Just a little check-in now that life is totally, 100%, unbelievably different. Most of our spaces are closed and we're all treading water, waiting for this nightmare to end. This show is a glimpse into where we at Forty Winks stand with the PPP, what's making us money, and where my head's at as I navigate this.  Enjoy....?

Keeping Shop Through Covid: Entry 1

Lisa Mullan

Today I’m excited to release my chat with Lisa Mullan, owner and co-founder of Uwila Warrior in Boston, MA. Lisa’s company is leading the charge against uncomfortable underwear; we’ve carried her line at Forty Winks since close to the beginning and our customers come back for it over and over again.  In fact, we have one customer who just wrote and ordered: “every medium you have in that incredible thong.” She was referring to this thong which is in fact, “incredible” if you’re in the market (restocking soon, btw).Lisa and I talked before coronavirus hit, but there is so much in our chat that’s applicable to what we’re facing right now. I am struck by Lisa’s dedication to creating (and re-creating) the best possible product for her clients and by her decision to focus on steady growth even if it takes a while. She mentions the “long game” a couple of times throughout our chat and even then before I knew we’d have to shutter our store, this struck me as incredibly smart. It’s pretty much the mantra of every brick and mortar business owner; our shops and spaces are rarely an overnight success, right? These are long-term investments for us. Smart brick and mortar bosses don’t open thinking that we’re going to roll in dough immediately, we open because we want to create a space and a community that lasts for a long time. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep our focus on the long game.  What are we doing now to ensure that our businesses will be nimble enough to withstand this game-changer? How are we connecting with our customers, both established and new that will bring them back when our doors open again? As we navigate this pandemic as small business owners, as our brains are overloaded with loan applications, unemployment claims, past-due bills, and landlord drama, let’s encourage each other to focus on what matters most, creating beautiful connective customer experiences that will last way past this tightest of situations. I’d love to hear how you’re playing the long game. Write to me. And enjoy the show.

Today I’m excited to release my chat with Lisa Mullan, owner and co-founder of Uwila Warrior in Boston, MA. Lisa’s company is leading the charge against uncomfortable underwear; we’ve carried her line at Forty Winks since close to the beginning and our customers come back for it over and over again.  In fact, we have one customer who just wrote and ordered: “every medium you have in that incredible thong.” She was referring to this thong which is in fact, “incredible” if you’re in the market (restocking soon, btw). Lisa and I talked before coronavirus hit, but there is so much in our chat that’s applicable to what we’re facing right now. I am struck by Lisa’s dedication to creating (and re-creating) the best possible product for her clients and by her decision to focus on steady growth even if it takes a while. She mentions the “long game” a couple of times throughout our chat and even then before I knew we’d have to shutter our store, this struck me as incredibly smart. It’s pretty much the mantra of every brick and mortar business owner; our shops and spaces are rarely an overnight success, right? These are long-term investments for us. Smart brick and mortar bosses don’t open thinking that we’re going to roll in dough immediately, we open because we want to create a space and a community that lasts for a long time. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep our focus on the long game.  What are we doing now to ensure that our businesses will be nimble enough to withstand this game-changer? How are we connecting with our customers, both established and new that will bring them back when our doors open again? As we navigate this pandemic as small business owners, as our brains are overloaded with loan applications, unemployment claims, past-due bills, and landlord drama, let’s encourage each other to focus on what matters most, creating beautiful connective customer experiences that will last way past this tightest of situations. I’d love to hear how you’re playing the long game. Write to me. And enjoy the show.

On Focussing On The Long Game | Lisa Mullan of Uwila Warrior

Jay Adams

Today I have the pleasure of releasing my conversation with Jay Adams co-founder and advisor to Brass, an online and brick &amp; mortar company specializing in quality pieces that simplify and enhance their customer's wardrobes. Jay and I connected years ago and she's been a constant source of inspiration for me as she and her business partner, Katie have grown Brass into a thriving and innovative online business. While they've always had short-term pop-up spaces, their first long-standing brick and mortar opened in Boston a few months ago so I’m excited to bring Jay on the show as an official brick and mortar boss. I was sort of weirded out by releasing conversations recorded pre-Coronavirus, but my friends and colleagues convinced me to keep releasing shows in an effort to keep things as "normal" as possible.  This conversation is actually really timely in that Jay and I talk a lot about eCommerce and how to create strong, vibrant communities within the online space. Now more than ever, we need to be finding ways to reach our clients virtually but not just to sell things to them. Our customers are in need of connection; people are feeling isolated and scared and we're in a unique position to create space for them. These connections and conversations are what will keep us afloat long term. Not only does Jay talk to us about creating real connections with our customers, but she also shares what it's like to build an e-commerce platform, to manufacture pieces for lots of body types and how important communication is to a business partnership. Enjoy the show.

Today I have the pleasure of releasing my conversation with Jay Adams co-founder and advisor to Brass, an online and brick &amp; mortar company specializing in quality pieces that simplify and enhance their customer's wardrobes.  Jay and I connected years ago and she's been a constant source of inspiration for me as she and her business partner, Katie have grown Brass into a thriving and innovative online business. While they've always had short-term pop-up spaces, their first long-standing brick and mortar opened in Boston a few months ago so I’m excited to bring Jay on the show as an official brick and mortar boss. I was sort of weirded out by releasing conversations recorded pre-Coronavirus, but my friends and colleagues convinced me to keep releasing shows in an effort to keep things as "normal" as possible.  This conversation is actually really timely in that Jay and I talk a lot about eCommerce and how to create strong, vibrant communities within the online space. Now more than ever, we need to be finding ways to reach our clients virtually but not just to sell things to them. Our customers are in need of connection; people are feeling isolated and scared and we're in a unique position to create space for them. These connections and conversations are what will keep us afloat long term.  Not only does Jay talk to us about creating real connections with our customers, but she also shares what it's like to build an e-commerce platform, to manufacture pieces for lots of body types and how important communication is to a business partnership. Enjoy the show.

On Creating Meaningful Connection Online - Jay Adams

Ashley Borchard

Today I have the pleasure of releasing my chat with Ashley Borchard owner of Cobbygoose in Alpena, Michigan. Cobbygoose is a paint your own pottery, canvas and/or wood studio that also specializes in classes, workshops, and events. Brick and mortar business ownership is Ashley’s dream and this is evident in the community she’s created around her space. Ashley’s road to business ownership is a rough one and she shares her story generously with us. She also shares the downside of buying an established business and offers tips for getting through this process in a graceful, productive way. We talk about the continuous roller coaster of learning on the job and why she looks back at her first months in business with a little bit of embarrassment. She talks about mistake-making and why we need to absorb those mistakes as learning tools.  Right now, I’m writing this from my couch, mid-day, on a day that I should be at Forty Winks.  Instead, I’m practicing social distancing in an effort to combat a global pandemic. WTF, right? I know most of you are doing this exact same thing and probably feeling all kinds of feelings about it. I know I am (more on this later). Anyway, Ashley and I talk about laying the groundwork for growth even when you’re not sure when and how the growth will happen. Even when you’re not sure your business is going to look the same ever again. Even when you’re terrified, sad and angry. We’ve got to lay that groundwork and move our energy towards preparing for bigger success when the storm has passed.  Me personally, I’m giving myself a couple of days to get used to this and then I’m going to tackle some ideas that are going to up-level Winks when we open our doors again.  I’m feeling inspired by this conversation for reasons I could never have imagined when I recorded it a few weeks ago.  I hope you enjoy it and I hope you’re all okay. xoxo

Today I have the pleasure of releasing my chat with Ashley Borchard owner of Cobbygoose in Alpena, Michigan. Cobbygoose is a paint your own pottery, canvas and/or wood studio that also specializes in classes, workshops, and events. Brick and mortar business ownership is Ashley’s dream and this is evident in the community she’s created around her space. Ashley’s road to business ownership is a rough one and she shares her story generously with us. She also shares the downside of buying an established business and offers tips for getting through this process in a graceful, productive way. We talk about the continuous roller coaster of learning on the job and why she looks back at her first months in business with a little bit of embarrassment. She talks about mistake-making and why we need to absorb those mistakes as learning tools. Right now, I’m writing this from my couch, mid-day, on a day that I should be at Forty Winks. Instead, I’m practicing social distancing in an effort to combat a global pandemic. WTF, right? I know most of you are doing this exact same thing and probably feeling all kinds of feelings about it. I know I am (more on this later). Anyway, Ashley and I talk about laying the groundwork for growth even when you’re not sure when and how the growth will happen. Even when you’re not sure your business is going to look the same ever again. Even when you’re terrified, sad and angry. We’ve got to lay that groundwork and move our energy towards preparing for bigger success when the storm has passed. Me personally, I’m giving myself a couple of days to get used to this and then I’m going to tackle some ideas that are going to up-level Winks when we open our doors again. I’m feeling inspired by this conversation for reasons I could never have imagined when I recorded it a few weeks ago. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you’re all okay. xoxo

