The Retail Whisperer

This episode is sponsored by Patrick & Company, a wholesale sales agency proudly representing nationally and internationally branded companies. Located in the Dallas Market Center, for over 30 years they have been the go-to source for retailers helping to discover those unique, sought-after, and stylish brands.

Kerrie Fitzgerald is the founder of Kerrie Fitzgerald LLC, an ecommerce and product business consulting & educational agency. She’s also the host of the top 100 marketing podcast, The 6 Figure Product Business Podcast.

As a digital marketing expert, Kerrie helps e-commerce businesses create "wildly in demand"
brands that their customers are obsessed with. Her unique framework stems in organic marketing, that brings in consistent sales and traffic without focusing a dime on ads.

After starting her first high-end pet e-commerce business, The Dapper Dog Box, in 2016, she grew the business to six figures of revenue in two years without funding, staff or support and successfully sold the business in 2019. During that time, she was featured in Buzzfeed, Forbes, and Mariah Carey’s
Magical Christmas Special.

Kerrie is a proud boy & dog mom, hot sauce and coffee lover and an east coast transplant living in Seattle.

Here, Kerrie and Michelle catch up on everything since Kerrie was on the show last year, including her brand-new book, Customer Obsession. Kerrie shares how she’s pivoting in life and business, including her ideas for another product-based business and a software business. She also shares her experience with burnout, chasing the high of starting new projects, and more.

What’s Inside:

• All about Kerrie’s book, Customer Obsession
• Kerrie’s experience with burnout and making life and business changes
• The top three elements of cult-like brands

Mentioned In This Episode:
Kerrie Fitzgerald Website
Kerrie Fitzgerald on Instagram
Kerrie Fitzgerald on YouTube
Kerrie Fitzgerald on TikTok

Support the show

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Melanie Scofield is a self-taught baker who started her journey only a few short months ago. Last year, she was diagnosed with LGL Leukemia after having back surgery and an emergency spine surgery. Melanie’s life had completely turned upside down. She had all these medical issues and then also lost her job of 8 years, which was truly devastating.

Going back to work was not an option for Melanie, because some days she’s really sick. She started baking bread for her family, which was truly therapeutic. Melanie fell in love with it and knew this is what she wanted to do. She knew she couldn’t commit to a storefront, so she decided to open a small farmstand in from of her house instead.  There, she sells her organic sourdough and baked goods.

Marketing is Melanie’s other favorite thing to do, and she knew she could do everything from home. Her community has been amazing, and they’ve supported her stand for the past five months. Melanie is so thankful, and she says bringing joy to her community is what keeps her going. She wouldn’t change a thing!

Melanie shares her inspiring story of how she stated her stand, Farm and Flour. She also talks about her health struggles and how her surgeries and cancer diagnosis transformed her life. Michelle and Melanie discuss Melanie’s former retail store experience, how she’s expanded her offerings since opening, and her plans for the future.

What’s Inside:

• How Melanie started her stand, Farm and Flour
• How Melanie’s expanded her offerings since she started
• Melanie’s plans for the stand’s future

Mentioned In This Episode:
Farm and Flour on Instagram
Farm and Flour on Facebook

Support the show

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

COVE is the realization of interior designer Shelly Van Rozeboom’s lifelong dream to create a boutique that offers interior design services alongside a hand-selected assortment of vintage finds, artfully crafted jewelry, plush textiles, home accessories, and customizable furniture, all inspired by the beauty of the
Central Coast and the lifestyle of California.

Located in the heart of Pismo Beach, COVE provides its community access to the design services of nationally recognized design firm, Van Rozeboom Interiors. Whether you need help with space planning or would like to custom design your own furniture, the experienced team at COVE will provide you with
their expertise and the support necessary to make your vision a reality.

Here, Shelly shares all about how she opened her store and how it’s grown over the years. She shares how she integrated her interior design business with the store and how it all works. Shelly also discusses what it was like to operate over the pandemic, how she maintains a work-life balance, how she manages the store, and much more.

What’s Inside:

• How Shelly integrated her interior design business and retail store
• How Shelly manages her store and trains employees
• Shelly’s advice for designers considering opening a store

Mentioned In This Episode:
https://cove805.com/
COVE on Facebook
COVE on Instagram
Shelly on Pinterest

Support the show

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

As promised, I’m back with another solo show! Here, I discuss a bunch of things coming up for me, and also some things that you guys will be a part of. This summer, I’m speaking at several shows and teaching a masterclass and I share all the details. I also share updates about my blog, my plans for upcoming webinars, updates on the Show Me Your Store series, and details on Zoom consultations.

What’s Inside:

• Where I’m teaching and speaking this summer
• An update about my blog and upcoming webinars
• Updates on the Show Me Your Store series

Support the show

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Tara Thorn started her jewelry business, Cedar and Cypress Designs, after living in Haiti for five years. Seeing the beauty of the island, she wanted to share the beauty and work of the artisans she had met. Starting with a small website, she quickly grew into wholesale and is now in over 500 stores across the
US.

