Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

In This Episode:

As independent retailers, protecting our stores, staff, and ourselves is always a top priority, right? How do you ensure safety among your staff and yourself - especially when it comes to loss prevention? In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I am sharing practical tips to prevent both external (shoplifting by customers) and internal (staff) theft to ensure your shop stays safe, profitable, and secure for everyone.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the episode:

Inventory is Money: Every piece of stock represents your revenue and you need to be vigilant about protecting it. Do you have a handle on your inventory? Is your POS up to date? Do you have cameras in place and separation of duties among your employees?
Safety First for You and Your Staff:

Ensure your team feels safe by having clear protocols for dealing with shoplifters. Never confront them directly—safety is more important than merchandise.
Empower staff to trust their instincts and call the police if something feels off. Prioritize their well-being in every situation - do not confront shoplifters, call the police and allow them to handle the situation.

Best Practices for Loss Prevention:

Engage customers as soon as they enter the shop and ensure visibility in all store areas.
Use simple tools like mirrors, security cameras, and clear layouts to reduce theft.
Foster a culture of awareness with your team, making sure they know you are paying attention.
POS Systems and Inventory Management: Track inventory regularly, audit stock, and ensure employees are aware that it's being monitored.
Separation of Duties: Rotate responsibilities for handling cash and inventory to avoid unchecked control.

Loss prevention isn’t just about protecting your inventory—it’s about keeping yourself, your team, and your business safe. By implementing these strategies, you’ll reduce risk and ensure a secure environment for everyone.

Catch the next episode for tips on end-of-month preparation!

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop. And Q4 is coming! We’ve got your back. You don’t have to do retail alone!

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 104: Tight on Cash Flow? Let’s Turn Your Old Inventory into Cash!

Episode 193: Retailers: First Impressions Count!

Episode 208: Stacking Your Team with Guest Expert Shelli Warren

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

227. Improve Customer Loyalty and Become Referable with Katrina Scarlett

Season 5 · Episode 227

lundi 16 septembre 2024 • Duration 32:51

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

17 Easy Ways to Improve Client Satisfaction & Retention

In This Episode:

Do you feel like you are always looking for new customers? Did you know that it is less expensive to keep your customers coming back than it is to market to new ones?

In this episode of The Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sitting down with Katrina Scarlett of Scarlett & Co. to chat about how independent retailers can elevate their in-store experience through a hospitality-driven approach and focus on customer retention. Katrina is a customer experience expert whose company specializes in helping clients improve retention, satisfaction, and monetization efforts to make a bigger impact. While she works now mostly with authors and coaches, her experience and approach are perfect for retail. I am so inspired by her work and am excited to share this conversation with you. Let’s dive in!

Here are some of the highlights and major touchpoints of our chat:

Customer Retention as a Key Strategy: Katrina emphasized that customer retention goes beyond repeat visits—it's about creating loyalty and fostering a referral network. Loyal customers not only return but also spread the word, helping retailers grow their business organically.
The Five Pillars of Customer Experience: Katrina’s framework focuses on five essential areas that retailers should prioritize and with this framework, can set up actual operational guidelines for their staff and business.

Culture: A customer-centric culture should start from the top and flow throughout the entire team.
Service: Retailers should focus on delivering more than just basic customer service—serving with intention and heart is essential.
Offers: Product mixes should cater to customers’ needs and desires, not just the store owner's preferences.
Operations: Streamlining processes and systems makes shopping easier and frictionless for customers.
Journey: The customer journey includes every interaction and touch point, from first impressions online to in-store purchases and beyond.

Adopting a Hospitality Mindset: Adopting a hospitality-first approach in retail is key. Treating customers like valued guests can make a significant impact on their experience and loyalty.
Importance of Operations: Efficient operations, such as easy returns and smooth checkout processes, are vital for improving the overall customer experience. Katrina highlights that operational decisions should always consider both the business and the customer’s experience.
Customer-Centric Focus: The success of a retail store is built on the satisfaction of its customers. Period.

“Return to your heart of service.” -Katrina Scarlett

Listen to the full episode to hear more ideas, the why and how to’s. You will gain actionable insights into how to improve your retail shop’s customer experience, build stronger loyalty, and create a hospitality-driven retail culture!

About Katrina and Scarlett & Co.

