Merchant Method

Designed by retail veteran Christine “Chris” Guillot, Merchant Method is a training system for retail stores and e-commerce platforms in need of stronger, more efficient business strategies. Through consulting, group events, and digital training systems, the company takes retail owners and high-level retail executives through in-depth strategies for streamlining store operations, profit planning, loss prevention, employee training, and leadership development.

The Breadth of Consumer Spending During the Holiday Season 11/28/2017

The Breadth of Consumer Spending During the Holiday Season Consumer holiday spending spans occasions from early November through well after the New Year. You can make selling easier and more profitable by responding to the full breadth of consumer spending during the entire holiday season. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5988436

Selling the Job 08/01/2017

Selling the Job Interviewing is a two-way street. Candidates are selling themselves and you, as the hiring manager, are selling the role, your leadership capacity, the company culture, and the value of the brand. In this week’s episode I share how to sell the job while you’re interviewing potential employees! Have a listen as I speak to the seller inside you. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5598861

Making Your Most Important Hire 07/17/2017

Making Your Most Important Hire My forte is working on experimental retail projects. I love using my skills in innovative ways, stretching and growing along the way. Most of these projects have gone well, but not all of them. Looking back, in the projects that fizzled, I was trying to do too many things that were out of my wheelhouse. By focusing a bit more on my strengths and getting a little complementary help, those ventures could have accelerated faster. In this week’s episode I share how to make your most important hire as the leader of an entrepreneurial venture—yourself! Have a listen as I speak the recruiter and hiring manager inside you. Summary of Field Notes: Organizing personal employment paperwork Rejoining the workforce after a year and a half as a stay at home mom Self-assessing if you’re a good fit for the role you have Frequency of performance self-assessments For more information on this and related retail insights visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5548802

Most Likely to Become a Teacher 07/10/2017

Most Likely to Become a Teacher When I graduated high school I was voted Most Likely to Become a Teacher. Back then it seemed like a bad prediction. I was bound for business school and focused on becoming an entrepreneur and a retailer. It took me years to realize that the most beloved retailers (of all sizes) are just that—teachers. In this week’s episode I share how my skills as a teacher and as a retailer are interdependent. Have a listen as I speak to the teacher inside you. Summary of Field Notes: Early leadership roles that shaped my critical thinking, public speaking, and advocacy skills Teaching microentrepreneurship as a college student and returning to classroom teaching 20 years later Retailers, Makers, and Merchants impart knowledge and shape behavior, even when they don’t realize it Valuable teacher tips for your own team, to help you with hiring, training, and retaining top retail talent For more information on this and related retail insights visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5523966

Try ,Try Again 06/26/2017

Try ,Try Again Securing my first professional role in corporate retail was no easy task. After one, two, three failed attempts I came to learn that there are multiple ways to get what you want. In this week’s episode I share my first job-seeking process and what I learned about going after what you want. Summary of Field Notes: Being dedicated to creating your dream business and dream job Remaining focused on achieving what others said you couldn’t do Finding multiple ways to reach your goal Committing to the long game, rather than dwelling on the immediate grind. For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5481746

Introduction to Retail Shift 06/19/2017

Introduction to Retail Shift This week I’m excited to launch Retail Shift: Field Notes of Retail Success. This new weekly podcast series complements our retail trend reports with qualitative notes about success in the retail industry. In each installment, I’ll share professional lessons I’ve learned, milestone career moments, meaningful customer connections, and more. I’ll also be answering listener questions, so please reach out and join the conversation! Summary of Field Notes: Retail Shift is the companion field guide to our retail trend reports Field notes are qualitative notes recorded in the course of practical experience Some early influences that shaped my understanding of entrepreneurship My early retail experience, from microentreprise to global fashion What you can expect from this series and how to submit questions The events that inspired me to share more about my professional experiences For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5463004

Three Tips for Successful Business Planning 06/13/2017

Three Tips for Successful Business Planning Do you think that quarterly realignment of strategic initiatives with long-term goals is just for big businesses? Done well, a structured quarterly business plan can serve as a silent, well-informed, and influential business partner to help keep independent retailers on track and accountable. In this week’s trend report I share three tips to help ensure the successful execution of your thoughtful business planning exercise, as well as three pitfalls to avoid. Trend report topics: Basing business priorities around your business values The importance of long-term goals to maintaining big-picture perspective Using short-term goals to ensure frequent accomplishments and support momentum Prioritizing function over form in a planning system Leaving room in the plan to maintain both your momentum and your calendar itself Setting yourself up for success with structured goals For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5444394

