Ep. 15 Why a Retail Loyalty Program is Valuable

One of the most important steps in opening a retail business is signing your lease.  Whether it’s your first time signing a commercial lease for a brick-and-mortar space or your lease is coming up for renewal, these ten tips will help you navigate this tricky process.  #1. Real Estate Laws Vary by State.  Even though…

Recently, I was on my weekly email newsletter zoom call with one of my team members, Sam. Sam is the owner of Heck Studios, and we’ve been working together for over a year. Sam hired me for coaching, and I hired her for her design talent. After her coaching ended, we continued to work together…

Let’s Talk About the Mess in Our Retail Stores It’s a time of transition for retail shopkeepers. Some shops have reopened, while others are indefinitely closed. Some are even in-between, with appointment-only shopping, curbside pickup, or a transition to an online storefront. It’s an unusual time to be a business owner.  How COVID Has Made…

There are three main camps that independent retailers fall into when we think about growth: those who are afraid to grow, those who are excited to grow, and those who are a mix of both.  I recently ran a poll in the Shopkeepers Lab group, along with the 2021 Savvy Shopkeeper Survey. Thanks to these…

Why brick-and-mortar store owners should hire a virtual assistant Let’s be real—many shopkeepers aren’t delegating enough. As store owners, I want you to be focused on tasks that make $50 an hour rather than $10 or $20 an hour. That’s where a virtual assistant can come in handy!  A virtual assistant provides professional administrative, technical,…

Episode 13 of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast is one of the most downloaded episodes. And I understand why—in that episode, I highlighted what members of the Savvy Shopkeeper community had done to have a successful 2019. It helps to know what contributes to the success of other independent retailers! But no one could have…