Liz Ferreira’s mom Beth started floral and gift shop Sweetbay out of her home when her two children were small. Over the years, her business has taken her to several brick-and-mortar shops, retail cooperatives and studio design. Her creative vision is the backbone of Sweetbay, as her merchandising inspires clients and shoppers across the Massachusetts north shore. Liz joined forces with her mom after the birth of her second child. Not only was she raised in the school of Sweetbay, she brings many years of retail and customer service management to the shop. Liz loves collaboration with other creatives as well as working with clients to bring their visions to life. She looks forward to bringing in the next generation of Sweetbay clientele through exciting workshops, networking, and encouraging new trends in buying. Community is the heart of the Sweetbay business. Both graduates of Wakefield High School and lifelong Wakefieldians, Liz and Beth, are passionate about owning and operating their business in their hometown. Here, Liz shares her journey from working for one of Boston’s premier floral design and event companies to working alongside mom at Sweetbay. She shares the experiences that shaped her customer service philosophy and how she selects products for their retail space. Liz also talks about incorporating vintage pieces into her inventory, how she lures shoppers onto the second floor of her space, her strategy for buying at shows, and more. What’s Inside: Liz’s career journey and what led her to Sweetbay How Liz incorporates vintage into her merchandise Liz’s strategy for buying at shows Mentioned In This Episode: The Sweetbay Shop on Instagram The Sweetbay Shop on Facebook…

Ronald Carter likes to think of creative styling as an art form: a masterpiece, carefully crafted by imagination and passion. He fell into his career by accident as a struggling actor in need of a side hustle. Ronald was living in Seattle at the time and recalls asking a friend if she knew of anyone who was hiring, and she kindly suggested checking out Eddie Bauer. From there, his retail career took off. At Eddie Bauer, Ronald started as a greeter, and in the three years that followed, he worked his way up to designing floor plans for the corporate office and training new visual managers. He then went on to work for Nordstrom, Anthropologie and Porch. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Susan Esayian has been working in the gift industry professionally for 26 years in a variety of roles. From merchandising Kitchen-Aid mixers to buying fine tableware and even carrying a four-poster bed up a mountainside for a catalog photoshoot, Susan has done it all…and that was just in the first 10 years! Since then, Susan’s kept herself immersed in the gift industry as a buyer for a hospital gift shop and merchandiser for several wholesale showrooms and retailers. For Susan, retail isn’t just a job; it’s a career that she’s inspired by and passionate about more every day. Jessica Young has been in retail since 1993. She started out working at The Gap in college, met Michelle at Anthropologie around 20 years ago, and the rest is history. From LA to Atlanta and to Vegas, Jessica has collaborated on tons of different projects. Coming to work on the CMA project with everyone was truly a full-circle moment for Jessica. Dave Sherrier, my super supportive husband, started out in retail when he was a kid but ventured off into construction. Fast forward to today; Dave works most of our gift show setups and wholesale show rooms and does a lot of the buildouts for the retailers we work with, such as Sales Producers, Fine Lines, CMA and many more. In this recap episode, the merchandising team dives into the creative side of the CMA show, including the process and how everything came together. The CMA project came up late in the season in October, and everyone brought along their expertise as strong merchandisers to pull it all off. The group discusses the details of the displays, all the moving parts, twists and turns, and reflections on the completed project. This episode is sponsored by CMA. CMA is a leading professional sales representation group operating throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, and Alaska. CMA understands the retail world is constantly evolving and welcomes changing trends as opportunities to bring new and exciting products, as well as tried-and-true best sellers, to retailers and their shoppers. Their professional and knowledgeable sales team confidently navigates the complexities of the gift industry to drive success for their vendors, retailers, and their business. Visit their website at CMAGifts.com . What’s Inside: A recap on the creative side of the CMA project Mentioned In This Episode: Ronald Carter on Instagram Jessica Young on Instagram Rue Patois on Instagram Ruepatois.com CMAGifts.com…

