Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

    With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview In this episode, I talk about what shop owners can focus on from late October through the end of the year. The inspiration for this episode started with a conversation with a client, where I told her that her Q4 outcomes are mostly already set. The inventory is ordered, the staff is in and hopefully t...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Canadian naturopathic doctor who supports high-achieving women who feel like they have hit a wall. Many of them have ignored their health for a long time and perhaps feel destabilized. Dr. Sarah and I use this episode to talk about burnout, brain fog, and the grief that comes...

With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview As our businesses grow, our roles change. The things that worked in an earlier stage may not be what we need in the next one. In this episode, I'm talking about what it means to stay true to your own vision, values, taste, and way of doing business as your shop evolves. I share a story from the days whe...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Want to work with me to plan out your week so it's built with intention? Something that works easily for you and your business? I'm hosting a workshop on September 29th to help you do just that! Join me for Your CEO Time: From Spinning to Soaring . It's only $47 and will change the way you look at your time - I promis...

With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview As October approaches, it seems that most retailers are either fired up and ready for the season or feeling frozen and overwhelmed by everything that is coming. Q4 is usually quite busy for most making it easy to move into a reactive mode: doing what we have always done without being strategic about where...

With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I'm sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what it feels like to be in the messy middle of making big, important changes in a business. My friends, I am in the middle of it! So let's talk about it: In this episode, I'm sharing the challenges (and major wins) I've been facing while upgradin...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview Of course you love what you do - and that's why you started your business. But perhaps you also took this leap because you wanted more control over your schedule and more freedom to do the things you love outside of work. This episode centers around answering a question that has come up countless times...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview I'm back after taking a longer-than-expected summer pause from the podcast! That pause gave me space to think about what I want next for my business, what I want my life to look like, and how those two things fit together. After years of building, coaching, and running a business, I've been thinking a l...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ A profitable, smooth holiday season is not a lucky accident. It's what happens when someone who actually prepared gets to execute. And the best time to prepare? July. Join me and other retailers in Camp Q4 this summer to set yourself up for a kick-butt Q4! Camp begins with a fireside chat (opening coaching) on July 13th...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview Fresh off my Level Up Mastermind retreat with retailers from around the world, I'm reflecting on something that feels increasingly important in retail right now: experiences. Your customers are looking for connection, meaning, and events they can remember.  In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on...

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with best-selling marketing author and speaker Mark Schaefer to talk about what matters most for independent retailers in a world that's being increasingly shaped by AI. While technology continues to change how customers find the places they love to shop, Mark makes a compel...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview We have officially reached the middle of the year, and now is the perfect time to pause for just a few minutes to take an honest look at what we're building. Beyond reviewing numbers and planning for the months ahead, I want to pose a bigger question: is your business becoming a valuable asset, or hav...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with my friend Deanne Fitzpatrick of Deanne Fitzpatrick Rug Hooking Studio for an honest and raw conversation about AI, authenticity, and what it means to run a meaningful business. We talk about the parts of AI that feel helpful, the parts that feel icky, and why trust and...

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'm sharing seven common patterns I see repeatedly with independent retailers who are working hard but still feeling stuck. These are habits, mindset patterns, and blind spots that can keep us from reaching the goals we truly want. As I was making this...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I'm sharing details of a conversation that challenged me to think differently about what's possible in business and life. I've been reflecting on the ways we can reach a point where things feel "good" so we stop stretching toward what could feel even better: more alignment, more joy,...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview Struggling shop owners aren't struggling because they need more tools. Perhaps they are struggling because they've moved away from what actually matters for success in retail. In this conversation, I sit down with Chris Deferio of the Keys to the Shop podcast to talk about what really drives success i...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview What if spring cleaning your business had nothing to do with your shelves and everything to do with what's going on in your head? Let me explain. In this episode, I'm talking about spring cleaning your retail business, but not in the way you might expect. We all know how to tidy up our shops, review i...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview I'm hearing from so many shop owners right now about the sheer volume of donation requests coming through their doors and inboxes. Silent auctions, raffles, sponsorships, gift cards: it can feel constant. For many of us, it brings up a mix of emotions ranging from generosity to frustration. In this ep...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I'm reframing what customer loyalty really means for independent retailers. Rather than focusing on loyalty programs or post-purchase follow-up, I'll explain how customer loyalty is formed long before a transaction ever happens. From the first impression to the in-store experience, ev...

With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, we're continuing our series on building an exceptional reputation in our retail businesses by looking at hospitality through a leadership lens. I'm joined by Stephanie Miller Vincent, founder of SMillerVision and former guest on the podcast. We dig into what hospitality really means bey...

With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this first episode of a three-part series, I'm talking about what it really means to create an exceptional brand in today's retail environment. I'm sharing what I'm seeing in shops right now and why being "fine" or average is no longer enough to stand out or stay relevant. We'll look at how your repu...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this final episode of the Retail Mystery Series, I'll walk you through one last fictional case where a well-established shop with a strong brand and large social media following was still not making money. On the surface, everything looked successful, but the business ultimately closed. Why? This e...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode of the Retail Mystery Series, I'll walk you through a common situation many shop owners experience but struggle to explain. Sales are strong. The shop is busy. Yet there is little cash left at the end of the day and bills are starting to pile up. Through another fictional case study, I...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this 300th episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'm sharing a personal reflection on what it takes to keep showing up in business over the long haul. Rather than revisiting past highlights, I'm sharing honestly about consistency, passion, and the ongoing work of building something that lasts,...

  With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview Why would a shop that has been open for over a decade, has loyal customers, strong brands, and steady traffic have stalled growth or even a decline in business? In this second installment of the Retail Mystery series, I share the fictional case of a home decor shop owner who feels stuck after 13 years...