On Creating A Foundation For Growth - Ashley Borchard

Greer Goodman

I’m excited to bring you this episode with Greer Goodman, owner, and founder of Abroad Modern in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Greer used to manage a sweet little children’s shop called Magpie Kids and I met her whilst shopping for baby stuff.  Back then Greer was thinking about starting a very different business than the one she ended up opening (you’ll hear all about this in today’s episode), and she impressed me with her creative yet clear vision for her future business. A couple of years later, I realized that Greer had, in fact, opened a shop, but a very different concept from the one she had shared with me way back when.  I knew there was a good story here, so I reached out for an interview. And it is a great story! Greer shares how she found her true brick and mortar calling while on a trip to India. We talk about friendship, values and the importance of cultural exchange.  We talk about sourcing, inventory planning and Greer’s unique talent for being able to merchandise her store in her head. Greer shares her fear that the mundane parts of brick and mortar business ownership will burn her out, zap her creativity and hurt the longevity of her business.  I think a lot of us can relate to this.  How many times have you had a free day or a slower week ahead of you and promised yourself that you were going to tackle a big, yet unexciting project only to find yourself on the other end having done nothing but busy work and Instagram scrolling.  You may have just experienced this real pain-in-the-ass component of business ownership during the retail hell we call January. I know that I had a lot of expectations set around how much I would get done after the holidays; I swore 2020 would be different and that I would tackle everything with a clear mind and a real zest for the mundane.  I did…okay.  Because it’s hard to feel motivated around things the bore us or even that overwhelm us.  Greer and I flesh this out a bit and encourage each other to just keep tackling the boring/hard/scary stuff as a way to get back to what lights us up.At its core, Greer’s business is beautiful and genuine. Abroad Modern is a values-driven model that doesn’t pat itself on the back.  Greer is doing great things that mean something. This interview is of value and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I’m excited to bring you this episode with Greer Goodman, owner, and founder of Abroad Modern in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Greer used to manage a sweet little children’s shop called Magpie Kids and I met her whilst shopping for baby stuff.  Back then Greer was thinking about starting a very different business than the one she ended up opening (you’ll hear all about this in today’s episode), and she impressed me with her creative yet clear vision for her future business.  A couple of years later, I realized that Greer had, in fact, opened a shop, but a very different concept from the one she had shared with me way back when.  I knew there was a good story here, so I reached out for an interview.  And it is a great story! Greer shares how she found her true brick and mortar calling while on a trip to India. We talk about friendship, values and the importance of cultural exchange.  We talk about sourcing, inventory planning and Greer’s unique talent for being able to merchandise her store in her head.  Greer shares her fear that the mundane parts of brick and mortar business ownership will burn her out, zap her creativity and hurt the longevity of her business.  I think a lot of us can relate to this.  How many times have you had a free day or a slower week ahead of you and promised yourself that you were going to tackle a big, yet unexciting project only to find yourself on the other end having done nothing but busy work and Instagram scrolling.  You may have just experienced this real pain-in-the-ass component of business ownership during the retail hell we call January. I know that I had a lot of expectations set around how much I would get done after the holidays; I swore 2020 would be different and that I would tackle everything with a clear mind and a real zest for the mundane.  I did…okay.  Because it’s hard to feel motivated around things the bore us or even that overwhelm us.  Greer and I flesh this out a bit and encourage each other to just keep tackling the boring/hard/scary stuff as a way to get back to what lights us up. At its core, Greer’s business is beautiful and genuine. Abroad Modern is a values-driven model that doesn’t pat itself on the back.  Greer is doing great things that mean something. This interview is of value and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

On Asking For What You Want - Greer Goodman

Stephanie Campbell

I’m very excited to be sharing the first episode of the spring season of Keeping Shop with you! Today I’m speaking with Stephanie Campbell of Blue Willow Boutique in Maryville, Missouri. When we connected, I knew nothing about Stephanie or her shop so I got to discover her story right along with my listeners. Stephanie tells us all about why she started her shop; it has to do with a big move for love, a community forced to find gifts at Walmart and the desire for real, honest community creation.  Stephanie shares her tips for creating a trusting work environment and building a staff that will go to bat for you over and over again.  She shares the way she makes sure she pays her bills, pays herself and makes sure she’s profitable so that she can do things like open a second store, which she just did a few months ago. A big thought-provoker that I took from this episode is the concept of giving clients what they want even when your concept would point you in another direction. Stephanie experienced this, and Meredith and I did too.  For both of our businesses (and I’m sure so many others) within the first month our customers let us know, (loudly) what they wanted to see on our shelves.  And we had a decision to make; would we continue stocking for the business that we envisioned, OR would we move in the direction our clients wanted us to take.   For both of our shops, this switch up was successful, (Stephanie even says that it saved her business!) but there’s such emotional component of scrapping elements of your concept and starting to move in another direction.  Stephanie shares what helped her through this decision and how it not only benefitted her shop financially but also served to build the type of community she longed for.   There is so much value in this episode and I’m so excited to kick off this round of Keeping Shop with my chat with Stephanie.  Enjoy.

I’m very excited to be sharing the first episode of the spring season of Keeping Shop with you! Today I’m speaking with Stephanie Campbell of Blue Willow Boutique in Maryville, Missouri. When we connected, I knew nothing about Stephanie or her shop so I got to discover her story right along with my listeners. Stephanie tells us all about why she started her shop; it has to do with a big move for love, a community forced to find gifts at Walmart and the desire for real, honest community creation. Stephanie shares her tips for creating a trusting work environment and building a staff that will go to bat for you over and over again. She shares the way she makes sure she pays her bills, pays herself and makes sure she’s profitable so that she can do things like open a second store, which she just did a few months ago. A big thought-provoker that I took from this episode is the concept of giving clients what they want even when your concept would point you in another direction. Stephanie experienced this, and Meredith and I did too. For both of our businesses (and I’m sure so many others) within the first month our customers let us know, (loudly) what they wanted to see on our shelves. And we had a decision to make; would we continue stocking for the business that we envisioned, OR would we move in the direction our clients wanted us to take. For both of our shops, this switch up was successful, (Stephanie even says that it saved her business!) but there’s such emotional component of scrapping elements of your concept and starting to move in another direction. Stephanie shares what helped her through this decision and how it not only benefitted her shop financially but also served to build the type of community she longed for. There is so much value in this episode and I’m so excited to kick off this round of Keeping Shop with my chat with Stephanie. Enjoy.

On Building Community Through Shopkeeping - Stephanie Campbell

Oh Heyyy, 2020! (and an update on the show)

Hey friends.  This podcast was supposed to be a little different, but you know...life.  Instead, I’m sharing what went well in 2019, what didn't go so hot and where I’m taking the show in 2020.  I’m also revealing my word of the year and the habit I’m trying to form to keep my head clear(er). Thanks for listening and thanks for another great year.  ️

Oh Hey, 2020! (and some updates + feelings from me)

Melissa Solis

Front

Today I'm speaking with Melissa Solis, owner of Front Row Cosmetics in Raleigh, North Carolina. Not only does Melissa run a brick and mortar, but she's also the creator behind all the products she sells. Melissa and I connected on Instagram (where else these days?) and I immediately knew I wanted to have this make-up creating mastermind on the show.Melissa started her career working in accounting for a robotics company and working for MAC on the weekends. Eventually, she started to work as an on-set makeup artist where she encountered an actress who was allergic to just about everything in Melissa's make-up kit. It was a game-changer for Melissa who started researching clean beauty and eventually created her own clean line of makeup. A brick and mortar space followed.Melissa and I talk about money, budgeting and how she built her business while keeping her finances on track. She encourages us to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself and hit me with my biggest takeaway of the conversation which is...to continue to haul ass for pop-ups. Not going to lie, this was a little bit of tough love for me, because I find pop-ups a little exhausting and not always super lucrative. Ultimately though, a chance to get in front of new sets of eyes and to sell to new people is truly invaluable. Not all success comes in the form of money.Melissa's incredibly positive and talking to her was inspiring in so many ways. I hope you find as much value in Melissa's words as I did. Enjoy the show.Be sure to check out Front Row Cosmetics at www.frontrowcosmetics.comand on Instagram at @frontrowcosmetics Just a little update, I'll be releasing the next show the week after Christmas instead of two weeks from now. I wish us all some time to enjoy the ones we love and to just breathe after our wild holiday seasons. Thank you for being here.