Many of you were interested in hearing about how the CMA job came to be, my planning process, and how everything turned out. This week, I’m recapping it all here on the podcast! Starting from the beginning, I talk about how Emily Hoffman (VP of Sales for CMA) reached out to me for some rework projects, then get into the challenges we faced, all the unique design elements, and how it ultimately came together. If you want to check out some of the maps we used, make sure to watch this episode on YouTube. Also, stay tuned for an upcoming episode where the team and I breakdown more of the juicy details of this incredible project! What’s Inside: A recap of the CMA project Mentioned In This Episode: MC Design Collaboration on Instagram The Retail Whore Podcast on Instagram…

Larisa Olson grew up in Chicago, the daughter of an entrepreneur who purchased a failing framing and furniture business and revitalized it. After many crazy adventures, Larisa studied set and costume design in the UCLA master’s program. Over the years, she also spent much time immersed in her father's framing showroom as the showroom coordinator (she had to organize a very chaotic business!) Years later, after more adventures, including some time in real estate, her father encouraged her to purchase a business: Chantilly Lace, a tiny rundown lingerie shop in the middle of one percent, white bread America. She has since revamped the business and turned it into one of this country’s lingerie powerhouses. Chantilly Lace is estimated to be one of the top five largest lingerie and swim shops in the nation. Here, Larisa tells the amazing story of how she brought Chantilly Lace from its humble beginnings to monumental retail success. She shares how the store evolved over the years, from window displays to major renovations, and how she broke the rules of retail. Larisa also shares her customer service strategies for driving more lingerie and swim sales, how she flipped the script on merchandising, details of her customer newsletter and employee referral program, and more. What’s Inside: How Larisa transformed Chantilly Lace and grew a lingerie empire Larisa’s unique customer service strategy How Larisa flipped the script on lingerie and swim merchandising Mentioned In This Episode: Chantilly Lace on Instagram Chantillyfavorites.com…

Jason Soejoto is the National Account Manager for Specialty and Independent Business at Duke Cannon Supply Company. Duke Cannon is a one-stop shop for premium men’s grooming goods, and the brand occupies a really unique space within the gifts industry. Hailing from a simpler time, Duke Cannon values things like hard work, family, community, and... bacon! Prior to joining Duke Cannon, Jason was a bit of a jack of all trades, but he’s always remained in the retail and customer service world. He’s done everything from account management, inside sales, and e-commerce management all the way down to retail store management and in-store execution. Jason also has a strong background in merchandising. If it happens within four walls and involves somebody buying something, chances are he’s done something similar. Here, Jason discusses how he started his career in retail and went from working at a local record store and playing guitar on the side to the twists and turns that led him to Duke Cannon. He shares insights into selling to male consumers and keeping them hooked; the dad jokes behind Duke Cannon’s merchandise; how the product line is evolving; and how Duke Cannon gives back to America’s veterans. What’s Inside: Stories from Jason’s career journey Duke Cannon’s unique approach to men’s grooming goods How Duke Cannon gives back to veterans Mentioned In This Episode: Duke Cannon Supply Co on Instagram Duke Cannon Supply Co on Facebook dukecannon.com…

Sam Chapman started his career as a hairdresser, working for some of the biggest names in the UK. Eventually, he decided it was time to work for himself and opened his own salon. He got a crash course in running a business and learned how to stand out in front of the right customers and encourage them to come back. At one point, Sam’s business was failing to the point where he was on the brink of losing his home. It was in that moment that he decided to invest in a mentor. His mentor helped him break down his business and build it back up with the correct systems and processes he needed to succeed. Sam was also able to discover how profitable products could be and started up his very own line. Once he finally attracted a solid customer base, he began working on how to give them bigger and better results. Within two years, Sam went from drowning in debt to opening an online shop and bringing in over $600K! Today, Sam’s drive to help others comes from not wanting anyone to feel how he did at his lowest. As a product-based business coach, his specialty is helping clients build their brand, attract their perfect customer base, and turn them into raving fans. His signature four-pillar method has helped many small businesses double their income in just a few short months. Here, Sam shares stories from his exciting career journey from hairdresser to salon owner to starting his own product line. He dives into how he works with clients and shares his valuable wisdom on his podcast. Sam also talks about tackling imposter syndrome, how to use social media to connect with customers, and what it’s like to work with Sam as a coach. MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy! What’s Inside: How Sam started up his own product line How Sam helps clients through his product-based business coaching How to connect with customers through social media Mentioned In This Episode: https://www.samuelchapman.com Sam Chapman on Instagram Sam Chapman on YouTube…

