254. The Magic of Joining Forces to Foster Community and Build a Retail Destination Town with Millie and Adam Blackwell

Retail Online Training


Mar 31, 2025

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten

 

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

 

Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and
boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail
business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales
and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short
video with an actionable tip followed by a live, interactive
strategy group coaching session. We’ll work together to create a
simple, repeatable marketing plan tailored to your business. No
fluff, no wasted time—just practical strategies you can implement
right now. Spots are limited, and we start on April 23rd. Join
us!

 

In This Episode: 

 

What happens when independent retailers join forces?
In a word: Magic. In this episode, I’m chatting with Millie and
Adam Blackwell, a powerhouse entrepreneurial couple from Greytown,
New Zealand. Millie owns Mrs. Blackwell’s Village
Bookshop and Adam owns Blackwell and Sons Bike Shop,
both located in Greytown. Want to hear about how they transformed
their small town in New Zealand into a thriving shopping and
tourism destination? Let’s dive in!

 

Key Takeaways:

  • The Power of Collaboration: How
    Greytown retailers and small businesses united to boost business
    for everyone.

  • Amplifying a Destination Town: The
    strategy behind turning a small town into a must-visit shopping
    spot.

  • Winter Festival Success: How one
    idea turned the slowest season into a top sales month.

  • Branding a Town Like a Business:
    Why a strong, unified message matters.

  • Running Multiple Businesses as a
    Couple: Insights on balancing entrepreneurship and life.

 

“Customers don’t just show up—you have to give them a
reason to come.” – Adam Blackwell

 

Listen in to this week’s episode and get thinking
about your town, and what you could do to spark initiatives in your
community. 

Need more?

Join me and our supportive community of retailers in
my Retailer’s
Inner Circle! You’ll get a monthly marketing and operations
playbook, monthly group coaching, countless on-demand masterclasses
and access to a vibrant community of retailers like you – and so
much more. Check it out HERE.

 

Not ready to join but want to purchase the stand-alone
Foot Traffic Made Simple masterclass? You can purchase it on demand
HERE.

 

Most impactful: Join the small group 6-Week Sales and
Marketing Accelerator course.

We start in April! More information HERE.

 

Related podcasts we think you’ll like: 

Episode 158:
Becoming a Destination Shop

Episode
180: Our Retailer Mastermind’s Book Club Book Roundup with
Guest Millie Blackwell

Episode
218: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell

 

About Mille and Adam Blackwell

Mr. Adam Blackwell is the visionary behind Blackwell and Sons, and its
commercial and creative driving force. He is a specialist in brand
development and execution and runs his own advertising agency,
Stun, which services clients throughout NZ, the US, and Europe.

 

About as politically correct as whale-hunting, Mr
Blackwell loves to take on nonsensical, charge-by-the-hour
bureaucracy, especially if it stands in the way of a certain
theatricality he delights in bringing to all of his endeavors. He
is renowned for his creative flair, decisiveness, and sparkling
wit, but not so much his athletic prowess. (his words)
lol. 

 

Mrs. Millie Blackwell is a specialist in non-fiction
categories and stationery at Mrs. Blackwell’s Village
Bookshop. She grew up on an apricot orchard in Central Otago
but never really cared for the taste of the fruit. Mrs. Blackwell’s
Village Bookshop is an independent bookshop for inquisitive minds
and romantic souls in Greytown, New Zealand. 

 

Mrs. Blackwell has been an active member of the
Retailer’s Level Up Mastermind and The
Retailer’s Inner Circle program. 

 

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
dreams 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

Free
resources 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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you!

 

 

 



Retail Online Training