Videos

Nov. 5, 2025

From Vintage Booth to Retail Dream- A Small Business Origin Story

From Boston’s retail scene to founding a nonprofit in Long Beach, Julie Schwarz has turned every chapter of her life into one of purpose and service. In this episode, she shares how The Mom-Up Shop and Project WomanGood became more than businesses—they became lifelines for survivors of domestic violence. What’s…

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Nov. 5, 2025

TURNING VINTAGE INTO VISION WITH JULIE SCHWARZ

Julie Schwarz is an East Coast native with over 30 years of experience in the service and retail industries. She’s run a catering company, built a farmers market business from the ground up, and now owns The Mom-Up Shop—a curated vintage store in Long Beach that helps fund her nonprofit,…

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Oct. 23, 2025

The Unavoidable Reality of Tariff Cost Absorption in Business

The new episode is out today! 🎙️ I’m chatting with three amazing guests — Mary Liz Curtin from Leon & Lulu, Michael Schultz from Cursive New York, and Andrew Gawdun from curious… in Hermosa Beach. We talk about what it’s really like to run an independent retail store today —…

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Oct. 22, 2025

RETAIL ROUNDTABLE WITH MARY LIZ CURTIN MICHAEL SCHULTZ AND ANDREW GAWDUN

Mary Liz Curtin is passionate about independent retail. With over 35 years of hands-on experience in the gift, craft, and home industries, her deep understanding of retailers, vendors, and sales representatives gives her a one-of-a-kind perspective. Known for her “Sales and Marketing Therapy,” Mary Liz is an internationally recognized expert…

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Oct. 8, 2025

MERCHANDISING THAT SELLS BEYOND THE DISPLAY

In this episode, Michelle Sherrier opens up about her hands-on experience transforming Lucy’s store and reflects on the deeper role merchandising plays in retail success. From buying strategies to storytelling through displays, she highlights why embracing change is essential when working with a consultant. Michelle also unveils her new monthly…

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Oct. 6, 2025

Preparing for a Trade Show- Balancing Concepts and Spontaneity

🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Oct. 2, 2025

Evolving Home Decor Trends- From Shabby Chic to Lakeside Casual

🎉 It’s here! EP 212: SEASONAL SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY ROOTS WITH POLLY HELM is now live! 🎉 Polly Helm shares how she and her husband transformed an old barn into a 5,000 sq. ft. retail store, expanded into a design center, and learned to thrive in a seasonal tourist economy.…

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Oct. 1, 2025

Evolving Home Decor Trends- From Shabby Chic to Lakeside Casual

🎉 It’s here! EP 212: SEASONAL SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY ROOTS WITH POLLY HELM is now live! 🎉 Polly Helm shares how she and her husband transformed an old barn into a 5,000 sq. ft. retail store, expanded into a design center, and learned to thrive in a seasonal tourist economy.…

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Oct. 1, 2025

HOW A SEASONAL SHOP BECAME A YEAR-ROUND SUCCESS WITH POLLY HELM

Polly Helm was born and raised in Kentucky. She has a BA from Eastern Kentucky University and a Masters in Organizational Communications from Miami of Ohio. In 1994 she left corporate sales and moved from KY to Wisconsin to start two small businesses with her husband—a retail store and a…

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Sept. 26, 2025

Finding Inspiration for Unique Holiday Merchandising

#TheRetailWhorePodcast #ShelfTalk #FallMerchandising #VisualMerchandising #RetailTips #RetailBusiness #RetailSuccess #EntrepreneurLife #smallbusinessowner 🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Sept. 24, 2025

Catering to Realtors and Stocking Gift Baskets with Local Treats

New episode! 🎙️ I’m joined by Reshell “Shelly” Douglas, owner of Not Too Shabby Boutique in Vancouver, WA. From her early days in her family’s bridal salon to running her own store for 25 years, Shelly’s story is full of passion, adaptability, and resilience. 💕 What’s inside: ✔️ How Shelly…

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Sept. 24, 2025

25 YEARS OF RETAIL EVOLUTION WITH RESHELL DOUGLAS

Born in June 1969 and raised in Southwest Washington state, Reshell Douglas grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship, learning the ropes of retail in her family’s bridal salon where she worked in sales, buying, and merchandising. By age 14, she was already attending trade shows as a buyer, and throughout the…

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Sept. 12, 2025

Exploring Merchandising and Store Displays

#PodcastEpisode #RetailPodcast #SmallBusinessJourney #ShopLocal #CandleBusiness #RetailLife #EntrepreneurLife #RetailTips #CommunityOverCompetition #SupportLocal 🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Sept. 10, 2025

