Throwback Thursday: The Retreat Pricing Mistake That's Costing You Thousands with Erin Haag
Release Date: 07/16/2026
Throwback Thursday: The Retreat Pricing Mistake That's Costing You Thousands with Erin Haag
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
This week's Throwback Thursday episode tackles one of the biggest challenges facing retreat leaders today: Pricing. Because let's be honest... Most retreat leaders aren't struggling because they don't know how to host a great retreat. They're struggling because they're underpricing their expertise, their experiences, and the transformation they provide. In this popular episode, Shannon Jamail sits down with retreat pricing expert Erin Haag to discuss the difference between attracting price shoppers and attracting value-driven buyers. Together they explore why so many retreat leaders:...
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Throwback Thursday: What If Your Retreat Could Be Worth $55,000? A Conversation on Confidence, Conviction & Premium Retreats with Kyera Kacey
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
This week's Throwback Thursday episode is one that will challenge your thinking. And that's exactly why I'm bringing it back. In this powerful conversation, Shannon Jamail sits down with Kyera Kacey, a bold entrepreneur, speaker, and retreat leader known for helping people break through limitations around money, confidence, and self-worth. Love her approach or disagree with parts of it, one thing is certain: Kyera challenges retreat leaders to think bigger. Much bigger. In this episode, Kyera shares how she launched and sold out her first retreat in Ireland, then went on to host luxury...
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EP 277 Why Being in the Room Changes Everything: Lessons from the Retreat Industry Forum
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
The Retreat Industry Forum is over... And I'm still getting messages. Every week, retreat leaders, venue owners, and wellness entrepreneurs are reaching out asking: "When is the next one?" "How do I get on the waitlist?" "I heard it was incredible. Are you doing it again?" But here's what's interesting: Most people aren't asking about the presentations. They're talking about the conversations. The connections. The collaborations. The feeling of being surrounded by people who understand this industry and are actively building something meaningful. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders...
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EP 276 The Secret Retreat Venue You've Been Sleeping On - Cinnamon Shore, Texas
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
What if your next retreat venue was a walkable, luxury beach community on the Texas Coast — fully furnished, photographer-ready, and designed to make your attendees feel like they're living in a neighborhood instead of checking into a hotel? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Lee Ann Peters, the powerhouse behind Cinnamon Shore — a New Urbanist luxury beach community on the Texas Coast that has become one of Southern Living's Top 10 Beach Towns in the United States. Lee Ann left a successful Atlanta real estate career in the middle of the Great Recession to build something most people...
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EP 275 Retreat Leaders vs Venue Owners: The Disconnect Costing You Money
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’re building a retreat business, this episode is required listening. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Catherine Kontos, founder of RetreatBoss, RetreatMatch, and RetreatBoss Magazine, to talk about what it actually takes to build a sustainable and profitable retreat business. With over 14 years in the industry-and a background acquiring and selling over 100 businesses and properties-Catherine brings a level of real business strategy that most of this industry is missing. This conversation about the realities of running retreats as a...
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EP 274 Why Your Retreat Isn’t Filling (Even Though You’re Posting Every Day)
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’re posting every day and your retreat still isn’t filling…You’re not alone. But you are likely focusing on the wrong thing. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail breaks down the real reasons your retreat isn’t filling-even when you feel like you’re “doing all the things” on social media. Posting is not a strategy Visibility takes time to build And most retreat leaders don’t give it enough time Shannon walks through the biggest mistakes retreat leaders make when it comes to marketing and visibility-and what to do instead if you actually...
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EP 273 How Venue Networks & Influencers Are Changing the Industry with Anna VanAgtmael
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’ve ever felt like hosting a retreat is way more complicated than it should be… You’re not wrong. In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with returning guest Anna VanAgtmael to talk about what’s broken in the retreat industry-and what she’s building to fix it. Because right now: 👉 Retreat leaders have the audience but not the logistics 👉 Venues have the space but can’t fill it consistently 👉 And everyone is trying to figure it out on their own Anna shares her new venture-a curated retreat center directory and collaboration with Tiny...
