff will also share how he’s turned his shop into a local destination shop. From merchandising, product lines, the smell of his store, the lighting, the layout, the conversations - Jeff has mastered the FEEL of his store to bring in more customers again and again. 

I know that when you listen to Jeff’s journey and understand his mindset - you will gain so many takeaways! 

In retail, it's always: Start. Grow. Shift. Grow. Learn. Grow. Rinse. Repeat.

More show notes here https://wendybatten.com/113/

It’s time for a mid year review. Last year we did a mid year review podcast episode and it was one of our more popular downloads, so I thought we would do it again! 

I’m sharing how I do mine and how I walk my clients through one. 

It’s a great time to check on where we are and where we are headed this year. 

Here are some steps to follow to do your own mid year review. 

• Reassess your yearly goals - What were your goals? Did you achieve them? Why or why not?
• Look back month by month - What revenue did you make? Get comfortable with looking at your numbers and the overall data.
• What was going on in your life? - Our personal lives can be so intertwined in our business life and we need to give ourselves grace. Keep notes every month.
• Look at inventory - Did you follow through with your intentional marketing plan each month? 
• What do we do now? - What did you pay yourself? What was your profitability? How often have you worked? What’s working for you?
• Looking forward - Prioritize what’s important to you for the remainder of the year.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and really take a deep dive into your business. Pause. Shift. Refocus and make plans for success!

More show notes here https://wendybatten.com/112/

There’s no need to panic. The sky is not falling.  If a downturn in the economy is on your mind, let’s talk about the things you need in place to go into it prepared if it happens... What can you do to be the best prepared and thrive?     I’m here to tell you, folks, it’s not the end of your business or your self employed life. Many businesses THRIVE during tough times and I want you to be in the best possible position and be prepared for anything.

Get proactive. Not reactive. All with the right attitude and mindset.

1. Get intentional & efficient - with money, staff, inventory, etc.
2. New customer acquisition - do you have a strategic marketing plan in place?
3. Loyal customers - create that emotional attachment. Wow and delight them!
4. Business Foundations - get really good at understanding inventory, POS systems, profit & loss + more.
5. Positive Mindset - believe that your business is going to THRIVE!

“The biggest risk is not in what we’re building. The biggest risk is not supporting what we’re building.”

• Jeffrey Shaw, The Self Employed Life

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

Let’s talk about the retail landscape and all the changes we’ve faced. Let’s give ourselves permission to pause and reflect in order to evolve and grow. 

Speaking of change… there is some change going on over here as well. My Retail Made Simple course is now available on my website! A four module course that shows you how to be the CEO of your business. We talk about money, retail marketing and sales, planning/time management, and stepping into that CEO role. I hope you’ll dive in!

Here are a few ideas for you to consider BEFORE we head into the busy Q3 and Q4 that may help you reflect:

• Permission to coast - Let’s take a true pause from doing the next big thing in our business. Be ok with the way things currently are for a minute.

• Reassess your ideal customer - have you had a chance to think about this lately? Flip the script and think about the customer you DON’T want to serve. Who is NOT a good fit for you anymore?

• Resist the low hanging fruit - Do you still love all of your products and services? Do they still excite you and light you up?

• The rules for your life - What are your non-negotiables? Does your business align with those values?

We’ve been so busy. It’s ok to take a minute and BE where you are right now in your business.

https://wendybatten.com/110/

Today we have a very special guest — wealth and abundance coach for entrepreneurial women, Emily King! AKA the “money godmother”. She helps female business owners find the balance of having a heart-centered business while also making money. Having that strong money mindset is vital to any successful business!

Let’s make a shift around money.

What do you expect around money? What are your money goals?
Emily wants you to shift those expectations and thoughts. She really breaks down the money mindset in such a simple way that allows you to make that shift and find the freedom to break down the expectations you’ve built for yourself.

We have a great conversation around money and abundance - and a great tip on bad ideas and creativity!

It’s time to open up your brain to the opportunities of abundance. There is so much opportunity for all!

“Start before you think you know the how.” - Emily King

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/109/

In this episode, we are talking about strategies to conquer those feelings and find the people who can support us and we can trust.

1. Check-in on our Big Rocks - the important things in our business and life. Family, health, wellness, etc. Don’t sacrifice these big rocks for your business.
2. Find Your People - Find them outside of your regular circle. Find people that are doing what you are doing and are where you want to be. 
3. Define Your Boundaries - Don’t talk about work all the time to the people who don’t show support. Save those conversations for the tribe who gets it. 
4. Honest Conversations - With those that support you, and those that don’t. But be sure to tell your true tribe what’s going on. Be vulnerable with them and figure out what you need for support.

Success is leapfrogging through all of this vulnerability and loneliness in our self-employed lives. Use these strategies to find YOUR understanding support community. 

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/108/

In this rapid-fire session, I am giving you a few suggestions to try in your own shop to help turn those browsers into buyers! I recently spoke at a conference and answered this very question and wanted to share with you.

Are you converting browsers into buyers? Before we try a new strategy - get a baseline on how you are doing so you will know what's working. Let’s understand our customer conversion rate. (It’s easy once you know how). Let’s understand the numbers and metrics to get the data you need to increase your conversion rate. (Because we can’t grow what we don’t measure - right?) 

