Retail For The Rest Of Us: A Podcast For Indie Retailers Who Want To Make Sales, Build Community and Grow Their Shops

Hey babe. Can we all agree that it's been a tough year for small business owners?In this episode, I share a few big behind-the-scenes changes at Feel Good Retail and come clean about something I was struggling with all summer — wanting to quit my business.Tune in to hear how I came back from the brink of burning it all down. And keep listening for my list of 25 things I'm quitting instead of my business.Next week the podcast “officially” returns with weekly monday missives that'll feel like a voice note from your business bestie. We'll explore the question — “how can it feel good?” — in all aspects of indie retail.More soon xx

Welcome back to our special miniseries all about community! This month, we've been talking about how connections, customers, clients & community can transform your retail business.This week we're wrapping up the series with an episode about your community must-haves. Think values, systems, automations & activations. Here's your new top five:Your shop's soul statementA hell-yes reason to join your email listAn email service provider that syncs to your sales platformAn irresistible and prominent best-sellers collectionA regular, subscribe-worthy newsletter✌️ And don't forget we made you an epic free resource with this list & more! Grab your free Building Community Dashboard at feelgoodretail.com/bestiesLinks:

Ready to dive deeper into the relationship cycle?! This week Janine becomes your tour guide through the four phases of the cycle, taking us into how-to of turning your casual connections into ride-or-die community members that sell your shop/products for you.If you're just landing here, go back two episodes to get the scoop on what this series is about! Then tune in every Wednesday in June and Janine will walk you through how connections, customers, clients & community can transform your retail business.✌️ And don't forget we made you an epic free resource to follow along! Grab your free Building Community Dashboard at feelgoodretail.com/bestiesLinks:

Welcome back to our special miniseries all about community! Tune in every Wednesday in June and Janine will walk you through how connections, customers, clients & community can transform your retail business.This week we're talking about the relationship cycle. That's how people go from connection to customer to client to community, supporting your shop every step of the way. In this episode, Janine walks you through each step of the cycle, so next week you're ready to learn about opportunities for each stage.✌️ And don't forget we made you an epic free resource to follow along! Grab your free Building Community Dashboard at feelgoodretail.com/bestiesLinks:

We've said it before & we'll say it again — the most effective way to grow your retail business is to focus on relationships. So this month on the pod, we've made you a special miniseries all about community!Tune in every Wednesday in June and Janine will walk you through how connections, customers, clients & community can transform your retail business. This week we kick things off by explaining why community matters and how relationships + retention can help you stay resourced in your retail business.✌️ We even made you an epic free resource to follow along! Grab your free Building Community Dashboard at feelgoodretail.com/bestiesJoin us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

This week, we're wrapping up our series on resources with a shopkeep Q&A! You don't want to miss this extra juicy episode where Janine answers your questions about money, marketing & mental health. Spoiler alert! Here are the questions we answer—What do I do about these Etsy fees?!How the hell do I figure out my open-to-buy?Where do I start when all my metrics are low?How do I actually leverage my email list?When can I afford to hire someone? And how do I figure out what they'll do?!What should I do when something horrible is happening in the world & I have to market my products??Be sure to tune in to the end of the episode for Janine's #1 tip for how to grow your retail shop! And don't forget to check out the new resources we made for you this spring—Take our Sustainable Sales Strategy Quiz!Join The Library— our new space for indie retailers to access resources and tools that support their shops ✌️Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Have you ever wondered if one good piece of press could make your shop successful forever? That's the magic of public relations! (Sort of.) This week, we have Nora Wolf of Wolf PR and Wolf Craft on the podcast to give us the rundown about what PR can do for small businesses...and what it can't.In this episode we cover:What PR is and isn't (especially now that everything's digital)When it makes sense to work with a PR agencyWhy good photos are SO important for your productsHow to craft a successful pitchWhen to pitch print vs digital vs holiday featuresTune in to learn why all you need for PR success is one product, good pictures and a story. Plus! It's time to start pitching holiday gift guides & we've got a workshop to help you out. ⤵️“How to Increase Brand Awareness with Holiday Gift Guide Press” MAY 16th at 10AM ESTWant to learn how to take advantage of the biggest PR opportunity of the year for product-based businesses? During this FREE workshop with Nora & Janine you'll learn:Why the holidays have 5x the amount of press opportunitiesWhy gift guides should be your media outreach priority if you sell productsHow gift guide press can supercharge your end of year sales goalsWhen to pitch gift guides editors so you don't miss out on this great media opportunity5 insider publicist tips so you're sure your product is ready for gift guide outreachRegister for the workshop here.If you want more from Nora, here are the PR goods —Find Nora at Wolf Craft & Wolf PRGet Nora's free Pitch the Media Mini CourseGet Nora's guides on Photography for Media OutreachAnd we've got resources for you, too!Check out The Library— our new space for indie retailers to access resources and tools that support their shops ✌️Take our Sustainable Sales Strategy Quiz to get personalized advice for your businessPLUS— this season, we want to hear from you! Are you resourced in your retail business? Leave us a voice note & tell us about it!