I can’t believe we’ve already said goodbye to 2024! I like to do solo shows this time of year because it gives me a chance to take a look back at all that happened and also to talk about what I’m looking forward to as we move ahead. If you’ve been following along, this past year was full of challenges, from saying goodbye to our puggle to moving all the way to Oregon. Thankfully, things are slowing down, and it’s the perfect time to share last year’s crazy highs and lows and what I’m working on bringing to life in 2025! MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy! What’s Inside: Reflections on 2024 and a look ahead to what’s in store for 2025 Mentioned In This Episode: The Retail Whore Podcast…

Hailing from North Dakota, where her nearest shopping opportunity was over 300 miles away, Ashley Alderson longed for a place online to find and shop the boutiques she loved all over the country, together in one place. "There must be a place for shoppers like me who love boutiques to find them all—and a place where boutique owners themselves can connect to find resources & grow," Ashley thought. Ashley’s background in business, marketing, and economic development fueled the desire to simply make life easier for small businesses by providing them with training, exclusive savings, events, and wholesale shopping in one simple place. And all in the name of COMMUNITY over COMPETITION since 2013. Today, The Boutique Hub & Shop The Best Boutiques are the central connection point for the retail industry, providing a daily membership packed with resources, live events, signature courses, wholesale shopping, daily networking and a consumer-facing marketplace for boutiques. Ashley is a wife, busy momma of 3, jewelry junkie, barrel racer, cancer survivor, basketball fan, speaker of sarcasm, and heart for those with a dream. Just this year, The Boutique Hub launched Hubventory, a wholesale marketplace built by the boutique industry for the boutique industry with curated & trusted brands, creative inventory planning, smart integrations and membership perks. Here, Ashley shares how she built her career out of humble beginnings in North Dakota and what inspired her to create The Boutique Hub. She dives into the reasons why she values community over competition and how it’s helped her grow and expand over the years. Ashley also shares all the details of her subscription model, her signature planner, the magic of her live events, and much more! MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy! What’s Inside: The story behind The Boutique Hub’s creation Why Ashley values community over competition What it’s like at one of Ashley’s live events Mentioned In This Episode: The Boutique Hub Website The Boutique Hub on Instagram The Boutique Hub on Facebook The Boutique Hub on YouTube Hubventory Website…

Annie Glenn (AKA Urban Girl Annie) started her company, LG Retail Enterprises, back in 1994 and she’s been doing retail ever since. Although she majored in literature in college, Annie’s known she wanted to own her own business from the age of 10. With no prior background in retail, she credits her business success to having great instincts and a lack of fear. Today, she’s a proud entrepreneur and a mom to two amazing boys, Jack and Cooper. Her hope is that her stores, including Urban Girl Accessories, bring joy and happiness to whoever walks through the doors. Here, Annie talks about what it’s like to own and operate 10 different retail stores and the new projects she’s working on. Annie discusses how she works with different merchants and how she copes with stress through her unique way of recharging: lizarding! Annie also shares how she found a silver lining during COVID, the different concepts in her stores, how she keeps staff motivated, and her philosophy on merchandising. This week’s episode is sponsored by @salesproducersinc, a progressive business to business company representing Gift, Lifestyle, Fashion, Personal Care, & Kids lines selling to retail stores with a mission to create long lasting, profitable relationships by adding significant value to our Customer, Vendor, and Team partners. For more information, check out their social media or website www.salesproducersinc.com What’s Inside: How Annie finds balance in running 10 different retail stores The silver lining Annie found during COVID Annie’s merchandising philosophy Mentioned In This Episode: Urban Girl Accessories on Instagram https://urbangirlaccessories.com/…