Once you know that, you can dive into the following ideas:

1. Understand why people buy - Really pay attention to your customer’s needs. Educate your staff and make sure they understand the mission.
2. Have a flexible return policy - Don’t leave money on the table! Having a return policy will break down so many barriers.
3. Product hesitancy - Show your customers the value of the product and how it can improve their life. Have demos and free demo days! Use your signage as a silent salesperson, provide samples, etc.
4. Make customers feel confident - Know your products thoroughly, and provide tutorials, QR codes, and YouTube videos. Make the customer feel good about the product they are thinking about.
5. You are the expert - Have a customer appreciation wall or bulletin board that shows other customers doing exactly what some are hesitant to do. Share customer WINS on social media! Be the expert and guide them.

Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and break that barrier!

More show notes at https://wendybatten.com/107/

Being in her 44th year of business, Jo has been through and seen a lot — she shares hard truths about her business journey and the rough road it can be. She started with a simple retail store creating beautiful, curated magazines that rank extremely well among the highest honored and ranked in both subscriptions and on newsstands. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss how Jo knew that the creative business life was for her and all of the ups and downs that come along with it. She’s built and fostered an amazing community of loyal customers (including me!), surrounded herself with trustworthy people, and shown strength and confidence in everything she does.

This is an episode you do NOT want to miss!

“Wherever you are on your journey… Take Notes. Keep Notes. Take lots of pictures and travel safely.” - Jo Packham

A Special Giveaway just for you!

One of the Creative Shop Talk’s lucky listeners will receive a FREE subscription to Jo’s What Women Create magazine!

To enter:

Watch for the IG CONTEST post with the contest details here on my IG page: 

https://www.instagram.com/wendybatten.biz/

Not on IG? Or want an extra chance to win? 

Just send me an email wendy@wendybatten.com with the Subject Line: What I create 

Tell me a quick story about your shop and we’ll enter you in the contest!

Good luck!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/106/

1. Answer Every Review - Now is not the time to panic. It may feel truly threatening to your reputation, but now is the time to put your CEO hat on and respond respectfully. 
2. Take the High Road - Kill them with kindness. Offer to resolve the problem and take your time in responding so you can be responsive, not reactive.
3. Look at the Big Picture - What can you learn from this?
4. Be Proactive - Ask your loyal customers for reviews on a regular basis.

Full show notes at

https://wendybatten.com/105/

1. Assess the Mess - Take a good, honest look at your stock room inventory and jot it all down. Including your project pieces.
2. Make the Decision and Do it - Don’t think about it, don’t ponder. Declare it publically!
3. Promote it - Hyping up the sale will help you win! Keep it simple and don’t overthink. Email, Facebook, Instagram, local businesses, online bulletin boards, etc.
4. Move it - Consider your pricing. Get the items that are no longer serving you and get them below cost. Detach from what you paid for the item and get it sold.

Do you hold a clearance sale in your shop? What’s your process?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-104/

When is the last time you thought about your signage? Your signage can do SO much more than just inform about pricing. Think of your signage as:    Your Silent Salesperson.  

In this episode, we are discussing actionable steps, strategies, and tips on how to use your signage properly.

The “Do” List: 

• Use simple font
• Help customers find “hidden gems” - ex: Staff favorites. Stick to your brand and make signage that helps your customers make decisions.
• Location - place signage on products, on the mat at the front door, etc. Ask a question or mention events and workshops. Allow your signs to do the work for you!
• Outdoor Signage - Does it say who you are and what you do? Be clear.
• CTA - include a Call to Action wherever you can.

The “Don’t” List:

• Only have SALES signs - don’t become the discount store.
• Dismiss the Quality - Make sure the sign reflects the quality of your brand.
• Location - place signage too high (have it at eye level).

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-103/

There's no easy button or magic wand that we can use to increase our sales during workshops and events. However, if you're doing your job right, if you're making people feel seen, you're prepared, and you come from a place of service - magic can happen!

In this episode, I share actionable steps to increase your in-store sales after workshops, events, and demos. Easily and effortlessly. All without feeling slimy, icky, or yucky.

1. Get them to imagine themselves doing the project/thinking about the pieces at home - ask your event attendees to imagine the project/piece/item in their home, where would they put this? How would they use that? What piece do they want to paint? Etc.
2. Make it easy for them - No pressure, no hoops to jump through, no hassle. Give them something special, a value add, that will make your customer feel excited, happy, and wanting more right now.
3. Plan for "what's next " for them - Be prepared after a workshop with what's ahead. What event can they sign up for next? Catch them while they are in excitement mode!
4. Extra tip - Never rush anyone out of a workshop/event or make them feel like they have to go. Entice and encourage them with private shopping after the event!

Always come from a place of service. When you do that, magic really does happen!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-102/

It's so important to connect, serve and sell in a way that resonates and connects with your customers. My guest today is the incredible Kate Doster, who believes that sales will follow by having fun, treating people like people, and being genuinely helpful.

I'm a true fangirl of Kate!

As a retail shop owner, you may find it hard to find the time or wonder what content to share - or why you should even bother? But the stats don't lie - customers are much more likely to purchase from you if they have CHOSEN to be on your email list. Even if you are on Instagram and Facebook - you NEED email.

