Did you know that 97% of people read reviews of local businesses? And that 90% of buyers read reviews online to help them make a decision about a purchase?

Customer reviews play a huge part in helping to promote your favorite businesses. So how can you take advantage of Small Business Saturday®, and make an impact buying small and supporting local?  

During How To Leave A Customer Review, you will:

About your event host:

​Chris Guillot is a retail expert, teaching independent retailers and makers how to improve profit in simple, achievable steps. With over 23 years of experience, Chris has taught thousands of retail merchants how to combine industry strategies with emotional intelligence in order to remain compelling in an ever-changing market. She’s the Founder and CEO of Merchant Method, and host of Retail Charm School, a live video show that helps small business owners master the art and science of merchandising. Chris has been featured by Business Insider, Shopify, Vend, Big Commerce, and Total Retail.

With the holiday shopping season just months away, it’s the perfect time to examine gift cards and their benefits for small businesses.

​Look, if you want to sell more this holiday season, then stop scrolling and pay attention.

What I’m about to teach can help you transform an uncontrollable, busy, and blur of a holiday selling season into 13 weeks of profits.

Listen, everyone knows that when you have an uptick in customer traffic you have the potential to sell more, and when you sell more you make more.

​But what most small businesses don’t know is that you don't have to wait for the holidays to make the most out of the Golden Quarter.

My first act of holiday gift giving was already complete by Cyber Monday. A few weeks before, I had selected a wish list from a charitable holiday giving tree and over Thanksgiving weekend I dropped off the wrapped presents. This early practice left my heart feeling gratified, satisfied, and ready for plenty more shopping and sharing in the weeks ahead.

The holidays present a series of obligations and celebrations. We shop, ship, and celebrate throughout the season in phases. Don’t forget, we talk about ‘the holidays’ in plural for a reason!

Holiday shopping comes in phases. As shoppers we know this — but what are we doing with this information as sellers?

As we count down the days to Seattle Startup Week, the content-rich presentations and discussions aren't the only things on my mind.

Though it's been quiet here I've been answering interview questions all summer long. I still don't like talking about myself but I do enjoy talking about my first love: shopping!

Each interview felt like a business retreat, an opportunity to revisit the places, products, processes, and people that inspire me and my work. I also got better acquainted with some of my favorite brands like Shopify, Vend, Big Cartel, and Dôr.

This week two of these interviews published back-to-back. Though one's about me (I did mention I don't like talking about myself, right?), they both have you, dear Merchant, at heart.

Click on a headline to read along:

Behind the Counter: Chris Guillot, Merchant Method (Dôr Technologies)

Don't forget to join me for Seattle Startup Week. I'd love to introduce you to the talented, passionate folks from Dôr. Joanna Rutter is joining me in a conversation about the state of the retail industry. Sean Lakind is sharing much needed information about the importance of understanding how weather impacts your store foot traffic and what to do about it.

Serial Events: How to Build Community and Customer Loyalty (Shopify)

​I'm thrilled that our community event series has been featured by Shopify three times! This month I sat down with writer Alexandra Sheehan to explore what makes serial events sticky and why you should get your hands "dirty."

Happy Holiday Hangover Day! Today is the day most American's head back to work after the holidays and (like Cyber Monday) it's a huge shopping day.

This week I share how to extend the holiday selling season past the holidays. If planned and executed well, you can drive healthy post-holiday retail sales through the January.

Make the most out of helping last minute holiday shoppers. These merchant tips help you take a different approach to selling as the holiday quickly approaches.​

We know all too well that employee morale directly impacts customer satisfaction. Since customers vote with their wallets, more morale means more profit!

During this video I bring attention to a topic of critical importance for retailers of all sizes and revenue: Employee Morale. Specifically I share training to elevate employee morale during the remaining days of holiday shopping that lead up to Christmas Day.

In this week's trend report,  I share my analysis on model customer service for independent Retailers & Makers.

Based on case studies of Amazon Go and a personal shopping experience with an independent Retailer, I highlight the fundamentals of strategic customer care as well as share customer service trends for 2017. ​(Yes, 2017!)

In this week's trend report, I share my analysis on holiday retail sales, specifically post-Thanksgiving sales results.

I compare industry financial forecasts and prediction with results from Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Then I identify your next steps to optimize your business for the weeks ahead.

During this live presentation for Townsquared Seattle Women Business Owners, which was streamed live on Facebook via Townsquared, I share the holiday retail sales forecast for 2016 and as well as merchant tips for how to prepare for the season ahead.

In this week's trend report, I talk about how independent Retailers and Makers can remain compelling to current and new customers this holiday season in the face of increased competition.