Today I'm speaking with Melissa Solis, owner of Front Row Cosmetics in Raleigh, North Carolina. Not only does Melissa run a brick and mortar, but she's also the creator behind all the products she sells. Melissa and I connected on Instagram (where else these days?) and I immediately knew I wanted to have this make-up creating mastermind on the show. Melissa started her career working in accounting for a robotics company and working for MAC on the weekends. Eventually, she started to work as an on-set makeup artist where she encountered an actress who was allergic to just about everything in Melissa's make-up kit. It was a game-changer for Melissa who started researching clean beauty and eventually created her own clean line of makeup. A brick and mortar space followed. Melissa and I talk about money, budgeting and how she built her business while keeping her finances on track. She encourages us to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself and hit me with my biggest takeaway of the conversation which is...to continue to haul ass for pop-ups. Not going to lie, this was a little bit of tough love for me, because I find pop-ups a little exhausting and not always super lucrative. Ultimately though, a chance to get in front of new sets of eyes and to sell to new people is truly invaluable. Not all success comes in the form of money. Melissa's incredibly positive and talking to her was inspiring in so many ways. I hope you find as much value in Melissa's words as I did. Enjoy the show. Be sure to check out Front Row Cosmetics at <a href="http://www.frontrowcosmetics.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.frontrowcosmetics.com</a> and on Instagram at @frontrowcosmetics Just a little update, I'll be releasing the next show the week after Christmas instead of two weeks from now. I wish us all some time to enjoy the ones we love and to just breathe after our wild holiday seasons. Thank you for being here.

Being Fearless - Melissa Solis of Front Row Cosmetics

Today I'm speaking with Sonia Rife, owner of Revival Vintage in Austin, Texas. Sonia started her shop in a 480 square foot space and grew it into a thriving, 2800 square foot, multi-vendor space that delights vintage lovers from all over the country. It was Sonia's Instagram that caught my eye because she styles her pieces in a really simple and beautiful way that makes you want to buy everything shown and just set it back up in your living room. I was thrilled when she agreed to share her story with this community.  Our chat features real advice about managing to-do lists across the team, being patient as your business grows and what to do with middle-of-the-night money panic. Sonia also shares a story about a tarot reading that took some of the pressure off of her as she built her career.  This story resonated with me because I started my company in my 20's and while that makes me super proud, the amount of pressure I felt (and still feel in many ways) was sometimes pretty crushing. I think a lot of people feel like if they don't do it "young" they'll never do it and that's simply not true. If you ever feel like this then this conversation will hit close to home.  Enjoy the show.

Today I'm speaking with Sonia Rife, owner of Revival Vintage in Austin, Texas. Sonia started her shop in a 480 square foot space and grew it into a thriving, 2800 square foot, multi-vendor space that delights vintage lovers from all over the country.  It was Sonia's Instagram that caught my eye because she styles her pieces in a really simple and beautiful way that makes you want to buy everything shown and just set it back up in your living room. I was thrilled when she agreed to share her story with this community.   Our chat features real advice about managing to-do lists across the team, being patient as your business grows and what to do with middle-of-the-night money panic. Sonia also shares a story about a tarot reading that took some of the pressure off of her as she built her career.  This story resonated with me because I started my company in my 20's and while that makes me super proud, the amount of pressure I felt (and still feel in many ways) was sometimes pretty crushing. I think a lot of people feel like if they don't do it "young" they'll never do it and that's simply not true. If you ever feel like this then this conversation will hit close to home.  Enjoy the show.

If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It - Sonia Rife of Revival Vintage

A podcast bringing you the stories behind the brick and mortar businesses in our communities. Each weekly episode focuses on the story behind a brick and mortar business by way of a candid chat with the owner.  We talk about the broad picture stuff; their start up processes and the philosophies behind their companies, as well as the smaller, day to day realities of running a brick and mortar.  New episodes every other Tuesday.

I’ve been taking time to catch up on Keeping Shop during the virus shut down. It’s been a great escape from the grim today and provided me with ideas and learnings from other shop entrepreneurs as we relaunch on the other side of the downturn. Thank you for curating this wealth of retail inspiration.

Love the learnings from Rachel

Loving the podcast, Rachel! Refreshing and real. Thank you for this! Xo Erin

Refreshment to my day

Keeping Shop: A Brick and Mortar Podcast

Sarah Gottesdiener

Today I’m speaking with Sarah Gottesdiener online shop owner, designer, podcaster and tarot reader. Sarah is (among many other things) the designer behind the “Women, Wimmin, Woomin, Womxn” design that you’ve probably seen at your favorite witchy, feminist shop. I have a tee and a tote, courtesy of Sarah and I get solidarity compliments wherever I go. She is also the creator of the always-sold-out Many Moons Workbook and the Many Moon Lunar Planner.Sarah talks about wanting to work for herself while being able to control her own time and energy. We talk about the irony in assuming that business ownership means freedom and how we can protect ourselves from the day-to-day energetic drain. Sarah is deliberate about what she allows into her life and we go into the benefits of a slow and steady approach when it comes to the success of our businesses and making money. Sarah shares her tips for preparing for what might be a negative customer interaction and encourages us to seek ways to be gentle with ourselves and others. Sarah and I talk about taking responsibility for our privilege as white, cis-gendered business owners and she encourages us to speak out in support of those without as much social and political privilege.  I still feel strengthened and encouraged by my conversation with Sarah and I know you’ll feel the same after hearing our chat.  Enjoy the show and thanks for listening.

Today I’m speaking with Sarah Gottesdiener online shop owner, designer, podcaster and tarot reader. Sarah is (among many other things) the designer behind the “Women, Wimmin, Woomin, Womxn” design that you’ve probably seen at your favorite witchy, feminist shop. I have a tee and a tote, courtesy of Sarah and I get solidarity compliments wherever I go. She is also the creator of the always-sold-out Many Moons Workbook and the Many Moon Lunar Planner. Sarah talks about wanting to work for herself while being able to control her own time and energy. We talk about the irony in assuming that business ownership means freedom and how we can protect ourselves from the day-to-day energetic drain. Sarah is deliberate about what she allows into her life and we go into the benefits of a slow and steady approach when it comes to the success of our businesses and making money. Sarah shares her tips for preparing for what might be a negative customer interaction and encourages us to seek ways to be gentle with ourselves and others. Sarah and I talk about taking responsibility for our privilege as white, cis-gendered business owners and she encourages us to speak out in support of those without as much social and political privilege. I still feel strengthened and encouraged by my conversation with Sarah and I know you’ll feel the same after hearing our chat. Enjoy the show and thanks for listening.

Clear Out What Needs To Go - Sarah Gottesdiener of Modern Women and visualmagic

Today I'm talking with Rebecca Hall, co-owner of Crush Boutique and Whitney and Winston, all located in Boston. We talk about writing a business plan (yeah, you should), picking a business partner that's in it for the long haul, and why going with your gut when hiring can be more important than a candidate's experience. Rebecca and her business partner Laura own three brick and mortar spaces and Rebecca shares some of the lessons they've learned around adjusting their offers and expectations based on the different needs of different clienteles. We also chat about how we brick and mortar owners can stand out in the wake of online retail by offering customers things that online just can't give them.  This episode is chock full of useful advice not only for running your brick and mortar but for all those interested in the start up process.  Enjoy the show! Find more about this show and past shows at www.lovekeepingshop.com

Today I'm talking with Rebecca Hall, co-owner of Crush Boutique and Whitney and Winston, all located in Boston. We talk about writing a business plan (yeah, you should), picking a business partner that's in it for the long haul, and why going with your gut when hiring can be more important than a candidate's experience. Rebecca and her business partner Laura own three brick and mortar spaces and Rebecca shares some of the lessons they've learned around adjusting their offers and expectations based on the different needs of different clienteles. We also chat about how we brick and mortar owners can stand out in the wake of online retail by offering customers things that online just can't give them. This episode is chock full of useful advice not only for running your brick and mortar but for all those interested in the start up process. Enjoy the show! Find more about this show and past shows at <a href="http://www.lovekeepingshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.lovekeepingshop.com</a>

