Recent Episodes

Welcome to Shelf Talk: a brand new, add-on segment inside the Retail Whore Podcast! In this new once-a-month segment, Michelle and co-host Susan Esayian dive into all things merchandising and design. Both Michelle and Susan h...

Dan Jablons heads up Retail Smart Guys, a premier consulting company for independent retail. Dan studied at the Ohio State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Production. Throughout his ...

Mary Bligh and Jessica Giancotti are lifelong friends and passionate designers with over 20 years of combined experience. Together, they founded Lily & Marigold Home + Design on a shared belief: women can thrive in their care...

Liz Ferreira’s mom Beth started floral and gift shop Sweetbay out of her home when her two children were small. Over the years, her business has taken her to several brick-and-mortar shops, retail cooperatives and studio desi...

Ronald Carter likes to think of creative styling as an art form: a masterpiece, carefully crafted by imagination and passion. He fell into his career by accident as a struggling actor in need of a side hustle. Ronald was livi...

Many of you were interested in hearing about how the CMA job came to be, my planning process, and how everything turned out. This week, I’m recapping it all here on the podcast! Starting from the beginning, I talk about how E...

Larisa Olson grew up in Chicago, the daughter of an entrepreneur who purchased a failing framing and furniture business and revitalized it. After many crazy adventures, Larisa studied set and costume design in the UCLA master...

Jason Soejoto is the National Account Manager for Specialty and Independent Business at Duke Cannon Supply Company. Duke Cannon is a one-stop shop for premium men’s grooming goods, and the brand occupies a really unique space...

Sam Chapman started his career as a hairdresser, working for some of the biggest names in the UK. Eventually, he decided it was time to work for himself and opened his own salon. He got a crash course in running a business an...

I can’t believe we’ve already said goodbye to 2024! I like to do solo shows this time of year because it gives me a chance to take a look back at all that happened and also to talk about what I’m looking forward to as we move...

Hailing from North Dakota, where her nearest shopping opportunity was over 300 miles away, Ashley Alderson longed for a place online to find and shop the boutiques she loved all over the country, together in one place. "There...

Annie Glenn (AKA Urban Girl Annie) started her company, LG Retail Enterprises, back in 1994 and she’s been doing retail ever since. Although she majored in literature in college, Annie’s known she wanted to own her own busine...

Retail icon Iris Fuller opened her store, Fillamento, back in April 1981 and led the Fillmore District neighborhood renaissance in the San Francisco area. In its heyday, Fillamento was three floors at Fillmore and Sacramento ...

Mary Liz Curtin is passionate about independent retail. Her knowledge of all aspects of the gift, craft and home industries gives her a unique point of view, encompassing the needs of retailers, vendors and sales representati...

Root Adorned is the brainchild/dream project of Erin Hasler. Erin's love for beautiful treasures began most likely at birth (maybe in the womb?) and has grown ever since. A self-described magpie, easily distracted by anything...

Based in Seattle, Andrew Fegler is the brains and beauty behind That’s So Andrew, the sassy gift brand for the girls, gays, and theys. He’s been sailing the entrepreneurial seas for over a decade and has gone from manufacturi...

Mary Bligh and Jessica Giancotti are lifelong friends and passionate designers with over 20 years of combined experience. They founded Lily & Marigold Home + Design on a shared belief: women can thrive in their careers, embra...

In this solo show, Michelle recaps her 40th high school reunion and what it was like to geek out over retail with her former classmates… without her old insecurities. She catches everyone up on what’s been going on since the ...

Ken Lain is known by his friends as 'The Mountain Gardener'. His weekly garden advice is featured by Prescott Living and Prescott Woman Magazines, the Daily Courier, Prescott eNews, and Signals AZ Newspapers. Ken is passionat...

Jocelyn Songco is the founder and owner of Yarn Farm Kingston, a yarn shop and wine bar in New York's Hudson Valley, two hours north of NYC. Prior to Yarn Farm, Jocelyn worked at a private foundation for over a dozen years, i...

Annie Glenn (also known as Urban Girl Annie) started her company LG Retail Enterprises back in 1994 and has been doing retail ever since. Although Annie majored in literature in college, she knew she wanted to own a business ...

In 2005, Johanna Bialkin moved to San Francisco, seeking solace from the bustle of New York City and her sojourn in digital media. While the allure of SF's tech industry didn't captivate her, the promise of a tight-knit commu...

SF Mercantile began in 2008 with the objective of producing high-quality San Francisco gifts and keepsakes designed by local artists. Their products celebrate the vibrant and diverse culture that is unique to California, and ...

This week’s episode is sponsored by @salesproducersinc, a progressive business to business company representing Gift, Lifestyle, Fashion, Personal Care, & Kids lines selling to retail stores with a mission to create long last...