It’s all too common for retailers at every stage to feel confused, frustrated, and disheartened—especially when it comes to how much they can pay themselves. 

But most retailers don’t realize that their success, growth, and take-home pay come down to a single shocking metric! Listen in to learn what this key metric is, how it’s calculated, and what you can do to improve your bottom line.

For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode169.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

When a new store or competitor pops up, many independent retailers feel a sense of not being enough, tension, anxiety, annoyance, and fear—lots and lots of fear. But competition in retail is a GOOD thing! 

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a case study for what happens when we believe that competition in retail is positive—and how that belief can help us improve our stores. If you’ve ever been worried about the store next door, you’ll want to listen in.

For show notes, including links to anything I’ve mentioned in the episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode168.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

Do you ever find yourself checking your email inbox over and over again throughout the day? It’s so common among entrepreneurs, especially when we have customer service questions, discussions with employees/vendors/contractors, and other critical information delivered to us via email. If you’re opening or refreshing your email more often than you’d like, it might be time to consider breaking the habit! In this episode, I’ll share how constantly checking our inboxes affects our brains and what I’m doing to break my email-checking addiction.

For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode167.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

On a recent trip to Miami, my family and I took an incredible Uber ride—and learned some surprising business lessons from our driver, Luis! 

Listen in to learn the three key things every business owner should focus on and what we should never underestimate when running a business.

For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode166.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

Choosing a point-of-sale (POS) system is one of the first and most impactful decisions that an indie retailer makes. Your POS software and hardware are how you collect payment for the goods you offer in your store, and in some cases, they’re also the tech supporting your e-commerce website!

If you’re debating between Square versus Shopify for your brick-and-mortar store, listen to this episode so you can make an informed decision that works best for your retail business.

For show notes, visit savvyshopkeeper.com/episode165. 

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

In this episode, we're going to talk about something that isn't always pleasant, but that we have to tackle: why independent retail stores fail. 

From stubborn and arrogant owners to poor financial management and lack of systems, we'll explore how these factors can lead to the downfall of a retail business. We'll also touch on the importance of mindset and treating your store like a job, not a jobby. 

If you're an indie retailer who wants their business to succeed, this episode is a must-listen!

For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode164. 

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

We’d all love to automate more tasks in our retail businesses, especially when there’s so much for us to do each day! 

Well there’s a new type of software on the scene that some retailers are finding helpful for writing-related tasks. It’s artificial intelligence software, particularly chat textbots like ChatGPT. 

You’ve probably heard the buzz around these softwares, but do you know how to use them in your retail business yet? Listen in to learn what AI software is, how you can use it in your retail business, and what the future holds as artificial intelligence continues to develop.

For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode163. 

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

Tickets to the 2023 Savvy Shopkeeper Virtual Conference, "Plant Seeds For Retail Growth" are now available! 2-Day Event: Sunday, May 21, 2023 and Monday, May 22, 2023; 11am - 6pm EST Momentum Day: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Listen to this episode to learn all about this year's Virtual Conference.

Click here to see the full itinerary, ticket options, and a FAQ section to help answer some common questions: https://savvyshopkeeper.com/virtual-conference

It’s the first anniversary of the Savvy Shopkeeper Quiz! In that time, nearly a thousand brick-and-mortar store owners have taken the quiz. 

The quiz helps retailers identify what stage of their shopkeeping journey they’re in AND gives them a comprehensive roadmap of resources to help them work less, profit more, and grow. 

Listen in to hear the backstory behind why I created this tool, what it’s taught me about indie retailers, and specific insights from each stage of the shopkeeping journey.

For show notes, including links to anything mentioned in this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode162.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) 

Hitting a slow season in retail can be disheartening, especially for indie retailers. It’s easy to get discouraged when sales are down!

But instead of focusing on the lack of sales, let’s consider how to make the most of your slow season—and what you can do to profit during it. 

Listen in to learn the greatest gift of a slow season, what you shouldn’t focus on, and what you absolutely should do to make the most of a slow season in your business.

For show notes, including links to anything I’ve mentioned in this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode161.

Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at Savvy Shopkeeper

Follow Kathy on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper)