Rooted in Retail

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Imagine being in high school when the pandemic hit; suddenly, school is on your phone, and you’re left with infinite free time. Edgars Cers and his brother took this and ran, as they created Comfy Living Chicago.

Comfy Living Chicago is a local Chicago business that sells high quality, affordable pre-owned furniture. What started as a side hustle turned into so much more as they learned the need on both sides of the business.

From garages to warehouses to even a storefront in just a few years, Comfy Living Chicago has seen great success. Edgars and his brother use a variety of tools on social media for marketing to their local community, especially video! He even shares how they leveraged a local influencer!

As they move forward in business, Edgars focuses on the economy, community needs, and how they can be a one stop shop offering affordable home furnishing solutions to renters and owners.

As a young entrepreneur, Edgars is focused on learning as much as he can, like this advice from Tony Robbins; The growth of the business is dependent on the owner's mindset.

Retailers, I’m rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• From side hustle to business.
• A solution for high quality, affordable furniture.
• Marketing strategies for local business.
• Should you use influencers for marketing?
• Solid business advice for any entrepreneur. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
Comfy Living Chicago
Comfy Living Chicago on Facebook
Comfy Living Chicago on Instagram
Crystal Media
Payroc
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

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Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

How are you making your Yelp account work for you?

Everyone’s heard of Yelp, and it’s not just for home services or restaurants; retail stores make up a large percentage of businesses on the website!

Emily Washcovick is Yelp’s small business expert, and she is breaking down the “science” behind their review recommendation software and important features for business owners.

Don’t be afraid of negative reviews, and don’t solicit for positive ones either! Emily says naturally inspired reviews are the best for your page, and 87% of customers are willing to look past negative reviews if the business owner is engaging with reviews and responding to concerns.

You don’t want to miss these awesome tips to leverage Yelp and grow your visibility.

Today’s Action Items:
Visit your business page on Yelp - complete and verify your profile information for optimization.
Create a check-in offer - this is a serious must-do - to drive traffic and incentivize natural reviews.

Go now! Check out your Yelp page! I’m rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• Behind the scenes of Yelp software.
• How to take advantage of metrics in the Yelp Platform.
• Leveraging your yelp account for more visibility.
• How to ask for reviews on Yelp.
• Yelp action items to get started with TODAY!

Mentioned In This Episode:
Emily Washcovick on Instagram
Yelp for Business
Yelp for Business (@yelpforbusiness) on Instagram
Behind the Review on Apple Podcasts
[email protected]
[email protected]
Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career
Register for EVOLVE 2023
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

The future is bright for small retailers! You’re going to LOVE this conversation I had with my very first retailer! Ana McConnell is the owner of Pilar Boutique in downtown Loveland, Colorado.

Ana first started out working in her mom’s boutique, Cloz to Home. After navigating working with her mom, she branched out on her own and is currently thriving with two locations and a photo studio.

It’s no secret that being a retailer is HARD WORK. Even Ana called her first two years ‘Absolute Hell’ but in year three of opening Pilar, it all came together, and you can hear the passion she has for her business!

If you’re struggling as a retailer, you have to know there is no one thing, no “quick fix”. But Ana shares an abundance of resources and tips that will get you to where you need to be. Whether it’s accounting, inventory, networking, or team management, she has a really great foundation and wise words for all!

Be open, pivot, know your F*&#@%! numbers, and take a break when you need it.

I’m rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• Advice for retailers from a retailer
• How to manage your team and give trust.
• Resources for retail needs.
• Navigating working with family in a retail environment.
• Making it past the first years, from hell to thriving.

Mentioned In This Episode:
PILAR BOUTIQUE (@shop_pilar) on Instagram
Cloz to Home Boutique (@cloztohome) on Instagram
Ana McConnell (@ana_pilar_m) on Instagram
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.: B. Brown
Profit First by mike Michalowicz
How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self: LePera, Dr. Nicole
Hatch Inventory Management | Shopify App Store
Management One
Asana Project Management
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400  
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Everything you need to get everything you want is available! That is just one piece of incredible knowledge from Retail Vet and Co-Founder of WhizBang! Retail Training, Bob Negen.

Becoming an independent retailer is nothing short of brave, and Bob shares some wise words when it comes to breaking away from fear as a retail owner.

As Bob joins me from a podcasting suite at the Las Vegas Home and Gift Show in this Bonus Episode, we cover the economy, putting yourself out there, and his ultimate secret on how to get things done.

Worried about your business in the state of today's economy? More billionaires were created in the Great Depression than any other time in American history

Being a retail owner is a long game. You might make mistakes. You might get derailed. Just...Begin Again.

Moving forward and working toward success is a choice, and you can do it! I’m rooting for your success.