Consistent, Committed and Client Focused-Rebecca Hall of Crush Boutique

This week I'm speaking with April Gabriel, owner of Boston General Store which has locations in both Brookline and Dedham (both in Mass). From candles to backpacks to journals to so much more (!!!), April has curated an offering of high-quality lifestyle items at various price points. When I was writing the below list of the standouts of our convo, I wrote out over 30 bullet points and had to seriously par it down for this post. It just goes to show just how much value is jammed packed into these 40 minutes. April and I talk about everything from fighting the slow drain of slow days to following our intuition when hiring. Like I said, there's a lot in this episode and I hope you enjoy.We talk about: -Why the SBA loan process is brutal but worth it if you're looking for start up cash. -How she prepared slowly and put her business through lots of iterations before landing on Boston General Store. -The defining moment that made her leave her job in architecture to pursue a "happy lifestyle."-Adjusting expectations and following your intuition when hiring a staff (it goes way beyond a resume).-Why she doesn't agree with the adage "It's not personal, it's business." -Taking low pressure baby steps when you're starting your business and not being deterred when one of the steps fails. -Why we need to be spending time with the people that bring us UP instead of privately wallowing in the bad days.-Looking to the future and holding space for the right business partner. Or not. -A tangible system for reminding ourselves how far we've come in our creative pursuits. -The different types of collaborations that's she's currently pursuing to grow her business and her community. Find more resources and fun stuff over at my website lovekeepingshop.com. If you feel like it, please subscribe to and rate and review the show. Or you can share it with a friend who you think might be interested. As always, thanks for listening.

This week I'm speaking with April Gabriel, owner of Boston General Store which has locations in both Brookline and Dedham (both in Mass). From candles to backpacks to journals to so much more (!!!), April has curated an offering of high-quality lifestyle items at various price points. When I was writing the below list of the standouts of our convo, I wrote out over 30 bullet points and had to seriously par it down for this post. It just goes to show just how much value is jammed packed into these 40 minutes. April and I talk about everything from fighting the slow drain of slow days to following our intuition when hiring. Like I said, there's a lot in this episode and I hope you enjoy. We talk about: -Why the SBA loan process is brutal but worth it if you're looking for start up cash. -How she prepared slowly and put her business through lots of iterations before landing on Boston General Store. -The defining moment that made her leave her job in architecture to pursue a "happy lifestyle." -Adjusting expectations and following your intuition when hiring a staff (it goes way beyond a resume). -Why she doesn't agree with the adage "It's not personal, it's business." -Taking low pressure baby steps when you're starting your business and not being deterred when one of the steps fails. -Why we need to be spending time with the people that bring us UP instead of privately wallowing in the bad days. -Looking to the future and holding space for the right business partner. Or not. -A tangible system for reminding ourselves how far we've come in our creative pursuits. -The different types of collaborations that's she's currently pursuing to grow her business and her community. Find more resources and fun stuff over at my website <a href="http://lovekeepingshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lovekeepingshop.com</a>. If you feel like it, please subscribe to and rate and review the show. Or you can share it with a friend who you think might be interested. As always, thanks for listening.

Intuition Shouldn't Be Taken Lightly-April Gabriel of Boston General Store

Mackenzie Morris

In this episode, I’m talking to Mackenzie Morris owner and founder of Etain in Portland, Me.  Etain is the area’s go-to shop for bra fittings; offering a wide range of sizes and styles in an inclusive, body positive space. Mackenzie and I both own bra shops so things get a little tangential at points (we can’t help it!) but even with all the underwear talk, this interview provides a real life glimpse into starting and running a brick and mortar.  We talk about the risks (and rewards) of opening in an up-and-coming neighborhood (7:54), about hiring like minded staff members (32:47) and why the right print ads can drive major traffic to your store (28:00). We chat about getting over the hurdle of trying to please everyone (47:00) and about how taking a risk with your buying can build invaluable trust among clients (18:00). Mackenzie puts her heart and soul into Etain and she has a very real belief system behind the way she runs her business (14:30).  Enjoy the show.Find Etain here:Address: 646 Congress St. Portland, MeInstagram: etain_underthingsFacebook: etainportlandWebsite: www.etainboutique.comI hope you enjoy this episode of Keeping Shop. Please rate, review, subscribe and share with friends. If you'd like to be interviewed or if you know someone that would be a good fit, please contact me. I'd love to speak with you.

In this episode, I’m talking to Mackenzie Morris owner and founder of Etain in Portland, Me. Etain is the area’s go-to shop for bra fittings; offering a wide range of sizes and styles in an inclusive, body positive space. Mackenzie and I both own bra shops so things get a little tangential at points (we can’t help it!) but even with all the underwear talk, this interview provides a real life glimpse into starting and running a brick and mortar. We talk about the risks (and rewards) of opening in an up-and-coming neighborhood (7:54), about hiring like minded staff members (32:47) and why the right print ads can drive major traffic to your store (28:00). We chat about getting over the hurdle of trying to please everyone (47:00) and about how taking a risk with your buying can build invaluable trust among clients (18:00). Mackenzie puts her heart and soul into Etain and she has a very real belief system behind the way she runs her business (14:30). Enjoy the show. Find Etain here: Address: 646 Congress St. Portland, Me Instagram: etain_underthings Facebook: etainportland Website: <a href="http://www.etainboutique.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.etainboutique.com</a> I hope you enjoy this episode of Keeping Shop. Please rate, review, subscribe and share with friends. If you'd like to be interviewed or if you know someone that would be a good fit, please contact me. I'd love to speak with you.

Underthings For All! Mackenzie Morris of Etain

Lana Barakat

It's my 10th episode!!! I'm excited to mark this little milestone with a wonderful chat with Boston shop owner Lana Barakat. Lana is the owner of December Thieves a truly beautiful and unique shop, with soon-to-be two locations on Charles St. in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. December Thieves is full of pieces sourced from designers and makers that Lana really loves and that resonate deeply with her.  As she says, the pieces in your shop or space are representations of YOU as the owner and when you walk into DT you know that Lana has chosen with intention and love. Lana is sort of life goals for me.  She's traveled a ton, she's owned other businesses, and she seems to really honor balance in her life. She has two school aged children and her thoughts on balancing motherhood and career really resonated with me. Lana talks about being an example for her children as a business owner and why it's important for them to see her succeeding at her career. I love that instead of focusing on the difficulties of being your own boss and raising a family, Lana focuses on how important it is for her son and especially for her daughter to see her as both mom and businessperson.  Lana also talks about knowing when it's time to close a store, surrounding yourself with talented people to grow your business, and stocking pieces that create conversation in your space. Like I said, I pretty much want to be Lana when I grow up. She's kind, smart and so very creative. I'm excited to bring you this episode and I hope you enjoy. Find December Thieves at 88 Charles St. Boston, MA 02144http://www.decemberthieves.com/Facebook: @decemberthievesInstagram: @decembertheivesI'm really proud and excited to have made it to the ripe old age of 10 weeks of podcasting. Thank you all for listening and don't forget to share, rate, review the pod. You early adopters are the best. THANK YOU!

It's my 10th episode!!! I'm excited to mark this little milestone with a wonderful chat with Boston shop owner Lana Barakat. Lana is the owner of December Thieves a truly beautiful and unique shop, with soon-to-be two locations on Charles St. in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. December Thieves is full of pieces sourced from designers and makers that Lana really loves and that resonate deeply with her. As she says, the pieces in your shop or space are representations of YOU as the owner and when you walk into DT you know that Lana has chosen with intention and love. Lana is sort of life goals for me. She's traveled a ton, she's owned other businesses, and she seems to really honor balance in her life. She has two school aged children and her thoughts on balancing motherhood and career really resonated with me. Lana talks about being an example for her children as a business owner and why it's important for them to see her succeeding at her career. I love that instead of focusing on the difficulties of being your own boss and raising a family, Lana focuses on how important it is for her son and especially for her daughter to see her as both mom and businessperson. Lana also talks about knowing when it's time to close a store, surrounding yourself with talented people to grow your business, and stocking pieces that create conversation in your space. Like I said, I pretty much want to be Lana when I grow up. She's kind, smart and so very creative. I'm excited to bring you this episode and I hope you enjoy. Find December Thieves at 88 Charles St. Boston, MA 02144 <a href="http://www.decemberthieves.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.decemberthieves.com/</a> Facebook: @decemberthieves Instagram: @decembertheives I'm really proud and excited to have made it to the ripe old age of 10 weeks of podcasting. Thank you all for listening and don't forget to share, rate, review the pod. You early adopters are the best. THANK YOU!