Katrina Scarlett is the founder and driving force behind Scarlett & Co., a company that specializes in helping authors and coaches improve their client retention, satisfaction and monetization efforts so they can increase their profits and expand their impact.

You can follow along with Katrina and Scarlett & Co. here:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop. And Q4 is coming! We’ve got your back. You don’t have to do retail alone!

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 93: How to Wow and Delight Your Customers and Keep Them Coming Back

Episode 118: How to Create Loyalty and Amazing Customer Experiences with Author Shep Hyken

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

Episode 215: Coffee Break Chat: Customer Service vs. Customer Experience

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

218. Best of Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell

Season 5 · Episode 218

lundi 15 juillet 2024 • Duration 44:11

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Happy July! This month, we’re celebrating our retailers in the Retailer’s Inner Circle. It’s Member Appreciation Month! We’re hosting weekly giveaways (including private coaching sessions with me!), launching promotional guides, editable social media graphics, and so much more. It’s not too late to join us - and NOW is the time.

You don’t have to run your retail business alone! Join the Inner Circle today and get immediate access to countless Masterclasses on topics from merchandising to social media and our coveted monthly playbooks that break your month down for you into bite sized pieces. You’ll also have an opportunity to make peer-to-peer connections in our community with retailers who are facing the same questions and issues as you. Q4 is looming and our revamped Holiday Bootcamp also launches soon. Retail doesn’t have to be so hard! Join us today!

In keeping with our celebration of our members, over the next few weeks on the podcast we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. This week we are going all the way back to Episode 132 with Millie Blackwell of Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop in Greytown, New Zealand. Let’s dive in!

In This Episode:

If you think you have to be on FB to grow your business, think again! Meet Millie Blackwell - owner of Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop in Greytown, New Zealand.

Before opening her shop in December 2020, Millie and her husband owned digital businesses and did a lot of home renovations. Her shop is perfect for romantic, curious minds and romantic souls. Her bookshop is filled with books and creative items such as notebooks, jigsaw puzzles, fountain pens, stationary, etc.

Because Millie opened her shop during the height of the pandemic, she really had to work hard to build their market base in unique and creative ways. Storytelling has been a successful marketing strategy for them with print ads, Instagram, and their quarterly newsletter: The Blackwell Bugle. Fun fact: Millie doesn’t use Facebook for personal use or for her business! It can be done.

All of Millie’s business marketing decisions are based on building community and becoming a destination shop. Listen to her attract strategies! They go against the grain and work for her! She’s doing it her way and making connections, human to human.

Millie is a member of our Level Up and Accelerate Mastermind group and works hard at business development, and pays close attention to tracking, measuring, tweaking, training, and focusing on foot traffic.

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 113: Retail Success Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee from The Vintage Nest

Episode 118: How To Create Loyalty and Amazing Customer Experiences with Guest Expert & Author: Shep Hyken

Episode 133: Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, and CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

217. Best of Retailer Success Series: Simplifying Your Retail Business with Louise McManus

Season 5 · Episode 217

lundi 8 juillet 2024 • Duration 38:18

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Happy July! This month, we’re celebrating our retailers in the Retailer’s Inner Circle. It’s Member Appreciation Month! We’re hosting weekly giveaways (including private coaching sessions with me!), launching promotional guides and editable social media graphics, and so much more. It’s not too late to join us - and NOW is the time.

You don’t have to run your retail business alone! Join the Inner Circle today and get immediate access to countless Masterclasses on topics from merchandising to social media and our coveted monthly playbooks that break your month down for you into bite-sized pieces. You’ll also have an opportunity to make peer-to-peer connections in our community with retailers who are facing the same questions and issues as you. Q4 is looming and our revamped Holiday Bootcamp also launches soon. Retail doesn’t have to be so hard! Join us today!

In keeping with our celebration of our members, over the next few weeks on the podcast we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite past interviews with Inner Circle retailer members! These retailer interviews are some of our most popular episodes and what you all are telling us you want more of. So this week we are going all the way back to Episode 120 with Louise McManus of Vischer Ferry General Store. Let’s dive in!

In This Episode:

Inner Circle member Louise McManus has managed to find balance - a profitable and enjoyable shop, balanced with a great quality of life. She’s here to share with us how that’s possible!

Several years ago Louise McManus bought a house, built in 1856, in the historic Erie Canal hamlet and had a dream of creating a beautiful shop the community would love, and the rest is history! This was a new venture for Louise, as she came from working in a bridal boutique and as a jewelry designer.

