The Retail Whore

Michelle Sherrier
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Welcome to The Retail Whore by me, Michelle Sherrier: a podcast of stories and lessons from a life in retail. After decades spent in the retail industry, I’ve seen and done it all. Join me every week as I interview people from all walks of retail, the service industry, the wholesale gift industry, and more. We’ll talk about what drives them, the things they love, and some of the biggest lessons they have learned along the way. Brace yourself for The Retail Whore, a show that entertains and educates!

  1. 9 HRS AGO

    TREASURE HUNT BUYING, BOLD TRENDS & STORYTELLING THAT SELLS — SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN

    In this episode, we’re fresh off the Gift Show and gearing up for ASD as we unpack why “treasure hunt” buying might be the smartest margin move independent retailers can make right now. From under-the-radar vendors to bold color trends and food-inspired merchandising, we’re sharing what excited us most on the show floor and how to turn it into sales. We also dive into why bright, joyful product is everywhere, how heritage ornament buying differs from trend-driven holiday, and how thoughtful storytelling, yes even with pasta and ribbon, creates moments customers remember and buy from. Ask Michelle and Susan for Shelf Talk! Michelle and Susan will be co-hosting an episode every month! We’re diving into all things design, display, and merchandising—and we want to hear from you! Got a question? Submit it by going to theretailwhorepodcast.com, clicking on SHELF TALK, and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Let’s talk shop and bring your ideas to life! What’s Inside: ASD as Hidden Margin Goldmine. Why this show flies under the radar, what categories are surprisingly strong including fashion, beauty, licensed, and regional, and how treasure hunt sourcing can increase profitability.Trend Takeaways from the Floor. Chartreuse, lilac, cabana stripes, Mediterranean vibes, sardines, citrus, farm to table displays, pressed florals, and bold joyful color everywhere.Storytelling That Converts. From charcuterie inspired displays and tomato vine candles to ribbon bars and heritage ornament strategy, how to merchandise with intention, not just product.We also talk about Dallas being up, independent retail momentum, education at trade shows, and why wrapping paper and ribbon might be your most underrated marketing tool. Support the show

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 11

    EP 226: TREASURE HUNTING, TASTE & TURNING TRENDS INTO PROFITS WITH STEPHANIE BERINGHELE

    Stephanie Beringhele is a mom of two amazing kids, the creator and host of Retail Revelations Inside the Deal, and the VIP Buyer Relations Director at ASD Market Week. She builds and leads high-impact programs that connect retailers with the most on-trend wholesale products from around the globe because great merchandising should not be boring or overpriced. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Stephanie to unpack how buyers and small retailers can find unexpected profit, merchandise smarter, and use trade shows like ASD Market Week as a strategic advantage. Stephanie shares real-world tactics for sourcing high-margin on-trend products, practical ways to merchandise high and low assortments, and how to navigate international sourcing and tariffs without getting overwhelmed. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who listens to and shares this podcast! If you’ve found value in our episodes and want to help us keep creating, we’ve made it easy through Buy Me a Coffee. Any contributions from $5 up to $200 help cover the real costs of podcasting—editing, hosting fees, and everything else that goes into bringing you quality content. It's a way for you to invest in the conversations and topics that matter to you. Head to buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb, and as always, thank you for your continued support!  What’s inside: How to hunt for high-margin pet rock finds, where to look on the show floor, and why the unlikely booths often pay off the mostPractical merchandising tips to fuse low-cost and premium items for bigger markups and a stronger store storyHow ASD’s neighborhoods, matchmaking, and buying tours help independents navigate international sourcing, container versus small-batch options, and tariff challengesMentioned In This Episode: Instagram Support the show

    56 min

  3. FEB 4

    EP 225: RETHINKING RESALE AND RETAIL SURVIVAL WITH JESSICA RENNARD

    Jessica Rennard is the President of NuSource, a female-led micro-wholesale platform powering the demand side of resale. With 15+ years in circular fashion, she partners with leading brands to turn excess, returned, and take-back inventory into scalable resale channels—bridging sustainability goals with real revenue. Known for building from the ground up, Jessica brings a pragmatic, operator’s lens to how brands can unlock value, visibility, and longevity in the secondhand economy. In this episode Jessica walks us through how NuSource sources, sorts, and redistributes returns and excess inventory to resellers and retailers — creating predictable secondary channels that protect brand value and reduce landfill. We dig into operations, pricing strategies, merchandising one-offs, live selling, and how resale can become a true acquisition channel for brands. We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic! What’s inside How brands can turn returns and take-back programs into revenue streams — real examples and pricing tiers (Lululemon, OGL, and others).The warehouse playbook: sorting tech, grading, fulfillment flows and how to scale one-off inventory operations without breaking margins.Retail tactics that work: merchandising one-offs, department takeovers, and live selling strategies to drive urgency and higher sell-through.Mentioned In This Episode: Instagram Facebook The NUSOURCE Website Support the show

