274. Is Your Customer Journey Working? Audit It Now!
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Release Date: 08/18/2025
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:
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 return - every single time. You’ll learn how to create a consistent, memorable experience that boosts loyalty, sales, and joy in your business! Let’s dive in!
What You’ll Learn About Your Customer Journey:
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Why customer experience begins long before shoppers walk through your door
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How to audit first impressions, storefront appeal, and in-store ambiance
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The importance of consistent, trained staff interactions
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Tips for frictionless checkout and meaningful farewells
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Creative post-sale follow-up ideas to keep customers coming back
Your Next Steps:
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Audit Your Customer Journey – Walk through your store with fresh eyes (or have a secret shopper do it!) and note one improvement you can make at each stage: discovery, entry, in-store, checkout, and post-sale.
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Join the Retailer’s Inner Circle – Get access to in-depth masterclasses on merchandising, marketing, and customer experience so you can keep refining your shop every month.
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Retail Marketing & Sales Accelerator is now available ON DEMAND! – Learn how to attract, convert, and retain customers with heart-centered, effective marketing strategies—at your own pace.
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Join my Love List – Get my weekly coffee chat emails with tips, inspiration, and updates on programs designed to help you thrive in retail! Sign up here: wendybatten.com/lovelist and add your name/email to the list!
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode 118: How To Create Loyalty and Amazing Customer Experiences with Guest Expert & Author: Shep Hyken
Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map
Episodes 163-166: Simple Sales Strategy Series Parts 1-4
Episode 243: Behind the Counter: Creating Customer Joy in Retail with Kim Williams of the Polka Dot Press
Episodes 249-251: Stop Hiding and Be Known: The Retailer’s Visibility Series
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy Batten, retail business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle. With over 30 years of experience running successful businesses, I now help independent shop owners grow profitably and sustainably—with more confidence and joy.
I’ve had my own business columns in featured magazines, such as What Women Create and other top publications, worked with some of the top industry brands as retail care manager, and I’ve supported hundreds of retailers through coaching, speaking, my programs, and this podcast.
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 current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.
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