The Vischer Ferry General Store is both a café and a retail gift shop. Her journey as a retail shop owner has been one to watch not only because of her multiple buckets of revenue streams, but the atmosphere she has created for her customers - it truly is a destination shop!

I have watched her grow into a CEO who is flexible and knows how to think in the future. I know her journey will help yours as well. Take some notes, Louise is living her best life as a shop owner and is still in love with it all!

“It’s my business, and it can be whatever I want it to be.” - Louise McManus

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 129: Retailer Success Series: Community Attract Strategy with Michelle Emmons

Episode 39: Retailer Success Series: How Jill Went from Hobbyist to Creative CEO

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

216. Create A Summer Of Ease for Your Retail Shop

Season 5 · Episode 216

lundi 1 juillet 2024 • Duration 29:12

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

In This Episode:

Can you have a summer of ease and keep your momentum going? Yes. No matter what summertime looks like in your retail shop, you need to balance your work schedule with rest and fun while keeping the momentum at the same time. Sounds challenging, right? Trust me, if you put in the effort, you can get things done and still have time to enjoy the sunshine. In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m sharing some things you can easily cross off of your retail shop’s to-do list this summer.

Some of the things I’ll share thoughts on:

Setting your schedule and your staff’s schedule as far in advance as you can
Scheduling out big rocks and promotions between now and September (this is done for you if you are an Inner Circle member!)
A hot tip for getting a bunch of social media posts and emails scheduled in one hour or less (Inner Circle members have access to a masterclass on content creation and monthly playbooks with email subject lines)
Easy ideas on how to humanize your brand
Planning out and delegating roles/responsibilities for your upcoming events
How hiring/delegating out these tasks can free up your time and actually grow your business

Get out your calendars, my friends! I challenge you to sit down this week and schedule what needs to get done in your retail business so you can sit on a beach in peace this summer.

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 143: How to Plan and Host Successful Events in Your Retail Shop

Episode 145: How to Market Promotional Events in Your Retail Shop

Episode 213: 5 Areas Retailers Should Be Focusing On in Q3

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

215. Coffee Break Chat: Customer Service vs. Customer Experience

Season 5 · Episode 215

lundi 24 juin 2024 • Duration 20:34

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/podcast/

In This Episode:

As a retail shop owner, have you given much thought to the difference between customer service and customer experience as it relates to your brand? In this short coffee chat episode, I’ll share the difference between the two and what you can do to ensure your brand is having the impact you want it to on your customers. Remember: it doesn’t matter what you sell in your shop, the goal should be to build a brand your ideal customers want to be a part of.

l also touch on customer journey mapping and becoming a destination shop in this episode. If you want to dig in more on these topics, additional episodes are linked in the Related Podcasts section of the show notes.

So grab a cup of coffee (or tea - or whatever you like!) and let’s dive in!

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map

Episode 69: Becoming a Destination Shop

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

214. Coffee Break Chat: Be a Big Deal!

Season 5 · Episode 214

lundi 17 juin 2024 • Duration 12:31

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

In This Episode:

Let’s have a coffee chat around being a big deal in your community, shall we?

Recently, I had a conversation with a client where she relayed to me that being a “big deal” in her community felt awkward for her because she didn’t want to show off or flaunt herself. I want to be the first to tell you that being a big deal isn’t about you personally, but rather, it’s about making sure your brand is known in your community. It’s about knowing what makes your brand special and making sure your community knows. It’s about having confidence in what you are doing in your retail store and sharing it with your community.

“Confidence comes from doing.”

If you need a little pep talk around gathering the confidence to get your name out there in the community, this coffee chat is for you! Grab yourself a cup and let’s dive in. Be sure to check out the related podcast list this week for a deep dive on visibility.

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episodes 198-200: Stop Hiding and Be Known: The Retailer’s Visibility Series

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

213. Five Areas Retailers Should Focus on in Q3

Season 5 · Episode 213

lundi 10 juin 2024 • Duration 23:02

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

In This Episode:

If your retail shop is in an area where summertime means things slow down a little bit, it’s not time to settle into vacation mode just yet! As we move into summer, there are a few things that we can be doing around our retail shops to set us up for success when things get busier this Fall. In this episode, I’m going to share 5 areas retail shop owners could focus on this summer so you won’t be winging it when Q4 arrives.

