Shows / Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
Host, Kathy Cruz is a retail business coach who owned a retail business with her sister for a decade. She knows firsthand that running a retail business, both online and in a brick and mortar has its challenges. Kathy is passionate about teaching independent retailers how to work smarter, profit more and grow.
Episodes
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast234. Cash Flow Part 2: What's Draining Your Store's Cash Flow? Identifying the Root Cause
If you've ever faced a cash flow struggle, you know how much stress it can cause you. But before you address the issue, you need to identify the root cause…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast233. Cash Flow Part 1: Cash Flow Uncovered—Why Cash Flow is More Than Your Revenue
As retail business owners, revenue is often top of mind. But revenue alone doesn't give us the complete picture of your store's financial health! That's why…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast232. The Ugly Truth About (Peri)menopause While Running A Business
Running a business is already challenging, but dealing with the symptoms of perimenopause while running a business has made the last two years incredibly…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
LISTEN ASAP: Rallying for Retailers: Hurricane Helene Relief Donation Drive (3 Ways You Can Help!)
Originally, I planned to record a quick episode to talk about the upcoming Retail Email Bootcamp and let you know that the calendars in the Savvy Shopkeeper…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast231. Manifested Success: A Self-Aware Journey of Building a Dream Store with Ceri Otero of Carthage Olive Oil
Ceri Otero didn't dream of being a shopkeeper as a kid. But when she decided to open a specialty olive oil and vinegar shop in Carthage, Missouri, it felt like…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast230. Five Ways to Increase Inventory Entry Efficiency
Customers love visiting indie retail stores and discovering new items, and many indie shopkeepers revel in curating fresh finds for their stores. The part that…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast229. Building a Legacy Business with Jolene Forrester of JoRetro
Jolene Forrester, owner of JoRetro in Havre de Grace, Maryland, has built a thriving legacy retail store with multiple streams of income. What started out in a…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast228. Planner Problems Solved: Discover the Real Culprit Behind Your Planning Struggles
If there's one thing that nearly all indie retail store owners struggle with, it's planning. And when we struggle with planning, using a planner is next to…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
Exposing the Hype: Why Not All Businesses Are Down in 2024 and How You Can Succeed
In today's bonus shortie episode I'm delving into the misconceptions surrounding business performance during turbulent times. I explore how the thoughts of…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast227. Profitable Nostalgia: How Elisa Vietri Turned Swanky Vintage Style into Her Livelihood
Elisa Vietri always dreamed of opening a retail shop for her ever-growing collection of vintage goods. So when she and a friend drove by an empty storefront in…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast226. Is the OffPrice Show in Vegas a Good Fit For Your Buying Strategy?
As an independent retailer, finding the right trade shows to attend can make a significant difference in your buying strategy and overall business success…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast225. From Bottlenecked to Calm in Q4: A Retail In-Store Intensive Case Study
Have you ever looked around your retail store and thought, "wow, I could really use some advice on how to make this better?" That's exactly what one retail…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast224. The Science Behind Entrepreneurial Emotions with Master Certified Coach, Neill Williams
Did you know that up to 99% of the decisions we make are subconscious? Since our decisions drive our behaviors, it's crucial that we learn to make more of our…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast223. Five Tips for Becoming a Better Leader
As your indie retail business grows, leading a team becomes a crucial part of your store owner responsibilities. And while being a leader may not come…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast222. Build Success Brick by Brick: Crafting a Strong Foundation for Your Store
Let's face it: being an indie retail store owner isn't easy. There are shipments to bust, products to merchandise, backstock to organize, floats to reconcile…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast221. Managing Vendor Relationships: Friends or Colleagues?
For indie retail store owners who run vendor or consignment-style stores, there's an extra layer of work on top of running a store: managing vendor…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast220. Ways To Encourage Customers to Pay in Cash & Cash Safety Tips
Encouraging your customers to pay in cash is not only great for your business (buh-bye, credit card transaction fees!), but great for your community. Accepting…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast219. Tips for Temporary Store Closings, Both Planned and Unplanned (Free Customer Communication Checklist!