Email Marketing is a mindset. It's a simple, helpful conversation.

Kate really dives into how to give yourself permission to truly have fun with your email list and not get in your own way. There are no rules. We discuss strategies to grow your email list, topics to discuss besides discounts, how to batch content, and more!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-101/

Hey there, friends, and welcome to our 100th episode of The Creative Shop Talk Podcast!

Do you celebrate your business milestones?

I call them champagne moments! So many of us just don't take them, we just move on to the next thing on the to-do list. Is that you? It was (and can be) me.

In today's episode, I'm sharing lessons learned from doing 100 episodes of our podcast, 3 of the biggies that you can use in your business. Why it's important and HOW to celebrate.

We do hard things every day. If you are listening - you've already done a hard thing in opening your business. The million little things you've had to learn and do.

Big or small. It's important to acknowledge the things that are happening.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-100/

It's Ask Wendy day today!

One of the questions that I'm asked quite regularly is, "How do I greet customers?"

What should I say? What shouldn't I say? I share the "bad words" that most of us say!

This is such an important step in the customer relationship and helps them feel welcomed and stay loyal (and help us make more sales). This episode really breaks down what we should and could say with the reasoning behind it.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-99/

All of the books mentioned in today's podcast could be yours if you join us for our upcoming free, three-day Spring challenge- The Retailer's Refresh Spring Challenge. Let's get reset for the new season together starting on March 28, 2022! Doors are open!

Even if you are not a reader, try the habit of reading 15 minutes a day. It's all it takes to open up your mind to new concepts and new things, new mentors, and bigger ideas.

Here are some great business books that I love and their "highlight reel".

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-98/

Why, as retailers, do we need a website?

Not only does it give you credibility and a professional look, but it's a marketing asset you OWN. It is something that is yours and simple goes a long way. Let's face it, not everyone is on Instagram or Facebook, but they are searching Google, maps, or Google My Business.

But let's make sure you aren't making the five mistakes we talk about today.

Have you covered all the basics on your website? Make your website CLEAR for your customers so you're not leaving money on the table.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-97/

We are covering a big topic today: Marketing. What should we know? Where should we spend our marketing money? What should we do? These are questions I get all the time, and in this episode, we are discussing a simple way to look at what we can do BEFORE we spend one penny on paid advertising.

We must first think about the first impression we are making when people DO find us.

Do we have our ducks in a row? Is the info correct and accurate? We control and own what's out there.

Then we need to think about things already available to us, social and sharing in different communities. Then, earned marketing - what opportunities are available to us because of the reputation we are building in our communities?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-96/

Admin and paperwork, a necessary evil and time suck for shop owners. The thing that overwhelms us at times and we put off. Then it weighs on us.

But in this episode, I want to help free up some brain space for you and share some tips that help me stay on top of things.

As we know, tax season is here and these strategies will save you both time and money. We must make sure that things like payroll, inventory, loans, and mail are all in order and we create solid habits that will help keep us organized and reduce that overwhelm.

Build time into your schedule, go virtual with bookkeeping, have a proper system for paperwork, get organized, and more. Listen in - it will save you some headaches, time, and money.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-95/

When a business owner comes to me for help, there is usually a part of their business that is a little out of balance in one area. As we evolve, so do parts of our business.

Your business's ecosystem can very much be compared to a fish tank. I'm serious!

You start with an idea of owning a little independent shop and you begin that journey.

Everything looks pretty and shiny just like your first fish tank - a little fish swimming happily in a cute bowl. We tend to do everything meticulously, but as our business (or our fish tanks) grow, balancing the ecosystem of what needs to happen to keep the business (and the fish) thriving has to evolve too. How's that for a visual!?

But what should you focus on in order to keep your business ecosystem healthy? This episode goes over four core categories to consider that need to be balanced as we grow:

1. The Front of House - products, service, merchandising, team, etc.
2. You - your responsibilities, self-development, and your role as the CEO
3. The Business End - financial health, systems, and vision strategies
4. Marketing and Sales - the tools, strategy, and intentional planning for marketing, etc.

We must continue to keep litmus testing all the areas of our business - and keep the ecosystem in check so that we can thrive and grow in a healthy way with more ease.

When was the last time you checked in on your retail ecosystem?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-94/

Wowing and delighting your customer, what does that actually mean? This is a follow-up, promised episode that is packed full of ideas to help give your customers an amazing experience. It's really all about making your customers feel seen and feel like a real part of our brand. So much so that they leave telling the world all about your shop! It's all about building a community of regulars who love and sing our praises.

Try to think of ways to make things in your shop a little bit more interesting, fun, and different than everybody else. It's not about discounts and sales. It's about experiences and feelings. Creating and adding value add when customers come in. There are many ways we can do this beyond the obvious. Use the existing customer data and really create a circle of awesomeness where your customers love shopping with you, leave happy, share their experience, and tell their friends. The circle just keeps going round and round. It is a feel-good marketing strategy that works. So grab your pen and let's go!

Want to continue this conversation? Join our free Rockstar Creatives Facebook group and let's chat! We will be discussing ways to wow and delight your customers in the group this week.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-93/

If you're like me and you really didn't buy into the whole morning routine thing, this is the episode for you! I just felt like I wasn't really good at it, but I eventually went from being a super squirrel brain, jump-into-work-right-away kind of business owner, to somebody who actually really enjoys a morning routine now. Why even bother, you ask?

