Ep. 122 The 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat (Ticket Sales are Open!)

I’m so excited to announce that tickets are on sale for the 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat! 

Tickets are selling fast—as of recording this podcast episode on April 27th, 65% of the tickets are already claimed! Read more about the retreat below, then snag your ticket if you want to attend.

The What

The 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat is NOT your typical business conference. This is a beautifully curated, intimate, 2-day event where independent retailers can refresh their minds, get inspired, and find strategic business support.

This year’s theme is “Focus on Foundation: Build An Unshakeable Retail Business.” So many of us jump into shopkeeping without knowing how to lay a SOLID foundation for our retail business. No matter where you are on your journey, the educational sessions with this theme will apply to your business.

The When

The retreat will be on Sunday, September 18, and Monday, September 19, 2022, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. 

Most attendees arrive on Saturday and depart on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

The Where

This year’s retreat will be hosted at Frügthaven Farm in Greenville, MI. The property is owned by Master Shopkeepers group member April Petersen and her husband, Mike. Their venue is perfect for the vibe and style of this non-business conference.

Frügthaven Farm isn’t just a farm. It’s a boutique shop (Pink + Frillos), an apple orchard, a cidery, a coffee shop, a bakery, an event venue with two restored 100-year-old barns, and more!

During this retreat, retreat attendees will have access to the entire farm property, minus the apple orchard. 

Unfortunately, there are no virtual tickets available for the retreat. That’s because the barn is not ideal for recording. Plus, we lose the intimacy of the event if we’re recording! If you’re interested in the retreat, I promise it’s worth attending in person. 

You can find more details about rooms blocked at two hotels, other accommodation options, the closest airport, car rental options with reservation phone numbers, and much more here.

The How

The itinerary for the Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat is VERY intentional.  I know how much and how hard shopkeepers work. That’s why I wanted to create two whole days where you don’t have to figure anything else out once you arrive. 

You don’t have to bring anything. You don’t have to figure out where to go to lunch, where to park for lunch, worry about timing or finding your next session, go hungry (food and beverages will be served throughout each day), or any other detail for that matter.

Basically, you don’t have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off (we already do enough of that, right?!). 

There’s plenty of time to connect with your fellow shopkeepers during the retreat. We’ve built-in time to take photos of the gorgeous property, zen sessions, and breakout sessions. All of that is in addition to the helpful presentations I’ll give during the retreat! There are also door prizes, giveaways, and more!

There’s also a special (and optional) VIP Dinner on Sunday night. Last year’s VIP Dinner was probably the highlight for many attendees. At last year’s VIP Dinner, I interviewed April, the owner of Frügthaven Farm. I plan on doing something special for this year’s dinner, too! Not only is the locally catered meal incredible, but there’s live music and the coolest vintage camper bar service.

After last year’s retreat, I can honestly tell you that although there’s plenty of downtime, there’s also time to work on your business. Not to mention the amount of inspiration and motivation that breeds within that barn and the rest of the property! Everyone just soaks it all up. It’s incredible.

The Why

Honestly, I host this retreat because shopkeepers deserve to be pampered. We deserve to reward ourselves, invest in ourselves, and surround ourselves with shopkeepers who align with the way we run our businesses. And we deserve to have fun!

The Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat is an investment in YOU and your business. Over the past two years, I’ve invested in myself more than ever before—and it’s paid off! Our group members do the same when they attend the retreat, and they reap the rewards, too! Here’s what they said after last year’s event: 

“I can’t think of a better group and leader to spend this journey with. It was spectacular, my friend. 💕”

“💯 living on the post-retreat high today! Smiling with all the memories and new thoughts running through my brain! It’s going to take me a few days to process all the thought gems. ❤️ I loved every minute!”

“I drove about 5 hours in silence still absorbing everything. This was exactly what a RETREAT should be.”

I knew when I found SS/MS this was an incredible group of people, but after meeting a lot of them in person I feel it’s an even more extraordinary group that I can learn from and lean on. This was an absolutely lovely event (thanks so much April and Frügthaven Farm!) that I feel guilty calling it a ‘business retreat!’”

“It was an incredible experience that changed us and will help our business for years to come!”

“I learned more here in half a day than I have in 10 years as a shop owner.”

I’m really looking forward to seeing and hugging so many of you. To the conversations, we’ll have and the connections we’ll make. If you’ve been considering this retreat or what I just described struck a chord with you, I genuinely hope you’ll join us. Trust me, YOU ARE WORTH IT.

Resources

• Get your ticket to the 2022 Savvy Shopkeeper Retreat
• Shopkeeper Shoutout: Brandon of Blossom Flower Bar

Timestamps

• [03:13] The What
• [04:35] The When
• [06:56] The Where
• [09:54] The How
• [12:47] The Why