EP 242: THE PROBLEM WITH BUYING EVERYTHING YOU LOVE

EP 242: THE PROBLEM WITH BUYING EVERYTHING YOU LOVE

Fresh off multiple Dallas Market setups and heading into Las Vegas Market, Michelle shares what's working, what's changing, and how she's rethinking her buying strategy for the season ahead. In this episode, Michelle reflects on her recent projects, including the Levant showroom and a unique merchandising project for The Brit outdoor venue. She also shares why she's dialing back assortments, embracing branded merchandise opportunities, and taking a more intentional approach to buying at market. From avoiding over-assortment to creating scarcity and keeping inventory fresh, this episode is packed with practical insights for retailers preparing for their next buying season. What's Inside: * Lessons learned from Dallas Market and the Levant project * How branded merchandise can create new revenue opportunities * Why Michelle is changing her buying strategy to avoid over-assortment Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb]

EP 241: THE BEST ADVICE FOR NEW RETAILERS

In this episode, Michelle shares a completely different style of Retail Whore Podcast episode recorded live from the Seattle Mart, where seasoned retailers shared their best advice for new store owners. From learning your numbers and building smarter markdown strategies to creating stronger customer experiences and merchandising with intention, this episode is packed with honest conversations and real retail wisdom. Michelle and Susan also continue the conversation from the road as they dive deeper into store layout, storytelling through merchandising, fixtures that actually support your brand, and why trying to be everything to everyone can hurt your business. Plus, Michelle reflects on a personal Mother’s Day trip, balancing work and life on the road, and the emotional realities of family relationships while building a business. We have linked all of the buyers who were kind enough to share their advice in this episode so you can go support and follow their stores: • Jasper – Vashon Island Pharmacy and Gift Store [https://www.instagram.com/vashonrx/?hl=en] • Beth Rich – Mix It Up Home, Gallery & Gifts [https://mixituphomeandgift.com/] (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) • Rochelle – Edit an Olive & Bloom Company [https://www.oliveandbloomco.com/] (Snohomish, Washington) • Marie – Marie’s Boutique & Marmalade Fresh Clothing [https://marmaladefreshclothing.com/] (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) • Alicia – Paper Delights [https://www.paperdelights.com/] (Burien, WA) What’s Inside: * Why knowing your numbers and creating a markdown strategy matters * How merchandising actually starts during the buying process * The importance of creating a customer experience through layout, fixtures, scent, sound, and storytelling Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb]

EP 240: CREATING STORES THAT SELL WITH KATE KAUFFMAN

Kate Kauffman is the owner of Grease & Glitter Studio, a Vermont-based creative design studio serving retailers throughout New England and beyond. She specializes in visual merchandising, store flow and layout optimization, and striking window displays. Drawing on more than 10 years of industry experience with brands like Anthropologie and West Elm, Kate helps independent retailers elevate their customer experience, increase foot traffic, and drive sales. In this episode, Kate shares how her years at Anthropologie and West Elm shaped her approach to merchandising, storytelling, and customer flow. Michelle and Kate dive into the psychology behind store layouts, visual merchandising strategies for independent retailers, creating impactful displays on a budget, and why merchandising is so much more than making a store “look pretty.” They also discuss the future of merchandising, retail creativity, and the importance of building memorable shopping experiences that keep customers engaged and shopping longer.  What’s Inside: * How visual merchandising and customer flow directly impact sales *  Creative ways to build impactful displays without huge budgets *  Lessons from Anthropologie and West Elm that independent retailers can use today Mentioned In This Episode: Grease & Glitter on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/grease.glitter.studio/] Grease & Glitter on Website [https://www.greaseandglitter.studio/] Grease & Glitter on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GreaseandGlitterStudio] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb]

