Why Customers Want to Give You Money (If You Let Them)

In this episode of the Bringing Business to Retail Podcast, I’m joined by retail buyer and showroom founder Erica Kiang to unpack the strategies that separate successful retailers from the rest. Whether you’re stocking your own shelves or trying to get your product into stores, Erica shares hard-won insights from her experience with brands like Ann Taylor, her own boutiques, and now as founder of the Babel Fair Showroom. We talk about: How to buy like a pro (even if you’re not a big box store) What makes a product a true bestseller The power of customer personas and real-time feedback Why exclusivity and territory still matter in retail And how even small retailers can negotiate product exclusives If you want to stop guessing and start curating collections that move, this episode is your guide. Connect with Erica Kiang: 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=111944 📸 Instagram: @erica.kiang 💼 LinkedIn: Erica Kiang on LinkedIn

What if you could look at your bank account on January 1st and feel proud, confident, and excited instead of anxious? In this episode of the Bringing Business to Retail Podcast, Salena Knight introduces the January Vision Method — a powerful approach to planning Q4 so you can stop flying blind and start creating the results you want. You’ll hear the story of Kelly, a retailer who transformed her holiday season by reverse engineering her goals, mapping her promotions, and executing with intention. The result? $825,000 in revenue, $210,000 cash in the bank, a full-time hire, and the freedom to finally take a real vacation. Whether you’re tired of survival mode or ready to scale with confidence, this episode will show you how to: Set a clear, motivating January vision Reverse engineer your revenue goals Build strong foundations in September and October Execute a Q4 plan that funds your entire next year Your January success starts with the plan you create today. Tune in and learn how to design your holiday sales strategy for real growth. 

Black Friday and the holiday season don’t have to mean discounting your brand into the ground. In this episode, Salena Knight unpacks the psychology of holiday spending and shows you how to tap into customer behavior without racing to the bottom. You’ll discover: Why customers budget for holiday spending months in advance How gift-giving flips normal price sensitivity The role urgency and deadlines play in driving sales Why customers want you to “show up” during the holidays—even without discounts How to plan campaigns that feel effortless (instead of scrambling last minute) If you’re ready to stop throwing spaghetti at the wall and start building holiday promotions that work, this episode is for you. 👉 Join the Double My Holiday Sales Bootcamp: https://scale.theretailacademy.net/wait-list

In this episode, Salena Knight is joined by sales performance expert and author Anita Nielsen to unpack how businesses can embrace AI without sacrificing their authenticity. As AI tools become faster, cheaper, and more widespread, how do we avoid sounding like everyone else? From mapping the customer journey to identifying friction points, Anita shares how to use AI strategically—so it adds value without erasing the human touch. They explore: How to identify where AI belongs in your business (and where it doesn’t) The hidden cost of sameness in content and customer experience Why human-centered sales are more important than ever What retailers and eCommerce brands can do right now to audit their workflows Real-world examples of automation done right (and wrong) Whether you're planning for Q4 or rethinking your brand voice in the age of automation, this episode will help you stay smart, strategic, and—most of all—human.

In this episode of Bringing Business to Retail, Sal takes you behind the scenes of her Walk Club – where business strategy meets the footpath. Walking alongside a store owner who’s struggling to lift sales, Sal dives deep into their numbers to uncover whether the real challenge is traffic, conversions, or sheer volume. You’ll hear how to make sense of email marketing metrics, the power of segmenting and nurturing VIP customers, and why high-ticket products can be the fastest way to boost profits. This is a candid, unscripted problem-solving session filled with practical strategies you can put into action right away. If you’ve ever wished you could listen in on the real conversations that lead to breakthroughs, this episode is for you.

What if working less was the secret to growing more? In this inspiring and unconventional episode, Salena Knight sits down with business coach Jenna Harrison to explore how redefining success, rewiring your nervous system, and letting go of guilt can radically transform how you work, lead, and live. From building a real estate empire and working in fashion to burning out and finding clarity on a nudist beach in Spain (yes, really!), Jenna shares the pivotal mindset shifts that helped her step into a 3-day workweek — without sacrificing growth or impact. You’ll learn: Why hustle culture is keeping you stuck (and how to break free) The 3 pillars you must audit to create time and revenue freedom How nervous system patterns sabotage productivity — and what to do instead Why feeling powerful comes from support, not doing it all Jenna’s “Thought Cleanse” technique to detox limiting beliefs If you’re tired of being busy but not fulfilled, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about productivity — and give you the tools to build a business that works for you. 🎧 Tune in now — your freedom starts here. 📥 Get Jenna’s free Thought Cleanse: https://www.theuncommonway.com/thought-cleanse 🎙 More episodes: www.salenaknight.com/podcast

What if you could treat your physical store like your website—tracking what works, what doesn’t, and where the money’s really being made? In this episode, Salena is joined by Simon Molnar, founder of Flagship, a tech startup that's helping retailers bring the power of ecommerce-style data into their bricks-and-mortar locations. From his early days selling Pandora charms on eBay to building one of the most innovative tools in retail merchandising, Simon shares how Flagship is helping brands analyze floor plans, window displays, and product placements like never before. You’ll discover how retailers are "money mapping" their stores daily, why every mannequin and shelf should be treated as an ad unit, and how Flagship’s data is helping drive serious in-store results. Whether you run a single boutique or manage a multi-location chain, this episode is your blueprint for turning space into sales.

Three times in one week, I tried to buy something and never completed the purchase—pants, accommodation, and those perfect green trousers. Each time, friction killed the sale. These are micro moments: split-second instances when customers grab their phones ready to buy immediately. With mobile commerce accounting for 60% of sales, optimizing for these moments is crucial. You'll Learn: What micro moments are and why they matter How to optimize for mobile-first, friction-free purchasing Checkout strategies that convert 77% cart abandoners Why one-tap payments boost conversion by 30% Stop losing high-intent sales to friction. Learn to capture customers when they're ready to buy with credit card in hand.   Sal 

What do you get when you mix creativity, hustle, and a bit of chaos? A viral product brand that lands on Nordstrom’s shelves—twice. In this episode, I sit down with Alisha Athreya, the powerhouse founder behind KURVWEAR. and Don’t Eat My Candle, two product-based businesses that have achieved what most brand owners dream of: retail placement in stores like Nordstrom, Woolworths, Priceline, and The Iconic. But here’s the kicker—Alisha did it all without outside funding, without a PR agency, and while still in university. From learning to sew on her mom’s broken machine, to sending a single shoe in a box to a Nordstrom buyer, this episode is a masterclass in resourcefulness, resilience, and relationship-building. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to get into big box stores—or if you just need a reminder that bold moves build big brands—this episode is for you. Sal

When my house insurance doubled, I realized most retailers are stuck in transaction tunnel vision—treating customers like one-night stands instead of building lifetime relationships. This episode breaks down the Customer Lifetime Value formula that separates genius marketers from those throwing money at the wall. Discover why a $30 customer can be worth $1,380 over time, and learn three strategies to increase CLV immediately. You'll Learn: The simple CLV formula (no PhD required) Why understanding CLV transforms your marketing spend How to identify your most valuable customer segments Three concrete strategies to boost lifetime value Stop chasing quick wins and start building profitable long-term relationships. When you know each customer's true worth, you can invest like a genius while competitors can't compete.