I noticed a lot of people I admire, am coached by, and/or who achieve great things, have great morning routines. I wanted to be intentional. And that began with the start of my day. Actually, it really starts the night before. I also wanted to feel empowered. I level up not only my business every morning, but myself. My morning routine includes personal development as well. Reading, journaling, enjoying a cup of coffee without social media, moving my body, or sitting still for 10 minutes. They are all things that are now a part of the start of my day - and it's making a big difference.

I've shared this with some of my clients and it's working for them to feel more intentional, more empowered, and less chaotic.

Are you ready to choose your habits?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-92/

Wendy and Malinda are friends who have been business partners since childhood. From event and wedding coordinators to furniture flipping in the early days, they are now melding the two passions together. Their individual strengths complement each other so beautifully and allow them to work together through the pivots and shifts they've had to make throughout the pandemic. It hasn't always been easy, but they've still found amazing success.

Wendy and Malinda have found silver linings during these times, too. One of those is the creation of an EXPERIENCE bucket (a new revenue stream). They were able to take a group of customers and travel from Southern California to Roundtop, Texas to an antique market! Brilliant!

Learn how Wendy and Malinda turned themselves into true CEO's of their business. Their focus on planning, community outreach, their creative ideas, and the confidence to follow through with those ideas have propelled their business forward! Be confident and clear with your brand!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-91/

Are we giving our customers an EXPERIENCE? As we move into 2022, our customers are seeking to be seen. They want more ease, more connection, attention, and more relatability. They want to gather again, take workshops, and laugh together. Don't we all!?

Today's podcast episode discusses how you can customize and build loyal customers and level up some of the experiences inside your shop for your customers. Ways to really humanize your brand.

I'm not saying we should reinvent the wheel, let's optimize the things you're already doing. Find those touchpoints within your business that you can enhance. Make sure your customers are getting what they want and what you WANT them to experience.

It's time for you to be a customer of your own business so you can keep your customers loyal.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-90/

April Stroink is a Profits First expert and money coach who is passionate about helping entrepreneurs fall in love with their finances. She started out 20 years ago as a classically trained financial advisor but was simultaneously developing her financial practice and working with her husband to run their large specialty outdoor gear retail business. She opens up about the classic mistakes they made during that time - chasing top-line revenue, and the problems that creates.

Mindset and money go hand in hand. We tend to get so attached to our business that we see the sales, but because we're so emotionally wrapped up in it, we don't want to see the TRUE numbers. It's so important to have people on your team that are not emotionally attached so we can look at our business in a real way.

You'll love April, who happens to be MY Profits First coach too, listen in and share your feedback.

What is your money mindset? Do your habits and mindset align with your future?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-89/

This series is not just to share the highlight reel of real retailers' success, but also the ups and downs as retailers grow into their confidence, CEO role to see that success. It is a journey.

Meet Melanie Kolb. Melanie's shop owner journey is a remarkable one. Her business growth and her love for her customers has grown since day one due to her hard work, following her dream, and pushing through the hard things with determination. Like many, Melanie started out as a hobby, progressed to booths and soon grew to vintage pop-up markets. But she wanted to stop traveling and create a destination shop. She made a pivotal decision to set up shop on her beautiful farm in Alabama, donned her CEO hat and set up marketing strategies to attract her customers to her farm, using things like Facebook Lives selling her french farmhouse decor.

We discuss fear of failure, reverse engineering, keeping customers happy, planning, and knowing your financial numbers. All CEO decisions that helped Cedar Grove Farms become the destination shop that it is today. As Melanie said, "No one's expecting us to be perfect except ourselves. If we let that go, we're a lot happier. Just be consistent, do what you love, love on your customers, and everybody's happy."

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-88/

This series is not just to share the highlight reel of real retailers' success, but also the ups and downs as retailers grow into their confidence, CEO role to see that success. It is a journey.

Meet Stacey Allgood. Stacey didn't start out wanting a business (an accidental entrepreneur) she quickly realized that her love of people helped her to significantly grow and find her niche. She has grown and morphed from a tiny space to her own brand new building - she's successfully selling creative kits, door decor, gifts and more! Folks can come in and paint their own pottery/canvases as well as host parties. And through all the ups and downs of her journey, she was able to consistently grow her customer base and make real CEO business decisions.

Since starting her business in 2012, she is Better Than Ever (pun intended!) And that's all due to her striving to always learn and wear that CEO hat. Making smart, revenue generating decisions. Decisions that include using her space wisely to create an actual event center and focusing on what's missing in her community., paying attention to business foundations, the numbers and more - which quite frankly - Stacey admits she didn't want to do. There's no specific formula, but there are business foundations for all of this, and big conversations need to be had. Conversations and education about your Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA), foot traffic, inventory, money per square foot, and the backend financial management.

Learning the building blocks of her business and knowing what truly lights her up has given Stacey the confidence to make those crucial CEO decisions - to see more profits, more success - on her terms. Listen in for some great business nuggets...

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-86/

Is your business running you or are you running your business?
Do you know there is more potential for success but you don't know how to get there?
Headed to burnout trying to figure it all out?