Have you ever decided to shop small, confirmed store's hours online, driven over to the store…only to find a "sorry, we're closed" sign hanging on the door?…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast218. Impromptu Episode with Personal & Savvy Shopkeeper Updates
With Q1 of 2024 behind us, it feels like a good time to share some impromptu Savvy Shopkeeper updates. There have been a lot of changes within my business and…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast217. The Instagram Ratio No One Talks About + A Helpful Instagram Optimization Checklist for Store Owners
Posting on Instagram can feel exhausting and overwhelming, especially as a retail store owner with a million other things on your plate. That's why I'm sharing…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast216. Build Your Leadership Strength with Shelli Warren of Stacking Your Team
Between an upcoming leadership month in Master Shopkeepers and wanting to share how I'm learning to lead the Savvy Shopkeeper team, leadership has been top of…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast215. What I Learned From The 2024 Savvy Shopkeeper Survey
From plugging your retail profit leaks to scaling your indie retail business, this year's Savvy Shopkeeper survey covered a bit of everything. I'm excited to…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast214. How to Buy Inventory for a Retail Store: Open with Faire (NEW Program)
If you're an Aspiring Shopkeeper, figuring out how and where to buy wholesale inventory is a crucial step towards opening your store's doors. Luckily, there's…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast213: What's Possible In Independent Retail
As indie retail store owners, it's all too easy to focus on the negative. We're always thinking about which stores are closing, what's to blame for…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast212. Doing It Scared with Kate Simpson of Cerulean
Kate Simpson, owner of Cerulean of Cape Cod, was always a maker and a nurturer. She created her own jewelry, sold it at weekend markets, and even had a spot at…
Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast211. Six Bookkeeping Tips for Independent Retailers
Bookkeeping is crucial for any business, and indie retailers are no exception! It's the key to understanding your finances, making smart choices, and pushing…
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210. A Natural Disaster Relief Program & Tips for Retailers by Heart on Main Street
Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are on the rise. Thankfully, Heart on Main Street is there to support independent retail…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
209. Too Many Tabs Open On Your Laptop? Five Tips for Web Browser Efficiency
Our laptops are not only an extension of our physical workspace, but often an extension of our minds. Digital clutter in the form of tons of too many tabs and…
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208. Five Takeaways From Attending AmericasMart As An Observer
After many years of attending AmericasMart as a buyer, this year was my first time attending as an observer. It was fascinating to chat with members of the…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
207. 2024 Savvy Shopkeeper Survey + Tips for Receiving Surveying Responses From YOUR Customers
Asking your customers for feedback can be scary—trust me, I know! Most years, I ask my customers and community to complete the Savvy Shopkeeper survey. While…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
206. Relay Financial: A Cash Flow Tool for Independent Retailers
Managing cash flow is a difficult task for most indie retail store owners, but it doesn't have to be! I'm excited to share a virtual banking solution that…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
205. A Free ChatGPT Resource Guide for Retailers
For indie retailer store owners, tasks like writing product descriptions, planning promotions, and mapping out quarterly plans can take a LOT of mental…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
204. Embracing Community: The Power of Choosing Local Bookshops Over Big Box and Online Retailers
Supporting the shop local and shop small movements has always been a core value of mine. One way I was failing at that, however, was with my book-buying…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
203. Entrepreneurial TV Shows Inspiring Me Right Now
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be nice to take a brain break before diving into the planning and goal setting we need to do for the year…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
202. What's Working On Social Media NOW for Retailers with Crystal Vilkaitis
For many indie retail store owners, digital marketing doesn't come naturally. With the ever-changing social media landscape, a constant stream of new features…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
201. How To Stop The Fear of Discounting Inventory or Hosting Clearance Events
For independent store owners, the fear of discounting inventory is very real—especially when they've got dead stock hanging around! It's all too common for…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
Bonus Episode: A New Announcement and What's Ahead In 2024
I'm here with a bonus episode, post-Christmas, to share an announcement and what's ahead for me and the Savvy Shopkeeper community in 2024! Kathy Cruz is an…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
200. My Personal Journey to Emotional Adulthood
When you first hear the term "emotional adulthood," you might think it's connected to when our brains finish developing in our mid-twenties. But emotional…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
