#IndependentRetail hashtag - Bluesky

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

IndERA’s New Owners: The Intelligence Layer Your Store is Missing Independent retailers are facing a "perfect storm" of margin pressure, traffic shifts, and AI disruption. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, host Crystal Vilkaitis sits down with the new owners of IndERA: Patricia Norins and Michael Brielmann to discuss how store owners can level the playing field. From the untold origin story of Small Business Saturday to using ChatGPT for lease audits, this episode is a masterclass in modern retail resilience. Learn why "experience" is your best marketing tool and how the new "Intelligence Layer" at IndERA will help independent stores leverage big-brand data to win. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: 00:00 Intro 01:28 The Story Behind the Acquisition 02:15 Patricia Norins: 4th Gen Retailer & Amex Spokesperson 04:24 Michael Brielmann: From Lemonade Stands to 77 Stores 06:44 Closing the Data Gap for Independent Retailers 08:35 The Skeptical Origin of Small Business Saturday 11:43 What Successful Retailers Are Doing Right (The Framework) 14:03 🤖 AI LEASE HACK: How to Save Thousands in Rent 17:23 The Next Big Shift: Predictive Intelligence in Retail 19:33 Marketing Consistency vs. Occasional Promotions 22:14 The One Discipline That Never Goes Out of Style 24:59 Why "Leveling the Playing Field" is the New Mission 29:10 Resilience Round 35:45 Connect with Patricia and Michael 36:52 Join Us at the Retail Success Summit in June 38:06 Outro Links: *IndERA (Formerly Crystal Media) - https://www.indera.co/ *Blue Butterfly - https://www.bluebutterflyllc.com/ *American Express Small Business Saturday - https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/ *Get Listed (IndERA Service) - https://www.indera.co/c/get-listed-introduction *ICSC - https://icsc.un.org/ *All Things Retail Real Estate with Patricia Norins of Blue Butterfly - https://youtu.be/IkOJ7XX48H0 *Walking Through The Fire with Patricia Norins - https://youtu.be/KqZD5Rwz5yI Join IndERA - Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt Book a Call with IndERA - https://indera.co This conversation is part of a special Pro-only coaching call, the type members usually access inside IndERA Pro. Want more deep-dive sessions like this? Use code HOLIDAY to save $503 on your yearly Pro membership. You’ll get instant access to every 2025 replay and can start saving the dates for all 2026 coaching calls! - Getting value from Rooted in Retail? Then you’ll love IndERA - the Independent Retailers Association, built from the same mission: to support, connect, and champion indie store owners. - Join for just $25/month or get found this holiday season when you join IndERA Pro to unlock access to your Get Listed done-for-you online listing management. Save $503 with the code HOLIDAY, and lock in that rate forever. JoinIndERA.com Get more traffic, more sales, and less stress. Our Facebook Ads Management service was built for independent retailers like you: https://www.indera.co/facebook-ads-management Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail Join our weekly newsletter at https://rootedinretail.com/newsletter/ Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

IndERA’s New Owners: The Intelligence Layer Your Store is Missing: Independent retailers are facing a "perfect storm" of margin pressure, traffic shifts, and AI disruption. In this episode of Rooted in… #RetailResilience #IndependentRetail #AIinRetail #SmallBusinessSaturday #ChatGPT

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

2 months ago

2026 Retail Trends Every Independent Store Must Know Kick off 2026 with the retail trend forecast you actually need. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, Crystal Vilkaitis sits down with Anjarae Hamilton, Head of Retailer Sales and Account Management at Faire, to break down the highly anticipated 2026 Faire Forecast and what it means for independent retailers. This year’s forecast is all about self-expression, and Anjarae shares the four biggest consumer trends shaping what shoppers are buying right now. From the rise of “Well-Read” retreats to bold maximalist prints and the surge in “Witching Hour” products, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for what to stock, how to market it, and how to stay profitable even in an uncertain economy. You’ll also learn how top retailers are adjusting their buying strategy, testing smarter inventory, and using AI-powered search tools to move faster and sell more. If you want to stay ahead of trends and make better buying decisions in 2026, this episode is a must-watch. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: 00:00 Introduction 02:18 Meet Anjarae Hamilton from Faire 04:39 The 2026 Faire Forecast Overview 05:22 Trend 1: "Well Read" & The Book Club Era 05:52 Trend 2: "FanFair" (Sports & Olympics) 07:08 Trend 3: "More is More" (Maximalism Returns) 07:54 Trend 4: "Witching Hour" (Tarot & Astrology) 10:07 How to Create Experiences Around Trends 13:05 IndERA Commercial 14:34 Navigating 2026 Economic Challenges 15:35 Strategy: High Frequency vs. Bulk Buying 16:40 Saving on Tariffs & Shipping Costs 18:37 AI & Natural Language Search on Faire 19:42 Search Demo: "Utah Hardware Store" 22:43 New Feature: Multi-Brand Order Bundling 23:33 Explained: Faire Direct (0% Commission) 25:35 Resilience Round 29:17 How to connect with Anjarae 29:52 Outro Links: Explore Faire - https://www.faire.com/ Read the 2026 Faire Forecast - https://www.google.com/search?q=http://fair.com/forecast Join the Independent Retailers Association (IndERA) - https://www.joinindera.com/ Connect with Anjarae Hamilton on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjarae/ Ari Lowenstein: 7 Product Categories Retailers Need - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j_BerLyE0I Join IndERA - Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt Book a Call with IndERA - https://indera.co This conversation is part of a special Pro-only coaching call, the type members usually access inside IndERA Pro. Want more deep-dive sessions like this? Use code HOLIDAY to save $503 on your yearly Pro membership. You’ll get instant access to every 2025 replay and can start saving the dates for all 2026 coaching calls! - Getting value from Rooted in Retail? Then you’ll love IndERA - the Independent Retailers Association, built from the same mission: to support, connect, and champion indie store owners. - Join for just $25/month or get found this holiday season when you join IndERA Pro to unlock access to your Get Listed done-for-you online listing management. Save $503 with the code HOLIDAY, and lock in that rate forever. JoinIndERA.com Get more traffic, more sales, and less stress. Our Facebook Ads Management service was built for independent retailers like you: https://www.indera.co/facebook-ads-management Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail Join our weekly newsletter at https://rootedinretail.com/newsletter/ Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

2026 Retail Trends Every Independent Store Must Know: Kick off 2026 with the retail trend forecast you actually need. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, Crystal Vilkaitis sits down with Anjarae Hamilton, Head of… #RetailTrends #IndependentRetail #2026Forecast #ConsumerTrends #RetailStrategy

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

3 months ago

And the winner of our independents Christmas windows competition 2025 is…

Drapers is delighted to announce the winner of our 2025 independents Christmas windows competition is Frontiers Woman in Edinburgh.

#independentretail #Christmaswindows #merchandising #fashionretail #FrontiersWoman

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

3 months ago

And the winner of our independents Christmas windows competition 2025 is…

Drapers is delighted to announce the winner of our 2025 independents Christmas windows competition is Frontiers Woman in Edinburgh.

#independentretail #independentfashionretail #Christmaswindows #merchandising #fashionretail #visualmerchandising #FrontiersWoman #FrontiersMan

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*NormalGamer*

@ng480.bsky.social

5 months ago

Bitcoin Depot and IGA team up to bring Bitcoin access to neighborhood grocery stores Distribution deal grows U.S. retail footprint.

Bitcoin Depot and IGA team up to bring #Bitcoin access to neighborhood grocery stores massmarketretailers.com/bitcoin-depo... #bitcoinfixesthis #bitcoinishope #bitcoinisnotcrypto #bitcoinadoption #bitcoinnotcrypto #digitalcurrency #decentralization #decentralizedmoney #important #independentretail

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

5 months ago

Etsy promotes former Depop boss to CEO

Etsy has promoted president and chief growth officer, and former Depop chief executive, Kruti Patel Goyal, to the role of CEO, with effect from 1 January 2026.

#Etsy #Depop #peoplemoves #fashionretailpeoplemoves #independentretail #fashionretailnews

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Vinetur Global

@vineturglobal.bsky.social

5 months ago

Liquor Stores Using New Tech Report Six-Figure Profit Gains and Save Up to 50 Hours Monthly Specialized software helps independent retailers streamline operations, boost margins, and adapt to shifting consumer trends in $250 billion industry

Liquor Stores Using New Tech Report Six-Figure Profit Gains and Save Up to 50 Hours Monthly #LiquorStores #RetailTech #ProfitGains #SoftwareSolutions #IndependentRetail

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

6 months ago

Irregular Choice announces closure after 26 years

Footwear brand Irregular Choice has announced it is closing its doors after 26 years in business.

#IrregularChoice #footwear #independentretail #fashionreteailnews

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

7 months ago

Aberdeen indie Attic Clothing closes

Aberdeen-based young fashion independent Attic Clothing today (13 August) announced the decision to cease trading after 24 years.

For more details, click the link below.

#independentretail

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

8 months ago

Editor’s comment: Independents- it’s time to have your say

At Drapers, we are proud to support the #independent sector, and we want to hear about the issues that matter to you and your business.

Read more from Drapers editor Jill Geoghegan below, to find out how to get your voice heard.

#fashion #fashionnews #retailnews #independentretail #editorscomment

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Drapers

@drapersonline.bsky.social

8 months ago

Editor’s comment: Independents- it’s time to have your say

Independent retailers across the UK and Ireland- Drapers wants to hear from you. #fashion #fashionnews #retailnews #independentretail

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

9 months ago

Facebook Log In Forgot Account? Rooted in Retail's Post Rooted in Retail 3m · Retail feels like a roller coaster lately? You're not alone—and you don’t have to ride it solo anymore. In this bonus episode of Rooted in Retail, we’re pulling back the curtain on IndERA—the Independent #retailishardbutworthit It's where modern store owners grow smarter, stronger, and more supported than ever before. Done-for-you tools Pro-level education Real community that gets retail Access to top experts All in one place Before you join, listen to our bonus episode + learn how to get off the hamster wheel and into the independent era of retail: https://rootedinretail.com/.../not-just-another.../ #RootedInRetail #IndERA #IndependentRetailers #RetailSupport #RetailCommunity #RetailGrowth Like Comment

🎢 Retail feels like a roller coaster lately?
You're not alone—and you don’t have to ride it solo anymore.

In this bonus episode of Rooted in Retail, we’re pulling back the curtain on IndERA—the Independent… #Retail #IndependentRetail #RetailSupport #RetailCommunity #RetailGrowth

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

9 months ago

Facebook Crystal, your passion for helping small businesses thrive is the heartbeat behind everything we do. Whether you’re behind the mic on Rooted in Retail, speaking on stage, or connecting with store owners and their team inside Independent Retailers Association, you bring unmatched energy, authenticity, and heart to this industry. From launching IndERA and rallying indie retailers together, to nearly 100K podcast downloads and 200 episodes of retail truth-telling, you’re making serious waves. You’re not just leading a business, you’re creating a movement. Thank you for believing so fiercely in the power of local retail. We’re lucky to have your vision, your voice, and your spark lighting the way.

Happy 40th Birthday, Crystal Vilkaitis! 🌟

Today, we’re celebrating a true champion of independent retail - our founder and fearless leader, Crystal Vilkaitis! 🎉

Crystal, your passion for helping small… #HappyBirthday #IndependentRetail #RetailChampion #SupportSmallBusiness #RetailCommunity

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

9 months ago

- YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Community, Collaboration, and the Evolution of Independent Retail #Community #Collaboration #IndependentRetail #RetailEvolution #SmallBusiness

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

11 months ago

Rooted in Retail ✨ New episode drop! Rooted in Retail Retail Therapy Session is diving into building a team that lifts you up, not weighs you down. Crystal Vilkaitis and Kareen Walsh are sitting down with Katie...

✨ New episode drop! Rooted in Retail Retail Therapy Session is diving into building a team that lifts you up, not weighs you down.

Crystal Vilkaitis and Kareen Walsh are sitting down with Katie Dhuey of Affordable… #IndependentRetail #RetailLeadership #TeamBuilding #BrickAndMortar #RetailTherapy

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Bruce Winder

@brucewinder.bsky.social

11 months ago

NEW - Retail vs AI | Addressing Food Insecurity | Carney’s Gun Buyback Promise - Shane Hewitt and The Night Shift | iHeart <p><strong>Retail Analyst Bruce Winder </strong>joins Shane Hewitt to discuss the current state of retail and explores several key themes. A proposed initiative to remove taxes from secondhand goods i...

Interviewed on Newstalk 1010 regarding retail trends including the second hand market #retail #secondhand #fashion #independentretail #smallbusiness #buylocal
www.iheart.com/podcast/962-...

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

1 year ago

Rooted in Retail 🌱 Think LinkedIn is just for the corporate crowd? Think again. Independent retailers need to be showing up there, too. In Episode 169 of Rooted in Retail: After the Show, Crystal Vilkaitis dives...

🌱 Think LinkedIn is just for the corporate crowd? Think again. Independent retailers need to be showing up there, too.

In Episode 169 of Rooted in Retail: After the Show, Crystal Vilkaitis dives into how LinkedIn can be a… #RetailMarketing #LinkedInTips #IndependentRetail #ShopLocal #RetailStrategy

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RC Cooling

@rc-cooling.bsky.social

1 year ago

Reliable Air Conditioning – Essential for Retailers & Restaurants - RC Cooling - Air Conditioning Installation & Servicing Successful retailers and restaurants know that customer experience is everything. Whether you run a high-street boutique in Surrey, a bustling coffee shop, or a fine-dining restaurant in South London,...

Customers notice when it's too hot or too cold!

Learn all about the impacts of air conditioning in retail shops and restaurants...

rc-commercial.co.uk/reliable-air...

#RetailBusiness #IndependentRetail #CoffeeShops #Restaurant #RestaurantBusiness #Surrey #London #AirConExperts

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Rooted in Retail

@rootedinretail.bsky.social

1 year ago

In this episode, Christyne Gray and Crystal Vilkaitis dive into a truth many independent retailers overlook—you’re more valuable than you think! ✨

💡 It’s time to own your value and build a more… http://dlvr.it/TJ0SN7 #RetailTips #EntrepreneurMindset #IndependentRetail #BusinessGrowth #ValueYourself

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