294. The Rise of Analog Wellness and Why Brick-and-Mortar Retail Is Perfectly Positioned to Thrive
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Release Date: 02/02/2026
294. The Rise of Analog Wellness and Why Brick-and-Mortar Retail Is Perfectly Positioned to Thrive
Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
With host retail coach Episode Overview There is a retail trend I’m seeing that is growing across independent retail shops worldwide and I’m sharing all about it in this episode. Let’s talk about analog wellness. So what exactly is it? I’m diving into just that in this episode: what it is; how customers are craving slower, more human experiences and how brick-and-mortar retailers are uniquely positioned to meet that need. I’ll explain why this shift has little to do with what you sell and everything to do with how customers feel when they’re in your shop. I’ll...
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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...
info_outlineWith host retail coach Wendy Batten
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
Episode Overview
There is a retail trend I’m seeing that is growing across independent retail shops worldwide and I’m sharing all about it in this episode. Let’s talk about analog wellness. So what exactly is it? I’m diving into just that in this episode: what it is; how customers are craving slower, more human experiences and how brick-and-mortar retailers are uniquely positioned to meet that need.
I’ll explain why this shift has little to do with what you sell and everything to do with how customers feel when they’re in your shop. I’ll share why this matters now, especially as people step back from constant screens, noise, and digital overload.
Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how analog wellness shows up in retail, how it connects to hospitality and experience-driven sales, and why this approach strengthens loyalty, word of mouth, and long-term growth.
Our Key Topics
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What analog wellness and analog wellbeing mean in a retail context
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Why customers are seeking slower, tactile, in-person experiences
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The role of brick-and-mortar shops as places to exhale and feel seen
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How experience and hospitality replace price-based competition
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Ways retailers are creating gathering spaces and community moments
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Why invitations and connection matter more than urgency or discounts
Key Takeaways for Retailers on Analog Wellness
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Customers are craving calm, connection, and human interaction, not constant stimulation.
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Brick-and-mortar shops can serve as a third space beyond home and work.
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Experience and how customers feel now drive loyalty more than price.
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Small, intentional moments of hospitality can create lasting impact.
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Designing around customer feelings strengthens sales and relationships.
"Analog wellness is not anti-technology. It is pro-human." -Wendy Batten
This week, I would love for you to listen in and reflect on how your shop can become a place where customers slow down, feel seen, and want to linger. Are there ways you are already doing it now? Jump into my DMs on Instagram and tell me about it!
Resources Mentioned and Related Episodes:
Retail Sales & Marketing Accelerator (On-Demand)
A practical course designed to help shop owners stop guessing and start making clearer, data-informed decisions around sales and marketing.
Episode 252: Creating a Culture of Hospitality in Your Retail Business with Guest Expert Stephanie Miller Vincent
Episode 268: Awesome Isn’t Accidental: Raising the Retail Standards in Your Shop
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met…I’m Wendy Batten. I’ve been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I’ve been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose.
For more support from Wendy
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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