    57 min

  4. JAN 28

    EP 224: FROM COFFEE DREAMS TO COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH NATALIE KRACHT– PART II

    Natalie Kracht is the owner and creative force behind Natural Grind and The Collective in Grundy Center, Iowa. What started as a small coffee shop dream has grown into a thriving community hub known for its warm atmosphere, inspired merchandising, and deeply personal touch. Natalie has built her businesses with an artist’s eye and an entrepreneur’s heart—curating clothing, home décor, gifts, and coffee experiences that make people feel seen, welcomed, and connected. She brings together quality craftsmanship, trend-forward style, and intentional storytelling, earning Natural Grind recognition among Iowa’s standout coffee shops and establishing The Collective as one of the area’s most thoughtfully curated boutiques. In this episode, Natalie returns for part two of her conversation with Michelle, diving deeper into the realities of modern retail. From shared brick-and-mortar spaces and POS challenges to selling apparel online, staffing, live sales, and knowing when to say no, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to keep a retail business moving forward in today’s climate. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who listens to and shares this podcast! If you’ve found value in our episodes and want to help us keep creating, we’ve made it easy through Buy Me a Coffee. Any contributions from $5 up to $200 help cover the real costs of podcasting—editing, hosting fees, and everything else that goes into bringing you quality content. It's a way for you to invest in the conversations and topics that matter to you. Head to buymeacoffee.com/retailwhorb, and as always, thank you for your continued support!  What’s Inside: How shared retail spaces, staffing, and separate POS systems can actually workThe truth about selling apparel online, discount culture, and customer barteringWhy consistency, live selling, and trusting your instincts matter more than everMentioned In This Episode: Instagram Facebook The Natural Grind Website Support the show

    53 min

  5. JAN 21

    EP 223: FROM COFFEE DREAMS TO COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH NATALIE KRACHT– PART I

    Natalie Kracht is the owner and creative force behind Natural Grind and The Collective in Grundy Center, Iowa. What started as a small coffee shop dream has grown into a thriving community hub known for its warm atmosphere, inspired merchandising, and deeply personal touch. Natalie has built her businesses with an artist’s eye and an entrepreneur’s heart—curating clothing, home décor, gifts, and coffee experiences that make people feel seen, welcomed, and connected. She brings together quality craftsmanship, trend-forward style, and intentional storytelling, earning Natural Grind recognition among Iowa’s standout coffee shops and establishing The Collective as one of the area’s most thoughtfully curated boutiques. In this episode, Natalie walks through the leap from healthcare to hospitality and retail, how she turned a coffee shop into two thriving retail concepts, and the pivots that kept her business growing through COVID and personal tragedy. She shares practical buying and merchandising lessons, how to set the right price points for your market, and why community-first service fuels repeat business. What’s inside How Natalie went from healthcare administration to opening a coffee shop—and eventually a boutique—with no prior retail experienceThe lessons she learned from blending coffee, apparel, and gifts under one roof (and when it makes sense to separate them)Honest insights on pricing, merchandising, buying apparel, and adapting your business to your market and seasonsMentioned In This Episode: Instagram Facebook The Natural Grind Website Support the show

    46 min

  6. JAN 14

    EP 222: REINVENTING THE RETAIL CALENDAR

    In this episode, Michelle walks through how she tackles post-holiday blues in-store and as a buyer—sharing practical merchandising strategies, sale philosophy, and ways to reinvent existing inventory to keep stores fresh and profitable through January and beyond. We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic! What's inside: Reset fast: Run a decisive post-holiday sale (Michelle’s go-to is 50% off) to recover cash, then reinvent remaining stock instead of dumping everything.Reinvent and recolor: Use “coloring out,” regrouping, and cross-department moves to make random or low-stock items feel new and abundant.Seasonal strategy shift: Adapt buying cadence for local demand (e.g., strong January sales in tourist markets), keep bread-and-butter SKUs, and take creative risks to avoid complacency.Support the show

    41 min

  7. JAN 7

    WHAT RETAIL LOOKS LIKE NEXT — SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN

    In this episode, Michelle Sherrier and Susan Esayian catch up after a busy market season and dive into what they’re seeing on showroom floors, in merchandising, and across the retail industry. From traveling showrooms and sourcing props to staying relevant as trends shift, they unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes—and what retailers need to be paying attention to next. Ask Michelle and Susan for Shelf Talk! Michelle and Susan will be co-hosting an episode every month! We’re diving into all things design, display, and merchandising—and we want to hear from you! Got a question? Submit it by going to theretailwhorepodcast.com, clicking on SHELF TALK, and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Let’s talk shop and bring your ideas to life! What’s Inside How showroom merchandising is evolving (and what’s not working anymore)Why staying relevant creatively matters more than ever in retailThe future of merchandising, legacy brands, and where the next generation fits inMentioned In This Episode: susan@ruepatois.com Ruepatois.com Rue Patois on Instagram MC Design Collaboration on Instagram Support the show

    1h 4m

  8. 2025-12-31

    EP 221: SHEDDING THE OLD, RESETTING THE PATH, AND TRUSTING WHAT’S NEXT

    In this episode, Michelle closes out 2025 with a reflective solo episode about change, resilience, and retail. She shares her move from California to Oregon, joining her local Downtown Business Association, lessons from closing stores, strategies for surviving tariffs and fast-forward retail changes, and plans for 2026 including writing a book and possibly opening a new store. Honest, practical advice for retailers facing hard choices—and encouragement to lean into new opportunities. We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic! What's inside: Why community involvement and small-town retail revitalization can be a meaningful next step (and how Michelle is getting involved in Medford’s Downtown Business Association).Practical survival tactics for retailers: high/low buying, extending show time, cutting costs, pricing strategy amid tariffs, and where to find higher-margin merchandise.Personal stories and mindset: lessons from store closures, managing ego, protecting mental health, and embracing change (plus plans to write a book).Support the show

    56 min
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About

Welcome to The Retail Whore by me, Michelle Sherrier: a podcast of stories and lessons from a life in retail. After decades spent in the retail industry, I’ve seen and done it all. Join me every week as I interview people from all walks of retail, the service industry, the wholesale gift industry, and more. We’ll talk about what drives them, the things they love, and some of the biggest lessons they have learned along the way. Brace yourself for The Retail Whore, a show that entertains and educates!

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Sherrier
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    233
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Retail Whore
  • Show Website
    The Retail Whore

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