Podcasts about shops

Newmarket's Broadway precinct has in the past been a go to for shoppers. About five years ago it even got a brand new upmarket Westfield mall, but still had a mix of one off boutiques and stores including Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester, on the main strip and surrounding streets. Now there are multiple ghost shops on Broadway, displaying signage of stores that no longer exist and with a heavy sprinkling of "for lease" signs. Mark Knoff Thomas from the Newmarket Business Association spoke to Lisa Owen.

In this episode of Issaquah Buzz, hosts Autumn Monahan and Jen Davis Hayes dive into the latest business happenings around Issaquah—from exciting openings to heartfelt community updates.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 21st May 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: Museum Wales website: https://museum.wales/Big Pit National Coal Museum: https://museum.wales/bigpit/Catherine Pinkerton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-pinkerton-b1905a110/Catherine Pinkerton is the Group Retail Manager at Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales.Having worked in senior management positions for some of the high street's most recognisable brands such as Harrods, Selfridges, Dior and Guerlain to name but a few, Catherine spent 20+ years in London building her management career. Catherine is now the Group Retail Manager for Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales). She is responsible for the management of all aspects of retail operations and development, across the national museums of Wales. Catherine is currently leading on a transformation project to create immersive retail experiences in each of the museum shops, reflecting the visitor experience and collections of each of the varied museums.Guests Also Featured in This Episode:Anya Kirkby, Freelancer - Anya Kirkby Ltd – Product Development and Graphic Design anyakirkby@gmail.comArantxa Garcia, Freelancer - Exibeo VM Creative Studio – Shop Design and Visual Merchandising Arantxa@exhibeovm.co.ukNia Elias, Director Relationships and Funding, Amgueddfa Cymru nia.elias@museumwales.ac.ukGuy Veale, Freelancer – Freelancer - Sound artist/designer - gbveale@gmail.comAmy Samways, Shop Supervisor, Amgueddfa Cymru - amy.samways@museumwales.ac.ukKate Eden, Chair, Amgueddfa Cymru - Members of Board | Museum Wales Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue. I'm your host, Paul Marden. So today you join me on the top of a mountain in Blaenavon in Wales at Big Pit, the National Mining Museum. I'm here today for a really special event. I've been invited to the opening of Big Pit's new Museum Retail experience, which is a programme of work that's being done by the Museums Wales Group to improve the sense of place and the sense of feeling for what could be a blueprint for the rest of the group. We're going to be joined by a number of different people that have taken part in the project and without further ado, let's get started on our tour of Big Pit. Catherine Pinkerton: Morning, everybody. Hello, welcome. It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you all today and I know there's been a lot of you'd have travelled far and wide, so thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate you coming to see the amazing store that we've created and I hope you love it. We're just going to cut the river now. Paul Marden: First up I've got Catherine Pinkerton, Group Head of Retail at Museum Wales. Catherine, welcome to Skip the Queue. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you very much. Thank you so much for having me. Paul Marden: Absolute pleasure. And this is a corker of an episode. I think everybody is going to be really interested in finding out about the retail, the gift shop experience that you guys have introduced at Big Pit and then you're going to go wider into. Into Museums Wales. This is a really weird episode because you and I are recording the morning after the day before. So yesterday was the big launch event and I was with you at Big Pit and I've met lots and lots of people and we're going to cut to them throughout the episode and hear from those people that were taking part in the project. But you and I have got the benefit of having enjoyed yester today's event and we can look back on what that experience was like and talk a little bit about the project. Paul Marden: Before we do that, I think it would be really lovely for you to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Museums Wales and Big Pit specifically. Catherine Pinkerton: Absolutely. Okay. So I'm Catherine Pinkerton. So I head up all of the retail stores within Amgueddfa Cymru, which is National Museums of Wales. I've been with the museum just under three years and I'm good that Cymru hosts seven sites. It's an incredible establishment to be part of and I think, you know, coming from a very commercial background, this is very different for me, but I think it's given me lots of insights into bringing kind of. Lots of. Kind of different skill sets, I guess, to this cultural sector. I think when I first initially joined Amgueddfa Cymru, there were lots of challenges. And that's not to say that we still have those challenges as they are in many of our museums. And I think coming from a retail background, it's. It's looking at something that's not. That's commercial, Paul.Catherine Pinkerton: That's key. But actually, how can we make it very collection and story based on our amazing assets that we hold within our museums? And I think that I felt was probably the biggest thing that was missing because I thought we've got these amazing exhibitions, these amazing collections, amazing, you know, opportunities, and how are we putting that into the retail structure and how do we offer that to us, you know, to our visitors? And I think. I think sometimes it may be. Have forgotten that you go around these amazing spaces and it's very based on that visitor focus and how can we make that visitor feel very happy and engaged. But actually the end part of that process is nearly always coming through, exiting through the retail space. Right. Catherine Pinkerton: And if they've had this amazing opportunity to go and, you know, a lot of investment in these amazing spaces, and then they come through that retail space which has some elements, but not all of what our collections hold, there's a confusion there. You know, that end piece. And for me, customer service and visitor experience is absolutely key to how they. How they finish and how they end their day. And if they're ending their day with something, oh, okay, I'll just have a magnet then. Because there's nothing really else here. Yeah, that pains me. That really hurts me. I think, come on, guys, we can do better than this. We are in an element of. We have our own assets, our own elements to be able to kind of display that. Catherine Pinkerton:  And I think very much it would be very easy and to take the kind of easy road of having, you know, let's. Let's pop a dragon on a mug and yeah, we're a Welsh museum. No, we're not. We have assets here. We have beautiful exhibitions, we have beautiful spaces. And actually looking from further afield into. In terms of an emotional connection. And I think, you know, for me, from all of my past kind of previous work, I'm working with Amgueddfa Cymru. It's probably been the most challenging to get perhaps senior management to understand a crazy way of Catherine Pinkerton working into a. What's emotional retail? What does emotive selling mean? This lady is crazy. What's she talking about? But actually, it's really basic, isn't it? Catherine Pinkerton: Because for me, if I take my daughter or my husband to any kind of day trip, I want to take something emotional that I've connected with home with me, and that's so simple. But actually, sometimes it's not thought about in that way. And, you know, for me, I'm all about the emotional connection. And I think we put so much investment in curatorial teams to kind of give that to our visitors. We need to end that. That end part is so important for them to finish, you know, that journey with that emotional connection that they can take home as a souvenir. So, yeah, I've probably said more than I needed to there, Paul, but.Paul Marden: Absolutely. So I think you're capturing the need to curate the. The ending experience because, you know, the nature of. The nature of people's memory is they remember the beginning and they remember the end and the bit that is in the middle is hugely important to the storytelling experience they have whilst they're at the attraction. But if you don't end on a high, then their emotional connection to you and the space and the stories they've heard is not going to be as impactful for them. Catherine Pinkerton:  Absolutely, totally agree. I think it's really key, and not just in the kind of, you know, the cultural sector, but in any sector, really. I think it's really important that connection is instant, really, because that is what you need to. That's the hook, isn't it, of getting that person, you know, and. And actually understanding what the visitor needs. I mean, it's very easy for me to say on a personal level, I'd love to have this collection of products within the shop, but actually, that's not what data tells us. That's not what our demographic tells know, you know. And they are the ones that are important. Our local communities, our demographic is key for us to be successful. Paul Marden: You know, so one of the things that I took from yesterday was the importance that you were moving away from being just any other generic Welsh gift shop to being a gift shop associated with the place. Yeah, that. That's the. That was the nub of I think, what you were trying to get to how do you go about doing that? How did you make it feel so much like a gift shop? About Big Pit? Catherine Pinkerton: It's taken a process of really pulling everything back and getting under the skin, what is the detail and the personality of the site. But actually it's talking to people and being humour. And Paul, you know, I think, very much, as I say, it'd be very ignorant for me to say this is what I think will work. And that's absolutely not what we want. What we want is for the visitors to say, I really. I mean, what was really interesting, actually, is that we did quite a lot of data analysis in terms of the demographics of customers that come through our sites. But also what was really key is areas of the sites that were really kind of, you know, three key areas that they really enjoyed or they really loved. Catherine Pinkerton:  And actually, one of the top ones was the pit ponies that they all love the pit ponies, they love talking about it, they love the stories that the mining team would talk about. It was a really inspiring, you know, inspirational moment for them to think, oh, my gosh, the pit ponies lived underground. This is really so, you know, I think in some respects that was probably missed in terms of our retail offer, because what we did after that is that we had a workshop with all our retail team and we almost did a little bit like a Dragon's Den effect. We