Creative Shop Talk Podcast Episode 254 | Behind the Counters: The Magic of Joining Forces to Foster Community and Build a Retail Destination Town with Millie and Adam Blackwell
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Are you ready to simplify your marketing strategy and boost your retail sales? Join me and a small group of driven retail business owners for my 6-week, hands-on program: The Sales and Marketing Accelerator! Each week, you’ll receive a short video with an actionable tip followed by a live, interactive strategy group coaching session. We’ll work together to create a simple, repeatable marketing plan tailored to your business. No fluff, no wasted time—just practical strategies you can implement right now. Spots are limited, and we start on April 23rd. Join us!
In This Episode:
What happens when independent retailers join forces? In a word: Magic. In this episode, I’m chatting with Millie and Adam Blackwell, a powerhouse entrepreneurial couple from Greytown, New Zealand. Millie owns Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop and Adam owns Blackwell and Sons Bike Shop, both located in Greytown. Want to hear about how they transformed their small town in New Zealand into a thriving shopping and tourism destination? Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Collaboration: How Greytown retailers and small businesses united to boost business for everyone.
- Amplifying a Destination Town: The strategy behind turning a small town into a must-visit shopping spot.
- Winter Festival Success: How one idea turned the slowest season into a top sales month.
- Branding a Town Like a Business: Why a strong, unified message matters.
- Running Multiple Businesses as a Couple: Insights on balancing entrepreneurship and life.
“Customers don’t just show up—you have to give them a reason to come.” – Adam Blackwell
Listen in to this week’s episode and get thinking about your town, and what you could do to spark initiatives in your community.
About Millie and Adam Blackwell:
Mr. Adam Blackwell is the visionary behind Blackwell and Sons, and its commercial and creative driving force. He is a specialist in brand development and execution and runs his own advertising agency, Stun, which services clients throughout NZ, the US, and Europe.
About as politically correct as whale-hunting, Mr Blackwell loves to take on nonsensical, charge-by-the-hour bureaucracy, especially if it stands in the way of a certain theatricality he delights in bringing to all of his endeavors. He is renowned for his creative flair, decisiveness, and sparkling wit, but not so much his athletic prowess. (his words) lol.
Mrs. Millie Blackwell is a specialist in non-fiction categories and stationery at Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop. She grew up on an apricot orchard in Central Otago but never really cared for the taste of the fruit. Mrs. Blackwell’s Village Bookshop is an independent bookshop for inquisitive minds and romantic souls in Greytown, New Zealand.
Mrs. Blackwell has been an active member of the Retailer’s Level Up Mastermind and The Retailer’s Inner Circle program.
Need More?
Join me and our supportive community of retailers in my Retailer’s Inner Circle! You’ll get a monthly marketing and operations playbook, monthly group coaching, countless on-demand masterclasses and access to a vibrant community of retailers like you – and so much more. Check it out HERE.
Not ready to join but want to purchase the stand-alone Foot Traffic Made Simple masterclass? You can purchase it on demand HERE.
Most impactful: Join the small group 6-Week Sales and Marketing Accelerator course.
We start in April! More information HERE.
Related podcasts we think you’d like:
Episode 158: Becoming a Destination Shop
Episode 180: Our Retailer Mastermind’s Book Club Book Roundup with Guest Millie Blackwell
Episode 218: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell
About Your Host, Wendy Batten:
In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of The Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.
Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.
I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.
When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/
For more support from Wendy:
Retailer’s Inner Circle – Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community
Wendy’s 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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