Balancing Retail, Wholesale, and Seasonal Markets as a Small Business Owner

🎙️ New Episode Out Today! 🎙️ Amber Baker, the creative behind Sandy Bottom Candle Co. and Boho Bungalow, shares how she turned a candle hobby into a thriving business. 🌊🕯️ We talk about: ✨ Her shift from restaurants to retail ✨ Balancing wholesale + brick-and-mortar ✨ Curating local goods that…

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Sept. 10, 2025

RETAIL ROOTS AND COASTAL DREAMS

Amber Baker is the creative force behind Sandy Bottom Candle Co., a coastal-inspired candle brand she launched five years ago with a mission to bottle up the essence of coastal living in a cleaner burning soy candle. What began as a hobby at home quickly turned into a full blown…

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Sept. 4, 2025

Leveraging Data and Visuals to Drive Retail Sales

🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Sept. 3, 2025

Strategically Introducing Expensive Retail Items

🍂 Fall displays that sell! In today’s Shelf Talk, Susan Esayian and I share secrets from gift shows, holiday decor mishaps, and our go-to fall merchandising tricks (think faux fur, wrapped boxes, corn stalks + more). We also answer YOUR questions on displays, pricing, and boosting sales. 🎧 Tune in…

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Sept. 2, 2025

FALL MERCHANDISING SECRETS — SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN!

1. Susan and Michelle reconnect for another insightful episode of Shelf Talk! They start by sharing their experiences from recent gift shows in Vegas and New York, and how they both took the time to decompress and recharge at home. Susan reveals the challenges and excitement of managing holiday decor…

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Aug. 27, 2025

HITTING RESET AND FINDING YOUR VOICE

In this episode I’m bringing you behind the scenes of what life and business have looked like lately — from the whirlwind of travel and shows, to returning home, resetting, and preparing for an exciting fourth quarter. I open up about lessons learned, new projects, and the power of trusting…

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Aug. 15, 2025

From Garage to Boutique- My Journey as a Small Business Owner

#TheRetailWhorePodcast #RetailBusiness #WholesaleBusiness #ShopLocal #SmallBusinessOwner #RetailSuccess #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessGrowth #SupportLocal #DoItAfraid #PodcastInterview 🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Aug. 13, 2025

Curating a Unique Maker-Driven Store in Pine Mountain, Georgia

Episode 208 From a small idea to 300+ products and 170 stores! 🛒✨ Today, I’m sharing my chat with Gauge Bailey about building a retail + wholesale business from the ground up. 🎙 What’s inside: • How Gauge and his wife grew their business from a hobby to 300+ products…

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Aug. 13, 2025

TAKING RISKS AND CRAFTING SUCCESS WITH GAUGE BAILEY

Gauge and his wife opened their business just over two years ago with a simple idea: support local makers and small businesses while crafting a few products of their own. That 'few' quickly turned into more… a lot more. Today, they make and sell over 300 different items—everything from all-natural…

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Aug. 8, 2025

Vintage Bag Storytelling- A Retro-Inspired Mini-Movie #retaillife #VintageBag #DebraSzidon

#CassBags #PodcastEpisode #WomenWhoCreate #LeatherGoods #DesignWithPurpose #TheRetailWhorPodcast #RetailPodcast #ShopLocal #EntrepreneurJourney #TheRetailWhorePodcast #PodcastEpisode #WomenInBusiness #FeelGoodGoods #SupportLocal #NewEpisode #RetailReimagined #RetailLife #RetailPodcast #RetailStories #StoriesAndLessons #PodcastsOfIG #PodcastsOfInstagram #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinessAdvice #RetailAdvice 🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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Aug. 6, 2025

Inspiration Sources for Collections and Interiors #CassBags #DebraSzidon

#CassBags #PodcastEpisode #WomenWhoCreate #LeatherGoods #DesignWithPurpose #TheRetailWhorPodcast #RetailPodcast #ShopLocal #EntrepreneurJourney #TheRetailWhorePodcast #PodcastEpisode #WomenInBusiness #FeelGoodGoods #SupportLocal #NewEpisode #RetailReimagined #RetailLife #RetailPodcast #RetailStories #StoriesAndLessons #PodcastsOfIG #PodcastsOfInstagram #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinessAdvice #RetailAdvice 🔔SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailwhorepodcast Follow my social media accounts: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theretailwhorpodcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theretailwhorepodcast/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@retailwh.repod

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