264. Turn Your Summer Slowdown Into a Retail Reset
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Release Date: 06/09/2025
276. What Holiday Prep Actually Looks Like (Step by Step, Inner Circle Style)
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach is now a standalone masterclass! Click to grab it now. You can walk through the sessions at your own pace and rewatch it year after year. ? Join me and a small group on September 15th and let’s get down to business. Limited seating for this quarterly planning session. In This Episode: September is here - and for retailers, that means it’s time to get serious about holiday planning! In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing why Q4 doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and chaotic. Instead,...
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275. How Top Shop Owners Are Planning Their Holiday Strategy
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Add graphic here With host retail coach is now a standalone masterclass! Click to grab it now. You can walk through the sessions at your own pace and rewatch it year after year. ? Join me and a small group on September 15th and let’s get down to business. Limited seating for this quarterly planning session. In This Episode: Are you heading into the holiday season feeling overwhelmed, reactive, and unsure how to hit your numbers? You’re not alone—but the good news is there’s a better way. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk...
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274. Is Your Customer Journey Working? Audit It Now!
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: The holidays are coming. Time to revisit this crucial part of your business. One bad shopping experience can send a loyal customer packing. The good news? You have the power to make every visit unforgettable. Let’s talk about your customer’s journey. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing actionable strategies to enhance every stage of your customer journey—from first discovery to post-purchase follow-up. I’ll walk you through a 5-stage audit that ensures shoppers feel welcomed, valued, and eager to...
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273. Train Your Retail Team to Sell Without Feeling Pushy
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Struggling to improve retail staff sales training without turning your store into a pushy sales zone? You're not alone! Let’s talk about it. In this episode, I’m sharing how independent retailers can flip the script from selling to serving—while boosting revenue. Learn how to build a positive sales mindset and create a sales culture in retail that feels good for everyone involved: for you, your staff, and your customers. Key Takeaways on Selling Confidently: Train your team to confidently engage customers without feeling...
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272. Unlocking Team Potential: Nurturing a Culture of Ownership
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Ready to transform your team from task-doers to strategic thinkers? In Episode 272 of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m answering a question from one of my Mastermind members, Dan Haynes: How do we flip the mindset of management-level team members from task-oriented to strategic thinking? I’m diving deep into nurturing effective leadership and fostering genuine team buy-in. You’ll discover how to empower your employees, cultivate ownership, and build the culture you've always envisioned. I’m tackling the common...
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271. Back-of-the-Napkin Math: Simplifying Profit Planning for Retailers
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Let’s simplify the numbers you need to know and why in your retail business. Don’t be that retailer that is overwhelmed by numbers in retail—or worse, avoiding them altogether. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing the surprisingly simple method I use to help retailers finally understand their sales goals, profit margins, and growth potential. Say goodbye to spreadsheet stress and hello to clarity with my and “back-of-the-napkin” profits calculator. It’s the calculator you have been...
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270. Progress Over Perfection: How to Break Through Retail Business Overwhelm
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Feeling stuck in perfectionism or weighed down by self-doubt? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay there! In this quick yet powerful coffee chat, I’m sharing real conversations I’ve had with shop owners navigating mindset challenges like imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and lack of confidence. You’ll walk away with practical mantras, empowering reminders, and actionable strategies to help you move forward—even when things feel messy. What You’ll Learn: Why “done is better than perfect” is a game-changing...
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269. Coffee Break Chats: Is Your Google Business Listing Costing You Customers in Your Retail Shop?
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Is Your Google Business Profile Costing You Customers? Your Google Business profile is one of the easiest and most powerful tools to drive retail growth. In this Coffee Break episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing ten quick, high-impact ways to audit and refresh your profile—just in time for the fall retail rush. Updating your Google Business profile takes 10 minutes. We all have 10 minutes! Use them to update your digital storefront and start showing up where your customers are already searching: GOOGLE!...
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268. Awesome Isn’t Accidental: Raise the Retail Standards in Your Shop
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: It’s not luck. It’s not magic. Running a successful retail shop takes purpose, planning, and showing up as your best self. In this inspiring episode, I’m sharing a powerful reminder from one of my favorite authors, Jon Acuff: “Awesome is never accidental.” Let’s talk about how you can intentionally create a business that feels great for you and your customers—on purpose, not by chance. We don’t want average businesses or lives: strive for AWESOME. Tips on Raising Your Retail Standards: “Awesome”...
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267. Retail Planning Midyear Check-In: The Essential Steps
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: I want you to ask yourself this question: “Why wouldn’t I be checking in mid-year with my retail business? Is there something I am avoiding? Am I making excuses like I’m ‘too busy’?” (Your words, not mine!) As a retail coach, it’s my job to not only teach you the steps you need to take to do a midyear check-in in your retail business but also encourage you to get it done. Trust me: this will make a huge difference in your mindset and in how you run your beautiful business. In this episode I’m walking...
info_outlineWith host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
In This Episode:
Let’s talk about the “summer slowdown,” shall we?
In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, we’re flipping the script on the summer slowdown and showing you how to use any quiet time as a powerful CEO reset. Whether it’s organizing your back-end systems, strengthening customer relationships, or proactively planning for Q4, this season can be one of your most productive if approached with intention - and I’m showing you how.
We’re diving into practical and mindset-driven strategies for using this seasonal dip to build momentum, clarity, and energy. Learn how to schedule a “money date” with your financials, declutter your tech stack, and plant the seeds for a thriving holiday season.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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Why a slower season can be your biggest strategic advantage
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How to use your CEO date to make smarter inventory decisions
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Ways to deepen customer relationships and build brand loyalty
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Quick backend system fixes that can boost efficiency
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How to use the summer to prep for a stress-free Q4 and holiday season
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Why mindset matters more than momentum during seasonal dips
Your Next Steps
If you found this episode helpful in any way, I would LOVE if you would share it with a fellow shop owner who might need a mindset shift! Then tag me on Instagram (@wendybatten.biz) with your summer reset plans. I’d love to hear from you!
And then …join my supportive community of retailers in the Retailer’s Inner Circle! There is so much to love about the Inner Circle: access to countless masterclasses on everything from inventory management to money matters, a supportive community of like-minded retailers to bounce ideas off of, a monthly playbook to track your progress and help you plan your events and promotions, and so much more. Check it out HERE.
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode 115: How to Tame All of Those Great Ideas
Episode 116: What to Do if It’s Slow: Summer Strategy Series
Episode 216: Create a Summer of Ease for Your Retail Shop
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 dream 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
Join Wendy’s CEO Planning Session for Retailers
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.
Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes!
If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well. Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!