For the People Behind the Counter
Warm encouragement and practical tips for small shop owners: better displays, loyal regulars, simple marketing and keeping your sanity.
Running a small shop is a strange mix of art, arithmetic and stamina. One hour you are styling a window, the next you are unblocking a sink and chasing a late delivery. LovingMy Shop is a friendly corner for people doing that work: ideas you can try tomorrow morning, and a reminder that you are not the only one finding it hard some weeks.
Four things we talk about
Displays
Windows and tables that stop people mid-stride, made from what you already have.
Regulars
The small kindnesses that turn a passer-by into someone who drops in every week.
Getting noticed
Marketing that fits a one- or two-person shop and a modest budget.
Staying sane
Rest, boundaries and days off, because the shop needs you healthy.
A quiet day is not a verdict on your shop. It is a day to do the jobs the busy days crowd out.
Questions from shopkeepers
- How often should I change my window display?
- How do I turn browsers into regulars?
- How do I avoid burning out running a shop?
A good place to start
What to do on a slow day in your shop. A short list that turns empty hours into next month’s sales.
Encouragement and practical ideas for people who run small shops