Take Stock of Your Year to Date 06/06/2017

Take Stock of Your Year to Date Both professionally and personally, I find it valuable to pause and reflect on the recent past, both the things that have happened around me and the things that I have done. As we approach the middle of the year, it’s a perfect time to do just that. In this week’s trend report I share my favorite ways to review the business year to date before addressing plans for the second half of the year. Trend report topics: The importance of looking back to inform movement forward Reminding yourself of your original goals Reviewing your efforts — what worked and what didn’t? What are your takeaways from the year so far? How will you approach the next 90 days? Use this review to assess each area of your business Involving a trusted business partner or high-level leader in the process For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5425278

Surprise & Delight in Retail Marketing 05/31/2017

Surprise & Delight in Retail Marketing We talk a lot about small retailers needing to stand out, but our customers are saturated with influencers, expectations are at an all time high, and our competitors are all hustling too. To help deal with all this noise, I’d like to share how surprise & delight can be built into small business practices to help you rise above it all. I recently facilitated a conversation about this topic during one of our in-person events, and in this week’s trend report I share my personal takeaways from that discussion. Trend report topics: How to catch customers off guard in a memorable way through your marketing How surprise & delight can turn customers into lifelong fans and brand lovers The spectrum of surprise & delight that ranges from wow to wonder Inducing a fear of missing out vs. sparking a sense of inclusion Using training and resources to elevate and bring consistency to surprise & delight experiences Low or no cost surprise & delight retail marketing strategies For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5406202

Using Green Business Practices To Get Ahead in Retail 05/15/2017

Using Green Business Practices To Get Ahead in Retail Green business practices are more available to independent retailers than ever, providing new opportunities to build value. Decreasing material consumption is good for its own sake and many customers like to see businesses acting responsibly. On top of that, reducing waste also cuts operating costs, which increases bottom line profit. For small businesses, this method to improve experiences, operations, and finances is too important to ignore. This week’s trend report highlights current practices and tools that you can use to optimize customer experience, grow profits, and strengthen brand equity. Trend report topics: Reusing materials in store planning and for store fixtures Types of modern store fixtures worth investing in Cloud based applications that can help you streamline your business Optimizing your point of sale technology to fully leverage its benefits Educating customers about e-receipts and bagless cash wrap transactions Reconsidering packaging for online orders For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5358815

Using Green Business Practices To Get Ahead in Retail 05/15/2017

Using Green Business Practices To Get Ahead in Retail Green business practices are more available to independent retailers than ever, providing new opportunities to build value. Decreasing material consumption is good for its own sake and many customers like to see businesses acting responsibly. On top of that, reducing waste also cuts operating costs, which increases bottom line profit. For small businesses, this method to improve to experience, operations, and finances is too important to ignore. This week’s trend report highlights current practices and tools that you can use to optimize customer experience, grow profits, and strengthen brand equity. Trend report topics: Reusing materials in store planning and for store fixtures Types of modern store fixtures worth investing in Cloud based applications that can help you streamline your business Optimizing your point of sale technology to fully leverage its benefits Educating customers about e-receipts and bagless cash wrap transactions Reconsidering packaging for online orders For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5358814

Loss Prevention that Builds Top Line Revenue, Bottom Line Profit, and Brand Equity 05/08/2017

Loss Prevention that Builds Top Line Revenue, Bottom Line Profit, and Brand Equity Retailers use all of their business acumen and intention to develop an excellent shopping experience, maintain brand value, and grow customer relationships; these same skills can be applied to building and maintaining a comprehensive loss prevention program. With accountability and a consistent, long-term commitment, you can decrease loss and also see growth in your top line revenue, bottom line profit, and brand equity. Join us for this week’s trend report as we wrap up our four-part series on loss prevention for independent retailers. Trend report topics: Examples of human error that lead to preventable losses Consistency and accountability are key to loss prevention Retail loss problems are entrepreneurial opportunities in disguise Three categories of common operational errors The connection between loss prevention, strong brand behaviors, and excellent customer care For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5338596

Preserve Profit by Preventing Internal Loss 05/02/2017

Preserve Profit by Preventing Internal Loss Internal loss is the leading cause of profit loss for small businesses and retailers, which often surprises business owners. Types of internal loss range from employee abuse of credit cards, refunds, and discounts, to simple theft by employees of physical products and supplies. Join us for this week’s trend report and learn how to humanize the prevention of internal loss and shape your current business practices to support those measures. Trend report topics: Internal Loss - The #1 contributor to preventable loss for most retailers Employee discount abuse and other types of internal loss People-centered approach to preventing employee theft and other internal loss Maintaining confidentiality during investigations Tips for reshaping your current operational practices For more information on this and related retail trends visit . /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5320953

