Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast

For the past two years, I've been working on a special project for Savvy Shopkeeper. Today, I'm excited to announce that the first part of this project is ready for you: the Savvy Shopkeeper quiz!  This project has been a labor of love, and I'm so excited to share more about it with you. Listen in to learn more about the quiz, how it can help you on your shopkeeping journey, and what I'll be relea...

When retailers hear about Open-to-Buy, or OTB, it sounds really appealing! A tool that tells us when to buy, how much to buy, and keeps us on budget and profitable sounds like the magic solution to inventory issues.  But there's a lot to learn and do before implementing OTB. Listen in to learn exactly what OTB is and everything you need to have in place before using it. For show notes, visit https...

As retailers, we use A LOT of software, tools, and products for our stores. But with so many options and features available, it can really help to see what other retailers are using.  I've recently created a new guide for retailers with all the tools, products, services, and software programs I recommend. Listen in to learn more about what's included and how you can access it! For show notes, visi...

Whether you're an aspiring shopkeeper dreaming of opening your first store or a long-time shopkeeper preparing to expand, move, or open a second location—this episode is for you!  Today I'm sharing 10 lessons that retail store owners wish they'd known before opening their retail store. These lessons came from either myself or shopkeepers in our community, so I hope you'll take these lessons to hea...

While I was on my much-delayed honeymoon vacation (2 ½ years later), the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast hit 100,000 downloads! To celebrate, I'm answering rapid-fire questions from our community and announcing a giveaway! Listen in to learn how you can enter. For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode115. Learn more about Kathy Cruz and Savvy Shopkeeper at  Savvy Shopkeeper Follow Kath...

One of my values for Savvy Shopkeeper is to empower shopkeepers—especially women—to pay themselves. Sometimes, that means kicking fear to the curb and raising prices in our stores.  But raising prices can be challenging, especially if you're worried about how your customers will react. Listen in to learn when to raise your prices, how to do it in a kind and firm way, and hear about my personal exp...

Whether you're just starting or already growing your retail store, deciding how you're going to fund your business can be a challenge. Do you take on debt? Do you fund everything yourself? Do you look for a business partner who can invest? In today's episode, I'm sharing nine potential funding options for small retail businesses. Listen in to learn what all of your options are, as well as the risk...

Crime is a reality for retailers of all sizes. And while I'm not an expert in loss prevention, I did have a 20-year career in law enforcement before becoming a shopkeeper.  In today's episode, I'm sharing tips from my own experience and from our group members to help keep you, your team, and your store safe. For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode112 . Learn more about Kathy Cruz and...

Every retailer experiences slow seasons. But it can be tough not to take a slow month personally—especially if you're having a quiet January after a fantastic December or Q4!  So what can you do to make it through or even embrace a slow season? Listen in to learn the mindset shifts that have helped me deal with slow seasons as a shopkeeper and how I've reframed slow seasons in both my businesses....

Time management can be a touchy subject with shopkeepers because we are overwhelmed with all of our daily tasks—and we don't manage our minds around this topic.  So what can we do to improve our time management? Listen in to hear about my own struggles with time management, learn the truth about time that you need to accept, and the belief that has changed everything for me and my coaching clients...

Many years ago, my sister and I considered moving to a different brick-and-mortar location. The first question a commercial realtor asked us was, "what is your sales per square foot?" I'm sure the look on my face said it all! Her question is what first prompted me to fall into the Google black hole. To save you the hassle, listen in as I share what sales per square foot measures, how to calculate...

Many of the shopkeepers in the Savvy Shopkeeper community have had aspiring store owners—usually complete strangers!—DM them on Instagram or walk into their stores and ask to learn from them. Although some of these requests can be malicious, most of the time, they're made with the best of intentions. How can you empower yourself and these aspiring retailers when they ask for help? Or, if you're an...

If I look back at pictures of our store when we first opened, I cringe. I can't believe people shopped with us! But you know what, they did—and many have stayed on the journey with us.  Over the past eight years, we've worked hard to learn everything we can about merchandising, store layout, and displays. Listen in to hear some of my best tips for how to quickly improve your store merchandising an...

Welcome to episode 106 of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast. I'm your host, Kathy Cruz. We're wrapping up our 100 episode celebration today! To celebrate this milestone (it's a big one in podcasting) we decided to share 6 of the most popular previously published episodes. And today you're getting the last replay. Today's replay is episode 42 , Women, Stop Diminishing Yourselves I'm ending this r...

The 2022 Retail CEO Challenge is here! This is one offer that I often receive messages about! Many of you have asked for me to bring this back after I hosted the 2021 Retail CEO Challenge. So I brought it back and I made improvements to this year's challenge! The challenge and everything that comes with it is $197. When you sign up for the challenge, you'll receive…  Access to the Shopkeeper's Pla...

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast, we are replaying 6 of the most popular episodes in December and January. We chose the top 6 based on most downloaded, downloaded the most in relation to days published AND episodes that are the most popular with all of you. Even if you listened to the episodes we chose for these replays, I highly encourage you to listen again! You m...

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast, we are replaying 6 of the most popular episodes in December and January. We chose the top 6 based on most downloaded, downloaded the most in relation to days published AND episodes that are the most popular with all of you. Even if you listened to the episodes we chose for these replays, I highly encourage you to listen again! You m...

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast, we are replaying 6 of the most popular episodes. Today, you'll be hearing one of those episodes. Even if you listened to the episodes we chose for these replays, I highly encourage you to listen again! You might just catch something that you didn't hear the first time around. We're all so busy and at times distracted, right? I know...

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast, we are replaying 6 of the most popular episodes in December and January. Even if you listened to the episodes we chose for these replays, I highly encourage you to listen again! You might just catch something that you didn't hear the first time around. We're all so busy and at times distracted, right? I know this happens when I list...

To celebrate 100 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast, starting today we are replaying 6 of the most popular episodes. We chose the top 6 based on most downloaded, downloaded the most in relation to days published AND episodes that are the most popular with all of you. Even if you listened to the episodes we chose for these replays, I highly encourage you to listen again! You might just...

It's a special day for the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast: we've published a milestone 100 episodes!  I've learned so much about the independent retail industry, micro shopkeepers, my own business, and myself throughout the past two years. Listen in to hear the most valuable lessons I've learned and get the inside scoop on what you can expect from Savvy Shopkeeper in 2022. For show notes, visit w...

Each year, the Savvy Support Fund helps shopkeepers access educational opportunities that are just out of reach. In 2022, I want to cover all the expenses for four shopkeepers attending the Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat—including travel, accommodations, and event tickets.  In this episode, I'm sharing how the Savvy Support Fund came to be, where the money inside comes from, and how you can donate or sh...

As we head into the last few weeks of 2021, it's normal to start thinking about the upcoming year. And there's a lot of advice out there for bigger businesses! But what can smaller indie retailers expect in 2022?  After doing a little research and reflecting on what worked this year, I'm sharing 10 things that retailers should expect in 2022. Listen in to hear my predictions about omnichannel mark...

As shopkeepers, it can be challenging to start hiring help—especially when we're used to doing everything ourselves. Even when we begin to hire, it can still be hard to give up control of all the tasks we're used to doing on our own. Growing your store, though, happens when you're able to do something most of us resist: delegate. In today's episode, I'm sharing 6 common reasons why shopkeepers res...

Social media, the internet, and technology make it challenging to define "success." It's all too easy to compare your business to the businesses with 25, 50, or 100k followers. Not to mention the businesses with massive revenue numbers or lines out their doors at events! In the end, you find yourself measuring your business with someone else's yardstick. You get roped into what you "should" be doi...