The 5 areas I’ll be discussing in this episode are:

Any maintenance and physical changes to your shop
Updating processes & systems
Reorganizing and making changes/additions to your team
Your marketing plan
Review and know your numbers

You can ease off the gas and take a little break this summer, even as you focus on these areas. There is time for both… for now! So let’s get to planning in Q3 so we can set ourselves up for a phenomenal Q4 in 2024. Let’s dive in!

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 112: How to Do a Mid-Year Review and Check-up

Episode 162: What to Focus on in Q3

Episode 166: Simple Sales Strategy Series

Episode 195: What Numbers Successful Retail Shop Owners are Measuring

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

212. Pushing Through Business Blocks with Guest Expert Jane Bellante

Season 5 · Episode 212

lundi 3 juin 2024 • Duration 45:27

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

In This Episode:

When you are feeling stuck in your retail business or in life, what tricks do you use to change your mindset? How do you push through the blocks that feel as though they are keeping you stuck?

In this episode, I’m joined by mixed media artist, creative coach, and former client Jane Bellante to chat about all things mindset. Jane’s business has transformed over the years from a retail shop to creative coaching. Today she hosts The ArtFusion Podcast and helps retailers and creatives let go of negative thought patterns to create art and personal brands. If you need some inspiration around flipping your mindset and overcoming business blocks, this episode is for you!

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” -Rumi

Just a few of the points we chat about:

The magic of stillness
Trusting yourself and listening to your intuition
Tying habits to positive affirmations
How changing your thought patterns can also change your neuropathways
Being brave enough to let go of the things that are no longer serving you and your business
The connection between you, your customers, and your branding (This conversation may surprise you!)

Jane also gives us great advice on seeking progress over perfection, or as I like to say, “done is better than perfect!”

What’s holding you back? How can I help? Reach out and let’s chat!

About our Guest, Jane Bellante

Jane Bellante is an expert at helping people let go of negative thought patterns to create the art and personal brands they have always wanted with joy, confidence and ease. She has been a mixed media artist for 30 years, is an International Best Selling Author, a 3 time published artist and has a Masters Degree in Adult Education. She is host of the ArtFusion Podcast, founder of the 5 Day Letting Go Workshop, the Creating Confidently (ArtFusion) course, IGNITE mastermind leader, and is a married mother of 2 kids and 2 pets.

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 185: Avoid Burnout with Guest Expert Dr. Ashley Margeson

Episode 194: Feeling Stuck? 20 Prompts to Help You Flip Your Mindset

Episode 133: Retail Success Series: Community, Culture, & CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!

If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

211. Relationship Marketing for Retailers

Season 5 · Episode 211

lundi 27 mai 2024 • Duration 28:49

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

In This Episode:

Our business growth is dependent on relationships. Customers, team, and others in your community.

Being intentional about relationship marketing is key. As a retail shop owner, have you thought about which other businesses in your community might be a good fit to build relationships with? Listen in on this episode to expand your network: the perfect collaboration might not be with who you think!

Relationship marketing can be beneficial to you and your community in big ways. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing all about relationship marketing: how and why it works, where to find your collaborators, and ideas on how to build your network. Put on your CEO hat and let’s dive in!

“Your network is your net worth.” - Porter Gale

In this episode, you will learn:

How building community relationships can enhance your retail business
The importance of learning what your customers are looking for when planning collaborations
Who you should be aligning and collaborating with
Why collaborations work and how to build your network
The impacts good retail marketing can have on your visibility strategy

This episode is a great companion to the Visibility Series we shared a few months back! You can find the link to those episodes below.

So grab a pen and paper and let’s dig in! If you have any a-ha moments, ideas, or experiences to share around this episode, jump into my DMs on Instagram! I would love to hear from you.

Ready to Level Up? Join The Retailer’s Inner Circle.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Retailer’s Inner Circle. You’ll have access to countless Masterclasses including Foot Traffic Made Simple, Shop Standards, Money Matters, and so many others. Plus, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where members can ask questions or share advice and their experiences of running a retail shop.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episodes 198-200: Stop Hiding and Be Known: Retailer’s Visibility Series Parts 1-3

Episode 55: Unscalable Conversations: A Free, Simple & Powerful Marketing Tool

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.