Best Michelle Sherrier Podcasts (2025)

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EP 218: WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A BOOMING LIFESTYLE BRAND WITH LACI HEWETT 1:20:05

9h ago1:20:05

1:20:05

Laci Hewett is the founder and CEO of Saltwater Boys Company, a premium coastal-inspired boys’ clothing brand based on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. What started as one crab tee sold in a Facebook mom group has grown into a thriving lifestyle brand carried by hundreds of boutiques, Ron Jon Surf Shop, and two flagship retail stores. In this episode,…

1
EP 217: REVIVING SMALL TOWNS THROUGH RETAIL & ARTISTRY WITH LANNA TRANTHAM & JANET CALHOUN 1:24:51

4h ago1:24:51

1:24:51

Lana Trantham runs Grace and Grit, a small-town emporium-style business selling unique kitchen and bath goods, organic pantry staples and handmade personal-care items. Lana learned retail and pottery merchandising from her mother while homeschooling four children; she now helps local makers sell through booth-style retail and community events. Jane…

1
EP 216: REPLAY: OWNER/FOUNDER OF SERGE + JANE - JAMIE CARL 1:34:28

7d ago1:34:28

1:34:28

S+J is a Lifestyle Boutique featuring Men's, Women's, Kids, Pets, Vinyl, Home + Gifts in our 3 story shop, (4 including their open-air rooftop where they host fashion shows, trunk shows, pop-ups + always a DJ + dance party)! Jamie spent the first 15 years of her career in Retail at Target Corporation. She started there in Merchandising in Girls Toy…

1
EP 215: TURNING VINTAGE INTO VISION WITH JULIE SCHWARZ 1:09:32

24d ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Julie Schwarz is an East Coast native with over 30 years of experience in the service and retail industries. She’s run a catering company, built a farmers market business from the ground up, and now owns The Mom-Up Shop—a curated vintage store in Long Beach that helps fund her nonprofit, Project WomanGood, which supports survivors of domestic viole…

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EP 214 RETAIL ROUNDTABLE WITH MARY LIZ CURTIN MICHAEL SCHULTZ AND ANDREW GAWDUN 1:27:31

1M ago1:27:31

1:27:31

Mary Liz Curtin is passionate about independent retail. With over 35 years of hands-on experience in the gift, craft, and home industries, her deep understanding of retailers, vendors, and sales representatives gives her a one-of-a-kind perspective. Known for her “Sales and Marketing Therapy,” Mary Liz is an internationally recognized expert who ad…

1
EP 213: MERCHANDISING THAT SELLS BEYOND THE DISPLAY 55:21

2M ago55:21

55:21

In this episode, Michelle Sherrier opens up about her hands-on experience transforming Lucy’s store and reflects on the deeper role merchandising plays in retail success. From buying strategies to storytelling through displays, she highlights why embracing change is essential when working with a consultant. Michelle also unveils her new monthly Zoo…

1
EP 212: HOW A SEASONAL SHOP BECAME A YEAR-ROUND SUCCESS WITH POLLY HELM 1:11:59

2M ago1:11:59

1:11:59

Polly Helm was born and raised in Kentucky. She has a BA from Eastern Kentucky University and a Masters in Organizational Communications from Miami of Ohio. In 1994 she left corporate sales and moved from KY to Wisconsin to start two small businesses with her husband—a retail store and a construction company. They did both for about 10 years and th…

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EP 211: 25 YEARS OF RETAIL EVOLUTION WITH RESHELL DOUGLAS 1:16:39

2M ago1:16:39

1:16:39

Born in June 1969 and raised in Southwest Washington state, Reshell Douglas grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship, learning the ropes of retail in her family’s bridal salon where she worked in sales, buying, and merchandising. By age 14, she was already attending trade shows as a buyer, and throughout the 1980s she gained hands-on experience in re…

1
EP 210: RETAIL ROOTS AND COASTAL DREAMS WITH AMBER BAKER 50:37

3M ago50:37

50:37

Amber Baker is the creative force behind Sandy Bottom Candle Co., a coastal-inspired candle brand she launched five years ago with a mission to bottle up the essence of coastal living in a cleaner burning soy candle. What began as a hobby at home quickly turned into a full blown business. Known for its signature layer of beach sand in each jar, it …

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FALL MERCHANDISING SECRETS — SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN! 1:35:03

