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The Big Takeaway:
Take a hard look at how you’re spending time and energy in your creative retail business. Is there something you’re doing out of habit or obligation, even though it stresses you out? Let’s move past complacency, my friend, and build the right-sized, successful business of your dreams.
Episode Summary:
Sometimes having to make big changes in your business (like shutting down due to COVID) can end up having remarkable results.
That is just what Susanne Wilkins from the Crazy 8 Barn on Highway 3 in Ontario had to face back in mid-March 2020.
After investing bigtime in the Cafe arm of her brick-and-mortar business and preparing to make the best of it for the busy summer season, Susanne found herself fighting back tears while placing a food order.
Susanne firmly placed her Creative CEO hat on, fought through her fear, and made a bold decision.
Listen to the full episode to hear how stepping through the fear of cutting back a 50% revenue stream led to less stress and increased business profits.
Topics Discussed:
- The importance of understanding the profits each revenue stream is bringing in for your business
- How taking this large revenue stream out of the equation gave Susanne more time off and a great deal less stress
- Familiarity with her margins and numbers gave Susanne a paycheck for the first time in eight years
- Why understanding what is important in your retail business is imperative to a thriving business
- How Susanne is using her new found time to launch brand new product and courses that she is truly passionate about
Connect with Susanne Wilkins
Listen to this next
Episode 30 of Creative Shop Talk will help you make your STOP DOING list, just like Susanne did.
More free content to help you
Download the Shop Owner’s Game Plan. It’s free and will help you plan out 7 big moves for your retail business.
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 dreams 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
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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