Making business decisions on how you want your business to run is in your control. In this last episode of Season 2 of the Creative Shop Talk podcast, I'm sharing my story of burnout, how I see the pattern repeated with many retailers, and 5 ways you can fast track past mistakes and take full control.

I almost hit that wall. Things were going well, but it was busy and I always knew there was more potential. I knew I was failing to reach said potential. I also knew I shouldn't be this tired. So what was I missing? It wasn't until my daughter told me that she was moving to New Zealand that I knew I needed to make a change. I needed things to stop being so hard, but I didn't know how.

So I took control. I made a choice based on how I wanted my lifestyle and business to look.

There is SO MUCH POTENTIAL for your business to thrive with more ease.

Here are five mistakes I kept making and I see time and time again, and a way to fast track past them.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-86/

You have lots of customers coming in the door this season - how are you making sure you wow and delight them so that they can't help but smile when they leave and become superfans?

If you've listened to my podcast for a while, you know that we talk a lot about the 5 parts of retail marketing, the framework I call Foot Traffic Made Simple.

We can keep our marketing unique, but there are 5 things we all need to do to keep that marketing engine humming along.

Attract. Engage. Nurture. Serve. Wow and Delight. It works.

Let's talk about WOW and DELIGHT. It's what really sets us apart from those big-box competitors.

We value our customers, without them we have no business. So with every customer that walks in the door - let's make sure we are wowing and delighting each of them.

Here are 4 tips to help you wow and delight your customers this holiday season and get them coming back in January.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-85/

Are you investing in your staff, or as I like to say, your team?

Paying attention to your team RIGHT NOW is as important as having the right inventory and pricing, both major pieces of your retail success. Your team is an extension of you and your brand. They are a huge asset.

It can be hard being the boss. Today I'm sharing some strategies that will help our employees be better at what they do for us. Strategies that will help them represent our brand in the best way possible and keep them happy. If our employees are happy, our customers are happy, we're happy.

Here are six strategies to help you amplify your team's performance this holiday.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-84/

Success. What does that even mean?

Are we talking about particular goals you may have? To me, it's more about how you FEEL about your business.

Success can mean - more time off, maybe a bigger paycheck or reaching goals. It might mean getting your doors open, or expansion or maybe just making your first sale.

It all depends on what stage of business you are in, and the lifestyle you want to go along with it.

Now is the time to plan your goals out for success in 2022.

Goals such as:

• More ease within your business
• A less stressful holiday season
• Having systems in place for inventory
• More organization
• Better time management
• Staying consistent with social media content

At every level of your business, continue to ask yourself: "I wish I was more ________."

We should always strive to continue our learning and improvement. Whether you're in the first year of business or expanding and having a big year, we all have to refine and optimize our business.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-83/

Our overall motto going into 2022, friends, is “how can we make things light and easy?” Believe it or not, content planning CAN be EASY!

I know content can be overwhelming.

Are you staring at the screen wondering what to share and put out there and when?

Whether you're using Facebook, Instagram, email marketing, or a website - content humanizes our brand so customers know us, our values, and what we have to offer.

Are you feeling stuck when it comes to content? These five steps will surely help you get UNstuck and make this part of your business a little bit easier.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-82/

Google My Business may not be the sexy popular platform we think of - mainly because you have to fit your business into their parameters, but it is essential. And FREE! Many businesses stop at just having a Google My Business profile, but are not taking the time to optimize it.

25 years ago, Chris Hickle's wife was teaching piano lessons to help pay for college. The business really began to grow and they started really focusing on their online marketing strategy. Chris was then able to quit his 9-5 job and help solely with the business.

Chris found a hole in the market with music stores. He is not a musician himself, so expanding and offering his online marketing and technology skills to other musicians and business owners was the natural next step for him and his wife, Jen, in 2013. That's when they started Never Alone Business Services and help brick and mortar businesses market their business.

Did you know?

• Over 90% of searches online are done on Google
• You can connect Google My Business to your Bing local listing
• Your goal is to be in the top three searches

Listen in and learn the details on how you can optimize the visibility of your business today. Just as Google is, Chris and his wife Jen are keeping their focus on small, local businesses because they truly are what drive our economy.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-81/

The holidays are coming. For some of you, this season is treating you well and it's amazing. But for others, the feeling of tiredness has really set in. Today I am sharing a few strategies that will help you if you feel like you’re about to hit a wall and the mental anxiety of it all is starting to set in.

A healthy business needs a healthy CEO and can't operate their business if they aren't in love with it. (Re-listen to Episode 45 for some inspiration on falling back in love with your business).

To ease the pressure of the holiday season and Q4 and to see the success you want, you first have to show up as your best self for your family, your team, and your customers.

In this episode, we'll go over:

1. Reset your mindset (bless and release all the negative thoughts)
2. Reignite your passion (write down the positives, declare your goals, and surround yourself with those who encourage you)
3. Revisit or create your Thrive List (non-negotiable things you need to make you feel good - self-care)
4. Rest and reclaim - so you can show up 100% 

What does all of this have to do with running your retail business? Everything. If you’re feeling down, burnt out, and not fueled by the things that make you thrive, you’re not showing up and you’re going to hit that burnout wall.

I want to encourage you to rest and reset. You don’t want to go into any quarter, let alone the 4th quarter and this busy season, with a low-energy battery. 

