October may feel like the holiday season is right around the corner, but here’s the truth: you still have time.

In this episode, Cathy Wagner unpacks the latest consumer trends and shows why October is the launch pad, not the lull for your store. You’ll hear how to use this “quiet before the storm” to build momentum, strengthen community engagement, and set yourself up for your best Q4 yet.

From smart inventory management and “go big or go home” buying strategies, to leaning into personalization, leveraging video content, and creating memorable customer experiences, Cathy reveals practical sales strategies to help you outsmart the madness and thrive this season.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment:

Pick ONE bold move from this episode and commit to it today. Maybe it’s going all-in on a product line through smarter inventory management, launching fresh video content, or planning a fun community engagement event that boosts customer experience. Whatever it is, write it down, tell your team, and take the first step. Small, intentional actions taken now create unstoppable momentum before the madness of the holiday season.

💚 Remember: You are not just running a store, you’re building a space where joy, connection, and community thrive. October is your launch pad, the moment where you set the tone for the entire holiday season. Lead with heart, embrace the little wins, and trust that every step you take is guiding you toward being the astonishing retailer you were made to be. 

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to grow your store to a million dollars?

In this empowering episode, Cathy pulls back the curtain on the exact 7 things she’d do if she were building a million-dollar store today. She shares not just strategy but mindset shifts, tested methods, and practical steps you can apply right now in your own business.

You’ll hear everything from profit-first inventory planning, to $2,000-an-hour CEO work, to the importance of failing fast. This isn’t theory, it’s the same proven framework that has helped hundreds of retailers go from stressed and stuck… to thriving, profitable, and free.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment 

Pick just ONE of the 7 strategies and take action on it this week. Don’t wait to do them all, momentum starts with a single step. 

Which one will you commit to today to move your store closer to that million-dollar mark?

💚 Remember: Building a million-dollar store isn’t just about profit, it’s about creating freedom, impact, and a life you love. You are stronger than the fear, more capable than the doubt, and fully equipped to reach your next level. Every step forward matters. You don’t have to do it all at once, you just have to keep moving, with courage and heart.

How do you create a thriving business that fuels freedom, impact, and legacy?

In this inspiring episode, Cathy Donovan Wagner shares RETAILMavens’ bold new declaration: helping 100 independent store owners reach $1M in sustainable, profitable growth.

She opens up about her own journey of subtracting the chaos, embracing a decision framework, and re-engineering RETAILMavens to reflect freedom, leadership, and transformation. Cathy also reveals new tools, trainings, and experiences designed to help store owners cut through the noise and grow beyond the grind.

This episode will challenge you to declare your own audacious goal and step boldly into empowered leadership.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment 

Simple, clear steps but powerful enough to start re-engineering your business into one that grows sustainably and supports the life you want.

💚 Remember: Sustainable growth isn’t just about profit, it’s about building a richer life filled with freedom, confidence, and deeper impact. Declare your bold goal, cut through the noise, and lead with audacious hope.

How do you grow your business while still connecting with the customers you love?

In this empowering episode, Cathy Donovan Wagner unpacks the role of delegation in creating real business growth. She shares practical time management strategies like time blocking and owner-on-deck days, plus the importance of team training to carry your store’s culture forward. Through inspiring client stories and actionable insights, you’ll discover how to step fully into your CEO role without losing the magic of your brand.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment:

That’s it, simple, doable steps that protect your time management, strengthen customer connection, and move you toward a sustainable business.

Join the community with ambitious store owners in our Richer Retailer Facebook Group

Share this episode with a fellow store owner and help them tackle cash flow challenges!

💚Remember: You don’t have to do it all alone. Delegation and team training aren’t about stepping away, they’re about giving yourself the freedom to lead as the CEO while still keeping the magic of your customer connection alive. You are building not just a profitable, sustainable business, but also a life that feels richer in every way. And through it all, never forget, you are astonishingly fabulous.

September 2025 is here and it’s one of the most important months for retail. 

Cathy Wagner breaks down the state of retail and why this season is your reset button. From navigating price sensitivity and tariffs to leaning into localism, Cathy shares how you can use September as a launch pad for business growth.

With your CEO hat firmly on, you’ll discover how team empowerment and stronger customer connection can drive momentum into Q4 helping you scale your store with intention, not overwhelm.

What You’ll Learn:

Key Takeaways:

Your Millie Moment: Localism + Team Power = Retail Momentum

AI Prompt: Signature Retail Event Planning

Act as an expert retail event strategist.

I own a brick-and-mortar retail store that sells (WHAT) and we specialize in helping (WHO do/achieve what). I want to plan one signature event this month that connects deeply with my community and can be repeated seasonally. The goal is to create sales and traffic and customer loyalty.

I want to spend no more than ($XX) on materials getting it started, and I’d like to minimize my effort wherever positively possible.

Please give me:

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with ambitious store owners in the Richer Retailer Facebook Group.

