Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

By: Wendy Batten Creative Retail Mentor
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  • Summary

  • How do I attract more customers to my store? How do I get more sales? How do I book out my shop’s events and workshops? How do I do retail marketing and social media for my store? These are the questions that creative retail business owners ask Wendy Batten, creative retail coach and mentor. Wendy works with creative shop owners all over the world and with industry leaders. Her speciality is working with creative retailers to get control over their brick and mortars to avoid burnout and overwhelm while achieving more success and profits. In Creative Shop Talk, Wendy digs into the problems and solutions that “accidental shopkeepers” and hobbyists turned retail business owners face. Wendy dives deep in mindset and best practices for retailers with masterclass trainings, business strategies, expert guests and industry insiders, and more. Each episode is designed to help busy and passionate creative shop owners take action, work through their overwhelm and get focused on strategic business areas. Thinking about opening your own creative retail shop? Ready to stop playing shopkeeper and “winging” the business stuff? Looking for more foot traffic? Want to turn your brick and mortar into a viable business? Want predictable profits? Want to take the next step to run your store and not let it run you? Turn to Wendy Batten to take the proven steps to achieving your dream store, living your creative life and helping your amazing customers.
    Wendy Batten 2020
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Economics Leadership Management
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Episodes
  • 237. Retailer Success Series: Cindy’s Journey to Building a Thriving Bead Store

    237. Retailer Success Series: Cindy’s Journey to Building a Thriving Bead Store
    Nov 25 2024
    With host retail coach In This Episode: Do you need inspiration navigating your role as an accidental entrepreneur? This episode is for you! Like many of us, Cindy Boissonneault of Poco Inspired in Winnipeg didn’t intend on putting on a CEO hat and running a retail business. In this episode, Cindy shares her inspiring journey from overcoming stress-induced challenges to becoming a successful retail entrepreneur. With no prior retail experience, Cindy built her bead store into a thriving business by mastering inventory management, focusing on what works, and building strong systems. Tune in to hear her strategies for transitioning into a true CEO role, creating a sellable business, and achieving retail excellence—all while staying connected to her customers and community. In this episode, Cindy and I chat about: Her 20-year journey from overcoming stress-related illness to owning a thriving bead store. How buying an existing retail business kickstarted her entrepreneurial career. The value of niching down: Focusing on what sells best. Transitioning from hands-on retail to strategic CEO leadership. Key insights into creating a sellable business with strong systems and processes. Practical strategies for inventory management and using metrics to make tough decisions. Collaboration with competitors: Why rising tides lift all ships. Planning secrets for reducing stress and driving success. Takeaways for All Independent Retailers: Understanding your unique selling point and investing in expertise. Developing systems (SOPs) that make your business scalable and sellable. Using metrics to guide inventory and revenue decisions—don’t let emotions dictate choices. Building community, both in-store and with competitors, to boost customer loyalty. Stepping into your CEO role: Plan ahead and delegate effectively. Cindy is an active member of the and the program. Join smart retailers like Cindy inside either of those programs this year. “If coming to my shop today wasn’t the best thing our customer did, then we haven’t done our job.” -Cindy Boissonneault, Poco Inspired Related podcasts we think you’ll like: : Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, & CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh : Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell : Behind the Counter: Buying an Existing Business with Shop Owners Dan & Robin Haynes About Cindy and Poco Inspired Cindy Boissonneault was a part-time employee at her bead shop prior to purchasing it over 10 years ago. She is an independent spirit who describes herself as a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. Prior to owning Poco Inspired, a bead store in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cindy’s background included Business Administration, Human Resources, and Events Management. Follow along with Poco Inspired: | About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of 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 , 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, , 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 For more support from Wendy
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    40 mins
  • 236. How to Clear Inventory Fast and Boost Holiday Sales in Your Retail Store

    236. How to Clear Inventory Fast and Boost Holiday Sales in Your Retail Store
    Nov 18 2024
    With host retail coach In This Episode: Don’t sit on cash. This time of the year we want to move inventory OUT. Let’s make sure you don’t have any extra inventory left after the holidays. Let’s also optimize how much you can get for what you do have and let’s turn it into cash before the end of the holidays! In this episode, I’m sharing practical, effective tips to help independent retailers move slow-moving or excess inventory. I’ll tell you how to leverage bundling, flash sales, and other simple promotional strategies to clear stock and improve holiday sales. Some Takeaways: Optimize Inventory Levels: Regularly assess your stock to ensure you're not overstocked on items that aren't moving. Set a Clearance Timeline: Establish a plan for holiday decor or seasonal items to avoid post-holiday clutter. Bundling Products: Combine slow-moving items with popular ones to create attractive themed bundles. Create “Last Chance” Sections: Designate a specific area in your store for final sale items to draw attention. Use Flash Sales and Events: Go live or send emails to promote limited-time offers that create urgency. Exclusive Discounts for Loyalty Members: Reward your loyal customers with early access to deals. Gift With Purchase (GWP): Offer a free gift to customers who spend over a certain amount to clear out smaller stock. Host a Live Sale: Engage customers by showcasing products directly, ideal for highlighting overlooked items. Mystery Bags & Stocking Stuffers: Surprise and delight customers with mystery items to encourage impulse buys. End-of-Season Blowout: Schedule an annual or biannual clearance event to keep stock fresh and avoid storing unsold items. “We don’t want to box up money. Keep your inventory moving and in front of customers.” -Wendy Batten Related podcasts we think you’ll like: : Tight on Cash Flow? Let’s Turn Your Old Inventory into Cash for You : Mystery Bags: A Simple Retail Marketing Promotion : Earning Your Customers’ Support and Sales About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of 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 , 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, , 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 For more support from Wendy
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    21 mins
  • 235. How to Design Your Best Retail Year Ever

    235. How to Design Your Best Retail Year Ever
    Nov 11 2024
    With host retail coach In This Episode: Make 2025 the best year ever in your retail business! In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing how to do exactly that. I’ll share actionable steps for setting goals, vision-storming, and creating a strategic marketing plan. Whether you're a planner or not, this episode is packed with easy tips to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running in 2025. If you like this episode but need a little more, you can grab my on-demand on my website. Let’s dive in! Key Takeaways: Looking Back to Plan Ahead: Reflect on your business’s performance over the past year to identify what worked and what didn’t. Vision Storming: Craft a clear vision of what you want your business to achieve in 2025, focusing on growth, freedom, and profitability. Set Realistic Goals: Develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) goals to align your vision with actionable steps. Create a Marketing Strategy: Design a marketing plan that matches your revenue goals and targets new customer visibility and engagement. Prioritize Your Team & Systems: Evaluate the support you need and implement systems that will help you reach your goals smoothly. Write out your 1-5 BIG Vision goals: for the year on one page and keep it close. "A better year starts now. If you want to go from good to great, or fine to better, this is how we do it." -Wendy Batten Your Next Steps: Here’s what I want you to do this week. Commit to creating a plan, then grab the workshop, and schedule time to work through your business goals. And of course, you’re always welcome to join us in the where we dig into this stuff even more! All of my courses are available at no additional cost to all members of the Inner Circle. Related podcasts we think you’ll like: : Five Steps to Simplify Your Content Planning : Coffee Chat Breaks with Wendy: Annual Planning That Fills Your Life Buckets : Simple Shifts to Boost Your Bottom Line This Holiday Season About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of 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 , 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, , 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 For more support from Wendy
    Show more Show less
    26 mins

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