Advertise on podcast: The Retail Whore

For more than 22 years, Barbara Mooney has been building Daisy’s Mercantile in Alameda, California, into a retail experience rooted in creativity, storytelling, and discovery. Now, her daughter Jillian is bringing her own perspective to the family business after growing up in the store, attending trade shows from a young age, and eventually stepping into a full-time role alongside her mom. Together, Barbara and Jillian approach Daisy’s almost like a magazine, transforming the store through immersive seasonal themes while keeping its familiar personality intact. From thoughtfully planned buying and merchandising to elaborate handmade displays, classes, community events, and holiday installations, every detail is designed to tell a larger story and give customers a reason to keep exploring. In this episode, Michelle catches up with Barbara and Jillian to dive into the creativity and strategy behind Daisy’s Mercantile. They share how their mother-daughter partnership has evolved, how they turn big creative ideas into organized buying and merchandising plans, and what goes into producing their unforgettable seasonal installations. Barbara and Jillian also take us behind the scenes of their holiday process, including their Christmas on the Silver Screen concept, where different areas of the store were inspired by classic Christmas movies. They discuss creating clear gift niches within larger themes, giving their team visual tools to understand each concept, planning months ahead, and why they’re willing to close the store for several days to create a true reveal for their customers. From balancing vision and execution to finding inspiration outside the four walls of the store, this conversation is packed with ideas for retailers who want to make shopping feel more personal, immersive, and memorable. What's Inside: Turning seasonal merchandising into storytelling: How Barbara and Jillian develop themes, displays, gift niches, and buying plans that make the entire store feel connected.The strategy behind unforgettable holiday retail: From planning months in advance and hand-making props to closing the store for installation and creating that magical reveal for customers.Growing a family business together: How Barbara and Jillian balance different ideas, divide responsibilities, learn from each other, and evolve Daisy’s for its next generation.Instagram Facebook  Pinterest Support the show

Owner/Interior Designer Christina Van Blake is a prominent designer serving the Maine and NH Seacoast area for over 22 years. Christina truly enjoys her work, her clients and design of all kinds. Her enthusiasm for the art of this business ensures each client fully understands the options and choices, why they work, and how they reflect their personal taste with the end result being a carefully curated space that feels uniquely personal and beautifully functional. Christina graduated with a BFA in Design from Savannah College of Art & Design and currently holds 3 separate degrees in Advertising, Graphic & Interior Design. Her specialties in color, pattern and texture come from 3 generations of designing women. Christina has received numerous awards and accolades for her art and design work as well as her charitable contribution through ‘Design it Forward’; a non-profit effort to bring interior design services to anyone willing to do 3 charitable acts in return. She has been featured in various media outlets as well as a guest speaker and teacher locally, nationally and internationally. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Christina to talk about the journey behind her two businesses, HOME and house & HOME, and how she created two distinct experiences for two very different types of customers. Christina shares how house & HOME grew into a 9,000-square-foot retail destination filled with furniture, housewares, gifts, and carefully curated displays, while HOME remains focused on full-service interior design and custom furniture. What's Inside: Building two distinct businesses and creating the right experience for interior design clients versus retail shoppersCurating, buying & merchandising with intention, from market finds to creating displays around a lifestyle and a storyTurning customer service into customer loyalty through personal connection, memorable events, and experiences that keep shoppers coming backInstagram for HOME Instagram for House & HOME Home Designer Website Support the show

In this episode, Michelle and Susan are back for another Shelf Talk, catching up after a busy show season and diving into Susan’s experience setting up at New York Now and exploring Shoppe Object. They talk about what worked, what they’d do differently, clever booth and merchandising ideas, and the trends catching their attention right now, from bold saturated color and Western influences to creative displays and artist-driven products.   They also share the Instagram accounts and stores they can’t stop looking at right now and, more importantly, why they’re obsessed. Michelle shares her love for lovefeste, especially its incredible displays and product mix; shop.with.caroline for her fun high-low approach to fashion; and shopboothhouse for its unforgettable store installations.   Susan brings goodandwellsupplyco into the conversation for its colorful, abundant mix of fun and usable gifts, along with thelocavorenyc and its simple but incredibly effective local-first retail messaging.  And yes, there’s also a little peek at some changes happening with the podcast. Michelle opens up about why, after five years and 100,000 downloads, she feels it’s time for the show’s name to evolve while keeping the heart and personality of the podcast the same.  What's Inside: Susan’s New York Now + Shoppe Object recap and the booth, merchandising, and display lessons she’s bringing home. The retail trends catching their eye, including saturated color, Western influences, creative temporary displays, and more artist-driven product. Their current Instagram + store obsessions, including lovefeste, shop.with.caroline, shopboothhouse, thelocavorenyc, and goodandwellsupplyco, plus exactly what makes each one worth following.Instagram - lovefeste Instagram - shop.with.caroline Instagram - shopboothhouse Instagram - goodandwellsupplyco Instagram -  thelocavorenyc Support the show

