Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

In This Episode:

As an unwavering advocate for independent retail shops, I often get asked "What are retailers doing that drives you crazy?" In this episode, I am going to share a few. These are the five things that drive me crazy in retail shops. Hopefully you aren't caught in any of these traps! If you are, it's time to give some thought to them and fix them. Let's dive in!

The Five Things I'll Chat About:

1. What happens when you brand your product lines not yourself

2. Retailers not doing everything they can to get sales

3. Treating your business like a hobby

4. Messy/dirty shops

5. Your attitude matters

This week's podcast is sponsored by our friends at Stitchcraft Marketing

Looking for some help with social media and content creation? My friend Leanne can help! Her business, Stitchcraft Marketing, is a niche marketing agency specializing in social media and content creation for wholesale and retail businesses in the soft craft industries. After you've listened to our chat on Episode 160 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, reach out and see what she and her team can offer that can help you grow your business in 2024.

How is your 2024 planning going? Are you prepared for your best retail year ever? If you think you might need some help, join us in the Retailer's Inner Circle! We are a casual, positive group of likeminded retailers who are constantly trying new things and supporting each other along the way. Also, if you join now, you'll get a free 30-minute one-on-one coaching session with me! This bonus doesn't last long, so if you were on the fence before, now is the time to join. See you inside!

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 190: Five Areas to Focus on in Your Retail Business

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

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

Customer 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

Wendysources 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/podcast-intro/

Don't set yourself up for failure!

In This Episode:

"Baby steps!" It's what everyone tells us when we are trying to achieve a big goal. Maybe aren't getting there as fast as we'd like, or maybe when we are trying to make progress more quickly than is realistic.

Episode 191 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast is about just that: growing and managing our retail businesses through small (baby) steps. I'm here to remind you that 180 degree changes don't happen overnight.

"Success is the product of daily habits - not once-in-a-lifetime transformations." -James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits

What's one small habit or step you can change or take right now to start making progress in your business?

This week's podcast is sponsored by our friends at Stitchcraft Marketing

Looking for some help with social media and content creation? My friend Leanne can help! Her business, Stitchcraft Marketing, is a niche marketing agency specializing in social media and content creation for wholesale and retail businesses in the soft craft industries. After you've listened to our chat on Episode 160 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, reach out and see what she and her team can offer that can help you grow your business in 2024.

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 160: Simplifying Social Media with Guest Expert Leanne Pressly

Episode 141: Are You Running the Store of Your Dreams?

Episode 36: How Planning Kept Emily Kerley Thriving

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

Wendysources 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/190/

Welcome to Season 5 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast!

Topics Covered in This Episode:

As we roll into 2024, the way we market our businesses, our customers' expectations, and so many other things are going to change. Not in a HUGE way, but in Episode 190 I'm going to lay out and then dig deep into the 5 areas I believe you should be focusing on in your retail business so you can see big success in 2024.

The 5 Areas I Will Explain in Detail

1. Your Shop's Financial Well Being

2. Your Sales & Marketing Strategy & Assets (and I don't just mean social media!)

3. Service and Hospitality

4. Being a Leader to Your Team

5. Your CEO Mindset (and Skillset)

If you are looking for support as we move into 2024, my Retailer's Inner Circle is always open. One of my members just told me the other day that she now feels "large and in charge" versus how she felt prior to joining - what a compliment! My members are doing the work and have access to countless masterclasses and trainings to support them - not to mention an incredible group of likeminded retailers and me as your coach. Join us today!

"My mission is to help more retailers enjoy more joy, freedom, and profitability in their shops this year." -Wendy Batten

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episodes 163-166: Simple Sales Strategy Series

Episode 63: Making Bookkeeping Simple with Guest Expert Kelly Christian

Episodes 40-43: Plan Your Best Year Ever

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

Wendysources 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/189/

The Creative Shop Talk Podcast reached 176,000 downloads! As we wrap up Season 4 of the podcast, I wanted to thank every single person who has listened, downloaded, left a review, shared the podcast, all of it. I started this podcast in March of 2020 just hoping to reach and help more retailers and it is working! Podcasting isn't an easy or inexpensive venture, but with the help of my small but mighty team, I am proud to say we are wrapping up Season 4 excited to start recording Season 5. We appreciate every single listen, share and comment.