Ready to hear a hot take? You don't need the algorithm. The algorithm needs you. Platforms like Instagram make their money selling ads against the attention that creators — including dope indie brands like you — cultivate. But you don't have to spend your precious time making money for Mark Zuckerberg just to grow your shop!In this episode, Janine unpacks why diversifying your marketing is so important — and how to make your content less disposable with the Platform Prism strategy. She also covers:Why Spring is a great time to focus on visibilityHow to make the most out of your content (with or without Instagram)Our favorite algorithm-agnostic strategies for growing your audienceThis conversation is

Are you ready to meet your new favorite bookkeeper? Or let's be real—your first ever favorite bookkeeper?! This week, we have our first guest of season three—Feel Good Retail's very own bookkeeper, Jackie Gala of Simply Accounting.In this episode we cover:The difference between a bookkeeper and an accountantHow gross profit & cost of goods sold (aka COGS) are going your business' BFFsWhy Venmo & Paypal are bad for your booksJackie's advice for DIY-ing your books& how to know when you it's time to get a bookkeeperThis episode is FULL of priceless advice that will influence your money moves for years to come. Get ready to take notes!If you want more from Jackie & Feel Good Retail, we've got you —Find Jackie at Simply Accounting ServicesCheck out The Library— our new space for indie retailers to access resources and tools that support their shops ✌️Take our Sustainable Sales Strategy Quiz to get personalized advice for your businessPLUS— this season, we want to hear from you! Are you resourced in your retail business? Leave us a voice note & tell us about it!

Numbers don't have to be scary, we promise! In fact, we believe that your numbers are neutral, and they'll show you new opportunities for your business.That's why this episode is all about intuitive analytics. Join Janine as she talks about which numbers are most important for your shop and how keeping up with your analytics can actually be sweet, sweet self-care.In this episode we cover:Why you should be tracking your trafficHow to increase your conversion rateChecking in with your average order value (AKA that $$$$$$$)& Using your analytics to craft new stories & strategies for your shopIf you want more retail money magic, we've got the goods for you —Take our Sustainable Sales Strategy Quiz to get personalized advice for your businessGet on the waitlist for Feel Good Foundations

This season, we're exploring what it means to be resourced in retail, and first up we want to know — what resources do you have (or not have) in your business?Join Janine as she talks about integrating money, energy, and your own well-being for indie retail success. In this episode, we cover: How money matters but resources are more than just money Why your retail business might be surviving instead of thriving Our top 4 Reasons Indie Retailers Fail to GrowMake sure you take our Sustainable Sales Strategy Quiz to get advice on resourcing your business!And this season, we want to hear from you! Are you resourced in your retail business? Leave us a voice note & tell us about it!

Your indie retail cheerleaders are back for another season! Season 3 of Retail for the Rest of Us will launch on March 16, 2022. This season's theme is all about the question — What does it mean to be resourced in retail? Tune in on your podcast platform of choice.Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

It's game time ya'll! And I am here to bring you my best version of a Coach Taylor level pep talk.This week, the holiday season goes into full swing, and despite the stress, the anxiety, the unknown, you are prepared to handle whatever this season throws at you. In this episode, we all the tools you have available to make this your best season ever.And definitely check out our Holiday Roadmap because allllllll the resources we chat about in this episode are there.In this episode, we cover:All the tools in your toolkit to prepare for and be supported by this season How retail strategy is like a science experiment What you have control of and what you do not+ 5 retail focused podcasts we recommend during our breakMake sure you snag our amazing free resource with worksheets, resources, and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday❄️ feelgoodretail.com