said, right, these are the products that we have, right? Can you pick up out of these products, which products represent the pit ponies? Which products represent the shower rooms? Catherine Pinkerton: And actually, when you're talking to the teams in kind of a literal sense, there wasn't a lot within our retail offer that we already had. And I think it was a bit of a light bulb moment, really, for the retail team and said, “Oh, Kath. Right, I see, Yeah, I understand what you mean.” That's not represented in our retail offer. So what's represented currently was wonderful things and lots of Welsh kind of products. But actually, what. What makes that relatable to our site? And so I think what I wanted to do originally is just go on a journey and to kind of really, from a very basic stage, is understand what the site's POS was and actually understand what their personality was and what the curatorial team were trying to push forward as being their identity. Catherine Pinkerton:  And I think once we got the identity, we then broke that down into themes in terms of there's pit ponies. That's a huge part of the, you know, the exhibition. The other huge part of the exhibition were the canaries. So, you know, that was something that was talked about. There's a huge story around that. And then, you know, the kind of mining history and the community was massive. And actually that element was so important to me and the retail team to make sure that we got right. Because this is history, right? And this is. I come from both my grandparents were miners. So for me it was very much a, you know, a very emotional time for me to make sure that we got it right and that it was respectfully done. Catherine Pinkerton:  So that was really key in terms of how do we deliver this. That's really. That we are not stepping on people's toes. We're not profiting from something that was, you know, the strike range is very significant within what we've offered, but we really wanted to make sure that was respectful and that it was done in a tasteful way that people felt they could take a souvenir away, but know that was actually part of the exhibition. So it was those kind of areas that we really wanted to work. So once we have those themes in place in terms of what those looked like, it was then developing that and how do we develop that into an actual concept? Paul Marden: Yeah, and you've drawn in lots of people. You've already mentioned the kind of wide team that you brought in from Big Pit itself, but from the wider team in the group. Talk a little bit about what that experience has been like as a team. Who have you brought into this? Catherine Pinkerton:  So originally, when we wrote the retail concept and the retail strategy, you obviously have to kind of involve quite a lot of internal candidates to be able to allow them to believe that this journey and vision is a good one. And I'm super thankful. I've got the most amazing manager, Marc Simcox. He's the head of enterprises and he is incredible. He's very commercial, but very trusting in terms of understanding what the business should look like and actually giving that freedom to say, yeah, I think this can work. Kath. So you, you go ahead and that. That's huge. Right. We're not talking about a small project here. So that firstly was great for me. And then I think having the, you know, the opportunity to be able to get some key people. Catherine Pinkerton: And Matthew Henderson we've worked with previously and we've, you know, I knew straight away, for me, Matthew Henderson has gotten. Got a very unique way of working and we work very well together. We've got quite similar kind of ways of working, but I think that development and concept phase is really key and I think it really got to the point where we just sat in a room and kind of really understood what are we trying to achieve here, how can we achieve that? And really just making it very basic in terms of the key themes. And then in terms of product development, we brought on Anya Kirkby. So she is an illustrator and a very clever lady indeed. And we have worked with lots of illustrators and lots of suppliers over the years. Catherine Pinkerton: But what we wanted something for Big Pit was to be quite different in terms of the illustration and the product development. Because what we wanted to deliver with Big Pit was something that had been my vision since the very beginning when I started with Amgueddfa Cymru. And that is, you know, going into the shop and having those guidelines, you know, pricing guidelines, information guidelines, those small details which would probably mean nothing to the average person walking through, but actually a price ticket on something that's been illustrated pains me to see, because the work that's gone on behind that is so key. Catherine Pinkerton: And, you know, for most people not understanding that a price ticket on that is so I think those details are really key, Paul, and I think she really worked stringently with me to make sure that was, was, that was kind of a massive aspect of that role. And then Arantxa Garcia, who is just the most incredible designer. She's, she's a genius in what she does. She's incredibly creative and sometimes you have to kind of pull her back and say, okay, you want this? Okay, can you deliver this rancher? Paul Marden: Yeah. Catherine Pinkerton: And what was really interesting with a rancher is that, you know, she's got a huge, amazing CV of working with lots of people within the cultural sector and designing amazing, incredible pieces. But I think were very nervous because the, the original kind of renders that she sent through to us were quite amazing and impressive. And I said, arantha, are you able to deliver this under the kind of, you know, the budget? We've got a tight budget here. Paul Marden: That's the challenge, isn't it? Catherine Pinkerton: I mean, isn't it? Paul Marden: You do not want to be paying, you don't want to be offered the picture of a Maserati when you have got a Ford Fiesta budget, do you need to know that you can afford it. Catherine Pinkerton: Absolutely. And I think with Aranta, she was very, again, super creative lady. And I think I, as soon as I saw that image, I did say to her, right, you need to deliver this now. You've, you've committed to it, Arantia, so this needs to happen. And then finally, Richard Evans, who has, is hugely respected in the cultural sector and he really supported in terms of project management and the, you know, I hate to say this, and you won't mind me saying this, but the kind of boring kind of financial Gantt charts and keeping me in line actually. Right, Cath, we haven't got a budget for that. You can't spend that. Come on, Richard, make it work. Move some things around, you know. Catherine Pinkerton: So I think that was kind of the main area and then internally, Tracy Lucas, who was kind of my right hand woman, is our operations manager within Amgueddfa Cymru and she really supported me along with Amy, the shop manager, shop supervisor to really look at the product development. So I think, you know, and I think it was really nice actually to have them on board because I think it gave an opportunity for them to see what could be. And I think, you know, definitely in terms of retail, it's been an opportunity for us to be able to say, look, this, the impossible can be possible. Catherine Pinkerton: Actually this is an amazing project and I think what was really incredible is that when we decided to work on Big Pit, the Big Pit team and all of the mining team actually just came on board, Paul, they took it on board and I think the reason why they did that is that one of the mining teams said to me, he said, kath, you know, we never get any funding here. It's always in this big cities, you know, we, the Cardiff and it's never here, you know, we're just in the middle of nowhere. And I was like, absolutely not. That is not what this is about. It's about, you know, making sure that the community in that area is solid. Catherine Pinkerton: And I think the mining industry and they're very proud of that in terms of who works there, they're incredibly proud of what they do. And so because we chose that as our first project, they were so helpful in terms of, yeah, we're going to make this work, let's make it a success. Cath, how can we do that? What do you need from me? I mean at one point we had two of the mining staff pulling one of the drums which we upcycled out of it was like a lake or, yeah, I suppose a lake with a tractor. And I was like, this is crazy. This is crazy but just amazing that these team members are willing to do above and beyond to kind of go and help and support.Catherine Pinkerton: Dwayne Smith, finally I have to mention him because he went above and beyond. He, he's an electrical engineer for Amgueddfa Cymru and no feat was kind of Too hard for him. He helped us massively. He's got a huge team of people and anything that we needed done, I'm not, you know, I'm not a trades person, so anything Trady. I was like, Dwayne, yeah, I'm on it, Kath, I'll do it. Which is great because I was like, okay, yes, that was massively helpful, but huge learning curve, Paul. I feel I've never been so excited about drums in my entire working career as I am now. Paul Marden: And I never heard of one until yesterday. But what I found interesting was you see them all the way through the underground experience. I went down in the. The cage to the bottom of the pit head, did the whole tour. You talk about these drams and the importance of them and the transportation of the coal from throughout the mine back up to the top. And then you walk into the shop and it's subtle. The way that you've blended the museum into the shop is a subtle experience. It doesn't feel, it doesn't feel crude. But you've got a dram in the middle of the workshop. Now, I know it's a real one because we talked about it yesterday and I know the pains that you went through, but it's very subtle placed in there so that it doesn't feel crude. Paul Marden: It doesn't feel like you're trying to overwork the metaphor of the mine in the shop. It's very cleverly done. Catherine Pinkerton:  Oh, that's great, great, great to hear. Because that's absolutely what we did not want. And I think in terms of visual merchandising, actually, and picking up on your point there, is that it's very easy for us and this is something that we're doing in a different shop. It's very easy for us to look at some of our assets and pop them on a tote bag and say, there you go, that's done, we'll sell that. But actually, no, what can we do that's different? That's more kind of innovative? That's more creative. That is a hint or perhaps an opportunity for us to show and display something that is. Is then part of the visitors question. So when they're coming into store and they're speaking to our retail teams, they're questioning, is this a real drum? Catherine Pinkerton:  You know, and that is a conversation opener, isn't it? You know, and I think Kerry Thompson, who is the curator for Big Pit, he's a really inspiring man. I could listen to him all day. And he told me lots about kind of the drums and the history of Big Pit and the strikes. He's