Thank you!

Topics Covered in This Episode:

As I'm sure you know, the brain of a retailer never stops. As we wrap up Season 4 and enjoy our holidays, I wanted to give you a few things to noodle on. Here are three questions to think over as you snuggle by the fire that will help move the needle for your retail business in 2024.

Listen in this week and find out the 3 things you can work on, in your PJ's with your feet up.

You'll want to take your answers to the three questions and dive into the Best Retail Year Ever Workshop - our Annual Planning Workshop - you'll be well on your way to seeing the results you are looking for in your retail business in 2024. Retailers who purchase the workshop (or who are in my Retailer's Inner Circle) are invited to join me live on January 17th for a Q+A!

So get your goals all on one page and see a better 2024, and jump in before the end of the year and save $200. There is one week left to get EARLY BIRD PRICING (in effect until Dec 31st, 2023!)

SAVE $200! YES SAVE $200!

Join here

I am confident that you can find epic success in your retail business - no matter what success looks like for you - by taking the time to adequately plan. I'd love to help and support you through your 2024 planning. Join us in the Inner Circle for access to the workshop and a community of like minded retailers or purchase the Design Your Best Year Workshop on-demand - discounted if you purchase before the end of the year! Happy Planning!

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 185: Avoid Burnout with Guest Expert Dr. Ashley Margeson

Episode 138: Wins, Insights, Lessons & Struggles

Episode 136: Annual Planning That Fills Your Life Buckets

Episodes 40-43: Plan Your Best Year Ever

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

Wendysources 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/podcast-intro/

Show Notes:

Don't miss joining the Best Retail Year Ever Workshop - our Annual Planning Workshop.

Get your goals all on one page and see a better 2024, and jump in before the end of the year and save $200!

EARLY BIRD PRICING in effect until Dec 31st, 2023!

SAVE $200! YES SAVE $200!

Join here

I am confident that you can find epic success in your retail business - no matter what success looks like for you - by taking the time to adequately plan. I'd love to help and support you through your 2024 planning. Join us in the Inner Circle for access to the workshop and a community of like minded retailers or purchase the Design Your Best Year Workshop on-demand - discounted if you purchase before the end of the year! Happy Planning!

You know I'm all about setting you up for success in 2024 and that includes making your life of running a retail business easier. On Episode 188 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'm sharing 10 of the top business tools my team and my retailers are using and loving in 10-ish minutes. Throughout the episode, I'll also share HOW and WHY these tools can help you in your retail business.

The 10 Tools we shared and links :

1. Google Workspace: grow up your business

2. Flodesk for email marketing services

3. The Planner Pad: the planner for the non-traditional 9-5 worker/entrepreneur

4. Descript: content creation

5. When I Work

6. ThriveCart & ThriveLearn: course creation & check out all at one price

7. ChatGPT: use for social posts, newsletter, ideas

8. Canva AI Tools

9. Libro FM for audiobooks

10. Voxer

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 187: Make 2024 Your Best Year Ever in Your Retail Shop

Episodes 40-43: Plan Your Best Retail Year Ever Parts 1-4

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

Wendysources 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/187/

Show Notes:

Don't miss joining the Best Retail Year Ever Workshop - our Annual Planning Workshop.

Get your goals all on one page and see a better 2024, and jump in before the end of the year and save $200!

A new year is almost upon us, my friends, so that means it's time to plan and set new goals in your retail business. So what does success look like to you? Are your goals just revenue driven? On Episode 187 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'm challenging you to plan for an EPIC 2024 by making sure you first plan what you want FROM your business first then set shop goals to achieve just that.

Topics We'll Cover in This Episode:

• Getting out of the routine of running your business the way you always have

• Prioritizing what you want from your business first and plan your business around that

• Your role in the shop's Front of House vs. Back of House

• Two incredible resources I've created for you

I'm excited to share with you two resources to help make 2024 your best retail year ever:

1. Planning Your Best Year 4 Part Podcast Series

2. Grab this workshop: Design Your Best Year Workshop: a 60 minute on-demand workshop (available free to all of my Retailer's Inner Circle members) and to non-members for purchase through my website.

