290. 7 Things to Focus on in 2026 If You Want a Retail Business That Lasts

With host retail coach Wendy Batten https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/ In This Episode: You know that shop down the street that always seems to be doing well? The one that looks calm, confident, and steady while everyone else feels frantic? In this Season 6 kickoff episode of Creative Shop Talk, I'm pulling back the curtain on what's actually happening behind the scenes and sharing my 7 predictions for what independent retailers need to focus on in 2026 if they want a business that lasts. This episode is not about doing more. It's about focusing on what matters. We're talking about building a brand that means something, understanding profit instead of just chasing sales, making smarter inventory decisions, designing intentional customer experiences, building systems that don't rely on you, stepping fully into your CEO role, and defining success in a way that includes your life, not just your revenue. If you're an established shop owner who wants sustainability, clarity, and momentum going into 2026, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters. Key Takeaways A real brand is built on trust, standards, and consistency, not just visuals. Sales don't equal profit. You need clarity on what actually drives profit. The strongest decisions come from a blend of intuition, experience, and data. Inventory is working capital, not decor. You're not competing with Amazon. You're competing with indifference. If your business can't function without you, you've built a job, not a company. CEO-level leadership brings calm, clarity, and direction. A successful business that costs you your life is not success. 7 Focus Areas in Your Retail Biz in 2026: 1. Build a brand that actually means something. Your brand is the promise you keep. Standards, consistency, and trust matter more than aesthetics. 2. Get real profit clarity. Revenue can look impressive while profit quietly disappears. Understand margins and true profit drivers. 3. Treat inventory like the asset it is. Inventory is cash tied up on your shelves. Buy intentionally and review performance regularly. 4. Design the customer experience on purpose. Experience is strategy. Every touchpoint should be intentional. 5. Build systems that don't rely on you. If everything funnels through you, growth stalls. Systems create leverage. 6. Step fully into your CEO role. CEO leadership means direction, standards, and decision-making, not people-pleasing. 7. Define success in a way that includes your life. Start with the life you want, then build the business to support it. "Your business should support your life. That's not indulgent. It's intelligent." -Wendy Batten Related podcasts we think you'll like: Episode 118: How To Create Loyalty and Amazing Customer Experiences with Guest Expert & Author: Shep Hyken Episode 243: Behind the Counter: Creating Customer Joy in Retail with Kim Williams of The Polka Dot Press Episode 274: Is Your Customer Journey Map Working? Audit it Now! About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met you…I'm Wendy Batten. I've been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years, and I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I've been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose. For more support from Wendy Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG All of Wendy's current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes! Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your 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! Tha