April 09, 2025

EP 196: THROUGH THE LENS OF A LOCAVORE WITH CAROLINE WEAVER

50 minutes

Caroline Weaver is an obsessive shopper, former specialty shop owner, and creator of The Locavore Guide. During her years as a shopkeeper, she yearned for a resource to help others understand what it actually means to "shop small" and to share information about why it’s better for everyone.

In a world of algorithms and convenience, most of us have lost touch with the ways in which shopping acts as a gateway for community building. Caroline spent a year walking hundreds of miles through every borough of New York City to get a grip on what’s out there and where to find it and to learn about how the small business economy works on a bigger scale.

Through her research, Caroline discovered that NYC really does have it all. The Locavore Guide is here not only for locating that thing you need to buy but also to help you learn how to use your regular errands as a reason to get out and engage with your surroundings and visit neighborhoods you’ve yet to explore. Join Caroline in seeing the city through the lens of a Locavore!

Here, Caroline shares her journey from running a specialty pencil store in her early 20s to developing the amazing directory that is The Locavore Guide. She dives into all the lessons she learned as a young retail shop owner and why she’s passionate about keeping the pulse on independent retail. Caroline also shares her bicycle-powered sourcing strategy, how she tackled the holiday season, how she decides what goes on sale, and her take on tariffs.

PS -Don’t forget to take Caroline’s Shop Survey (linked below)!

We are doing our first ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic!

What’s Inside: