Podcasts about Pottery Barn

Want to know how billion-dollar brands approach inclusive marketing—from the inside out? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes with five standout brand leaders who are driving real impact through inclusive marketing. You'll hear highlights from interviews that reveal the unique strategies, decisions, and philosophies behind their success. Each leader shares how they've built inclusion into the core of their brand—and what that actually looks like in practice. I've always learned best by observing what others do—and this episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable takeaways you can apply to your own marketing. Whether you're leading a team or building your brand from scratch, you'll walk away with ideas and inspiration to make your marketing more inclusive and more effective.

  Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we're talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that's keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We're hitting a big one: shopping retail. Yep. I'm talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar? I get it. I've been there myself—and I've coached hundreds of designers who've struggled with the same thing. Whether it's the fear of clients balking at markups, the desire to be “helpful,” or the looming fear of liability… retail feels like the easy button. But babe—it's not. It's costing you big time. What I cover in this episode: Why retail shopping chips away at your profits, your positioning, and your authority How sending links is training your clients to bypass you Why markup is NOT a dirty word (and how to confidently talk about profit) Real talk from a designer named Lindsay who learned this the hard way The difference between being a personal shopper vs. a professional designer How to shift your business model so sourcing becomes a strength—not a stressor The mindset shift that leads to a more profitable, scalable, and luxury-level business Here's the truth: when you rely on retail, you lose control—of the quality, of the client experience, and of your income. Your design becomes replicable. Your service looks DIY. And your value? Flattened. But when you embrace trade sourcing, you gain back authority, margin, and process. And yes, you can absolutely educate your clients about it without apologizing. So ask yourself: where are you defaulting to retail out of fear or convenience? And what would shift—financially, creatively, emotionally—if you trusted yourself to lead like a CEO?   You're not selling stuff. You're selling an experience. A transformation. A feeling when someone walks into a room and says “Wow.” And that? That's worth protecting. Podcast Website and Resources: Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery   Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business. Stay in touch with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/  Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad  Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact   A Podcast Launch Bestie production  

Jiake Liu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Outer, a brand revolutionizing outdoor living by reimagining furniture and transforming backyards into immersive, functional spaces. With a mission to make life outside effortless and enjoyable, Outer combines eco-friendly materials, durable design, and an innovative showroom model—crowdsourcing real customers' backyards to create a unique, community-driven shopping experience.Before launching Outer in 2018, Jiake built his career in tech and software engineering at Riot Games, where he honed his expertise in problem-solving and user experience. Now, as an angel investor and founder, he's leveraging technology, sustainability, and consumer-first innovation to redefine how people connect with their outdoor spaces.In 2025, Jiake is taking Outer beyond furniture with Outer Spaces—a proprietary solution designed to convert vacant backyards into fully functional outdoor living spaces, from wellness retreats and dining areas to personal gyms.Under his leadership, Outer is reshaping the way we think about outdoor living—proving that sustainability, design, and convenience can coexist seamlessly in Ecommerce.In This Conversation We Discuss:[01:06] Intro[01:48] Introducing a new way to sell products[03:40] Finding the right investors for growth[05:10] Pitching a better product to investors[07:38] Building a brand through viral marketing[08:35] Building brand trust through storytelling[09:43] Validating ideas with ad mockups[10:13] Talking to customers before launching[11:14] Staying connected with customers post-purchase[11:57] Inventing solutions before customers ask for them[14:06] Episode Sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems[17:19] Building trust with real product experiences[19:58] Turning media buzz into big opportunities[22:22] Mastering numbers before raising capital[23:27] Building outdoor spaces in one dayResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe Perfect Outdoor Sofa is Now Within Reach liveouter.com/Follow Jiake Liu linkedin.com/in/jiakeliuBook a demo today at intelligems.io/Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

In a rapidly shifting market, breweries face the challenge of adapting to survive. This talk explores how thoughtful, strategic branding and package design can be a lifeline, helping breweries make the right moves to reach their target audience. We'll discuss the value of brand audits to leverage existing equity, identify smart improvement areas, and make informed decisions on hiring the right designer. Discover how investing in design—even when budgets are tight—can strengthen brand presence, foster connections, and ultimately help breweries thrive in the new economy. Key Takeaways: Harness Brand Equity Through Audits: Learn how a brand audit can uncover hidden value, helping you make strategic, equity-driven decisions for cost-effective growth. Identify Smart Improvement Areas: Discover ways to prioritize brand elements that deliver the most impact, ensuring every design choice maximizes value in a tight market. Select the Right Design Partner: Gain insight into what to look for when hiring a designer, ensuring they understand your brand's goals and can create targeted, audience-focused designs. Design as an Investment, Not an Expense: Understand how thoughtful, strategic design can become a powerful tool for connection and longevity, positioning your brand to thrive through market transitions. Elbongurk Design is a boutique branding and package design agency focused on the food and beverage space. Elbongurk is dedicated to helping brands make a lasting impression through standout, compliant, and market-ready packaging. Elbongurk's founder, Jillian, brings a unique blend of real-world and academic expertise. Before launching Elbongürk, she spent nine years as a tenured professor at a NASAD-accredited university, where she taught brand and package design, product systems, and brand identity. With a background in designing for well-known retail brands like Pottery Barn, Target, and West Elm, she understands the demands of bringing a vision to life in the competitive retail environment. Jillian has also shared her insights at the Craft Brewers Association conference and on industry podcasts, covering topics from beer branding to impactful packaging design. Stay up to date with CBP: ⁠http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/⁠ Join us in-person for CBP Connects Half workshop, half networking Charlotte, NC | June 9-11, 2025 Register now: ⁠https://tickets.beertrail.com/e/cbp-connects-charlotte⁠

Hey friends! Do any of these sound familiar? -Feels impossible to have a well-decorated home with children living at home. -Pinterest account heavy with home design and home decorating pins that you haven't executed on. -Can't figure out your design aesthetic so you end up with random items that have become visual clutter. Or you don't buy anything at all and your home decor remains the same.  All that to mean you will gain so much from todays podcast episode with Interior Decorator and and host of the #1 ranked podcast, Fig & Farm at Home! What You'll Learn in This Episode: How to have a Pottery Barn style with a Target budget: Simple, affordable ideas that transform your space without breaking the bank. Designing a home that includes your whole family: Tips for integrating your spouse, kids, and even pets into your home design without sacrificing style. The #1 way to transform your home on a budget: Spoiler alert: it's all about paint, and Dani shares her favorite tips, including the best paint to use for furniture and sandpaper grit level! How to create a cohesive aesthetic: Learn why your design aesthetic is uniquely yours and stop worrying about labels. 5 quick ways to elevate your home this week or weekend!   Links & Resources Mentioned: Dani Watson, Fig & Farm at Home Podcast: https://apple.co/3RVbHXH Web: www.figandfarmathome.co IG: @figandfarm The Collective Membership: https://www.figandfarmathome.com/copy-of-work-with-me   Connect With Me: Work with Me: Info@OrganizeWithKristina.com  Follow on Instagram: @Organizewithkristina Join the conversation in our Facebook group: Decluttering And Organizing Made Easy.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/397332269747340 Gain exclusives, insights, additional tips and hacks: https://kristina-borseti-llc.ck.page/ac428baac7 Loved This Episode? Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps more listeners find the show and join the organizing journey.  

This is the second episode of Retail ReCap! In this monthly series, hosts Jeremy Mercer, Will Narduzzi, Bob Moorhead, and Rob Franks dive deep into the world of retail. From national trends to local developments, we're here to give you the inside scoop on what's driving the industry. Here's what we're unpacking in our debut episode: Retailer Expansion Plans: Dollar General Plans 575 New Stores – 4,250 Remodels The company also announced that it was testing out same-day delivery in 75 stores with plans to expand to “thousands of stores” if the test performs well. Burlington plans to open 100 new stores in 2025; Q3 sales up 11% Tractor Supply plans to open 90 new locations in 2025 Academy Sports plans to open 20 to 25 new stores in 2025 Lowes plans to open 10 -15 new stores in 2025 and beyond Aldi plans major expansion, renovation of U.S. headquarters The fast-growing discount grocer plans to add 800 stores nationwide by the end of 2028, and is expanding and renovating its U.S. corporate campus in Batavia, Ill. Aldi currently operates roughly 2,460 stores in the U.S. Fields West Development in Frisco (Valued at $660M – Legacy West 2.0) adds Bloomie's (49k SF – First in Texas), Pottery Barn, Mastro's (10k SF – First in DFW) alongside local favorites like Beverley's, Green Point, Mexican Sugar, Sixty Vines, Tommy Bahama's Marlin Bar and more. Current site plan attached. West Grove in McKinney (Custer & 380) nearing opening. Features one of 3 new Whole Foods openings nationally. Tenants include Sephora, Velvet Taco, etc. Current site plan attached. Kroger/Albertson's (Tom Thumb) $25B Merger called off. Kroger announced two new locations. Little Elm & Ft Worth Recently opened in Melissa, Under construction in Plano & Ft Worth (Coit & 121 + Bonds Ranch Rd) Tom Thumb broke ground on 3 new locations Midlothian, Sunnyvale, Sanger Terminated lease at Redbird Mall redevelopment. Competition from Joe V's opening on Camp Wisdom and development delays citied for the cause. Black Friday sees online sales increase by 10% with sales totaling $10.8 billion The entire Cyber Week generated a substantial $41.1 billion in sales. Container Store delisted from NYSE. Is bankruptcy imminent? Aerospace and defense manufacturing company RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies, has sold its Dallas plant to one of the country's largest franchised automotive dealers. Georgia-based Asbury Automotive Group purchased RTX's roughly 15-acre site at 6000 Lemmon Ave. near Love Field for a Porsche dealership. Canadian-based Chewters Chocolates will soon begin construction on a $20.5M Rockwall chocolate factory. Plans to construct a 225,000-square-foot facility at Rockwall Technology Park. Tours will be offered

Crafts... they're fun, they're hands-on, they're practical and evolutionary. And they had to start somewhere. We take our Debut Buddies Time Machine back to 30,000 BC to discuss the FIRST CRAFT(S)! Maybe it was pottery, maybe it was weaving and looming, but one thing's for sure, we each tried to do a craft and some of us (Chelsea and Kelly) succeeded in creating NON-ABOMINATIONS! But Nate's pot isn't too bad and could be useful for self-defense if nothing else. Join us for a survey of crafting history from pottery to baskets to linens and more! Plus, there's a very special MouthGarf Report and I See What You Did There!Please give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts! Want to ask us a question? Talk to us! Email debutbuddies@gmail.comListen to Kelly and Chelsea's awesome horror movie podcast, Never Show the Monster.Get some sci-fi from Spaceboy Books.Get down with Michael J. O'Connor's music!Next time: First Female Elected Official (in the U.S.)

Brand values are increasingly more important to consumers. As a result, brands need to communicate not only what their values are but how they are living them. In this episode, I walk through various ways brands are demonstrating not only what their values are, but how they are living them. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter Episode 122: How Michael Graves Design and Pottery Barn are working to bring accessible design to more consumers Brands mentioned in this episode: Ben & Jerry's Patagonia Seer Interactive The Home Depot Tory Burch Warby Parker Michael Graves Design

Welcome back, dear listener. In today's episode, I got to chat with someone I've admired from afar for a long time, Whitney Rydman.   I first came across Whitney some years ago, when I was early in my recovery from migraine and I was binging Nicole Sachs's podcast, which is called The Cure for Chronic Pain. Whitney was a guest who came on the podcast to talk about her own personal recovery from pelvic pain. She had such an engaging and inspiring voice that I wanted to know more, so I followed her on Instagram, as one does. And I eventually learned that Whitney is not only an incredible person who talks about her own healing in a relatable and uplifting way, she's also the amazing graphic designer behind the websites and social media branding of many well-known names in the chronic pain recovery world, including Nicole Sachs, Alan Gordon, the Curable app and more.   But she didn't start out in the mind-body world. Whitney studied graphic design at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and shortly after college, she was recruited as the lead designer for Jamba Juice, applying her hand-lettering and illustration skills as part of her design work for all their in-store collateral. Other brands she's worked on include Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Williamns-Sonoma. But after working as a corporate designer in the retail space for over 15 years, she reached a point of burnout and her body let her know. She discovered what she was experiencing was TMS — or mind-body chronic symptoms — and she was amazed at the results of using neuroplasticity in her recovery. Since then, she became passionate about using her design experience to service experts in the mind body space.   Whitney also winds up coaching her design clients on what has become my favorite topic lately: How the entrepreneurship journey totally mirrors the mind-body healing journey, with all of its ups and downs, leaps forward and setbacks, and I can't wait to share with you our conversation about it!    You can find Whitney at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.design.remedy/ Website: https://thedesignremedy.com/   And you can find me at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@anna_holtzman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: anna@annaholtzman.com Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.annaholtzman.com⁠ Journaling Course: www.annaholtzman.com/writingtorelease --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/from-chronic-pain-to-pass/support

Join us on the Kick Your Boots Up Podcast for the last episode of Season Two as we sit down with Laura Young, President of Brighton Collectables, Inc. and Leegin, and a proud graduate of Southern Methodist University-Cox School of Business. Discover Laura's journey from Tyler, Texas, to leading major brands in the fashion industry, and hear her insights on how she navigated her path to success. Plus, Laura shares her best piece of business advice for aspiring leaders. Don't miss this inspiring episode filled with valuable lessons from one of the top executives in the industry.

It's hot as hell, but that isn't stopping our usual Auntie antics. Whether Mother Nature is ready or not, Mama KuKu is declaring the start of autumn. She's already assembled the perfect Halloween costume for Baby Eme, proving that even when Ku's behind, she's ahead. Su, meanwhile, is locked in on her dental care. She drops some Auntie medical wisdom (not to be confused with actual medical advice) and explains why she sees the dentist not once a year, not twice a year, but every three months. Plus, we press play on the answering machine for listener voicemails! We want to hear from you! Drop us a message on Speakpipe. Subscribe to the Add to Cart newsletter for juicy extras. Please note, Add To Cart contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.  To see all products mentioned in this episode, head to @addtocartpod on Instagram. To purchase any of the products, see below.  Eme's sunny Halloween costume includes the Pottery Barn sun costume, yellow long sleeve and leggings and the cutest Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers This Halloween kids' applique dress is the cutest thing ever  Even if you can't pronounce the ingredient, this Boka toothpaste is stellar Stay tuned for SuChin's Slate Electronic Flosser adventures  Shannon Maldonado has a great shopping strategy  Su's open cart includes the famous INEZ shoes  For our toner pad fans: try the celimax Heartleaf peeling pad Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Were you as excited as we were to get back to business? Don't answer that. After two years of rocking and rolling on this podcast, we are entering into Season 5! Kicking things off in an inappropriate fashion, Kalyn drops the 'F' bomb while the hosts discuss all things involving life, work and that time Heather was leading a double life as a stand-in on Yellowstone. Hear all the insider info on what it's like to work on a television show set, how we are really coping in this market, Kalyn's launch into the world of commercial real estate and more! Get excited for our new format, exciting stories and as always, the things that we are loving right now. (Which may or may not include the Pottery Barn x National Lampoons Christmas Vacation collab - hey Pottery Barn - we have some notes!)

In this episode, we explore the latest trends and developments shaping the furniture industry as of August 28, 2024. Key topics include a positive shift in furniture retail sales, the cautious optimism around consumer confidence, and the challenges posed by current and potential supply chain disruptions. We also delve into the effectiveness of high-impact sales, the implications of increased foreign investment in Mexico's furniture manufacturing sector, and a significant trademark lawsuit between Crypton LLC and Williams Sonoma.Key Points:Furniture Retail Sales Trends:Year-Over-Year Decline: A slight 2.4% drop in year-over-year furniture retail sales, the smallest in 16 months, indicating a possible shift towards recovery.Monthly Growth: Sales increased by 0.5% from June to July 2024, showing signs of improvement amidst a competitive retail environment.Year-to-Date Performance: Despite recent gains, furniture sales are down 6.2% for the first seven months of 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges.Consumer Confidence:Index Increase: The consumer confidence index rose to 103.3 in August from 101.9 in July.Economic Outlook: Mixed feelings prevail, with confidence higher among consumers aged 35 and above and those earning over $100,000.Impact on Furniture Sales: A decline in home purchase plans could signal potential downturns in furniture demand.High-Impact Sales Strategies:Industry Insights: Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of liquidation and high-impact sales, with some advocating for their ability to drive foot traffic and others cautioning about potential long-term brand damage.Considerations for Retailers: The importance of strategic planning and market assessment before launching such sales.Supply Chain Developments:Canadian Rail Strike Averted: Government intervention prevented a strike, alleviating immediate supply chain concerns for the furniture industry.Future Risks: Ongoing labor disputes and potential strikes, particularly on the East and Gulf Coast docks, may pose future risks.Foreign Investment in Mexico:Record FDI: Over $31 billion in foreign direct investment in Mexico during the first half of 2024, boosting confidence in its furniture manufacturing sector.U.S.-Mexico Trade: Strengthening economic ties, with significant growth in furniture exports from Mexico to the U.S.New Entrant in Mattress Industry:Ziwi's Market Entry: Launch of Ziwi by former Purple Innovation executives, featuring innovative mattress designs and a dual sales approach targeting both online and retail markets.Legal Update:Crypton vs. Williams Sonoma: Crypton LLC sues Williams Sonoma over unauthorized use of its trademark, potentially leading to significant legal and financial consequences for Pottery Barn.Actionable Takeaways:Furniture retailers should monitor the modest sales growth and adapt strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.Keeping an eye on consumer confidence trends and supply chain stability is crucial for planning and risk management.The industry should stay informed about ongoing legal disputes, as outcomes could impact market practices and consumer trust.Subscribe:Stay updated with the latest news and insights from the furniture industry by subscribing to Furniture Industry News.

Karl Dunn (he/him), Author of How to Burn a Rainbow, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about up-front tuition funding, increased safety for women travelers in India, Pottery Barn's latest collection, and more!Here are this week's good vibes:DNC Showcases Diverse-Owned Businesses at Vendor FairPottery Barn Expands Accessible ProductsIndiGo Airlines Improves Safety for WomenStress Relief for NYC Transit WorkersTrane Offers Up-Front Funding for TuitionThis week's Call to Action:Read this great article by Tom Geraghty: Psychological safety should support DEI, not replace it.Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-joyConnect with Karl Dunn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karldunn/ and https://www.karldunn.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including another retail bankruptcy, why donating furniture is so challenging, and a look at how designers dress. Later, Rob Van Varick of Michael Graves Design joins the show to talk about the company's new accessibility collection with Pottery Barn.This episode is sponsored by SuryaLINKSMichael Graves Design X Pottery BarnBusiness of Home

