We all know that social media is an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy, but choosing which platform can get confusing for any of us. If you find yourself sprinkling content here and there, jumping from one hot platform to another, and not getting the traction you desire, it could be that you’re spread too thin and perhaps don’t know enough about any of the platforms to maximize their features. If any of this sounds familiar, then try this: focus on one platform that your ideal customer uses most (even if you don’t personally prefer it) and once you’ve […]
Category: Entrepreneurship
5 Practices To Set Your Intentions For A Bright 2021
If you’ve lived as long as I have, you’ve participated in every kind of year end recap or New Year intention exercise. Which, for the record, I love doing all of them! This year I’ve gathered some of my favorites to share with you. Plus I’ve included three books that have inspired either the mindset or the activity. Feel free to adopt one or all of them. Whichever you decide, do read the books! Accept and embrace today Life and business is an Infinite Game according to Simon Sinek in his book The Infinite Game. An absolute must read for […]
Virtual Window Shopping
Remember walking around the mall just to see what was there? Checking out window after window in the shop fronts or strolling your “Main Street” and checking out what was in the shop windows? If you’ve been in business long enough you probably remember a time when customers or potential customers did just that and then wandered on in. What’s changed? Where did some of those folks go? There are a few theories floating around like they’re all shopping online or brick and mortar retail is dead. Both of those are myths. By most estimates, 90% of shopping is still […]
Shop Talk | Plum
Theresa Collier likes to say that she flies by the seat of her pants—and she may well have when she first opened her store—but her decisions to develop the store by jumping into new things were very strategic and methodical. Theresa’s boutique, Plum, is a picturesque shop on the equally picturesque island of Bainbridge Island in Washington. Although she got her first taste for running a store when the Bloedel Reserve public garden asked her to open a gift shop, she took a leap of faith and opened her own shop in 2014. “I’ve been wanting to do this for […]
Shop Talk 2019 Retrospective
When I started this blog two years ago I had no idea how it would evolve. It’s been fun, challenging, inspiring, and incredibly educational to not only hear what these shop owners and consultants are doing to create success but to also get to know them on a personal level. Whoever said business isn’t personal is dead wrong. It’s 100% personal from the desire to create and grow a business that will support your family to the people who work with you and the customers you serve. It’s all relationship with business thrown in. I’m humbled by the wisdom and […]
Shop Talk | Revolution Boutique
Talking shop with Brad Leyden is to really understand how he, in his own words, puts the “pedal to the metal” in running his own business. His enthusiasm for retail is undeniable and he loves to share his experiences in the hopes of helping other retailers. Just four years ago, Brad found himself newly divorced and at the helm of a business he hadn’t wanted in the first place but couldn’t bear to part with. There was a pivotal moment when something clicked inside him and he realized his business not only affected his own livelihood but that of his […]
Shop Talk | Reedy Consulting
Do I have a treat for you! I know I’ve become your go-to-online-marketing-for-retail-shop-owner guru. And I also know you love all the tactical info you get from my Shop Talk interviews. But this month I’m beyond excited to bring you a different kind of article that is still very relevant to your business. You’re gonna want to highlight so many sections of this article! So grab a cup of tea, sit in a quiet place and absorb all the gems you’re about to receive. This month, I had the privilege to chat with some very seasoned retail consultants who, not […]
Shop Talk | Haven A Boutique
In Woodland, CA, there is a little haven for shoppers in need of a warm, friendly, and well-curated place to shop. Coincidentally, it’s called Haven A Boutique and it’s owner, Rosemarie Leonardi, is a welcoming and very open interviewee. In fact, so much so I’m going to need a separate article to address all the things we talked about! But for now, I want you to get to know Rosemarie and how her social media strategy was integral to launching her store and how she continues to grow her following and her business. Haven A Boutique is just shy of […]
Shop Talk | Dotter
Those of us who’ve been involved in the retail biz for a while can sometimes forget what it’s like for those just launching into it. After talking with Annika Huston of Dotter in Los Angeles, I was struck by what we can learn from them and also by how much they value the stories and lessons of more seasoned shop owners. There’s something special in the bond that shop owners have not just with their immediate community of neighbors, customers, and staff, but also with other shop owners. Some have even likened it to a sense of family. Sometimes though, […]
Event Ideas to Keep Customers Coming
Being your own boss is the dream. And living the dream should be fun, right? One important way to build in fun is through events and as a retail store owner, you already have the venue! But when you’ve been in biz for many years, sometimes the idea mill slows down. Lucky for you, the boss ladies from my Shop Talk interviews have shared their successful events. Now I’m sharing them with you. Events offer multiple and sometimes underestimated perks. The first is customer appreciation. There’s no better way to show customers how much you appreciate them than by spoiling […]