Learn Why Shoplifting Happens and How You Can Prevent It 04/25/2017

Learn Why Shoplifting Happens and How You Can Prevent It Shoplifting happens for a number of reasons but do you know the most common and important elements of external theft? Learn more about these underlying problems and what to do about them in this week’s trend report, "Learn Why Shoplifting Happens and How You Can Prevent It." Merchant Method provides independent retailers and makers with consulting and training services to build retail profit with ease. Founded by retail veteran Christine Guillot, Merchant Method brings over 17 years of industry success in retail, manufacturing, product development, and store leadership to product-based businesses in the U.S. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/5300775

10: As employers, we’re always being watched 02/09/2016

10: As employers, we’re always being watched We talk about working as a leader under the spotlight and how to address the challenges of having our employees watching not just our words but also our actions, the choices we make, and how we treat people. This is the second of two episodes on the theme of retail leadership and was preceded by an episode on becoming a leader. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667565

Retail Leadership – Part 1: The Origins of Leadership 01/14/2016

Retail Leadership – Part 1: The Origins of Leadership An interview and conversation about early experiences in leadership If you're interested in developing your leadership skills, join us for a live workshop in Seattle, WA: http://www.merchantmethod.com/leadership.html /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667566

8: How to reduce overwhelm in any situation 12/04/2015

8: How to reduce overwhelm in any situation I share my best tips to minimize you and your staff feeling overwhelmed in any situation. We are called on to elevate customer service and create a differentiated experience while also balancing the revenue that's ringing at the register with what we've budgeted for payroll. When this gets out of alignment, we can get overwhelmed and that in turn affects the customer experience. This is the fourth episode of four on the theme of retail management communication; it was preceded by episodes on the dangers of asking employees for favors, differences of opinion, and the dangers of thinking out loud. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667567

7: How to approach a new idea 11/20/2015

7: How to approach a new idea I discuss the danger of thinking out loud and how to avoid pitfalls by following our step-by-step process for discussing new ideas with your employees. This is the third episode of four on the theme of retail management communication; it was preceded by episodes on the dangers of asking employees for favors and on differences of opinion, and will be followed by an episode on minimizing feelings of overwhelm. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667568

6: Conflict vs. A Need for Clarification 11/14/2015

6: Conflict vs. A Need for Clarification I talk about the difference between actual conflict and the simple need for clarification over a difference of opinion, how to determine which type of situation you’re facing, and how to face it directly. This is the second episode of four on the theme of retail management communication; it was preceded by an episode on the dangers of asking employees for favors and will be followed by episodes on the dangers of thinking out loud, and minimizing feelings of overwhelm. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667569

5: Why asking for favors is a trap 11/03/2015

5: Why asking for favors is a trap I explain why it is essential to be clear about what we expect or need from our employees rather than asking them to do us favors and describe how to communicate more directly to avoid the favor trap. This is the first episode of four on the theme of retail management communication, and will be followed by episodes on differences of opinion, the dangers of thinking out loud, and minimizing feelings of overwhelm. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667570

4: Setting employees up for success 09/09/2015

4: Setting employees up for success I talk about strategies for retaining and re-training employees to show them that they’re important to us, bolster their morale, and set them up for success. This episode also addresses performance corrections and terminations, but my focus is prevention. This is the third episode of three on the theme of employee development, and was preceded by episodes on the hiring process and training approaches. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667571

3: Creating effective training programs 09/03/2015

3: Creating effective training programs I offer tips on creating effective training for your employees that is suited to your company. This includes training in a variety modes, from formal training programs to simple and in-the-moment guidance. This is the second of three episodes on the theme of employee development. In the last episode I focused on the hiring process, and the next episode will look at retention. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667572

2: The two components of effective hiring 08/25/2015

2: The two components of effective hiring I speak in depth about recruiting and assessing candidates in the hiring process. I also look at the factors that help ensure your hiring process meets the needs of your business and that you find candidates that are well-suited to your retail store. This is the first of three episodes on the theme of employee development, and will be followed by episodes on training and retention. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667573

1: An introduction to your host 08/18/2015

1: An introduction to your host Meet me, Chris Guillot, the host of Retail Shift and founder of Merchant Method, in this short, introductory episode. Get to know me, learn about my background in retail, and find out what you can expect to learn from future episodes of this podcast. /episode/index/show/merchantmethodretailshift/id/4667574

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