Lauren has had three very different births. She had a peaceful C-section due to breech presentation with a difficult recovery, a wild, unmedicated VBAC, and a calm, medicated 2VBAC. Due to her baby's large size, she had to have an extra incision made during her Cesarean leaving her with a special J scar. Though her provider was hesitant to support a TOLAC with a special scar, Lauren advocated for herself by creating a special relationship with her OB and they were able to move forward together to help Lauren achieve both of her VBACs. Lauren talks about the importance of having an open mind toward interventions as she was firmly against many of the things that ended up making her second VBAC the most redemptive and healing experience of all. How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hey, hey everybody. Guess what? We have our friend Lauren and her 11-day-old baby. Is that right? Lauren: Yeah. Meagan: 11 days old. You guys, I actually didn't even know that this baby existed until we popped up on the Zoom and she was holding this precious little newborn. She was like, “Surprise! I had another VBAC.” So we will be sharing, well she will be sharing her two VBACs so 2VBAC and something kind of unique about Lauren is that she has a special scar, a special J scar, correct? Lauren: Yep. Meagan: Yeah, so that happened in her first C-section. If you are listening and you have a special scar or have been told that you have a special scar, this is definitely an episode that you are going to want to put on repeat and save because I know that there are so many people out there who are told that they have a special scar and that they should never or can never VBAC again. I know we're not even getting into the story quite yet, Lauren, but did you have any flack with that? Did anyone talk about your special scar at all? Lauren: Yes. Advocating for the VBAC is probably the overarching theme of my VBAC because I really had to go to bat for myself for that without switching providers. Meagan: Yeah. We know that's so common. We see it a lot in our community just in general trying to get a VBAC let alone a VBAC with a special scar. We are going to get into her story but I have a review and I didn't even know that this was a review. It was left in a Baby Bump Canada group on Reddit actually so that was kind of fun to find. It's really nice. It says, “Seriously, I'm addicted. I find them so healing. I had an unplanned and very much unwanted C-section and I have been unknowingly carrying around all of these emotions and trauma about it since. I thought I was empowered going into my first birth, but I wasn't strong enough to stop the medical staff with all of their interventions. Don't get me wrong, I believe interventions are necessary in some instances. But looking back now, I realize those interventions were put in place to make things easier involved in delivering my baby. Anyway, I won't get into all of that here, maybe in a separate post. The point of my post is checking out The VBAC Link podcast. I listen to them all day now while caring for my babe. They also have a course you can take focusing on preparing for VBACs. Even if you just like birth stories, they have CBAC stories I believe as well. On the podcast, a guest also pointed out that what do you want for a VBAC birth– peace, redemption, etc.? She talked about how you can still feel those things if you need a Cesarean.” I love that point of view right there that you can still have peace and redemption even if you have a scheduled C-section or if your VBAC ends in a Cesarean. It says, “Another mom pointed out when she was feeling hesitant about saying okay to a C-section, her midwife said, ‘You have permission to get a C-section,' not in a way that a midwife was giving her permission, but telling this mom, ‘C-section is okay and you shouldn't feel like having one is wrong.' My baby is 8.5 months and we aren't going to try for a baby until they're about 18-24 months mostly to increase my chances of VBAC, but I really love these podcasts.” Then she says, “Okay, I'll stop raving now.” I love that. Her title is, “If you're considering a VBAC, I highly recommend The VBAC Link.” Thank you so much to– I don't actually know what your name is. Catasuperawesome on this Baby Bump Canada group. Just thank you so much for your review. As always, these reviews brighten our day here at The VBAC Link but most importantly, they help other Women of Strength find these stories like what we are going to be sharing today with Lauren's story. They help people feel empowered and educated and motivated and even first-time moms. They are really truly helping people learn how to avoid unnecessary Cesareans. I truly believe that from the bottom of my heart. Meagan: Okay, Lauren. As you are rocking your sweet, precious babe, I would love to turn the time over to you to share your stories. Lauren: Awesome, thank you. It's so nice to be here finally. I'm so excited because this podcast truly is the reason why I had my VBAC. I am kind of weirdly unique in that I didn't really feel like I had any mothering instincts. My husband and I had been married for 6.5 years before we decided to get pregnant because I always swore off children. I said, “It's not for me. I'm never going to have children. I want to travel and I want to do all of these things and children are for other people. I can't imagine myself as a mom.” My husband said, “Well, let's wait until we are 30,” because we got married really young. He was like, “Let's just wait until we are 30 and we will revisit the discussion.” I always find it kind of nice when I hear stories of women who feel similarly to the way I did because it's so relatable and I feel like we are very few and far between. That's another reason I wanted to share my story because I know there are other women out there like me. So anyway, it just so happened that at this time, my sister was pregnant. My brother was pregnant. My husband's brother was pregnant. We were like, “You know, we're almost 30. We've waited a long time. If we're going to have kids, we might as well have a kid when he or she is going to have all of these cousins.” My husband was like, “Let's start trying.” I'm like, “Great. I'm going to give it two months and if we don't get pregnant, we're not going forward with this. I'm going to say I tried and I can tell everyone I tried and that it didn't work.” Well, God has a sense of humor because two weeks later, I had a positive pregnancy test. Meagan: Two weeks later? Lauren: Yes. Meagan: So you were already pregnant when you had this conversation. Lauren: I was already taking birth control. I was multiple days into the pack. I just threw it in the trash and was like, “Let's just see what happens.” I guess when you do that, you can get pregnant. I don't know. I didn't really have a cycle. I got pregnant. I was so naive about how it all worked. I'm like, “Okay. The test is positive. I'm pregnant. It is what it is. I'm very much pregnant.” I had not doubt. I had no worry about miscarriage, nothing because I had a positive pregnancy test. That's sort of how I went through my pregnancy, kind of disconnected, very naive, and a little bit in denial that I was actually pregnant all the way up until the end. I read one book and it was called The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy and it's this really sarcastic, funny book. She's very flippant about pregnancy and very straightforward with my sense of humor. I liked it because I felt the same way. I wasn't mushy or emotional. I had no connection to the pregnancy. I am pregnant. That's a fact. Anyway, at 26 weeks, my doctor was like, “You know, I think he's breech.” I was like, “Okay.” I knew what breech was, but I'm like, “Okay, what does that mean?” She was like, “Well, I would start doing some Spinning Babies exercises. Let's just keep an eye on it. I was going to a chiropractor this whole time. This is important for people to know. I was going to a chiropractor before I even got pregnant regularly. This chiropractor was seeing me. I told her that the baby was breech. “Can you help me flip him? Can we do some bodywork?” I continued to see her. I don't know if it was once or twice a week but it was often. 36 weeks rolls around and I see the midwife in the practice. She is not finding the heartbeat where it should be. She finds it up higher and she goes, “Lauren, I think your baby is still breech.” I thought there was no way. I had been seeing a chiropractor. I had been doing body work and stuff. She was like, “Well, why don't you go see the chiropractor that our practice recommends?” I'm like, “Okay.” I call this chiropractor on the phone. I leave her a message and I'm like, “I've been seeing another chiropractor, but my baby is breech.” She immediately called me right back and she was like, “What has the chiropractor been doing?” I'm like, “It feels like a normal adjustment like nothing different from before I was pregnant.” She was like, “So you've been on your side and she's been twisting your back and your pelvis away from each other?” You know how they do those kinds of adjustments? I said, “Yes.” She was like, “Oh my gosh.” She's like, “How soon can you come see me?” I started seeing her. My OB actually also recommended moxibustion. She got me set up with an acupuncturist in the area which I thought was really cool that she was like, “Some people say they swear by this. You need to do more Spinning Babies. I want you to go to acupuncture.” I saw this chiropractor and she was like, “What that chiropractor is doing to you is not pregnancy-safe. She's not Webster-certified and you needed to be seeing a Webster-certified chiropractor.” That's one of my regrets because I feel like had I known, obviously, I can't say I blame her 100%. I was also working out a ton because I'm like, “I don't want this pregnancy to change my body. I'm going to be skinny.” That's all I cared about so I'm sure I was holding my abdominal muscles way too tight too. I'm sure I contributed to it as well, but just knowing that probably was a major contributor to what ended up happening to this day irritates me. But anyway, he never flipped. He was solidly in my ribcage. He never moved. I would push on his head and he would not even budge an inch. My doctor was like, “You know, I would normally recommend an ECV, but he seems very wedged in your rib cage. He's stargazing,” which means his head is tilted up. His chin is pointed up. She said, “You are on the low end of normal for amniotic fluid.” She was like, “You have these three strikes against you basically. We can try it if you want to try it, but I'm going to say it's probably not going to work.” I had to wrestle with that. I ended up calling my husband's aunt who is a labor and delivery nurse for 30 years. I asked her for her opinion. I'm like, “Have you ever been in on an ECV? Tell me about it.” Naively, I went with her advice. She said, “If your doctor is not confident, then that means it's not going to work.” She's like, “I've seen so many births and I believe that every baby should be delivered via C-section because birth is dangerous and it's scary.” I'm like, “Okay, okay. I'm just going to move forward with the C-section. I'm so glad I talked to you.” Meagan: Whoa. Lauren: We scheduled the C-section and you know what? It really wasn't that big of a deal. My friend's husband was actually my anesthesiologist. My doctor was there. It was very happy. It was very pleasant. I had gone out to dinner with my friends the night before. If you could plan the perfect C-section, it was the perfect C-section. I just talked to my friend's husband the whole time. Again, not connected to this pregnancy at all. It was very much like, “Okay, a baby is going to come out. What is this going to be like?” I remember the doctor held him up over the curtain. I made eye contact with him and I was like, “Oh my gosh. I'm a mom.” The nurse was like, “Do you want to do skin-to-skin?” I was like, “What's that? Sure.” “Do you want to breastfeed?” “I think so. Sure.” Very naive. What ended up happening was that the recovery was just really tough. The surgery was great, but I did not expect the recovery to be so tough. I feel like the way people speak of C-sections is so casual. “Oh, just have a C-section. I had C-sections for all my babies. It's no big deal. It's a cakewalk.” That's the mindset I went into it with. Same with my husband because I reassured him, “It's no big deal. We're just going with the flow.” No. It's awful. It's major surgery. I'm allergic to– I think a lot of people are– the duramorph that they put in the spinal so I had the most severe, horrible itching for 24 hours to the point that they basically overdosed me on Benadryl because I could not cope and my vitals were crashing. I was barely having any respiration. They had to shake me awake and put cold washcloths on my head. They were like, “Hello,” because I was having such a hard time with the itching. Not only that, but the pain. It's painful. In my surgery, backing up a little bit, the doctor said, “Wow. He's really wedged in there and he's a lot bigger than I expected. I thought he was going to be maybe 7.5-7.25 pounds.” She goes, “He tore your incision coming out because he was so big.” She was like, “You have a J incision now so your incision goes horizontal and then vertically up.” She said, “Unfortunately, that means you'll never be able to have a VBAC. You're just going to be a C-section mama.” I was just lying there like, “Whatever. You're asking me what skin-to-skin is and breastfeeding and no vaginal births.” It was just a lot of information to process and take in and make decisions about. He ended up being 9 pounds. He was a good-sized baby. Anyway, that was my c-section experience. I know I'm probably one of the lucky few who could say that their C-section was so peaceful, really no trauma from it. I just thought, “I'm fine with that.” I watched my sister have a failed TOLAC and it looked kind of traumatizing and she was still traumatized from it just a couple months before my C-section so I'm like, “It's fine. I'll just be a C-section mom, but that recovery was terrible so I'll have one more baby and that's it.” I'm not going to have any more kids. I don't want to experience that again. That was May 2019. Fast forward to COVID times. We were thinking about getting pregnant before my son turned one but COVID hit so we were like, “Let's just give it a couple of months and see what shakes up with this pandemic.” The world stopped. I'm in real estate so for a while, we weren't allowed to show any property or do anything so I just was sitting at home doing nothing. I remember one night, I was just sitting there doing a puzzle bored as heck and I'm like, “I'm going to go listen to a podcast while I do this.” My phone suggested The Birth Hour. I hope I'm allowed to say that. Meagan: I love The Birth Hour, yes. Lauren: I was scrolling through the episodes and there was one on VBAC. I'm like, “Okay, I'm going to listen to this.” The interviewee mentioned The VBAC Link so I was like, Okay, I should check that podcast out. I was like, Why am I even listening to this? This is so not my wheelhouse, childbirth. I still didn't care about it, but listening to these podcasts opened up a whole new world for me. I'm so glad I found it all before I got pregnant. I started listening to all of those podcasts then I think I found through your podcast. I don't think it was The Birth Hour. Someone mentioned Dr. Stu so I started listening to his podcast and man, that guy set fire. He had so much great information. I listened to every podcast pretty much that he had done, especially the ones on VBAC because he talks about VBAC a lot and just how it really shouldn't be a big deal or shouldn't make you high risk and all of that. At the time, he was still graciously reviewing people's op-reports for them and now he doesn't do that. I think you have to pay for it, but I emailed him. I reached out to him and I emailed him my op report and I just said, “If you could look at this, my provider told me I wasn't a VBAC candidate but I want your opinion.” He got right back to me and he was like, “There's no reason you can't have a VBAC. This scar is really not that big of a deal. Yes, it's a special scar, but it shouldn't take away from your opportunity to TOLAC.” I ended up getting pregnant in the fall of 2020 and I went to my first appointment and my OB was like, “What do you want to do for your birth this time?” I'm like, “Did she forget what she told me? She must have forgotten.” I was like, “I want a VBAC.” She was like, “Okay, I'll give you my VBAC consent form and we can talk about it as your pregnancy progresses.” I'm like, “Okay, cool.” I saw her again at 12 weeks and she was like, “I'm having some hesitations because you had such a big baby and your scar is not normal. I think we need to talk about this a little bit more but let's not worry abou tit now. We can put it off and worry about it later.” I was like, “Okay.” I was so bummed because I love my OB. Funny story, I met my OB when I was worked for a home design company called Pottery Barn and I met her one day just helping her buy pillows. I'm like, “What do you do for work?” She was like, “I'm an OB.” I'm like, “Cool. I need an OB.” I had just moved to the area so I just started seeing her. I think I was one of her first patients so she knew me. It wasn't like she was a friend and a provider I only saw once a year, but we always picked up where we left off. We had a good relationship. I really did not want to change providers. I don't want this to sound like I was being manipulative, but I was like, I'm just going to really lean into this good relationship we have and just try to win her over. As the pregnancy progressed, at the next appointment I think I saw a midwife. I talked to the midwife about the VBAC and my OB's opinion and she was like, “I've seen a lot of women VBAC with a J scar at my old practice. I don't think it's a big deal, but I'll talk to the doctor for you and hopefully, we can figure this out.” I was like, “Okay.” Then I want to say I went to my 20-week appointment and they told me, “Okay, your baby is gigantic.” They said, “He is going to be between 9 and 10 pounds,” because he was measuring two weeks ahead. They said, “But the other concern we have is that you have marginal cord insertion and that could make for a small baby.” I'm like, “Okay, so is he big, or is he small?” Clearly that marginal cord insertion is helping him not being 12 pounds? What are you trying to tell me? They're like, “Either way, we suggest that you come back at 32 weeks. We have concerns about his size. He might be a tiny peanut. He might be enormous.” I'm like, “I think I'm good. Thanks, but no thanks.” Thanks to you guys, you push advocation so much that I'm like, “This doesn't add up. You can't tell me that he's too big and too small. I'm just going to go with fundal height and palpation if my doctor has a concern, we'll come back.” I never scheduled that growth scan. I was very protective of this pregnancy. I didn't want any outside opinions. I was so afraid that if I went and had this growth scan, I would be pushed to do a C-section. I wanted an unmedicated birth. I was terrified of the hospital. I was listening to so many podcasts all day every day. It was like an obsession so then I told Meagan before we were recording is that I felt like I was almost idolizing the VBAC. It was all I could think about. It was all I could talk about and it became this unhealthy obsession. Right around 25-26 weeks, I decided to hire a doula and move forward with the VBAC. It didn't matter to me what the doctor said. Right around that time, I was having some hesitations. Just getting that pushback from my doctor and knowing he was big, I started to let the fear creep in. I told my husband, “You know what? Maybe we should just do a C-section. I think I'm overanalyzing this so much. I'm just going to push aside this research I have done because clearly I'm obsessed and it's consuming me.” Meagan: Yeah, which is easy to do. Just to let you know, it really is easy to let it consume you. Lauren: It totally is. I think that we have to take a step back sometimes, come back to reality, and if you let the information override your instincts which I think is really easy to do, I think you can get too wound up or too set on something that might not be meant for you. Speaking of instincts, that night, I still remember. I had told my husband, “I'm just going to have a C-section.” I went to bed and I had a dream. I was in the hospital in the dream and I was holding my baby and my dad walked in. I have a really great relationship with my parents but especially my dad. I love my dad. He comes in the room and he's like, “How did it go?” He was meeting the baby for the first time and I burst into tears in the dream. I said, “Dad, I didn't even give myself the opportunity to VBAC. I just went in for a C-section. I just have so much regret about it and what could have happened if I had tried to have a VBAC.” Meagan: That just gave me the chills. Lauren: Yes. It was so weird. I have never really had a dream like that before. I woke up and I was like, “There's my answer. I have to move forward with this.” Having that dream gave me this peace that there is the instinct I need to follow. Yes, I have all of this information that is consuming me, but it was like, Keep going. I hired a doula which I found through The VBAC Link Facebook page. I put it out there, “Does anyone know a doula in my area?” Julie commented and it happened to be her really good friend who had just moved back to my area. I called her and it turned out that we had mutual friends. We connected really fast. I think, like I said, it was about 26 weeks. I go to my OB again and we had more of a pow-wow like a back-and-forth on the VBAC option. She was like, “I'm just worried about it. A C-section is not that big of a deal. We could just tie your tubes and then you won't have pelvic floor issues.” False. I said, “I got a second opinion from another doctor.” I didn't say it was Dr. Stu. I didn't say it was some guy with a podcast in LA. I said, “I got a second opinion and I feel like I just want the opportunity.” We didn't really land on anything solid, but she got up to leave the room and she got to the door and she turns around. She came back over to me and she gave me this big hug. She said, “I don't want to disappoint you. I want you to be happy, but let's keep talking about this.” I was like, “Okay.” That gave me a little bit of reassurance that I was leaning into that relationship I had built with her over the years because it had been 6 or 7 years of seeing her. I would also bring her flowers. I would always try to talk to her about her life and making a social connection with someone. If you let your doctor intimidate you just from the standpoint of being a stranger, I feel like that can really change the course of your care. But if you try to get to know people, and that's not necessarily a manipulative thing, but I think it's important. It should be important in your relationship with your doctor. If you don't feel like you can connect with them, there is issue number one, but I really felt like I could connect with her. I leaned into that. I have a cookie business on the side. She loved my cookies. We just had some other things to talk about other than my healthcare and I feel like it set this foundation of mutual respect. What doctor comes over, gives you a hug, and tells you, “I want you to love your birth”? So fast forward again, I see her again the next time and she said, “Look. I brought your case to my team and because we support moms who have had two C-sections, we felt like your risk is similar to theirs and that it shouldn't risk you out of a TOLAC so I'm going to support you if this is what you want.” I had given her this analogy that I think was Julie's analogy. She said, “If you needed heart surgery and you were told that you had a 98% chance of success–” because I think my risk of rupture was 2% or maybe a little bit lower, maybe 1.5. I told her this. I'm like, “If you told me I needed heart surgery and I had a 98 or 99% chance of success, we would do it. There would be no question. I have this 1% risk of rupture. I'm coming to the hospital. What gives? I should at least be able to try.” The problem is, I'm sure some people are like, “Why didn't you just switch providers?” We have three hospitals in my area. One is 20 minutes from me and two are one hour away. One of them which is an hour away is the only place where I can VBAC and there isn't a VBAC ban. There is maybe a handful of providers who deliver there. I knew my provider was VBAC-supportive sort of. She had the most experience of a lot of the providers around me so that's why I didn't switch. I had very minimal options for care. I couldn't go to LA or I couldn't go somewhere further away. It would be a four-hour drive either way. We are in an isolated area. I felt like that was a huge win. We are set to go. I remember I told Katrina. Katrina was so happy for me, my doula. I just soldiered on. I started taking Dr. Christopher's Birth Prep at 36 weeks. I was doing my dates and I was really busy in real estate. That's part of my story. I was so busy working super hard and I was getting to the end of my pregnancy. At 38 weeks, I went in and I had clients lined up showings coming up. I was like, “I can't have a baby anytime soon.” I was talking to my provider about it. “Maybe at 40 weeks, we can talk about a membrane sweep or something. I have so much on my plate. I can't have a baby this week.” My husband is a firefighter and his shift that he was going to be taking off was starting maybe the following week. I'm like, “He's not even going to be home. He's going to be gone most of this week. This is a horrible week to have a baby.” I let her check my cervix because I'm like, “I want to see if my birth prep or my dates are doing anything.” At the same time, I still had this fear of, What if I do all of this work and I don't even dilate? That was kind of what happened with my sister so I had that fear in the back of my mind. She checks me and she was like, “You are 2 centimeters dilated, 50% effaced. You're going to make it to your due date no problem. We're not even going to talk about an induction until 41 weeks.” She was like, “I'm just not worried about it. He doesn't feel that big to me. He doesn't feel small. He doesn't feel too big. He feels like a great size.” I said, “I know. I feel really confident that he's going to be 8 pounds, 2 ounces.” I spoke that out. I said, “That's my gut feeling. I just have so much confidence and peace about this birth. I just know it's going to work out.” I go on my merry little way from that appointment. I'm walking around. We had gone down to the beach. We were walking around and I'm like, “Man, I'm so crampy. For some reason, that check made me so, so crampy.” This was 38 weeks exactly. We go back home and I have prodromal labor that night. I'm telling Katrina about it. She goes, “You know, I bet the check irritated your uterus.” The next day, I start having some bloody discharge. I'm like, “What is this? What does this mean?” I told Katrina and she said, “It could mean nothing. It could mean labor is coming soon. We'll just have to see.” I hadn't slept the whole night before. She was like, “You need to get a good night's sleep.” I had to show property all day. I met these clients for the first time. I showed four or five houses to them and meanwhile, I'm like, “Gosh, I'm so sore and tired and crampy.” I told them, “I'm very obviously pregnant, but my due date is not until the end of the month.” This was June 10th and my due date was June 23rd. I said, “We have time. If you need to see houses, it shouldn't be a big deal. I don't want my pregnancy to scare you away.”That night, I get home and I'm like, “I'm going to bed. It's 8:00. I'm going to bed. I'm going to take Benadryl and I'm going to get the best night's sleep.” They call me at 9:00 PM and they're like, “Lauren, we saw this house online. It's brand new on the market. We have to see it.” They lived a couple of hours away so I'm like, “I'll go and I'll Facetime you from the house. I'll go tomorrow.” Tomorrow being June 11th. I'm like, “We'll make it happen. I promise I will get you a showing on this house.”I texted Katrina and I'm like, “Oh my gosh. I feel so crampy and so sore. Something might be going on, but I have to work tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.” I wake up the next morning. It's now June 11th and I lose my mucus plug immediately first thing. There was some blood. It was basically bloody show. I told Katrina and she's like, “Okay, just keep me posted. I have a feeling he's going to come this weekend. It was a Friday. I'm like, “Well, he can't because my husband works Saturday, Sunday, Monday. I don't have time to have a baby.” We go to the showing. I'm finally alone without my toddler and my husband. I'm in the car and I'm like, “Man, my lower back hurts. It's just coming and going but nothing to write home about, just a little bit of cramping.” Of course, I never went into labor with my first so I did not know what to expect. I get to the showing and this house had a really steep staircase. I'm Facetiming my clients and I'm going up the stairs. It was probably at noon and I'm thinking to myself, Man, it's really hard to go up these stairs. Why do I feel so funny? I finish up the showing and they're like, “We want the house. This is the house for us.” I get back in the car. I'm getting all of their information. I'm talking to the other agent. I start the offer and I'm like, “I'm just going to drive home and get in my bed because I don't feel good. I'm just going to write this offer from my bed and everything will be fine.” I get home and I tell my husband at 2:30, “I'm just going to sit in our bed and get this offer sent off.” Mind you, I had a work event, a big awards event that night for my whole office and we were going to have to leave at 4:00 PM. My in-laws were going to come get my son and take him to sleep over. It's 2:30. I'm writing this offer and I'm like, “I don't feel good.” My partner calls me. I tell her, “Listen, I don't know if I'm in labor, but I don't feel well. Maybe I have a stomach bug. I'm going to write this offer. I'm going to give you my clients' information and I want you to take over for me a little bit. They know I'm really pregnant, but this could just be a sickness but either way if something happens, I want them to have the best care and be taken care of if we are going to send this offer off.” I send the offer off. It's 3:30 at this point. I close my computer and I'm waiting for them to DocuSign. I text my husband, “There's no way I'm going tonight. I don't feel well. Something is up. I'm not sure what.” He didn't see my text for a little while. He comes in the room at 4:00 and he starts to talk to me. I literally fall to the ground with my first contraction. I'm in active labor.I don't know it yet, but I'm in active labor. I'm just like, “It feels like there's a wave crashing in my body.” That was the best way I could describe it. I'm like, “I feel this building. It's an ebb and flow,” but it reminded me of playing in the waves as a kid because I grew up in Orange County at the beach and just that feeling of the waves hitting you when you are playing in the surf. I'm like, “This is really intense. What is going on?” I'm like, “I'm certain it's a stomach bug.” I told him, “I have gas or something.” I was just like, “I'm going to give myself an enema and this will all go away.” I did that and sitting down on the toilet, I was like, “Oh my gosh.” It made everything so much more intense. I texted Katrina, “Something is going on. I'm not really sure it is.” She's like, “Well, why don't you try timing some contractions for me and let me know?” I crawl into my closet. I can hear my son and my husband getting ready. My son was 2 so of course, 2-year-olds are not always behaving. I can hear them interacting. I crawl into my closet and I'm lying on the floor in the dark. The contractions are 3.5-4 minutes apart lasting a minute. I was like, “I'm still pretty sure this is a stomach thing that is happening every 3-4 minutes.” I call Katrina and I'm like, “I don't know. I think I'm in labor. This is the length of my contractions. It's probably just prodromal.” I had so much prodromal.She was like, “Um, it doesn't really sound like prodromal labor, but I'll let you just figure it out. You let me know when you are ready for support. Make sure you are eating anything. Have you eaten anything today?” “No.” “Have you had any water?” “Not really.” “Okay. Please eat something. Please drink some water and keep me posted.” She goes, “Can you talk through the contractions?” I said, “I can cry.” She's like, “Okay. I'm ready to go as soon as you tell me.” Then the next thing I know, literally, this is probably an hour later so at 4:00 I had my first contraction. Now it's 5:00 and I'm like, “The contractions are 3 minutes apart and lasting a minute.” I said, “Maybe you should come over. I think Sean (my husband) is getting a little nervous.” We were still so naive. We didn't know what labor looked like and what was going on. We were like, “If we're not going to the event, why don't we just keep August (my son) at home? I'll just make him dinner and I'm going to make you dinner.” He starts prepping dinner and I'm like, “I don't think either of us really know what's going on.” Of course, Katrina knew what was going on and probably thought I was a crazy person but I was very much in denial. We texted her to come over and she gets there. I'm lying in my bed and she's like, “Okay, yeah. They're coming 2.5-3 minutes apart. If you're ready to go to the hospital, I'm ready to go with you.” I'm mooing through these contractions, vocalizing everything. I'm like, “It just feels good to vocalize and I just really keep having to use the bathroom. It's probably just my stomach.” She's like, “No.” I can hear her outside my bathroom telling my husband, “I think we should go. She's really vocalizing a lot and that usually means it's pretty substantial, active labor.” Meanwhile, all I can think about is, “I've got to get this offer in for my clients.” I'm waiting on DocuSign, checking my email. Finally, it comes through. This is 6:00, maybe 6:30. I see it come in. I send it off and I'm standing at my kitchen counter with my computer on, mooing, doing this freaking offer. I go to cross my legs as I'm leaning over and I'm like, “I can't cross my legs, Katrina. I feel like my bones are separating.” She's like, “Yeah, baby is probably descending into your pelvis. I think we should get going if you're okay with going.” We have a 45 to an hour drive depending on traffic and the time of day. It's a Friday night so basically where I live, there's not a ton of traffic but we get in the car. She's following us and we get to the hospital. It's probably 7:15-7:30 or something like that. I'm telling my husband as I'm mooing through these contractions, “This really isn't that bad. If this is labor, it's intense and it feels like there's an earthquake in my body, but I would not tell you that I'm in any pain right now.” He's like, “Okay, whatever you say lady.” We ended up having to walk across the whole hospital parking lot to the ER because the regular hospital entrance was closed. As soon as we walked in the hospital, the hormones changed. The adrenaline kicks in. I start feeling pain. I start feeling a little bit panicky and it starts getting harder to cope through these contractions. I'm on the floor of the triage room crying into a trash can and everyone is staring at me. Katrina's like, “They need to stop staring!” She was trying to defend me while my husband is answering all of their dumb questions like, “What's your favorite color? What city is your mom born in?” They're like, “Let's just put you in a wheelchair and get you up there.” I'm like, “I can't sit.” Anytime I tried to sit, the contractions were a minute apart and they were so intense. I get there and I was so protective of this birth and outside interventions, I just was like, “Everything is evil. Cervical checks are evil. The epidural is evil. Everything is going to make me have a C-section.” I was like, “I don't want to know how dilated I am. I don't want anyone in this room to know except the nurse. That's who is allowed to know how dilated I am.” She checks me and the doctor comes in. It was the hospitalist and of all the providers in my area, it was miraculous that I got this hospitalist because he has so much experience. He is so calm, so kind, so supportive. He just said, “Hi, Lauren. I'm Dr. so-and-so and you're in labor. Happy laboring.” No concerns about my TOLAC, nothing. He didn't even bring it up. He didn't ask to check, nothing. Just, “Happy laboring,” and he left the room. I'm like, “Okay. Clearly I'm in active labor.” So then they were getting the tub ready because my room had a tub and as we were waiting for it to warm up, I'm sitting on the ball. I'm having all this bloody show. The nurse asked to check me again before I get in the tub. Unknowingly, I had been 5 centimeters when we arrived. I was 7 now when we got in the tub an hour later. I get in the tub and I wouldn't say it provided me any relief. Honestly, I was so in my head and not necessarily in pain, just so mentally unaware of everything going on, in labor land, but also very overwhelmed by the intensity of it. I told Katrina, “George Washington could have been sitting in the corner watching me labor. I would not have known.” I barely opened my eyes. I had a nurse who was there sitting with us because I had to have a one-on-one nurse for being high-risk and I had to have continuous fetal monitoring. Because I was in the water, she needed to sit there and make sure the monitors didn't move. I couldn't have told you what she looked like, nothing. I didn't speak to her. I was in another world. I think I maybe was in the tub for 30 minutes to an hour. It's probably 9:00 or 10:00. I can't even remember the timeline of it but it wasn't that long of a labor. My water breaks and I start grunting. They're like, “Let's get you out of the tub. Let's get you out of the tub.” I think I was 9 centimeters at this point. We arrived at 7:30. This is probably 10:00 PM or something like that. I'm like, “Okay. I'm just going to lean over the back of this bed and just moo and make noises.” Me being who I am and not super emotional, I'm making jokes about how I sound. I'm like, “You guys, I sound like Dory in Finding Nemo. I'm so embarrassed. Please don't look at my butthole.” I was naked. I'm making all these jokes and coping, I would say pretty well in terms of pain but just very overwhelmed by the intensity of it. They come in and check me and they're like, “Okay, you're complete.” This is at 11:00 PM maybe or 10:30, something like that. But she was like, “You have a little bit of a cervical lip.” It was a provider I hadn't met before at my OB's office but they were like, “We will just let you do your thing. You sound pushy but please don't push because you have a lip. Let's just let him descend.” I could feel his head inside of myself. I could feel his head coming down. I was like, “I want it to be over. I want it to be over.” I'm still in denial of this whole thing this entire time. Are we sure it's not poop? I know there's a baby coming out. Once my water broke, I'm like, “Okay, I guess I'm having a baby.” That was really, truly the first time that I was like, “Okay, this is really happening.”Maybe 30 minutes later, the hospitalist peeks his head in the room and he's like, “Lauren, why don't you try laying on your side?” I tried and it was too painful. I flip over on my back and three pushes later, he comes flopping out. I screamed him out and it was super painful. I was so overwhelmed by how painful it was. I just screamed like a crazy, wild woman. He's on my chest and he's screaming and I'm in all this pain and then she's like, “I've got to give you lidocaine. You tore a little bit. I'm going to stitch you up.” It was just all this pain happening at once, but I was like, “I got my VBAC. That's all that matters. No one touched me and I got my VBAC. I don't care about anything else.” Anyway, it was great. I would not change it for the world because I never had a ton of pain. I never really thought I needed an epidural, but it was a little bit mentally overwhelming. Meagan: Mhmm, sure. Lauren: Anyway, that was my first VBAC. The doctor said, “You pushed so primally. That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.” The hospitalist was like, “That was incredible to watch. You are a badass.” I was like, “That was such a compliment because I didn't know what I was doing and you're this doctor with all the experience.” Anyway, fast forward to my third pregnancy. This is now the summer of 2023. We decide we're going to have one more baby. I of course had no issues with the VBAC this time because I had a successful TOLAC with my second. I made it to 20 weeks. I had COVID, RSV, and the flu all right around then so they were telling me, “Your baby is measuring totally normal.” I'm like, “Yeah, because I've been sick as a dog for 6 weeks.” I'm like, “Maybe I'm going to get this newborn who is a normal size,” because my son was born at 38 and 2, the second one, and he was 8 pounds, 3 ounces. I had told my doctor 8 pounds, 2 ounces. I was one ounce off. I was like, “Maybe I'll get this little peanut baby and it's going to be so great. I'll finally have a newborn who fits in a diaper for more than two days.” Then I hit 33 weeks and I got huge. I just exploded inside. I go to my OB and I'm like, “I don't feel good. I'm too big. This baby is too big. Something is wrong.” She's like, “No, Lauren. I really just think you make big babies and he just went through a growth spurt. Let's not worry. I'm not going to have you do an ultrasound or anything like that. If he continues to measure 2-3 weeks ahead,” because I was measuring 36 weeks at 33 weeks, “then we can talk about it, but I don't want to worry about it.” I was like, “Okay.” I was having all of this round ligament pain more than I had with my others and prodromal labor was so painful. I remember telling Katrina who I hired again, “I feel like something is wrong with my muscles. I just am so uncomfortable. But I don't want to make any rash decisions based on it. I might get an epidural if this keeps up because this doesn't feel normal. “She was like, “Okay, whatever works.” So I get to my 38-week appointment and I'm thinking, I'm going to have this baby at 38 weeks just like I had my second baby. I had everything ready. Everything was good to go at my house and then day by day, it ticks on. Baby is not coming. Baby is not coming. I was due April 6th. This was just this year, 2024. I get to 38 weeks. I tell my doctor, “Just strip my membranes. I don't even care.” She was like, “Okay, I guess if that's what you want.” She did. Nothing happened. 39 weeks rolls around. She strips my membranes again. Nothing really happens and then the night of Easter, I had this strange experience where I woke up in the middle of the night and I had this contraction that wouldn't end. I couldn't feel the baby move and it freaked me out. I did everything I could to get him to move. I was in the shower. I was eating. I was drinking and doing all of these things. Finally, I called Katrina at 2:00 in the morning. I'm like, “My baby's dead. I'm 100% sure he's gone. What do I do?” She's like, “Lauren, just relax. Lie on your side and drink something sweet.” We were ready to go to the hospital. I remember we had a stethoscope. I got the stethoscope and I put it right where I knew his heartbeat was and I heard a heartbeat. I burst into tears. It was the first time I've ever cried with any of my babies even being put on my chest. I just felt this relief because I had so much anxiety about him with my size being so big and the pain I was having. I was like, “I just want this baby out.” I never really felt that way, but it was this desperate anxiety. A couple of days passed and I'm now in week 39. I'm like, “My uterus is silent like a little church mouse. She's not doing a thing. She's not cramping. She's not contracting. No discharge, nothing.” I'm like, “This baby is never going to come.” I tell my doctor at my 39-week appointment, “If this baby hasn't come by Friday, I'm back here and I want another membrane sweep.” I felt kind of crazy because I'm like, “This is technically an induction, like a natural and I'm intervening.” Me who never wanted anyone to touch me and now I'm like, “Please touch me and pull this baby out of my body.” She goes to check me and she's like, “Lauren, I think he's coming tonight. Your body contracted around my hand when I tried to sweep you. I just wouldn't be surprised. Don't worry.” I'm like, “Okay, well you're breaking my water on Monday.” I was 3 or 4 centimeters dilated and I'm like, “We're waiting until Monday but I want you to break my water because I'm over it.” She's like, “That's a good idea. Let's threaten this baby and he'll come right out.” This was early in the morning on Friday, the 5th. Anyway, I had all of this anxiety and I just felt like he needed to come out. I couldn't get any peace until I knew he was alive and happy and healthy and on my chest. Friday afternoon, I felt crampy just a little bit the whole day and then at 4:30 PM, I feel this gush and I'm like, “Okay. Is that my water or is it my pee?” because his head felt like it was on my bladder. I didn't say anything to anyone. Then 6:00 rolls around. I text Katrina. I'm like, “Listen, I felt a little gush and I keep feeling it. I put a pad on and it doesn't seem to be urine. I'm not really sure what's happening. I'm just going to do some Miles Circuit and I'll update you.”At 7:30, I'm cleaning my kitchen and all of a sudden, I'm hit with an active labor contraction. I'm like, “Not again. I want labor to start normally so I know what's happening.” No. Baby's like, “I'm ready.” At 7:30, I tell her, “Okay, I'm feeling contractions. I'm getting in the shower to see if it will stop. It might be prodromal. Let's give it an hour. I'm going to text you, but they are 2.5 minutes apart.” She's like, “I'm at dinner. I'm getting boxes. Just let me know.” I was like, “Okay. It might stop though so I wouldn't worry about it.” No, it did not stop. She gets to my house at 9:00 and my car is already running. I'm like, “We're going.” I am mooing through these contractions. I'm going to pop this baby out right now. I had thankfully put some chux pads in the back of my car. I'm on all fours in the back of my car. Mind you, we have to drive an hour to the hospital. I peed all over the chux pad. I just was like, “He's on my bladder. He's on my bladder.” It was so painful and I couldn't control anything. I'm like, “Is this water? Is this pee? I don't even know what's happening.” We get to the hospital. He did not come in the car, thank God, but we did have to go to the ER again and the ER was taking forever. It took a half hour to get me up to labor and delivery as I'm actively mooing in front of the hospital. I was like, “I'm not going in,” because there was a little girl sitting in the waiting room and some convict sitting with a police officer. I'm like, “I'm not having my labor in front of these people!” Even the police officer came out and he was like, “I don't understand what is taking so long. You are clearly about to have this baby. I will bust open these doors for you and walk you up to L&D myself if that's what it takes.” Finally, they got me up there. I arrived. I told Katrina and my husband, “You guys, I'm getting an epidural.” I said, “I have had so much anxiety and so much pain. This does not feel like my previous labor. This feels like I'm suffering.” I said, “I just want to smile. I just want to smile. I want to smile this baby out.” We get up there. I'm 8 centimters dilated. This was the part of the story that I feel like it comes back to advocating for myself. I go in there and I'm like, “I don't care what you need from me. I just need the epidural and stat.” The nurses are scrambling and this doctor walks in. I am on all fours on the bed just staring at the ground, actively transitioning. I see this doctor walk in. I see his feet and he had his shoelaces untied. Immediately, I'm just like, “No. It's a no.” I don't know why. I just was like, “Your shoes are dirty and they are untied. You seem like a hot mess. I'm already a hot mess. I want someone to come in and just be like clean-cut and normal.” He starts asking me all these questions. He's asking me my whole health history, everything about my grandparents, my parents, all of this stuff. I'm in transition then he goes, “You're aware of the risk of TOLAC, right?” I said, “Yes.” He goes, “That your uterus could burst wide open?” I literally saw red. I'm in a contraction and I just screamed like a wild lady. I was like, “Get out.” I wanted to add on some expletives and tell him to get out of the room. I just said, “Get food.” He was like, “I'm  just saying.” He ended up leaving and my nurse peeks her head under. I look over and I see this nurse peeking her head right into my face and it's the same nurse who was there with my first VBAC. She goes, “You don't have to accept care from him.” She goes, “Your doctor is actually the backup on-call doctor tonight.” She goes, “If you refuse care, we can call her and she can come in.” I was like, “Oh my gosh. This is a miracle.” We get the epidural. I'm like, “We've got to slow this thing down. I don't want to have this baby and have this crazy man who I cannot stand anywhere near my body parts, anywhere in this room.” We get the epidural and everything slowed down. I labored down. My doctor ended up coming in and she checked me. She was like, “Your bag is bulging. It feels like rubber. It's so thick.” She was like, “I think that's why he's not coming out.” We got to the hospital at 9:30-9:45. By the time we got in the room, 11:00 by the time I got the epidural, and the anesthesiologist was like, “You're going to have this baby in 30 minutes. I'm certain of it.” To slow it down, I'm closing my legs and doing all of these things to slow it down.My doctor comes in. She breaks my water and fluid goes everywhere. It floods the floor. She goes, “I don't remember any time I've ever seen this much water come out of someone without polyhydramnios. Maybe you had it. I don't know but this is an insane amount of water.” She breaks my water and then my epidural was a pretty low dose because he thought I was having the baby in 30 minutes. It's now 2:30 in the morning and I haven't had the baby yet. I'm getting up on my knees. I'm leaning over the back of the bed and I feel him descending. Then my doctor comes in an hour later and she's like, “Let's get this baby out.” It was 3:30 in the morning and she's like, “Let's go.” She feels me. She's like, “You're complete. I feel his head right here. You just need to push and you can't feel that his head is right here.” So I just get on my back, in lithotomy with the freaking stirrups like I said I would never do with the epidural I said I would never get and I pushed him out in three pushes. He was 9 pounds, 7 ounces. I am so glad I got that epidural. No regrets there because that's a really freaking huge baby. His head was in the 100th percentile or something like gigantic. I tore a little bit again, but I feel like the tradeoff was this peaceful, happy birth. I was making jokes. I had this nurse that I loved and knew. I had my doctor I loved and knew. I had Katrina and I had my husband who were the only people in the room and we laughed our way into this birth. I laughed my baby out basically. I was making jokes the whole time and I just had this peaceful experience. I told my husband, “I know I railed on the epidural my whole pregnancy and I said I would never get it,” but it's a tool ultimately. It's a tool. If you use it wisely, I was very far along. I said, “I don't think it's going to stop my labor.” I felt really confident in my decision. I didn't feel like anything was pushed on me. I made the decision. I'm happy I did it that way. Would I do it again that way? I don't know. I think with every birth, you should be open-minded to the possibilities and your needs. I hear so many stories where women are like, “And then I got the epidural. I had to.” I'm like, “It's okay. Own that decision. You're no worse off for getting it and it doesn't make you any less of a mom or any less of a good person for getting it. It's okay to not feel every single pain of labor if it's overclouding your ability to be in the moment.” Meagan: Yeah.Lauren: So anyway, that was my second VBAC story. Honestly, it was so redemptive because there was no trauma from the pain of having this wild, chaotic, primal birth. It was just peaceful and happy with all of the people. If I could have dreamt up a list of people who could have been with me, that's who it would have been. Meagan: Good. Oh, I love that you pointed that out. Well, I am so happy for you. Congrats again, 11 days ago and right now I want to thank you again so much for sharing your story. Lauren: Thank you for having me. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

It is increasingly becoming more important for brands to consider the physical needs of consumers. Sixteen percent of the world's population has some form of disability. This often doesn't include people who have temporary or situational disabilities. Another growing sector of the population where accessibility considerations are growing in prominence is the aging population. Baby Boomers make up 21% of the population in the U.S., with the youngest of this generation beginning to enter their sixties.  Recognizing the unmet need, Michael Graves Design, known as the most accessible design brand, has teamed up with furniture retailer to release the Michael Graves Design for Pottery Barn collection. In this episode, I sat down with Ben Wintner, CEO of Michael Graves Design to learn more about their approach to creating products that work for a broader group of consumers, as well as about the partnership with Pottery Barn. Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter

Gayle Zalduondo is a creative soul and seasoned serial entrepreneur. Among her many accomplishments is co-founding an acclaimed and innovative furniture company, Urbanus, with Andrew Kelly. For 20 years, Gayle served as CEO and lead designer for Urbanus, creating furniture for national retailers such as Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. She and Andrew successfully grew Urbanus to a business employing 85 employees.Gayle has since co-founded Miami's Little River Box Company, a firm that has transformed shipping containers into restaurants, kitchens, bars, bathrooms and homes. She Is in the midst of exploring her next creative act. This exploration has included movement studies. personal transformation tools, and becoming a Path of Azul teacher.www.gaylezalduondo.com

