From Pork Rinds to Community Groceries: A Rural Success Story with Kelly Perry of Perry's Pork Rinds

In this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa chats with Kelly Perry, co-owner of Perry's Pork Rinds and Country Store in Bronson, Kansas. Kelly shares her journey from starting an e-commerce pork rind business to owning a multi-SKU grocery store in a town of 304 people. Faced with numerous challenges, including licensing, food handling certification, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly and her husband transitioned from their full-time jobs to build a thriving rural grocery store. With a focus on community relationships, local sourcing, and innovative product offerings, Perry's Pork Rinds and Country Store has become a local favorite and achieved significant growth. Kelly's inspiring story underscores resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in community-focused business success.

00:00 Introduction to Retail Retold

00:22 Meet Kelly Perry: From Kansas to pork rinds

01:18 The Unexpected journey to retail

02:35 Building a business from scratch

04:19 Expanding during the pandemic

06:15 Creating a micro grocery store

08:30 Learning the retail ropes

11:41 Community engagement and produce programs

13:39 The popularity of fresh produce

16:01 The difference between pork rinds and cracklins

18:20 24-Hour access inspiration

19:50 Website impressions and social media

20:14 Sales and Growth Journey

21:25 Expanding beyond the store

22:24 Online sales and email marketing

23:40 Local sourcing and community engagement

26:24 Building the store and overcoming challenges

28:29 Unique products and customer service

32:05 Future plans and pork rind expansion

34:48 Fun questions and conclusion

From Accounting to Fashion: Valerie Warren’s Leap with Mabel’s Landing

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris welcomes Valerie Warren, the dynamic founder and owner of Mabel's Landing, a women's clothing store in Williamsville, NY.

Valerie shares her inspiring journey of stepping into entrepreneurship from over 30 years in accounting following the closure of a beloved local store, Mabel Danahy’s. She talks about her transition from accounting to retail, the process of setting up her store, and the challenges and successes she encountered along the way. Valerie discusses the importance of location, her selective inventory approach, and how she maintains a personal touch through unique offerings like gift wrapping and in-house alterations.

She highlights the value of having a supportive team and the vital role of vendor relationships in her business success. Listeners also get a glimpse of Valerie's love for the local community, her stance on shopping local, and her thoughts on possibly expanding Mabel's Landing in the future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:23 Valerie's Background and Journey to Retail

01:28 Transition from Accounting to Retail

03:18 The Legacy of Mabel Danahy's

04:48 Starting Mabel's Landing

05:32 Building Relationships with Vendors

06:38 Choosing the Right Location

11:17 Challenges and Surprises in Retail

13:22 Customer Experience and Unique Offerings

18:44 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

20:14 Fun Questions and Conclusion

In this episode of 'What's in Store with Karly and Chris,' hosts Karly Iacono and Chris Ressa delve into the ongoing relevance of banks, drugstores, and movie theaters within the net lease sector.

They explore why banks are opening more branches, the challenges facing drugstores amid health care system complexities, and the sustained appeal of movie theaters despite rising entertainment costs.

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

01:15 Hot Topics in Net Lease Sector

01:48 The Resilience of Banks

09:13 The Future of Drugstores

18:27 The Evolution of Movie Theaters

27:32 Conclusion and Farewell

Sweet Success: Building a Cookie Empire with Angie Snediker

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa welcomes the founder and owner of Half Baked Cookies, Angie Snediker. Angie shares her journey from baking in her home kitchen to expanding her cookie business to three locations, including Lockport, Williamsville, and Buffalo. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of starting a business, the importance of providing freshly baked cookies for customers, and her unique flavors that set Half Baked Cookies apart from competitors. Angie also touches on her strategic approach to selecting store locations and her plans for future expansion.

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Meet Angie Snediker: Founder of Half Baked Cookies

00:47 The Journey from Kitchen to Storefront

01:47 Expansion and Success in New Locations

02:34 Unique Selling Points of Half Baked Cookies

03:43 Business Challenges and Triumphs

04:34 Choosing the Right Locations

08:54 Williamsville Store: A Success Story

14:49 Future Plans and Industry Insights

18:58 Fun Questions with Angie

20:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Unpacking Co-Tenancy Clauses: Are They Worth the Hassle?

Join host Chris Ressa on this episode of Retail Retold as he delves into the intricacies of co-tenancy clauses in retail leases. Discover the obligations landlords face, from maintaining occupancy levels to the potential remedies tenants can invoke. Chris discusses the high costs and effort associated with negotiating these clauses, the limited instances of lease termination, and proposes a need to evolve these provisions to better suit today's dynamic retail landscape. Tune in for insightful discussions and a thought-provoking look at an often overlooked aspect of commercial real estate.

00:00 Introduction to Retail Retold

00:24 Understanding Co-Tenancy Clauses

04:34 Types of Co-Tenancy Clauses

07:00 Challenges and Negotiations in Co-Tenancy

14:10 The Future of Co-Tenancy Provisions

21:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Franchise Mastery: The Secrets Behind Retail Expansion with Ty Brewster from LocateAI

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa delves into the world of franchise real estate with guest Ty Brewster, a franchise broker from Phoenix, Arizona, who specializes in national expansions.

Ty shares fascinating insights into his unique role, including utilizing LocateAI to track cell phone data and provide valuable location analytics for client franchises. He explains his journey from running Cold Stone Creamery locations to representing over 70 franchise brands, all while maintaining a tenant-only focus at his firm.

Ty's story about investing heavily in attending conferences and building relationships offers listeners a deep dive into the intricacies and commitments of succeeding in the franchise space.

Chris and Ty also touch on industry trends, the impact of rising interest rates on corporate growth, and the growing appeal of franchises amid economic uncertainty. The episode wraps up with a compelling case study of how Ty helped bring Hawaii’s beloved Seven Brothers Burgers to Utah, showcasing his dedication to franchise growth and strategic real estate decisions.

00:00 Introduction to Retail Retold

00:22 Meet Ty Brewster: Franchise Specialist

00:45 Understanding Franchise Real Estate

01:00 The Role of Technology in Franchise Growth

04:17 Challenges and Strategies in Franchise Real Estate

10:39 The Journey into Franchise Real Estate

17:54 The Importance of Investing in Yourself

26:28 Success Stories: Seven Brothers Burgers

31:54 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

Dave Burton: The Restaurateur Behind Tampa's Hottest Spots

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa sits down with Dave Burton, a Tampa-based restaurateur. Dave shares his passion for the restaurant industry, detailing his journey from running Gen X Tavern and Soho Sushi, to opening the exciting new Storm Runners Tavern. He discusses the challenges and joys of restaurant ownership, building a strong team, and navigating the evolving market. The episode also highlights Dave's innovative approach to opening The Getaway in St. Petersburg, transforming a neglected property into one of Florida's top beach bars. Dive into the world of hospitality with insider stories from one of the industry's biggest influencers.

What's in store this month? A better question might be what's on the menu?

Chris Ressa and CBRE's Karly Iacono are back and this months episode is all about the restaurant industry as Chris and Karly seek to answer one question; why are so many Americans going out to eat?