such an interesting man, but I think having the inspiration from him allowed us to make sure that we did it not in a crude way, actually, Paul, but that it was representative of the site, but not in a way that's, I guess, too obvious, you know. Paul Marden: Look, Kath, we could carry on talking for ages, but let's cut at this point to hear about some of the voices from the team that you worked with, your internal team, some of the partners that you worked with, about the experiences that they've had on the project. Paul Marden: So let's hear from some of the internal team members involved in the project. Firstly, we have Amy Samways, the retail supervisor at Big Pit, followed by Kate Eden, the chair of Museum Wales. And lastly, Nia Elias, the Director of Relationships and Funding at the Museum of Wales. Hey, Amy, how you doing? Lovely to meet you. What's your role at the museum, Amy? Amy Samways: I'm the shop supervisor for Big Pit. Paul Marden: What have you been doing in this whole project? I guess you've been integral to the whole kind of making it all about the place. Amy Samways: Yeah, so I've worked with Anya, who did all the products for the new shop. So we walked around all the exhibitions. We did a lot of underground visits and a lot of museum visits and just put things together. I've done a lot of work before this project for the last two years to try and get things more relevant to us and not just a Welsh souvenir shop. So a lot of those products stayed and then we just expanded them then. Paul Marden: So how do you go about looking for those products that make it local to here? Amy Samways: Well, we've got a fantastic exhibition at the top of the hill. We've got obviously our ex miners and we also have a lot of events through the times as well. So this year was a lot about the strike because obviously it's the 40th anniversary and we've got a massive exhibition down in Cardiff and also there's a smaller one up year as well. So we just walked through the museum and obviously, you know that disasters are obviously a big issue. We didn't want to make a big issue about those, but obviously they need. They're part of history, aren't they? So more books. We made sure we had books around that. And as you walk through, there's a lot of signs that the staff liked as well, because a lot of our guys have been done about the new projects with those as well on. Paul Marden: So do you then go looking for local suppliers to help you with that? And where do you find those? Amy Samways: Etsy, Facebook. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Amy Samways: Yeah, a lot of them. And also online. And then we've also. Because we work with a lot of suppliers as well, I'll say we need this and then they'll say, oh, you should ask so and so, and then we'll go and ask both. Paul Marden: Brilliant. So one of the things that's really interested me this year is talking to people that are running museum retail and that kind of process that goes from you as a buyer, having an idea, what do you want? How do you stock the shop? I think is really interesting process to go through, but flip it on the other side, as a local creator, you've got your thing and you want it in the shop. How do you get it found? Well, yeah, sticking it on Etsy is something that they're going to do, but then that might help them get into the museum. Amy Samways: Even if there is something that we want. Like at the minute, we're looking for NCB soap. Paul Marden: For what? Amy Samways: NCB soap. Paul Marden: What's that? Amy Samways: It's either bright green or bright pink and they used to buy it in the canteen shop and it's just imprinted with NCB. The guides have been asking and asking for it, but we have actually found a supplier now who's going to be working on it. So that should be coming this summer. Paul Marden: Wowzers. Amy Samways: Yeah. That's really exciting for you. Paul Marden:  What was the highlight? What's the one thing about this space, about the whole experience of the project. Amy Samways: That jumps out for me is seeing all the stock we've worked on and somebody actually buying it. Paul Marden:  And what is it that people are picking up? What are they walking in and gravitating to? Amy Samways: Anything Big pet, really. The little enamel little mugs have gone really well. I think the wording on those are great because it says they must not be removed from the premises. So our guides are loving those. And also our retro sign, which we had for our 40th anniversary and three years ago, but we kept it because it's such a brilliant design. It was the original from 1983 and it was on the original road sign as you drove in. So we've had that recreated and that sells really well. Paul Marden:  That's really interesting. So my wife with the family about 25, 30 years ago, came on a family holiday and they had the original guidebook that they picked up when they were here with the kind of the retro. Retro signage on there. Amy Samways: Yeah, we're back selling it again. Kate Eden: Yes, So my name's Kate Eden. I'm chair of the board of Amgueddfa Cymru. Paul Marden:  Tell me a little bit about your involvement in this project. Kate Eden:  As the board, we've been tracking the development of commercial and enterprises over the past year. Really. And really thrown our way, weight and support behind what the team has been trying to do here as a kind of flagship, really, for what we would all like the new benchmark to be across all of the seven sites of anger for Cymru. So seeing it all come together this morning has just been such a special experience. It's absolutely fantastic. I'm going to bring the rest of the board here as soon as I can so the trustees can see this and see the reaction of staff and of visitors as well, because it's a fabulous achievement and it shows us what we can do now as a national museum. Paul Marden: How well does it tie back into the original pitch at trustees? So I'm a trustee of a charity as well. The pressures that we're all under in terms of reducing funding and having to generate our own funding is so hugely important. This must be integral to the conversations that you were having as trustees. Did you have this in mind when you were signing off the agreement to spend the money? Kate Eden: Yeah. So I don't think anybody realised just how successful this could be. We'd had some mock ups and we'd had a presentation, so there was a lot of excitement and there was sort of the fledgling idea years. So we've got a sense of what it could be. But I think importantly for us, it's about that marriage of financial sustainability because it's got to wash its face, it's got to provide a working profit that can go back into the running of Big Pit here.Kate Eden: But it's got to be authentic to this place. It can't be the add on the visitor should shop that you walk through at the end. And it's a bit of a tedious thing to get back to the car park. It's got to be an integral part of the whole visitor experience in this place. And I think that's what they've achieved. Paul Marden: It's so impressive. So impressive. You know, just the structure that they've built to give you the impression of the mine in a really subtle way. The product that they've chosen, the way that they've laid out that, the shop is amazing. I think they've done an amazing job. Kate Eden: That's it. I mean, this is my local site. Paul Marden: Okay. Kate Eden: I live about three miles over the mountain there. So I bring my friends and family here. This is our go to place when I've got visitors. And I think just the way they've opened up the room, they've removed the barriers, which is really important. It's a small thing, but really important so that people feel welcome. They can walk in or they can walk ground. Paul Marden: Yep. Kate Eden: And it's. And it just feels a little bit more inclusive. It feels a bit more kind of, you know, we're here, it's easy to come and see us, you know, and spend time and then spend a little. Paul Marden: A little bit of money. Yeah. So where do we go from here as trustees? Are you fully behind rolling this out now? Kate Eden: Yeah, I mean, I think now that we've seen what we can do and the type of data that's coming through from sales, this is now the new. This is the bar. Paul Marden: Oh. So it has made a discernible difference to say. Kate Eden: So early data from Easter is really promising. Yeah. So this is the benchmark now from all of the other sites. Nia Elias: Hi, Paul. Hi, I'm Nia. Paul Marden: Lovely to meet you. Tell me about your role at the museum. Nia Elias: I am Director of Relationships and Funding. It basically means I get to work with all of the teams across the museum that work on the reputation, the reach, but also the revenue of this wonderful charity and national museum that we are. Because as well as getting funding from Welsh government, we raise our own income so it can be invested.Paul Marden: What sort of split? Nia Elias: What sort of split? So the majority of the money that comes to us does come from Welsh government because we're a public service, we're here free of charge for the people of Wales and we look after the national collection, which is over 5 million items across seven museums and a collection centre. Nia Elias: But there's a proportion then of money that we raise ourselves about sort of 30%, which is from our cafes and our car parks and the experiences that people have, and most importantly, our shops. Paul Marden:  So what was the inspiration for this project? Why kick off a strategy project around the whole retail experience? Nia Elias:  Well, this whole project, in essence started three and a half years ago when the museum decided that it would bring a strategy together for all of its self generated income. So that means our philanthropic income generation and through our enterprise, including our retail. And from a retail perspective, we knew that what we wanted to achieve with all of the money that we raise ourselves is that it's really rooted in the collection, because we have an amazing collection. It tells the story of Wales and it's owned by the people of Wales. Paul Marden: Right. Nia Elias: And from a retail perspective, we knew if people could engage with that and could take away something from the wonderful experience that they've had on site, that it would be something that they would want and it would make it unique that it's only possible to have here. Developing a project like this is quite challenging. You need the time, you need the teams and expertise, some of which are on your permanent team, some of which are naturally not. And also you need investment. And so by starting the thinking and the route of where we wanted to get to three and a half years ago, it meant when we had the funding and the opportunity to do so here at Big Pit, we knew exactly what to do. Paul Marden: Okay, so you. You put all of those pieces together and then came here and did the first cookie cutter stamp. But what's interesting is it's not a cookie cutter stamp, is it? This totally feels like the gift shop for this museum, doesn't it?. Nia Elias:  Yeah. So we feel really strongly that we wanted the balance of knowing that you're at a National