Most of us know that Facebook and Instagram crashed on October 4th. No one could refresh, post, comment, share, run ads, nothing, nada…. for around 6 hours. The panic for some was real! So aside from Facebook and Instagram, how can you diversify your marketing and communicate with your customers outside of social media? Listen in to learn about other options for connecting with your customers, including two that I know to be especially helpful for retailers.  For show notes, including links to anything I’ve mentioned in the episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode94

Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast

94. Everything Crashes...But Your Business Doesn't Have To

Every time you see another article about supply chain issues in the retail industry, do you cringe a little bit? It happened to me the other day. A two-minute segment came up about this topic on the nightly news, and I thought, “do I really want to watch this or listen to this again?” As a Shopkeepers Lab member recently quipped, “the pandemic has been a straight-up pivot-a-thon.” Supply chain disruptions are just another piece of the pivoting puzzle!  Listen in to hear 9 of my best tips to help you lessen the pain of supply chain issues, even when it all feels outside of your control. For show notes, including links to anything I’ve mentioned in the episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode93

93. Nine Tips to Help Indie Retailers Mitigate Supply Chain Issues

We recently had the first Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat, and it was such a special and magical weekend. It was even better than I imagined!  A large part of the credit for all the special touches at the retreat goes to members of our very own Savvy Shopkeeper community. I can wholeheartedly say that the 2021 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat was hands down one of the most incredible experiences of my own life because of these shopkeepers. That’s why today’s episode is dedicated to them. Listen in to learn about the community members who donated their time, goods, and efforts to the retreat, as well as some of the incredible feedback we got from retreat attendees.  For show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode92

92. Community Matters

There's so much to share after the retreat! Here's a recap of what I'm talking about in this bonus episode: Shopkeeper Stories recap My fitness journey update The 2021 Retreat 2 year podcast anniversary Master Shopkeepers Tundra's BIG announcement and October promotion. Click HERE to sign up for an account I explain why I say "Be Savvy and Boss Up" at the end of every episode I can't thank you enough for listening and subscribing to this podcast!  I look forward to sharing many great episodes with all of you in the year ahead.

BONUS: 2 Year Podcastversary!

In our last Shopkeeper Story of 2021, we’re chatting with Lisa of Bridenbaker Designs. Lisa never expected to be a full-time artist and shop owner—she originally got her degree in law enforcement! As part of her degree, she took a few art therapy electives that got her hooked on creating.  Mixing natural materials with paint, Lisa makes beautifully eclectic artwork that she sells to consignment stores, on Etsy, at markets, and wholesale to other shopkeepers. Lisa shares how having ADHD has affected her business, why connecting with other store owners is key to growing her shop, and how she gives back to the Savvy Shopkeeper community. For show notes and a list of resources from this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode91

91. Shopkeeper Stories with Lisa of Bridenbaker Designs

This week’s Shopkeeper Story comes from someone near and dear to my heart: my best friend of 30 years, Katsie! Katsie never considered herself a maker. But when her boss wanted custom-etched glasses for the company’s holiday party, she found herself learning a new skill. Now, Katsie regularly sells wholesale to retailers, at market events, and to individuals who want a beautiful custom gift.Katsie shared what makers should consider before taking on custom orders, why she continues to reinvest in new equipment for her business, and what she has learned as a member of the Shopkeepers Lab. For show notes and a list of resources from this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode90

90. Shopkeeper Stories with Katsie of Rough Around the Etches

When Rachel started painting during her infant son’s naptime, she was going through a minor identity crisis. She’d just transitioned from a 15-year career in retail management to a stay-at-home mom.  Rachel’s stolen moments of painting quickly bloomed into a successful art business. Now, she sells her art to individuals through Etsy and to brick-and-mortar retailers through wholesale platforms.  In today’s Shopkeeper Story, Rachel shares the core value that led her to join the Savvy Shopkeeper community, how listening to other retailers’ concerns helps her be a better wholesaler, and her best marketing advice for artist- and maker-led businesses.  For show notes and a list of resources from this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode89

89. Shopkeeper Stories With Rachel of Rachel Alvarez Art

We’ve already had two rounds of Shopkeeper Stories on the Savvy Shopkeeper podcast, but this round is a little different. In the next four episodes, I’ll be featuring incredible makers, shop owners, and e-commerce retailers who are members of the Shopkeepers Lab. First up is Brittany, owner of Kalopsia Clay. As she recovered from COVID with an entire month of unpaid leave from her full-time job, Brittany needed something to do with her hands. So she started making clay earrings, selling them, and hasn’t stopped since.  Brittany shared her vision for her growing business, her best advice for makers wanting to sell their art, and how being a member of the Shopkeepers Lab propelled her business forward in the last year. For show notes and a list of resources from this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode88

88. Shopkeeper Stories with Brittany of Kalopsia Clay

There are so many business coaches and consultants out there, but it can be difficult to judge if someone is the right fit for you AND if you’ll get any ROI. Because of that, investing in coaching can be scary! But there are retailers making the investment in themselves, and it’s paying off. Today I’m sharing wins from seven of my coaching and consulting clients. All of them have made considerable strides in their businesses and their mindsets.  Whether they’ve gone from solopreneur to aspiring CEO, uninformed retailer to growing e-commerce biz owner, or programmed thinker to aligned creative, I’m so proud of what we accomplished together. Listen in to learn more about coaching and if it’s a good fit for your business. For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode87

87. Client Wins: How One-on-One Coaching and Consulting Helps Retail Business Owners

Keeping our spirits up and our mindset in a good place can be challenging, especially with the current surcharges, supply chain issues like we’ve never seen, and employment problems. And many of us have already pivoted—it can be exhausting!  So today, I’m sharing tons of tips on ways to keep our spirits up as retailers. Some of the tips are mindset work, while others are actionable steps you can take in your business today. For show notes and a list of resources from this episode, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode86

86. Pushing Through a Pandemic as Retailers: How to Keep Your Spirits Up

You might have heard that Instagram is “no longer just a square photo-sharing app,” as recently announced by Instagram’s founder.  When a member shared this announcement in the Master Shopkeepers group, it sparked lots of discussion—particularly about how scary it can be to show up on video for your store.  Video is clearly here to stay, though. Listen to today’s episode to learn my top eight tips on using video to promote your store.  From brainstorming ideas to repurposing your content, there are plenty of non-scary ways to dip your toes into video creation! For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode85

85. How to Embrace the #1 Social Media Trend: Video

As small, independent shop owners, it can be incredibly difficult to step away from our businesses.  Shopkeepers, though, are some of the hardest workers I know. We deserve time to recharge, and we deserve to disconnect from our work during our hard-earned time off!  In today’s episode, I’m sharing five ways to set yourself up for a stress-free, independent, and well-deserved vacation. For show notes and access to related resources, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode84

84. How to Disconnect From Shopkeeping While On Vacation

For the first time ever, Savvy Shopkeepers from around the United States will gather in-person to learn, connect, and share!  The 2021 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat is coming up very soon, and I want to make sure you have all the details. In today’s episode, I’m sharing what you can expect to learn at the retreat, as well as special details about group activities, the venue, swag bags, and a brand new Savvy Shopkeeper resource for attendees.  Tickets are available through Monday, August 2, 2021, at 4 PM EST. If you want to attend, be sure to register ASAP at http://www.savvyshopkeeper.com/retreat!

83. The 2021 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat

If we want our retail businesses to scale and grow, we can’t do it alone. That means that we have to hire—and hiring well requires having a system in place.  Hiring can be overwhelming for shopkeepers, mainly because there are so many steps to doing it right. But if you’re ready to go from solopreneur to scaling retailer, then you have to boss up!  Today I’m sharing a ten-step roadmap to hiring successful employees for your independent retail business. I’m also sharing sage advice from our guest expert on human resources in Master Shopkeepers and all the premade hiring resources you can find in the Shopkeepers Lab to help you. For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode82

82. How to Hire: Resources That Retailers Need for Successful Hiring

I talk about profit a lot—after all, the Savvy Shopkeeper slogan is work less, profit more! But I don’t talk about profit just for vanity or for making more and more money. It’s so much more than that.  Profit lets us compensate ourselves for our hard work, retire our spouses, and support our families. Profit makes us stronger business owners. Most of all, profit helps us build businesses that have value.  Whether you’re just starting your shop or you’ve run it successfully for years, you can create value in your business. Today I’m sharing six pieces that will help you build value and explaining why this is so important for the financial health of your store.  I’ve also got a special request for you—tune in to find out how you can be featured on an upcoming episode of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast. For show notes, visit www.savvyshopkeeper.com/episode81

81. Exit Strategy Part 1: Are You Building a Business With Value?

Independent retailers wear so many hats! Each week join fellow small business retailer, Kathy Cruz, as she teaches women retail business owners how to manage and market their businesses efficiently so they can spend time doing other things they love. Whether you are a maker with an online shop, a brick and mortar store owner, sell your products at local markets or you're a booth vendor in a mall - this podcast is for you!

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Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast

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