Curating A Shop Full Of Stories - Lana Barakat of December Thieves

Amanda Mitchell

Today I'm speaking with Amanda Mitchell owner of the Charlestown, Massachusetts boutique, Place and Gather.  Amanda is a real trooper because as you'll hear in the episode, my computer died taking with it a bunch of audio that I'd recorded before my maternity leave. Not a great experience but Amanda was incredibly gracious about the whole thing.  This isn't surprising though because being a brick and mortar business owner means we've got to roll with the punches, amaright? Still, I'm hugely grateful that Amanda was willing to spend another hour talking to me about her space. Amanda bootstrapped her brick and mortar, and she offers us tangible tips for saving money and making it through the startup process with less worry about the financials.  She also shares the one thing that slowed her down during her early process, (hint: it has to do with financial planning) and how she overcame it. We chat a ton about reaching out to others, both to our colleagues and to our customers, and why just talking to people can level up our businesses in ways we can't imagine.  She reminds us that we have control over our customer interactions in an authentic way and because of this one-on-one, we can provide services to people that big companies just can't. Amanda also explains why the "business model canvas" style plan ended up working better for her than a traditional business plan, mainly because this style is designed to allow you to evolve and adjust it quickly.  As Amanda says, it feels more like a living document than a school paper. This is a value-packed episode and I'm grateful for Amanda's take. Enjoy the show. Find more from Amanda: www.placeandgather.comInstagram: @placeandgatherBusiness Model Canvas Photos by @theshannongrant and @amodestlifeThank you again for listening and supporting Keeping Shop. If you feel so inclined, please leave me a rating/review on Apple Podcasts. Also, follow me at @keepingshoppodcast on FB and Instagram. Cheers to keeping good shop.

Today I'm speaking with Amanda Mitchell owner of the Charlestown, Massachusetts boutique, Place and Gather. Amanda is a real trooper because as you'll hear in the episode, my computer died taking with it a bunch of audio that I'd recorded before my maternity leave. Not a great experience but Amanda was incredibly gracious about the whole thing. This isn't surprising though because being a brick and mortar business owner means we've got to roll with the punches, amaright? Still, I'm hugely grateful that Amanda was willing to spend another hour talking to me about her space. Amanda bootstrapped her brick and mortar, and she offers us tangible tips for saving money and making it through the startup process with less worry about the financials. She also shares the one thing that slowed her down during her early process, (hint: it has to do with financial planning) and how she overcame it. We chat a ton about reaching out to others, both to our colleagues and to our customers, and why just talking to people can level up our businesses in ways we can't imagine. She reminds us that we have control over our customer interactions in an authentic way and because of this one-on-one, we can provide services to people that big companies just can't. Amanda also explains why the "business model canvas" style plan ended up working better for her than a traditional business plan, mainly because this style is designed to allow you to evolve and adjust it quickly. As Amanda says, it feels more like a living document than a school paper. This is a value-packed episode and I'm grateful for Amanda's take. Enjoy the show. Find more from Amanda: <a href="http://www.placeandgather.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.placeandgather.com</a> Instagram: @placeandgather Business Model Canvas Photos by @theshannongrant and @amodestlife Thank you again for listening and supporting Keeping Shop. If you feel so inclined, please leave me a rating/review on Apple Podcasts. Also, follow me at @keepingshoppodcast on FB and Instagram. Cheers to keeping good shop.

Don't Be Afraid To Hear No - Amanda Mitchell of Place and Gather

Ashley Seamans

Today I'm joined by Ashley Seamans, owner and creator of Local Maker a full-service company working to connect retailers with makers and designers. Additionally, Ashley is currently running a brick and mortar pop-up shop outside of Boston which highlights wares from the businesses she is representing.  Her business ventures are values-driven, authentic and aimed at creating a community around local business.  We talk about being mentally prepared for opportunities that may (or may not) present themselves, creating a business that contributes to the kinds of communities we want to create and why it's so important to create a dream customer avatar when you're starting out. Ashley shares her tips for creating intriguing shop environments that really resonate with clients and she tells us why brick and mortar owners to take a step back and look at ourselves "from the outside in."  I've got so much appreciation for people that are innovating around small business, both in brick and mortar spaces and within the maker community.  As shop owners and space makers, we know that not every day is easy and there's value in aligning ourselves with values-driving companies and organizations that are providing solutions to some of the issues we face. Further, there are benefits to communicating our goals, our weaknesses, our successes to companies like Local Maker to encourage a greater understanding of small business ownership and community building.  I'm excited for you to hear my chat with Ashley and I hope you'll check out her pop-up at The Hangout (hoping to get there myself this weekend). Enjoy the show.Follow Ashley on Instagram @localmaker and via her website www.localmaker.com.  And perhaps I'll see you at The Hangout this weekend (find more at www.poppingupnext.com/thehangout)

Today I'm joined by Ashley Seamans, owner and creator of Local Maker a full-service company working to connect retailers with makers and designers. Additionally, Ashley is currently running a brick and mortar pop-up shop outside of Boston which highlights wares from the businesses she is representing. Her business ventures are values-driven, authentic and aimed at creating a community around local business. We talk about being mentally prepared for opportunities that may (or may not) present themselves, creating a business that contributes to the kinds of communities we want to create and why it's so important to create a dream customer avatar when you're starting out. Ashley shares her tips for creating intriguing shop environments that really resonate with clients and she tells us why brick and mortar owners to take a step back and look at ourselves "from the outside in." I've got so much appreciation for people that are innovating around small business, both in brick and mortar spaces and within the maker community. As shop owners and space makers, we know that not every day is easy and there's value in aligning ourselves with values-driving companies and organizations that are providing solutions to some of the issues we face. Further, there are benefits to communicating our goals, our weaknesses, our successes to companies like Local Maker to encourage a greater understanding of small business ownership and community building. I'm excited for you to hear my chat with Ashley and I hope you'll check out her pop-up at The Hangout (hoping to get there myself this weekend). Enjoy the show. Follow Ashley on Instagram @localmaker and via her website <a href="http://www.localmaker.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.localmaker.com</a>. And perhaps I'll see you at The Hangout this weekend (find more at <a href="http://www.poppingupnext.com/thehangout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.poppingupnext.com/thehangout</a>)

Retail Is Far From Dead - Ashley Seamans of Local Maker

I’m so excited to be chatting with a brick and mortar business owner that I truly admire.  Amy Driscoll owns Susanna which has two locations in Massachusetts, one in Cambridge and one in Jamaica Plain. Amy and I both own shops in the same area and while we sell different things, our experiences, successes and challenges certainly overlap. Amy is a lovely person to be around. She’s considerate and engaging, she’s whip-smart yet approachable and I just really like her.  I was thrilled that she agreed to be interviewed despite the fact she was 8 months pregnant and had just opened her second store location. And I was especially thrilled that she didn’t freak out on me when I lost the audio from our first recording and had to re-record the entire conversation.  Thanks, Amy!And our second conversation was so much better! Susanna, Jamaica Plain had been open for a little while longer and Amy was able to share more about operating two spaces.  In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about managing a strong team across multiple stores, staying focused on what our customers truly want, and keeping our “blinders on” when it comes to what other shops are doing. Amy is also one of the only business owners I know that is making good money (enough in part to open a second store!) on social media. She graciously shares her simple processes on this and how she got used to being in front of the camera. This is a great conversation and I’m grateful for Amy’s perspective on this brick and mortar life.  Enjoy the show.

I’m so excited to be chatting with a brick and mortar business owner that I truly admire. Amy Driscoll owns Susanna which has two locations in Massachusetts, one in Cambridge and one in Jamaica Plain. Amy and I both own shops in the same area and while we sell different things, our experiences, successes and challenges certainly overlap. Amy is a lovely person to be around. She’s considerate and engaging, she’s whip-smart yet approachable and I just really like her. I was thrilled that she agreed to be interviewed despite the fact she was 8 months pregnant and had just opened her second store location. And I was especially thrilled that she didn’t freak out on me when I lost the audio from our first recording and had to re-record the entire conversation. Thanks, Amy! And our second conversation was so much better! Susanna, Jamaica Plain had been open for a little while longer and Amy was able to share more about operating two spaces. In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about managing a strong team across multiple stores, staying focused on what our customers truly want, and keeping our “blinders on” when it comes to what other shops are doing. Amy is also one of the only business owners I know that is making good money (enough in part to open a second store!) on social media. She graciously shares her simple processes on this and how she got used to being in front of the camera. This is a great conversation and I’m grateful for Amy’s perspective on this brick and mortar life. Enjoy the show.

Buying A Business, Leading A Team & Making Money On Social - Amy Driscoll of Susanna

Molly Avellar

Today I’m releasing my conversation with Molly Avellar of Adorn in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Molly is a terrific supporter of the show and always sends me much appreciated little check-ins and words of encouragement. I’m so happy to finally be featuring her on the show.  Molly is not only a shopkeeper but she’s an accomplished jewelry maker. She shares with us the ways she juggles the day-to-day demands of constantly switching gears between her art and running her shop. We commiserate about the naysayers in our past and about choosing to learn from the set-backs rather than letting them slow us down.  We also talk a lot about maintaining a strong relationship with your business partner which is something that I especially relate to. Molly owns her shop with her mother and the two have an incredible working partnership.  As you’ll hear in this episode, they make it work by playing to each other’s strengths and openly communicating through everything from hurt feelings to huge financial decisions.  As a member of a strong business partnership that’s always changing and growing, I love hearing stories of people coming together with the common goal of providing their business with the best possible solutions.  Find more from Molly at www.adorncapecod.com and from me at www.lovekeepingshop.com.

Today I’m releasing my conversation with Molly Avellar of Adorn in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Molly is a terrific supporter of the show and always sends me much appreciated little check-ins and words of encouragement. I’m so happy to finally be featuring her on the show. Molly is not only a shopkeeper but she’s an accomplished jewelry maker. She shares with us the ways she juggles the day-to-day demands of constantly switching gears between her art and running her shop. We commiserate about the naysayers in our past and about choosing to learn from the set-backs rather than letting them slow us down. We also talk a lot about maintaining a strong relationship with your business partner which is something that I especially relate to. Molly owns her shop with her mother and the two have an incredible working partnership. As you’ll hear in this episode, they make it work by playing to each other’s strengths and openly communicating through everything from hurt feelings to huge financial decisions. As a member of a strong business partnership that’s always changing and growing, I love hearing stories of people coming together with the common goal of providing their business with the best possible solutions. Find more from Molly at <a href="http://www.adorncapecod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.adorncapecod.com</a> and from me at <a href="http://www.lovekeepingshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.lovekeepingshop.com</a>.

Making A Life That Works For YOU - Molly Avellar of Adorn

Kathy Cruz

This week's episode is with Kathy Cruz, co-owner and co-mastermind at The Salvaged Boutique in Lakewood, Ohio.  Kathy and her sister Karen started their company at home and bootstrapped their business every step of the way. The sisters grew up in Ohio with their mom who stressed the importance of a clean and nicely furnished home even when there was little money for decor. Kathy does a better job telling their origin story, but essentially this single mother taught her girls all they know about up-cycling and refurbishing "another man's trash" into beautiful home furnishing. And it clearly served Karen and Kathy well as their up-cycled furniture and home decor business just keeps growing and growing. Kathy and I chat about the process of opening her brick and mortar, about playing up to individual strengths in your business partnership and  about creating multiple revenue streams for your business. Kathy is clearly a savvy businessperson (just listen to the story of how she found her space!) and I'm so glad to have been able to chat with her for Keeping Shop. Be sure to follow The Salvaged Boutique and to join the Savvy Shopkeeper Facebook group (all links on www.lovekeepingshop.com).  We talk about: -How starting a blog and growing a Facebook and Instagram following provided them enough of a platform to launch their business.  -How their business has become a family affair even beyond the sister's business partnership.-How Kathy found the perfect space by getting creative on Craigslist.-Why they always knew their business would be bootstrapped...no loans, no debts!-How the sisters use their space in ways that serve them and their multiple revenue streams. -Tips for setting boundaries (while still being nice) when people want to sell you product. -How she and Karen work together and how they balance each other out in both their business and personal lives. -Developing systems and processes and why you need to have those in place to create legitimacy and increase customer comfort and trust. -Why Kathy started ANOTHER side project; the Savvy Shopkeeper which is a resource to help other brick and mortar business owners. -Why you need to find your tribe and how that collaboration leads to passion for your business and community.On a side note, The show is going to be bi-weekly from now on or at least for the foreseeable future.  I'm working a lot more at the store as we're short staffed and there's just a whole bunch of stuuuuuffff  going on right. I do want to say however that this show is still a huge priority for me and I want to grow it and nurture it with all the free time I actually do find.  Want to help? Connect me with the brick and mortar businesses you want to to hear more about! Thank you all for listening.

This week's episode is with Kathy Cruz, co-owner and co-mastermind at The Salvaged Boutique in Lakewood, Ohio. Kathy and her sister Karen started their company at home and bootstrapped their business every step of the way. The sisters grew up in Ohio with their mom who stressed the importance of a clean and nicely furnished home even when there was little money for decor. Kathy does a better job telling their origin story, but essentially this single mother taught her girls all they know about up-cycling and refurbishing "another man's trash" into beautiful home furnishing. And it clearly served Karen and Kathy well as their up-cycled furniture and home decor business just keeps growing and growing. Kathy and I chat about the process of opening her brick and mortar, about playing up to individual strengths in your business partnership and about creating multiple revenue streams for your business. Kathy is clearly a savvy businessperson (just listen to the story of how she found her space!) and I'm so glad to have been able to chat with her for Keeping Shop. Be sure to follow The Salvaged Boutique and to join the Savvy Shopkeeper Facebook group (all links on <a href="http://www.lovekeepingshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.lovekeepingshop.com</a>). We talk about: -How starting a blog and growing a Facebook and Instagram following provided them enough of a platform to launch their business. -How their business has become a family affair even beyond the sister's business partnership. -How Kathy found the perfect space by getting creative on Craigslist. -Why they always knew their business would be bootstrapped...no loans, no debts! -How the sisters use their space in ways that serve them and their multiple revenue streams. -Tips for setting boundaries (while still being nice) when people want to sell you product. -How she and Karen work together and how they balance each other out in both their business and personal lives. -Developing systems and processes and why you need to have those in place to create legitimacy and increase customer comfort and trust. -Why Kathy started ANOTHER side project; the Savvy Shopkeeper which is a resource to help other brick and mortar business owners. -Why you need to find your tribe and how that collaboration leads to passion for your business and community. On a side note, The show is going to be bi-weekly from now on or at least for the foreseeable future. I'm working a lot more at the store as we're short staffed and there's just a whole bunch of stuuuuuffff going on right. I do want to say however that this show is still a huge priority for me and I want to grow it and nurture it with all the free time I actually do find. Want to help? Connect me with the brick and mortar businesses you want to to hear more about! Thank you all for listening.

Bootstrapping Her Way To Multiple Revenue Streams-Kathy Cruz of The Salvaged Boutique

Shanel Anderson

It's my lucky number 13 episode! Today I'm speaking with Shanel Anderson of Soul City Yoga in Lynn, Massachusetts.  I got Shanel's name from Erica Feldmann of Hauswitch (check out Episode 5) and immediately reached out for an interview. Shanel graciously accepted and soon we found ourselves in a 90 minute Skype interview.  There's a whole lot of advice and empathy and laughter in these 90 mins and since I didn't want to cut anything out, I'm making this interview a two-parter.  Shanel and I get started by chatting about her long path to the yoga life and what led to starting her business. We hit some of really important stuff right off, opening in a neighborhood with a "reputation," being a person of color in the yoga world and the gender bias that we both experienced when opening our spaces. I so appreciated Shanel's willingness to, I guess...go there with me on certain issues.  On the more spiritual side, we dive into the beautiful practice of opening yourself up to the Universe and it's plans for you.  As business owners, this isn't always easy when we're dealing with our egos and fears, but as evidenced in Shanel's story, it can pay off big-time. It led her to the perfect studio space, a like minded staff of teachers and just a general sense that she is going in the right direction with her business. We chat about the reality of business burnout, hiring the best people (again, follow the Universe!), and the power that your mind has on your luck or your destiny.  Shanel also talks about why she believes in mentorship and gives thoughts on how we can better support the women in our lives.  I loved speaking with Shanel; she's warm, funny and so easy to talk to as evidenced by our wonderfully long conversation. Enjoy the show! Soul City Yoga is located at 271 Western Ave. Suite 212 Lynn, MA 01904Instagram: @soulcity_yogaFacebook: @soulcitylynnThanks again for listening. Please subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Have a great week!