Elevating Your Brand: The Impact of Hiring a Fractional CMO In a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Show," host Josh Elledge engaged in a compelling conversation with Jessica Shirra, a fractional CMO for seven-figure brands and the founder of Navi, a boutique fractional CMO agency. They explored the unique advantages of hiring a fractional CMO, the specialized services provided by Navi, and the transformative impact these services have on businesses. This blog post distills the key insights from the episode, offering actionable advice and detailed explanations to guide listeners and readers alike.A fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is a marketing executive who works with companies on a part-time basis, providing high-level strategic guidance without the full-time commitment. This role is particularly beneficial for businesses that need expert marketing leadership but may not have the resources to hire a full-time CMO. Jessica Shirra's agency, Navi, specializes in working with six and seven-figure brands, particularly those with digital products such as membership subscriptions, courses, and e-commerce. Navi's approach emphasizes data-driven decision-making and comprehensive business assessments, ensuring that marketing strategies are tailored to align with the business's goals and resources.One of the significant benefits of hiring a fractional CMO, as shared by Jessica, is the relief it provides to founders and CEOs, allowing them to focus on other critical aspects of their business. Navi's professionalism and elevated standards have been praised by clients, resulting in overall business improvement. Ideal clients for Navi are established businesses with sufficient revenue or funding, an adequate marketing budget, and existing marketing support to implement the strategies developed by the fractional CMO. For businesses looking to elevate their marketing efforts without the commitment of a full-time executive, exploring the services of a fractional CMO like Jessica Shirra from Navi could be a transformative step in their growth journey. About Jessica Shirra:Jess Shirra is a Fractional CMO, and the founder of Fractional CMO School. Her days are spent supporting her 7-figure clients, helping them grow their membership + course businesses. Additionally she mentors other marketers to launch and grow their own Fractional CMO business. With more than 15 years in the field, she's led marketing for both high-growth startups, well-known global names like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Jenna Kutcher, Strava, and Deloitte to name a few. Jess' philosophy is rooted in customer-first marketing, which she believes makes marketing and sales effortless and cultivates fiercely loyal brand advocates. She upholds that the key to true excellence is focusing on doing fewer things, but executing them exceptionally well.About Navi:Navi is a boutique agency offering Fractional CMO and contract marketing services to high-growth D2C brands on a fractional and project basis. We specialize in marketing for memberships, online education, high-ticket digital offerings, and e-commerce.Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out Navi website athttps://www.jessicashirra.com/Check out Navi on LinkedIn athttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hire-a-cmoCheck out Jessica Shirra on LinkedIn athttps://ca.linkedin.com/in/jessicashirraDon't forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank

Furniture Industry News - Episode NotesEpisode Title: Furniture Industry Update - July 17, 2024Welcome Note:Welcome to 'Furniture Industry News,' your essential source for the latest updates and insights in the furniture world. Whether you're a retailer, manufacturer, designer, or just passionate about furniture, this episode has something for you.Key Topics Covered:June 2024 Furniture Store Sales:Sales declined by 4% compared to June 2023.The decline is smaller than earlier months of 2024, indicating potential stabilization.Sales at brick-and-mortar stores reached $11.1 billion, down from $11.6 billion in 2023 but still above pre-pandemic levels.Trend Towards Made-in-America Furniture:Rising import costs and changing consumer preferences drive interest in domestic furniture.Companies like Copeland Furniture benefit from shorter lead times and customizable products.Challenges include labor availability and maintaining automated systems.ChargeAfter and Snap Finance Partnership:Expansion of subprime lending options.Integration aims to provide instant, no-credit-required financing, enhancing point-of-sale experiences.Significant potential market with 57 million Americans holding subprime credit ratings.Class-Action Lawsuit Against Poly & Bark:Allegations of false reference pricing practices.Continuous cycle of discounts potentially misleading consumers.Emphasis on the importance of transparent and ethical pricing practices in retail.Best Retailers List by Newsweek and Statista:Highlights top home furnishings brands based on customer feedback.Ethan Allen, Armani Casa, and Pottery Barn among top in the premium category.NFM, American Furniture Warehouse, and La-Z-Boy lead the general furniture category.Macy's 'Bold New Chapter' Strategy:Plan includes closing underperforming stores, enhancing remaining locations, and expanding small-format stores.Focus on luxury growth through Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury.Modernizing operations with a scalable technology platform to streamline fulfillment and inventory management.

In our final episode of Season 8 we welcome Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, the leading home furnishings player with over 100 stores in 9 countries.Janet shares leadership lessons from a remarkable career with brands like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Nike, and Gap and, now, in her current role driving growth at the owner of Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Hudson Grace. We delve into her perspectives on the role of technology, the changing nature of work in a post-COVID world, and more. We also get a glimpse into the drive forces behind their new flagship store in New York's Flatiron District. But before our fantastic interview we unpack the week in retail news, starting with Amazon achieving another remarkable milestone, along with word of its pending launch of a Temu/Shein fighter. Then we try to make sense of just what the heck is going on at Walgreen's before dipping into less than stellar earnings news from Nike and JC Penney. We wrap up with what seem like forever troubles at Forever 21. About JanetJanet Hayes is a retail industry veteran, with more than 30 years of leadership experience building digitally-led and customer-centric organizations. Currently, Janet is CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, a role she started in August 2020, amidst a global pandemic that catalyzed a pivotal shift in consumers' lives and the retail industry as a whole.Focused on building modern, authentic brands, Janet maximizes growth and profitability by elevating the customer experience through an omnichannel and personalized brand presence.A modern mindset guides Janet's leadership style and centers around making decisions rooted in personal purpose. Janet is an inspiring, inclusive leader who builds, mentors, and leads high performing teams that reflect CBH customers' unique values and experiences.www.crateandbarrel.comApp: Download the new Crate & Barrel App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crate-barrel/id529356019 About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the all new Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , now available for purchase in the U.S. and available for pre-order at book retailers elsewhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..Don't forget to join Steve's new Linked Group for his new book.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail,Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.

Top Stories1. HomeStreet Bank & FirstSun merger⁠PSBJ article⁠2. The future of pharmacies⁠Fortune article⁠3. Electrician strike ends⁠Seattle Times article⁠4. Costco lawsuit⁠Seattle Times article⁠5. Getty Images co-founder leaves board⁠PSBJ article⁠Guest co-host Kathi Lentzsch - Board Member and former CEO of Bartell Drugs:Kathi is the co-chair for the Women Corporate Directors Foundation, a board member of Skagit Valley Malting, a board member for UW's Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking. Prior to this, she was a board member for 4Front Ventures which dealt with cannabis cultivation, board member of Pharmacy Value Alliance, CEO of Bartell Drugs, interim CEO of Gump's in San Francisco, President of Enesco Gift Division, CEO of Elephant Pharmacy in California, and leadership roles at Pottery Barn, WorldMarket, and Pier1 Imports.Host Rachel Horgan:Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.Contact:Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @theweeklyseattleWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠

 Summer Savings Series:  How to score the GOOD STUFF on FB Marketplace   In today's episode I'm talking with Alissa, a client of mine. Just like you and me, Alissa has Pottery Barn taste, but a Target budget. Yet every time I talked with her on our decorating coaching calls (aka Decorating SOS calls) she would always show me her latest name brand home decor find. Both big and small, Alissa seemed to have a knack for scoring the good stuff...the REALLY good stuff.    But like the thrifting strategies I shared in episodes #257 and #258, Alissa's finds weren't dumb luck. They were strategic.    She's sharing her top strategies for shopping successfully on FB Marketplace and one of them is SO GOOD, you're GUARANTEED to score the good stuff too!      // Links mentioned in show: //  Email: hello@figandfarmathome.com Website: https://www.figandfarmathome.com Instagram: @figandfarm Community: https://bit.ly/design101group Home Design 101: https://www.figandfarmathome.com/home-design-101   Happy treasure hunting! Dani    

Let's ChatEver wondered how TikTok can revolutionize your brand's marketing strategy? Join us on Sneaker Anarchy as we sit down with Nikki Lindgren, the visionary founder of Pennock, a digital marketing powerhouse dedicated to female-led beauty and lifestyle brands. Nikki brings her wealth of experience from e-commerce giants like Pottery Barn and World Market to share her journey of launching her own firm in 2020. Discover the unique advantages of TikTok over other social platforms and why it's a game-changer for digital advertising with higher engagement rates and cost-effectiveness.Unlock the secrets of audience targeting with Nikki's expert insights into the latest advancements in machine learning on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Learn the pros and cons of broad versus granular audience targeting and why newer brands often face unique challenges. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned marketer, Nikki's advice on consulting digital marketing experts will help you navigate the complexities of identifying and reaching your niche audience.But that's not all—Nikki dives deep into practical strategies for new brands looking to grow through TikTok and other channels. From balancing paid ads with earned and owned media to leveraging TikTok's creator portal for influencer collaborations, you'll get actionable tips to boost your brand's visibility and credibility. Don't miss our discussion on optimizing budgets, sequencing campaigns, and avoiding common pitfalls. Plus, we invite you to send in your burning questions for future episodes. Tune in for a treasure trove of digital marketing wisdom!Support the Show.Follow The Show On All Socials Using The Tag @skincareanarchy

Freddy Rodriguez, also known as @freddynotfred, established his digital footprint with his blog on Tumblr called Blue Perk in 2011 in New York City. Over the years, Freddy has evolved Blue Perk into a dynamic lifestyle brand that has worked with various clients such as  H&M, Kenneth Cole, Samsung, Toyota, Pottery Barn, Visit Berlin, Visit Puerto Vallarta, Jet Blue, and more. Freddy curates content that resonates with digitally savvy, LGBTQ+, fashion-forward urbanites, offering a kaleidoscope of happy, uplifting moments. Freddy dedicates himself fully to managing his brand, dividing his time between Los Angeles, New York City, and various vibrant cultural hubs globally, perpetuating his mission of spreading joy, fashion, and LGBTQ+ acceptance through colorful experiences.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freddynotfred/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freddy.notfred Website: https://blueperkmoment.com/ Tumblr: https://blueperk.tumblr.com/ Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

You can be passionate about what you do, but the first hurdle to overcome in your creative business is often getting people to know you exist. This is where Lexi Kentmann comes in. For the past 20 years she has been helping brands get noticed, and build up trust and connection with the right people. Lexi has worked with industry leaders such as West Elm, Pottery Barn and Freedom, as well as smaller boutique brands. Come listen to her advice on how to get noticed and traction for your creative business. Let's connect! Instagram: instagram.com/nataliewalton Website: nataliewalton.com Get Your Essential Guide to Style with Clarity & Confidence: nataliewalton.com/handbook Learn The 7 Secrets to Take Your Interiors to the Next Level: nataliewalton.com/secrets Get Your FREE Step by Step Plan to Design & Grow Your Dream Creative Business: nataliewalton.com/thrive

Williams-Sonoma Inc. released their Q1 2024 earnings report on May 22, 2024. During the earnings call, CEO Laura Alber stated the strong quarterly results were driven by the company's focus on three key priorities: returning to growth, elevating customer service, and driving margin.Analysts from firms like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and UBS posed questions on topics ranging from market trends and accounting adjustments to growth initiatives and margin improvements. Key areas of interest included trends in big-ticket items, cost of goods sold changes, performance of the outdoor category, operating margin guidance, drivers of trade and furniture improvements, growth initiative impacts, advertising investment plans, signs of a replacement cycle, and gross margin opportunities.Despite a 4.9% decline in comparable brand revenue, Williams-Sonoma delivered a strong Q1 performance with a 19.5% operating margin, aided by a one-time freight accrual reversal benefit. Their three key priorities were returning to growth through innovation, design, digital marketing, and e-commerce enhancements, elevating customer service through training and supply chain efficiencies, and driving margin through full-price selling and reduced promotions.Brand performance highlights included sequential improvement at Pottery Barn despite furniture weakness, strength at West Elm with reduced promotions, continued kitchen category growth at Williams-Sonoma, positive comps in children's brands, and a 10% increase in the B2B segment.For fiscal 2024, the company projects net revenue fluctuating between -3% to +3% with sequential improvements, and an operating margin of 17-17.4% excluding one-time benefits. Strategic focuses include innovation and design leveraging proprietary capabilities, enhancing the digital experience, supply chain optimization, and customer acquisition through marketing.While acknowledging challenges, executives expressed confidence in their ability to navigate market dynamics and drive long-term growth through their strategic initiatives. However, a realistic assessment of the competitive landscape and economic conditions suggests a cautious outlook is warranted. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theearningscall.substack.com

My Guest this week is Jess Shirra, a fractional CMO and the founder of the Fractional CMO School. Her days are spent supporting her seven figure clients, helping them grow their membership and core businesses. Additionally, she mentors other marketers to help them launch and grow their own fractional CMO business.With more than 15 years in the field, she's led marketing for both high growth startups, plus well known global brands such as Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Jenna Kutcher, Strava, and Deloitte to name just a few. Jess' philosophy is rooted in customer first marketing, which she believes makes marketing and sales effortless and cultivates fiercely loyal brand advocates.

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 1189, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: Bill Clinton 1: Clinton won first chair in this instrument in the Arkansas state band. the saxophone. 2: His birthplace; it's where he lived the first 7 years of his life. Hope, Arkansas. 3: The day before taking office, Clinton prayed at this president's Arlington, Va. grave. John F. Kennedy. 4: Bill Clinton met Hillary Rodham while both were attending this law school. Yale. 5: Clinton got his bachelor's degree at this D.C. school, the only college he applied to. Georgetown. Round 2. Category: Song Of Poets. With Song in quotation marks 1: William Blake published this collection in 1789; "Experience" would come a few years later. Songs of Innocence. 2: Sections of this 1855 poem include "The Peace Pipe", "The White-Man's Foot" and "Blessing the Corn Fields". The Song of Hiawatha. 3: Read during Passover, it's also referred to as the "Canticle of Canticles". Song of Songs. 4: Before the 1881 edition, it was simply titled "Poem of Walt Whitman, an American". "Song of Myself". 5: An insignificant battle between Charlemagne and the Basques at Roncesvalles is the basis for this French epic poem. The Song of Roland. Round 3. Category: Rewriting Hamlet 1: Fair one, thy dad had thee repel my letters and deny me access to thee... but a restraining order? What is uppeth with that?. Ophelia. 2: Zounds! I saw thee not behind that arras! Denmark needeth a new minister to the king! My bad!. Polonius. 3: Though I did say of thee "Frailty, thy name is woman", Mother, I hope thou acceptest my wedding gift from Pottery Barn. Gertrude. 4: 'Tis okay ye killed Dad and wed Mom--thou said thy "offence is rank, it smells to heaven", but I'm a live and let live kind of guy. Claudius. 5: You "two-school-fellows, whom I will trust as I will adders fanged" ...Aw, I ain't mad atcha! Giveth me hugs!. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Round 4. Category: The 19Th Century 1: Much of the fighting in this war, 1853 to 1856, took place on a peninsula in the Black Sea. the Crimean War. 2: In 1893 this labor leader founded the American Railway Union. (Eugene) Debs. 3: In 1825 patriots crossed the Rio de la Plata from Argentina to fight for this country's freedom from Brazil. Uruguay. 4: King John VI of this country died in 1826 and left his throne to Dom Pedro of Brazil who became Pedro I. Portugal. 5: This family was restored to power in the 1870s when Alfonso XII ascended the Spanish throne. the Bourbons. Round 5. Category: Ad-Jectives 1: In other words this common pair of advertising adjectives could be "novel as well as ameliorated". new and improved. 2: In a slogan almost a century old, Maxwell House coffee is this "to the last drop". "good". 3: In other words, this common pair of adjectives could be "novel as well as ameliorated". new and improved. 4: Taking this adjective literally, the ads say that BMW is the last driving machine that'll be made. ultimate. 5: Since 1975 BMW has been touting its vehicles as this kind of "driving machine". "ultimate". Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia!Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/ AI Voices used

Get ready to break all the writing rules and unleash your inner copywriting genius with Gillian Griffith! Join Tayler and Gillian, longtime professional partners and masters of the written word, as they spill the tea on how to transform your writing from drab to fab. From overcoming the fear of judgment to embracing the power of the ugly first draft, they're demystifying the art of copywriting. Plus, unlock the secret to finding inspiration in unexpected places, from Pottery Barn catalogs to Reformation emails. Turbocharge your brand's exposure and become a sought-after podcast guest with PodcastAlly.com!Pretty Okay is hosted by Tayler Cusick Hollman, founder of Enji, and produced by Earfluence.

