The Retail Whisperer

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 approac...

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 per...

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...

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 employ...

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: storytelli...

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 di...

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 produ...

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 r...

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 actio...

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...

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, Michell...

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 ...

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 inclusiv...

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 join...

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 opportuniti...

In this episode, Michelle shares a completely different style of Retail Whore Podcast episode recorded live from the Seattle Mart, where seasoned retailers shared their best advice for new store owners. From learning your numbers and building smarter markdown strategies to creating stronger customer experiences and merchandising with intention, this episode is packed with honest conversations and real retail wisdom.

Michelle and Sus...

Kate Kauffman is the owner of Grease & Glitter Studio, a Vermont-based creative design studio serving retailers throughout New England and beyond. She specializes in visual merchandising, store flow and layout optimization, and striking window displays. Drawing on more than 10 years of industry experience with brands like Anthropologie and West Elm, Kate helps independent retailers elevate their customer experience, increase fo...

For all of us who are merchandisers, Amy Meadows has the dream career. She has over 25 years of experience in window display, visual merchandising, and event planning.

Recognized nationally in her field, Amy has reinvented traditions and reinvigorated business for both major retailers and independent businesses. From big boxes to boutiques, she helps businesses explore and leverage tools to attract customers and drive sales....

Do you ever wonder who makes those chalkboard signs at Trader Joe's? Well, that's how Benjamin Soto got started—drawing Trader Joe's signs by day and designing band merch at night for Fearless Records.

In 1998, Ben was recruited by Paul Frank to help kick off the massive millennial pop-culture brand Paul Frank Industries. Ben managed the brand creative for about 10 years, which meant involvement with character designs,...