Ask yourself: "What would make this light and easy?"

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-80/

Let's talk about Amazon. First - you are not Amazon. And boy that's awesome, isn't it?

In today's episode, I am going to give you some strategies and ideas that will give you a competitive advantage over Amazon.

First up - change your mindset. Think of Amazon as just another business down the road, and ask yourself "what do they do well that I can incorporate into my independent shop?"

Your competitive advantage is HUGE. You are a passionate, caring hard-working shop owner.

But let's look at a few things Amazon does well that YOU can implement in your own business. (No - I don't mean free shipping)

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-79/

Amy Hart was an elementary school teacher first, then started teaching painting classes at a friend's local store in 2016. In that same store, Amy and her friend started a line of paint by number products and sold it to stores all over the country.

She created toile (pronounced "twall") which means "linen cloth" or "canvas" in French. Amy shared it at a local flea market in the Spring of 2017 and then opened her first little shop in Tallahassee, FL in September of 2017.

When she quickly outgrew her first shop, her family then moved to Thomasville, GA where they found their new location for The Hare & The Hart. A shop with an English/Southern/French decorating style and a huge, amazing community!

It's hard work to open, run and stay creative. It's even harder when you know you need some strategic planning and "business back end skill and confidence." Amy shares how she knew it was time to step into that role in a more confident way. And she did.

Owning a retail shop doesn't come without its ups and downs. But after taking Wendy's courses, and immediately signing up for the Retailer's Inner Circle, Amy found the tools and resources and more so, the confidence to step fully into her role as CEO. Now, the back-end of her business is set up so well that she is able to hand things off to her team and be ok with it.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-78/

Let's discuss the 1% difference. What if we just increase everything by 1%? What if we focus on small, tiny tasks and put them into action within our business? Sometimes that's hard to implement. I know.

It's all about the percentages, though. Every percentage matters. Whether you're trying to increase your foot traffic, increase your conversion, increase or decrease your margins, cut the payroll fees, etc. One little step at a time shows progress instead of always trying to make unattainable, giant leaps.

So what is that 1 THING that you need to work on? What is something you want to get 1% better with so you can start to see improvement in your business?

What if you had 1% of last year's annual revenue in your pocket right now? Hmm...makes us think right?

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-77/

Are you keeping yourself small?
Are you DIY'ing your entire business?
I was.

Entrepreneurs have that mindset that we can figure it out ourselves. That's just the way we are wired. Throw in a creative spirit and drive - and well - we want to DIY it all.

But in this episode, I want to share with you how you can think a little bit differently and create a massive impact on your business!

Recently, I made the revelation that I was keeping myself small in an area of my business I wanted to grow. Over the past six months, I have been tweaking my website. When I had time, in between everything else. I know HOW, I just kept pushing it to the back burner. I found that I was frustrated that we were not making headway on that side of my business - and it was costing me time, money, and stress because I was trying to DIY it all…

Then I was reminded of a great book: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan reiterates this mantra: "Just because we can doesn't mean we should." WHY was I doing this to myself? Which meant it was time to hire a team to help me with my website. I knew the ROI (return of investment) was going to be great. So I hired out and we're almost done with the entire revamp of a new website in less than 2 weeks.

Those things in your business that you are forcing yourself to do, are out of your zone of genius, are really complicated, or are put off week after week… start thinking about hiring an expert that can help you take those tasks off your plate. Help you LEAPFROG into the next level. This goes for coaching too. If you are stuck, get unstuck and re-motivated, and back on track with the right support. LEAPFROG.

Listen as I discuss various shop owner stories and how they added team members to their business and the success it brought them. They stopped trying to DIY their entire business and hired people to help them accelerate.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-76/

Today we are sharing strategy on adding Shopify or ecommerce to your brick and mortar with my friend and Shopify expert Susan Bradley of The Social Sales Girls! We will talk about tips and tricks on how to build an ecommerce Shopify site and find success.

Susan had her own brick-and-mortar retail business in 1990 and sold her small chain of stores in 2010. A year later, she bought a little ecommerce company called We Squeak where most of the sales were wholesale to brick and mortar retail boutiques. She quickly found herself close to bankruptcy and realized in order to make a sustainable business, she needed more online sales.

In 2018, though, after she sold We Squeak, she created a course and then created her successful ecommerce business. Believe it or not, Susan is an expert coach and shares her knowledge about the ins and outs of Shopify on her weekly podcast, The Roadmap to 50K.

She's absolutely wonderful at sharing information regarding the CEO side of Shopify - the metrics and the measuring. It's truly where the ecommerce magic happens!

We chat about the fact that you can't just build a pretty website and hope they come. We also chat about how foot traffic is different for brick and mortar vs ecommerce. They require two different types of marketing and strategy. Understanding this key difference is what will help you see success if you want to add this additional stream to your retail business.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-75/

Here's two questions I get asked all the time:

1. How big does my audience need to be to see profits in my shop?
2. What should I be posting on social media to get the most people I can to visit my website?

We don't have to have a million people following us in order to be successful. We just need the RIGHT people following us.

It's all about the quality of your AUDIENCE. Your people, the buyers, your customers, your community. In today's episode, we will discuss a few ways that we can maximize profits, impact, and joy with the right size audience and the right people.

We discuss the following steps you can take:

• You must know what you want to be known for (Retail marketing 101) - You can find more about this in my Foot Traffic Made Simple masterclass!
• You need to know WHO you are serving and why YOU are the person for them. You can't be everything to everybody.
• Know how to talk TO your audience, not AT them, by creating content that invites them into your world.
• Build your small but mighty fanbase by loving on your people, sharing and caring and they will return that and become your raving fans who will support you.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-74/

A replay from Episode #58 for our Encore Series this month! We are featuring some of our most popular and most downloaded podcasts for this round and you won't want to miss them! They are extremely relevant as you are planning for the holidays. It's important to level up and become that CEO right now. Enjoy!

I know…nobody wants to talk retail math and numbers. I get it. There are so many numbers we feel like we should be looking at within our business like profit and loss, balance sheets, etc, etc, etc. and we don't quite know where to start.

In this episode, I'm sharing three major (but simple) metrics that you'll want to be able to rattle off at the drop of a hat! These are numbers that I didn't even know existed when I first started running my shop. My shop was busy, we were making money… but I honestly had no clue where it was going. Or how to use these numbers to increase sales. Scary.

Do you know your KPI – Key Performance Indicators? They will help you PLAN FOR PROFITS and growth!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-73/

A replay from Episode #50 for our Encore Series this month! We are featuring some of our most popular and most downloaded podcasts for this round and you won't want to miss them! They are extremely relevant as you are planning for the holidays. It's important to level up and become that CEO right now. Enjoy!

One question I received from a coaching client is, "What's coming for retail, and how can I be ready?" The answer is simple: Get ready! Don't be complacent, take action on the momentum you may have built. Shore up the gaps, get confident and strong in the areas you may feel that you have weak links. There's so much hope for retail. Let's congratulate ourselves for getting where we are and let's get ready for what's coming!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-72/

A replay from Episode #48 for our Encore Series this month! We are featuring some of our most popular and most downloaded podcasts for this round and you won't want to miss them! They are extremely relevant as you are planning for the holidays. It's important to level up and become that CEO right now. Enjoy!

Are you constantly asking yourself, where did the day go? Or, why time runs so fast? Believe it or not, we are bombarded by so many time wasters in our day-to-day business that we don't realize the impact it can generate in our lives. Between emails, text messages, calls, social media notifications, and even our colleagues, we're constantly battered with potential time-wasters.

Eliminating all the distractions at the office can have a positive impact on your productivity, output, and mental wellbeing. Don't get me wrong, my friends, distractions happen but we can reduce them.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-71/

A replay from Episode #2 for our Encore Series this month! We are featuring some of our most popular and most downloaded podcasts for this round and you won't want to miss them! They are extremely relevant as you are planning for the holidays. It's important to level up and become that CEO right now. Enjoy!

Before you roll your eyes at this episode title. Know that I don't mean corporate, stuffy, suited CEO….I mean head honcho, the queen bee, the chief creative, the VISIONARY of your biz, etc.

I mean the person in control of your business. The boss.

Take a minute to think about why you started your retail business. Do you remember your original business dream? Are you living that dream?

Your dream can get lost in the daily grind of doing ALL THE THINGS in your shop. I'd love for you to change your thinking and take the small steps to become the Creative CEO of your business. You're not just an employee. Your dream was not just to create a job for yourself. You've got to take control.

This CEO mind shift doesn't come overnight. You'll want to practice it.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-70/

Isn't it flattering and exciting when customers make a day around visiting your shop!? Doesn't it make you a little teary when people make visiting your shop a special event!? Today we're talking about how to build that business that attracts all of the customers for all the right reasons.

It's time to widen the net and become THE destination shop!

We have the opportunity to not just sell things, but truly create an experience for people and make them feel something. And this should be at the top of your list, and in order to make it happen, you have to know your ideal customer.

We discuss so many ideas in this episode on HOW you can get your customers excited to come in and experience your shop. Whether you own a bookstore, a vintage shop, a home decor store, a jewelry store, or a paint store - we've got you covered.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-69/

My most requested guest - Marian Parsons is on the podcast today!

Business owner, artist, blogger, creative, author, painter, booth and market seller, podcast host, product developer, paint line owner, business mentor - and so much more. We chat about her business journey and how she has evolved and grown her beautiful business, staying creative, and so much more.

In 2008, Marian was a mom of a four-month-old and a two-year-old, had no money or experience in running a business, but her family needed to make some extra money. So she began decorative furniture painting and painting murals in local homes.

Realizing that this wasn't all that she wanted to do, Marian quickly evolved, started a blog, and re-branded herself as a business focusing on antiques, home decor, and painting. She became a vendor at the Lucketts Store and had a milk paint line which made her feel as though she was flying by the seat of her pants. All while being a sponge and learning from the amazing people she surrounded herself with.

Yet another Accidental Entrepreneur…

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-68/

Get inspired by another member of the Retailer's Inner Circle whom we are talking to today, Jane Bellante of Morning Dew Creations! It's always so helpful to hear how others manage and run their business.

In Jane's own words, her business journey is kind of crazy!
(I love that though, because we are all unique in our business journey)

She started making jewelry in her early twenties, had children, went back to get her teaching degree, all while painting custom furniture pieces on the side. Burnout set in quickly. And soon, as we like to say, Jane became an accidental entrepreneur!

