155. Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Rest: The Key to Sustainable Retail Growth
05/01/23 • 31 min
Notes:
Today’s episode is all about the importance of prioritizing our energy, space, and mindset to achieve sustainable retail growth. It’s a “sister show” and a continuation from episode 154 with my guest, retailer Christie Carter-Tokairin. (Go have a listen here).
Let’s set the boundaries we need to keep life in our lifestyle businesses.
Key points I dig into in this episode:
- Rest is essential - it’s NOT a reward.
- Excellent leadership requires boundaries and systems to protect ourselves from burnout.
- Setting “yellow lines” or boundaries is vital for protecting ourselves and our business.
- The golden egg analogy reminds us that taking care of ourselves is crucial for the success of our business.
If you struggle with boundary setting, start with these habits:
- Communicate effectively with your staff and family about the boundaries you are setting.
- Establish and stick to a schedule. Set your working hours and ensure your family and staff know these hours.
- Delegate tasks to your staff and don’t micromanage them.
- Unplug from your work.
- Schedule days off and vacations - rest is not a reward, it is essential!
- Utilize systems/tools that can help: binders at the counter to communicate with staff, auto responders on email, clear voicemail messages etc.
Thank you for listening to Creative Shop Talk. Remember to prioritize your energy, space, and mindset, and set boundaries to achieve sustainable business growth. Join me next time for more insights into the world of creative entrepreneurship.
“You are the golden egg. You are the biggest asset [of your business]. If you don't take care of yourself, your business will fall apart.” - Wendy Batten
This week’s episode is sponsored by: H+H Americas
Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business. Here are the details:
h+h americas trade show
Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont
Chicago, IL
Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)
https://www.hh-americas.com/, tickets here:
Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor
Other episodes you may enjoy...
Episode 154: Retail Success Series: Christie Carter-Tokairin 10 Years In
Episode 122: Retail Success Series: CEO Mindset and Community with Sylvia Davis from Louisville Mercantile
Episode 33: The CEO Date: A Non-Negotiable Habit is Key to Creative CEO Success
Episode 70: Encore Series: You’re Not Just a Shopkeeper, You’re a Creative CEO
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.
I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.
When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/
For more support from Wendy
Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community
Notes:
Today’s episode is all about the importance of prioritizing our energy, space, and mindset to achieve sustainable retail growth. It’s a “sister show” and a continuation from episode 154 with my guest, retailer Christie Carter-Tokairin. (Go have a listen here).
Let’s set the boundaries we need to keep life in our lifestyle businesses.
Key points I dig into in this episode:
- Rest is essential - it’s NOT a reward.
- Excellent leadership requires boundaries and systems to protect ourselves from burnout.
- Setting “yellow lines” or boundaries is vital for protecting ourselves and our business.
- The golden egg analogy reminds us that taking care of ourselves is crucial for the success of our business.
If you struggle with boundary setting, start with these habits:
- Communicate effectively with your staff and family about the boundaries you are setting.
- Establish and stick to a schedule. Set your working hours and ensure your family and staff know these hours.
- Delegate tasks to your staff and don’t micromanage them.
- Unplug from your work.
- Schedule days off and vacations - rest is not a reward, it is essential!
- Utilize systems/tools that can help: binders at the counter to communicate with staff, auto responders on email, clear voicemail messages etc.
Thank you for listening to Creative Shop Talk. Remember to prioritize your energy, space, and mindset, and set boundaries to achieve sustainable business growth. Join me next time for more insights into the world of creative entrepreneurship.
“You are the golden egg. You are the biggest asset [of your business]. If you don't take care of yourself, your business will fall apart.” - Wendy Batten
This week’s episode is sponsored by: H+H Americas
Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business. Here are the details:
h+h americas trade show
Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont
Chicago, IL
Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)
https://www.hh-americas.com/, tickets here:
Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor
Other episodes you may enjoy...
Episode 154: Retail Success Series: Christie Carter-Tokairin 10 Years In
Episode 122: Retail Success Series: CEO Mindset and Community with Sylvia Davis from Louisville Mercantile
Episode 33: The CEO Date: A Non-Negotiable Habit is Key to Creative CEO Success
Episode 70: Encore Series: You’re Not Just a Shopkeeper, You’re a Creative CEO
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.
I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.
When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/
For more support from Wendy
Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community
Previous Episode
154. Retail Success Series: Christie Carter-Tokairin 10 Years In
Notes:
Today I’m chatting with Christie Carter-Tokairin, a fabulous retailer seeing such great success throughout her 10 years in business at her beautiful shop, Revived Vintage. Christie has been an active and invested member of The Retailer’s Inner Circle since it began. I’m so proud to have her share some of her wisdom and some of her success secrets as she navigates her 10th year as a small shop owner of a successful creative retail business.