It's my lucky number 13 episode! Today I'm speaking with Shanel Anderson of Soul City Yoga in Lynn, Massachusetts. I got Shanel's name from Erica Feldmann of Hauswitch (check out Episode 5) and immediately reached out for an interview. Shanel graciously accepted and soon we found ourselves in a 90 minute Skype interview. There's a whole lot of advice and empathy and laughter in these 90 mins and since I didn't want to cut anything out, I'm making this interview a two-parter. Shanel and I get started by chatting about her long path to the yoga life and what led to starting her business. We hit some of really important stuff right off, opening in a neighborhood with a "reputation," being a person of color in the yoga world and the gender bias that we both experienced when opening our spaces. I so appreciated Shanel's willingness to, I guess...go there with me on certain issues. On the more spiritual side, we dive into the beautiful practice of opening yourself up to the Universe and it's plans for you. As business owners, this isn't always easy when we're dealing with our egos and fears, but as evidenced in Shanel's story, it can pay off big-time. It led her to the perfect studio space, a like minded staff of teachers and just a general sense that she is going in the right direction with her business. We chat about the reality of business burnout, hiring the best people (again, follow the Universe!), and the power that your mind has on your luck or your destiny. Shanel also talks about why she believes in mentorship and gives thoughts on how we can better support the women in our lives. I loved speaking with Shanel; she's warm, funny and so easy to talk to as evidenced by our wonderfully long conversation. Enjoy the show! Soul City Yoga is located at 271 Western Ave. Suite 212 Lynn, MA 01904 Instagram: @soulcity_yoga Facebook: @soulcitylynn Thanks again for listening. Please subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Have a great week!

Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe - Shanel Anderson of Soul City Yoga

Today I'm speaking with Sarah Van Dyke of Revel Craft Bar in downtown Madison Wisconsin.  Sarah's concept is unique and smart and her space brings creativity into people's day in such a fun, effortless sort of way.  You can actually walk into Revel, buy a drink and sit there with your friends and work on a craft project.  From start to finish. Which is something that I'm sure as hell not doing at home.  And these are not cheesy craft projects full of pompoms and potpourri. These are projects that you'll actually be proud of making. From mineral magnets to leather coozies, from hand-selected wines at the bar to top-notch private workshop offerings,  the whole concept of Revel is so well executed. Sarah and I chat about creating a blueprint for a business that hadn't been done before, hiring the right people to compliment your strengths and setting up systems for everything from sourcing materials to delegating tasks. She also shares a simple exercise that really helped her get clear on what type of business would be best for her.  Sarah and I get real about delegating as control freaks and taking the pressure off of ourselves to do everything even when the tasks aren't in our wheelhouse. I enjoyed talking to Sarah so much. She's a wealth of knowledge and a really impressive business owner. I love this episode and you will too. Thanks for listening. If you want to talk more about all this brick and mortar stuff in person, sign up for the Keeping Shop Retreat. The cost includes all meals, a shared bed space, a creativity-boosting craft project, a workshop with a business coach and unlimited access to me and your brick and mortar community.  Expect long chats over delicious food with people that GET it. Pay the early-bird special price of $675 up until August 15th (after that the cost is $750). I really can't wait for this weekend and I hope you'll be joining me.

Today I'm speaking with Sarah Van Dyke of Revel Craft Bar in downtown Madison Wisconsin.  Sarah's concept is unique and smart and her space brings creativity into people's day in such a fun, effortless sort of way.  You can actually walk into Revel, buy a drink and sit there with your friends and work on a craft project.  From start to finish. Which is something that I'm sure as hell not doing at home.  And these are not cheesy craft projects full of pompoms and potpourri. These are projects that you'll actually be proud of making. From mineral magnets to leather coozies, from hand-selected wines at the bar to top-notch private workshop offerings,  the whole concept of Revel is so well executed.  Sarah and I chat about creating a blueprint for a business that hadn't been done before, hiring the right people to compliment your strengths and setting up systems for everything from sourcing materials to delegating tasks. She also shares a simple exercise that really helped her get clear on what type of business would be best for her.  Sarah and I get real about delegating as control freaks and taking the pressure off of ourselves to do everything even when the tasks aren't in our wheelhouse. I enjoyed talking to Sarah so much. She's a wealth of knowledge and a really impressive business owner. I love this episode and you will too. Thanks for listening.  If you want to talk more about all this brick and mortar stuff in person, sign up for the Keeping Shop Retreat. The cost includes all meals, a shared bed space, a creativity-boosting craft project, a workshop with a business coach and unlimited access to me and your brick and mortar community.  Expect long chats over delicious food with people that GET it. Pay the early-bird special price of $675 up until August 15th (after that the cost is $750). I really can't wait for this weekend and I hope you'll be joining me.

Creating Your Own Blueprint - Sarah Van Dyke of Revel Craft Bar

Molly Svec

This week's episode is with Meg and Molly Svec. These sisters are the owners of Spilt Milk in Oak Park, Illinois (right outside of Chicago). I was excited to connect with them because I admittedly don't know anything about running a bakery. Meg and Molly graciously agreed to speak with me about their brand new business and to offer some pretty great words of wisdom for those among us looking to start something like Spilt Milk.We chat about how their bakery came into existence (finding space, piecing together funds, etc), what it's like to work with a family member and how good it feels to see your space full of happy patrons. The sisters talk candidly about the division of labor as business partners and why they decided to just turn off the business talk when they're not "at work". There are so many nuggets of truth in this episode. Meg and Molly both weigh in with their thoughts on making a career doing what you love and the big risks necessary to achieve this.  I loved their transparent take on worrying about being "frauds" as well as why these feelings don't ultimately hold a lot of water for them.  Thanks Meg and Molly! Spilt Milk is located at 103 S. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park, ILhttp://www.spiltmilkpastry.com/Instagram: @spiltmilkpastryFacebook: @spiltmilkpastryIn Keeping Shop news...I'm thinking I might start blogging more about some of the business component that come up in each episode.  What do you all think? Is this something you'd like to read more of and if so, what are the topics you'd like to see explored more? Shoot me an email with your thoughts. Thanks as always for listening and don't forget to share the show with friends.

This week's episode is with Meg and Molly Svec. These sisters are the owners of Spilt Milk in Oak Park, Illinois (right outside of Chicago). I was excited to connect with them because I admittedly don't know anything about running a bakery. Meg and Molly graciously agreed to speak with me about their brand new business and to offer some pretty great words of wisdom for those among us looking to start something like Spilt Milk. We chat about how their bakery came into existence (finding space, piecing together funds, etc), what it's like to work with a family member and how good it feels to see your space full of happy patrons. The sisters talk candidly about the division of labor as business partners and why they decided to just turn off the business talk when they're not "at work". There are so many nuggets of truth in this episode. Meg and Molly both weigh in with their thoughts on making a career doing what you love and the big risks necessary to achieve this. I loved their transparent take on worrying about being "frauds" as well as why these feelings don't ultimately hold a lot of water for them. Thanks Meg and Molly! Spilt Milk is located at 103 S. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park, IL <a href="http://www.spiltmilkpastry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.spiltmilkpastry.com/</a> Instagram: @spiltmilkpastry Facebook: @spiltmilkpastry In Keeping Shop news...I'm thinking I might start blogging more about some of the business component that come up in each episode. What do you all think? Is this something you'd like to read more of and if so, what are the topics you'd like to see explored more? Shoot me an email with your thoughts. Thanks as always for listening and don't forget to share the show with friends.

Start Small & See What Sticks-Meg and Molly Svec of Spilt Milk

Brandi Morpurgo

Today I'm speaking with Brandi Morpurgo, owner of Daisy Chain Book Co. in Alberta, Canada. I heard the story of Brandi's book store on wheels on the podcast Don't Keep Your Day Job and now am delighted to be sharing it with you on Keeping Shop. Brandi shares her startup story; both how difficult it was to be the first of her kind and also how her natural drive and resilience forged a path to a successful opening. We talk about the myth of social media, building community wherever you go and providing a truly impactful customer experience.  Brandi also shares her thoughts on writing a business plan that goes beyond just the nitty-gritty and encourages us all to think bigger for our businesses. I love this. By acknowledging that we're even thinking of a 5-year plan we're imprinting big growth and big success on our business from the very beginning. If our big dreams change that's okay (!!!), at least we're allowing ourselves to be confident in the power of our businesses even when they're young.  Brandi shares some of her favorite books and you'll hear me nerd out on why fiction is my ultimate brain escape. This is a wonderful episode.  Brandi is warm, engaging and offers nuggets of wisdom that we can start using immediately.  Enjoy the show.