If we want a business that has raving fans and constant referrals, events are non-negotiable, but that's only if you do the work after everyone goes home.   If you don't have a follow-plan in place, all the hard work, value and momentum of the gathering goes down the drain. Many real estate professionals think they can get by on digital strategies alone, but the online stuff can't work if we don't invest in face-to-face interactions.   The truth is, we need to get people to an event to complete the cycle that kicks off when they see us online. Post-event follow up gives us a reason to have conversations, which leads to conversions and ultimately more contracts.   How do we use technology to maximize our post-referral momentum? In this episode, I'm joined by co-founder of Fox Homes and author of “Six Weeks to Real Estate Success”, Dustin Fox. He shares the follow up sequence that has generated $400 million in sales in just 3 years.    The digital and video works because they feel like they're getting to know you and it's repeat exposure, but you still have to get them to an event. -Dustin Fox    Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode     -The power of an $8 Costco holiday throw  Don't underestimate the effect of a gift. How does one cozy and thoughtful item make us the first agent they want to call?    -How to turn event excellence into digital domination  What are some high-level, genius tech hacks Dustin and his team are using to get the most out of every client interaction at events?   -Hyper-local, micro-famous  How do we use YouTube ads, Google reviews and other online tools to turn us into local celebrities people are clamoring to work with?   Guest Bio   Dustin Fox is the co-founder of Fox Homes and author of Six Weeks to Real Estate Success. Before venturing into real estate, Dustin Fox amassed 15 years of experience in big box retail management, including leadership roles at Bed Bath & Beyond and Pottery Barn. This background fostered an acute understanding of customer service, which he has seamlessly transferred into his real estate career. As a fifth-generation DC Metro area resident, Dustin offers more than just transactional know-how; he delivers a lifetime of community insight. Raised in Oakton, VA, Dustin combines small-town heart with big-city results in his real estate practice. Together with his high school sweetheart, Devon, Dustin co-founded Fox Homes. Their mission is clear: to provide an unparalleled real estate experience that blends remarkable results with genuine care. Dustin's philosophy is consistently people-first. Dustin leads the number one Google-reviewed team in the DC Metro area, boasting over 1,600 reviews. His team has already closed an astonishing $160 million in sales in 2023, with almost 250+ transactions year-to-date. These remarkable achievements have consistently landed him on Northern Virginia Magazine's and Washingtonian's Best Real Estate Agent lists from 2018 to 2023, as well as earned him the Best of Zillow status for exceptional performance and customer experience. Go to https://www.foxessellfaster.com/ and follow @dustinmfox on Instagram.    Episode: 337 Title: The $400 Million Follow Up: How to Maximize Your Post-Event Referrals w/Dustin Fox Host: Michael J. Maher

Ready for the sexiest and most fun step of the 4-step organization framework? In this episode of Get Organized for Good, Corinne Morahan describes the various reactions guests have had to the state of her home, including that of an old college friend who compared it to a Pottery Barn (and whether or not he meant it as a compliment)!  Everyone has a different threshold for chaos, she says, and different appetites for organizing. You have the privilege of determining your individual level of organization and your personal style of home decor.    Sites like Pinterest and Instagram should serve as inspiration and information, not comparison. Have fun while you gather data and cultivate your own approach! Corinne explains what to do when you and your partner have different organization thresholds, and the important distinction between putting things down and putting them away and why she strongly prefers big labels.    Getting organized has not only changed Corinne's life, but allowed her sons to thrive and be empowered in their approach to stressful situations. Join us to learn how you, too, can start living your most expansive life, today!   Quotes “Imagine how freaking sexy it feels when every space in your home is dialed in, and if you are going to have guests over at any moment, you don't have to clean up for them. This is the beauty of being organized.” (3:43 | Corinne Morahan) “We all have a different threshold for chaos.” (5:13 | Corinne Morahan)  “As you are embarking on this journey, I want you to feel empowered that you get to decide what your threshold is for you. Don't let the pictures of my house, don't let what you see on Instagram or Pinterest dictate that for you. Use it as information.” (6:14 | Corinne Morahan) “It's been so interesting to watch my kids grow up in a home that's so organized and how they really now thrive in such organized spaces. Their default now is that they're feeling stressed about something, they'll ask me if I can help them declutter or purge or set up a new system as they're growing and their needs change. And it's extremely empowering to them to feel like they have a say, but they also have tools to help them feel like they can control their environment a bit more when so much is out of their control.” (9:37 | Corinne Morahan)   Links Click here to see my favorite organizing products: https://www.gridandglam.com/g-g-favorite-products   You can download your FREE organizing roadmap here!  http://gridandglam.com/roadmap   Connect With Corinne: https://www.gridandglam.com/ https://www.corinnemorahan.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gridandglam/ https://www.instagram.com/corinnemorahan/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnemorahan/ https://www.facebook.com/gridandglam https://www.youtube.com/@gridandglam1 Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Today's guest is Love Shack Fancy Founder, Rebecca Hessel Cohen. Rebecca has built an ultra-feminine empire with her lifestyle brand full of florals, bows, and lace. As a former fashion editor, Rebecca honed her style and aesthetic before designing her signature 'Love Dress' which was created for her bridesmaids in 2010. This style dress would then become the foundation for the LoveShackFancy brand which launched 3 years later (in 2013) and the beginning of the global business which now includes 17 stores and wholesale partnerships with nearly every major retailer. Rebecca and LoveShackFancy just celebrated its 10-year anniversary and continues to grow at a rapid rate with numerous successful partnerships and collaborations under its belt, including Gap, Pottery Barn, Bogner, American Girl, Larroude and more. It continues to expand categories, growing from its foundation in ready-to-wear to a full lifestyle brand with LoveShackFancy beauty launching this past September. This episode is brought to us by ⁠Glimpse Guides⁠. Use code Glimpse20 for 20% off your order! Thank you Jordan and team for sponsoring today's episode! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/howdshedothat/support

#224 March 7st, 2024 or 3310 - Thirty Three Oh Ten http://loosescrewsed.com Join us on discord! And check out the merch store! PROMO CODES https://discord.gg/3Vfap47Rea Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/LooseScrewsED Squad Update:  Elections in Copian Xing (for control), Yen Ti, and Calarum - Thank you to Project Elite for doing the work no one else wants to do in Calarum LANDED Welcome to Kolyawa A little over heating and a little underheating going on  We are resting expansion in light of the Thargoid Endgame and a need to consolidate our holdings.  All details in the #standing-orders and/or the #loose-screws-factions channels of the Discord. Galnet Update: https://community.elitedangerous.com/ 1-3-24 - Taranis Destroyed 7-3-24 - Thargoid War Bulletin: Titan Destroyed Dev news:  Update 18.0.1 https://www.elitedangerous.com/update-notes/4-0-18-01 (Fixes to Titan assault scenarios) Remaining U18 Bugs: Commodities screen no longer shows number of goods needed for current mission(s) (https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/63464) Titan Rewards Update https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/titan-rewards-update.623673/ All CMDRs who passed through the Taranis system between U18 and Taranis destruction will receive the rewards. This is a one-off To be eligible for the incremental Titan rewards you will need to do the following: 1) Have done damage to the heat core of a Titan within one week prior to it going into meltdown. 2) You need to have earned a minimum of 2M credits from hitting the core (You earn less credits from the Titan when they still need weakening and have a high damage resistance) Don't forget you also receive Arx from taking down hearts and gain more if you are a top contributor. Check your ARX payouts: https://user.frontierstore.net/arx/list  Seriously, check this.  It might be a bug; shhhhh Maybe worth noting: Taranis —which doesn't exist— gained control of 6 systems today… So…. TFG? Community Corner: Canon event: activate all 40 guardian beacons at the same time – THIS IS STILL PLANNED but they are waiting for Update 18 to “calm down” before they try it.  Canonn Research https://discord.com/events/1019569223174983820/1187448219463057539

Quick Take - (Full Episode - #78 - Link Below to Full Episode) Have you ever stayed at a short-term rental home and wondered where a certain interior design item was purchased and how you could get it for your own home? Or did you sleep amazingly on their mattress and sheets, and want to buy them for your own bedroom? These real product moments are what drove our guest, Marc Hostovsky, to launch Minoan - a customizable, curated retail platform helping short term rental hosts simplify furnishing and save money with a free to use, centralized ordering platform. Steep discounts and no hassle of messy logistics like order tracking and customer service? Sign us up! Marc has a strong background in tech and retail operations, having worked in senior roles for Walmart and Jet.com (which was acquired by Walmart!) Minoan is a venture-backed startup focusing on “native retail.” Products aren't boxed up in a store display case or hiding as images on a phone screen. There's no pushy furniture store sales person over your shoulder either — just a consumer and the products with a little one-on-one time. If guests love the plush towels, why not let them buy an exact one from the same supplier? It's a win for products and brands - they get consumers to spend time actually living with items of potential interest. Minoan's current retail partner roster is impressive, including such heavy hitters as William Sonoma, Article, West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Polywood, Casper, Pottery Barn, Caraway, Wayfair, and hundreds other retailers, both national brands and smaller local companies. They already have assembled a network of nearly 10,000 short-term rental locations and boutique hotels, whose hosts pick and choose products from several hundreds of participating brands that can help them convert their vacation lodging into showrooms. In this episode, we discussed: - How Marc thought to launch Minoan - Why the most valuable moments spend with products are not online or in stores - How Minoan works with short-term rental operators - Why furnishing and decor should be thought of less as a cost center and more as an investment in improving average daily rates - How does Minoan help hosts' encourage shopping available products without making the experience feel overly commercialized? - What products create those memorable moments for guests? Where you can find Marc: Minoan website - https://www.minoanexperience.com/ Marc's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-hostovsky/ Minoan's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/minoan/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minoanexperience Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/minoanexperience Join Jason Muth from Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and Attorney / Broker Rory Gill of NextHome Titletown and UrbanVillage Legal in Boston, Massachusetts for another episode of The Real Estate Law Podcast! #realestatepodcast #nexthome #humansoverhouses #realestate #realestatelaw #realestateinvesting #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #airbnb #airbnbdecor #furnishingyourairbnb #strsecrets #vrbo #nativeretail Follow us! Following and subscribing to The Real Estate Law Podcast not only ensures that you'll get instant updates whenever we release a new episode, but it also helps us reach more people who could benefit from the valuable content that we provide. The Real Estate Law Podcast on Instagram and YouTube NextHome Titletown Real Estate on Facebook and LinkedIn Straightforward Short-Term Rentals on Instagram Attorney Rory Gill on LinkedIn Jason Muth on LinkedIn Help us Spread the Word If you've found our podcast helpful, entertaining, or informative, please consider leaving us a rating and review. It only takes a minute and can make a huge difference in helping us reach more listeners.

Angela Clark, Patagonia's VP of Digital--and one of retail's most celebrated and experienced e-commerce leaders--joins us to discuss driving digital transformation and how purpose is integral to Patagonia's strategy. She drops a ton of wisdom gleaned from her roles at multiple brands on the leading edge of the digital commerce evolution. In particular, we look at how Patagonia is building on its remarkable success to both build its direct-to-consumer capabilities and continuing to be a leader on climate action.But before our interview we do a bit of humble-bragging, calling attention to our both being named once again to Rethink Retail's Top Retail Expert list. We also announce that Steve will be on stage at both Shoptalk US and Shoptalk Europe, while sharing a special discount code for our listeners (see below).Then it's on to the news of the week, including our take-aways from the NRF Big Show, where retail sales may be headed in the new year, and what to make of Macy's just announced store closings and layoffs, We also lament yet another round of layoffs at Wayfair before celebrating Birkenstock's remarkable first quarter as a public company, We close with our view on Apple's soon to go on sale Vision Pro device. Presented by Celonis.Steve's new book--"Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption"--will be released March 12th. And for a limited time pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop,org, or any other retailer worldwide, and get some very special FREE bonuses.Buy 1 Copy and receive:- An exclusive PDF book excerpt- An invitation to a private pre-launch virtual event.Buy 5 Copies and receive:- All the above, plus access to a small group virtual Q&A session.Buy 25 copies or more and receive:- All the above, plus a private one-on-one 20 minute Zoom consulting or executive leadership coaching session with me.Simply email your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsullting.com and we will handle the rest! About AngelaAngela Clark is an accomplished Digital and Brand Strategist, with expertise in transforming organizations into a digital-first framework. With a passion for sustainability and a deep understanding of the power of digital media, Angela heads the Digital business for Patagonia, where she spearheads the development of strategies and processes to support the company's mission to save the home planet. Her ability to blend creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of digital landscapes makes her a valuable asset to the brands, having worked for some of the most iconic American brands, like Levi Strauss, True Religion and Pottery Barn. Her impressive track record, coupled with her passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainability, makes her an inspiring figure in the business world.About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..Don't forget to join Steve's new Linked Group for his new book.Michael LeBlanc  is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice, a keynote speaker around the world and consumer growth consultant.   He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada's top retail industry podcast,   The Voice of Retail, plus  Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor , Canada's top food industry podcasts and one of the top management podcasts in the nation according to Apple, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.    You can learn more about Michael  on  LinkedIn. Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue,  his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

 Social Media has created a SNOOPY craze.  GenZ is obsessed with him and Snoopy merchandise is selling out.   I read about the latest Snoopy obsession in article on on NPR. He's so hot, people have given blood just to get a Snoopy T-shirt. (The Red Cross gave out 400,000 shirts in 3 weeks) The Charles Schultz Museum has just had its highest attendance in 21 years and the official Snoopy Tik Tok account just garnered 198,000 new followers.   Snoopy is 350 years old in dog years but he's apparently timeless (like me) and timely. He communicates only in gestures and thought bubbles, shares his emotions easily, and is trying to live his best life! Gotta love him. I'm fascinated but why the surge in interest again now?  I invited Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications Peanuts Worldwide to join me live on The Debbie Nigro Show to get the scoop about out what's going on.  Melissa said, the universal and timeless appeal of Snoopy is attributed to the character's relatability and expression of human emotions. Snoopy, she said, has been incredibly popular across all generations. Snoopy who is a book lover and writer, has always had an unstoppable imagination.  As the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide, Melissa handles global marketing which includes handling the brands social media, and creative aspects. She travels the world to promote the brand. And the world can't seem to get enough of Snoopy these days.  It was amazing enough that the late Charles Schulz who created the Peanuts comic strip, did it uninterrupted (except for one vacation for his 75th birthday) for 50 years! He created nearly 18,000 comic strips. But just as amazing, is how his work continues to resonate today due to its simplicity and again, it's focus on ‘human emotions'. The four-panel comic strips are particularly well-suited to the format of modern social media which of course did not exist back when the comic strips were published the old-fashioned way, in newspapers. Social media has everything to do with Snoopy reaching a global audience of new fans and the new demand for Snoopy merchandise.   The Current Snoopy Merchandise Craze  Melissa says Snoopy merchandise is currently available across a broad range of retailers, from Pottery Barn to Uniqlo and H&M. There have also been high-end collaborations with designers like Gucci and Marc Jacobs. Not only with Snoopy, but also other characters too like Woodstock, Charlie Brown, and Franklin who are also popular.  Peanuts Worldwide receives numerous partnership requests involving Snoopy and the Peanuts characters. Snoopy is a global icon with a particularly strong following in places like Japan, said Melissa.  There's also the 'Take Care with Peanuts' campaign, which promotes taking care of oneself, others, and the Earth, with partnerships like the Arbor Day Foundation for planting trees, and the installation of Peanuts murals in hospitals globally.  Melissa says the brand's even working with NASA. Snoopy was used as a zero-gravity indicator on Artemis 1! She also shared how the brand is creating new content for platforms like Apple TV+.  The Peanuts marketing team, led by Melissa, continually seeks new ways to keep the brand relevant and engaged with current issues and audiences, reflecting the brand's adaptability and enduring appeal.  Peanuts Worldwide is passionate about maintaining the brand's legacy while simultaneously innovating and connecting with new audiences.  I think you'll enjoy the terrific insight about why Snoopy so hot right now in this podcast of a warm conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Melissa Menta, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide.  PS: Bet you didn't know I owned a Snoopy watch. Had it since I was a kid.  

