Nov 13, 2023
With host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
Show Notes:
What should we focus on in our retail operations? On
Episode 183 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, fellow retail
business coach Gwen Bortner and I turned on the mics for a little
impromptu chat about retail business operations. Like me, Gwen has
a background in retail. Her coaching business focuses on the
operations of her clients’ businesses so that their businesses
support their lives rather than the other way around.
In our coaching careers, Gwen and I have found that
after the start-up phase of business is over (in my experience 2-3
years after start-up), business owners are spending their energy
mostly on marketing, in reality, it’s often the operations of the
business that also needs our top attention and consistent fine
tuning.
In order to move the needle in your business, the
first step is to identify where the bottleneck is.
Gwen’s clients participate in a rating exercise called
The GEARS Assessment. It is an assessment of operations and is
designed to be completely subjective. Essentially, you evaluate 5
operational aspects of your business on a scale of 1-4. The total
number can give you an idea of how you feel about the operations of
your business and individual scores can give you an idea on where
the most necessary (and likely easiest) operational fix in your
business is right now.
You can take the GEARS Assessment for FREE on Gwen’s
website HERE.
Goods – Products and services you sell
Effectiveness – Personal and team productivity,
business leadership
Accountability – Prioritizing what is important and
taking consistent action to reach goals
Resources – People, money, equipment, technology, and
similar
Systems – Processes, routines, and reporting
Gwen is a special guest coach inside the Retailer’s
Inner Circle, teaching Open To Buy inventory management.
As listeners of this podcast, you know I encourage
weekly CEO dates: something that doesn’t often come easily to
creative business owners. So many of us are accidental
entrepreneurs: our businesses started as a passion project that
grew and grew leaving us on a hamster wheel. What you need to
remember is that it is okay to ask for help: NO ONE IS DOING THIS
ALONE – nor should they! However, as leaders of our businesses we
need to have our finger on the pulse of all of the operational
aspects of our businesses. Gwen’s GEARS Assessment is the perfect
place to start.
About Gwen:
Gwen Bortner is the founder of Everyday Effectiveness, an
operational advisory firm that helps visionary entrepreneurs scale
their businesses to seven figures and beyond. Before becoming a
full-time business advisor in 2015, Gwen solved operations problems
for corporate giants like General Mills and for niche companies
like the world’s largest supplier of bull semen. To date, she’s
advised executives, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs in over 40
industries, including craft retailers and industry leaders. In
addition to advising and speaking on operational strategy, Gwen is
the author of the best-selling knitting book, Entrée to Entrelac,
and teaches knitting internationally for Craft Cruises, Inc.
Follow along with Gwen on LinkedIn.
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode
18: What’s Possible: The Accidental Shopkeeper with a Thriving
Store with Jeff Lee
Episode
60: How Focused Learning Can Grow Your Business
Episode
70: You’re Not Just a Shopkeeper, You’re a Creative CEO
Episode
89: Money Talk & Mindset with Profits First Coach April
Stroink
Episode
95: Tips to Tame the Admin and Stay Ahead of Business
Trouble
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
dream 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
Wendysources for shop
owners
Hang out and connect
with Wendy on IG
All
of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found
HERE.
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