The Receipt Paper Podcast: Tips for Opening and Growing a Brick-and-Mortar Business

When we found a location for our first business, I was so ready to get the keys and get to work on our buildout. I was so adamant that it was the perfect location, that I didn't even care what was in our commercial lease contract. Nothing was stopping me from putting the petal to the medal on opening our doors. I was a girl on a mission. But if I'm being honest, not taking the time to dive into the nitty-gritty of our commercial lease was not a bright idea. When it came time to open our second and third location, I buckled down and reached out to my network to understand the small print and boy am I glad I did.

Leasing a commercial space is like committing to a long-term relationship. It's exciting, nerve-wracking, and sometimes a little overwhelming. But just like any good relationship, it's essential to take your time, evaluate your options, and make sure you're getting the best deal possible. So, before you get down on one knee and sign on the dotted line, listen to this episode where we break down 16 crucial things to consider when leasing a commercial space. Trust us, you will thank yourself later for taking the time to get it right!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• The 16 Things You Should Consider Before Signing Your Lease
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

As the leaves fall and that unmistakable scent of pumpkin spice wafts through the air, there's an electrifying buzz building up, and we're here to spill the beans—Black Friday is strutting its stuff down the runway, and we're ready to unleash the retail fireworks!

We're getting all revved up for our most thrilling season of the year, and guess what? We've got a mind-blowing treat for you. In this juicy episode, we are sharing with you our Black Friday best practices including the exact sales we used to have some of the best sales days of all time.

But if I'm being honest, you have to prepare for your Black Friday sale. Otherwise, you might be left standing in your business with crickets. In this episode, we are going to share our best kept secrets to how to prepare for a successful Black Friday sale including what type of sale to do, how to market your sale, and things to consider to boost your sale efforts. We're handing you the keys to retail greatness, so grab you earbuds and tune in now!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Free Download: 75 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Business
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

Instagram is my go-to tool for connecting with my local community and engaging with potential customers who walk through my brick-and-mortar business's doors. It's like the welcoming handshake I extend to the thousands of local folks who might become loyal patrons. Instagram is where I share the story of my business and leave a lasting impression, one square at a time. Personally, I have a deep appreciation for this app. But what about you? Does Instagram bring more joy than frustration into your life? Or are you constantly battling the dreaded "a-word" – algorithm, of course?

In this special episode, I've curated the best Instagram advice, tailored specifically for brick-and-mortar businesses looking to connect with local customers. You'll find my top tips and tricks, so that your instagram posts reach a LOCAL audience that actually drives traffic to your business. Given Instagram's ever-evolving nature, I've also got some fresh insights on what is working lately.

Consider this episode your comprehensive review, a refresher course on all things Instagram for local businesses. If YOU are a local business wanting a zero-cost way to reach more potential customer, this episode is rich with the details you need.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Free Download: 75 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Business
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

Hey there, you know that concept called the "Croissant Theory"? Yeah, I had never heard of it either. But, it's like this cool analogy between how businesses create scarcity and the way croissants are baked in small batches. Just as a bakery whips up a limited number of croissants daily to make them feel exclusive and boost demand, businesses can totally use the same idea for their stuff to increase sales.

Kyle and I have been diving into this strategy and we've been trying a few tactics that we thought we would share with you today. It's all about drumming up excitement, boosting sales, and making your thing look super special and valuable.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Free Download: 75 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Business
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

Hey there, welcome back to part two of our email marketing journey! If you haven't caught part one yet, let's get you over to that episode first here. I dove deep into why email marketing is your business's BFF and got started with the basics, so you don't want to miss part one. Once you've caught up on part one, come back for part two! Now, we're about to dive headfirst into the ocean of strategies to build that email list so you actually have people to email. Ready to roll? Let's do this!

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Our Preferred Email Service Provider: Get 50% Off Your First Year
• Get our Free Welcome Email Template
• Subject Line Tool
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

I'm about to spill the beans on a topic I've been gushing about since the dawn of time (well, almost). Buckle up, because in this episode, I'm taking you on an exciting ride into the world of email marketing. Yep, you heard it right – we're diving into the nitty-gritty details of how to get started, step by step.