Retail icon Iris Fuller opened her store, Fillamento, back in April 1981 and led the Fillmore District neighborhood renaissance in the San Francisco area. In its heyday, Fillamento was three floors at Fillmore and Sacramento and was filled to the brim with furniture, glassware, linens, bath items and eclectic gifts from the whimsical to the practical. After 20 glorious years of business, Fillamento closed permanently in 2001. Here, Iris talks about the early days of Fillamento and how taking on samples and consignment later evolved into curating her unique brand. Iris shares all the details of how she created her store layout and her strategy for changing around displays and merchandising. Iris also shares where she finds inspiration, how Fillamento grew and changed over the years, how her mentorship shaped so many others in retail, and a special guest appearance by Nathan of Nathan & Co.! This week’s episode is sponsored by Fine Lines, a west coast wholesale rep agency with showrooms in Las Vegas and Seattle representing over 50 fabulous gifts, fashion + home lines. What’s Inside: How Iris started and grew her iconic store, Fillamento How Iris developed her signature brand How Iris’ mentorship influenced so many in retail Mentioned In This Episode: Iris Fuller on Instagram…

Mary Liz Curtin is passionate about independent retail. Her knowledge of all aspects of the gift, craft and home industries gives her a unique point of view, encompassing the needs of retailers, vendors and sales representatives. She is also a heck of a retail shopper and loves to crawl malls, discover downtowns and walk through the Web to find ideas and inspirations for her presentations. With over 35 years of hands-on experience in the gift and home industries, Mary Liz is an internationally acknowledged expert in independent retail and has advised numerous manufacturers on marketing, sales and management issues with her unique brand of Sales and Marketing Therapy. Mary Liz is a humorous and engaging speaker, delighting audiences internationally at trade shows, sales meetings and conventions with her stories of how to build and market a brand, run a better business and maintain a mom-and-pop retail store without losing your sanity...or your marriage. Here, Mary Liz shares her retail story and what led her to start Leon and Lulu, a 15,000 square foot destination lifestyle store located just outside of Detroit in a vintage roller-skating rink. She dives into everything from the store’s unique installations to how the family is involved in the business. Mary Liz also shares her merchandising process, how she tackles shows with her team, where she finds inspiration, and more. MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy! What’s Inside: How Mary Liz started her store, Leon and Lulu Mary Liz’s approach to merchandising and shows Where Mary Liz finds inspiration Mentioned In This Episode: Leonandlulu.com Leon and Lulu on Instagram…

Root Adorned is the brainchild/dream project of Erin Hasler. Erin's love for beautiful treasures began most likely at birth (maybe in the womb?) and has grown ever since. A self-described magpie, easily distracted by anything that sparkles; Erin continues to fill her own home with rugs, plants, pottery and dogs. Her philosophy being that you can never have enough of any of the above. Born and raised in Bend, Oregon, Erin is honored to bring her unique perspective to the community that she so dearly loves. After facing breast cancer as a young mother and wife, Erin discovered a new zest for life. She sold her hand-crafted jewelry line and sought out a new career that would enable her to travel the world, support artisans, and connect to the community. It was from this dream that Root Adorned was born. Erin is a firm believer that life is short and you shouldn't waste a moment of our precious time on Earth. Erin starts the conversation with the story of her background and what led her to create Root Adorned. She shares how her breast cancer diagnosis changed her life and how she got her jewelry line into stores. Erin also shares what it was like opening her retail shop, details about the products she sells in store, where she finds creators, and her plans for the holiday season. This week’s episode is sponsored by @salesproducersinc, a progressive business to business company representing Gift, Lifestyle, Fashion, Personal Care, & Kids lines selling to retail stores with a mission to create long lasting, profitable relationships by adding significant value to our Customer, Vendor, and Team partners. For more information, check out their social media or website www.salesproducersinc.com What’s Inside: The story behind Root Adorned How Erin got her jewelry line into stores Erin’s experience of opening her retail shop Mentioned In This Episode: Rootadorned.com Root Adorned on Instagram Root Adorned on Facebook…

Based in Seattle, Andrew Fegler is the brains and beauty behind That’s So Andrew, the sassy gift brand for the girls, gays, and theys. He’s been sailing the entrepreneurial seas for over a decade and has gone from manufacturing, to having a brick & mortar, to creating an exclusive wholesale brand. Now, Andrew’s full circling BACK to open the doors of a POP-UP gift shop! Andrew shares his recent experience during the recent show season, including his dad getting to come along for the ride. Andrew’s brand is all things snarky and unique, and he dives into some of his new product releases and ideas. He also shares his strategy for sharing his brand on social media, plans for his pop-up Christmas shop and the holiday season, and more. This episode is sponsored by Patrick & Company, a wholesale sales agency proudly representing nationally and internationally branded companies. Located in the Dallas Market Center, for over 30 years they have been the go-to source for retailers helping to discover those unique, sought-after, and stylish brands. What’s Inside: Andrew’s show season experiences How Andrew shares his brand on social media Andrew’s plans for his Christmas pop-up shop Mentioned In This Episode: That’s So Andrew Website That’s So Andrew on Instagram…

Mary Bligh and Jessica Giancotti are lifelong friends and passionate designers with over 20 years of combined experience. They founded Lily & Marigold Home + Design on a shared belief: women can thrive in their careers, embrace motherhood, and create beautiful, functional spaces that truly feel like home. At Lily & Marigold, Mary and Jessica believe a beautiful home should be accessible to everyone. Their first brick-and-mortar store is located in Eastdale Village in Poughkeepsie, NY, where they offer a curated selection of home décor accessories. From candles, pillows, and throws to kitchen essentials and lighting, their unique products are designed to transform your home into a place for gathering, celebrating, resting, and recharging—all without breaking the bank. In addition to retail offerings, Mary and Jessica provide comprehensive interior design services for both residential and commercial spaces. They see design as a collaborative journey and work closely with each client to create spaces that are both distinctive and meaningful. As people’s needs at home continue to evolve, they design with these shifts in mind, ensuring that each space is as adaptable as it is stunning. Here, Mary and Jessica share how their friendship and career experiences ultimately led them to start Lily & Marigold. They share how the business has expanded since they started and how they incorporate storytelling into their displays. Mary and Jessica also talk about how they developed their store layout, how they manage their busy schedules and find balance, and how they’re approaching the upcoming holiday season. This week’s episode is sponsored by Fine Lines, a west coast wholesale rep agency with showrooms in Las Vegas and Seattle representing over 50 fabulous gifts, fashion + home lines. What’s Inside: How Mary and Jessica started Lily & Marigold How Lily & Marigold has evolved over the years Mary and Jessica’s approach to the upcoming holiday season Mentioned In This Episode: Lily and Marigold Home Lily & Marigold Home on TikTok Lily & Marigold Home on Instagram…

In this solo show, Michelle recaps her 40th high school reunion and what it was like to geek out over retail with her former classmates… without her old insecurities. She catches everyone up on what’s been going on since the move to Oregon and living life at a much slower pace. Michelle chats about burnout and why it’s important to recharge to stay creative, store standards and your role as a merchandiser, and what things look like for the future at MC Design Collaboration. This episode is sponsored by Show Me Your Store. Show Me Your Stores is a program I started about a year ago where you send me photos and videos of something in your store that's a challenge. If you comment “Show Me Your Store” on any of MC Design Collaboration videos or posts on Instagram, you will get an auto-response form that you can fill out and upload photos and videos, and let me know what your challenges are. I'll do the video, and I am adding in a free 15-minute Zoom call with you after. You can either take my advice, do the shifts and the moves, and show me what you did for some feedback, or you can use this time to ask me additional questions or whatever you want that will hopefully help you get to your goal. Again, comment Show Me Your Store on any of MC Design Collaboration Instagram posts, and you will get the form. Send it in, and I will see you on the video. What’s Inside: Michelle’s experience at her high school reunion How to manage store standards and what your role should be as a merchandiser Future plans for MC Design Collaboration and Show Me Your Stores Mentioned In This Episode: The Retail Whore Podcast…