✨ Anna Payawal, Editorial Director at Pottery Barn☁️  Experience working at Restoration Hardware, Serena & Lily, and Pottery Barn☁️  Transitioning from a temp job to roles in design and copy☁️  Overcoming imposter syndrome and creating opportunities☁️  Advancing your career through assertiveness and mindfulness☁️  Anna's role as Editorial Director at Pottery Barn☁️  The difference between product and brand copywriting☁️  Career advice for women in marketingJoin the Sky Society Women in Marketing private LinkedIn group.Follow Sky Society on Instagram @skysociety.co and TikTok @skysociety.co

Comedian, podcaster and social media star Alright, Hey! is here to give you some hot tips ahead of your Christmas shopping! We've done the hard work for you this festive season and compiled some goodies from some of our favourite brands that we think will make the perfect gifts for your loved ones (or you!) this Christmas! So if you're struggling with gift ideas, we've got you sorted! Thanks to our amazing sponsors, we've also got a Santa sack full of epic goodies to give away! Our 9 Days of Christmas Giveaway starts on Dec 7 on the So Dramatic! Podcast Instagram so make sure you have notifications turned ON! In the meantime, we're also spoiling you with some exclusive discount codes to make your Chrissy shopping that little bit easier! Ho, ho, ho! COTTON ON: Use code SODRAMATIC30 for 30% off site-wide until December 11. STEPH PASE PLANNERS: Use code SODRAMATIC for 15% off site-wide until December 15. GEORGIEMANE: Use code SODRAMATIC for an extra 20% off current sale prices site-wide. PURAS AUSTRALIA: Visit the Chadstone store (near Pottery Barn) and enjoy exclusive offers. Christmas sets also available online. BENEFIT COSMETICS: Save big on value with Benefit's limited edition holiday sets! Available in stores & online at Myer.  PETA & JAIN: Use code SODRAMATIC30 for 30% off all full-price and sale products online until December 20. PALM BEACH COLLECTION: Indulge your senses and shop Palm Beach Collection's Christmas Collection online. LIBERTINE PARFUMERIE: Treat yourself and your loved ones with Libertine Parfumerie's luxury fragrances and gift packs online. BONDS: Give the gift of comfort this festive season and shop Bonds in-stores or online. JULY: Enjoy the ultimate travel experience with July this Christmas and shop in-store across Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast or online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the holidays approaching, Jay has found plenty of Star Wars fashion and lifestyle products to highlight your Life Day and other holiday festivities.   In this fully armed and operational episode of “World Between Worlds" on Podcast Stardust, we discuss: The Ahsoka hooded cardigan from Her Universe, The Skywalker Pilot collection from Columbia, The Life Day collector's box from CultureFly, Life Day themed shirts from Hot Topic, Grogu themed holiday socks from Hot Topic, A Star Wars Advent calendar available on Amazon, The LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar, The Star Wars Jujube “Galaxy of Rivals” collection, Star Wars Christmas pajamas from Hanna Anderson, More Star Wars pajamas from Pottery Barn, A Grogu snow globe, Light up Star Wars mercury glass ornaments, New Star Wars products from Heroes & Villains, and The Star Wars Beskar Knife set from Hedley & Bennett. For more Star Wars fashion and lifestyle product ideas, check out episode 642.   Thanks for joining us for another episode! Subscribe to Podcast Stardust for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and discussion wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts. Find Jay and her cosplay adventures on J.Snips Cosplay on Instagram.

Robin Kramer is a brand marketing maven, natural business nurturer, master of relationships, and a sales expert who has an impressive history with leaders in the retail industry who have built their brands on innovative merchandising and strong service cultures. Among these brands is Williams-Sonoma, Inc., where she utilized her operations management background to develop and refine the process of opening new stores during a period of rapid expansion across that organization's three retail brands: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Hold Everything. Kramer overhauled the store's associate recognition program; she also led the customer service functions for all retail brands, including the development and implementation of service standards in stores and call centers. She went on to implement similar programs and new initiatives at another forward-thinking retail brand, the Old Navy division of Gap, Inc.​For the past 20+ years, Robin has worked with primarily small, upscale wholesale jewelry brands and designers to bring their products to market, position these niche brands for maximum exposure to their target customers, and build relationships with national and international retailers. One such brand was Dogeared, where she helped them grow from a small company into a well-known jewelry brand with sales growth of over 800% in the five years she was there. She has a keen eye for recognizing products and designs that represent a unique and fresh approach in a crowded and competitive space.​In 2010, Robin founded Red Boot Consulting, and in 2012, she co-founded Flourish & Thrive Academy, an online business educational platform for jewelry designers worldwide. She has had the pleasure of speaking and moderating panel discussions at various conferences for Flourish & Thrive Academy's F&T LIVE event, NY NOW Retail Renaissance trade show, American Handcrafted trade show, JCK trade show, ISGB (International Society of Glass Beads) conference, SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) conference, and as a featured guest on the Beads, Baubles & Jewels PBS TV Show.​She has a passion for helping creatives go after their dreams. And for red boots! She divides her time between Sausalito, CA, and Dallas, TX. Here, Michelle and Robin chat about Robin's amazing career and how it evolved over the years. They discuss how Robin started Red Boot Consulting, how she works with clients, and what her mastermind program is like. The conversation also includes merchandising tips, why businesses need to know their numbers, and the importance of phone calls and great customer service.MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!What's Inside:How Robin built her extensive sales, marketing, and consulting career.How Robin works with clients through her company, Red Boot Consulting.Merchandising and customer service tips.Mentioned In This Episode:Red Boot ConsultingRobin on Instagram

If you're super inspired by interior design influencers like Jonathan Adler or Chris Loves Julia, but you have no idea how to curate your own home to look like theirs, this episode is for you! Today we're joined by Holly Romero, the Founder & CEO of luxury custom furniture company Rosemary Mill Design, as she shares her best tips for curating a gorgeous (and cozy!) home, starting her business during the pandemic, and how she takes care of herself as a busy mom of two! Products mentioned: The infamous Konekt Thing Ottoman Resources mentioned: The Sleepy Poet Antique Mall Chris Loves Julia Lone Fox Home Le Labo Fragrances Some key takeaways from this episode include: If you're designing a room from scratch, start with choosing the largest items first. If you collect a ton of small decor pieces first, you could end up with a convoluted design in the end. Take your time sourcing furniture, artwork, and decor items that feel true to you and really mean something to you. It's tempting to go to Target or Pottery Barn and get all the trendy items, but having patience will pay off! If you've never tried thrifting furniture, maybe give it a shot! Check out Facebook Marketplace or local thrift shops like the Sleepy Poet for vintage furniture that might need a little facelift but is otherwise much better quality than what's in stores right now. Welcome to The Cheeky Been Podcast! I'm your host Vanessa Krombeen, the creator behind The Cheeky Been, a lifestyle blog that empowers women to feel their best through fitness, fashion, health and wellness, and motherhood tips. In this show, you will find thought provoking conversations with entrepreneurs, influencers, and brands you love and the answers to your most sought after questions.  Connect with Me!  Follow The Cheeky Been Follow The Cheeky Been Podcast The Cheeky Been Blog TikTok YouTube Business Inquiries: thecheekybeen@gmail.com

For many, the official start of Fall isn't the Autumn Equinox or the changing leaves. It's when Trader Joe's Fall Finds hit the shelves. For a limited time, the store is chock full of orange-colored packages filled with pumpkin, apple, and maple goodies that we simply can't resist! If you prefer video, watch the full episode 21 YouTube video version. While Trader Joe's isn't by any means a one-stop shop for our family's groceries, there is one thing they do particularly well: capturing the spirit of the Fall season and getting their patrons excited to shop there. Visiting a Trader Joe's in the Fall means loading up on items you can't usually find at other times of the year, such as pumpkin brioche bread, pumpkin pancake mix, and pumpkin kringles to name a few. Why are Trader Joe's Fall Finds so popular? Scarcity seems to be a key motivator for these purchases; the idea that in a few weeks, these items will no longer be available so customers may feel compelled to "stock up now". Another likely contributor to the success of Trader Joe's Fall Finds is the popularity of pumpkin spice as a flavor. Essentially, humans love to be reminded of Fall and the feelings of home, family, and nostalgia, and according to Matt Johnson, a psychologist who specializes in marketing psychology, pumpkin spice is a flavor that's closely tied to the arrival of these feelings. In this episode, we discuss our favorite (and not-so-favorite) Fall finds and how we feel about shopping at Trader Joe's in the Fall. Note: we did not receive any compensation from Costco and the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely our own. Resources The Psychology of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, by Matt Johnson Ph.D. Sip and Feast Recipe for Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sage Brown Butter Sauce Sip and Feast Recipe for Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Brown Butter Sip and Feast Recipe for Pumpkin Mule If you enjoyed the Trader Joe's Fall Finds episode, leave us a comment below and let us know!   We love your questions.  Please send them to podcast@sipand11111feast.com (remove the 11111 for our contact).  There's no question not worth asking. If you enjoy our weekly podcast, support us on Patreon and you will get 2 more bonus episodes each month! Thanks for listening! For a complete list of all podcast episodes, visit our podcast episode page. Transcript Intro James (00:00):Welcome back to the Sip and Feast Podcast. Today we're talking Trader Joe's and specifically, the fall seasonal items at Trader Joe's. You can see I have my fall seasonal shirt on. What do you think about that?, Tara? Tara (00:15):Looks very different from all your other flannels, which are also, could be fall seasonal. James (00:22):The ones that I have from my cooking videos, I don't want to get dirty, so these are the ones maybe that I wear out. Tara (00:29):This is the one you don't want to get dirty. James (00:30):That's right. Tara (00:31):Yeah. James (00:31):No, the cooking video ones, they actually act as aprons. Tara (00:35):That's right. James (00:36):That's why they're on the dark side like that darker blue flannel because if they're black and blue, when you get some sauce or something on there, you can't even see. Tara (00:45):I'm going to jump right into a question right now. James (00:47):Okay. Tara (00:48):It's not an audience question, although, I'm sure it's on their minds. Do you wear anything other than flannels? James (00:53):Yes, I do. A few people recognize me because I'm famous. They recognized me at Pottery Barn out east in Long Island. It was multiple people in one day, and I had a T-shirt on that day, so they got to see me in a T-shirt. Tara (01:10):Oh, I don't even remember. Were you wearing a T-shirt? James (01:10):I was. Tara (01:11):Oh, wow. James (01:12):Yeah. Tara (01:12):Lucky for them. James (01:13):Yeah. Tara (01:14):Sun's out,

Welcome to another wild Mondays With Macron. This week we are all about the Karens again as sweet gentle Ronathon has to contend with trying to help Mike Lindell with his legal troubles, we get Taylor Swift herself to talk to a fan, one man is very unhappy that he keeps getting used games from Gamestop, one man is getting really sick of Pottery Barn, Ron goes to war with a company for wishing harm on some cats, one Karen is super angry that she went and booked a cruise in Israel, Ron tries to send some technicians home due to an escaped psychopath and we are forced to verify a very unhappy boomer computer user. And much more too! Thank you to all the people that listened live on YouTube and everyone checking out our podcast. I love you very much and keep it locked to macronshow.com where Ron will be doing more supporter's shows at BuyMeACoffee!

Harmony is joined by Shop Boy Grant Whittaker today! They discuss the cancelation of Holidazzle 2023, pampering your pet, and Pottery Barn's new Elf collection. Plus, they speak with Tammy Lee about her event Pause for a Cause: A Cool Conference for Hot Women on World Menopause Day!

Harmony is joined by Shop Boy Grant Whittaker today! They discuss the cancelation of Holidazzle 2023, pampering your pet, and Pottery Barn's new Elf collection.Plus, they speak with Tammy Lee about her event Pause for a Cause: A Cool Conference for Hot Women on World Menopause Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ambientar el espacio en el que descansas y tomarte un tiempo antes de dormir para apreciar el espacio que te rodea, sentir la textura de las sábanas, dejar que el calor de tu colcha te abrace y desvanecer tus pensamientos en la profundidad de las almohadas, ayuda a que tu descanso sea profundo y reparador para tener un buen día la mañana siguiente. Empieza a crear tu espacio en tiendas físicas de Pottery Barn o en www.potterybarn.com.mxEn este episodio hablamos de:La importancia de nuestro entorno a la hora de descansar.Conectar con el aquí y el ahora.Disfrutar de la tranquilidad que nos regala la noche.Instagram www.instagram.com/despertandodurmiendoYoutube youtube.com/c/DespertandoDurmiendoPodcast TikTok www.tiktok.com/@despertandodurmiendo Si quieres conocer más sobre nuestros podcasts visita www.dudasmedia.comVoz: Sergio VenegasGuion: Sergio VenegasDirección Creativa: Alis EscobarCoordinación de Contenido: Nancy EdidDiseño Sonoro: Alfredo CruzDiseño Gráfico: Brianda Davalos y Giovana MendozaÁrea Digital: Ilse Gutiérrez, Camila MorenoEdición de Video: Perla Ramírez, Juan José Tejada Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a mission to make your home both functional and aesthetically pleasing without breaking the bank? Join the conversation with my dear friend and interior designer, Don Richards. In this episode Don offers insights on some of the best places to shop for a deal and shares what to hunt for and what to steer clear of in stores like Home Goods. Whether it's brightening your home with fresh flowers, music, and lighting or hunting for unique pieces in local thrift stores, Don's tips make beautiful homes accessible for all. Don and I have fun with a quiz I designed where Don has to guess the  paint color names that are real and the one I made up. These are all crazy names! See if you can guess the real paint colors. It's not that easy! We wrap up our chat by touching some great design accounts and bloggers to follow for inspiration, and highlight some helpful design resources like Emily Henderson's book, The New Design Rules, and the website Copycatchic. Some resources that are mentioned: The Dollar Tree - https://www.dollartree.comThrift Store in Bantam CT - https://www.clothestreect.com/Chintz and Prints in Newtown CT - https://www.chintznprints.com/https://www.younghouselove.com/https://www.younghouselove.com/podcast-introduction/https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/Book: The New Design Rules by Emily Henderson - https://a.co/d/5ktAo5DShay McGee for Target - https://www.target.com/b/threshold-designed-w-studio-mcgee/-/N-q643le65vqvhttps://www.copycatchic.com/Pottery Barn - https://www.potterybarn.comDon's Bio: Consumed by architecture, design, and home since childhood, Don graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia with a degree in Historic Preservation. For the last thirty years, his obsession with home has seen him in the worlds of interior design, visual merchandising, and real estate. A Litchfield County native, Don has designed spaces in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Florida, while vowing never again to work in NYC because of elevator constraints. Can a sofa be disassembled and put back together? The answer is yes. Should it be? LOL, the answer is no. He believes the key to a space being home is personality and quirk. Try and think outside the box with vintage and unique. Look toward the architectural style of the property and let that guide you. If you love it, it will usually work. Just no 75'' flat screens, please. Don is passionate about BLTs, turtlenecks, and his orange tabby, Ernest. Not necessarily in that order.Connect with Don: email: don@theshoppes.netFind him at Middle Furniture in Middlebury, CT: https://www.middleburyfurniture.com/instagram: @dwrhomedesign I'd love to hear from YOU! Here's how to connect with me:Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriendEmail me at: YourZenFriendPod@gmail.comFind me on instagram @YourZenFriendPodFor information on Lauren's counseling services, including her upcoming group counseling for children and teens check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

Sometimes life does not go like we planned. We might even say that most of the time it does not go like we planned. While we know God's plans are better, that does not mean it is always easy. Lindsay Horton shares with us both the heartache and the hope when God's plans, and timing, look different than ours.To find out more about our community or how to get involved in the Fort Worth area (Tarrant, Parker, & Johnson County locations), visit us online at www.ccbcfamily.org/women or find us on Instagram @christchapelwomen. Also, feel free to contact today's guests with any encouragement or questions: Lindsay Horton at lindsay.h.atwood@gmail.com and Kathy Harrelson at kathyh@christchapelbc.org.