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EP 272 Reinvention Isn’t Optional: The Inner Work Behind Building the Life (and Retreat Business) You Actually Want with Dr. Kim Dang
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
If you’ve ever felt like: your dreams are “too big” you’re “too much” or you know you’re capable of more… but you’re not living it yet This episode is for you. In this in-studio episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail sits down with Dr. Kim Dang, a mathematician, reinvention strategist, and founder who has rebuilt her life and career multiple times-from Yale professor to entrepreneur in the retreat and knowledge space. Dr. Kim flew in from New York to record this conversation live in Austin-and it goes deep. This isn’t just about retreats. This is about the...
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EP 271 From Zero to 70 Leads in 24 Hours: Unlocking Meta Ads for Retreat Leaders with Jaymie Tarshis
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
What if one focused day could completely change how you market your retreat business? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Jaymie Tarshis - aka The Ad Expert - a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of experience helping businesses scale using Facebook and Meta ads. Jaymie flew from San Diego to Retreat Ranch for a VIP day with Shannon's team, and the results were jaw-dropping: over 70 new leads in less than 24 hours. Shannon and Jaymie pull back the curtain on exactly what happened during that VIP day - from building a custom ad strategy from scratch, to crafting compelling...
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Special Release | From Dream to Dirt - How We Built Retreat Ranch From Scratch
The Retreat Leaders Podcast
What does it actually take to build a retreat center from scratch? The land, the structures, the permits, the parking, the storage, the vision - and the marriage that has to survive all of it? In this episode, Shannon sits down with her husband Nathan Jamail - world-renowned leadership and sales keynote speaker, and co-owner of Retreat Ranch - to pull back the curtain on the real journey of building one of Texas Hill Country's most unique retreat destinations. This is not a highlight reel. This is the honest, practical, sometimes hard-won story of what it takes to go from a dream to a...
info_outlineThis week's Throwback Thursday episode tackles one of the biggest challenges facing retreat leaders today:
Pricing.
Because let's be honest...
Most retreat leaders aren't struggling because they don't know how to host a great retreat.
They're struggling because they're underpricing their expertise, their experiences, and the transformation they provide.
In this popular episode, Shannon Jamail sits down with retreat pricing expert Erin Haag to discuss the difference between attracting price shoppers and attracting value-driven buyers.
Together they explore why so many retreat leaders:
- charge too little
- work too hard
- take on too much risk
- and end up making far less profit than they should
You'll learn why pricing isn't just about covering costs—it's about creating a sustainable business that allows you to serve your guests at the highest level.
Shannon and Erin also discuss:
- Why low pricing often attracts the wrong buyers
- The difference between price-sensitive and value-focused guests
- Why premium retreats often perform better during economic uncertainty
- The hidden costs of underpricing
- How to communicate transformation rather than features
- Why retreat leaders need to stop charging based on fear
Whether you're hosting your first retreat or your fiftieth, this episode will challenge how you think about pricing and profitability.
Because transformational experiences deserve transformational pricing.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- The difference between price shoppers and value shoppers
- Why underpricing hurts both you and your guests
- How to price retreats for profit and sustainability
- Why premium retreats can be more resilient during economic shifts
- The importance of communicating value over cost
- Common pricing mistakes retreat leaders make
- How pricing impacts the type of guests you attract
Key Takeaways
Price Determines Who You Attract
The guests attracted to a $2,000 retreat often have different buying motivations than those investing $7,000 or more.
Underpricing Creates Problems
Many retreat leaders think lower prices mean more bookings.
Often, the opposite is true.
Retreats Are Not Vacations
You're not selling a hotel room.
You're selling transformation, growth, support, community, and results.
Profitability Matters
A retreat that breaks even isn't necessarily successful.
Retreat businesses must be profitable to remain sustainable.
Value-Based Buyers Think Differently
When guests understand the value of the experience, price becomes only one part of the decision.
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TIMESTAMPS
Throwback Thursday Introduction (00:00:00) Shannon introduces this archived episode with Erin Haag and explains why the conversation around retreat pricing is still so relevant today.
Why Pricing Matters in the Retreat Industry (00:00:17) Shannon shares why pricing remains one of the biggest challenges retreat leaders face, especially when they are delivering transformational experiences but not making enough profit.
