266. Behind the Counter: Retail Growth Tips You Want to Try with Yarn Store Guru Cadence Kidwell
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Release Date: 06/23/2025
293. The Difference Between ‘Nice’ and ‘Kind’ in Leadership
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach Episode Overview Many shop owners lead with good intentions, but being nice instead of kind can quietly create resentment, burnout, and instability in a retail business. In this episode, I’m exploring a distinction that quietly shapes many retail businesses: the difference between being nice and being kind. While niceness can feel good in the moment, it often leads to avoidance, resentment, and exhaustion over time. Kind leadership, by contrast, is clear, fair, and professional, and it supports long term trust and sustainability. I’ll walk you...
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292. The Real Starting Point for Building a Profitable Retail Business
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach Episode Overview Ever find yourself wondering “Where do I start when I’m juggling multiple priorities in my retail business?” You’re not alone. I’m addressing this question that’s been asked many times since Episode 290 dropped at the beginning of the year. In this episode, I’ll lay out the most important steps to focus on FIRST in order to achieve the success you want this year in your retail business. You’ll learn why clarity around your numbers and a growth mindset are the foundations for building a sustainable, profitable...
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291. It’s Not for Me…Until It Is
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Have you ever dismissed something quickly by thinking, “That’s not for me”? I did. Twice on Christmas morning, if we are being honest. And both times, I was wrong. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I share two very real moments where I resisted things that, in hindsight, were exactly what I needed. Not because I didn’t want to grow, but because growth sometimes shows up feeling uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or inconvenient. This conversation is for experienced retail shop owners who are running solid...
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290. 7 Things to Focus on in 2026 If You Want a Retail Business That Lasts
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: You know that shop down the street that always seems to be doing well? The one that looks calm, confident, and steady while everyone else feels frantic? In this Season 6 kickoff episode of Creative Shop Talk, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s actually happening behind the scenes and sharing my 7 predictions for what independent retailers need to focus on in 2026 if they want a business that lasts. This episode is not about doing more. It’s about focusing on what matters. We’re talking about building a brand that means...
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289. Become the CEO Your Life May Need in 2026
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Season Five wraps with a heartfelt, honest conversation you don’t want to miss. In this final episode of the year, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the real-life alignment shifts, boundaries, and mindset resets that shaped my 2025 - and how you can step confidently and intentionally into 2026. If you’ve ever felt out of sync with your business, overwhelmed by hustle culture, or unsure whether your decisions still match the life you want today… this episode will feel like a deep breath. Wendy talks openly about...
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288. Become the CEO Your Retail Business Actually Needs in 2026
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Ready for a truth bomb? Your business can only grow if you do. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m diving deep into what it really takes to step into the CEO identity your retail business needs in 2026 and beyond. From letting go of the “do-it-all shopkeeper” mindset to making braver, clearer decisions rooted in vision rather than fear, this episode is your invitation to level up. I’ll share real stories of retailers who shifted their identity, embraced discomfort, built supportive systems, and created...
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287. Design Your Best Retail Year Ever: Stop Drifting and Start Planning for Success
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Is your business steering your life instead of the other way around? In this episode, I’m reminding creative shop owners that thriving retail doesn’t happen by accident – it’s designed with purpose. As we wrap up the year and move forward into 2026, I’m sharing my “captain your own ship” approach to intentional business planning. Let me teach you how to stop drifting with the tides of the economy, staff changes, or trends, and start charting your course toward profit, joy, and freedom. Smart Retail Strategies to Design...
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286. 5 Simple Prompts to Help Your Retail Team Sell with Confidence
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Let’s face it – most shop owners can sell naturally, but teaching your team to do the same without feeling “salesy” can often be tricky. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing five easy, actionable prompts you can teach your staff to boost confidence, build genuine customer connections, and make sales feel natural (not pushy!). These simple, human-centered tools will help your team move from awkward to authentic – and you can start right now. Actionable Sales Strategies for Your Retail Team:...
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285. Avoiding Retail Burnout: Closing Loops and Leaning In to Your People
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Are you feeling burnout creep in? Are you just plain tired of making all of the decisions? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m getting honest about burnout, decision fatigue, and what really causes that drained, frazzled feeling. (Hint: it’s not just working too much!) Through my own recent experience, I’m sharing how leaning into trusted mentors and peers can reignite clarity, confidence, and momentum. I know you’ll walk away inspired to simplify, close open loops, and stop overcomplicating your next steps. What You’ll...
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284. KISS Retail Overwhelm Goodbye: The Power of Keeping it Super Simple
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach In This Episode: Sometimes simple things make the biggest impact - and in this episode, I’m proving it with a story about my “famous” frozen turkey stuffing. Confused yet? Don’t be! If you are an independent retailer you are in the right place, I promise! This episode is for retailers who need a refreshing reminder that running a successful shop (and life!) doesn’t have to be overcomplicated. The KISS method - Keep It Super Simple - isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about focusing your time and energy where it truly matters. Key...
info_outlineWith host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
In This Episode:
Running a retail business isn’t just about WHAT you sell—it’s about WHO you bringing together in your retail store.
In this heartwarming and wisdom-filled episode, Cadence Kidwell of Fuzzy Goat (a yarn store in Thomasville, Georgia) shares how she’s built a thriving business rooted in connection, creativity, and community support. Whether you’re a seasoned retailer or just starting out, Cadence’s story will inspire you to think big, act bravely, and build something meaningful.
Key Takeaways from a Retail Yarn Store Owner:
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Cadence shares her inspirational journey from university teacher to yarn shop owner
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Why community is the most important product she sells
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How she built a strong, trusted team that loves the store like it’s their own
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Creative marketing tools she swears by (like countdowns and story-driven videos)
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How events like Local Yarn Shop Day bring huge in-store traffic
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Why offering benefits like retirement plans helps retain staff
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The importance of mentorship, coaching, and always learning something new
“We’re not just selling yarn. We are selling connection and whimsy.” - Cadence Kidwell
About Cadence and Fuzzy Goat
Prior to opening Fuzzy Goat, Cadence Kidwell obtained a PhD in Creative Writing and designed a certificate program for students to develop cultural competencies while working at Florida State University. She was happy with that career but began dreaming of her own shop. She decided that she could either steady-on into the last decade of university life or she could join the makers’ life by building a business from a rough-worn building & filling it with beautiful yarns made by strong women.
Luckily for Thomasville (and the rest of us) she chose the latter. Fuzzy Goat is truly an independent business with over 90% of our merchandise created by other independent women makers. Fuzzy Goat creates a space where conversation across generations and life experiences is valued and sought after.
Follow along with Cadence and Fuzzy Goat here:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Use code SHOPTALK to get 11% off your order through Fuzzy Goat’s website!
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode 183: Fine Tuning Your Business Operations with Business Strategist Gwen Bortner
Episode 244: Behind the Counter: From E-Commerce to Brick and Mortar with Chris Waddy of Loopy Wool
Episode 259: Behind the Counter: Building a Unique Retail Shop with Heart with Amy & Chris Hart
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!