You’re a Savvy Starter!
With a freshly opened store and a to-do list as long as your arm, you’re learning all the ins and outs of running your retail business.
You’re either ready to open or you’ve flung open the doors, welcomed in your first customers, and started marketing your business. Go, you!
Even if you have a small team, you’re pretty much a one-person business – you’re in charge of everything. THIS stage is where you will most likely spend the most time on and in your business.
From social media to inventory to merchandising to cleaning, it’s all on you. Yikes!
You know you need to work out your finances, grow your customer base, and start building systems to make life easier…
…but how are you supposed to fit all of that in, too?
The day-to-day tasks of running your store are taking up a lot of your time, so it’s hard to see the bigger picture.
You’re trying to determine if you start paying yourself or if you reinvest your profits back into the business.
Either way, you’re doing an incredible job managing all the moving parts of your freshly-opened store – even if you don’t feel like it! Pat yourself on the back for getting this far.
So how can you keep learning to juggle it all while building the momentum you need for your retail store?
Set up basic systems to make your life easier and help you manage your time better.
When you’re juggling every task on your never-ending list, it might seem silly to call a time out so you can set up a system. But the beauty of systems is that they make everything easier and faster!
For example, take a few minutes to write out everything you need to do to open the store. Could you do these tasks more efficiently if they were in a different order? Could you make a checklist of opening tasks, so you never miss one?
Creating a few simple systems now will help you be more efficient—and you’ll be able to easily delegate tasks once you’re ready to hire help.
Build a solid data foundation.
When you start, you might think that you’re not making enough to care about the numbers, but trust me, you are! Learning to read profit and loss statements, interpret inventory turn, analyze inventory reports, and calculate your sales per square foot are just a few empowering data-related tasks that you will take on in the future.
Setting solid inventory and bookkeeping systems are key from day 1! Information is power and if you don’t start collecting data now it will be a struggle to set up years later.
Dial-in your marketing presence so you can grow your customer base.
As a new business, you might see a flurry of activity when you open your doors. But to keep them coming back for more, you need to remind them that you exist and that you can provide VALUE to them! Social media and email marketing are crucial in getting consistent customers into your independent retail store.
Start by choosing ONE social media channel to try. My personal favorite is Instagram: it’s an awesome platform for showcasing your products through photos and videos. Choose the platform(s) that make the most sense for your retail business!
And while marketing your biz, don’t forget to show your face occasionally, too! Customers love having a personal connection with the face behind the business.
Let’s get real: opening a brick-and-mortar is a life-changing endeavor.
I’m here to empower you every step of the way.
I’m here to empower you every step of the way.
Hi there! I’m Kathy Cruz.
Before my sister and I opened our retail store, the Salvaged Boutique, Google search after Google search quickly proved that there just weren’t enough resources out there for brick-and-mortar shopkeepers.
I kept finding myself in groups for digital entrepreneurs and reading stuffy articles meant for corporations, so I spent hours upon hours learning through trial and error.
I founded Savvy Shopkeeper with the idea that all Independent Retail Business Owners should have access to resources specifically created for their business. I’m proud to guide and support retailers with an insight-filled podcast and a powerful mastermind & group coaching program for brick and mortar store owners.
No matter where you are in your shopkeeper journey, my mission is to help you work less, profit more, and GROW your retail business.
Curated Resources for Savvy Starters
There are over 160 episodes of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast to dig into. I’ve hand-picked these ones for shopkeepers who’ve just started their businesses.
Creating content for social media is all about attracting and connecting with your customers! Grab my list of over a hundred ideas and prompts, along with a worksheet to help you brainstorm your unique ideas.
We all have salary goals! But how much income does your store need to generate so you can pay yourself? Use the sales to salary calculator to set your salary goal and determine your gross sales target.
Master Shopkeepers
Master Shopkeepers is your ticket to becoming a capable, confident shopkeeper. It’s the BEST place for shopkeepers to learn the skills they need and find the community they crave.
With 200+ lessons, an active, encouraging community of fellow shopkeepers, and personalized coaching from Kathy, Master Shopkeepers is how you can skip the hours of Googling and jumpstart your shopkeeping journey.
P.S. This is just the beginning.
I’m not going to just throw these resources your way and leave you to your own devices. I’m here to empower you throughout your brick-and-mortar journey!
Although I’ve identified five distinct stages to most shopkeepers’ journeys, please know that retail success is subjective.
Your journey is yours, and the Savvy Shopkeeper community is here to support you no matter where you are or where you aspire to be. If you’re curious about the other stages of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Journey, click here to read more.
Keep an eye on your inbox, as I’ll be popping in with more tips and resources soon!