For shopkeepers, independent store owners, and brick and mortar shop owners in the “messy middle” of business and are ready for more
Imagine a life with less stress, more profits, resources at your fingertips, and a supportive community.
Curious about what’s possible?
Wow! The best money I have ever spent on business development. What I have learned and implemented from this group has had, and will continue to have positive impacts on my business for years to come.
Shopkeepers are a special breed of business owner…
We start our business to share our love of books, music, candles, clothing, fragrance, art, creativity, home decor.
We want to inspire others to share our passion and joy.
In a world that’s increasingly digital and disconnected, we’re passionate about face-to-face interactions
with our customers, and keeping local economies alive.
But there comes a point in every retailer’s journey…
After we get through the stress and excitement of the first few years in business…
Where we find ourselves sometimes overwhelmed by wearing all the hats we need to wear to run a retail business.
We call this the MESSY MIDDLE of retail growth.
If you’ve reached this point, you may be struggling with:
- Cash flow
- Leading and managing a team
- Paying yourself last – or maybe not at all
- Juggling all the balls
It’s at this stage most retailers fail.
Time to get out of your own way…
You might be afraid that if you don’t figure this out, you’ll burnout or go bankrupt.
The problem is you don’t know what you don’t know.
And it’s not your fault.
Passionate, creative entrepreneurs and retail business owners like us typically don’t have retail management and marketing degrees.
Your Auntie Janet’s opinions about how you should advertise your shop are unhelpful at best and frigging annoying at worst.
And Googling doesn’t bring up the kind of personalized insight and advice you need for your stage of business and the challenges you’re facing.
Plus… a lot of the business coaching and training out there is for big box retailers or service-based online businesses.
At least this was my experience after running my own shop.
For years I struggled….
Wishing I could find a business coach who understood my struggles and understood the unique challenges of running a small retail shop.
Through trial and error, training, many late nights, and several boxes of Kleenex,
I discovered that to run a profitable brick-and-mortar store I needed to refine and master 4 areas of my business…
✅ Stepping into my role as the CEO
✅ Taking serious control over my numbers
✅ Having a solid marketing and sales strategy in place
✅ Putting systems and processes in place
I developed the Retailer’s Eco-System Success Framework:
Once I dialed in these systems, my cash-flow improved.
My profitability improved.
I was able to take a regular paycheck.
I was less stressed and..more importantly, I found the joy and freedom I wanted when I started my shop was finally happening.
I fell in love with my business again.
I have coached over 500 fellow retailers through my framework to see the success they want, too.
These shopkeepers went from the Messy Middle, to confidently running businesses that continually grow and thrive.
They found …
Retailers who work with me create more…
Joy
Freedom
Profit
Passion
You too can experience this when you join…
The Retailer’s Inner Circle Coaching Program
A private coaching program for shopkeepers, small retailers and brick and mortar owners who want more joy, freedom and profitability in their businesses.
Here’s what that looks like and how we support you:
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12 months of on-demand support and guidance from a mentor who’s been where you are
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Plug-and-play marketing and sales templates, prompts, and guides
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Time-tested retail strategies to attract customers and boost sales
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On-demand masterclasses and full retail course, Retail Made Simple
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Back office operations guides so you know what to look at each month
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Monthly Members Only Roundtable to get your questions answered
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Leadership training to help you step into your role as CEO
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A community of fellow retailers to share ideas, strategies, and celebration
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Advice tailored to wherever you are on your retail journey
We meet you where you are in your retail journey.
Who is this for exactly?
You’re committed to success of your retail business
You love your customers and your shop and you’re learning to be “the boss”!
You want to step a little deeper into your role as the CEO.
You're looking for an easier way
You just don’t have clarity on what to focus on next.
Deep down, you know there is an easier way to see the success you want.
Your marketing is a little messy ...
Strategy? What strategy?
You have difficulty organizing and timing your marketing, sales, and promotion plan for maximum impact and you don’t know what you should do or what is working.
Ready for a community custom-made for you?
Meet your new Business BFF + mentor Wendy Batten
Hi, I’m Wendy Batten, and I’m obsessed with helping independent shop owners thrive.
I’ve been in your shoes.
Running myself into the ground putting out fires and wondering what the heck I’m doing at times. Loving my business, but knowing there is more than feeling lost in the daily to-dos of running my brick-and-mortar.
Along the way, I invested in support and training. I built my business up and it thrived.
I learned how to run my retail business well, with strategy and tools, and put in place the retailer’s eco-system that works. I donned my CEO hat and systems that work and grew my retail business and studio.
I created the Retailers Inner Circle Program to create a shortcuts and resources for shop owners, so they would not have to figure it out alone.
As a successful entrepreneur for over 25+ years, I am honored to spend my days working with shop owners worldwide. Helping them uncomplicate their business and go from messy to thriving.
Join me inside!
What's at risk if you don't dial this in.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, half of all non-mentored small businesses fail within their first five years? And even then, only 30% of them make it to the ten-year mark. But for small business owners with an advisor or mentor, the difference is striking: 70% of those small businesses that work with an advisor survive: double the rate for un mentored small businesses.
I know I, for one, only saw growth once I started working with a coach and mentors and invested in myself and my business. I continue to work daily with coaches. It’s imperative to keep up with business development and, as an entrepreneur, personal development for our business and life’s well being.
“As a business owner, there are so many groups and courses available to us for continuing education that it’s hard to choose which is a good fit for us. Being a brick and mortar shop owner is a unique position and requires the knowledge and guidance of someone that has gone before you and knows where the challenges and pitfalls lie. I have found that in all of the information that I have consumed from Wendy Batten.
I have learned real actionable techniques that have translated into instant cash in my bank and we have been experiencing our biggest sales numbers in years. Being an accidental shopkeeper, I need experience mentors that have been through this before and I have found this in Wendy.”
What’s inside The Retailer’s Inner Circle Program
You get
on-demand access to everything you need to
build a successful retail business:
Marketing and Biz Support
Quarterly Canva graphics you can use to help make your social media easier. Monthly email and marketing prompts, merchandising set suggestions and promotions calender. We’ve got you.
Small Group Accountabilty and Support
You’ll join an amazing group of like-minded and heart-centered business owners working together on the same journey as you. All at the ready to support you and encourage you. Invite to join a PROGRESS and ACCOUNTABILTY SMALL GROUP! Included with your membership. This has been a game-changer for many memebrs.
Monthly Live Q&A Roundtables
The Retailer’s Round Table brings our members together each month to chat about their businesses and about industry issues.Together, we strategize ways to move our businesses forward. Our members LOVE these sessions!
Monthly Biz and Marketing Playbook
Members-only access to a one of a kind retail monthly dashboard tool to help you plan marketing and business goals while staying on track and focused, along with promotional and marketing ideas, email prompts and more. Yours free every month as a member.
Retail Made Simple Business Course
Full access to this on-demand bite-sized easy-to-digest retail business course. It covers leadership and your role as the “CEO”, Marketing and Sales, Operations and Retail Financial Literacy. Work through at your own pace! We’re not here to fire-hose info at you!
Special Activities
Seasonal challenges, coaching weeks, boot camps and special events to keep you fresh and up to date on what’s working in the retail world.
Member favorites: the members-only library, AND my signature course Retail Made Simple, which explains the Retailer’s Eco-System in an easy and bite-size course.
Find helpful information for any stage of retail business, ready for you when you’re ready to learn.
In our Member’s Headquarters, you’ll find the resource library which has tools, tips and tricks, video sessions, and more. Neatly organized to take what you need when you need it. We cover all aspects of running a profitable creative retail business and help you design a business that works for you.
This is not a course. No keeping up. No falling behind.
Think of it like a pantry …
Take what you need when you need it.
Choose the plan that works for you
Quarterly Payments
only $297.00 Quarterly
- *1 year committtment
Easy Yearly Payment
only $997.00 yearly
Save Money
BONUS: Personal Marketing Audit from Wendy
A $500 Value!
Our promise:
If you join us and it’s not for you, you have 2 days to let us know and we will refund your fees. No questions asked. (But it’s never happened!)
What members are saying …
The Inner Circle program is for independent shop owners who are focused on taking action… not just consuming content
It’s my promise to you that if you put in the work, and are serious about your retail business, you will find success in the Retailer’s Inner Circle. We care about your results.
Finally, build a retail business that makes you more money, and gives you the joy and freedom you crave.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I join?
You will receive an email with a login to our membership portal. We have a new member section to help you get started and a few fun surprises for you.
Who will I meet inside the Retailer’s inner Circle?
So many amazing independent shop owners. Brick-and-mortar shops running their businesses with heart and passion. Most of our shop owners opened their business from a passion or hobby turned beautiful storefront business. Specialty shop owners such as record shops, lifestyle shops, book stores, chocolate shops, vintage and antique stores, yarn shops, pottery studios, gift and clothing stores, home decor boutiques, DIY creative paint shops and studios, fabric shops, bead store and we even have a kawaii shop owner. We all learn from each other.
Who is this for?
If you own or manage a local, independent retail business > you belong in the Inner Circle! This program is ideal for you if you own and are passionate about your products and services and own one or more of the following: an independent local retail store, a studio or workshop, a pop-up retail location, or a mobile retail business. This is not a program for influencers, online-only stores, or B2B associations.
How does billing work?
You will be charged according to the plan you choose, yearly or quarterly, with a minimum one year committment. You will continue to be billed until you contact our team to cancel. Your membership rate will stay at your current rate as long as you are a member in good standing.
How much time will it require - I’m already so busy!
Glad you asked! Our mission is to help create MORE freedom and time for you. Membership is like a gym. You will get what you put into it. Joining won’t guarantee a healthier business. Taking action will. That takes some intentional work – however, you WILL find more freedom of time as you put pieces into practice. “Get stronger business bits”. I would recommend joining the Live Roundtables, and also taking time to identify what areas of your business you want to work on, and committing a little time each week to that.
What if my competitor joins?
As brick-and-mortar small business owners, we believe we really only have three competitors- online, the big boxes, and our customer’s time. To succeed in the small business community, it’s important to look for opportunities to collaborate, not compete. We believe there’s plenty of business for everyone!
I have another question, how can I get an answer?
Reach out to [email protected] any time.