Share this episode with a fellow store owner and help them tackle cash flow challenges!

The state of retail in September 2025 is full of opportunities. The actions you take now will set the tone for Q4 and beyond. Lead locally, empower your team, and wear your CEO hat proudly as you choose proactive moves that help your store thrive.

Are you tired of hearing customers say, “I saw this online for cheaper”? 

You’re not alone. In this episode, Cathy answers a powerful question from Katya, a member of our Richer Retailer Facebook community: “How do I compete as a brick-and-mortar store with the explosion of online shops stocking from the same suppliers I have to buy from too?”

It’s a struggle every retailer knows, but the good news is that competing on price is not the answer. Cathy shares selling techniques to help you beat the competition and remind your customers why shopping with you is an experience they can’t get online.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment:

This week, don’t just sell a product, bring it to life! 

Your customers aren’t just buying things… they’re buying the connection, the meaning, and the heart that only YOU can give.

💚Remember: Your superpower isn’t in the shelves or the stock, it’s in the way you make people feel when they walk through your doors. You are truly astonishing, and the experience you create is something no online store could ever replace. Your customers don’t just want what you sell… they want you.

Think PR is only for big brands with huge budgets? Think again. Wish your store could get featured in magazines or on top websites without hiring a pricey PR agency? We can make it happen.

In this episode, Cathy sits down with PR expert Gloria Chou to show you exactly how independent retailers, even those with just one small shop can get featured in major publications like House Beautiful, Refinery29, and even Oprah’s Favorite Things without paying for ads or hiring a pricey agency.

If you’ve been stuck in the “social media hamster wheel” or spending thousands on ads, this episode will open your eyes to a smarter, more impactful way to get seen and grow your retail business.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Your Millie Moment

Your PR action plan for this week, just 15 minutes at a time:

💚 Remember: You don’t need a massive budget, a famous spokesperson, or thousands of followers to get press. All you need is the right pitch, the right timing, and the confidence to hit “send.” Your next big feature could be one email away.

Have you ever felt like you're just buying and selling inventory on repeat only to find your bank account isn’t growing?

You're not alone… and you’re definitely not broken.

In this episode, Cathy dives deep into a question from Amanda in our Richer Retailer Facebook group:  "How do you get out of that never-ending cycle of purchasing, selling, and spending the profit right back on inventory?"

If you’ve ever felt like you’re buying yourself broke, this episode is for you. Cathy shares her own experience with this frustrating cycle and teaches the exact mindset shift and systems you need to build real profit not just more sales.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Millie Moment:

Join the community with ambitious store owners in our Richer Retailer Facebook Group.

Share this episode with a fellow store owner and help them tackle cash flow challenges!

💚 Remember: You didn’t start your store just to stay stuck in a cycle, you started it to build freedom, joy, and abundance. Profit is possible, and you deserve to be paid well for the impact you make. One step at a time, you’re getting there.

Have you ever said (or screamed) “I’ve Told Them a Hundred Times… Why Don’t They Get It?!” You’re not alone and this episode is for you.

Even with a good team, it can feel like you’re repeating yourself over and over… and still not getting the results you want. In this episode, Cathy unpacks one of the most common (and frustrating!) leadership roadblocks retail store owners face and shows you exactly how to lead with more clarity, confidence, and heart.

You’ll learn the real reason your team may not be following through and the 3 powerful questions to ask yourself before jumping to blame.

Because when you show up as a clear, values-driven leader… the right people rise.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Links

Have questions? Reach out via email!

Millie Moment:

Try this: Choose one task your team isn’t doing the way you want, and today, walk them through the why, what, and how out loud. Watch what changes.

Join the community with ambitious store owners in our Richer Retailer Facebook Group.

Share this episode with a fellow store owner and help them tackle cash flow challenges!

💚 Remeber: You care so deeply and that alone already makes you a powerful leader. Keep going. You’re building something beautiful, one conversation, one team member, one moment at a time. 

August in retail comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion, and it can roar out with great momentum if you play it right.

In this month's State of Retail episode, Cathy Wagner shares why this is the perfect time for independent retailers to lead smarter, not hustle. You'll hear the latest economic updates, actionable merchandising tips, and creative ways to deepen community engagement and boost profit. From low-lift in-store events to trends in resale and experiential retail, Cathy walks you through smart, doable strategies to help you finish summer strong and prep for Q4 with confidence.

Whether you're feeling a little frazzled or fired up, this episode will remind you: you’re not here to hustle harder, you’re here to lead smarter.

What You’ll Learn:

Key Takeaways:

Your Millie Moment: Pause, Plan, and Push Forward

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with ambitious store owners in the Richer Retailer Facebook Group.

Share this episode with a fellow store owner!

Remember: You're not just here to sell. You're here to shine, lead, and shape what small retail can truly be. You're doing more than enough and you're never alone in this. 💚