275. How Top Shop Owners Are Planning Their Holiday Strategy

275. How Top Shop Owners Are Planning Their Holiday Strategy

Author: Wendy Batten, Creative Retail Mentor August 25, 2025 Duration: 23:42

 

Add graphic here

 

With host retail coach Wendy Batten

 

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

 

Holiday Success Planning Guide is now a standalone masterclass! Click HERE to grab it now. You can walk through the sessions at your own pace and rewatch it year after year. 

Want to plan your entire Q4 with me LIVE? Join me and a small group on September 15th and let's get down to business. Limited seating for this quarterly planning session. 

 

In This Episode:

Are you heading into the holiday season feeling overwhelmed, reactive, and unsure how to hit your numbers? You're not alone—but the good news is there's a better way.

In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'll share exactly how real retailers are taking control of their holiday planning to finish 2025 strong. We'll pull back the curtain on the strategies and ideas a few of my clients are implementing this holiday season.

Instead of relying on "hope marketing" or last year's results, my clients are setting themselves up for success—complete with setting profit goals, tightening inventory, and breaking down sales targets week by week. You'll learn how to do that too! Remember: reverse-engineering your goals creates focus, clarity, and confidence while protecting your profits.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why reverse-engineering your goals creates clarity and focus

  • Why you need to set profit-based (not just revenue) targets

  • The importance of weekly planning for staffing, inventory, and marketing

  • Using tools like the Profit Calculator and Holiday Bootcamp for success

  • Shifting from reactive to proactive leadership as a retail CEO

 

Your Next Steps:

  1. Set Your Profit Goal – Decide what you want left after expenses this holiday season.

  2. Reverse Engineer Your Plan – Work backward from that profit goal to map out sales, inventory, and expenses.

  3. Get the Tools & Support – Grab the Holiday Success Planning Guide for step-by-step guides, calculators, and planning templates to make 2025 your best and most relaxed holiday season yet. At only $97, you can't afford not to!

  4. Plan With Me Live – Join the upcoming CEO Planning Workshop to map out your holiday strategy alongside me and other shop owners.

  5. Join the Inner Circle - Don't let another holiday season go by without my and other likeminded retailers' support! And remember: your membership gets you unlimited access to the Holiday Success Bootcamp, the Profit Planning Masterclass, and so much more.

 

Related podcasts we think you'll like: 

Episode 271: Back of the Napkin Math: Simplifying Profit Planning for Retailers

Episode 231: 3 Simple Marketing Levers to Increase Your Holiday Sales

Episode 222: 6 Things to Do This Month to Prepare Your Shop for the Holidays



About your host, Wendy Batten

 

In case we haven't met yet, I'm Wendy Batten, retail business coach and founder of the Retailer's Inner Circle. With over 30 years of experience running successful businesses, I now help independent shop owners grow profitably and sustainably—with more confidence and joy.

I've had my own business columns in featured magazines, such as What Women Create and other top publications, worked with some of the top industry brands as retail care manager, and I've supported hundreds of retailers through coaching, speaking, my programs, and this podcast. 

For more support from Wendy

 

Join Wendy's CEO Planning Session for Retailers

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 current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

Never miss an episode!

Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes! 



Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your reviews help other retailers find my podcast, and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!


Running a creative retail business often means juggling a hundred questions at once, from attracting the right customers to filling workshops and making social media feel less like a chore. Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten is where those pressing, daily questions meet practical, real-world answers. Hosted by creative retail mentor Wendy Batten, this podcast draws directly from her work with shop owners globally and conversations with industry leaders. Each episode feels like a focused coaching session, breaking down the complexities of modern retail into actionable steps. You’ll hear honest discussions about gaining control over your marketing, streamlining operations, and building a shop that thrives not just survives. The dialogue is grounded in the reality of running a physical creative business, offering strategies that are both thoughtful and immediately useful. Tune in for a blend of Wendy’s direct mentorship and insights from peers who understand exactly what you’re building. This isn’t about vague theory; it’s a resource for turning your unique vision into a sustainable, bustling enterprise. Find clarity and confidence for your creative shop by following the podcast wherever you listen.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten
Podcast Episodes
305. Building Loyalty Through Positive Customer Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:51
With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview In this episode, I'm reframing what customer loyalty really means for independent retailers. Rather than focusing on loyalty pro…
299. Retail Mystery March: Is Your Inventory Priced for Profit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:01
With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview Why would a shop that has been open for over a decade, has loyal customers, strong brands, and steady traffic have stalled growt…
298. Mystery March: Why Sales Decline When Shop Standards Slip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:04
With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview In this first Mystery March episode, I'm sharing a fictional case study about a thriving yarn shop that begins to see a quiet de…
297. The 15-Minute Monthly Reset for Retailers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:10
With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ Episode Overview In this episode, I'm sharing a practical look at the power of a monthly business debrief. Sparked by a coaching client who resis…