{"id":17109,"date":"2026-06-15T15:36:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/313-why-community-is-the-future-of-retail-with-guest-expert-mark-schaefer\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:36:29","slug":"313-why-community-is-the-future-of-retail-with-guest-expert-mark-schaefer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/313-why-community-is-the-future-of-retail-with-guest-expert-mark-schaefer\/","title":{"rendered":"313. Why Community Is the Future of Retail with Guest Expert Mark Schaefer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"date\">Jun 15, 2026<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u00a0With host retail coach Wendy Batten<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"1lfrLRwjFX\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/wendybatten.com\/podcast-intro\/\">Podcast Intro<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cPodcast Intro\u201d \u2014 Wendy Batten\" src=\"https:\/\/wendybatten.com\/podcast-intro\/embed\/#?secret=Jil6DAZCEf#?secret=1lfrLRwjFX\" data-secret=\"1lfrLRwjFX\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Episode Overview<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In this episode, I sit down with best-selling<br \/>\nmarketing author and speaker Mark Schaefer to talk about what<br \/>\nmatters most for independent retailers in a world that\u2019s being<br \/>\nincreasingly shaped by AI. While technology continues to change how<br \/>\ncustomers find the places they love to shop, Mark makes a<br \/>\ncompelling case that the strongest advantage for brick-and-mortar<br \/>\nretailers is still something AI cannot replicate: a completely<br \/>\nhuman experience.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We talk about the role of personal branding,<br \/>\ncommunity, experiences, and transcendent content in modern retail.<br \/>\nMark shares why human-centered meaningful relationships matter more<br \/>\nthan marketing tricks and how shop owners can create businesses<br \/>\nthat people genuinely want to belong to.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">If you are interested in standing out amongst your<br \/>\npeers, staying relevant, and building lasting customer loyalty, we<br \/>\nrecorded this episode to remind you that being human is your<br \/>\nbiggest asset in your retail business.<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">Our Key Topics<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Why AI is changing marketing and<br \/>\ncustomer discovery, and where independent retailers still have an<br \/>\nadvantage<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">How personal branding helps shop<br \/>\nowners build trust and stronger customer relationships<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">What experiences, hospitality, and<br \/>\nhuman connection can offer that technology cannot<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Why storytelling matters,<br \/>\nincluding Mark&#8217;s AIR framework: Authentic, Interesting, and<br \/>\nRelevant<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">How community differs from an<br \/>\naudience, and why belonging creates lasting loyalty<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">What it means to build a business<br \/>\nthat is meaningful to customers, not just visible<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Key Takeaways For Shop Owners on Personal Branding and<br \/>\nCommunity Building<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Your personal brand is a<br \/>\ncompetitive advantage.<br \/>Mark emphasizes that customers can build relationships with local<br \/>\nbusiness owners, employees, and other customers in ways they never<br \/>\ncan with large online retailers. Being visible, present, and<br \/>\nconnected to your community helps create trust that technology<br \/>\ncannot replace.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Community creates loyalty that<br \/>\nmarketing alone cannot.<br \/>When customers form relationships with each other through your<br \/>\nbusiness, the goodwill from those friendships transfers back to<br \/>\nyour brand. People continue showing up because they feel connected,<br \/>\nnot just because they need whatever it is that you are selling.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Stories help customers remember<br \/>\nand share your business.<br \/>Mark encourages retailers to tell stories in every customer<br \/>\ninteraction. Stories give people something meaningful to talk about<br \/>\nand create connections that extend beyond a transaction.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The AIR framework can guide better<br \/>\nstorytelling.<br \/>Stories should be Authentic, Interesting, and Relevant. When<br \/>\ncustomers hear stories that meet those criteria, they are more<br \/>\nlikely to remember them and share them with others.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Meaning matters more than trying<br \/>\nto win every technology battle.<br \/>Rather than obsessing over search rankings or AI visibility, Mark<br \/>\nencourages business owners to focus on becoming meaningful to the<br \/>\npeople they serve. Businesses that create emotional connections<br \/>\nhave an advantage that technology cannot easily replicate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe most human company wins.\u201d &#8211; Mark Schaefer,<br \/>\nMarketing Rebellion<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">This conversation left me so giddy. I love the<br \/>\nreminder that our greatest opportunity as shop owners isn&#8217;t simply<br \/>\nselling products. It&#8217;s creating places where people feel seen,<br \/>\nconnected, and part of something meaningful.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Resources Mentioned and Related Podcasts:<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\nEpisode 260: Winning with Community in Your Retail Business:<br \/>\nTakeaways from my Mastermind Retreat<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Episode<br \/>\n238: Behind the Counter: Building Community Through Beautiful<br \/>\nSpaces with Lisa Wrixon<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">A profitable, smooth holiday season is not a lucky<br \/>\naccident. It\u2019s what happens when someone who actually prepared gets<br \/>\nto execute. And the best time to prepare? July. Join me and other retailers in<br \/>\nCamp Q4 this summer to set yourself up for a kick-butt Q4! Camp<br \/>\nbegins with a fireside chat (opening coaching) on July 13th. Grab<br \/>\nyour sit-upon (fellow Girl Scouts unite!) and join me!<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Let\u2019s hang out in a<br \/>\nprivate coaching session!<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Follow along and chat<br \/>\nwith me on Instagram and join my love list.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">About our Guest, Mark Schaefer<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Mark Schaefer is not only a best-selling author, but<br \/>\nthe top-rated marketing and business keynote speaker. Not to<br \/>\nmention he\u2019s an artist who sells his paintings at one of my<br \/>\nretailer\u2019s shops, Louisville Mercantile!<br \/>\nHe combines memorable insights with passion and humor. You can find<br \/>\nvideo content on marketing ideas and people, social media fun, and<br \/>\nglobal adventures, all while encouraging you to rise above the<br \/>\nnoise on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">If you want more from Mark, check out his long list of<br \/>\nbooks, and if you are a retailer, Mark recommends starting with<\/p>\n<p>Marketing Rebellion.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Here are the other places you can find him:<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Mark\u2019s<br \/>\nWebsite | Instagram<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">About your host, Wendy Batten<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In case we haven\u2019t met\u2026I\u2019m Wendy Batten. I\u2019ve been a<br \/>\nsmall business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help<br \/>\nthoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO<br \/>\nand build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and<br \/>\nsupportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends<br \/>\nreal-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived<br \/>\nexperience, not theory. I\u2019ve been there! Through honest<br \/>\nconversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger<br \/>\nthinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both<br \/>\nbusiness and life on purpose.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For more support from Wendy<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Hang out and connect<br \/>\nwith Wendy on IG<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">All<br \/>\nof Wendy\u2019s current programs and services for shop owners can be<br \/>\nfound HERE.<\/p>\n<p> Never miss an episode!<br \/>Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools,<br \/>\ninspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent<br \/>\nretailer.Click<br \/>\nhere to subscribe to iTunes!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes-<br \/>\nyour reviews help<br \/>\nother retailers find my podcast, and they\u2019re also fun for me to go<br \/>\nin and read.<br \/>\nJust click here to review, select<br \/>\n\u201cRatings and Reviews\u201d and \u201cWrite a Review\u201d and let me know what<br \/>\nyour favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank<br \/>\nyou!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {\n      var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n      if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n      js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n      js.src = \"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.8&appId=834757889913083\";\n      fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n    }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jun 15, 2026 \u00a0With host retail coach Wendy Batten \u00a0 Podcast Intro \u00a0 Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with best-selling marketing author [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17110,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcasts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}