Your business picture can be radically better. Learn how to get there

(& don’t miss your Craft Industry Alliance discount!)

What would change if you could…

  • Bring your inventory costs down.
  • Receive a consistent take-home pay.
  • Get crystal clear on your long-term business goals and profitability.
  • Go into the holiday season with momentum.
  • Start 2022 with a bang.

That doesn’t have to be for “someday…”

 

Set your business up to put money in YOUR pocket.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. While profit is the siren’s song.

In retail that’s especially true. It’s easy to feel frustrated, like you’ll be reinvesting in this business forever.

But you don’t have to keep reinvesting all your profits in inventory for 5, 10, or 15 years before you can take an owner’s draw or salary from your business. Set your business up for success with this live group coaching program designed specifically for creative independent retailers.

In this program, you’ll learn to:

  • confidently navigate leading your business effectively,
  • create a concrete plan to reduce your debts and increase your profits,
  • and consistently put money into your own pocket from your business without tearing your hair out.

Gwen has been transforming my business from a small cottage industry to a professional company. I am beginning to envision myself as a CEO and shed the insecurities of past partnerships. I am embracing the wins and am damn proud of how far I have come!

–Karla Overland

Gwen Bortner is a Virtual Fractional COO, Consultant and Speaker

Gwen helps stuck entrepreneurs get unstuck. With a passion for teaching, her superpower is delivering high-quality, actionable information that’s easy to understand and practical to apply.

In a world where being a specialist is often considered the “best choice”, Gwen is an exceptional generalist.

She has 20 years of experience working in the knitting and yarn world, plus a diverse set of experiences and a wide range of knowledge to draw on from outside industries. She formulates innovative solutions, presents new ideas, and creates transformational environments.

With multiple paths to increasing profits, reducing debt, and reining in expenses – even for craft-focused brick & mortar businesses – it is never a one-size-fits-all answer.

Your business doesn’t need slicker marketing.

Once you’re off the ground, operations (what’s happening under the hood) are what keep you business moving.

I call them the GEARS of Business Operations. GEARS stands for:

Goods – Products and services you sell
Effectiveness – Personal and team productivity, business leadership
Accountability – Prioritizing what is important and taking consistent action to reach goals
Resources – People, money, equipment, technology, and similar
Systems – Processes, routines, and reporting

A brick and mortar business doesn’t have to be a total headache or financial drain. It has the potential to be quite pleasent and profitable – when you have the right operational foundations in place.

Join Gwen Bortner and an intimate group of fellow retailers in this live group coaching where you’ll tackle the unique challenges of running an independent retail business.

My goals were to move my business to the next level, manage employees more effectively, and grow personally as a shop owner. We identified key areas for improvement, including working through an organizational chart to see how everything fits together. I’ve found myself calmer, more patient with customers, delegating more responsibility to my employees, and more easily able to tackle problems as they arise.

–Susan Post

Learn what to implement and implement what you learn.

This program is designed to get you implementing what you learn from day one. You’ll get:

  • independent retailer specific business consulting, all topics are welcome, this program is specifically designed to help you in the areas of business operations,
  • two 90-minute live calls each month, including individualized questions, consulting and coaching within your small group,
  • a small group of other retail business owners to learn alongside,
  • email accountability so you’ll be sure to implement what you’re learning
  • group quarterly review & planning sessions to analyze where you are and nail down where you want to go.

Plus unlimited email access to Gwen for as long as you’re involved in the program to get answers between live calls and keep your momentum going.

Calls are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at noon PT / 3pm ET.

Don’t miss your Craft Industry Alliance discount!

Monthly subscription of

$500

$450 for CIA members!

Even a tiny self-employed fish in a small niche-industry pond deserves the best. With Gwen’s expert guidance, I have been able to reframe my haphazard mess of freelance jobs and contract work into a smartly aligned, sharply focused business, while effortlessly turning (and enjoying) my first-ever profit.

Sarah Peasley

Owner, Handknitter