3M ago1:35:03

1:35:03

Susan and Michelle reconnect for another insightful episode of Shelf Talk! They start by sharing their experiences from recent gift shows in Vegas and New York, and how they both took the time to decompress and recharge at home. Susan reveals the challenges and excitement of managing holiday decor for new stores, including dealing with inventory mi…

1
EP 209: HITTING RESET AND FINDING YOUR VOICE 49:31

3M ago49:31

49:31

In this episode I’m bringing you behind the scenes of what life and business have looked like lately — from the whirlwind of travel and shows, to returning home, resetting, and preparing for an exciting fourth quarter. I open up about lessons learned, new projects, and the power of trusting your gut when things no longer align. What’s inside Lesson…

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EP 208: TAKING RISKS AND CRAFTING SUCCESS WITH GAUGE BAILEY 1:05:44

3M ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Gauge and his wife opened their business just over two years ago with a simple idea: support local makers and small businesses while crafting a few products of their own. That 'few' quickly turned into more… a lot more. Today, they make and sell over 300 different items—everything from all-natural cleaning solutions to DIY kits. As you can probably…

1
EP 207: THE ART OF CRAFTING CASS WITH DEBRA SZIDON 1:13:17

4M ago1:13:17

1:13:17

Cass is a luxury line of leather goods designed and made in California by Debra Szidon. A Jersey girl who now calls California home, Debra blends East Coast sophistication with West Coast ease in every design she creates—from leather handbags to interior spaces and botanical elements. The idea for Cass began with a vintage handbag Debra had held on…

1
EP 206: CREATING CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY THROUGH RETAIL WITH MEGHAN 1:13:43

4M ago1:13:43

1:13:43

Meghan Wagner is the owner of The Go Girl Shoppe, a unique retail store located in Mebane, NC. She began her entrepreneurial journey in 2012 with a mobile shop on wheels, offering a curated selection of home décor and gifts. In 2014, she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Raleigh, NC, and after 8 successful years, relocated to a larger store in …

1
EP 205: BUILDING A LEGACY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH LINNAEA 57:52

5M ago57:52

57:52

Linnaea is the passionate owner of a beloved Santa Cruz institution that has evolved into a creative hub for American-made art, design, and feel-good goods. She first joined the store as a 16-year-old seasonal hire in 1993 and, 16 years later, celebrated her anniversary by buying the business. Since then, Linnaea has honored its legacy while transf…

1
EP 204: HIRING SMARTER, NOT HARDER WITH ANDREA HOFFER 1:00:15

5M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Andrea Hoffer is an experienced Talent Acquisition & Management strategist and entrepreneur, passionate about building exceptional teams. As the founder of aha! Talent Experts, she has helped businesses across the country improve recruitment processes, align hiring with company culture, and develop employer brands that attract top talent. With over…

1
EP 203: THRIVING IN UNCERTAINTY WITH BOB NEGEN 1:07:01

6M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

Bob Negen is a retail powerhouse, co-founder of WhizBang! Retail Training, and creator of Retail Brilliance, a cutting-edge educational platform for independent retailers. With a storied past as a kite shop owner and over two decades helping retailers master everything from sales to strategy, Bob joins Michelle for a deep, honest, and inspiring con…

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SIGNAGE, SALES, AND DISPLAY STRATEGIES - SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN! 1:16:43

6M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

Susan and Michelle are back with another action-packed episode of Shelf Talk! In this conversation, they kick things off with a quick catch-up and get into what it’s like working alongside their husbands, including a juicy business conversation about a car wash. They dive into plans to collaborate with sponsors and grow the community, what’s in sto…

1
EP 202: LEADING A RETAIL REVIVAL WITH STEVEN HENKE 45:50

6M ago45:50

45:50

Steven Henke is the Chief of Brand Marketing at DAP Health. DAP Health is an advocacy-based community health center in Palm Springs, CA, serving over 88,000 patients. It provides comprehensive medical and mental healthcare, STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A wide array of wraparound services enables patients to expe…

1
EP 201: ALL HANDS ON DECK WITH SARA VASKOV AND BAILEY WEAVER 1:26:25

6M ago1:26:25

1:26:25

Sara Vaskov has been in the San Luis Obispo retail scene for over two decades. She began working at Hands Gallery 22 years ago and became the owner in 2016, leading the shop through years of growth and evolution. Beyond running a thriving small business, Sara is deeply involved in community advocacy. As a board member of the Downtown SLO Associatio…

