242. 6 Areas to Focus on in Your Retail Business in 2025

Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

In This Episode:

Join me for a 4-hour intensive January Retail Reset on January 14th! This is a small workshop where we will be laser-focusing on your business. Feel like you might need to revisit your goals and get clear on what you need to do in 2025? Join me! All of the details are here.

If you are dreading making a plan for your retail shop in 2025, I have something for you: Design Your Best Retail Year Ever is available for purchase as a stand-alone workshop (or free for you if you are a member of The Retailer’s Inner Circle program)!

This workshop has been named a favorite by so many of my clients. It’s truly an invaluable resource that every retail shop owner can use - whether you love to plan or dread it. Grab it today, or join the Retailer’s Inner Circle and it’s included in your membership - along with a “pantry” full of other masterclasses and resources for you to grab when you need them.

The 6 Areas You Should Focus on This Year

1. Building a stable foundation: There are three pieces to business stability: (1) business viability/profitability (2) your customers and their changing needs (3) you and your team

2. Embracing retail excellence: Mediocrity is not going to cut it in 2025. “Excellence” doesn’t mean luxury, it means paying attention to details in all aspects of your business.

“If coming to my shop today wasn’t the best thing our customer did, then we haven’t done our job.” -Cindy Boissonneault, Poco Inspired

3. Earning your customers’ loyalty: Your customers want to be seen and understood. What strategies do you have in place to create customers for life?

4. Be a superhero in your community: How can you be a town cheerleader, connector, and community advocate?

5. Exude confident leadership: Believe in what you are creating. What are you spending your CEO time on?

6. Visibility is key: Position your brand to be seen as the “go-to.” Can your customers shop online? Are there revenue streams you can add?

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 221: How to Raise the Bar on Excellence in Retail with Guest Expert Jeffrey Shaw

Episode 237: Retailer Success Series: Cindy’s Journey to Building a Thriving Bead Store

Episodes 198-200: Stop Hiding and Be Known: Retailer’s Visibility Series Parts 1-3

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Free resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

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