It was with the help of mentors and places like MPLS MART that shaped her business. Tara is now also a showroom owner at the MPLS MART, the Midwest’s only permanent regional gift market. Through shows and the online space, she can grow her reach to more stores and customers, increase
awareness of the beautiful items coming out of Haiti, and showcase the work of her artisans and their team. Every purchase makes a difference, Purchase with Purpose.

This is Tara’s second time on the show and here she shares a little about Cedar and Cypress Designs and how the political and social unrest in Haiti impacts her artisans and business. She then dives into her new role at the MPLS mart and how she got started. Tara also shares all the details of her showroom set up, which brands are represented at the mart, and how she maintains a healthy work/life balance.

Upcoming dates for the MPLS Mart are:

June 9-11, 2024
July 26-30, 2024
October 6-8, 2024

What’s Inside:

• How the unrest in Haiti is impacting Tara’s artisans
• What it’s like inside Tara’s showroom
• How Tara maintains a healthy work/life balance

Mentioned In This Episode:
Cedar and Cypress Designs on Instagram
Cedar and Cypress Designs on Facebook
cedarandcypressdesigns.com
cedarandcypresswholesale.com
MPLS Mart on Instagram
MLPS Mart on Facebook
mplsmart.com
Book: Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

Support the show

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Michele Doty has been in sales for 30+ years, spending the first half learning and mastering her sales, presentation, and people skills within the recruiting space. She was then presented with an opportunity she couldn’t pass up - a sales director position for a luxury jewelry brand. For the last 14 years, Michele has enjoyed being a part of the fashion, beauty, home & gift industries, working for two luxury jewelry brands, and developing relationships with retailers both nationally and internationally. 

From growing a start-up company with $0 sales (literally not one sale) to 7 figures within a year, to closing a million-dollar deal in her 20's, to multiple President's Club Honors, to growing wholesale brands to 7+ figures in revenue, to personally selling and managing 8 figures worth of wholesale products and so much more in between, Michelle has learned a WHOLE (pun intended!) lot about sales, strategy & people in the last 30+ years!

Recently, Michele started a strategy consulting company to help fashion brands grow their wholesale business. Now, she has the benefit of experience working with both retailers and brands. Her goal is to bridge that gap between the two and support their growth. Michele Doty Sales (MDS) was born out of the dire need for sales consulting and training, along with educational and community resources and support for brands, designers, creatives, and anyone looking to grow their wholesale business in the Fashion, Beauty, and Home & Gift industries.

As the founder of Michele Doty Sales and a self-proclaimed sales junkie, Michele’s mission is to share her wealth of knowledge, years of experience, and tried & true processes with anyone interested in taking their wholesale business to the next level - biggest cheerleader and hype girl are bonuses! Here, Michele shares all about her career journey and how she founded her consulting company, how she helps her clients shine at markets and shows, what it’s like to work with her, and more.

What’s Inside:

• Michele’s career journey from corporate sales and recruiting to consulting business owner
• How Michele helps her clients shine at markets and shows
• What it looks like to sign on with Michele as a consultant

Mentioned In This Episode:

Michele Doty on Instagram
micheledotysales.com

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Patrick & Company, a wholesale sales agency proudly representing nationally and internationally branded companies. Located in the Dallas Market Center, for over 30 years they have been the go-to source for retailers helping to discover those unique, sought-after, and stylish brands.

Alec Samman is the President and CEO of Peepers, a 4th generation family run eyewear company. Alec and his sister Lindsay joined the business as owners a little over ten years ago, and they have continued to uphold the high standards of design, innovation and customer connection that have become associated with the Peepers brand.

Under Alec's leadership, Peepers has grown exponentially by over 2500% to become a multi-channel business, expanding its distribution into over 7,000 stores nationwide as well as having a large and growing presence online, direct to the consumer. Peepers has opened offices in California and Hong Kong and has substantially grown its headquarters in Indiana in terms of space and employees.

In 2019, the Company debuted a large, state-of-the-art distribution facility as part of its headquarters footprint. During the time that Alec has been CEO, Peepers has been named one of "Inc. 5000 Fastest
Growing Companies" 10 times, one of the "Best Places to Work in Indiana" 7 times, and has made the coveted "Oprah's Favorite Things" list 7 times.

Alec has been proud to establish a well-received philanthropic program called "Peepers for Teachers," where the company donates money, school supplies, and eyewear and offers volunteers to support teachers throughout the US. Before joining Peepers, Alec held several roles within the sales organization at CDW, a Fortune 500 information technology provider.

While at CDW, he was named a President’s Club winner for being a top sales producer. Alec was inducted into the YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) in 2019. He has served on several local non-profit boards, including the Notre Dame School Foundation and is currently the Vice Chair of the Reader & Sunglass Division at the Vision Council.

Alec holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from Indiana University.

Here, Alec shares his insights into what it was like to build the Peepers brand and his experience transitioning from a corporate sales career into the family business. Michelle and Alec also discuss how Peepers has evolved over four generations, an inside look at the Peepers company culture, and what it was like to get recognized by Oprah. 

What’s Inside:

• Alec’s experience transitioning from a sales career into the family business
• How Peepers evolved over four generations
• An inside look at the Peepers company culture

Mentioned In This Episode:

Peepers on Instagram
Peepers on TikTok
Peepers on Facebook
Peepers Website

Support the show

This week’s episode is sponsored by Fine Lines, a west coast wholesale rep agency with showrooms in Las Vegas and Seattle representing over 50 fabulous gifts, fashion + home lines.

Patrick Keiser is the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Heart on Main Street. Following a career as a high school educator, Patrick entered the wholesale industry in 2016 with a passion for making a difference in communities.

After several years of learning within the wholesale industry, Patrick believed he could be doing more to help independent retailers. In 2021, he conceptualized the idea of bringing together the efforts of companies and organizations that relied on Main Street businesses to provide more tools, resources, and education to retailers across the country.

With the belief that by supporting the growth and sustainability of independent retailers, you can help create better economic conditions for those in the community, Heart on Main Street was formed in 2022. In its first full year in 2023, Heart on Main Street provided over $60,000 to retailers affected by natural disasters and continues to grow as an organization.

Patrick shares his career journey from a high school teacher to his work with One Coast and Heart on Main Street. He shares how Heart on Main Street grew from just an idea to the organization it is today. Michelle and Patrick also discuss mentorship in the industry and the power of community, how Patrick works with retailers, the story behind his Main Street Monday tours, and what the future holds for Heart on Main Street.

What’s Inside:

• How and why Patrick started Heart on Main Street
• A discussion on mentorship and the power of community
• The story behind Patrick’s Main Street Monday tours

Mentioned In This Episode:
Heart on Main Street on Instagram
Heart on Main Street on Facebook
Heart on Main Street Website
Heart on Main Street on TikTok

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Patrick & Company, a wholesale sales agency proudly representing nationally and internationally branded companies. Located in the Dallas Market Center, for over 30 years they have been the go-to source for retailers helping to discover those unique, sought-after, and stylish brands.

Nora’s story began with a pivotal "a-ha moment" in 2004 at her pottery shop just outside of Chicago, Illinois, where she noticed women returning month after month to create platters for various occasions. Curious about where they were storing all these platters, she envisioned a simpler solution—a single
platter for multiple occasions.

Two years later, Nora's brother, Jon, joined her as a business partner, bringing a perfect blend of creativity and development skills to help her grow the company. Family remains the core of Nora’s business, and each member of her team is connected through life’s circle of family and friends.

Nora shares all about her incredible career and personal journey and how it blossomed into her thriving business. She walks through how she came up with her innovative platter concept and discusses the impact of doing signings with customers. Michelle and Nora also chat about how Nora navigates her business since her brother’s passing, advice on building your own brand, and how Nora gives back to the community through her work.

What’s Inside:

• How Nora developed her innovative platter concept
• Advice on building your own brand
• How Nora’s company gives back

Mentioned In This Episode:
Nora Fleming on Instagram
Nora Fleming Website
Nora Fleming on Facebook

Support the show

This week’s episode is sponsored by Fine Lines, a West Coast wholesale rep agency with showrooms in Las Vegas and Seattle representing over 50 fabulous gifts, fashion + home lines.

In 2023, Nathan Raposo and Spencer Howard of Nathan Spencer Home acquired the Agoura Antique Mart in Agoura Hills, California, after operating locations in San Diego, La Jolla, and Venice. Spencer began selling antiques in the 1990s and operated a design and construction firm in Houston, Texas, that specialized in historic preservation and architectural antiques. After that, he commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps and did construction projects around the world.

Nathan owned a home fragrance shop in Boston, Massachusetts, where he handcrafted candles, reed diffusers, and solid perfumes. Prior to that, he was a private hair stylist for a luxury high rise in downtown Boston. They met in San Diego as Spencer was finishing his last tour with the Navy. Together, they created Nathan Spencer Home to combine their love of antiques, gifts, and home decor.

This summer, they are expanding the Agoura Antique Mart by 25% with an additional 2,300 sq. ft. of showroom space at the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills, California.

Here, Nathan and Spencer share all about their background and how it influenced their business ventures today. They discuss the details on how their furniture painting techniques got them into antiques and what it’s like at the Agoura Hills Antique Mart. Nathan and Spencer also share insights into their merchandising strategy, how they split their work responsibilities, how they design their stores and manage vendors, and much more.


What’s Inside:

• How Nathan and Spencer’s background led them to where they are today
• What it’s like inside the Agoura Antique Mart
• How Nathan and Spencer design their stores and manage vendors

Mentioned In This Episode:
The Agoura Antique Mart on Instagram
The Agoura Antique Mart on Facebook
www.TheAgouraAntiqueMart.com

Support the show