1
EP 200: LOCALS ONLY WITH MISTY STACHEL 1:13:36

7M ago1:13:36

1:13:36

Misty Stachel is the founder and owner of 85 Local, a carefully curated boutique that blends locally made goods with unique, high-quality finds from beyond Arizona. With a passion for retail and community, Misty has created a shopping destination where customers can discover one-of-a-kind gifts, stylish apparel, and must-have home accessories—all w…

1
EP 199: RETAIL ROUNDTABLE WITH EMMA LEWIS (RARE FORM), SONIA MCMORAN (HOME/WORK), SASHA VARNI (WISH) 1:27:43

7M ago1:27:43

1:27:43

Emma Lewis is the owner of Rare Form and The Twentieth, both based in Chicago. Emma works to digitally restore and reinterpret 100-year-old designs to create unique greeting cards, stationery, and more. Through her work, her goal is to empower and affirm others with a brand that combines vintage images with unapologetic contemporary feminist langua…

1
STUNNING, STAND-OUT DISPLAYS - SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN! 1:01:34

7M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Susan and Michelle join forces again for another episode of Shelf Talk! Here, they kick things off with a recap of Susan’s recent trip to New Orleans and all the fun shops she explored while there. Next, they share some of their favorite displays found on Instagram and discuss their stand-out design elements and features. Susan and Michelle also di…

1
EP 198: PR FOR A NEW AGE WITH GLORIA CHOU 48:04

7M ago48:04

48:04

Gloria Chou is an award-winning PR strategist and host of the top-rated Small Business PR Podcast. Known for her untraditional yet proven approach to PR which makes visibility and access to media accessible for anyone, Gloria helps BIPOC and female founders get featured organically in top-tier media without needing PR connections or a large followi…

1
EP 197: STARTED WITH A BEAD KIT, NOW WE’RE HERE WITH MARRIN COSTELLO 1:08:04

8M ago1:08:04

1:08:04

Marrin Costello is an American businesswoman, designer, and brand architect. Her career as a creative began at age seven, after receiving a bead kit for Christmas. Selling her creations at local San Francisco Bay Area craft fairs and local boutique retailers while in grammar school, Costello's love for both business and fashion was realized at a ve…

1
EP 196: THROUGH THE LENS OF A LOCAVORE WITH CAROLINE WEAVER 50:33

8M ago50:33

50:33

Caroline Weaver is an obsessive shopper, former specialty shop owner, and creator of The Locavore Guide. During her years as a shopkeeper, she yearned for a resource to help others understand what it actually means to "shop small" and to share information about why it’s better for everyone. In a world of algorithms and convenience, most of us have …

1
EP 195: THE HOLIDAY POP-UP BREAKDOWN WITH ANDREW FEGLER 1:23:47

8M ago1:23:47

1:23:47

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, he’s full-circling back to open the doors of a pop-up gift shop! I…

1
INTRODUCING... SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN! 50:06

8M ago50:06

50:06

Welcome to Shelf Talk: a brand new, add-on segment inside the Retail Whore Podcast! In this new once-a-month segment, Michelle and co-host Susan Esayian dive into all things merchandising and design. Both Michelle and Susan have strong backgrounds as buyers and merchandisers in retail and wholesale gifts. On Shelf Talk, you’ll have the chance to su…

1
EP 194: GETTING RETAIL SMART WITH DAN JABLONS 42:47

9M ago42:47

42:47

Dan Jablons heads up Retail Smart Guys, a premier consulting company for independent retail. Dan studied at the Ohio State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Production. Throughout his career, he’s worked with big-name retailers like Walmart, Target, JC Penney, American Apparel, Betsey Johnson, Donna Karan, J…

1
EP 193: YOUR HOME, YOUR STORY WITH MARY BLIGH AND JESSICA GIANCOTTI 1:04:31

9M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Mary Bligh and Jessica Giancotti are lifelong friends and passionate designers with over 20 years of combined experience. Together, 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. Mary and Jessica believe a beauti…

1
EP 192: HOMETOWN SWEETNESS WITH LIZ FERREIRA 56:23

9M ago56:23

56:23

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 Massachuse…

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EP 191: CMA MERCHANDISER’S RECAP WITH JESSICA YOUNG, RONALD CARTER, SUSAN ESAYIAN & DAVE SHERRIER 1:31:08

9M ago1:31:08

1:31:08

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…

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EP 190: SOLO SHOW WITH MICHELLE: CMA SHOW RECAP 1:10:46

10M ago1:10:46

1:10:46

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…

1
EP 189: A LEGACY OF LACE WITH LARISA OLSON 1:09:20

10M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

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 (s…

1
EP 188: GRIT, GUMPTION, AND GROOMING GOODS WITH JASON SOEJOTO 51:40

10M ago51:40

51:40

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... …

1
EP 187: A PASSION FOR PRODUCT WITH SAM CHAPMAN 1:04:11

11M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

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 …

1
EP 186: 2024 LOOK BACK WITH MICHELLE 31:02

11M ago31:02

31:02

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 al…

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EP 185: REPLAY: COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION WITH ASHLEY ALDERSON 57:03

11M ago57:03

57:03

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 co…

1
EP 184: REPLAY: FINDING THE SILVER LINING WITH ANNIE GLENN 1:04:28

12M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

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 l…

1
EP 183: REPLAY: A LOVE LETTER TO RETAIL WITH IRIS FULLER 1:03:50

12M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

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 practic…

1
EP 182: REPLAY: ONE HECK OF A RETAIL SHOPPER WITH MARY LIZ CURTIN 56:45

12M ago56:45

56:45

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 ide…

1
EP 181: LIVING THE ADORNED LIFE WITH ERIN HASLER 58:07

1y ago58:07

58:07

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 ne…

1
EP 180: HAVE A SASSY, SNARKY HOLIDAY WITH ANDREW FEGLER 1:07:45

1y ago1:07:45

1:07:45

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 …

1
EP 179: CREATING BEAUTIFUL SPACES AND A THRIVING BUSINESS WITH MARY AND JESSICA OF LILY & MARIGOLD HOME AND DESIGN 1:19:58

1y ago1:19:58

1:19:58

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 believ…

1
EP 178: FALL RECAP - SOLO SHOW WITH MICHELLE 29:22

1y ago29:22

29:22

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…

1
EP 177: TALES FROM THE MOUNTAIN GARDENER WITH KEN LAIN 53:29

1y ago53:29

53:29

Ken Lain is known by his friends as 'The Mountain Gardener'. His weekly garden advice is featured by Prescott Living and Prescott Woman Magazines, the Daily Courier, Prescott eNews, and Signals AZ Newspapers. Ken is passionate about plants, creative landscape design, and spreading the good news that gardening is healthy and fun. Ken dreamed of owni…

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EP 176: WHERE YARN AND WINE COLLIDE WITH JOCELYN SONGCO 1:02:11

1y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Jocelyn Songco is the founder and owner of Yarn Farm Kingston, a yarn shop and wine bar in New York's Hudson Valley, two hours north of NYC. Prior to Yarn Farm, Jocelyn worked at a private foundation for over a dozen years, investing in social entrepreneurs in emerging markets, primarily in Africa in the agriculture sector, as well as a handful of …

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EP 175: RETAILER ROUNDTABLE WITH ANNIE GLENN, JAMIE CARL, AND MICHAEL SCHULTZ 1:26:31

1y ago1:26:31

1:26:31

Annie Glenn (also known as Urban Girl Annie) started her company LG Retail Enterprises back in 1994 and has been doing retail ever since. Although Annie majored in literature in college, she knew she wanted to own a business since she was 10 years old. With no prior background in retail, she credits her business success to having great instincts an…

1
EP 174: A SANCTUARY IN THE CITY WITH JOHANNA BIALKIN 51:23

1y ago51:23

51:23

In 2005, Johanna Bialkin moved to San Francisco, seeking solace from the bustle of New York City and her sojourn in digital media. While the allure of SF's tech industry didn't captivate her, the promise of a tight-knit community did. She longed for connections forged in genuine conversations, for friendships nurtured over shared experiences. It wa…

1
EP 173: KEEPING RETAIL LOCAL WITH ROBERT EMMONS 58:39

1y ago58:39

58:39

SF Mercantile began in 2008 with the objective of producing high-quality San Francisco gifts and keepsakes designed by local artists. Their products celebrate the vibrant and diverse culture that is unique to California, and all of their items are designed by artists who live in the San Francisco Bay area. The company was started by Robert Emmons, …

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