Main Street Matters by Heart on Main Street

Main Street Matters by Heart on Main Street

Heart on Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping independent retailers achieve success within their local community. We talk with retailers about the skills and habits that have allowed them to grow their businesses and industry professionals who provide services to the Main Street community, and we explore towns to find out what helps Main Streets thrive. Join the Main Street movement! www.heartonmainstreet.org

Episodes

October 13, 2025 24 mins

Not all customers are created equal — and they shouldn’t all pay the same price. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our series inspired by Thomas Nagle’s The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing with a deep dive into customer segmentation — the key to understanding who truly values your products, services, and experience.

As Nagle writes: “Value is always specific to a particular segment of ...

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Most independent retailers set prices the same old way — take the cost, add a markup, and hope for the best. But what if that approach is quietly costing you money? In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our series inspired by Thomas Nagle’s The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing with a deep dive into value-based pricing — the method that starts with your customer, not your calculator.

As Nagl...

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Independent retailers often focus on cutting costs or boosting sales — but the fastest way to improve profitability is through smarter pricing. In this kickoff to our new 10-part series based on The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing by Thomas Nagle, Patrick Keiser explains why even a small change in price can have a dramatic impact on the bottom line.

As Nagle reminds us: “Pricing is the moment of truth — every dollar...

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The holidays are the most wonderful — and busiest — time of the year for independent retailers. One of the most powerful ways to stand out, drive foot traffic, and create a little Main Street magic? A beautifully decorated holiday window.

Join us for an inspiring and practical conversation with Amy Meadows, founder of Windows Matter and former head designer of Chicago’s iconic Marshall Field’s holiday windows. With ...

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Have you ever wondered why certain items linger in your stockroom despite knowing they’re not selling? It might not be about poor planning. Sometimes, the reasons go deeper.

 

Join Melodie van der Baan, Co‑Founder and CEO of Max Retail. Together, we’ll explore the emotional and strategic underpinnings of why inventory gets stuck, and tell the stories behind those stubborn shelves.

 

In this episode, Melodie will help you:

  • ...
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Independent retailers don’t fail because they lack effort — they fail because marketing feels random, overwhelming, and inconsistent. In this final episode of our Duct Tape Marketing series, Patrick Keiser ties everything together and shows how to adopt the marketing system mindset that turns one-off tactics into a steady, sustainable process.

Marketing isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things...

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Most independent retailers don’t fail because they lack effort — they fail because they’re flying blind. Without tracking the right numbers, you can’t know what’s working, what’s wasting money, or where to focus your energy. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a focus on simple metrics that make a big difference.

As Jantsch reminds us: ...

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Independent retailers don’t have to do it all alone. In fact, some of the most effective growth strategies come from teaming up with other businesses and organizations. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a focus on the power of partnerships.

Partnerships allow you to borrow credibility, reach new customers, and create memorable experie...

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Most independent retailers' marketing strategies don’t fail because they lack ideas; they fail because they lack consistency. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a focus on creating a marketing calendar that turns chaos into clarity.

Instead of scrambling to promote holidays, rushing last-minute social media posts, or missing out on local event...

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Every retailer loves referrals — but few have a system to generate them consistently. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a deep dive into the referral stage of the Marketing Hourglass.

Referrals are the most powerful form of marketing because trust is already built in. Referred customers spend more, stay longer, and become loyal advocates. But...

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For most customers, the first impression of your retail store doesn’t happen on Main Street — it happens online. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a focus on building a total online presence.

Your digital storefront is as important as your physical one. Customers are Googling your business, checking reviews, scrolling through social media, an...

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Trust is the currency of retail. Without it, your marketing falls flat and your sales stall. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a deep dive into how content marketing builds trust for independent retailers.

Content isn’t just about blogging or chasing the latest social media trend. It’s about creating simple, authentic communication that educa...

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In a crowded marketplace, sameness is death. If your independent retail store looks and sounds just like everyone else, customers have no reason to choose you. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch with a focus on differentiation, specifically, how to craft your talking logo.

A talking logo isn’t your graphic logo or a catchy jingle. It’s a short, mem...

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Independent retailers often say, “Everyone is my customer.” But in reality, trying to appeal to everyone means you end up connecting with no one. In this episode of Main Street Matters, Patrick Keiser continues our Duct Tape Marketing series by John Jantsch and explains why defining your ideal customer profile is the single most important step in creating a successful retail marketing strategy.

You’ll learn:

  • Why the tra...
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Independent retailers need more than one-time sales; they need loyal customers who come back again and again. In this kickoff to our Duct Tape Marketing podcast series, host Patrick Keiser introduces John Jantsch’s powerful Marketing Hourglass framework (Know, Like, Trust, Try, Buy, Repeat, Refer) and shows how it applies to small businesses and Main Street retailers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the traditional s...
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Last week, Heart on Main Street traveled to Asheville, NC, to help a community rebuild following last year's devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Host Patrick Keiser, tells the story of three stores that were affected by the hurricane and the flooding that ensued: Second Gear, which had been located in the River Arts District, Diamond Brand Outdoors, which lost its manufacturing center and inventory, and Dogwood Darling...

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In this episode, host Patrick Keiser talks with three retailers who have been through traumatic experiences and seen the devastation of their stores at the hands of natural disasters. Andrea Morris of Brickwood Boutique in Temple, TX, Anita Cereceda of The Islander in Fort Myers Beach, FL, and Christy Morris of Mix Mercantile in Sulphur, OK, all share their emotional stories of going from loss to rebirth in the midst of tr...

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In this final episode of our Why We Buy Summer Book Club series, we’re combining the art of visual merchandising with the science of shopper behavior to unlock one of Paco Underhill’s most valuable insights: how display height, depth, and tactile engagement work together to keep customers in your store longer, interacting with more products, and making more purchases.

From the “strike zone” that maximizes visibility, to lay...

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In this ninth installment of the Why We Buy Summer Book Club series, host Patrick Keiser explores one of Paco Underhill’s most powerful retail strategies: the Art of Adjacency. It’s the science — and art — of placing complementary products together to spark more sales. Forget fighting over “prime” display space; cross-merchandising the right way can transform ordinary shopping moments into higher-ticket purchases.

P...

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In this eye-opening installment of the Why We Buy Summer Book Club series, host Patrick Keiser dives into one of the most overlooked but critically important areas of a retail store: the dressing room. Based on insights from Paco Underhill’s retail classic Why We Buy, this episode unpacks why fitting rooms aren’t just changing spaces — they’re conversion machines.

Patrick explores the psychology of the dressing room...

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