You know, the moment you realize you've stumbled upon something so good, it's practically a moral duty to share it with the world? That's how I feel about email marketing. I've seen it work wonders for our business and our clients' businesses, and today, I'm thrilled to help you hop on this bandwagon too.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Our Preferred Email Service Provider: Get 50% Off Your First Year
• Get our Free Welcome Email Template
• Subject Line Tool
• Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy
• Tap Mango: Our Preferred Customer Rewards Platform
• Follow us on Instagram

We're back with an exciting episode that's been a long time coming. It's all about a decision that's been brewing beneath the surface for quite a while – the decision to give our brick-and-mortar business a fresh new look and feel. You've been curious about it, and today, we're spilling the beans on what sparked our rebranding journey in true Receipt Paper fashion. Inspired by your questions and discussions, we're diving headfirst into the world of rebranding.

In this episode, we are going to walk you through the exact reasons we came to this decision. Whether you are just starting out or have been a brick-and-mortar business owner for decades, it is important to always be evaluating your business and pivot as needed.

Join us as we spill the beans, share the nitty-gritty, and unveil the transformative journey that is rebranding. Just like you, we're entrepreneurs who've been in the trenches, and we get the struggles, the doubts, and the thrills. Our rebranding story is a testament to growth, evolution, and the ever-changing nature of business. As you listen in, we hope you're inspired to look beyond the surface and into the heart of branding.

You know, SEO can sometimes feel like a tricky puzzle, right? It stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it's like this guidebook that search engines like Google use to decide how to rank your website. And let's be honest, sometimes the thought of SEO can feel so overwhelming that we put it off.

But here's the thing: SEO is super important because it's what determines whether your business shows up high in search results or gets buried on page 10. And who wants their business buried, right? In this interview with Brandon Leibowitz, he shares simple ways that you can start tackling SEO for your local business.

Brandon's been knee-deep in digital marketing since 2007 and is the brain behind SEO Optimizers – a crew that helps small and medium businesses score that top spot on Google using savvy search engine tricks.

This convo was a nice little reminder that diving into SEO doesn't have to be like diving into the deep end. Brandon dropped some simple strategies that can seriously give your business a boost. I picked up some super doable tips that I'm itching to pass on to you. So, let's dive in and make those complicated SEO worries a thing of the past!

Ah, rewind the clock five years and you'd find Kyle and me in a comedy of errors. We were a couple of eager beavers with 9-to-5 gigs, stumbling into the world of brick-and-mortar business ownership. We were practically working round the clock, burning the midnight oil like it was going out of style. Outsourcing? Nope, not in our vocabulary. We practically wore "burnout badge of honor" before we even opened shop. Yeah, we had a knack for overdoing things.

Fast forward to reality check time. Burnout hits us like a ton of bricks. We realized we were more like zombies than business owners, and our doors hadn't even swung open yet. Something had to give, pronto.

So, we decided to shake things up. We orchestrated a grand symphony of change that not only breathed life back into us but sent our business growth chart skyrocketing.

Now, here we are, spilling the beans on our journey. Why? Because we want you to dodge the burnout bullet. Opening day shouldn't double as doomsday for your energy levels.

In this episode you will learn our best tips to find that sweet balance between opening and operating a small biz while juggling a 9 to 5. In a world where business battles and burnout seem inevitable, take a cue from us and tune in now.

Get our FREE Brick-and-Mortar Business Plan Template

Enroll in Brick N' Mortar Academy

Follow us on Instagram

Check out Tap Mango: Our Preferred Rewards Program

I'm no stranger to grappling with those nagging insecurities that try to hold us back. The idea of launching a physical store was both exhilarating and terrifying for me. The excitement of bringing my vision to life was clouded by thoughts like, "Am I really cut out for this?" or "What if I can't compete with others who've been doing this for years?"

But here's the thing – I realized that the power to transform those doubts into stepping stones lies within us. It's a journey of learning to stand tall amidst the whispers of uncertainty and to chart our course based on our unique strengths and dreams, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to others.

And this is why I'm beyond thrilled to have Elise Besler with us today. Elise's journey and insights resonate deeply with me, as she's not only an advocate for showing up authentically, but also a guiding light for those of us navigating uncharted waters.

Elise Besler coaches her clients to understand themselves at their deepest level, so they can use their voices to be the change they want to see in the world. Not only is Elise an Embodied Voice and Life and Leadership Coach, she's also an award-winning singer songwriter and active performer.

So, let's dive into a candid conversation with Elise. We'll explore the strategies she's honed to push past insecurities, the practices and practical advice that we can use every day on our entrepreneur journeys.