Make this holiday season extra special without stressing + spending all your hard-earned money! Liza and I chat through some of our most memorable IRL experiences, why tailoring your brand experience is so important, and how you can have your best holiday season by using our Secret Sauce:Setting Expectations - make it easy on yourself and your communityLever Pullers - having a few tricks up your sleeve to solve a problem or surprise and delight your communityTailor you Brick & Mortar or E-Commerce experience to your communityAnd definitely check out our Holiday Roadmap because I've got loads of ready-to-go prompts that you can literally copy and paste. ✌️In this episode, we cover:How you can deliver amazing customer experience without spending $$$Why it's important to set expectations with yourself and your communityPlanned promotions vs. lever puller promotions and when to use themBeing kind to yourself this holiday season

It's time to crunch the numbers and set our goals for the next six weeks! Now, before you hit snooze on this super important step - the one that could potentially make or break how well you do this season - let me work my magic to help change your relationship with setting financial benchmarks.Why? Because making moves on achievable goals is likely what will move the needle towards your success in business - whatever that means to you. Goals are the tool in knowing how well your processes are serving you and tuning into the overall health of your business. So if you're still trying to make the most out of this holiday season - amazing! - then hop in, friend. I put it all out on the table for ya.And definitely check out our Holiday Roadmap because I've got loads of ready-to-go prompts that you can literally copy and paste. ✌️In this episode, we cover:recalibrating your relationship with setting goalsbusting our myths around goal settingverifying your financial goals with magic numbersthe buttons up approachMake sure you snag our amazing free resource with worksheets, resources, and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday❄️ feelgoodretail.com

We're getting closer, friends - so here's our critical third step: creating our holiday content before the official craze comes in. Because the last thing you're going to want to do is sit down and think about social media when you have a holiday sales floor to run. But before you let the moans and procrastination roll in, I want to help shift your mindset so you can see what a true money-making opportunity this is.And definitely check out our Holiday Roadmap because I've got loads of ready-to-go prompts that you can literally copy and paste. ✌️In our previous episode, we talked a lot about staying true to your branding and your values and whatever it is that your community of customers love you. So now we're taking that one step further by turning the ways you stand out into literal pieces of content. Planning your promotions now rather than later allows you to be incredibly creative, less stressed, and ready to be present for the craze that is about to ensue.In this episode, we cover:Planned Promotions vs. Lever Pullersmaking your way and standing out through the noisehow content creation is a way to tap into your creativitythat it's not the algorithm, it's the competition you gotta focus onMake sure you snag our amazing free resource with worksheets, resources and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday

We're getting real about that Holiday vibe check. Get ready to tune into some serious, expert hot takes as we enter our second action item on our Holiday Roadmap. Because it's time to find our middle ground between full on Holiday decorations and the integrity of our brand. The last thing you want to do to stand out in a world of red and green is wear the colors of red and green.We'll focus on what makes you you and why your community of customers loves you in the first place. Reminding them of your connection rather than applying the pressure to make a Holiday purchase will carry you so much farther in the noise of Holiday marketing.In this episode, we cover:having cohesion and standing tall amongst the holiday crazerevisiting your brand mission and valueshow to feel like a breath of fresh air to your customerscreating a holiday personaMake sure you snag our amazing free resource with worksheets, resources and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday

Now is prime time to start preparing and gearing up for the holiday season - and if you're listening to this in the year beyond 2021, that means October. With the Feel Good Holiday Roadmap, I've created a bulletproof action outline that will relieve retailers from at least some of the pressures of this demanding season and help you make that money with a greater sense of ease.And I welcome you to our first action item on our Holiday Roadmap, which is to have a date with your data - yes, make it fun! Because even though analytics is not the sexiest thing in the world, it can be an incredibly powerful tool if you know how to use it. But if you don't know what you're looking for, it can turn into a complete waste of time - maybe even lead you down the wrong path.But don't worry, I'm here with all the goodies on exactly what you should be looking for in your data. Let's dive in, get cozy, and together we'll find those retail magic numbers so you don't have to work backwards and play a guessing game when there is such a great opportunity to be making that money, honey!In this episode, we cover:you don't have start from cold or square one or a blank pagehow to read your data & what to look atfinding your retail magic numberswhich is better - percentages or salesMake sure you snag our amazing free resource with worksheets, resources and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday

The holidays are upon us and it's time to prepare! Don't freak out. We have got your back starting with the role Q4 plays practically (and magically) in your retail business and how to prepare. In this episode, we cover:why preparation is the best gift you can give yourselfthe ✨energy✨ of Fallhow slowing down can help you speed up understanding your annual sales cycleour 5 steps to your best holiday season everIn addition to our next 5 episodes, we've got an amazing free resource with worksheets, resources and action items to get you in tip-top shape for the holiday rush. Get it all at feelgoodretail.com/holiday

We're baaaaaccccckkk! (almost)This season of Retail For The Rest Of Us is dedicated to supporting you throughout the holiday season. We kick off October 10th, and trust us, you will not want to miss this. Join our newsletterFollow on IGJoin us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Hiii! Welcome to our summer mini-series helping you stretch, warm up and prepare for another busy fall and holiday season.Today, we talk about growing your sales and the full moon.>>> Join The Feel Good Foundations waitlist for early access and $250 off here

Hiii! Welcome to our summer mini-series helping you stretch, warm up and prepare for another busy fall and holiday season.Today, we talk about simplifying your content and the waxing moon.>>> Join The Feel Good Foundations waitlist for early access and $250 off here

Hiii! Welcome to our summer mini-series helping you stretch, warm up and prepare for another busy fall and holiday season.Today, we talk about reconnecting with your brand and the new moon.>>> Join The Feel Good Foundations waitlist for early access and $250 off here 

In retail, no season is the same. On today's episode, the last of season 1 - Janine dives into her approach to cyclical business and retail - where each month and season builds upon the last, inviting us to slow down and speed up in tandem with nature. In addition to the energetic, we discuss how to break down your annual sales goal into monthly goals that reflect your shop's unique cycle and cadence. Plus, we'll look into the retail crystal ball to  how to calculate your estimated annual sales.Mentioned In This Episode:[JOIN] The Half-Full Retail Retreat —> doors close July 5th[FREE DOWNLOAD] Our Sales Cycle Tool**If you leave us a podcast review by July 4th, send a screenshot via DM (@feelgoodretail) or email (podcast@feelgoodretail.com) to be entered to win a FREE spot in The Half-Full Retail Retreat**Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Eavesdrop on a recent VIP Masterclass where I answer questions all about creating bomb.com emails that your customers love. Getting started with email marketing can be intimidating AF - it's a big topic afterall - so I figured the answers to some of these FAQs could definitely help you as you tackle your very own indie retail email strategy.For full show notes, visit our website.If you want to stay in touch, follow along on IG @feelgoodretail and join the newsletter. Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Retail and email go together like PB&J, like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, like Sunday nights and HBO so we're doing something a little different!We're dedicating the entire month of June to dive into email marketing - the what, the how and (hopefully) answering your most pressing questions. But today....today my friend, we start with why. Why should every indie retailer be investing time, energy and (a little) cash into their email marketing?For full show notes, visit our website.If you want to stay in touch, follow along on IG @feelgoodretail and join the newsletter. Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

It's never a bad time to talk about breaking up with capitalism! One of my most frequently asked questions is how to run, grow and thrive in your business while questioning and opposing capitalism (I know - best clients ever, right?) so I wanted to share this conversation with Kristen Ciccolini that originally aired on Self Care For Cycles where we dive into practical ideas for business, personal and spiritual life to divest from capitalism. You can find fill show notes here.We are so happy you found the show and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you want to stay in touch - follow along on IG @feelgoodretail and join the newsletter. Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Janine talks to Michelle Pellizzon, head witch in charge at Holisticism.They share some spicy takes on what really makes a community (spoiler alert: it's not Instagram!) and get real about scaling your company, collaboration vs. acquisition, and more. Michelle generously shared her trend forecasts for the wellness industry (among many gems, she let me know that CBD: tired, microdosing: wired) and broke down different types of investment and funding options for brands and entrepreneurs alike.  For full notes + all the links, visit the episode page.You can find Michelle and Holisticism: Online: www.holisticism.comInside of The Cusp: Join HereOn Instagram: @HolisticismKeep up with Janine and Feel Good Retail:Join our newsletter list.Follow Feel Good Retail on Instagram.Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Janine talks to Tina Burgos, owner of Covet + Lou.They discuss the art of buying for a diverse clientele, operating an e-commerce-first brand, and the intricacies of clienteling in the age of the internet, while  championing independent designers as an independent lifestyle brand. Tina shares her insights on relationship-building, curation, and we even break some news about what's next for Covet + Lou.  For full notes + all the links, visit the episode page.You can find Tina and Covet + Lou: IRL @ 947 Great Plain Ave in Needham, MAOnline @ www.covetandlou.comOn Instagram: @CovetandlouKeep up with Janine and Feel Good Retail:Join Feel Good Foundations - our course for indie retailers.Follow Feel Good Retail on Instagram.Join our newsletter list.Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Welp, I guess if we want to grow, we should start buying ads”? I get it! There are a lot of reasons why investing in digital ads seems like a necessary evil these days. With the pay-to-play feeling of social media, and the algorithms getting in your way of reaching your followers, let alone new audiences, ads can certainly be tempting. And while there is nothing wrong with paid advertising (in fact, it can be a great tool) - it isn't the only one available to indie retailers and I always want you to have options, boo.If you liked this episode, check out:Download our free guide '9 Creative Ways To Grow Sales Without Ads'Join our course, Feel Good Foundations. Doors close May 14thClick here for full show notes!Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Retail is a relationship business and your community is pure gold. Instead of focusing on a traditional sales funnel - get to know The Relationship Cycle. By mapping out and perfecting each step (there are 4!) of your customer journey, you can rest assured that your customers are being led to become your ride or die, loyal and irreplaceable community. This is something money truly can't buy.Make sure to grab the free workbook below to start building the community of your dreams.Mentioned in this episode:✨FREE Retail's Magic Numbers workbook ✨Our Free Retail Workshop Library COURSE // The Feel Good FoundationsWe are so happy you found the show and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you want to stay in touch - follow along on IG @feelgoodretail and join the newsletter. Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

