Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

By Wendy Batten, Creative Retail MentorBusinessEntrepreneurshipManagement
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Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten episodes

  • 222. 6 Things to Do This Month to Prepare Your Shop for the Holidays

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    In This Episode:

    Ready to soar this holiday? I've never met a shop owner who wants to have a ho-hum holiday season! I'm here to help ensure your holiday season is as fab as your retail shop. The time to start preparing for Q4 and the holiday season is NOW. Take it from me: taking some time in August to get your retail shop's ducks in a row for Q4 is worth its weight in gold!

    Not sure what exactly you should be doing to prepare? Here are the six topics I lay out for you in this episode:

    • Goal setting for the holidays (and that doesn't mean just to "beat last year's numbers")

    • Know what you are going to sell/opportunities you are going to take to hit those goals

    • Block your calendar with community events, your personal days, etc.

    • Attach marketing plans to goals

    • Prep your support team (your family and staff) for the holidays

    • Sit back and implement your plan!

    If you need more (trust me - you do!), I've got that for you in my Holiday Success Bootcamp workshop inside the Retailer's Inner Circle. Not only do we deep dive into all of these topics, I'll be helping you work through the program with a live Q+A every week from August 15 through September 15.

    The Holiday Success Bootcamp got a glow-up in 2024! In addition to the 5 masterclass sessions, the program also includes:

    • A list of curated ideas (that we know work!) for promotional events for every holiday/celebration from October through January

    • 6 editable email templates every retailer should send between Black Friday and New Year's Day

    • Holiday gift certificate templates

    • Social media prompts and editable Q4 Canva graphics that make scheduling posts for the holidays EASY

    • …and so much more!

    NEW THIS YEAR: You can purchase the Holiday Success Bootcamp as a standalone masterclass!

    Sales and success (especially around the holidays) come from being prepared - so let's do what we can now. You owe it to yourself, your team, and your customers. Let's dive in!

    You can grab that workshop for a limited time right HERE.

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop. And Q4 is coming! We've got your back. You don't have to do retail alone!

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

    Episode 221: How to Raise the Bar on Excellence in Retail with Guest Expert Jeffrey Shaw

    Sales Series for the Holidays

    Holiday Sales Playlist: Our favorite podcast episodes geared to holiday sales

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    26 min
  • 221. How to Raise the Bar on Excellence in Retail with Guest Expert Jeffrey Shaw

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    In This Episode:

    Have you ever considered looking to luxury brands for inspiration, even if you don't consider your brand or products to be luxury? I have news for you: you should!

    In this episode, I'm chatting with one of the biggest advocates for small businesses, my mentor (and one of my favorite humans) Jeffrey Shaw. Jeffrey is the host of The Self Employed Life Podcast and author of two excellent business books: The Self-Employed Life and LINGO. Jeff is the real deal: he has been self-employed for his entire career. He has never received a paycheck from someone else! He has built his business around his passion for self-employed business owners and building the local economy. He's got so much to share on how and why, as retailers, we need to raise the bar on excellence.

    "If you make your customers feel seen and understood, you will create an unbreakable bond." - Jeffrey Shaw

    Here are just a few of the topics we chat about:

    • How small businesses (like yours!) are saving Main Street

    • One of the most important things business owners overlook while marketing their business

    • The brands you should follow and dissect to mimic the "luxury experience" (even if you aren't operating a luxury brand!)

    • Why making assumptions about your customers/clients can be detrimental to your business (and some ideas on how to stop)

    I love this conversation for so many reasons and the way Jeffrey weaves real-life examples and stories into our chat makes it so powerful. He inspires us through storytelling and shares how we can raise the bar to achieve excellence in our retail businesses. Let's dive in!

    Jump into my DMs on IG and share with me your takeaways.

    About our Guest, Jeffrey Shaw

    From humble beginnings, Jeffrey Shaw became one of the most preeminent portrait photographers in the United States.

    Today, Jeffrey speaks about how to sell to an affluent clientele at association events and conferences. He is the author of two books, The Self-Employed Life and LINGO, and host of, The Self-Employed Life podcast.

