Dec 2, 2024
With host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
In This Episode:
What would happen if you built a business centered
entirely around what you love and what you believe your community
is currently missing? We’re about to find out!
In this truly inspiring episode of the Creative Shop
Talk Podcast, I’m sitting down with Lisa Wrixon, the visionary and
CEO behind thestylewell
and Lewellyn, two
boutique shops in North Vancouver. From her roots in art history to
leading retail operations for major brands, Lisa’s journey is a
masterclass in turning passion into purpose. Discover how she built
a thriving business centered on beautiful design, community
engagement, and a curated customer experience—all while staying
true to her values and vision. If you’re an independent retailer
looking for actionable insights and motivation, this episode is for
you!
Episode Highlights:
-
We dig into Lisa’s Background:
From studying art history to managing merchandising and retail
operations for top brands like The Body Shop and Indaba
Trading. -
thestylewell Origin Story: A dream
sparked by a love for beautiful, curated spaces, culminating in a
thriving home decor business in North Vancouver. -
Running Two Shops: Lisa owns
thestylewell, focusing on home decor, and Lewellyn, a sister shop
for fashion and accessories. -
Building Community: The importance
of hosting workshops, events, and pop-ups to engage with the local
design and retail community. -
Curating Success: Balancing
simplicity, aesthetics, and strong operational practices to create
a loyal customer base. -
Biggest Lessons: The value of
staying true to your brand while taking calculated risks to
grow.
Takeaways for Retailers:
-
Invest in your community and
prioritize relationships over transactions. -
Curate your offerings with a
strong focus on aesthetics and what resonates with your ideal
customers. -
Don’t overcomplicate
operations—simplicity and clarity can fuel success. -
Collaborate and share knowledge
generously to foster growth in your industry.
Lisa is an active member of the Retailer’s
Inner Circle program. Join smart retailers like Lisa inside
this program this year.
“I opened a shop for me because I couldn’t find what I
wanted. Now, I create the need for others.” -Lisa Wrixon
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode
237: Retailer Success Series: Cindy’s Journey to Building a
Thriving Bead Store
Episode
217: Best of Retailer Success Series: Simplifying Your Retail
Business with Louise McManus
Episode
179: Retailer Success Series: Jess Gebauer, on Using Unique
Marketing and Sales Strategies
About Lisa and thestylewell
thestylewell is curated and owned by Lisa Wrixon, an
innovative and dynamic creative professional who relishes in
inspiring, delighting and engaging customers. As a lover of all
things beautiful, Lisa has years of experience as a residential
Interior Designer, wholesale home décor brand strategist and
Manager of Retail Operations for leading Canadian Retailers.
But it is her love of all things pretty, that are
created with care, and her vision of creating meaningful moments in
people’s homes that has driven her to open thestylewell.
thestylewell aims to provide beautiful decorative pieces, hand
selected by Lisa with the intent to enhance a living space, be
admired and desired, shared or possessed for oneself.
Follow along with Lisa, thestylewell and Lewellyn
: thestylewell
Website | Lewellyn
Website | thestylewell Instagram
| Lewellyn
Instagram
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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