Museum Wales site, knowing that you're somewhere unique, but equally that it has a sense of a place. Because all of our seven museums together tell the holistic story of Wales, but you really get a sense of personality on all of those sites, not just from the collection and the buildings and the items, but also from the colleagues that work here as well. Paul Marden: Right. Nia Elias: They're very much a part of that in terms of the stories that they tell, their lived experiences, and we had a sense of responsibility and fun to bring that through in the shop. Not just the ambiance, but also the products themselves, so much of them, the majority of them actually, are grounded in being inspired by the collection in some way, and also has a really strong Welsh and local profit as well. What we think that will come through to our customers and visitors and guests is that because we've worked across all of the teams in the museum, so curators and people who care for the collection, our colleagues here at Big Pit, many of whom are former miners, and our colleagues front of house, it means that everybody will be able to speak about the product. Nia Elias: So as you're walking around picking things up, imagining them in your home or as gifts, our colleagues can talk about what they mean to the place. And that brings something additional that you can't really buy. Paul Marden: Yeah. There's a story to it. There's a background to it that roots it. Yeah. Lovely. For you, what's the standout experience from the whole project? What have you enjoyed the most? Nia Elias: Two things I think in terms of the way that it's been done, the fact that so many teams have worked together behind the scenes to make it happen. That means that as we want to change things or tweak things or improve things, we'll have all of the knowledge and expertise already baked in, especially learning from other suppliers who've come along and helped us. So we've got that baked in now, which is really exciting. And the second thing is that I can stand here knowing that this is the standard of a national museum that our guests and visitors expect and want to see. Paul Marden: And now let's hear from a few of the external partners that Kath brought into the project. Arantxa Garcia was the shop designer and visual merchandiser. Anya Kirkby was responsible for product development. And Guy Veal was responsible for sound design. Tell me about your involvement in the project. Arantxa Garcia: Sure. So I'm the shop designer and visual merchandiser. It's a freelance role, so. So I worked with the team, Matthew, Richard, Anne and Guy. Paul Marden: Excellent. Arantxa Garcia: So we kind of all came as part of a team and each one of us looked after different areas of the project. And my involvement was to kind of reinvent and reimagine what was already here. And the idea was to create a space that was connected to the experience and to the site itself. So we've basically ripped the space apart. We've kind of kept the structure, obviously, but we've opened up the space as well. Before the shop, it would be very separate. You'd have admissions and then you have the shop area, which meant that you were only really accessing the shop if you came to visit the site. But as a local, you wouldn't be able to come, for example. Or you could, but maybe not in such an open way. Paul Marden: Yeah, you wouldn't feel welcome. Arantxa Garcia: Exactly, exactly. You may not want to just because you didn't know, whereas now you can just come in and basically hang around and also browse the shop. Exactly. We took inspiration from life underground, from the mine itself. So before the building was white, the units were white, so it could be a shop anywhere. You know, it didn't really have a DNA, so to speak, or an identity that related it directly to the site. So when visiting down to the underground and King Call as well, the exhibition that we've got just up the hill, we took inspiration from basically sort of like the. The cladding that you've got on the walls. Cladding is not the right word. So if one of the miners hears me saying that, they'll be. Arantxa Garcia: That's not the word that we told you, but the idea is that all the materiality that we're using, it's really evocative of. Of the site and it's the materials that have been used underground. So even, like the safety lamps, they'll set authentic safety lamps. And the team on site, Dwayne Smith, has electrified them. So it means that now they work, obviously, as a normal light, but it's a safety. Paul Marden: But they are the original safety. Arantxa Garcia: They are the original safety. Paul Marden: Wowsers. And what about these styles? Arantxa Garcia: So, yes, I always like going for a hunt on the side. So basically the team took me to different rooms and we just found stuff, if you like. So they're like the pressure gauges, you know, we're gonna use them just to add, again, like, references to the site and the authenticity, of course. So you also find loads of tools that would have been used underground as well. Paul Marden: I would imagine that this has been a really enjoyable project for you. I can see it on your face, how much you've enjoyed it. Arantxa Garcia: It has. And I think for designers, sometimes there's projects that take a bit longer to emerge and you keep changing things because you just don't feel probably quite right. There's something. But with this one, it kind of. After the site visit, it was just. Paul Marden: I clicked immediately.Arantxa Garcia: It just clicked immediately. So we darkened the wall. So we've kind of given that sort of grey background just to kind of creating more of like a cosy and shrinking the space. Paul Marden: But you. It pops the orange. Arantxa Garcia: Exactly. And the orange is everywhere. So, like, we've also changed the lighting, so it's a lot warmer. So again, that hint of orange. Yeah, orange on the back, orange on the miners on here. And then it comes also from the products. So the identity is there, but without going fully corporate, if that makes sense. That's the colour that you remember, isn't it? You've just been on the ground. All our guides and miners wear the orange overalls and the sort of, like the blue jackets over it, whether it's a donkey jacket in the winter or then they wear the soft shells as well. So, yeah, it's all those details, like those hints to the experience that kind of are embedded in the design. And these are regional as well. The drums are regional, all the flatbeds. Arantxa Garcia:  So the team here took the metal sides off and then sort of like left the skeleton of the drum, varnished it. And then our shop fitters aren't here. They did all the sort of the cladding using reclaimed scaffolding boards. But the original Drums would have been made out of wood. Paul Marden: Beautiful. It's so tactile, isn't it? Arantxa Garcia:  It's tactile. Again, we're looking at the DNA all the time. And shops can be more than just shops. Shops can tell stories. You just connect with it in a very different way. And just having the time the team on site involved has been absolutely incredible. Like the sense of pride and belonging and provenance that this kind of has awakened, it's been great. It's your job done really as a designer. When you just feel like everyone owns it, that's your job, that's when you can walk away. Paul Marden: What an amazing testimonial for you and the work that everyone feels like that. Anya, lovely to meet you. Tell me, what was your involvement in the project? Anya Kirkby: So I mainly focused on product development. So we looked at where we could get inspiration from the site and how we could translate that really from the site experience into the shop experience as well. Paul Marden: Okay, so you're coming, you're experiencing what's going on and then looking to the outside world as to how you can source your products. Where do you go for the inspiration for the products? Anya Kirkby: Working with the team a lot. So Amy was a huge help on guiding us on what things would be very useful for visitors, what they really enjoyed when they were on site, what were their key take home messages that they experienced. And then working with Amy and Tracey as well to look at what products people like when they're in the shop anyway and how we can kind of marry those two up. Paul Marden: So what is it that people like when they come to Big Pit? Anya Kirkby: Well, unsurprisingly, the mine, they enjoy the mines, the mining experience. So that was just something that we already had in the shop. So we just expanded on that more if possible. But then we've also taken inspiration from signage. So they already had the original Big Pit signage and we looked at that and kind of again expanded on it. So then we've kind of expanded that to signage that you find in some of the other exhibits. So up in the showers, for example, in the canteen, signage, some of the original pieces from collections. We then translated that into products. So you'll see we've got the designs across mugs, original little metal signs, moved that across to prints, notebooks, postcards. Paul Marden: You've been developing a lot of the products yourself, so bringing that kind of the unifying feel to everything. Anya Kirkby: Yeah. So along with product development and making all the kind of the new things that we can have it's just bringing across the branding through the AC brand really strongly across everything. It's got such a strong message that we may as well have that on as many products as we possibly can do. Paul Marden: And how much of the stuff is actually locally sourced? Anya Kirkby: Oh, it's huge amounts. And the exciting thing is after speaking to Amy, the things that she needs to reorder are the local suppliers, which is so nice. So a lot of the confectionery that's locally sourced candles, soap, the coal figures, the wooden spoons, chocolate boxes, the biscuit boxes. So as much as possible. And then we've worked with local suppliers as well to do photography, to do some of the signage, to do the original signwriting in the shop as well. So beyond products, we've looked at the POS points like elements of the shop as well. So thankfully we've used as many local spires as we possibly can. Paul Marden: You've enjoyed this project, haven't you? Anya Kirkby: I absolutely loved it, yeah. It's fantastic to see it's absolutely amazing. Paul Marden: Yeah. Anya Kirkby: So yeah, it's really special. Paul Marden: And then from here you springboard on to the other seven sites. How do you, how do you come up with the ideas then? Anya Kirkby: Exactly the same process. So working with the teams to find out what it is that visitors absolutely love about their sites and bringing that into the shop experience. So again I get very lucky. I get to go around a lot museums and experience it. Paul Marden: It's a tough job, isn't it?Anya Kirkby: It's tricky. But basically finding out what they love and bringing that through the really things that visitors take home with them anyway and just making it into a product that they can actually physically take a piece of the museum home with them as well. Paul Marden: It's great because there are some pocket