    Jeffrey is also the founder of The Self-Employed Business Institute, his TEDx Talk is featured on TED.com, and he is responsible for the creation of National Self-Employed Day, which falls on May 4th of the U.S. National calendar.

    Find Jeffrey here:

    Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop. And Q4 is coming! We've got your back. You don't have to do retail alone!

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

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

    Episode 215: Customer Service vs. Customer Experience

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    53 min
  • 220/149. Best of Retailer Success Series: How Two Friends Turned a Creative Hobby into a Successful Retail Business

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    July is winding down and Member Appreciation Month is coming to a close in the Retailer's Inner Circle but we are just warming up to prepping for the Holidays. Our amped-up Holiday Bootcamp is launching in August! In addition to the 5 part masterclass, we've added promotional guides with creative and fun ideas to get buying customers in your shop in Q4. We've got editable social media graphics so the work is done for you - all you have to do is hit the schedule button! Q4 is coming and we've done the planning for you. Q4 doesn't have to be hard!

    So much more is happening inside the Inner Circle - trust me you don't want to miss it. You don't have to run your retail business alone. Join us today!

    In keeping with our celebration of our members all of July in the Inner Circle, we're highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. This week we are going all the way back to Episode 149 with Susan Mocker and Devon Cretella of Extending Grace in Hubbard, Ohio. Let's dive in!

    Show Notes

    As a retail coach, 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 share a great success story of a retail partnership. Meet Retailer Inner Circle members 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.

    Susan and Devon will tell us what has worked for them in business, including a yearly planning retreat they take together and how they've balanced work and life. They'll also give us their best advice on going into business with friends.

    "Plan it, but write it in pencil because business is flexible."

    Whether or not you are considering joining a partnership, there is something for every retail shop owner in this episode. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

    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 Webstore.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like: Episode 122 - CEO Mindset and Community with Sylvia Davis

    Episode 129 - Retailer Success Series: Community Attract Strategy with Inner Circle Member Michelle Emmons

    Episode 179: Retailer Success Series: Jess Gebauer on Using Unique Marketing & Sales Strategies

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop. And Q4 is coming! We've got your back. You don't have to do retail alone!

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    46 min
  • 219. Best of Retailer Success Series: Meet Inner Circle Member Jeanne Terrill

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    Hey Friends! This month, we're celebrating our retailers in the Retailer's Inner Circle. It's Member Appreciation Month! We're hosting weekly giveaways (including private coaching sessions with me!), launching promotional guides and editable social media graphics, and so much more. It's not too late to join us - and NOW is the time.

    You don't have to run your retail business alone! Join the Inner Circle today and get immediate access to countless Masterclasses on topics from merchandising to social media and our coveted monthly playbooks that break your month down for you into bite sized pieces. You'll also have an opportunity to make peer-to-peer connections in our community with retailers who are facing the same questions and issues as you. Q4 is looming and our revamped Holiday Bootcamp also launches soon. Retail doesn't have to be so hard! Join us today!

    In keeping with our celebration of our members, over the next few weeks on the podcast we'll be highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. This week we are going back a few months to Episode 204 with Jeanne Terrill of Junque Rescuers in Lake Jackson, Texas. Let's dive in!

    In This Episode:

    I'm taking you behind the counter of Junque Rescuers in Lake Jackson, Texas to chat with shop owner and Inner Circle member Jeanne Terrill in this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast. Buckle up because Jeanne is taking us on a ride and sharing her journey from accidental entrepreneur to thriving shop owner!

    In the episode, she shares how her shop has evolved since opening as an antique/vintage shop in 2017. We talk about many of her challenges including moving locations, why incredible success caused her to change her product mix, and learning to put her CEO hat on and the changes that come along with that. Jeanne also shares examples of specific actions she has taken and changes she has made as a result of what she has learned from the Inner Circle masterclasses and our tight-knit community.

    I loved this conversation with Jeanne and I hope you do too! It's always awesome to catch up with my Inner Circle retailers and share their successes with our podcast listeners. Did anything strike a chord for you? Anything you'll be reflecting on or changes you are going to make based on the conversation you just listened to?

    Need more?

    Join me and our supportive community of retailers in my Retailer's Inner Circle! You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple. Not ready to join but want to purchase this stand-alone masterclass? You can purchase it on demand HERE.

    Most impactful: Join the small group 6-Week Sales Accelerator course.

    We start April 24! More information HERE.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

    Episode 122: Retailer Success Series: CEO Mindset and Community with Sylvia Davis of Louisville Mercantile

    Episode 113: Retailer Success Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee of The Vintage Nest

    About Jeanne Terrill and Junque Rescuers

    Junque Rescuers LLC is a well-established brick-and-mortar lifestyle boutique located in downtown Lake Jackson, Texas. With eight years of experience, the business has evolved from its roots as a vintage and vintage-inspired home decor store to become a versatile lifestyle brand.

    You can follow along here: Website | Instagram | Facebook

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    59 min
  • 218. Best of Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    Happy July! This month, we're celebrating our retailers in the Retailer's Inner Circle. It's Member Appreciation Month! We're hosting weekly giveaways (including private coaching sessions with me!), launching promotional guides, editable social media graphics, and so much more. It's not too late to join us - and NOW is the time.

    You don't have to run your retail business alone! Join the Inner Circle today and get immediate access to countless Masterclasses on topics from merchandising to social media and our coveted monthly playbooks that break your month down for you into bite sized pieces. You'll also have an opportunity to make peer-to-peer connections in our community with retailers who are facing the same questions and issues as you. Q4 is looming and our revamped Holiday Bootcamp also launches soon. Retail doesn't have to be so hard! Join us today!

    In keeping with our celebration of our members, over the next few weeks on the podcast we'll be highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. This week we are going all the way back to Episode 132 with Millie Blackwell of Mrs. Blackwell's Village Bookshop in Greytown, New Zealand. Let's dive in!

    In This Episode:

    If you think you have to be on FB to grow your business, think again! Meet Millie Blackwell - owner of Mrs. Blackwell's Village Bookshop in Greytown, New Zealand.

    Before opening her shop in December 2020, Millie and her husband owned digital businesses and did a lot of home renovations. Her shop is perfect for romantic, curious minds and romantic souls. Her bookshop is 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 Facebook for personal use or for her business! It can be done.

    All of Millie's business marketing decisions are based on building community and becoming a destination shop. Listen to her attract strategies! They go against the grain and work 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.

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

    Episode 118: How To Create Loyalty and Amazing Customer Experiences with Guest Expert & Author: Shep Hyken

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

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    45 min
  • 217. Best of Retailer Success Series: Simplifying Your Retail Business with Louise McManus

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    Happy July! This month, we're celebrating our retailers in the Retailer's Inner Circle. It's Member Appreciation Month! We're hosting weekly giveaways (including private coaching sessions with me!), launching promotional guides and editable social media graphics, and so much more. It's not too late to join us - and NOW is the time.

    You don't have to run your retail business alone! Join the Inner Circle today and get immediate access to countless Masterclasses on topics from merchandising to social media and our coveted monthly playbooks that break your month down for you into bite-sized pieces. You'll also have an opportunity to make peer-to-peer connections in our community with retailers who are facing the same questions and issues as you. Q4 is looming and our revamped Holiday Bootcamp also launches soon. Retail doesn't have to be so hard! Join us today!

    In keeping with our celebration of our members, over the next few weeks on the podcast we'll be highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. So this week we are going all the way back to Episode 120 with Louise McManus of Vischer Ferry General Store. Let's dive in!

    In This Episode:

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

    Several years ago Louise McManus bought a house, built in 1856, in the 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

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

    Episode 129: Retailer Success Series: Community Attract Strategy with Michelle Emmons

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    39 min
  • 216. Create A Summer Of Ease for Your Retail Shop

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    In This Episode:

    Can you have a summer of ease and keep your momentum going? Yes. No matter what summertime looks like in your retail shop, you need to balance your work schedule with rest and fun while keeping the momentum at the same time. Sounds challenging, right? Trust me, if you put in the effort, you can get things done and still have time to enjoy the sunshine. In this week's episode of the podcast, I'm sharing some things you can easily cross off of your retail shop's to-do list this summer.