What’s Inside:

• How to break past the fear of the economy as a retailer.
• Why you shouldn’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
• Tips for achieving momentum in your retail business. 
• Bob’s secret for getting stuff done.
• Two top focuses for retailers for the business year.

Mentioned In This Episode:
WhizBang! Retail Training
WhizBang! Retailers | Facebook
The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Patrick Keiser was in his barber’s chair when he had a powerful conversation that may just change the retail world. Patrick is the founder and executive director of Heart on Main Street.

The presence of small retailers is down 20% in the last 20 years, Heart on Main Street is a business designed to change that by helping and supporting these local fixtures.

Whether it's money and investments, information and education, resources, or a network; Patrick’s passion is to revive Main Street and help more than the current 1 in 3 retailers make it past the 2-year mark.

With Friends on Main Street, Patrick is creating a community of like-minded retailers and businesses relative to the retailer community to give business owners the help and support they actually need.

You have to hear Patrick's passion to push the narrative back to shopping locally. He has such great advice to retailers including something I am a huge advocate for; Find a mentor.

During our conversation one thing is abundantly clear, we are rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• How one conversation led to a vision that could change the world.
• A resource for new retailers or existing retailers ready for growth.
• A business founded on helping independent retailers evolve and thrive in their community.
• A network of experienced retailers and businesses.
• The value of learning from other experiences.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Heart on Main Street
Heart on Main Street on LinkedIn
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Okay Retailers, Here’s a big question to consider: How are you getting customers in your door? And how are you converting that traffic into sales?

Maybe you’ve got it going on over on social…but you’re missing MAJOR opportunities via email and text.

Nick McHenry is the founder of OneShop Retail, a service that streamlines content creation and customer engagement for brick-and-mortar retail stores like you!

There can be some serious stigma around emailing and texting your customers, but we are here to help you get it right. From how many emails to send out each week to crafting the perfect content, or even how to get your customer's phone number, we’ve got something for you to use.

And listen, you don’t have to take all this information and run with it. Just commit to ONE thing and see how it transforms your business.

You can do it! I’m rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• How to streamline your customer service and experience.
• How many emails SHOULD you be sending?
• What’s the right way to integrate text marketing?
• Metrics that matter: Are you focusing too much on your open rate?
• How to craft the perfect message for your text or email list. 
• How personal is too personal? Respecting your customer's inbox.

Mentioned In This Episode:
OneShop Retail
Nick McHenry (@nickmchenry) on Instagram
Nick McHenry (@nickmchenry) on TikTok
Introducing ChatGPT - OpenAI
Hug Your Customers by Jack Mitchell
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

When it comes to visual merchandising Michelle Sherrier of MC Design Collaboration and host of The Retail Whore Podcast is the go-to! In this episode, she shares her impressive wisdom, insight, and eye for creating the best visual outcome in your retail stores.

Don’t let your store and inventory get stale, give often and intentional resets to your store space. With MC Design Collaboration, Michelle works with her clients for quarterly, whole space resets but she recommends smaller refreshes with an injection of new inventory to happen monthly. She helps retailers create stories and merchandising moments by building the inventory around the client and feature products.

Benefit from more merchandising tips like:
Instantly increase sales with intentional add-ons that build on your higher ticket gifts.
Be intentional with your impulse section and don’t let your cash wrap turn into a ‘garage sale”.
Add natural, real-world textures and scents to bring out elements of packaged goods.

And is the future of independent retail a co-op collaborative experience? Michelle shares about a client with an exciting retail vision in Joshua Tree, CA.

For all this and more, tune into the full episode! Retailers, I’m rooting for your success.

What’s Inside:

• Common mistakes retailers are making.
• Tips that can INSTANTLY increase sales.
• Ideas for leveling up the visual displays in your stores.
• What’s the difference between Add Ons and Impulse Buys?
• Managing your inventory and creating a story with your products.
• Tracking trends in retail.
• An interesting take on the future of independent retail.

Mentioned In This Episode:
MC Design Collaboration
The Retail Whore Podcast
Michelle Sherrier (@theretailwhorepodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
Michelle Sherrier (@mcdesigncollaboration) • Instagram photos and videos
Open To Buy
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media Payroc
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Small businesses this is YOUR time!

You don’t want to miss this conversation with Mark Schaefer, social media marketing expert, author of 10 incredible business and marketing books, and Keynote Speaker at my conference, EVOLVE this spring.

Mark brings his decades of experience and lens for the future of marketing to talk about his newest book, Belonging to the Brand.

The old ways of marketing are out and if you don’t adapt and evolve…you will be left behind. Now more than ever people are craving community and connection. And your company can be that community.

