Nora’s story began with a pivotal "a-ha moment" in 2004 at her pottery shop just outside of Chicago, Illinois, where she noticed women returning month after month to create platters for various occasions. Curious about where they were storing all these platters, she envisioned a simpler solution—a single platter for…
In 2023, Nathan Raposo and Spencer Howard of Nathan Spencer Home acquired the Agoura Antique Mart in Agoura Hills, California, after operating locations in San Diego, La Jolla, and Venice. Spencer began selling antiques in the 1990s and operated a design and construction firm in Houston, Texas, that specialized in…
Jason Mausser is the CEO and Founder of Mausser Consulting Inc., a Product Development Think Tank and International and Domestic Sourcing Company founded in 2006. With over 35 years of diverse sales experience, his client list includes Toyota Motors, Cedars Sinai Hospital, LA Dodgers, Disney Corp., Warner Bros., Museum of…
In my monthly solo shows, I’ll be filling you in on what’s been happening in my world, what projects I’m working on, and updates on any exciting news. I’ll also be talking about industry best practices, and in this episode, I’ll share with you how I like to tackle store…
Kate Murray is the owner of Quick Brown Fox Letterpress, based in the Hudson Valley of New York. Quick Brown Fox makes quirky cards with perfect puns the old-fashioned way: one color at a time, one card at a time, on turn of the century letterpress machines. To pay her…
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…
Jessica Totillo Coster is an eCommerce and email marketing strategist for boutique owners and product entrepreneurs. She uses data and experience to help her clients figure out the next best step in their business. Jessica’s a native New Yorker living in LA. She holds a degree in fashion merchandising, has…
This week’s episode is sponsored by @salesproducersinc, a progressive business to business company representing Gift, Lifestyle, Fashion, Personal Care, & Kids lines selling to retail stores with a mission to create long lasting, profitable relationships by adding significant value to our Customer, Vendor, and Team partners. For more information, check…
Verity Doyle is the owner of Verity Gray Design and a freelance retail designer specializing in retail interiors and visual merchandising. Verity has a creative approach that's always customer focused, making sure the retail space is optimized for sales so the business can operate smoothly. Verity lives in Oxfordshire, UK…
Mehrnush Saadat started out in retail at the age of 15 on the floor at Upton's - if anyone remembers that store! From there, she went on to work in other retail organizations, primarily in cosmetics: Lancôme, Tony and Tina, Paula Dorf, and Origins (to name a few). In college,…
Susan George is a passionate advocate for the limitless potential of social media and the CEO and Founder of Mediary Marketing. Her journey to this point wasn't your typical trajectory. Before diving into the dynamic world of digital branding, Susan was a full-time musician. Little did she know that her…
Andrew Fegler is a 25-year-old serial entrepreneur from the Seattle area. He founded That's So Andrew, an inclusive stationery line, just under 3 years ago. Andrew prides himself on the creation of a brand that is authentic to his own identity, which is why you'll find the line to be…
This episode is sponsored by MC Design Academy, designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like,…
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…
In 2011, Lindsay Duncan was pregnant with twins and at home on bed rest. She was also recently laid off from her job in banking. These circumstances led Lindsay to create Winter Lennon, a women’s apparel and accessories brand. Although she had no background and learned as she went, Lindsay’s…
Ronald Carter likes to think of creative styling as an art form. It's a masterpiece, carefully crafted by your imagination and passion. You could say Ronald fell into this career by accident. Having experienced being a struggling actor, he was in desperate need of a side hustle. He was living…
Ashley Withey is an accomplished graphic designer with a diverse background spanning the worlds of nonprofit, corporate, and advertising. With experience working for renowned organizations such as Susan G. Komen, Marriott Vacation Club, and other major global brands, Ashley's journey in the design industry has been marked by success and…
Luxe Dominoes is the intersection of traditional games and high-end design. It was founded in Miami by Jonathan Cohen, who inherited his life-long passion for dominoes from his grandfather. Luxe Dominoes shines the light on beloved games, giving them a new place among great modern design. The art and science…
Renee Dick, creator and founder of Fresh Life Marketing, is the girlfriend you never knew you needed in your business. Whether you're in the beginning stages of starting out or even if you’re an established entrepreneur, her mission is to serve YOU. Renee created Fresh Life Marketing, an agency specializing…
Melissa Hesse doesn't have a degree in art, but somehow, she made it her career. She started at Z Gallerie back in 1993 as a part-time sales associate while going to college. Melissa then spent the next 14 years there, holding almost every position possible, but she always found the…
Ready to Zen? Let's go! ZenGenius specializes in providing Visual Merchandising, Creative Direction, and Special Events support to retail brands, businesses, and organizations of all types. Going on 25 years, ZenGenius has been a proud part of the creative and retail design communities across the globe. Michelle and the team…
Myles Marks is the Chief Creative and Merchandising Officer at DM Merchandising. He attended Georgetown University and then toiled in the LA world for a bit afterwards. Myles has been innovating products within the consumer goods space for the past 25 years. Myles spent the last 25 years traversing the…
Robin Kramer is a brand marketing maven, natural business nurturer, master of relationships, and a sales expert who has an impressive history with leaders in the retail industry who have built their brands on innovative merchandising and strong service cultures. Among these brands is Williams-Sonoma, Inc., where she utilized her…
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…