money items here because I take kids on school visits and it's a very expensive experience. You know, if they catch take a fiver with them, often they can't get anything with a fiver but they can walk in and they've got pencils, they've got rubbers and they'll walk out happy with those little bits. But at the same time you've got some beautiful stuff that the grown ups can come and pick up and really enjoy. Anya Kirkby: It's the same as any museum visitor. You kind of have to look at who's going to be visiting. It's all types of people that come and just gauging it from that as well. So having an offer for everyone that they can enjoy. Someone said to me once that children for the first time. It's often their first time having a transaction monetary wise. Is that a museum on a school trip? So it's just lovely to kind of have something for them to experience that as well. Paul Marden: Never thought of it like that. They're out on their own. They're not with mum and dad. So they've got the money themselves and they've got to make the decision. So we are at. I took some kids to the science museum last year. Anya Kirkby: Oh. Paul Marden: And the amount of time we took in the shop because of the indecision that they had. Anya Kirkby: It's the indecision decision and then the queue of all them having a five pound note and having all the change come back or not having quite enough. But I think it's such an important. If you can't do that in a museum, where can you do it? Paul Marden: Guy. Hi. Guy Veale: Hi. Paul Marden: I just wanted to talk to you a little bit about what was your part of the project? Guy Veale: I was sound designer for the soundscape which we can't hear when everyone's chatting. Paul Marden: I can hear some birds in the background. Is that. Guy Veale: Is that canaries? Living canaries. Not dead gas. Paul Marden:  Coal mine canary. Guy Veale: So I did a little bit of research sort of towards the end of the project after lots of stuff had been built in, when they decided that some low level sound would be a good part of the experience. And looking at the brief and the shape of the room, the acoustics, a lot of this new ducting that's gone in that was not then easy to put cables into. We had to go for a wireless solution. Paul Marden:  Okay. Guy Veale: As part of that I found a Swedish company that had a system that creates its own network which is like a weird dream because normally you've got to go the IT guys and then something goes wrong and there's some sort of address problems or. Bluetooth is not always reliable. This has been a revolution just in terms of. Guy Veale: Don't if you can see them. There's little. They look like light fixtures that are centrally over these panels. Paul Marden: Oh right. Guy Veale: And they're quite. Paul Marden: Oh. And so they're speaking speakers pointing down onto the panel to separate it. So what. What. The other kind of sound pictures that you're painting. We've got the canary. What else have you got? Guy Veale: So the whole idea is that you're trying to represent the industrial heritage of the site and have as many authentic sounds from the site as possible. Paul Marden: Right. Guy Veale: So we've reused some of the really high quality recordings that also feature at different parts of the site already. Paul Marden: Yep. Guy Veale: But then, also sourced about another 70 or 80 sound from the BBC archive. Paul Marden: Oh, wow. Guy Veale: Paid for. And so. But if you think about those sounds, they're quite punctuated and aggressive. You think of any industrial sound and like chipping away or different tipples working. You know, the idea is that you don't want to surprise someone that while they're shopping and leaning over next to a speaker and hearing. So it needed to be softened in some way. And you know, traditionally the way I've done work is music and sound design is using different textures and tonal design and like a drone, I suppose, is this as a sort of basis that can be moving and organic, not totally static? Paul Marden: Yeah. Guy Veale:  And the idea was to sort of try and include fragments of relevant songs using the male voice choir.Paul Marden:  Really.Guy Veale: And we tried several things and I looked at it and I realised that you might catch someone coming in for five minutes here and they catch a snippet and it's all well and good for them, but the staff and you've got to hear this eight hours a day, every day, you know, four weeks, a month, so forth. So even just one little identifiable recurring melody starts to get too much, even on quite a long five. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Guy Veale: And I found that it wasn't sustainable. So I, in the end, I ended up using the. Almost like the vocal warm ups and breaths of the choir artificially extended out so they're not breathing, just this constant low level, breathy sort of expulsion. I mean, if went quiet now, we'd hear it as the. As a backdrop and it's embedded with a few other little musical elements that just sort of try and soften and support. I think of it like the vowels of the track and then the consonants. Paul Marden: Or the industrial chipping noises and the harsher noises. Guy Veale: So they're harsher but they're there and they're a bit removed and reverberate and in the background. Paul Marden: But it's really interesting how you describe it in that kind of. Using the metaphor of the letters. Guy Veale: Yeah, that's what it felt like. Just trying to find something that was like a vocabulary of work that has to tick so many different boxes, including like a therapeutic retail experience. People leaving the site with a sense of well being. Also like summarising what they've been through, not sort of projecting them out the door with, you know, a completely new thing or somewhere that they haven't been through yet. So, you know, fair few things to try and fit in there and, you know, hopefully it works and we'll see how things are in a year's time. Paul Marden: Yeah. Cath, the last point I wanted touch on before we finish today is oh my God, how happy everybody was at that event yesterday. How positive the experience was for all of the team members. What was for you the big standout moment for the entire project? Catherine Pinkerton: I mean, there's so many, Paul. But I think for me it's an opportunity to see what can be achieved when people collaborate. And I think, you know, joining the museum three years ago is really collaborating with lots of different departments to achieve something as a team.Catherine Pinkerton: Teamwork is absolutely the key to kind of success and I think you can only achieve that by having that really product professional kind of embodiment with all of the collaborative teams to work together for the same goal. And I, I was really proud yesterday that it took a lot of work, but actually without a team of 40 people as well as the wider organisation, it would not have been, it was no mean feat, but it was certainly wasn't just down to one person saying this is my project because it was a team effort. Catherine Pinkerton: And I was so proud of everybody that was there to kind of thank them along the way to say, this is, we've done this and now onwards and upwards. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. You should be so proud. It really was. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you. Paul Marden:  It's a demonstration of what a museum gift shop experience can really be like when you work together like that, when you collaborate. So well done to all of you. It was such a lovely experience yesterday. Thank you for inviting me. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you so much for coming, Paul. I appreciate it. Paul Marden: Before we go though, I always ask for a book recommendation from our guests. Now it would have bankrupted me to have asked everybody yesterday for book recommendations. So you have to take the responsibility of a recommendation on behalf of everybody. What have you got for me? Catherine Pinkerton: The secret for me is, you know, that that book seems to be. I always go back to that book very often and I think it's a key one for lots of areas. So that's definitely a takeaway for me. But the other one I'm reading at the moment called A Monk's Guide to Happiness. I'm not sure if you've had enough to read it. Yeah, it's a 21st century take on A Monk's Guide. It's written by Gelong Thubten and he had a very high powered job and he had a burnout and interestingly he changed his whole mindset in terms of what makes him happy and really making it quite basic. Right. Catherine Pinkerton: So it's a, it's a real eye opener in terms of just pulling things back sometimes, you know, at the end of the day, come on, let's just live life and be happy but, you know, not stress out about things. I'm quite easy to do that. So this is very much a. Just breathe, Kath, get through it. But it's a good one. If you want to just strip it back and just kind of understanding the basics of being happy, then, yeah, he's great. Paul Marden: Oh, Cath, that's a great recommendation. If you go over to Bluesky and repost the show message that Wenalyn put out and say, I want Kath's book, then the first person that does that will get a copy of the book sent to them. Kath, it was absolutely delightful. I enjoyed my day wandering around Big Pit yesterday no end. Given that half my family is from the valleys and most of them were miners, I feel like I should have done this a very long time ago. But it was lovely. And to enjoy the experience of the celebration that you had yesterday, it was a real privilege. So thank you. Catherine Pinkerton: Oh, huge privilege to have you there. Paul. Thank you so much. I'm really appreciative. Did you purchase? Paul Marden: I did purchase on my way out. Catherine Pinkerton: Yay. Great, great, great.Paul Marden: Deal. Catherine Pinkerton: Deal. Thank you so much. Paul Marden: So after my trip 90 metres down to the bottom of the mine shaft, where I of course couldn't take microphones, I'm now back up on the surface, microphones back in hand and enjoying myself, wandering around currently in the winding house, which is where all the machinery is for lifting the cages that 90 metres down to the bottom of the pit head. I've had an amazing day here at Big Pit. It's been so interesting to see this museum and to talk to many of the amazing staff that have taken part in this big project to redesign their gift shops. Highly recommend a day trip to Big Pit. Really has been very enjoyable, if for no other reason, to see that amazing new gift shop experience. Paul Marden: Now, as always, if you'd like a copy of Catherine's book, head over to Blue sky and repost the show notice that Wenalyn will post out and say, I want a copy of Catherine's book and the first person to do that will get that copy sent over to them. So all that remains for me to say is thank you to Catherine for inviting me here to Big Pit today. And I'll see you again soon. Take care. Bye Bye. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.  The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Rubbish dumping continues to be a headache for charity op shops around the country. 

