Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/162/

Today we're looking into what we can be doing in Q3 to set ourselves up for success in Q4

Independent shop owners have enough on their plates, lets make sure we making things easier for ourselves.

If you need more support or are ready to take the next step in your business, I would LOVE for you to join the retailers inside the Retailer's Inner Circle. As a member, you will have full access to all of my masterclasses, once-a-month group coaching, and a monthly Roundtable discussion with other members of the group. Plus, our Facebook community is vibrant with heart-centered business owners. It's an incredible group of people who are always sharing ideas and helping out. I'd be honored to have you.

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 158: Best of Series: Becoming a Destination Shop

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

Episode 31: 7 Strategies to Attract Foot Traffic to your Brick + Mortar

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

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/161/

I recently hosted 12 of my Level Up Mastermind members at a 2-day retreat in Orlando, FL. Members came from all over the US, Canada, and even one from New Zealand! The experience was profound on so many levels that I felt compelled to share some lessons and takeaways with you here on the podcast.

First of all, there is a lot to be said about meeting in person! Only a few members (me included) had met prior to this gathering. We meet on Zoom once a month and have weekly drop-in calls but the camaraderie and community seems to become magical when you meet up with such a strong group of like-minded people in person. It's so important to remember that we are not alone in running our retail businesses! Be on the lookout for an upcoming episode of the podcast where my Level Up Mastermind members share their best tips. It's going to be so good!

Secondly, my retailers are all at different stages of business, but most are in the "refinement" and "growth" stages as identified below.

Three Seasons of Business:

1. Building: Becoming known in your community, building your brand

2. Refinement: Finding your groove, the "messy middle," understanding your numbers

3. Growth: Role as CEO is expanding, adding revenue streams, the "sweet spot"

But you came for the meat and potatoes of the retreat. Here they are!

6 Lessons and Takeaways from my Mastermind

1. Find your momentum (or relocate it).

Feeling drained, uninspired, or unmotivated are common and usually come from not having a clear direction. But remember! Goals love action. Step into the role of CEO and ask yourself: What do I need to regain that momentum? What needs to change? Do I need to talk to a like-minded biz buddy? Join a group? Take a vacation?

We can't live in our comfort zone. We have to do the work we don't like or don't want to do.

"The best we can do is to keep asking for help and accepting it when we can. And if you keep on doing that, you'll always be moving towards better." -Higgins, Ted Lasso

2. Revisit the goals you set for your business and lifestyle. Ask yourself: What do I want from my business now? Five years from now? Am I building a brand that is an asset that is sellable or an empire that serves you for many years? The bonus around being business owners is that we get to choose who we serve.

You need to know what YOU need from your business. Ask yourself: Am I getting the paycheck I need? Am I building an asset? Do I have time freedom? Remember: This looks different for everyone.

3. Understand where your money is going.

Stop chasing sales if you haven't figured out your margins, expenses, payroll, your paycheck, profits. You must dig into your numbers and understand the basics of where all of your money is going.

If you need more help with this topic, you need to be in the Inner Circle over the next two months as we deep dive into this ahead of our Holiday Boot Camp.

"The person who doesn't know where his next dollar is coming from usually doesn't know where his last dollar went."

4. Your brand message/image/personality is crucial.

We had a special guest at the retreat, Mr. Adam Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell owns an advertising agency and runs many other successful small businesses alongside Mrs. Millie Blackwell. Mrs. Blackwell attended as a member of my Level Up Mastermind. Even across multiple seemingly different businesses, their branding is unique and unified.

A great tip Mr. Blackwell gave us was to think of your brand as a person. Give them a personality and even a name. Ensure that across all platforms your brand is cohesive.

Check out their businesses on instagram: @blackwellandsons and @thevillagebookshop

5. Stop wasting time on tactics and vanity metrics and get real and curious about strategy and metrics.

Doing so will get you more predictable sales. We worked on understanding how to implement SIMPLE REAL SALES and MARKETING strategies.

Focus on the following:

• Understanding your audience and who needs to know us and HOW we can get better known and our brand out there

• How to pull those people from lurkers to shoppers and then raving fans

• Knowing how to measure so that you can have more predictable sales, paychecks, time off.

If you need more help with this topic, you need to be in the Inner Circle over the next two months as we deep dive into this ahead of our Holiday Boot Camp.

6. Brainstorming with a community of like-minded retail shop owners is magical.

Hey! I built a container just for this! Why reinvent the wheel? There are countless years of experience within my Retailers' Inner Circle. As a member you'll have access to really cool shop owners and their shops, tons of masterclasses you can access on your own time, and the ability to brainstorm and bounce ideas off of YOUR people. Not to mention, we have two scheduled opportunities every month for live coaching calls and Roundtables.

I hope this was helpful to you and remember, you can always reach out to me via my website or on social. I would LOVE to see you in my Inner Circle this month!

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 149: Retailer Success Series: How Two Friends Turned a Creative Hobby into a Successful Retail Business

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

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

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

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.

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

Many of our creative businesses start as passion projects because we truly love what we are doing. However, we all know by now that running a business takes more than passion. Today I'm talking with Leanne Pressly, founder and CEO of Stitchcraft Marketing, about all things social media: an aspect of our businesses that creatives often overlook. Stitchcraft Marketing is a digital marketing agency that specializes in helping fiber and fabric companies with social media strategy and execution.