EARLY BIRD PRICING in effect until Dec 31st, 2023!

SAVE $200 YES SAVE $200!

Join here

I am confident that you can find epic success in your retail business - no matter what success looks like for you - by taking the time to adequately plan. I'd love to help and support you through your 2024 planning. Join us in the Inner Circle for access to the workshop and a community of like minded retailers or purchase the Design Your Best Year Workshop on-demand - discounted if you purchase before the end of the year! Happy Planning!

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it now." - Alan Lakin

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episodes 40-43: Plan Your Best Retail Year Ever Parts 1-4

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

Wendysources 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/186/

Show Notes:

Q4 proves time and again that it is the most stressful quarter of the year for retail shop owners - but it doesn't have to be! Inside this episode of the podcast, I'm encouraging you to CHOOSE JOY: to change your mindset around how you are "supposed" to feel this time of year while running your retail business. Instead of finishing this year strong (as we so often hear), I'm encouraging you to end the year HAPPY.

Topics We'll Cover in This Episode:

• How your vibe and energy affect how others are feeling in your shop

• Why you need to reframe your "yeah, but" responses

• The best way to respond to compliments

• Reframing your "have to's" and "should's" into "get to's"

• The power of simply making a decision and moving on

• Reframing our expectations of our customers and our staff

• Flipping the script and detaching yourself from bad outcomes

• Sleeping in and baking cookies… unconventional advice this time of year perhaps? Oh well, I said what I said!

• Reflecting on what went right

If you are feeling stressed during this time of year in your retail shop, I hope this episode gives you a glimpse into what it might look like if you flipped the script this holiday season and chose joy and happiness over stress and hustle. I promise this mindset will bring you more joy as we finish out 2023.

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 178: 3 Top Mindset Musts for Retailer Owners

Episode 172: Retailers: Solve Any Problem & Get Better Results By Doing This

Episode 153: Recipe for Success: 4 Leadership Lessons We Can Learn from Erin French of The Lost Kitchen

Episode 130: The Karate Kid Stages Will Help Your Retail Business

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

Wendysources 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/185/

Show Notes:

Retailers take note.

If you've ever experienced burnout in your home tasks or business, you know it's something that's best to manage in its early stages. In Episode 185 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, Dr. Ashley Margeson joins me for a dynamic discussion about burnout, including what it is, and methods for prevention and recovery. If you are like many of my retailers and have said things like "I love what I do, but…" "I just need to hustle through this one event/season/month…" This conversation is for you.

What is burnout?

Burnout has been studied since the 1970s. It is an interesting phenomenon that the WHO set as a true diagnosis only a few years ago, identifiable by three key symptoms: depressive-like feelings, apathy towards your work (whether it be at home, entrepreneurship, etc), and a loss of productivity/performance. Burnout is tough to recognize at its earliest stages because we keep justifying it with logic.

Dr. Ashley explains that burnout occurs when we overuse adrenaline as our main energy source. The longer we use adrenaline as energy, cortisol production is suppressed. Cortisol is your energy & stress response hormone that should rise in the morning and stay steady throughout the day. As entrepreneurs, our first instinct is often to just "do more," which leads to living on adrenaline. Living on adrenaline leads to burnout.

Managing Burnout Like A Bank Account

An easy way to think about managing burnout is to think of a bank account. Like a bank account withdrawal, our energy is depleted for things we spend it on. Similarly, an energy "deposit" can be made into our bank through things like eating healthy meals and adequate sleep.

4 Modes/Stages of Burnout:

1. Savings/Investing Mode: Early Stage Burnout: We have lots of deposits coming in so we are able to "spend" our energy/adrenaline.

2. Paycheck to Paycheck: In this mode, there is just enough energy coming in to deal with what's going out.

3. Overdraft: There is no longer enough energy coming in to cover what is going out. At this stage, you aren't quite apathetic, moreso irritated. You start putting things off.

4. The creditors are calling: In this stage, you are no longer getting out of bed. Once you get to this stage, you may need medical intervention and recovery can take months and months.

One of the things that Dr. Ashley points out early on in our conversation is that burnout can't necessarily be avoided. Rather, severe burnout should be managed/prevented so that recovery can be a walk outside vs. 18 months of rest. From a retail perspective, this could mean identifying what you can do in Q1 - Q3 that will limit the energy withdrawals you are making in Q4 that can lead to burnout.