199. Retail Business Forecasting: Will Your Retail Business be Sowing, Inching, Growing, or Exploding in 2024?
With 2024 approaching, now is the time to start your retail business forecasting! If you've never done this process before, today's episode will walk you…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
198. Changing Business Models: Reasons to Change (or NOT Change!) Your Retail Business Model
New Year, new store? If you're like most independent retail store owners, a new year can feel like the perfect time to make a fresh start by reworking your…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
197. The Shopkeeper's Marketplace: A Post-Black-Friday Sale Event
The Savvy Shopkeeper online shop has been revamped, renamed…and is relaunching with a Post-Black-Friday sale event! Introducing The Shopkeeper's Marketplace…
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196. A Gratitude Exercise: 10 Things I'm Thankful For in 2023
I'm not a big gratitude journaler. I rely on my journal when I need to get things out of my head, which helps me gain clarity and see the complete picture. But…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
195. Do Election Years Affect Retail Sales?
With 2024 in our sights, we're not far off from the next round of presidential elections. One of our Master Shopkeepers members, Julie, recently asked if I…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
194. Retail Store Clearance Sales: My Best Store Sales Day Ever and Why It Worked
Many shopkeepers avoid hosting retail store clearance sales. Whether they're worried about the perceived value of their goods or what other store owners might…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
193. How to Decide If It's Time to Start Wholesaling in Your Product-Based Business With Katie Hunt
Many of the store owners inside Master Shopkeepers and the Savvy Shopkeeper community at large are also creatives, makers, and artists. After establishing…
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192. Conduct Your Own Retail Store Website Homepage Audit
Whether you're a Savvy Starter with a newly opened storefront or a Growing Retailer expanding into a second location, your first point of contact with…
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191. Your POS System Goes Down, Do You Have a Backup Plan?
After years of leading groups with hundreds of store owners, I can confidently report that ALL POS systems go down. Yes, all of them! There's not one system…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
190. Why You Shouldn't Pass Credit Card Fees Onto Your Customers
Credit card fees are a contentious topic among retail store owners. As credit card fees continue to rise, shopkeepers are wondering what they can do to lower…
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189. What Are You Doing to Prepare for Small Business Saturday Weekend?
What's less than 8 weeks away and right in the middle of the busiest quarter for indie retailers? It's the biggest weekend of the retail holiday season: BFCM…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
188. How To Sell Using Your Window Display When Your Store is Closed: QR Code Tutorial for Brick and Mortar Stores
Did you know you can sell from your window display, even when your store is closed? In today's episode, I'm sharing my QR code tutorial for brick and mortar…
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187. Five Common Questions I Hear About Joining Master Shopkeepers
I get asked a LOT of questions about Master Shopkeepers. As a retail store mastermind coach, I completely understand why you have questions and want to put…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
186: The 3 S's to Mompreneur with Ease
Being a mompreneur is incredibly rewarding, but it's also challenging to find a balance between motherhood and owning a business. We love our kids, but we love…
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185. When Are You Ready to Open a Second Retail Store Location?
I can't tell you how often I've seen a shopkeeper open a second retail store location and want to tell them, "Wait, don't do that quite yet!" I've also seen…
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184: Are You Using Defeat to Win or Quit? Failing Vs. Experimenting in Business
Your brain might tell you that every other business immediately succeeds—and that you're a failure when yours doesn't. But what if you could reframe your…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
183. Optimize Your Operations Group Program (Launch Day!)
Over the past few weeks, I've shared why an operations manual is beneficial, five systems you should document for your retail store, and a free resource to…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
182. Get Started With an Operations Manual Table of Contents [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Whenever I talk about creating an operations manual, getting started seems to be the main roadblock keeping store owners from creating theirs. From figuring…
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181. Five Brick and Mortar Store Systems Every Shop Owner Should Document
A fact that might surprise you: EVERY indie store owner has a set of brick and mortar store systems. Yes, even those of you who don't yet have an operations…
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180. Eight Benefits of a Retail Store Operations Manual
Creating an operations manual can feel intimidating and overwhelming, especially for indie/micro business owners. That's why in today's episode, I'm sharing…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
179. A Planner for Independent Retail Store Owners: The NEW Savvy Shopkeeper Digital Planner is Here!
Exciting news: the 2023-2024 Savvy Shopkeeper Digital Planner is now available! I am thrilled to share what I believe to be the BEST planner for independent…
- Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast
BONUS EPISODE: The Credit Card Competition Act and How YOU can help NOW!
Visit the Savvy Shopkeeper website and click on "Credit Card Reform" in my main menu or click HERE to complete the Voter Voice form. I recently traveled to…