Nov 20, 2023
With host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/184/
You are in for a very special holiday treat on this
episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, my friends! Joining me
on this episode are three of my Level Up
Mastermind and Retailer’s
Inner Circle members: Amy Cseh, Amy Hart, and Jeff Lee, all
brilliant and longstanding independent retail shop owners who have
been in the trenches and experienced ups and downs just like many.
(Links to follow along with all of them are below.)
The interview, which originally aired exclusively in
the Retailer’s Inner Circle Facebook group, is FULL of holiday
sales tips from these three seasoned shop owners.
Here are just a few of the sales tips we dug into:
-
Take advantage of any of the
events that are organized by the community or town. -
Ensure your staff is well trained
and knows exactly what you are trying to accomplish. -
Set specific numbers goals for
your staff so they can be engaged and track progress. -
Know your customer base and
anticipate what they are looking for. Don’t “panic buy” merchandise
just because you have FOMO or think that’s what you should be
doing. -
If you are an Inner Circle member,
implement the sales strategies in the Sales Accelerator
masterclass. (And if you aren’t a member, maybe it’s
time to join the Retailer’s Inner Circle!) -
Don’t miss the after Christmas
rush! Customers want to shop that week between Christmas and
New Year’s. -
Have a plan for projected
sales/buying plan for Q1. Sales will slow down after the holidays
are over and you don’t want to be caught off guard. There is a new
masterclass that just released into the Inner Circle this week all
about Open to Buy Inventory Management that all members have access
to. -
Pay attention to your return rate
per square foot. If something isn’t selling fast enough, you may
need to make a decision to downsize the display or get rid of the
line completely. -
Plan your events & weekly emails
ahead of time so you aren’t missing personal things during the
holiday season. It doesn’t feel good to let personal things slide
for the “sake of the store.” -
Do everything you can in advance,
including personal things. (By the time this podcast airs, Jeff’s
house will have been fully decorated for Christmas for 2+
weeks!) -
Amy C.’s advice: “Bless and
release!” You’ve trained your staff and they are good at their
jobs. Schedule your days off and enjoy your time outside of your
shop. -
YOU are the only one who is going
to notice what doesn’t get done. -
Know what your “no’s” are and
stick to them. If something is causing you stress, give it to a
team member or simply don’t do it.
If you are interested in joining the Level Up
Mastermind, we are opening 3 seats and would love to hear from
you. Now that you’ve “met” three of the retailers who are part of
the Level Up Mastermind, you may have a better feel for who we are.
Here is the link with more
information.
About the Panelists:
Jeff Lee owns The Vintage Nest
Home & Gifts in Mount Holly, NC. Facebook | Instagram
Amy Cseh owns Schoolhouse Salvage in
Chagrin Falls, OH. Facebook |
Instagram
Amy Hart owns The Hare and the Hart in
Thomasville, GA. Facebook |
Instagram
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Holiday Playlist:
Favorite Holiday-Themed Creative Shop Talk Podcast Playlist
Episode
182: Fresh Ways to Wow & Delight Your Customers This Holiday
Season
Episode
157: Best of Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee
Episode
133: Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, and CEO
Mindset with Amy Cseh
Episode
78: Retailer Success Stories: Learning to Level Up with Amy
Hart
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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