​I’m curious… as you shape the future of your business, what does your big picture include?

To be honest, you could hire an employee or manager to help you get unstuck from being in the daily work weeds. Or you could set up work boundaries and enforce them to protect your calendar from getting overrun with distractions.

But that’s not going to give you the blueprint you need to move forward with confidence while maintaining the creative control you crave.

Enter strategic thinking for retailers and makers.

Thinking differently about the big picture solves the challenges you face from managing multiple deadlines, allocating limited time and cash resources, and being afraid that you’ll make an irrevocably wrong decision by helping you see beyond your current (but temporary) blind spots so that you know how to respond if and when necessary.

In fact, according to an Investopedia article published last month, one of the top four reasons small businesses fail is poor business planning. There’s are simple solutions to avoid this!

If you’re interested in learning how your can solve the challenges of making your big picture vision come to life, then you’ll want to watch this season’s premier episode of Retail Charm School.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
✔ How big picture thinking differs from a vision board (4:20)
✔ Four things you must consider when thinking big picture (12:09)
✔ The impact strategic business planning has on your calendar (21:55)
✔ Developing the skills that help big pictures come to life (25:30)
✔ Using your Retail Success style to focus on your priorities (30:53)

Here's what other Merchants are saying:

Take action by visiting the the Retail Success Style Quiz — a fast and free 60-second quiz to help your discover how to use your style to your advantage.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Spoiler alert: (Even) I hate this question!
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Hindsight is 20/20. It gives us a less tender opportunity to learn from past mistakes, oversights, and failures. As someone who’s fascinated but learning from her own history, I know there’s more to get out of hindsight — like learning how to fail up.

A common thread that connects business owners and CEOs across all organizations, in all industries — regardless of business size — is a desire for both confidence and clarity.

The leadership role can feel isolating. It takes a lot of work to hold down the fort, to have or find answers to your challenging business questions, and to take big leaps toward growth.

The reality is that many things out of your control. But there’s a lot more you can sway… if you know how.

We’re entering a selling season when the reasons for buying are broader than they are during other times of the year.

Between seasonal holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, non-holiday seasonality associated with school graduation and sports, and the general energy that comes from experiencing warm weather, customers open their wallets more freely since fourth quarter.

It’s no wonder that pop-up events and outdoor markets are aplenty this time of year.

So how are you event planning for optimal profit?

When I started working in a retail buying office, I found it to be an exciting time in my life. I adored being part of the decision-making that shaped what customers bought. Specifically, I enjoyed learning how to understand my customers so deeply that I could shop of them — thousands and thousands of them.

What you and I have in common is that we excel at translating visual or emotional inspiration into something a customer will pay for. We also have strong presentation skills — from visual communication to store merchandising to selling. Like you, I love this large portion of the job being a merchant!
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During this early part of my career, I could have left the rest of the merchant role behind. Believe me when I tell you, I tried and here’s how it went!