Penneys is the latest retailer to introduce a charge for paper bags. From next Monday, customers will pay 15 cent per bag but is the fee fair, or just another cost for consumers to shoulder?To debate this on Newstalk Breakfast was Sinead Ryan, Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and consumer columnist with the Irish Independent and Oisin Coughlan, Public Policy Advisor.

Shops charging 15c for paper bags, is it justified? Shane and Ciara discussed.

Shops charging 15c for paper bags, is it justified? Shane and Ciara discussed.

Penneys is the latest retailer to introduce a charge for paper bags. From next Monday, customers will pay 15 cent per bag but is the fee fair, or just another cost for consumers to shoulder?To debate this on Newstalk Breakfast was Sinead Ryan, Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and consumer columnist with the Irish Independent and Oisin Coughlan, Public Policy Advisor.

With the rise in vape shops popping up across Dublin city, concerns are being raised over what has been described as the "proliferation" of these type of shops. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie finds out why this increase has occurred.

What explains the world better? The unattainable relics and archaeological finds that fill museums – or the simple snowglobes, plushies and other knick-knacks in their gift shops? Ahead of a new exhibition Cursed Objects in Museum Shops, curator and Podmasters veteran Kasia Tomasiewicz unearths the true meanings of the souvenirs and objets de tat we often ignore but shouldn't. Includes discussion of the rubber Charles Duckens, a cuddly Black Death Plague Flea and the Hello Kitty Pearl Harbor collection.  • Visit the exhibition Cursed Objects in Museum Shops from 2 May-26 June.  Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Produced by Liam Tait. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Werbung:In dieser Folge bewerben wir die Produkte der aufgelisteten Shops und Hersteller.Wir bitten um freundliche Beachtung.Writing Turning Flipping-Tuya Q.A.R - Micarta 130Stk. -> auch bei TFG & Messerworld (nicht Messerdepot!)-Urlaub: 24.04. - 11.05.-Frühlingsrabatt; 10% Rabatt, Code: Fruehling2025https://writingturningflipping.comhttps://www.instagram.com/writingturningflipping/Schneidwerk Harz:-Benchmade Bugout; Blau & Grün Alu-CRKT Minimalist Serie-CJRB Kainhttps://schneidwerkharz.dehttps://www.instagram.com/schneidwerkharz/Messerdepot:-Arno Bernard:-Rinkhals 30.04. 18Uhr; neu dabei Maserhorn-iMamba 01.05. 18Uhrhttps://messerdepot.de/de/drop-messer/-Lederslips iMamba, Clips Rinki, Beads, Caps Assegai in Mammut/Ironwood-alte Herrenmesser aus den 60ern/80ern:https://messerdepot.de/de/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=0&keywords=60iger&inc_subcat=1https://www.instagram.com/messerdepot/Corncraft Knives-Neutron Star V2, Drop 18.05. 10Uhr:-vier Änderungen:1) neue Lockbar Geometrie2) Honeycomb Fräsung für Gewichtsreduzierung3) größerer Sharpening Choil4) zusätzliche Option eines Nagelhau-nach wie vor in Plain & Mining Pattern, kombinierbar mit Studs & Nagelhau-Plain: 269€ / Mining: 279€https://corncraftknives.comhttps://www.instagram.com/corncraft_knives/Urban EDC:-Urban EDC X Brad Zinker - Finback-Blue Denim Micarta, Dark Stonewash, Magnacut, 293,95€https://urbanedc.com/products/prototype-urban-edc-finback-blue-denim-micarta-w-acid-etched-magnacut?_pos=1&_psq=finback&_ss=e&_v=1.0-Fat Carbon Dark Matter Carbon, Blackwash, Magnacut, 329,95€https://urbanedc.com/products/prototype-urban-edc-finback-fat-carbon-dark-matter-copper-w-acid-etched-magnacuthttps://www.instagram.com/urbanedcsupply/Knife Lounge:-Preorder Böker Cox Titan, Preorder-Preis: 175€https://www.knife-lounge.de/boeker-plus-cox-titan-knife-lounge-exclusive/kle17?affiliate-code=TimsSprachnachrichten-Crosscut Titan Scales UKPK, 149€https://www.knife-lounge.de/cross-cut-ti-schalen-fuer-uk-pen-knife/cc1?affiliate-code=TimsSprachnachrichten-Chaves Blue Line:-Redencion Street, Linerlock, 185€https://www.knife-lounge.de/chaves-knives-redencion-street-blue-label-linerlock/chav14234?affiliate-code=TimsSprachnachrichten-T.A.K., Linerlock, 159€https://www.knife-lounge.de/chaves-knives-t.a.k.-blue-label-linerlock/chav1420?affiliate-code=TimsSprachnachrichtenhttps://www.instagram.com/knife_lounge/Video zum April Carry:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHKzsigWpcE&t=135s

This week on Paddy and Maz, a trip to the shop with her husband leaves Maz laughing, and the team try to work out what magic tricks will be performed at the NRL this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Fact checking Trumps 100 days speech Chris Mason Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections Xis real test is not Trumps trade war Warning RTS electricity meters in 300,000 homes could stop working Trump 100 days President celebrates by touting his record and blasting foes Erin Patterson Trial of Australian woman accused of cooking fatal mushroom lunch begins Shops could be forced to accept cash in future, report says Labour defends net zero policies after Blair criticism Katy Perry felt battered and bruised by Blue Origin backlash Met Police Officer who shot Chris Kaba dead faces watchdog probe

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Trump 100 days President celebrates by touting his record and blasting foes Katy Perry felt battered and bruised by Blue Origin backlash Erin Patterson Trial of Australian woman accused of cooking fatal mushroom lunch begins Labour defends net zero policies after Blair criticism Shops could be forced to accept cash in future, report says Met Police Officer who shot Chris Kaba dead faces watchdog probe Xis real test is not Trumps trade war Fact checking Trumps 100 days speech Warning RTS electricity meters in 300,000 homes could stop working Chris Mason Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Erin Patterson Trial of Australian woman accused of cooking fatal mushroom lunch begins Shops could be forced to accept cash in future, report says Katy Perry felt battered and bruised by Blue Origin backlash Warning RTS electricity meters in 300,000 homes could stop working Fact checking Trumps 100 days speech Trump 100 days President celebrates by touting his record and blasting foes Labour defends net zero policies after Blair criticism Met Police Officer who shot Chris Kaba dead faces watchdog probe Xis real test is not Trumps trade war Chris Mason Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Warning RTS electricity meters in 300,000 homes could stop working Trump 100 days President celebrates by touting his record and blasting foes Labour defends net zero policies after Blair criticism Shops could be forced to accept cash in future, report says Met Police Officer who shot Chris Kaba dead faces watchdog probe Katy Perry felt battered and bruised by Blue Origin backlash Erin Patterson Trial of Australian woman accused of cooking fatal mushroom lunch begins Chris Mason Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections Fact checking Trumps 100 days speech Xis real test is not Trumps trade war

Darin Damron, SE Regional Vice President at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, is back to share what he's seeing from the highest-performing shops. He highlights the common traits these shops share—like their commitment to continuous learning, focus on hiring and keeping the right people, and putting people first. Darin also covers valuable training resources and materials every shop owner and manager should have on their radar.Check out the full video version of the podcast on YouTube!Shop Owner & Manager Training Resources:Jasper Shop Owner Success Series by Elite WorldwideThe Cross-Check Method by Aaron ClementsSouthern Automotive Service Association's Pit Stop Power Boost ClassAbout Our Guest:Darin DamronSE Regional Vice President, Jasper Engines & TransmissionsDarin.Damron@jasperengines.comSponsor:Jasper Engines & TransmissionsAbout Our Host:Jay GoninenCo-Founder & President, WrenchWayjayg@wrenchway.com | 608.716.2122WrenchWay Resources:For Technicians & StudentsCompare & Explore Technician Pay: View salary information for automotive, diesel, and collision technicians near you at wrenchway.com/pay.Find Your Ideal Shop or Dealership: Looking for the best places to work? Discover and research the best shop or dealership for you at wrenchway.com/shops.For Shops & DealershipsHire Top Talent & Help Schools: Connect with skilled technicians, engage with schools, and help elevate the auto and diesel industry with WrenchWay Top Shop Memberships. For Auto, Diesel, & CTE Instructors:Support Your Program & Connect with Industry: Get resources and equipment for your program and grow your industry partnerships with School Assist, powered by WrenchWay & ASE.Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

To celebrate the launch of our first ever IRL exhibition, Cursed Objects in Museum Shops (2 May-26 June), we have several events coming in May and June. All of them are FREE, all are at Birkbeck Uni, 5 mins from Euston/King's Cross, but booking a place is essential - for full details, see our vibey new website, cursedobjects.co.uk Exhibition private view - Thu 1 May, 6-8pm Book your place here. Cursed Objects Live #2 - Thu 8 May, 7-8.30pm Back by popular demand, this is our second-ever live show, for Birkbeck's Arts Week! Book your place here. Millennium Tat - Wed 28 May, 7-8.30pm Join Dan and Kasia and two special guests - artist Darren Cullen and writer Imogen West-Knights – as they explore the spirit of the millennium via the museum gift shop. Book your place here. War, Memory and Tat - Wed 11 June, 7-8.30pm Join Kasia, Dan and three special guests – historian Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley, author Luke Turner and curator Kate Clements – as they explore the presence of war in the museum shop. Book your place here. We hope to see some of you IRL in the next two months! And don't worry, the actual full podcasts are going to keep on coming - there will be recordings of the above on your feeds soon, and a new flurry of fresh episodes... now that we have a moment to breathe, and the exhibition is finally in place. For more Cursed Everything: https://www.patreon.com/c/cursedobjects

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute:OpenAI is quietly transforming ChatGPT into a full-on shopping destination, with early code integrations suggesting support for Shopify-powered storefronts—including embedded reviews, real-time pricing, and “Buy Now” buttons.Nordstrom's $6.25B privatization deal is under pressure as analysts warn that ongoing tariff uncertainty could trigger delays or renegotiations. Whole Foods is doubling down on its small-format strategy, announcing two new “Daily Shop” openings in Manhattan. The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Aubrey speaks to Dr. Mamokete Modiba, Senior Researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO), about a study they conducted after the government, last year, declared a national disaster after food-borne illness outbreak claimed the lives of over 20 children and hospitalised hundreds. The government response to the outbreak of food-borne illnesses addresses the immediate crisis but does not address underlying factors affecting low-income settlements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode of Small Business Big Dreams, I sit down with Michelle, a powerhouse entrepreneur and the heart behind not just one—but two thriving local businesses in the heart of Downtown Wauconda. As the proud owner of both a full-service salon and boutique, as well as the modern, elegant fashion destination SophEve on Main, Michelle has built more than businesses—she's cultivated experiences rooted in confidence, connection, and community.We dive into Michelle's entrepreneurial journey, from opening the salon and boutique back in 2013 with the mission of helping every guest feel beautiful inside and out, to launching SophEve on Main, a stylish and sophisticated fashion boutique inspired by her daughters, Sophie and Eva. Each business has its own unique vibe, but they both reflect Michelle's passion for empowering others through personal expression, style, and self-care.At the salon, guests are treated to more than hair services—they're given an experience that lifts them up. Whether it's a fresh cut, color, or browsing the boutique filled with fun and unique gifts, Michelle and her team make every visit one to remember. And just steps away at SophEve on Main, shoppers discover a curated collection of upscale fashion that blends timeless sophistication with youthful charm, reflecting individuality beyond the trends.We talk about what it's like to balance two businesses, stay ahead of fashion and beauty trends, and grow in sync with a supportive small-town community. Michelle shares what drives her as a business owner, mom, and creative, and how she uses both of her spaces to foster confidence, spark joy, and bring people together.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ How Michelle turned her passion for people and style into two successful businesses ✅ The story behind SophEve on Main, inspired by family and fueled by fashion ✅ Why the salon is more than just hair—it's a place for transformation and self-love ✅ How retail and service can complement each other to create a holistic customer experience ✅ The importance of community collaboration and connection in business growth ✅ Advice for entrepreneurs looking to grow while staying grounded in purposeWhy These Businesses Stand Out:Michelle has built two brands that are rooted in heart and elevated by style. Her salon and boutique provide a welcoming space for beauty and discovery, while SophEve on Main delivers high-end, wearable fashion with a personal touch. At both locations, guests don't just come to shop or get styled—they come to feel seen, celebrated, and part of something meaningful.Perfect For:

Send us a textWe attend the opener of the Google Cloud Next conference at Sphere. We got a preview of the The Wizard of Oz film they are creating for the venue. It debuts in late August. We were blown away! This will use AI to extend the frame and bring the original 1939 film to life. We take a deep dive and fill you in. We know a lot of you are looking forward to this. We also remember Las Vegas icon, Elaine Wynn. She passed away on April 15th. She was a monumental part of Las Vegas' transformation and a philanthropist. We saw her at The Mirage closing. We also check out The Patio at M Resort and loved it!! More people need to know about this spot. And, Immersive Van Gogh gets a new version. This is located inside the Shops at Crystals. If your home was damaged in the California wildfires, Galindo Law may be able to help you get more compensation. Call 1-800-251-1533 or visit galindolaw.com If your Texas home was damaged by hail or a hurricane in the past 2-years, Galindo Law may be able to help you get more insurance compensation. Call 1-800-251-1533. Or, visit GalindoLaw.com VegasNearMe AppIf it's fun to do or see, it's on VegasNearMe. The only app you'll need to navigate Las Vegas. Support the showFollow us on Instagram: @vegas.revealedFollow us on Twitter: @vegasrevealedFollow us on TikTok: @vegas.revealedWebsite: Vegas-Revealed.com

Dan Corder is joined by Sibusiso Ngcobo, spokesperson for the South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association (SASTA), to unpack the government’s newly launched R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund. The initiative, announced by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, is designed to uplift South African-owned spaza shops through grants and low-interest loans of up to R300,000 per shopSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textMeet Bangalore's self-appointed "Footpath Mayor," Arun Pai, whose two-decade journey from tour guide to urban mobility advocate offers a masterclass in civic problem-solving. What began as walking tours for tourists evolved into a passionate mission to transform how residents experience their city on foot.When taking international dignitaries on walks through Bangalore's neighborhoods, Pai noticed a troubling pattern - nobody seemed responsible for the city's footpaths. Traffic police managed vehicles, tourism officials promoted the city, but pedestrian infrastructure fell through the bureaucratic cracks. Rather than just complaining, he decided to take action in the most straightforward way possible: by walking.The Bangalore Footpath Challenge emerged as his innovative solution - rating 100 kilometers of footpaths on a simple five-point scale, similar to how restaurant apps rate dining experiences. This data-driven approach caught attention from government officials and urban planners who recognized the value of objective measurement in addressing infrastructure gaps. Pai cleverly created memorable frameworks like GST (Garbage, Shops, Trenches) and OFF (Obstacle-Free Footpaths) to categorize and tackle common obstacles.What truly transformed this initiative into a movement was its inclusive, participatory nature. When Pai organized 15 themed walks across Bangalore, inviting citizens to join him for free 10,000-step journeys, over 1,500 people registered within days. These walks became opportunities for elected representatives, government engineers, and everyday citizens to experience the city's pedestrian infrastructure together, fostering collaboration rather than confrontation.The results speak volumes: people discovering walkable routes they never knew existed, behavior changes as participants began incorporating walking into daily routines, and even international media attention highlighting Bangalore's potential as "Walkaluru" - a walkable city with universal pedestrian infrastructure. By focusing exclusively on footpaths rather than trying to solve all urban problems at once, Pai demonstrates how targeted, persistent advocacy can create ripples of positive change.Ready to see your city differently? Follow Arun Pai's example - get out there, walk those footpaths, and turn firsthand experience into expertise that can transform urban spaces for everyone.Have you purchased the copy of Inspire Someone Today, yet - Give it a go geni.us/istbook Available on all podcast platforms, including, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

CMO Robin Page talks about how Rowan has disrupted the in-person piercing experience

30% of your revenue could be coming from a web shop, and you wouldn't even see it in your external IAP dashboards.In this exclusive episode of 2.5 Gamers, we sit down with David Stelzer, President of Xsolla (formerly Epic Games, SEGA, CAA), to discuss how top-grossing games are ditching App Store dependency and scaling through direct-to-consumer (D2C) models.This isn't theoretical.

Step inside the world of smoke shops with this eye-opening episode as we talk with Justine about the surprising—and sometimes concerning—realities of selling legal highs. From kratom and tianeptine (aka “gas station heroin”) to meth pipes, fake pee, and THCP gummies that can leave you high for days, we explore what people are really buying, why they're buying it, and what this says about drug policy in America. Interview was recorded on February 15, 2025. Watch video version here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/04/17/e186/

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEShop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTechTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros Shop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into one sleek, digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, David and Lucas are joined by Monique from Shop-Ware at the Institute Summit 2025. Monique and Lucas discuss the underutilization of Shop-Ware's DVX feature, emphasizing its critical role in enhancing customer interaction and driving profitability. Additionally, Monique shares her practices on integrating test plans into Shop-Ware to standardize diagnostic processes and optimize workflow. Lucas further highlights the importance of aligning parts pricing with competitive market analysis to ensure shops meet their target profit margins. 00:00 "Dvx: Our Distinct Competitive Edge"08:35 DVX Data Reveals Higher Close Ratio15:11 Integrated Digital Inspection Evolution18:21 Optimizing Shopware with Test Plans24:12 Discussing Customer Financing Challenges30:13 Embrace Technology or Fall Behind34:52 "Optimizing Pricing Strategies"40:51 Understanding Human Decision-Making43:08 Observing "Death Scroll" on Planes50:09 "Technology's Impact on My Life"53:35 "Guided Pricing Adjustments for Shops"59:17 Troubleshooting Zoom Call Pricing Issues01:06:26 "Questioning Genuine Customer Interactions"01:09:07 Vision Implementation Feedback Loop

Emma Friedman

NGO to Sue Government Over Unregistered Spaza Shops After Child Hospitalised - Forum for SA, Tebogo Mashilompane by Radio Islam

Shopping online is convenient. But, being able to teste out your kayak before you buy it just hits different. What are your thoughts? Are kayak shops dead? Are tackle shops dead? We are joined by Steve from Waterdog Outfitters to talk about it! T-SHIRTS and DECALS: aggressivelyaverageanglers.myshopify.comBurly Fishing Content:Follow BurlyFishing: https://www.youtube.com/@aaanglersInstagram: instagram.com/aaanglersFacebook: facebook.com/burlyfishingTik Tok:tiktok.com/@aaanglers

Rural news and events from Tasmania and the nation.

On this episode Carly said her 16 year old son went to four inner City convenience shops looking for a job. She says he wasn't hired because they're racist towards the Irish and only employ foreigners.

White Lotus creator, Mike White, doesn't care about your opinion or anyone else's. Taylor and Blake back together stories and is Meghan Fox taking MGK back. Plus it's Bids For Kids time! and Madeline Nachbar joins to talk about new Local Retail stores and Concepts to check out this Spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

White Lotus creator, Mike White, doesn't care about your opinion or anyone else's. Taylor and Blake back together stories and is Meghan Fox taking MGK back. Plus it's Bids For Kids time! and Madeline Nachbar joins to talk about new Local Retail stores and Concepts to check out this Spring. 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.

In this episode, we cover Amazon's latest AI agent that can search and shop across third-party websites on your behalf. We break down how it works, what it means for online shopping, and whether it's a game-changer or just hype.AI Applied YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AI-Applied-PodcastGet on the AI Box Waitlist: ⁠⁠https://AIBox.ai/⁠⁠Conor's AI Course: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/coursesConor's AI Newsletter: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/Jaeden's AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle/about