Mark shares the story of mega-brand, Sephora, whose revenue comes in at 80% from their online community. When you create a community within your customers, you are helping transform your customer into a company advocate. That’s right, your customers can sell your products better than you can.

In today’s world there is so much demand for your time and distraction for our attention, retailers have to stay up to date in the marketing trends to cut through the clutter. Mark gives a sneak peek at his keynote speech for EVOLVE, The Most Human Company Wins.

With so much tech in our way, we have to utilize it in a way that makes human, personal connections. That is the only way you’re going to make it and Mark says the future is bright for independent retailers. Big box stores that have owned the media over the last decade have less power when it comes to actually connecting and building their community.

In 2 years, Mark says, marketing will be unrecognizable. So keep listening, come to my conference, and gain the tools you need to keep up. I’m rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• The future of marketing.
• How to stay human in a high-tech world.
• Why is community so important for a company?
• How to cut through the clutter and reach your customer.
• Changing how you view your customer; from customer to advocate.
• Sneak Peak Alert: Keynote Speech, The Most Human Company Wins!

Mentioned In This Episode:
Mark Schaefer
Belonging to the Brand Book - Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow}
Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Drucker, Peter F.
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Cathy Wagner, The Retail Maven, or as I lovingly refer to her…The Profit Lady...joins me on this episode to talk about profit when it comes to retail. She has loads of experience helping retailers make more money, have more profits, watch out for retail market trends, and stay ahead of the game.

She shares her actionable tips and steps to bring more profit to your retail business…like these 3 KPIs you NEED to pay attention to:
Rent Costs - 10% of Sales
Team Payroll Costs - 10% of Sales
Inventory and Costs of Goods - 48% of Sales

Have you ever doubted the impact of quality customer service? Cathy shares a story about a personal experience she helped create for a retailer by making detailed, personal calls to their top customers. Those phone calls alone resulted in 30k worth of sales!

We also talk about a tricky subject for retail owners: paying yourself! Not paying yourself is not the favor you think it is. You have to value your time and input into your business, this mindset will impact your business and profits for the better.

Cathy shares a ton of great information and resources in today’s episode. So please check out the links, training, books, and whatever can be of use to you. We're here to help…and we're rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• Actionable steps for more profit in your independent retail business.
• Staying up to date in the ever-changing world of retail.
• Comparing and watching retail trends.
• A retail story of making 30K with the power of customer service.
• Is there a hole in your business?
• Are you STILL not paying yourself?

Mentioned In This Episode:
Start your week off right with the Rise & Shine newsletter, sent to your email inbox every Monday morning!
Retail Mavens
RETAILMavens - YouTube
Retail Mavens
How to Increase Your Sales so You can Consistently Pay Yourself & Your Staff
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
Amazon.com: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (Audible Audio Edition)
Accounting Software & Solutions | QuickBooks Global
The Business of Fashion (@bof) on Instagram
Harvard Business Review (@harvard_business_review) on Instagram
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Connect with host Crystal Vilkaitis and join her newsletter at https://thisiscrystal.com.

Retailer? Visit https://indera.co for retail education, training, and community. Founded by Crystal Vilkaitis.

Welcome to the first episode of Rooted in Retail, where I, Crystal Vilkaitis of Crystal Media, am sharing all my experiences, tips, and tricks to guide retailers to success! We’re wasting no time and diving into my favorite topic, something I’ve been working with since 2007…Social Media.

During my time working with retailers over the last decade, I’ve seen a lot of resistance when it comes to social media. This resistance comes from the ever-changing landscape of the industry, the learning time for each new app and its features, and the fear retailers have of putting themselves out there. Sometimes I even meet retailers who are wide open to hopping on social media but are making too many mistakes to see success.

It doesn’t have to be scary, it doesn’t have to be hard. It can actually be simple! In this episode, I cover 3 big mistakes and how to fix them to get repeatable, consistent, measurable success.

I’ve got solutions for:
No Plan
No System
No Tracking

These three things can make all the difference when it comes to your business and social media. Avoiding these mistakes and following my tips can not only prevent burnout and overwhelm but show you how serious the gains that can be made from strong, consistent social media!

Don’t forget to check out the tools and resources I share that you can find online at my website.

This will take work, time, AND action. But I’m here rooting for your success!

What’s Inside:

• Welcome to Rooted in Retail, a podcast for retailers.
• Why do retailers often show resistance towards social media?
• How to make social media simple.
• 3 big mistakes retailers make in social media.
• Solutions, tips, and resources for creating repeatable success through socials.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Download the FREE intake form today!
The Crystal Media 5-Step Process For Painless Posting
Register for EVOLVE 2023 and use code podcast to save $400
Crystal Media
Crystal on Instagram
Crystal Media on Instagram
Crystal Media Co - YouTube

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation

Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! 

Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt