Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast

The 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat is over, and I have SO much to share with you! I've only been home a few days, and I'm still processing all of the magical moments from this year's retreat at Frügthaven Farm. One thing I am ready to share with you, though, is a recap of my presentation about retail planning. Listen in to learn about Poor Planning Polly, what her year looks like, and the solution...

Finding a planner that meets the needs of independent retailers has been a struggle for far too long. I've heard countless shopkeepers tell me that they've tried planners only to find out they don't offer what they need…and then the planner ends up in the garbage, with both money and paper wasted.  Thankfully, the search for the perfect planner is finally over! The Savvy Shopkeeper DIGITAL Planner...

When your store is brand new (or still just a dream!), it's challenging to think about the future because you're focused on the now. During my Aspiring Retailer and Savvy Starter stages, knowing how to plan would have been incredibly helpful. And now that I've learned about planning, it's a key part of my journey as a shopkeeper! Listen in to the five things indie retailers aren't taught—but shoul...

I can't tell you how many times I've said just grab a "good old pen and paper" on the podcast. Not only am I a fan of getting things out of my head, but I'm also a fan of writing things down, so I don't forget them. But after five years of paper piling up on my desk, I was beyond frustrated. I never felt I could find what I was looking for, and my notes overwhelmed me!  So this year, I switched fr...

Julie had always loved to craft as a hobby. After the loss of her newborn son, Julie needed something to do with her hands—and from there, her business bloomed. Now, with 25 years of retail business ownership under her belt, Julie's business is blooming once again. Attending the 2021 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat changed Julie's perspective and helped her step into her role as CEO. Listen in to hear Ju...

As a people person with a passion for numbers, Brittany had always dreamed of owning her own business. With five years of experience as a certified public accountant in hand, Brittany was ready for a new challenge: purchasing an existing vendor shop.  Listen in to learn Brittany's best tips for running a vendor market, how she keeps her financials clean, the key employee that contributes to her st...

One of the things that shopkeepers struggle with the most is time management. It seems like there's a never-ending list of tasks and just not enough time in the day. Time management, though, is a learned skill. There's no magic pill, system, or solution that adds more time to your day, but you CAN get better at managing your time! Listen in to learn how I manage my time and the KEY mindset shift t...

Shopkeeper Stories are back! We're kicking off this round with Jessica Thompson, owner of Bee Joyful Shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jessica started her journey as a maker with just one product: reusable beeswax food wraps. After several years of showing at markets and selling at a monthly community event, Jessica was ready to open her eco refill shop in October of 2020.  Visit https://savvyshopkeepe...

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing a recent experience I had where I attended a good friend's small business retreat and the "mental drama" that unfolded before I committed to attending. Our thinking often holds us back but it doesn't have to be this way! The power of connecting in real life is craved more than ever and it's something I personally craved and needed too, even it my brain was tellin...

Growing the online part of your business takes time and effort. Just like our brick-and-mortar spaces, it's essential to dedicate some energy to this part of our business. Online marketing is crucial to growing and building a solid omnichannel retail business. In Master Shopkeepers, a group member with a fantastic brand—and some experience in marketing before opening her retail business!—recently...

Each year, I survey the Savvy Shopkeeper community to learn more about you, your struggles, and how Savvy Shopkeeper can better help you on your shopkeeping journeys.  I get to know our group members pretty well, but the survey gives me an opportunity to learn more about podcast listeners and email subscribers, too!  Listen in to learn more about this year's survey results, what I've learned from...

One of the most underutilized yet affordable and EASY marketing tools for retailers is… …email marketing. Why is it so underutilized? There are lots of reasons! However, many of the reasons I hear from retailers are mindset roadblocks we put in our own way.  Listen in to learn the top eight roadblocks I hear time and time again. And be sure to stick around to the end to learn about the first-ever...

There are two schools of thought regarding the current economy and how it affects independent retail businesses.  Group number one says, "Don't listen to all the hype and negativity in the media. Retailers are NOT struggling right now, and many are up!" Group number two says, "Inflation is on the rise. We see it everywhere, and there's no denying it. No one is shopping, my local economy and reside...

"Automation" can be intimidating, especially when you have to invest your time and effort into setting up new software or learning a new system.  But automation is a massive timesaver for indie retail business owners! It's one of the best ways that we can work LESS. Best of all, the time we can save through automating our repetitive, day-to-day tasks can be put towards the big ideas that help us p...

It's easy to get stuck in autopilot when we're marketing our indie retail businesses, especially when we've heard the same marketing "rules" over and over again!  One of the most common rules you'll hear is to focus 80 percent of your social media content on engaging or educational content, and the other 20 percent on selling.  But with social media coming in a distant second ( or even dead last,...

I'm hosting a FREE masterclass on Monday, June 27, 2022, at 2 PM EST to help you create a cash flow management system!  Listen to today's episode to learn why I'm hosting this free masterclass, what you can expect to learn if you attend, and some essential base knowledge to help you prep for the class.  Register for the free Cash is Queen Masterclass at https://www.savvyshopkeeper.com/cashflow ! F...

I'm excited to bring you a new intermittent series called Shopkeeper Guest Interviews. Many talented store owners in our Master Shopkeepers and Shopkeeper's Lab groups have different experiences, knowledge, and perspectives than me—and I want to share their ideas with you.  Today's guests are Dani and Tim Martin. They're the owners of The Cotton Shed Market, a vendor market located in Bryant, Arka...

Today, I'm sharing a coaching moment with Sam, the owner of Heck Studios. Sam was our first hire at The Salvaged Boutique six years ago and has done tons of design work for Savvy Shopkeeper. She also writes our weekly newsletter! On a recent call together, Sam told me about a viral TikTok she'd posted for her custom embroidery business—and how she was now flooded with the inquiries she'd dreamed o...

While many of us turn to the internet when we have a specific business-related question, books are a way to go deeper on the more abstract ideas we grapple with as business owners.  In today's episode, I'm sharing 8 books I've found valuable and helpful along my entrepreneurial journey. From money mindset to habit building to time management, these books have changed my perspective and helped me g...

We often think that our store, the physical space, or the merchandise generates revenue. But if we dig a little deeper, our BRAIN creates revenue.  Listen in to learn how our brains create value, who we need to listen to most, and what steps you can take to solve the problems that matter to your customers. For show notes, visit https://savvyshopkeeper.com/episode123 . Learn more about Kathy Cruz a...

Being an entrepreneur is challenging, I get it! But the lows don't define us and they don't have to consume us either.  Once retailers can accept that there will always be highs and lows in retail and in life, the not-so-good moments can become easier to handle and process. YOUR thinking is an incredible asset. Do you want to choose thinking that keeps you down and/or in the dumps OR do you want t...

I hinted at this a couple weeks ago but I'm currently experiencing a "season" in business, my own store is expanding! Needless to say, a store expansion is a BIG deal and has required quite a bit of my time. This means some things had to get pushed down on my priority list because our Grand Reopening became THE priority.  In episode 120, I shared that the store I co-own with my sister was expandin...

I'm excited to announce the 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat ! This intentional and thoughtful event is the perfect way for shopkeepers to come together, learn from each other, and treat themselves.  Listen in to learn about this year's theme, our incredible venue, and all the intentional details of this event.  Be sure to get your ticket at www.savvyshopkeeper.com/retreat ! Learn more about Kathy Cr...

Has one of your friends, loved ones, or acquaintances ever said, "how's that little store of yours doing?" These comments—intentionally or unintentionally!—can come across as condescending or demeaning. And they don't just come from people we know. Sometimes the comments we get from strangers on the internet can feel pointed, too!  While we can't control what other people say about our retail stor...

I have some exciting news to share: the store I co-own with my sister is expanding!  In today's episode, I'm sharing how and why we're expanding, seven things to consider if you're curious about expanding your retail store, and a personal update of what's on the horizon in the next few months for both Savvy Shopkeeper and our retail space.  For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode120...