265. How to Have a Summer of Ease Without Losing Retail Momentum

Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

In This Episode:

Let’s make this summer your most joyful and productive yet, without the burnout.

In this episode, I’m sharing how to embrace a "Summer of Ease" while still keeping your retail business humming along behind the scenes. Whether you're a brick-and-mortar owner in peak tourist season or experiencing a slower Q3, this one’s for you.

We’re trading hustle for harmony by leaning into three core pillars: (1) Fun (yes, you need it!), (2) Rest (not a reward, but part of your job), and (3) Momentum (because Q4 is coming and we need to be ready!)

How to Create Ease This Summer:

• Schedule your calendar and your team’s through September

• Pre-plan promotions, social content, and email marketing

• Reuse great content from last year (no one remembers your July 2023 meme, it’s fine)

• Humanize your brand with softer summer content (think beach reads and mojito recipes)

• Hand off live sales, store tours, or event planning to your team or guest hosts

• Let go of the guilt and get off your phone and POS app while you're away

It’s time to drop the “shoulds,” my friend. Let’s get to work. Until next week, cheers to joy, freedom, and profits.

“Watching your POS like a hawk is not making things sell faster.” -Wendy Batten

Your Next Steps

Get out your calendar and do some planning! And let’s connect on Instagram! What are your top tips for planning your summer of ease? I’d love to hear from you. Screenshot this episode and tag me on Instagram, or just jump into my DMs.

If you're a member of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, check your monthly playbooks. They’re packed with done-for-you email prompts, promotional calendars, and content ideas to make this even easier.

And if you aren’t…join my supportive community of retailers in the Retailer’s Inner Circle! There is so much to love about the Inner Circle: access to countless masterclasses on everything from inventory management to money matters, a supportive community of like-minded retailers to bounce ideas off of, a monthly playbook to track your progress and help you plan your events and promotions, and so much more. Check it out HERE.

Related podcasts we think you’ll like:

Episode 82: 5 Steps to Simplify Your Content Planning

Episode 143: How to Plan and Host Successful Events and Promotions in Your Retail Shop

Episode 253: Mastering Social Selling

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/

For more support from Wendy

Join Wendy’s CEO Planning Session for Retailers

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

Free resources for shop owners

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.

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