Today I'm speaking with Brandi Morpurgo, owner of Daisy Chain Book Co. in Alberta, Canada. I heard the story of Brandi's book store on wheels on the podcast Don't Keep Your Day Job and now am delighted to be sharing it with you on Keeping Shop. Brandi shares her startup story; both how difficult it was to be the first of her kind and also how her natural drive and resilience forged a path to a successful opening. We talk about the myth of social media, building community wherever you go and providing a truly impactful customer experience. Brandi also shares her thoughts on writing a business plan that goes beyond just the nitty-gritty and encourages us all to think bigger for our businesses. I love this. By acknowledging that we're even thinking of a 5-year plan we're imprinting big growth and big success on our business from the very beginning. If our big dreams change that's okay (!!!), at least we're allowing ourselves to be confident in the power of our businesses even when they're young. Brandi shares some of her favorite books and you'll hear me nerd out on why fiction is my ultimate brain escape. This is a wonderful episode. Brandi is warm, engaging and offers nuggets of wisdom that we can start using immediately. Enjoy the show.

The Power Of An Impactful Customer Experience - Brandi Morpurgo of Daisy Chain Book Co.

Stephanie Jones

Surprise! I'm back for a little January pop-up episode. Today I'm speaking with Stephanie Jones owner and president of Mercantile Events and Marketing as well as the tightly curated, small maker based buying shows Niche Fair and Mercantile Fairs (if you are a maker you NEED to check these out). I'm releasing this episode in January because I know how exciting this time of year is for business owners. Speaking for myself, I find the time between January and March to be especially invigorating around personal business growth.  I choose my word of the year, I reflect on the things that went well in the previous year and also on the things I want to focus more on over the next 12 months. 2017 was a year of major change for me and I can't wait to see the kind of growth that comes my way in 2018. Stephanie and I talk about her path to business ownership, the need for a real commitment to marketing (and how much that costs) and some tips that we can implement this week that will propel our brick and mortars forward. I ask her all about leaving a cushy corporate job and the risks (and opinions!) that come with that. We talk about creating stronger teams and why we all need to find the business yin to our business yang. Stephanie also gives us some really tangible ways to market our business through ads and social media and encourages us to get clear on the big picture instead of just poking holes in it without a real plan. "There's no better way to target an audience than through social media." --Stephanie Jones

Surprise! I'm back for a little January pop-up episode. Today I'm speaking with Stephanie Jones owner and president of Mercantile Events and Marketing as well as the tightly curated, small maker based buying shows Niche Fair and Mercantile Fairs (if you are a maker you NEED to check these out). I'm releasing this episode in January because I know how exciting this time of year is for business owners. Speaking for myself, I find the time between January and March to be especially invigorating around personal business growth. I choose my word of the year, I reflect on the things that went well in the previous year and also on the things I want to focus more on over the next 12 months. 2017 was a year of major change for me and I can't wait to see the kind of growth that comes my way in 2018. Stephanie and I talk about her path to business ownership, the need for a real commitment to marketing (and how much that costs) and some tips that we can implement this week that will propel our brick and mortars forward. I ask her all about leaving a cushy corporate job and the risks (and opinions!) that come with that. We talk about creating stronger teams and why we all need to find the business yin to our business yang. Stephanie also gives us some really tangible ways to market our business through ads and social media and encourages us to get clear on the big picture instead of just poking holes in it without a real plan. "There's no better way to target an audience than through social media." --Stephanie Jones

Cultivating An Unwavering Belief In Yourself - Stephanie Jones of Mercantile Events & Marketing

michelle barrett

Today I'm speaking with Michelle Barrett, the artist and designer behind Michelle Barrett Ceramics and the owner of new(ish) brick and mortar shop, Kind Goods in Maynard, Massachusetts. Michelle has established a beautiful aesthetic for her brand  and she believes in supporting designers and makers that put kindness first in their businesses, hence the name, Kind Goods.We dive into conversations about bootstrapping a brick and mortar, opening a shop in a small, up-and-coming community and what we'd do if we had more money for our businesses. We also come up with some free marketing tips and discuss why we need to spread the word about the brick and mortars that we love. Enjoy the show. Find more from Kind Goods:www.kindgoodsmarket.comFacebook: @kindgoodsmarketInstagram: @kindgoodsmaynardInstagram: @michellebarrettceremics Follow Keeping Shop at @keepingshoppodcast on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for shownotes at www.lovekeepingshop.com. Thanks for listening.

Today I'm speaking with Michelle Barrett, the artist and designer behind Michelle Barrett Ceramics and the owner of new(ish) brick and mortar shop, Kind Goods in Maynard, Massachusetts. Michelle has established a beautiful aesthetic for her brand and she believes in supporting designers and makers that put kindness first in their businesses, hence the name, Kind Goods. We dive into conversations about bootstrapping a brick and mortar, opening a shop in a small, up-and-coming community and what we'd do if we had more money for our businesses. We also come up with some free marketing tips and discuss why we need to spread the word about the brick and mortars that we love. Enjoy the show. Find more from Kind Goods: <a href="http://www.kindgoodsmarket.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.kindgoodsmarket.com</a> Facebook: @kindgoodsmarket Instagram: @kindgoodsmaynard Instagram: @michellebarrettceremics Follow Keeping Shop at @keepingshoppodcast on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for shownotes at <a href="http://www.lovekeepingshop.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.lovekeepingshop.com</a>. Thanks for listening.

A Hyper Realistic, Super Dreamer - Michelle Barrett of Kind Goods

Katherine Henry

Katherine Henry Boudoir

Today I'm speaking with Katherine Henry of Katherine Henry Boudoir. Katherine and I have worked together on a couple of collaborations between Forty Winks and her studio, because lingerie and boudoir equals a total no-brainer. I was thrilled when Katherine reached out and suggested herself for a Keeping Shop interview because collaborating with people like Katherine also equals a total no-brainer. One of the things that impresses me most about Katherine is her dedication to her branding and the aesthetics of Katherine Henry Boudoir. If you head over to her site (all info below) you'll see exactly what I mean. Her content direction is clear and it obviously draws a certain type of client to her.  Katherine knows what it takes to attract her "dream clients' and her business is stronger and more fulfilling because of this. In addition to her branding strength, Katherine and I talk about how she got started in the boudoir business, how she found her brick and mortar space, and how she juggles being a mom with being a successful business woman.  We also talk body image and how the process of a boudoir session becomes an empowering experience for most women. Check out her details below and enjoy this episode!Katherine Henry Boudoir is located at 603 Main Street, Suite 3 Reading, MAhttp://www.katherinehenryboudoir.com/Instagram: @kahenryFacebook: @katherinehenryboudoir

Today I'm speaking with Katherine Henry of Katherine Henry Boudoir. Katherine and I have worked together on a couple of collaborations between Forty Winks and her studio, because lingerie and boudoir equals a total no-brainer. I was thrilled when Katherine reached out and suggested herself for a Keeping Shop interview because collaborating with people like Katherine also equals a total no-brainer. One of the things that impresses me most about Katherine is her dedication to her branding and the aesthetics of Katherine Henry Boudoir. If you head over to her site (all info below) you'll see exactly what I mean. Her content direction is clear and it obviously draws a certain type of client to her. Katherine knows what it takes to attract her "dream clients' and her business is stronger and more fulfilling because of this. In addition to her branding strength, Katherine and I talk about how she got started in the boudoir business, how she found her brick and mortar space, and how she juggles being a mom with being a successful business woman. We also talk body image and how the process of a boudoir session becomes an empowering experience for most women. Check out her details below and enjoy this episode! Katherine Henry Boudoir is located at 603 Main Street, Suite 3 Reading, MA <a href="http://www.katherinehenryboudoir.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.katherinehenryboudoir.com/</a> Instagram: @kahenry Facebook: @katherinehenryboudoir

Creating An Experience That Sets You Apart - Katherine Henry of Katherine Henry Boudoir

Melissa Gallagher

Today I'm speaking with Melissa Gallagher owner of Coco + Mischa in Decatur, GA. Melissa and I talk about taking a pop-up to a full time brick and mortar, how to best prepare for hurdles you don't see coming and why you need to be real realistic about your financials.  Follow her stunning space on Instagram at @cocoandmischa. Enjoy the show. Don't forget to rate and review Keeping Shop on Apple Podcasts. And keep on sending me suggestions for interviewees. Thanks for listening.

Today I'm speaking with Melissa Gallagher owner of Coco + Mischa in Decatur, GA. Melissa and I talk about taking a pop-up to a full time brick and mortar, how to best prepare for hurdles you don't see coming and why you need to be real realistic about your financials. Follow her stunning space on Instagram at @cocoandmischa. Enjoy the show. Don't forget to rate and review Keeping Shop on Apple Podcasts. And keep on sending me suggestions for interviewees. Thanks for listening.

Throwing A Lot Of S*** At The Wall-Melissa Gallagher of Coco + Mischa

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