    Some of the things I'll share thoughts on:

    • Setting your schedule and your staff's schedule as far in advance as you can

    • Scheduling out big rocks and promotions between now and September (this is done for you if you are an Inner Circle member!)

    • A hot tip for getting a bunch of social media posts and emails scheduled in one hour or less (Inner Circle members have access to a masterclass on content creation and monthly playbooks with email subject lines)

    • Easy ideas on how to humanize your brand

    • Planning out and delegating roles/responsibilities for your upcoming events

    • How hiring/delegating out these tasks can free up your time and actually grow your business

    Get out your calendars, my friends! I challenge you to sit down this week and schedule what needs to get done in your retail business so you can sit on a beach in peace this summer.

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

    Episode 145: How to Market Promotional Events in Your Retail Shop

    Episode 213: 5 Areas Retailers Should Be Focusing On in Q3

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    30 min
  • 215. Coffee Break Chat: Customer Service vs. Customer Experience

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

    https://wendybatten.com/podcast/

    In This Episode:

    As a retail shop owner, have you given much thought to the difference between customer service and customer experience as it relates to your brand? In this short coffee chat episode, I'll share the difference between the two and what you can do to ensure your brand is having the impact you want it to on your customers. Remember: it doesn't matter what you sell in your shop, the goal should be to build a brand your ideal customers want to be a part of.

    l also touch on customer journey mapping and becoming a destination shop in this episode. If you want to dig in more on these topics, additional episodes are linked in the Related Podcasts section of the show notes.

    So grab a cup of coffee (or tea - or whatever you like!) and let's dive in!

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

    Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

    Episode 69: Becoming a Destination Shop

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    21 min
  • 214. Coffee Break Chat: Be a Big Deal!

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    In This Episode:

    Let's have a coffee chat around being a big deal in your community, shall we?

    Recently, I had a conversation with a client where she relayed to me that being a "big deal" in her community felt awkward for her because she didn't want to show off or flaunt herself. I want to be the first to tell you that being a big deal isn't about you personally, but rather, it's about making sure your brand is known in your community. It's about knowing what makes your brand special and making sure your community knows. It's about having confidence in what you are doing in your retail store and sharing it with your community.

    "Confidence comes from doing."

    If you need a little pep talk around gathering the confidence to get your name out there in the community, this coffee chat is for you! Grab yourself a cup and let's dive in. Be sure to check out the related podcast list this week for a deep dive on visibility.

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

    Episodes 198-200: Stop Hiding and Be Known: The Retailer's Visibility Series

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    13 min
  • 213. Five Areas Retailers Should Focus on in Q3

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

    In This Episode:

    If your retail shop is in an area where summertime means things slow down a little bit, it's not time to settle into vacation mode just yet! As we move into summer, there are a few things that we can be doing around our retail shops to set us up for success when things get busier this Fall. In this episode, I'm going to share 5 areas retail shop owners could focus on this summer so you won't be winging it when Q4 arrives.

    The 5 areas I'll be discussing in this episode are:

    1. Any maintenance and physical changes to your shop

    2. Updating processes & systems

    3. Reorganizing and making changes/additions to your team

    4. Your marketing plan

    5. Review and know your numbers

    You can ease off the gas and take a little break this summer, even as you focus on these areas. There is time for both… for now! So let's get to planning in Q3 so we can set ourselves up for a phenomenal Q4 in 2024. Let's dive in!

    Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer's Inner Circle.

    Here's everything you need to know about the Retailer's Inner Circle. You'll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you'll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

    Related podcasts we think you'll like:

    Episode 112: How to Do a Mid-Year Review and Check-up

    Episode 162: What to Focus on in Q3

    Episode 166: Simple Sales Strategy Series

    Episode 195: What Numbers Successful Retail Shop Owners are Measuring

    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 dreams 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

    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 on 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!

    24 min

About Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

From the publisher's feed

How do I attract more customers to my store? How do I get more sales? How do I book out my shop's events and workshops? How do I do retail marketing and social media for my store?

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