Throughout the episode, you'll hear so many nuggets of wisdom from Leanne about social media strategy.

Here are some of the social media pointers we dig into:

1.Keep it simple. Instead of managing 4 social media poorly, cut it back and focus on the one you are most familiar and comfortable with.

2.Be sure that you keep alert to changes happening on the platform you use because the social media landscape changes fast and often.

3.Post consistently and stay engaged with your audience.

4.Lean into your competitive advantage: YOU are your brand and you have that advantage over the big box stores.

5.Use ChatGPT for ideation, not as a replacement for blog posts/content.

Some tips for being efficient when managing your social media strategy:

1.Enlist the help of apps like Trello and Canva.

2.Use a content calendar to reference what you want to focus on.

3.Batch your content.

4.Schedule your content in advance.

We also touched on what's hot right now in the social media universe (May 2023): (1) Short Form video and (2) Facebook moving away from Business Pages and Groups and into profiles that were converted from Individual pages into Professional Mode and (3) the rise of TikTok (4) live selling (CommentSold).

About Leanne:

Leanne Pressly is an accomplished entrepreneur and businesswoman with extensive experience in the craft and hobby industry. She is the CEO and Founder of Stitchcraft Marketing, a digital marketing agency that specializes in helping fiber and fabric companies with social media strategy and execution.

Under Leanne's leadership, Stitchcraft Marketing has grown into a leading digital marketing agency in the craft industry, working with clients ranging from independent craft shops to major craft brands such as Olfa, Bernina, Knitter's Pride and h+h Americas. Leanne is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events where she shares her expertise in digital marketing and entrepreneurship. She also hosts the podcast, Business of Craft showcasing topics to help craft retailers thrive.

In her free time, Leanne enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family in the Colorado outdoors. She is also an avid maker particularly in the areas of knitting, quilting and collage art.

Find Leanne at www.stitchcraftmarketing.com

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

Episode 123: How To Find a VA for your Brick and Mortar Business with Guest Expert Emily Reagan

Episode 134: Easier Content & Copywriting with Guest Expert Lacy Boggs

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/159/

What do you need to have in place to have a solid business? What would you need to have in place should you decide to sell your business? "But I'll never sell! This is my passion!" Never say never. Sometimes opportunities present themselves out of nowhere, or situations arise, and you never know when you may need to pivot. There are four key areas that ALL shop owners need to have organized and under control. Today we are discussing your finances, systems, reputation, and growing your customer list. All of these are avenues to being able to sell, franchise, or expand your business. Making sure these KEY foundational systems are in place will demonstrate professionalism, show growth, and bring bigger opportunities your way. It will also give you total control by understanding the back end of your business and proving that it is viable and healthy. So grab your coffee and a pencil and take some serious notes on how to be a true CEO and prepare for any opportunities that may arise!

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

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

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

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

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/158/

Isn't it flattering and exciting when customers make a day around visiting your shop!? Doesn't it make you a little teary when people make visiting your shop a special event!? Today we're talking about how to build that business that attracts all of the customers for all the right reasons. It's time to widen the net and become THE destination shop! We have the opportunity to not just sell things, but truly create an experience for people and make them feel something. And this should be at the top of your list, and in order to make it happen, you have to know your ideal customer. We discuss so many ideas in this episode on HOW you can get your customers excited to come in and experience your shop. Whether you own a bookstore, a vintage shop, a home decor store, a jewelry store, or a paint store - we've got you covered. So, are you asking yourself the following questions…? *What is something your ideal customer would love? *What is it that your customers don't love? *Are you building a community? *Are you creating an EXPERIENCE? Overall, it's all about trust, community, being 100% yourself, and intentional planning. None of this happens by accident. Let's dive in and not just focus on our great inventory, but focus on expanding our customer footprint and becoming the beautiful business and attraction you were meant to be. Let's keep our shops enjoyable not only for our customers, but for us as well!

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

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

Episode 107: Turn Browsers into Buyers

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/157/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

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

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

https://wendybatten.com/156/

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   • Have unscalable conversations to figure out pain points for customers

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

   • Utilize QR codes and tip sheets

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

   • Maximize the best spots for high return items

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

This episode is sponsored by:

H+H Americas

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

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

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

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

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

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

Related podcasts we think you'll like:

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

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

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

Notes:

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

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

Key points I dig into in this episode:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Unplug from your work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

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

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

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

Other episodes you may enjoy…

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

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

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

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

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

"There is no gold metal for hustling." - Wendy Batten

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

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

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

About Christie

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

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

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

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

Follow Revived Vintage on Facebook

Follow Revived Vintage on Instagram

Website: Revived Vintage

Other episodes you may enjoy…

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

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

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

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

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

About your host, Wendy Batten

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

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

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

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

For more support from Wendy

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

Wendy's FREE Resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

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

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

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

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

Notes:

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

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

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

https://wendybatten.com/153/

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

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

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

About Erin French

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

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

Instagram: @thelostkitchen

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

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

h+h americas trade show

Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont

Chicago, IL

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

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

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

Other episodes you may enjoy…

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

Episode 98: My Top Business Books for Retailers

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

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