EP 239: FROM BROADWAY TO BUYING BEHAVIOR WITH AMY MEADOWS

For all of us who are merchandisers, Amy Meadows has the dream career. She has over 25 years of experience in window display, visual merchandising, and event planning. Recognized nationally in her field, Amy has reinvented traditions and reinvigorated business for both major retailers and independent businesses. From big boxes to boutiques, she helps businesses explore and leverage tools to attract customers and drive sales. Amy helps her clients align their storefronts, signage and displays to work together to build their brand and increase revenue. As a designer, Amy uses her background in theatrical set design to bring a sense of whimsy and drama to her installations, maximize visual stimulation and develop cost-saving display strategies. Through consulting, she creates best practices, methodologies, and practical strategies for a wide range of visual initiatives and outcomes. Additionally, Amy has created course content to inform and inspire the next generation of designers, with an emphasis on relevance in a changing retail landscape. Amy’s also a public speaker, and she conducts seminars specializing in time and cost-effective display solutions for independent retailers and business districts. In this episode, Amy returns to the podcast to share practical visual merchandising strategies that independent retailers can implement right away. Michelle and Amy dive into store layouts, window displays, customer behavior, holiday merchandising, and the psychology behind creating spaces that attract shoppers and drive sales. Whether you're preparing for show season, planning holiday displays, or simply looking for fresh merchandising ideas, this episode is packed with actionable insights from one of the industry's leading experts.  We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com [https://www.theretailwhorepodcast.com/], click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic! What's Inside: * The secrets behind effective window displays and visual merchandising that drive sales * How to create better customer flow using store layouts, focal points, and "interruptive fixtures" * Holiday merchandising strategies, display planning, and ways to keep customers engaged year-round Mentioned In This Episode: Windows Matter [https://www.windowsmatter.com/home.php] Amy Meadows on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/windowsmatter/?hl=en] Amy Meadows on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymeadows/] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb]

EP 238: REPLAY: FROM MONKEYS TO COOLERS WITH BENJAMIN SOTO

Do you ever wonder who makes those chalkboard signs at Trader Joe's? Well, that's how Benjamin Soto got started—drawing Trader Joe's signs by day and designing band merch at night for Fearless Records. In 1998, Ben was recruited by Paul Frank to help kick off the massive millennial pop-culture brand Paul Frank Industries. Ben managed the brand creative for about 10 years, which meant involvement with character designs, the tee and fleece program, pajama prints, photoshoots, trade show booths, retail spaces, collaborations/licensed products. They even let him voice Julius the Monkey on the pilot show of Yo-Gabba-Gabba. In 2008, Disney Animation called and gave Ben the job of helping to create and Art Direct a cartoon based on Evel Knievel's daredevil culture. The Emmy nominated show Kick Buttowski had 52 episodes and aired between 2010-2012. Ben eventually left Disney to partner up with some other entrepreneurs to start the next creative adventure: C-Preme. They had captured "lightning in a bottle" with their 3-D youth bicycle helmet brand, Raskullz. Within three years, they had sold over 3 million helmets and countless other outdoor products. C-Preme sold to Bell Helmets (Easton Bell Sports) in 2014. Ben stayed on working for Bell Helmets until the next idea hit: a colorful cooler manufactured like a bicycle helmet. Target accepted a huge order; patents were in the works, and before the dust settled, they sold their company to Igloo Products Corp. in 2016. Ben is still at Igloo, managing creative for the cooler brand. You might've seen a little bit of Ben in the VW Playmate bus, retro coolers, eco coolers, licensed coolers, and the packaging and marketing of the brand. Igloo sold to Dometic in 2021 for a lot more money than anyone ever dreamed of. Michelle and Ben dive into Ben’s amazing career, from Paul Frank to Igloo, and his extensive experience with graphic design. Ben shares stories from past trade shows (before the days of social media) and the wild ride that was Paul Frank in the early days. Michelle and Ben also discuss his transition to Disney, then Igloo, living in Hong Kong, and where Ben looks for inspiration. What’s Inside: * How Ben got started at Paul Frank and stories from the early days. * Ben’s experience working at Disney and Igloo. * How Ben finds his inspiration. Mentioned In This Episode: Benjamin Soto portfolio [http://benjaminsoto.com/] Paul Frank [https://www.paulfrank.com/] Kick Buttowski [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/kick-buttowski-suburban-daredevil/umc.cmc.6u8nsxynt98eer9w61xrtd1os] Raskullz [http://www.raskullz.com/] Igloo [https://www.igloocoolers.com/] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb]