Have you ever wondered if the right words, shared at the right moment, could transform your business and someone else’s life?

Meet Laura Schmidt, Cathy’s guest for this episode and founder of notes to self, a brand built on the simple yet powerful belief that words make all the difference. After years in engineering and sales, Laura followed her heart and transformed positive affirmations into a nationwide movement, donating over 155,000 pairs of socks to spread hope and encouragement.

Discover how purpose-driven products and heartfelt storytelling can help you build real connection with your customers and why, sometimes, it really does start with just a few good words.

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Your Millie Moment:

Think about one product or display in your store that already has a special story, purpose, or message behind it but your customers might not know it yet.

Small words, shared intentionally, really can make a big difference in your omnichannel retail story and your bottom line.

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💚 Remember: What you put on your shelves isn’t just inventory, it’s hope, comfort, and belief wrapped in a product. Every kind word you share, every story you tell, has the power to brighten someone’s hardest day… and remind them (and yourself) that they’re loved, seen, and never alone.

Leadership isn’t just about guiding others, it’s about first leading yourself with compassion, courage, and honesty.

Together, they explore how self-awareness, resilience, and self-care shape true leadership and invite you to see your own potential and lead with heart.

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Little by little, these small steps build the courage and resilience true leadership requires.

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💚 Remember: True leadership starts long before anyone is watching. It begins in quiet moments of honesty, courage, and compassion toward yourself. Remember: every failure can fuel growth, every doubt can spark self-awareness, and every act of self-care makes you stronger for those you lead.

Ever wondered how curiosity, retail trends, and human connection can transform your retail business?

In this episode, Cathy Wagner sits down with Dominick Miserandino, founder of RTM Nexus, for a fascinating conversation about the future of retail and the mindset shifts store owners need to stay ahead. From his start in digital media to mentoring retailers through COVID to launching a retail-tech platform, Dominick shares what he’s learned about influence, innovation in retail, and the power of simply asking the right questions.

They dive into the real challenges independent retailers face today, the crucial role of customer insight and retail data analytics, and how to think bigger without getting stuck in the weeds. This episode will inspire you to lead with curiosity, adapt boldly, and build deeper customer engagement with your community.

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Your Millie Moment:

Challenge yourself to ask one new question about your business each day, whether it’s about your customers, your products, or your team. Write down your answers, and if you honestly don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to reach out for help, explore resources, or ask someone in your community.

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💚 Remember: This episode reminds us that retail isn’t just about selling products, it’s about staying curious, asking better questions, and daring to see what’s possible. Every data point, every conversation with a customer, and every brave step forward helps you build something that matters. Keep your heart open, your mind curious, and remember: growth starts with the questions you ask yourself today.

It’s halftime, retailers! Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2025?

Whether you're crushing your goals or wondering where the last six months went, this episode will help you hit the reset button with purpose.

Cathy shares why now is a powerful moment to pause, reassess, and realign. You’ll hear fresh retail trends, surprising customer behaviors that could change how you approach the rest of your year. Plot twist: your second half can be stronger than your first and we’re here to help you make it happen.

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Your Millie Moment: Rinse, Repeat, and Rise

Remember: You don’t need to start from scratch. You just need to build on what’s already working.

Resources Mentioned:

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Let’s make this your most profitable, purposeful, and joy-filled season yet, because the second half is still yours to win.

As summer starts to heat up, it’s easy to overlook the inventory that’s quietly taking up space and eating away at your cash flow. Whether your traffic is slowing down or picking up, now is the moment to move those non-sellers and reinvest in what’s working.

In this encore of one of our most downloaded episodes, Cathy breaks down how inventory hoarding drains your profit, clutters your floor (and your mind), and keeps you from being the CEO your business needs.

With a fresh perspective and timely reminders, this is a must-listen as you prep for Q3 and set yourself up for a profitable, clutter-free fall.

Episode Summary

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Listener Action Steps

P.S. If it’s been hanging around for 6 months or more, it’s officially freeloading. Mark it down, move it out, and make space for the products that actually pay rent!

In this episode, branding expert Sue Kirchner, owner of Brand Strong Marketing, joins host Cathy to share a fundamental truth:

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💚 Remember: You’re not just running a store you’re building something that matters. Your brand is the love, passion, and purpose you pour into every interaction. Keep showing up with heart. Your customers feel it and they’ll keep coming back because of it. 

You are the CEO of your store. You deserve to be paid well. Your customers deserve a store that thrives.

In this power-packed episode, Cathy Donovan Wagner dives deep into one of the most overlooked threats to retail profitability: gut-based pricing. If you've ever said, “That price just feels right,” or hesitated to charge what something’s truly worth, this one’s for you.

Learn why emotion-based pricing is costing your store big-time, how to reframe your mindset around margin, and the exact markup formula successful retailers use to build financially thriving businesses.

Cathy shares real-life retail examples, psychological pricing tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at how training your team can make or break your sales strategy. 

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Your Millie Moment: Trust the Math, Not the Fear

Cathy once underpriced a stunning French outfit out of fear. Her coach challenged her to bundle it at a 58% markup. She was nervous but it sold out fast.

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You’re not just pricing a product, you’re financing your future. Try the math. Adjust the markup. Trust the process. Because profit isn’t scary. It’s strategic.

Clarity. Curation. Connection.

June is here and if it feels like the energy is all over the place, you're not imagining it! Some stores are swamped with tourists, others are seeing slower traffic, and many of you are wondering, “Do I need to discount everything just to keep sales moving?”

Before you make any big decisions, let’s take a breath and zoom out. In this month’s State of Retail episode, Cathy Donovan Wagner is sharing what’s working right now in independent retail and how summer can be your secret weapon for refining, not rushing.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most really well. Intentional curation, smarter inventory management, and merchandising that actually connects with your customers.

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Your Summer Millie Moment: Curate to connect.

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Retail is always evolving, but with intention and community, you can make this your most meaningful summer. You’ve got this and we’re cheering you on every step of the way. 💚

True transformation in business begins the moment you decide you're no longer just a store owner, you’re a CEO building a legacy, not just a livelihood.

In this powerful, heart-opening episode of The Richer Retailer, Cathy sits down with the brilliant Liz Szporn, a Profit First coach, transformational leader, and lifelong changemaker. From helping build a business from a rental car to guiding others toward values-driven growth, Liz shares what’s possible when passion meets strategy.

It’s about stepping out of the hustle and into your highest role: the visionary who scales smart, pays herself first, human flourishing, personal development and building a life-giving business rooted in community and encouragement.

You didn’t open your store to just get by, it’s time to build a business that serves you, too. And it starts with profit.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

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Your Millie Moment:

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You're not just a store owner. You are a leader, an innovator, a transformer of lives, starting with your own. And the RETAILMavens community is here to help you rise.

Is the economy slowing down? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean your retail business has to.

A fellow retailer recently asked Cathy a powerful question: “How to continue growing with an economy that’s in decline?” In this episode, Cathy answers with clarity, encouragement, and action. She shares the exact retail growth strategies you can use even in a slow economy to keep your momentum going. From smarter inventory management to strengthening customer loyalty, you'll walk away with data-driven ideas to protect your cash flow and stay inspired. Plus, Cathy reminds us that rising costs and tariffs don’t have to derail your store, you have more control than you think.

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Clearing out slow sellers will free up space for faster-moving products and improve your cash flow.

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Remember, even when the economy is unpredictable, you have the power to control what’s in your store and how you manage it. Small steps like this can make all the difference in keeping your business strong, no matter the outside challenges!