Market Proof Marketing · Ep 298: Building Certainty For The Uncertain Builders with Julie JarnaginIn this episode, Kevin Oakley is joined by our very own Julie Jarnagin to talk about her new book Building Certainty! Julie gives us an inside look into what she believes to be the most valuable takeaways as well as her reasons for writing this book in the first place. Content can be a source of pain for builders, but Julie has simplified the process and created a guide to make it that much easier!Kevin and Julie discuss:Her NEW book "Building Certainty" which you can buy here!What chapters Julie thinks will benefit builders the most.Kevin appreciates in chapter two there is a list of things to “talk about” which kills the excuse that builders usually have when it comes to creating content.The value of the table of contents, why it's helpful and how it works like an index.Building certainty with your brand for your customers. It's not about you, it's about whether or not your customers feel that you can take care of them.Questions? Comments? Email show@doyouconvert.com or call 404-369-2595 and we'll address them on the next episode. More insights, discussions, and opportunities in the Market Proof Marketing Facebook group.Subscribe on iTunes > https://now.doyouconvert.com/mpm-itunesFollow on Spotify > https://now.doyouconvert.com/mpm-spotifyListen On Stitcher > https://now.doyouconvert.com/mpm-stitcherA weekly new home marketing podcast for home builders and developers. Each week Kevin Oakley, Andrew Peek, Jackie Lipinski, Julie Jarnagin, and other team members from Do You Convert will break down the headlines, share best practices and stories from the front line, and perform a deep dive on a relevant marketing topic. We're here to help you – not to sell you!Transcript: KevinAll right. She thought we had already talked about it. And we did. Everyone knows now the building certainty by Julie has been written, but I was like, No, the people need a full interview of just you. There's not an audio book currently, right?JulieNo, not an audio book.KevinSo for those of of those people in the audience who are more like my kids, prepping for school by listening to their books are supposed to read over the summer, I don't know how I feel about that, but some people might need some more like insight in an audio format in order to encourage them to do something that apparently no one does anymore, which is actually read a book.JulieI love it. Well, this is fun. I've never done it from this side. I mean, obviously I'm on the podcast pretty regularly, but never in this seat before where you're interviewing, I guess me. So this is.KevinFirst of all, we have to celebrate and I think we did this a couple times on social media, but people are buying your book. Yes. They read it and implement it. You know, fingers crossed. Hopefully you do good for your business and good for your career. But people are buying the book. It's already it's already fantastically successful, number one, in Amazon under real estate for new releases.KevinI think for long. So who knows? Yeah, I like the fact that you get equally nervous discussing such things as I do.JulieYeah, I know, I know. Well, it's a world like, I don't know. Some people know I used to write fiction, so I have fiction books out, but this is the still different. So this has been fun and it's been fun seeing people say, Oh, I bought multiple copies for my team. It's just it's been fun and the support has been great.KevinYeah. All right. Well, let the hot seat begin. The pleasantries are over.JulieOkay, I'm ready.KevinAnd my main question for you is there are nine, ten, ten chapters in the book. Are there a couple of chapters where you feel like not not the ones that are your favorite to write or you learn the most when you're researching or looking into something, but that you feel like people need. Like a lot of times a little more context.KevinWhen you work with 80 different homebuilders around the country, people are always like, How do you know what to talk about or insight? Because we just you can tell what people need. This was definitely something that people needed. But what are there particular chapters that you think people need more than more than others? When you look at what what folks are doing in today's landscape?JulieSure. One is that probably the shortest chapter. Well, except for the last one, just kind of worksheet. But chapter five is all about like, what do we prioritize? I think what we see with a lot of builders that we're like, Hey, how's content going in the room? Because it encompasses so much and then they just don't know which of those many things that are out there should I actually be working on.JulieSo it's about how to assess what you're currently doing, look at the needs of the company, look at what's out there in the future and how to actually figure out like, okay, what do we actually need to focus on right now and what do we need to start putting into place for the future? So that's kind of a short, quick chapter, but it's also helping them focus in on out of all these things we've talked about in the book, what what do I do first?KevinYeah, I think if you focus on those things that are most important, then you can start building momentum. And a lot of times people just get stuck. And like I talked to someone yesterday, well, we we partner with a company right now to help us create content. I talk to them for a half hour and then four or five weeks later they'll give me something in writing about what we talked about that she's just like, it just feels so slow and hard and it doesn't seem like this is the right, right way to be going about it.KevinSo I think we need to send them a copy of the book and I'll be helpful. But I agree. I think people don't. They're often disillusioned by response to content out of the gate. Mm hmm. I go I always go back to the podcast regularly. Now it gets 500 listeners per episode or so, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.KevinI think the first like six month, well, first two months. Anyway, that we did the podcast, there was like 30 to 50 people and you're like, Is all this worth it? All this prep and getting the technology in place and all the rest. So if you focus on what's most important and the reason why is most important, hopefully it gives you momentum to keep going.KevinSo I love that one. Is there another one that you like? Yeah.JulieI think just the beginning of the book that kind of lays out what is content, why do we need it and just kind of a foundation, because it is a word that people throw around. And so some people, when they think of content, they think of social media and some people think of content and they're just thinking renderings and photos on my site.JulieBut it's all of those things and more and I think I'm a very analytical person. I like a list. So in a way, a lot of the beginning of the book was just breaking things down into pieces where even if some of these things you just know from being in your role, it also is seeing it all in a structure of what topics are we going to cover, what mediums are we going to use, you know, photos, videos, whatever.JulieHow are we going to distribute it then? How are we going to analyze it? It just kind of lays it down in a framework that you can start wrapping your arms around because it's just large.KevinYeah, I think chapter two could have been its own like book in a way as well, which is just what topics should we cover? Which I thought you might say that one, but here's, here's my answer anyway. Why? Number two is extremely important and useful, but I wouldn't have picked it either, is the answer really is stop thinking that everything around you is boring or mundane and just relent to the fact that you need to talk about it all.KevinYou need to have content related to everything. So in chapter two starts on page 22, ends on page 46, and has all I mean, the table of contents anyway, alone. There's two and a half pages of things you can talk about. So that's, that's like excuse wiped away. There is no excuse of, well we don't have anything to talk about.KevinWe're just a fill in the blank. We're just a first time home builder and all these people say this to us. Well, I only build 20 luxury homes a year. Well, I only build on your lot. And that's like, stop saying only. It's all interesting to to a certain audience.JulieAnd the reason I included all of those two is because I think we get stuck in one thing, like, Oh, I've done a million walkthroughs of my house and I've done a million testimonials. It's like there's other you can take the same things and take a different angle at them. I think the real magic that comes in all of these topics is when you start combining more than one topic.JulieSo if you want to feature a floor plan, well how about also grab, you know, people who've lived with that floor plan and you're mixing the people, the homeowners and the floor plan. So a lot of it is just like kind of walling all those topics out on the table. So then you can start mixing and matching and instead of having to use your mental capacity to think of those topics, you can start using that creativity to then put together new and unique things to solve your problems and engage customers and all those good things.KevinAnd I think the fact that people go down that habitual path is a clue to actually the right answer with some with some nudging to get out of a rut is like I remember your former employer. There is this period of time where like every I don't know, I seem like every couple of days or once a week there was a Matterport walkthrough with an audio example and you went through a whole bunch of that, that library because you developed a process and a framework and the strategy and a why.KevinAnd once that momentum got going, it was relatively easy to keep it going. And I think that's what I really enjoy about the book, is it kind of unlocks that, Yeah, just do that. But on a on a different tangent from a different perspective or for a different purpose, again, like the same piece of content, the same advertising channel can be used for multiple reasons.KevinAnd I go to my generally least one of my least favorite forms of media in billboards of a billboard can be a complete brand message, or it can be a turn right here. Message the neighborhoods right around the corner. It's the same. It's the same platform, but used for a different purpose. And that changes everything about how you're thinking about it.KevinSame thing when it comes to content. Am I trying to educate someone? Am I trying to motivate someone? Am I trying to just not be boring? Because this is a complex subject and I need to break it into pieces that people want to absorb. I think it's just a fantastic, fantastic resource. Now, I can't remember I asked you this on the podcast or not, but it's worth asking again, when you wrote this, did you envision people going through it from beginning to end first and then using it as a resource to kind of get back around where you need it?KevinBecause it is I would say it's very snackable in that sense of like, again, you're like, I don't have time to read 130 pages.JulieYeah, I really have two ways I think about it being is, number one, somebody who's been in their role for a long time, they know what content is, but they just need that little bit of like inspiration and, you know, to get them on stock, like you said. And that way it would be very good to just grab the pieces you need and flipping through it as you're, you know, you're stuck on something to possibly spark something.JulieThat's one reason I left the whole when somebody was helping me with the formatting, they put that whole huge table of contents in and at first I was going to remove it and then I was like, You know what? It's actually going to be really helpful for somebody because it almost works like an index. It's like an index that the first of the book, because if they are struggling with maybe some storytelling content and they're wanting to get ideas for that, they can go straight to that part to talk more about their people in their company and their culture and all of those things.JulieThen on the other hand, it's also going to be a good resource for somebody comes in new to your department from another industry, and you just need to get them up and running like you're our new social media person. But I've never been in homebuilding. I feel like it also will give those people just a good foundation to read it cover, to cover and just, you know, have a beginning place of this is this is the basics of content and where to start and where to start looking.JulieAnd it just gets them up and going faster. So I think it does more than one thing.KevinYeah, I would agree with that. I as you, as you were just talking, I was remembering the dummies books, the series.JulieYeah.KevinFor Dummies.JulieOh. And it's yellow.KevinAnd it's yellow. So I was like, you know what? This is almost like content marketing for dummies. Not not in, like, the condescending sense of the word, But there were certain topics where I would buy those books. For those of you who, like the other day, someone didn't know the song Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice. So I am constantly reminded of how old I am.KevinThe dummies series was on every topic known to man, and it was kind of like in textbook format, but it tried to be entertaining as much as possible around every subject matter. But there were. There were some of those I would buy like Calculus for Dummies in college that was clearly just like, I need I need a supplemental.KevinLook at that topic. Go read it. Okay, I'm good. It was a reference piece for me. And then there were others where you just from cover to cover. You're like, I just need to start at the beginning and be led all the way through. And the same book could be used either way. So I think that's important. Okay.KevinWhy the name building certainty?JulieWell, I totally ripped that off from Kevin Oakley.KevinHe was giving you a given.JulieYeah, he. He promised he wouldn't sue me for that. So I think it was Summit's a couple of years ago.KevinYou're 29.JulieAnd part of your message was what is marketing? It's building certainty through content. So we were looking at content and marketing from that, from that viewpoint. So then when I start working on a book and started working on title, I just took that for you. And I think right now it is always what content should do. But right now, more than ever in the markets that we've been in is that's what we have to use it for.JulieYeah, it's the basics of like, what do we build, Where do we build it? What does it cost? That's, that's number one. You need to have that. Your website needs to have the basics. That's number one to content. If you don't.KevinThink it's worth, it's worth repeating slightly differently for everyone. Is pricing on your website is content that build certainty in one direction or another. And so even something as mundane as some companies have every price and then a909 for like even that there there needs to be thought put into it. I used to joke with people all the time, you know, when you just when every price change or adjustment this is in 2008 2000 and 2010 and we would publicly change pricing to match market versus promotions like you can't just every price change can't be ten grand or five grand or 15 because well, that clearly communicates to someone paying attention forever, subconsciously as someoneKevinis when, you know, sticks their finger up in the air. I think 10,000 less like why is it always around number round numbers are too convenient in something as complicated as what we do. It's just one. One small example of everything is content that can build certainty.JulieYeah, all the basic stuff. And then just building certainty with with the rest of it. The story building, you know, telling your story, talking about your brand. All of that in the end isn't just to talk about yourself because nobody cares. Nobody cares about your brand and your what they care about is that, you know, you're going to take care of them and that you're going to solve their problems.JulieSo it's looking at all your content from that different angle. Then it's just, you know, I'm going to slap something up there about us. It has to be about the home buyer.KevinAbsolutely. I think like the other day, my brother in law was in town from Sweden and he's he's watching all the cruise ship documentary things on the on Smithsonian Channel. And I saw ads for the first time in a while on television. And it was just every time there was commercial break extra, extra, extra, which if you don't know what extra is, it's just an office chair and it's from all accounts, like I love the chair that I have.KevinIt's fantastic. I have no desire for additional chair. But they talk about this chair in words and in depth that my brother in law was just like, You see this chair? This chair is like the best chair in the world. I go, I mean, it looks like it's cheap materials with a massage and heat function to me and it's chart and they're charging like triple what they should.KevinBut it just goes back to that. The care like that is a lot of times what people are thinking of what they want. Marketing to do is to increase absorption, increase the sales volume of a company. But there are a lot of people listening where your company is not really in that game. Your company's in the business of maximizing revenue per unit sold or margin.KevinIt's a higher end product. And so if you're talking about like if you're can you imagine buying something from what's like the cheapest furniture IKEA. Yeah like well yes an IKEA is unique in that they've really overindexed in the amount of content to help people understand what it is they're getting in a digital format. In particular, they're one of the first to have like air show this thing in your house.KevinBut we can still use IKEA if you are going to buy a sofa from IKEA or a sofa from Pottery Barn or I don't know, Henry Don Like if the amount of written content and imagery and the quality of such is on par, you would never buy it. You know, it's only the the overall and I think that's the other word that I think if I want to suggest book number two is in the series of content is something around the idea of curation because that's I just I think that more and more of that is that's what five chapter five is really about.KevinIt's like, why, why this and not that? And so it's it's both breadth and depth, but also curating it for an intended audience with that intended purpose.JulieYeah, I mean, I think the book is proof that there's plenty of plenty of things to talk about, plenty of ways to do it. It's then taking a step back and looking at what's most important for your home buyer and what's most important for the home builder, for whatever where you are in the in the market. So I think that's what I see with builders.JulieSometimes they're jumping out in front of things, trying to do content before just pausing it. Does that have to be a big, huge thing? Pausing, thinking through messaging, thinking through the final goal. Look at the what is the goal of this content and then working backwards through creating it.KevinAnd I think one of the final like master level things to uncover and understand that sometimes you're creating content as a marketing team that's not for you at all. Meaning it's not for the website, really. It and everything should be there. But I would say a good portion of the content I created in my career prior to coming over to do Convert was creating content specifically for the use of of others in a 1 to 1 interaction framework here.KevinHere is content that helps a salesperson overcome a specific objection as a proof source, as a packaged, curated solution to an objection that they need some help overcoming. It's not, it's not it's almost usually not the broadest possible audience that you can you can reach because it's hard to do that really, really well. And this is where I'm thinking about people like Tilson who have done such a good job, really going narrow and deep in their subject matter to create a really loyal and and devoted audience and what they do.JulieI mean, kind of on that, on that same realm, what I also see is people who create a great piece of content and then it goes out in one specific place for one specific moment. And it's like, why? Like I see this, this is great. Did you send it out in an email? Did you give it to your sales team?JulieIs it somewhere on your website? You know, it's just using those great things. You guys create in more places so more people get eyes on them.KevinYeah, the number of times we still hear Where is this on your website? Oh, it's not. It's just on our YouTube channel or just on on Instagram. And we're like, Huh, What? Yeah, And strange. Still still some challenges to overcome. Awesome. All right. Well, we look forward to giving a copy of this to everyone who's coming to the summit.Kevin350 additional copies there. Julie will be around to sign and engage. And you're going to talk a little bit more about the book as well. So, yeah, this is this is a big one. I I've had now seven people, I think just that I didn't even know that they were buying it. They just send me a picture. Is there a contest going on that I don't know?KevinWhy are people sending me pictures of them holding your book? Then maybe they maybe they need your number. So they're like, Look, I got it. This is awesome. Like, great. Tell you.JulieThey're excited.KevinYeah, yeah, yeah. That's fantastic. All right, well, thank you from the industry for for spend all the time and energy to put this together We need it.JulieYeah. Thank you. And most of all, as I was writing it, really, the only goal was to add some value for it to be something that you guys could use and be homebuilder specific. I've read a ton of marketing books and content books. It's like, Well, that's cool, but doesn't really fit. So really, that's all it's for is just for, for you all to get some, get some good ideas out of it.KevinYeah. So we can't wait to see all the stuff that people make. Hmm. Yes. Friendly kick in the tush. Mm hmm. On the ball.JulieNo excuse.KevinAll right, Awesome. Go get your copy and link in the show notes. Tell us how you're using it as well. We can share that with others and give them ideas of of how you're using. I have heard of book clubs and and the like, and there's some other term there that I'm missing. But people are doing it in little groups, too, which is fun to see.KevinAll right. Thanks, Julie.JulieAll right. This is fun. Thank you.KevinThanks for joining us. On another episode of Market Proof Marketing can't wait for the next one or looking to connect with other new home marketers. Become a member of our private community, the UIC all access, which is 100% free and always will be, get exclusive content not shared anywhere else. Access to private events and the ability to join a marketing impact group with other marketers like you around the country.Visit our link in the show notes or members. Do you convert dotcom to join? All opinions expressed by me Andrew Peek, Jackie Lipinski and our cast mates are solely our own opinions. Now get to work and make sure your company is market us.  The post Ep 298: Building Certainty for the Uncertain Builder With Julie Jarnagin appeared first on Online Sales and Marketing for Home Builders - DYC.