Notes:

Today I’m chatting with Christie Carter-Tokairin, a fabulous retailer seeing such great success throughout her 10 years in business at her beautiful shop, Revived Vintage. Christie has been an active and invested member of The Retailer’s Inner Circle since it began. I’m so proud to have her share some of her wisdom and some of her success secrets as she navigates her 10th year as a small shop owner of a successful creative retail business. 

 

We discuss throughout the episode some of the biggest issues facing so many independent shop owners: (1) building and nurturing community with customers and in your real community, (2) working full time with your husband, (3) navigating mental health and being true to what matters, (4) how to have boundaries around your business (Christie doesn’t bring her laptop home at night), and so much more.  

 

“I used to think that if I was working on my business every minute of every day, it would grow faster, better, stronger. And I did that when it first opened, and I found that that was actually not true at all.” - Christie Carter-Tokairin

Pay particular attention to our conversation about taking care of ourselves, letting things go, and being open and honest about our mental health. She also shares my passion for being community minded in your town. Being a good active member of your own town has such an incredible ROI on your mind and pocketbook. 

 

“There is no gold metal for hustling.” - Wendy Batten

She exemplifies a shop owner doing it her way, making decisions based on life first, then around her beautiful business. It’s very inspiring. 

 

So, let’s go and listen in on our chat about life and business as a small shop owner! 

https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/

 

About Christie

Christie Carter-Tokairin is the owner of Revived Vintage in beautiful Qualicum Beach, BC.  Revived Vintage is a beautifully curated creative shop, featuring artistically inspired furniture, home decor, & accessories. She’s an incredible artist and also does custom painted furniture, offers workshops and is a go-to for creative paints and supplies. 

 

She has been reviving furniture for over 25 years and is well known, in both Alberta and British Columbia for her creative designs, knowledge of refinishing, the quality of her work and attention to detail. Her husband Craig has been sanding, repairing and building right alongside her and with his knowledge of refinishing and corporate career experience, this is a true family run, passion driven small business.

 

Christie and Craig have been featured in numerous newspapers and magazine articles, as well as interviewed on CBC radio. Their business model and logo were featured in a University Business Marketing program and in 2018, Christie was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Qualicum Beach Community Awards.  

 

Christie and Craig are celebrating their 10th business anniversary this summer!

 

Christie has been an active member of the Retailer’s Inner Circle since its inception, and one to follow. 

 

Follow Revived Vintage on Facebook

Follow Revived Vintage on Instagram

Website: Revived Vintage

 

Other episodes you may enjoy…

Episode 88: Retailer Success Series: Making Pivotal (and scary) CEO Decisions with Retailer Melanie Kolb

 

Episode 113: Retail Success Series: Growth Mindset with Jeff Lee from The Vintage Nest

 

Episode 133: Retailer Success Series: Community, Culture, and CEO Mindset with Amy Cseh

 

Episode 132: Retailer Success Series: Community Marketing Strategies with Millie Blackwell | Episode 132

 

Episode 39: Retailer Success Series: How Jill Went from Hobbyist to Creative CEO

About your host, Wendy Batten

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer’s Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business. 

Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I’ve helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer’s Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence. 

I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers.

When I’m not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I’d love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/ 

 

For more support from Wendy

 

Retailer’s Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer’s community

 

Wendy’s FREE Resources for shop owners 

 

Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG 

 

All of Wendy’s programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. 

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