In this special recast episode of Rooted in Retail, I speak with the legendary Santa Claus himself.

Santa shares invaluable advice for retailers to navigate the holiday season, emphasizing the importance of planning, keeping staff morale high, and creating a magical in-store experience.

Get ready to take notes on Santa's innovative ideas such as hosting holiday scavenger hunts, setting up AR experiences, and organizing surprise flash sales. With personalized service tips and a look into the future of retail, this episode is packed with insights to help independent retailers thrive.

Join me, as we revisit this enchanting conversation with Santa Claus!

[00:00] Santa Claus is Coming to Town

[01:44] Santa's Marketing Tips for Retailers

[05:24]Creating Magical In-Store Experiences

[10:29] Creating Unexpected Surprises for Customers

[13:51] Offering Personalized Touches in Retail

[15:49] How Retailers can Connect with their Communities

[16:52] Episode Sponsor: EVOLVE

[18:39] Resilience Round with Santa

[22:03] Santa's Christmas Wishes

Get all the details on our website at: https://www.crystalmediaco.com/episodes/creating-magical-holiday-experiences-with-santa-claus/

We used Synthesia to Create Santa!

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In this episode of After the Show, I’m reflecting on my latest interview with Hollei Anne Hayes. She’s a talented product designer whose work you might have seen at Target and Toys “R” Us. We had an incredible conversation about what it takes to make your products stand out and the impact of design on customer engagement.

One key theme we explored was the importance of emotional connection in product design and branding. I’ll share some of my personal takeaways, but trust me, you don’t want to miss the full episode to get the complete picture.

I also had a serendipitous moment recently that tied into our discussion about creating content that builds an emotional connection—tune in to hear how it all connects and what it means for you as indie retailers.

[02:41] Why emotional connection matters in business

[04:25] Creating feelings through your content

[05:51] Why businesses that succeed tell stories

[07:00] Auditing your content for emotions

Get all of the details and resources on our website: https://www.crystalmediaco.com/episodes/why-your-customers-need-to-feel-something/

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail

Join our Rise and Shine newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers - https://www.crystalmediaco.com/

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

Today, we’re diving into all things product design. I’m joined by Hollei Anne Hayes, who owns a creative studio specializing in product design and branding for product-based businesses. Even if you’re not designing your own products, you’re going to love this episode.

Hollei has over a decade of experience working with brands like Toys R Us and Skip Hop. As the owner of Hollei Anne Design Co., she’s designed for the homegoods, stationery, gift, and textile industries, with her work featured at Target, Home Goods, and Hallmark.

Hollei’s passion is creating trendy designs for entrepreneurial women in retail, so she’s the perfect fit for us here at Rooted in Retail! We’re chatting about what makes products pop on the shelves—and how to connect even deeper with your customers to ensure your products get chosen.

[03:17] The most effective branding strategies to help products stand out

[07:22] How to secure shelf space in major retail chains

[09:05] How long it took to land Hollei's artwork in big box stores

[12:34] The power of TikTok for trend research

[19:38] Episode Sponsor: Ads Management with Crystal Media

[20:44] How creating affordable yet beautiful products pushes Hollei to innovate

[24:37] 3 ways to make your product shine brighter than the competition on store shelves

[29:02] Hollei's resilience round

Get all of the resources on our website at https://www.crystalmediaco.com/episodes/how-to-make-your-products-pop-with-hollei-anne-hayes/

Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail

Join our Rise and Shine newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers - https://www.crystalmediaco.com/

Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454