Ep. 115 Thank you for 100K Downloads! (Giveaway and Donation Drive)

While I was on my much-delayed honeymoon vacation (2 ½ years later), the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast hit 100,000 downloads!

I want to say thank you. Thank you for listening, for sending me messages, for supporting the podcast by leaving ratings and reviews, for cheering me on, for appreciating the episodes, for noticing when I make subtle changes, and for sharing your wins/aha moments after you listen!

I had no idea what I was doing when I started this podcast. I took a couple of courses, did some research, and bought a simple microphone and setup. My budget was small, and I still use the same equipment! Nothing fancy here. 

Where I did invest was in my team. I can’t do it without them. Katie, Jaycelyn, and Jaimie—thank you! Thank you for presenting me, the audio for this podcast, and the show notes in such a professional and polished manner. You make me look good!

Part of me says 100k downloads isn’t a big deal—some podcasts hit a million downloads each month. But this is a big deal to me, and I want to celebrate it.

So, it’s time for a giveaway! More on that in a bit.

Questions From the Podcast Community

But first, I asked members in our groups to share questions they might have, but they’ve never asked me. Here are the answers, rapid-fire style: 

How can I find a good balance between social media posts and emails without overwhelming my audience? I also wonder if staying consistent is best, both to help me remember and keep my audience on alert.

I wouldn’t worry about overwhelming your audience. Shopkeepers are normally too busy to generate content that overwhelms others. 

What I would focus on is consistency, along with messaging/engagement AND doing what feels good to you. If it doesn’t feel good to you, it won’t feel good to them. And if creating a schedule and a rhythm feels good to you, definitely do it!

Is your goal to go full-time with Savvy Shopkeeper? If so, what will you do with your shop?

For the time being, no. Every year, I have a check-in conversation with my sister to make sure we both want to keep moving forward with our store. 

I like giving myself the ability to think freely and creatively. I don’t want to feel like I HAVE to do something long-term, especially if I don’t want to. I did this in my former career, and I don’t want to do that again. I like fluidity, and I really like change! So doing a check-in every year gives me that flexibility. 

And if I’m honest, I don’t think Savvy Shopkeeper will ever be a full-time job. I know I can successfully run this business in part-time hours, and I definitely don’t want that to change. I love open space on my calendar!

Do you and your sister ever have serious conflicts?

I can think of one time when this happened. Other than that, it’s a typical partnership. We usually have the same BIG vision, but the way we want to execute might be different. 

There’s always compromise, though (and sometimes nudging or pushing). It’s key with our partnership—and so is trust. 

I’ve heard you say before that your retail space is 400 square feet. I follow you and have seen pics, but I’d love to see the entire store as a whole!

Our store is small, it’s true! Click here to see a video tour. Although our store has changed a bit since that video was taken, it’s a good representation of the interior, our work studio, and our merchandising. 

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first opened your shop?

1. Have faith in your knowing and your intuition. 

2. Work on your mindset first, particularly to work through programmed thinking. 

3. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself! I’m a bootstrapper at heart, but it wasn’t until I started investing in MYSELF by getting my own coach that I truly saw growth. Investing in myself made a difference in ALL parts of my life, not just my businesses.

How does someone become a shopkeeper while being the solo/primary income earner?

Lots of planning! My transition from full-time government employee to full-time entrepreneur took years. 

My best tips for someone who wants to take the leap? Start preparing as soon as you can. 

Pay off debt, get your finances in order, build a decent emergency fund/reserve account, research medical benefits and budget for these, add extra insurance like AFLAC in case you need it. 

I did not take this lightly, and although I did prepare, I was still terrified. This is normal!

How much total time does it take to create each podcast episode?

Oh boy. Hours and hours. It takes me at least 2 hours to outline and script each episode, plus recording time. Then I have three team members who work their magic on each episode, too. It’s definitely a labor of love.

What inspired you to become a police officer?

I wanted to help my community. I wanted to keep people safe in my community, particularly those in poor communities, because that’s how I grew up. 

I also wanted to challenge my brain with investigations.

Why is your store only 400sq ft? Is that what you are comfortable with and it works for you, or do you eventually want a bigger store?

There are so many reasons. But trust me, if we could find an ideal bigger space in our budget, we would have grown by now!

100K Download Giveaway

I’ve put together three exciting prizes to celebrate 100,000 downloads of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast!

The Prizes

Two randomly selected (2) winners will receive bundles of Savvy Shopkeeper swag! These fun bundles will range in value from $50-$100. 

One (1) grand prize winner will receive three 1-hour coaching sessions with me! This prize is worth $900!

How to Enter

Earn 1 entry by taking a screenshot of your favorite episode, sharing it on social media, and tagging me. You have to do this from a public account. Otherwise, I won’t see the “share.”

Earn 1 extra entry if you share a second fave episode!

Earn 3 entries by creating an Instagram Reel or TikTok video about the podcast! Tag me from a public account, so you get your entries.

If you’re tagging me, it’s @savvyshopkeeper on Instagram and TikTok. On Facebook, my username is Savvy Shopkeeper – Kathy Cruz.

Lastly, earn 5 entries by leaving a podcast review on the Apple Podcast app. Just make sure you include your name and shop name in the review. Usernames don’t always tell me who you are!

Giving Back

It’s been extremely difficult to watch the situation in Ukraine unfold. I want to help, so I will donate $1 to support refugees from Ukraine for every entry into this giveaway. I’ll donate up to $1000.

My donation will go to a local nonprofit, Cleveland Maidan. They’re collecting and sending medical supplies to Ukrainian refugees.

I’m not sure about you, but I have such a hard time watching the news and feeling helpless. THIS is my way to help. 

Giveaway Terms

You must enter this giveaway by Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 3 PM EST. All winners will be randomly drawn. Winners will be contacted through the account they tagged me with. Shipping is free (US only).

Resources

• Video tour of the Salvaged Boutique
• Cleveland Maidan, the organization I’m supporting with the 100K download giveaway

Timestamps

• [03:40] Questions From the Podcast Community
• [16:16] 100K Download Giveaway