We discuss throughout the episode some of the biggest issues facing so many independent shop owners: (1) building and nurturing community with customers and in your real community, (2) working full time with your husband, (3) navigating mental health and being true to what matters, (4) how to have boundaries around your business (Christie doesn’t bring her laptop home at night), and so much more.
“I used to think that if I was working on my business every minute of every day, it would grow faster, better, stronger. And I did that when it first opened, and I found that that was actually not true at all.” - Christie Carter-Tokairin
Pay particular attention to our conversation about taking care of ourselves, letting things go, and being open and honest about our mental health. She also shares my passion for being community minded in your town. Being a good active member of your own town has such an incredible ROI on your mind and pocketbook.
“There is no gold metal for hustling.” - Wendy Batten
She exemplifies a shop owner doing it her way, making decisions based on life first, then around her beautiful business. It’s very inspiring.
So, let’s go and listen in on our chat about life and business as a small shop owner!
https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/
About Christie
Christie Carter-Tokairin is the owner of Revived Vintage in beautiful Qualicum Beach, BC. Revived Vintage is a beautifully curated creative shop, featuring artistically inspired furniture, home decor, & accessories. She’s an incredible artist and also does custom painted furniture, offers workshops and is a go-to for creative paints and supplies.She has been reviving furniture for over 25 years and is well known, in both Alberta and British Columbia for her creative designs, knowledge of refinishing, the quality of her work and attention to detail. Her husband Craig has been sanding, repairing and building right alongside her and with his knowledge of refinishing and corporate career experience, this is a true family run, passion driven small business.
Christie and Craig have been featured in numerous newspapers and magazine articles, as well as interviewed on CBC radio. Their business model and logo were featured in a University Business Marketing program and in 2018, Christie was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Qualicum Beach Community Awards.
Christie and Craig are celebrating their 10th business anniversary this summer!
Christie has been an active member of the Retailer’s Inner Circle since its inception, and one to follow.
Follow Revived Vintage on Facebook
Follow Revived Vintage on Instagram
Other episodes you may enjoy...
Episode 88: Retailer Success Series: Making Pivotal (and scary) CEO Decisions with Retailer Melanie Kolb
Episode 113: Retail Success Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee from The Vintage Nest
Episode 133: Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, and CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh
Episode 132: Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell | Episode 132
Episode 39: Retailer Success Series: How Jill Went from Hobbyist to Creative CEO
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer...
Next Episode
156. Proven Ways To Improve Your Shop’s Merchandising
With host retail coach Wendy Batten
In this episode of The Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I’m sharing six essential merchandising tips for small independent shop owners. These tips aim to attract customers and encourage sales and loyalty, making your business strong and healthy.
Good merchandising can increase your sales with both new arrivals but also slower moving items. By following these tips, you'll be better positioned to welcome, engage, and increase sales from merchandising in your shop right now! I encourage you to implement the following tips by this weekend and report back on how it helped your sales.
- Offering repeat exposure on select items can maximize sales using cross-merchandising or multiple merchandising.
- Consistent signage throughout the space can effectively communicate with customers.
- Point out best sellers, locally made goods, quotes, etc.
- Maximize the POS area with store information and inventory to increase sales.
- Advertise return policy in a fun way, post upcoming events, merchandise grab-and-go goods
- Identify your ideal customers and merchandise the store accordingly.
- Have unscalable conversations to figure out pain points for customers
- Offering how-to-tips within your displays can engage customers and encourage them to spend more money.
- Utilize QR codes and tip sheets
- Make use of prime real estate spots in the store to enhance the overall store merchandising experience.
- Maximize the best spots for high return items
For additional support, join me and my fab retailers inside the Retailer’s Inner Circle for full access to my 5 Day Merchandising Series Masterclass, the Ideal Customer Workshop, and my signature course: Retail Made Simple.
This episode is sponsored by:
H+H Americas
Join me at the h+h americas trade show if you are in the creative or craft business. Here are the details:
h+h americas trade show
Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont
Chicago, IL
Dates: June 21-23, 2023 (Masterclasses start on June 20)
Tickets on sale: March 15, 2023, use promo code CST23 to get free access to the exhibit floor
I’ll be hosting sessions on Hobby Mindset to CEO and How to Throw an Amazing Workshop/Event in your retail shop.
Related podcasts we think you’ll like:
Episode 55: Unscalable Conversations – A Free, Simple and Powerful Marketing Tool To Use
Episode 58: 3 Simple Sales Metrics Retailers Need to Measure for Better Sales
Episode 144: How to Create a Customer Journey Map
About your host, Wendy Batten
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.
I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.
When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/
For more support from Wendy
Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retai...
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