Paul Byrne talks to Kevin Herlihy who spends a quarter-of-a-million on security for his Centra stores but still faces considerable loss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#311 Conversionmaker.ai | KI trifft Conversion | Michael Witzenleiter | CEOVon besseren Texten zu höheren Umsätzen – Wie KI die Zukunft des digitalen Marketings verändertIn dieser Episode des Startcast Podcasts spricht Host Max Ostermeier mit Michael Witzenleiter, dem Gründer und Geschäftsführer von Conversionmaker.ai. Michael hat eine klare Mission: Unternehmen dabei zu helfen, ihre Webseiten und Shops mithilfe von Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) zu optimieren – und zwar so, dass nicht nur Suchmaschinen, sondern vor allem die Kunden überzeugt werden.Michael teilt seine spannende Reise von seinen Anfängen im Performance-Marketing bis hin zur Gründung von Conversionmaker.ai. Mit einem Team aus 20 KI-Expert*innen entwickelt er Tools, die Texte und Bilder für Webseiten und Onlineshops automatisch optimieren – und das für bis zu 2 Millionen Produkte gleichzeitig. Das Ergebnis? Bessere Sichtbarkeit bei Google, höhere Conversion-Rates und eine enorme Zeitersparnis für Unternehmen.Erfahre, wie Michael mit seinem Unternehmen einer der ersten europäischen Partner von OpenAI wurde und warum er glaubt, dass KI den Bereich der Conversion-Optimierung revolutionieren wird. Er erklärt, wie sein System funktioniert, welche Herausforderungen es bei der Skalierung von Texten gibt und wie er Unternehmen dabei hilft, ihre Zielgruppen besser zu verstehen.Highlights der Episode:Von der Idee zur Innovation: Wie Michael die Lücke zwischen SEO-Optimierung und kundenfreundlichen Texten schloss.KI in Aktion: Wie Conversionmaker.ai Texte für bis zu 20.000 Produkte in nur 30 Minuten generiert.Die perfekte Balance: Warum es wichtig ist, sowohl Suchmaschinen als auch Kunden mit den richtigen Inhalten anzusprechen.Barrierefreiheit und Nachhaltigkeit: Wie KI auch alternative Texte für Bilder erstellt und damit Barrierefreiheit fördert.Zukunftsvisionen: Warum Michael glaubt, dass KI langfristig klassische A/B-Tests ersetzen könnte.Michael gibt außerdem Einblicke in die Herausforderungen des Unternehmertums, darunter den Aufbau eines starken Teams, das schnelle Reagieren auf Marktveränderungen und die Priorisierung von Kundenbedürfnissen. Er spricht offen über Learnings aus den letzten Jahren – von Erfolgen bis hin zu Dingen, die nicht wie geplant funktionierten.Diese Episode ist ein Muss für alle, die sich für E-Commerce, KI oder innovative Geschäftsmodelle interessieren. Michael zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie Technologie nicht nur Prozesse beschleunigen kann, sondern auch echte Wettbewerbsvorteile schafft.Hör jetzt rein und lass dich inspirieren von Michaels Vision für die Zukunft des digitalen Marketings! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SEO is always a hot topic, and though it may feel pretty straight forward, there is little things that can make a big difference.    Today I walk through my process of fixing shops who struggle to be found on Etsy.   Enjoy! 

Welcome back to Mujer De Éxito Unbounded! I'm your host, Marti Angel™, and today we're diving into something that can truly transform your business and your mindset: Sharing your scars, not your wounds. . My FAV Affiliate links: Health & Wellness : https://www.usana.com/s/kNPnL1 Email favorite: Convert kit-- https://convertkit.com?lmref=T-20Xg Affirmations Audio: https://martiangel.gumroad.com/ Social Curator: https://hello.socialcurator.com/a/HhEb2L5hzDHwlj7XdWFV InVideo. Ai : http://invideo.sjv.io/ranq6v Ecommerce fav: join.stan.store/MartiAngel ***************************************** WHAT IS YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ARCHETYPE?

Send us a textIn this episode, Tony Steward, owner of The Bike Lab, shares how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) can help bike shop owners regain focus, build stronger teams, and break through growth barriers to achieve lasting success.Tony explains why EOS is more than just another business trend—it's a proven system that simplifies operations and helps you focus on what truly matters. If you're ready to move beyond "fire-fighting" mode and build the bike shop you've always envisioned, this conversation is a must-listen.Support the show

The Washington State Legislature is in the process of hammering out the transportation budget, which is estimated to have a BILLION dollar shortfall over the next two years. according to Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Marko Liias. Down in Olympia, both the House and Senate have each been working on their own respective bills aimed at addressing the funding gap to get things like highway infrastructure built and maintained… One provision in the Senate’s bill – which passed on Saturday – has raised alarms for folks in the business of selling E-Bikes. Soundside host Libby Denkmann is joined by Seattle Bike Blog editor & founder, Tom Fucoloro to talk about why E-Bike shop owners aren't excited about the current proposal. GUEST: Tom Fucoloro RELATED LINKS: Already facing uncertainty from Trump’s tariff threats, an e-bike tax ‘would be awful’ for Washington’s struggling bike shops – Seattle Bike Blog State Budget Proposals Focus on Highway Expansion in Both Chambers - The Urbanist WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists | The Seattle Times SB 5801 Washington State Legislature Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Promotive can help you find your dream job, or help you hire. Touch HERE for more. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HEREToday, Jeff is joined by Keith Perkins from L1 Training and Diagnostics. Keith gets fired up about investing in your own skills and tools to succeed in the automotive repair industry. They both comment on issues with flat rate systems and how they can negatively impact the teamwork culture within a shop. Additionally, Keith shares his journey of starting L1 as a mobile diagnostic and programming service, emphasizing the need for proper diagnostic processes and the challenges faced with aftermarket parts.00:00 "Finally Got Keith on the Podcast!"06:21 "High Crime and Prison Density"13:00 Christian Brothers Franchise Challenges18:15 Invest in Self-Toolkit Development21:46 "Flat Rate Industry Frustrations"27:09 Quick and Dirty Car Repairs35:46 Engine Troubleshooting Steps39:16 "Basic Diagnostics: Data Scans First"46:26 Admiring Unique Perspectives49:46 "Intense Training Experience Reflected"54:04 Faulty PCM Causes Car Malfunction01:02:10 Hiring Tension Among Technicians01:07:31 Hourly vs. Flat Rate Talent Debate01:10:02 Winning Arguments with Confidence01:13:43 "Frustration with Unanswered Questions"01:21:44 Employee Benefits and Compensation Issues01:23:41 Industry Challenges and Perseverance01:32:15 "Impact of Time on Flat Rate Work"01:35:45 Car Part Procurement Challenges01:39:47 Holistic Approach in Auto Repair Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, and Today's Class Recorded at Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo 2025, this episode features a discussion with the co-founders of Promotive, a company focused on recruiting and placing qualified technicians and service advisors. The conversation explores the challenges shops face in hiring, such as ineffective job postings and candidate ghosting, and how Promotive aims to streamline this process by handling initial screening and interviews. Lisa Coyle and Joelle Pollak emphasize the importance of cultural fit and fair compensation for successful placements, also advising shops on creating positive work environments. The discussion also touches on the value of ongoing training, shop management systems, and the significance of evaluating employee attitude and performance using a structured approach. Lisa Coyle, and Joelle Pollak Co-Founders, Promotive: https://gopromotive.com/ Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo: https://visionkc.com/ Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Hiring Process Overview (00:02:09) Ghosting in Interviews (00:03:37) Understanding Shop Culture (00:04:39) Cost of Unfilled Positions (00:05:29) Building a Talent Bench (00:06:18) Candidate Marketing Strategies (00:07:30) Client Compatibility (00:08:25) Assessing Shop Culture (00:09:48) Technician Expectations (00:11:03) Importance of Appreciation (00:12:04) Career Advancement Opportunities (00:12:30) Compensation Discussions (00:14:05) Team Dynamics and Assessment (00:17:05) Evaluating Team Performance (00:17:54) Consequences of Team Dynamics (00:19:49) Using Charts for Improvement (00:21:13) Addressing Employee Concerns (00:23:27) The Importance of Consistent Feedback (00:28:22) Coaching and Employee Development (00:30:10) Identifying the Right Fit (00:33:00) Understanding Shop Culture (00:34:40) Addressing Technician Retention (00:35:22) Importance of a Recruiter (00:36:28) Recruitment Challenges in Shops (00:37:39) Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Follow on...

In this episode, aggregator Bill Brinkerhoff of Argus Farm Stop talks about some of the reasons why there aren't more locally sourced shops in the country.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   Ready Farmer One on Amazon **** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

When you need a present for someone, sure, you can grab a gift card or go to a big box store, but where's the fun in that? City Cast Pittsburgh's Megan Harris and Francesca Dabecco love shopping local and believe any business can be a gift shop! They're sharing some of their favorite area gift shops and stores where you can both support small businesses and find a Pittsburgh-perfect present in a pinch. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode: Pittsburgh Opera History UnErased Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest and co-host both fell in love with the art side of this industry first, and we got to dissect how their entry point shaped their perspectives on operating their businesses. With Dave sticking to design, and Tim falling deeper into the craft of screen printing as a whole, this was a fun discussion to have. Topics of discussion include: Shops shutting down, Dylan's unique relationship with Dave(his longest standing client), Pantone vs bucket colors, reprints, public speaking events, cryptids, pursuing the craft over money, finding your limitations, incorporating ai, designing mockups, and Dylan's Eulogy.

Feel like you're constantly getting undercut, copied, or outranked on Etsy? In this episode, we break down a powerful psychological insight that flips the competition game on its head: Buyers don't choose the best — they eliminate the worst. I'll show you how to: Beat cheaper shops without lowering your prices Use micro-differences to make your listings stand out Leverage buyer psychology to win more sales Deal with copycats and stolen photos (without losing your mind) If you're a handmade seller feeling the pressure of Etsy competition, this one's for you. You don't have to be the best in every way — you just need one clear reason to be the better choice. Let's get into it.

The boys take Cock or Ball international with a little help from a Spanish G&Diva. William is gearing up to school us all on the Sistine Chapel (not the Sixteenth), while Jordan seems more interested in the Vatican's gift shops. And all this talk of ancient monuments reminds Jordan of the time he found himself on the wrong side of a security guard. Join Sexted Extra and laugh along to William Hanson and Jordan North helping you navigate the challenges of modern life ad free at https://plus.acast.com/s/sextedmyboss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.