She previously owned a 3,000 square foot shop and had to close due to covid. But this pause gave her newfound energy and motivation. So she moved all of her products online and launched mixed media kits with all the ingredients needed to create. She would then hop on a Zoom call so they could make it together.

Through all of her planning and decision-making, Jane shifted again. She now owns a 750 square foot shop and it's doing so well because of the community she has built. Jane SHOWS UP for her customers and her love of teaching shines through.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-67/

In this series, I want to introduce you to some of my coaching clients inside the Retailer's Inner Circle and hear how their retail journeys evolve and how they are seeing success. We learn so much from hearing how others manage and run their business.

Enjoy hearing from Virginia Warner of Tazewell Co. Mercantile.

Believe it or not, Virginia took over her current shop from her daughter! At first her daughter was selling only locally resourced items. Virginia is a history buff and was much more interested in collecting! Currently, her revenue streams (or, as we call them in the Inner Circle, revenue buckets) are from the selling of antiques, food baskets, and in-person, artistic workshops.

Everything she does is personal and has such a special touch!

Of course, everything changed during covid and Virginia had to make a 'sanity decision', a decision that kept her business going but wasn't for the long term.

How did she pivot and what did she pursue to create yet another revenue bucket during these dark times? Listen in and see how she tapped into a source she loved.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-66/

In this series, I want to introduce you to some of my coaching clients inside the Retailer’s Inner Circle and hear how their retail journeys evolve. We learn so much from hearing how others manage and run their business. 

Enjoy hearing from Lee Hawn of The Lemonade Stand. 

Lee's journey began back in 2014 when she was simply flipping through a home decor magazine and saw a stunning dresser painted in milk paint. She did a little research, found a local retailer who sold the milk paint she was looking for, and she fell in love with the shop right as she walked in!

She started taking courses, selling her own furniture, which all evolved into making farmhouse signs. She did all of this while also still maintaining her 20-year long career in HR! After attending local markets and teaching workshops, she decided to make a business from her basement. In 2018, Lee and her family made the big step to own a brick-and-mortar shop in Uxbridge, Ontario. 

She turned her passion and hobby into a retail business.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-65/

In my Retailer's Inner Circle, we share our WINS every Friday. There are so many reasons for this! Wins will inspire others and they will make you realize, celebrate, and acknowledge your own achievements.

When you start feeling discouraged as you see other people's wins, Flip the Script from negative energy to positive energy! We all have those days where we think everybody else in our community is doing really well and we're at a standstill. Here's how we should work through those feelings:

1. Look at what the other retailer is doing and only focus on the 20% of things that matter. Only the things that align with your goals and vision for your business. Don't shift direction just because you see a shiny new way, and make sure to look at what's DOABLE for YOU.
2. Ask yourself: Is this something that I can apply easily right now?
3. If the answer is yes, HOW can you keep it super simple? Is it something as simple as writing or responding to an email in order to make a sale? It doesn't have to be complicated!

When you work through those three steps, you're going to start to see the wheels turning, the needle moving, and things happening in your business that maybe you hadn't thought about before. This is how you really step into that CEO role!

No more woe-is-me attitude, retailers! It's time to take other people's WINS and turn them into our own INSPIRATION!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-64/

Bookkeeping. I tend to see fear come from my retailers when I mention bookkeeping because they either don't want to hand off the job to someone else, don't want to spend the money, or they have fear of HOW to simplify it. There is HUGE ROI in staying up to date with your book. Seeing your balance sheet, profit and loss statements and knowing your numbers in real time - is so crucial. Having your bills paid, being able to adjust and pivot with proper info and the added bonus of peace of mind!!

No more lying awake at night worrying about that pile of paperwork!

In this episode, we share common fears: How will we communicate, how will we do this paperless? Even though I was afraid of the process, Kelly breaks it down for us.

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-63/

We are all busy, driven, passion-filled retailers. We have big visions, big dreams, and we're constantly working to achieve those goals and succeed. But, there are three things that I see happening regularly with retailers who end up losing or closing their business.

1. Complacency. Not in the sense that you don't care about your business. You've just stopped paying attention. Paying attention to your customer's needs, your business standards, the look of your shop. Maybe you've stopped looking for new product lines or stopped paying attention to your marketing strategies. You're just busy! I get it. But we can't always blame external things anymore, we have to look inward, set aside our ego, and really dig into the details.

Mindset Shift - Refresh and review your store standards! Set goals and get motivated!

2. Dissatisfaction in our job. Many retailers are natural creatives and are always looking for the next new and shiny thing, right? Building the store was fun, but now you're in year two, three, or even five and feeling like you want to do something else. Are you tired? Not paying yourself enough? Bored?

Ask Yourself - What was my big picture? What's my why? What's going RIGHT in my business?

3. Neglect. This is a big one and I see it all too often. You are so busy in the day-to-day busyness of our business that you're not paying attention to the skills gaps or the attention to details as you should be, you know you need to freshen things up, learn new ways, but there just aren't enough hours in the day and the thought of having to learn something new in order to stay fresh and relevant is daunting.

It's time to revisit or reimagine your vision and go after it!

Full show notes at https://wendybatten.com/episode-62/