Dr. Ashley explains that energy deposits can take the form of 30 second "glimmers" throughout your day, deposits that take 5-15 minutes, and deposits that take over 20 minutes. Oftentimes, we are so focused on the energy deposits that take more than 20 minutes (having dinner with a friend, for example) that we miss the smallest deposits ("glimmers" like a glass of water, a post-it note on the computer, etc). These are the sources that give us small, sustainable bumps in energy.

The "cornerstone" deposits are the ones we should be spending our energy on: sleep, fueling, self-awareness, and movement.

"No one ever gets to burnout because they failed. We burn out because we care about showing up and doing the right things." - Dr. Ashley

Dr. Ashley's advice:

1. Determine what stage of burnout you are in.

2. Make a list of deposits that give you energy in each of the three timeframes listed above.

3. Of the cornerstone deposits, which matters most to you? Focus on that one.

About Dr. Ashley:

Dr. Ashley Margeson is a Naturopathic Doctor who believes that your health should work for you, not against you.As the COO of Cornerstone Naturopathic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based clinic, she focuses on Burnout Recovery and Prevention, guiding individuals towards revitalization and well-being.

At the helm of her mission, Dr. Ashley is also the host of "The Superwoman Code," a dynamic podcast supporting busy women in optimizing their health, homes, and hormones to infuse life back into their lifestyles. Her impactful contributions have garnered recognition from platforms such as Business Insider, The Globe and Mail, Shondaland, The Strategist, Cosmopolitan Magazine and more. Additionally, she is a regular contributor to health matters on Global and CTV Morning Live.

Dr. Ashley extends her influence to the digital realm through The Superwoman Code Course Suite, a comprehensive online hub offering online support meticulously crafted to foster healthy habits without the stress.

Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Ashley is a devoted dog mom to Loki and full-time stepmom to Caleb and Elise. Her expertise doesn't stop at her clinic; she is also a sought-after freelance consultant, partnering with companies and organizations to integrate Burnout Prevention Strategies into their work environments, nurturing resilience and well-being among employees.

For a deeper connection with Dr. Ashley Margeson ND, explore her insights and offerings at www.ashleymargeson.com or engage with her through her vibrant social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Through her holistic approach, she empowers individuals to reshape their health journeys and foster lasting vitality.

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 86: Avoid Biz Burnout - Take Control and See the Full Potential of Your Business

Episode 92: Morning Routines & Why They Work - Even For People Who Hate Morning Routines

Episode 100: Why It's Important to Celebrate Your Business Milestones

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 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/184/

You are in for a very special holiday treat on this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, my friends! Joining me on this episode are three of my Level Up Mastermind and Retailer's Inner Circle members: Amy Cseh, Amy Hart, and Jeff Lee, all brilliant and longstanding independent retail shop owners who have been in the trenches and experienced ups and downs just like many. (Links to follow along with all of them are below.)

The interview, which originally aired exclusively in the Retailer's Inner Circle Facebook group, is FULL of holiday sales tips from these three seasoned shop owners.

Here are just a few of the sales tips we dug into:

• Take advantage of any of the events that are organized by the community or town.

• Ensure your staff is well trained and knows exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

• Set specific numbers goals for your staff so they can be engaged and track progress.

• Know your customer base and anticipate what they are looking for. Don't "panic buy" merchandise just because you have FOMO or think that's what you should be doing.

• If you are an Inner Circle member, implement the sales strategies in the Sales Accelerator masterclass. (And if you aren't a member, maybe it's time to join the Retailer's Inner Circle!)

• Don't miss the after Christmas rush! Customers want to shop that week between Christmas and New Year's.

• Have a plan for projected sales/buying plan for Q1. Sales will slow down after the holidays are over and you don't want to be caught off guard. There is a new masterclass that just released into the Inner Circle this week all about Open to Buy Inventory Management that all members have access to.

• Pay attention to your return rate per square foot. If something isn't selling fast enough, you may need to make a decision to downsize the display or get rid of the line completely.

• Plan your events & weekly emails ahead of time so you aren't missing personal things during the holiday season. It doesn't feel good to let personal things slide for the "sake of the store."

• Do everything you can in advance, including personal things. (By the time this podcast airs, Jeff's house will have been fully decorated for Christmas for 2+ weeks!)

• Amy C.'s advice: "Bless and release!" You've trained your staff and they are good at their jobs. Schedule your days off and enjoy your time outside of your shop.

• YOU are the only one who is going to notice what doesn't get done.

• Know what your "no's" are and stick to them. If something is causing you stress, give it to a team member or simply don't do it.

If you are interested in joining the Level Up Mastermind, we are opening 3 seats and would love to hear from you. Now that you've "met" three of the retailers who are part of the Level Up Mastermind, you may have a better feel for who we are. Here is the link with more information.

About the Panelists:

Jeff Lee owns The Vintage Nest Home & Gifts in Mount Holly, NC. Facebook | Instagram

Amy Cseh owns Schoolhouse Salvage in Chagrin Falls, OH. Facebook | Instagram

Amy Hart owns The Hare and the Hart in Thomasville, GA. Facebook | Instagram

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Holiday Playlist: Favorite Holiday-Themed Creative Shop Talk Podcast Playlist

Episode 182: Fresh Ways to Wow & Delight Your Customers This Holiday Season

Episode 157: Best of Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee

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

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

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

Wendysources 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/podcast-intro/

Show Notes:

What should we focus on in our retail operations? On Episode 183 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, fellow retail business coach Gwen Bortner and I turned on the mics for a little impromptu chat about retail business operations. Like me, Gwen has a background in retail. Her coaching business focuses on the operations of her clients' businesses so that their businesses support their lives rather than the other way around.

In our coaching careers, Gwen and I have found that after the start-up phase of business is over (in my experience 2-3 years after start-up), business owners are spending their energy mostly on marketing, in reality, it's often the operations of the business that also needs our top attention and consistent fine tuning.

In order to move the needle in your business, the first step is to identify where the bottleneck is.

Gwen's clients participate in a rating exercise called The GEARS Assessment. It is an assessment of operations and is designed to be completely subjective. Essentially, you evaluate 5 operational aspects of your business on a scale of 1-4. The total number can give you an idea of how you feel about the operations of your business and individual scores can give you an idea on where the most necessary (and likely easiest) operational fix in your business is right now.

You can take the GEARS Assessment for FREE on Gwen's website HERE.

Goods – Products and services you sell

Effectiveness – Personal and team productivity, business leadership

Accountability – Prioritizing what is important and taking consistent action to reach goals

Resources – People, money, equipment, technology, and similar

Systems – Processes, routines, and reporting

Gwen is a special guest coach inside the Retailer's Inner Circle, teaching Open To Buy inventory management.

As listeners of this podcast, you know I encourage weekly CEO dates: something that doesn't often come easily to creative business owners. So many of us are accidental entrepreneurs: our businesses started as a passion project that grew and grew leaving us on a hamster wheel. What you need to remember is that it is okay to ask for help: NO ONE IS DOING THIS ALONE - nor should they! However, as leaders of our businesses we need to have our finger on the pulse of all of the operational aspects of our businesses. Gwen's GEARS Assessment is the perfect place to start.

About Gwen:

Gwen Bortner is the founder of Everyday Effectiveness, an operational advisory firm that helps visionary entrepreneurs scale their businesses to seven figures and beyond. Before becoming a full-time business advisor in 2015, Gwen solved operations problems for corporate giants like General Mills and for niche companies like the world's largest supplier of bull semen. To date, she's advised executives, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs in over 40 industries, including craft retailers and industry leaders. In addition to advising and speaking on operational strategy, Gwen is the author of the best-selling knitting book, Entrée to Entrelac, and teaches knitting internationally for Craft Cruises, Inc.

Follow along with Gwen on LinkedIn.

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 18: What's Possible: The Accidental Shopkeeper with a Thriving Store with Jeff Lee

Episode 60: How Focused Learning Can Grow Your Business

Episode 70: You're Not Just a Shopkeeper, You're a Creative CEO

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

Episode 95: Tips to Tame the Admin and Stay Ahead of Business Trouble

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

Wendysources 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!