A Retreat Is Not Just a Vacation (00:01:09) Shannon reminds retreat leaders that retreats are experiences that create change, and believing in the value of the offer is essential.
Welcoming Erin Haag Back to the Show (00:01:55) Shannon welcomes Erin Haag back to the podcast and shares why they are aligned on the topic of retreat pricing, even though their pricing models are different.
The Problem With Underpricing Retreats (00:02:20) Shannon and Erin discuss why retreat leaders often get stuck in their heads around pricing and how undercharging can hurt both the host and the industry.
Retreats Are a Business (00:03:19) Erin explains that retreats must be profitable if they are being run as a business, not a nonprofit or hobby.
The Facebook Pricing Debate (00:04:10) Erin shares the story of a Facebook post where a retreat leader asked for advice after raising her retreat price to $6,000.
Higher Priced Retreats Are Easier to Sell (00:05:02) Erin explains why higher priced retreats can be easier to sell because they attract value-based buyers instead of price shoppers.
Tiffany’s Buyers vs. Claire’s Buyers (00:05:25) Erin uses the comparison of Tiffany’s and Claire’s shoppers to explain how price impacts the type of buyer a retreat attracts.
The Economy and High-Ticket Retreat Buyers (00:08:10) Shannon and Erin discuss why lower-ticket buyers may be more affected by the economy, while value-based buyers are still willing to invest in premium retreats.
Matching Price With Value (00:09:18) Shannon and Erin clarify that higher prices must be supported by higher value, luxury experiences, and a clear transformation.
Building Profit Into Retreat Pricing (00:10:31) Erin shares how she recommends retreat leaders build in a minimum profit goal and aim for healthy profit margins when pricing their retreats.
Don’t Shortchange Yourself or the Industry (00:11:23) Shannon encourages retreat leaders to stop underpricing and instead use their profit to support themselves, hire others, give back, or create scholarships.
Why Underpricing Hurts the Market (00:12:00) Erin explains how underpriced retreats condition buyers to expect unrealistic pricing and make it harder for professionals in the industry to earn sustainably.
Income Can Match Impact (00:12:49) Erin talks about why women in the retreat industry need to make money and how that money often gets reinvested into families and communities.
Selling the Transformation, Not the Thing (00:15:05) Shannon explains that retreat leaders are not just selling rooms, meals, or activities. They are selling the full experience and transformation.
Why Women Struggle More With Pricing (00:15:36) Shannon shares what she has noticed as a venue owner: men often charge more confidently for retreats, while women tend to struggle with pricing.
Money Mindset and Limiting Beliefs (00:16:19) Erin and Shannon discuss how women have often been conditioned to see money conversations as taboo, which can impact pricing confidence.
How to Shift From Low Pricing to Higher Value (00:17:43) Shannon asks Erin how retreat leaders who have been underpricing can begin to make the switch to more profitable pricing.
Start With the Math (00:17:57) Erin recommends looking at past retreat numbers, cancellations, profit, hours worked, and actual earnings to make pricing decisions from data instead of emotion.
Calculating Your True Hourly Rate (00:19:05) Erin explains how retreat leaders can calculate what they really earned for their time and why many would never accept that rate in another job.
Bake in the Value of Transformation (00:20:32) Erin explains that many retreat leaders forget to price in the transformation their retreat provides, not just the logistics of the trip.
Price Shoppers Nitpick Every Detail (00:21:05) Erin shares how price shoppers often compare retreats to what they could book on their own, missing the deeper value of the retreat experience.
Attracting Value-Based Retreat Guests (00:22:24) Erin explains that higher priced retreats help position the transformation and unique experience as part of the value.
How to Work With Erin (00:24:00) Shannon asks Erin how retreat leaders can connect with her and learn more about profitable retreat pricing.
Erin’s Free Retreat Pricing Resource (00:24:12) Erin shares her free guide with top tips for hosting profitable retreats and explains where listeners can find it.
Final Thoughts on Pricing and Profitability (00:25:05) Shannon closes the conversation by emphasizing the importance of guidance, self-belief, and profitable pricing in helping the retreat industry grow in a healthy way.