There's strategy in your data! It can be overwhelming AF to dive into your numbers, so we want to help you demystify those stats in this workshop replay.These numbers can tell you everything you need to know about your business. In just a few stats, you can get a clear view of opportunities, priorities and even what your customers want. It's kind of like being psychic!

The algorithm has made it's way onto every indie retailers burn book - but it doesn't have to be this way! Listen in on a recent live workshop we put on with the intention of staying sane on social.With a few reframes, up-to-date strategy AND even some creative rituals, you'll be cranking out aligned content without burning out in no time. Dare I say we can make social media fun again?

Janine talks to Erica Feldmann, the Head-Witch-In-Charge behind *Thee* Sunbeam Treasure Palace - Hauswitch Home + Healing. They discuss Erica's path to opening and running her successful retail business, embracing anti-capitalism as a business owner, the art of managing, escape as a form of anti-capitalist resistance, and detaching your worth from productivity.  We even answer a listener question about delegating to your team!For full notes + all the links, visit the episode page. You can find Erica and Hauswitch: IRL @ 144 Washington St in Salem, MAOnline @ www.hauswitchstore.comOn Instagram: @Hauswitch and @HauswitchathomeKeep up with Janine and Feel Good Retail: Sign up for one (or all) of our FREE April Workshop's here.Follow Feel Good Retail on Instagram.Join our newsletter list.Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

You want to feel good! I want you to feel good! Indie retailers deserve to feel good. In this episode, Janine introduces herself, the show Feel Good Retail. and starts where she always starts - The Feel Good Foundations. Over years of working with indie retailers, these 3 areas of the business - content strategy, sales goals and customer experience - are always the first to get a glow up. Why? Because not only do these elements intersect with every.single.piece of a retail business, but they can cause anxiety, overwhelm and headaches for you - the indie entrepreneur. This episode walks through each foundation, how it can feel *better* and offer quick wins for you to take action ASAP.Mentioned in this episode:QUIZ // "Which Foundation Needs Your Focus?" BLOG // 7 Ways To Promote A Single Product GUIDE // 9 Creative Ways To Grow Sales Without AdsCOURSE // The Feel Good FoundationsWe are so happy you found the show and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you want to stay in touch - follow along on IG @feelgoodretail and join the newsletter. Join us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever

Retail For The Rest  is all the things you loved about The Feel Good Retail podcast, but with a little spice - meaning hot takes, real talk interviews and exclusive insights to help you grow your shop your way. 91% of retailers in the US are small - less than 10 employees small - and this show is dedicated to providing community, conversation and actionable tips to help those independent retail businesses feel good. We'll be back officially on April 1st. Until then, cheers to feeling good! Follow us on Instagram Sign up for our weekly newsletterJoin us July 6th at 12PM EST for our FREE workshop: "Forever Ever: How To Nurture Your Customers And Grow Your Sales Through Community". To learn more and save your seat, visit feelgoodretail.com/forever