243. Behind the Counter: Creating Customer Joy in Retail with Kim Williams of The Polka Dot Press

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   In This Episode:  What’s the secret to running a retail business that feels like home and keeps customers coming back? In this episode of the podcast, I sat down with powerhouse and retail expert Kim Williams of The Polka Dot Press in Tallahassee, Florida - and we are answering that question and so much more. Get ready to be inspired!  With over 21 years of retail experience and a knack for social media marketing, Kim shares actionable tips for retailers, heartfelt stories, and strategies that every independent retailer can use. From training staff to balancing a side business, Kim’s insights are a must-hear for retailers looking to stand out in 2025. Key Highlights: Kim’s Retail Journey: From a home-based stationery line to a thriving brick-and-mortar stationery and gift shop, learn how Kim evolved her business over two decades. Hospitality in Retail: The beauty of treating your shop like your home and creating a welcoming experience for customers. Your shop should feel like your happy place! “Treat your shop like your home, and your customers will feel like family.” -Kim Williams Staff Training Secrets: How Kim uses a “Disney Main Street” analogy to keep her team and customers engaged and her shop dynamic. Listen in for some really fun secrets her staff uses to make the customer experience at The Polka Dot Press better! Smart Transitions: The bold move to move from custom services and focus on curated, ready-to-sell products. Additional Revenue Stream Success: How Kim invested in her love for social media marketing: taking on clients and adding revenue. Social Media Success: Why relationships matter more than algorithms and how consistency can transform your online presence. “Relationships over algorithms—that’s the key to social media success.” -Kim Williams Balancing Act: How Kim juggles a successful retail business and a growing social media agency. Actionable Takeaways: Embrace “consumable gifts” for products that delight and don’t add clutter. Use open-ended questions like, “What brings you in today?” to spark meaningful customer interactions. Consistency is key on social media to maintain visibility and build trust with your audience. About Kim and The Polka Dot Press With over 30 years in the retail industry, Kim started her business from her home in 2003 and has since grown it into a thriving gift shop known for its unique gifts and stationery. Recognized as an Outstanding Retail Leader by the Florida Retail Federation in 2012, Kim's expertise and dedication to customer service make her an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their social media presence online. Follow along with Kim and her businesses: The Polka Dot Press: Instagram | Website and The Buzz Grove: Instagram | Website Related podcasts we think you’ll like:  Episode 239: Behind the Counter: Building the Business You Wish Existed with Jasmine McCue Episode 221: How to Raise the Bar on Excellence in Retail with Guest Expert Jeffrey Shaw Episode 204: Behind the Counter: Meet Inner Circle Member Jeanne Terrill About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.  Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dreams and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.  I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers. When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/    For more support from Wendy   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 programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I’d love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes! If you want to be more of a rockstar, I’d love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those 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!

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How do I attract more customers to my store? How do I get more sales? How do I book out my shop’s events and workshops? How do I do retail marketing and social media for my store? These are the questions that creative retail business owners ask Wendy Batten, creative retail coach and mentor. Wendy works with creative shop owners all over the world and with industry leaders. Her speciality is working with creative retailers to get control over their brick and mortars to avoid burnout and overwhelm while achieving more success and profits. In Creative Shop Talk, Wendy digs into the problems and solutions that “accidental shopkeepers” and hobbyists turned retail business owners face. Wendy dives deep in mindset and best practices for retailers with masterclass trainings, business strategies, expert guests and industry insiders, and more. Each episode is designed to help busy and passionate creative shop owners take action, work through their overwhelm and get focused on strategic business areas. Thinking about opening your own creative retail shop? Ready to stop playing shopkeeper and “winging” the business stuff? Looking for more foot traffic? Want to turn your brick and mortar into a viable business? Want predictable profits? Want to take the next step to run your store and not let it run you? Turn to Wendy Batten to take the proven steps to achieving your dream store, living your creative life and helping your amazing customers.