In this episode, I’m joined by visual merchandiser Allison Levy to talk about her career in retail, specialty outdoor apparel, fixture design, and visual merchandising. Allison shares how she finds inspiration in unexpected places, including dumpster-dived treasures, and how her love of gardening connects to the way she approaches merchandising and design. We also talk about her experience training sales reps and store employees and what she’s learned about creating spaces that feel interesting, intentional, and alive. What’s Inside  Finding creative inspiration in unexpected places and turning everyday objects into merchandising elements  How Allison’s experience in retail, apparel, fixture design, and training shaped her approach to visual merchandising  Why designing a retail space and designing a garden have more in common than you might thinkSupport the show

In this episode, I’m back with Part 2 of my August solo, diving deeper into the merchandising decisions that can completely change how your store looks and sells. I’m talking about choosing and placing fixtures, using vintage and secondhand pieces without making your store feel cluttered, and why every prop in your display should have a purpose.   I also get into one of my favorite parts of merchandising: storytelling. I share how I think about the person behind a display, the environment she lives in, and even sight, sound, and scent when creating a concept. Plus, I break down my 30, 60, 90-day approach to slow-moving inventory and when it’s finally time to mark it down and move on.   What’s Inside:  How to choose and place fixtures without overwhelming your store  Why storytelling and intentional props make stronger displays  My 30, 60, 90-day strategy for dealing with slow-moving inventorySupport the show

In this episode, I’m back home after a long show season and sitting down for another solo Q&A, answering real questions submitted by retailers. I’m digging into everything from mixing high- and moderate-priced apparel and deciding when Christmas should hit the sales floor to handling those last one or two products that just won’t sell.   I also share my approach to must-have product categories, creating displays that tell a story and encourage add-on sales, fall merchandising, and building better product flow throughout your store. It’s a practical look at the merchandising decisions I make every day and the strategies retailers can use as we head into the holiday season.    What’s Inside:  How I merchandise products to create stronger displays and add-on sales  When to start rolling out holiday merchandise—and why earlier can work in your favor  How I handle inventory, product flow, and those last one or two items on the floorSupport the show

Sara Stein is a seasoned brand builder and product developer with a career spanning Hollywood, fashion, and consumer products. Starting at Writers & Artists Agency and Simpson-Bruckheimer Films, she transitioned to fashion PR, founding S Public Relations in 2001. Best known for launching Los Angeles Fashion Week, she represented over 60 brands, including Universal Consumer Products, Superga, and Erica Courtney Jewelry. She produced live events featuring The Beach Boys and Runway Shows. In 2012, Sara launched Sisters of Los Angeles, a vibrant gift brand sold in upscale outlets across the U.S., Canada, and Japan, including Nordstrom, The Fontainebleau Hotel, LAX, The Broad Museum, Hallmark, and Ritz-Carlton. Her brand was featured on THE TODAY SHOW, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The LA Times, Sunset Mag and more. She managed operations, product design, and strategic partnerships before selling the company in 2018. In this episode, Sara shares her journey from Hollywood and fashion PR to building her own consumer brand. We talk about her experience launching Los Angeles Fashion Week, developing Sisters of Los Angeles, growing the brand into major retailers and destinations, and what she learned along the way as a brand builder and entrepreneur. What's Inside:  Sara's journey from Hollywood and fashion PR to entrepreneurship  Building and growing Sisters of Los Angeles into a widely distributed gift brand  Product development, partnerships, and the experience of eventually selling her companyInstagram Facebook Swags to Riches Website Support the show

In this episode, Michelle sits down with wardrobe stylist and small business advocate Leslie Firkins to talk about the connection between personal style, confidence, and the retail experience. Leslie shares how her early work in photography led her into wardrobe styling, how she helps people feel more comfortable taking fashion risks, and what she is seeing in apparel and accessories right now. They also dive into how independent retailers can introduce apparel into their stores, create meaningful events, and use fashion to build stronger connections with their communities.   What's Inside:  How personal style can build confidence and encourage you to take more fashion risks.  Easy ways for gift and specialty retailers to introduce apparel and accessories into their stores.  How fashion shows, pop-ups, and in-store events can bring people together and build a stronger retail community. Instagram Facebook Support the show

This week's guest is Barbara Mooney, owner of Daisy’s Mercantile, a boutique filled with necessities, frivolities, and embellishments for everyday life, located in Alameda, California. Barbara has always used her creative gifts in her business endeavors, first as a caterer and event planner, then a baker, and now a shopkeeper. When she was bit by the entrepreneur bug, it allowed her love of numbers and behind-the-scenes action to work hand in hand with her talents to create what Daisy’s has become today, and she never looked back. Michelle & Barbara delve into Barbara’s jump from retail to catering, her merchandising & display style, separating work/home, and her future plans on transitioning from a brick & mortar into 100% online with online classes. Barbara is truly a creative force and this episode really showcases her many talents.  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/daisys_mercantile/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daisysmercantile    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/livinglikedaisy/_saved/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daisy-s-mercantile/?viewAsMember=true Support the show

In this solo episode, I answer questions from Misty Stachel of 85 Local about how I prepare for wholesale markets, build seasonal concepts, and make buying decisions that support my stores. I share the process I use before, during, and after market to stay organized and buy with intention.  In this episode, I walk through how I build concepts, use sales reports to guide my buying, avoid common purchasing mistakes, and plan each market trip to get the best results for my stores.  What's Inside:  How I build seasonal concepts before I buy  The reports I rely on to make smarter buying decisions  My step-by-step approach to planning a successful market trip Support the show

Michelle Sherrier is joined by co-host Susan Esayian and special guest Kate Kauffman, owner of Grease & Glitter Studio, for Part 2 of this special Shelf Talk Holiday Edition. Together, they continue the conversation with even more practical ideas for holiday merchandising, creative inspiration, and cost-effective displays that independent retailers can put into action before the busy season begins.  In this episode, Michelle, Susan, and Kate dive deeper into where great merchandising ideas come from, how to develop a holiday concept without overspending, and simple ways to create memorable displays on any budget. They also share their favorite inspiration sources, discuss budgeting with clients, and offer practical window and tabletop display ideas that retailers can start planning now before the holiday rush.  What's Inside:  Where to find holiday merchandising inspiration and develop a cohesive seasonal theme  How to budget wisely for displays and invest in props you'll use year after year  Budget-friendly window and tabletop display ideas that create a big impact Support the show

In this episode, Michelle, Susan, and Kate dive into holiday merchandising from every angle, from planning months in advance to creating displays that feel intentional instead of overwhelming. They share ideas for layering holiday throughout the season, building memorable customer experiences, using simple props on any budget, and why storytelling through merchandising matters more than ever for independent retailers. This is part one of their Holiday Edition conversation, with even more ideas coming next week.  What's Inside:  How to start planning holiday merchandising before the busy season begins  Budget-friendly display ideas that create a big visual impact  Why thoughtful merchandising and customer experience help independent retailers stand outSupport the show

Emily Brooker is the creative director and owner of Esme and Elodie, a women's and plus size boutique in Renton, Washington. Esme and Elodie is known for being size inclusive, sex positive and humor filled. Emily guides her vision of social entrepreneurship and the modern woman into a community focused retail space. In this episode, Emily shares how she built a thriving boutique by doing things differently. From creating an inclusive shopping experience and staying unapologetically authentic online to balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, she opens up about the realities of running a modern retail business and why putting people before sales has been the key to her success. What's Inside: Building an authentic, inclusive brand that customers genuinely connect withCreating thoughtful retail experiences that put people firstGrowing a successful business while balancing motherhood, leadership, and entrepreneurshipEsme & Elodie Website Instagram Tiktok Support the show

This week’s guest is Trudi Bartow, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. Trudi joined the gift world via the preeminent art book publisher Harry N. Abrams and created unique opportunities for sales at gift retailers like Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, Barneys and Sur La Table, including custom designer editions and exclusive bundles. After 15 years working with various publishers, she joined the fantastic team at the Unemployed Philosophers Guild as their Director of Sales and Marketing. Bringing her enthusiasm for the industry to this smart and funny gift creator she is helping the brand grow into new categories and expanding existing programs. Trudi is universally loved throughout the gift industry and after listening to this interview, we’re sure you will walk away feeling the same! Unemployed Philosophers Guild Instagram Main Street Books Support the show

Fresh off multiple Dallas Market setups and heading into Las Vegas Market, Michelle shares what's working, what's changing, and how she's rethinking her buying strategy for the season ahead. In this episode, Michelle reflects on her recent projects, including the Levant showroom and a unique merchandising project for The Brit outdoor venue. She also shares why she's dialing back assortments, embracing branded merchandise opportunities, and taking a more intentional approach to buying at market. From avoiding over-assortment to creating scarcity and keeping inventory fresh, this episode is packed with practical insights for retailers preparing for their next buying season. What's Inside: Lessons learned from Dallas Market and the Levant projectHow branded merchandise can create new revenue opportunitiesWhy Michelle is changing her buying strategy to avoid over-assortmentSupport the show