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PODCAST

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of Seasonal Trade

The Seasonal Operator Podcast is dedicated to Christmas and the business of seasonal trade.Hosted by Nicole Keleher, the podcast explores what it really takes to run a successful seasonal business — across Christmas retail, decorating, installations, suppliers and wholesale.Episodes feature real conversations with industry operators and customers, alongside insights on Christmas trends, customer experience, planning, strategy and practical marketing ideas.If you work in the Christmas industry or run

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

6:21

Maximise EOFY Opportunities Without Discounting...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/06/12

EOFY is here, and the Australian Retailers Association is predicting $10.5 billion in sales. But with online shopping tipped to drop 11% from last year, what does that mean for small retailers? In this episode, I break down what these numbers tell us about changing consumer behaviour—and how you can position your business to take advantage of it. We’ll talk about: What the EOFY sales forecast means for independent retailersWhy in-store experiences matter more than everHow to build perceived v...

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22:50

Retail Revival: Why Your Next Sales Event Should Be...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/06/09

Retail is coming home — literally. In this episode, we dive into the surprising resurgence of in-home shopping events. Once the domain of Tupperware parties, home-based retail is getting a modern makeover. We explore why today's consumers are craving connection over clicks, how savvy brands are blending experience with exclusivity, and what makes a lounge room gathering more effective than a digital campaign. You'll learn: What’s fuelling the comeback of home shopping eventsHow to create an...

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11:47

The Backup Plan: What Every Solo Business Owner Needs

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/06/05

If you had to step away from your business tomorrow—would it survive without you? In this Retail Success Series episode from our KISS – Keep It Simple series, we're tackling a topic too many small business owners avoid: emergency planning. From sudden illness to unexpected life events, having a simple plan in place can save you stress, protect your customer relationships, and keep things ticking along. Tune in to hear real-life lessons, smart tips, and the key areas you need to prepare—before...

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51:26

Turn Customer Experience Into Your Best Marketing...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/06/02

Dan Gingiss is an international keynote speaker, customer experience coach, and author who believes that remarkable customer experiences are the best form of marketing. His latest book, Becoming the Experience Maker, has just hit the shelves—and it was an absolute joy to chat with him on the podcast. In today’s competitive retail landscape, customer experience is your superpower. It’s the one thing your competitors can’t copy—because it comes from you, your team, and the values that set your ...

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14:50

A Retail Merchandising Strategy That Makes Customers Buy

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/29

If your customers seem overwhelmed by options—or default to the cheapest item—this episode is for you. Nicole Keleher shares a practical, proven merchandising strategy to help shoppers choose with ease and spend with confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to structure your product range into three clear tiers to guide confident decisionsSimple visual display tips that boost perceived value and encourage higher spendWays to train your team to present options effectively without pressur...

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17:53

The Hero Product Play: A Retail Strategy That Sells...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/26

Want to increase your average order value without devaluing your brand? In this episode of the Retail Success Series, Nicole Keleher unpacks a powerful retail strategy built around the Hero Product Play: a clever, reward-based offer that drives conversions, increases basket size, and keeps your brand value intact. Discover how to: How to create high-perceived-value promotions without blanket discountsWhy threshold-based offers outperform traditional salesThe psychology behind customer motivat...

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7:59

Why Your Bestsellers Deserve More Love: The 80/20...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/22

Want faster growth, higher profits, and less wasted effort in your retail business? This episode dives into one of the simplest and most powerful strategies to sharpen your buying, marketing, and results — giving more love to your bestsellers. Nicole Keleher breaks down how the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) applies to retail and why your top-performing products hold the key to bigger, faster wins. You’ll learn how to: Identify your true bestsellers (even without fancy reporting tools)Pr...

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19:14

Makeup, Meaning & Marketing: What Holme Beauty Gets...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/19

In this episode, we explore how a beauty brand built during uncertain times became a masterclass in customer connection and values-driven retail. Join me, Nicole Keleher, as I unpack the story behind Holme Beauty—an independent brand that has redefined what it means to show up for your customers. From the power of product rituals during lockdown to the evolution of online education, brand storytelling, and inclusive design, Holme Beauty stands out not just for its quality makeup, but for how ...

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10:36

The Easy Marketing Wins You Might Be Missing: Bundle...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/15

Feeling like your customers are hesitating, overwhelmed, or walking away without buying? This episode dives into one of the smartest tools in your retail toolkit: product bundling. Whether you run a boutique, an online store, or a lifestyle brand, bundling can help you increase average order value, reduce decision fatigue, and make the buying process feel effortless. We’ll explore how to create curated product sets that feel natural, solve problems, and elevate your customer experience withou...

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22:59

Make Content Without the Stress: Go-To Tools & Easy Tips

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/12

Creating content for your small business doesn’t have to be stressful and Nicole Keleher is here to show you how easy it can be. In this episode, Nicole shares her favourite fuss-free tools and practical tips for making great content straight from your phone. Whether you're a handmade maker, boutique owner, or running a shopfront, this one’s packed with value. Nicole walks through the everyday gear that helps her stay consistent — from a basic tripod to a clever little teleprompter app ...

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13:53

The New Power Shopper: Rethinking Retail for a...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/08

Today, we’re challenging outdated ideas about what aging looks like — and why it’s time retail caught up. There’s a vibrant, stylish, and switched-on generation with the time, confidence, and spending power to match — but too often, they’re overlooked. In this episode, we’re exploring the massive opportunities in designing better store experiences, smarter product ranges, and more inclusive marketing that truly welcomes customers of all ages and stages. From small layout tweaks to smarter pro...

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54:13

New Chapters & Bold Moves: Rosie Wauchope’s Journey...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/05

In this inspiring episode, Nicole Keleher sits down with Rosie Wauchope, the passionate owner of Mallalieu Lifestyle — a boutique fashion and lifestyle store based in Auburn Village, Melbourne. Rosie shares her journey from corporate life to retail business ownership during Melbourne’s lockdowns, and how a spontaneous opportunity led her to purchase an existing boutique rather than build from the ground up. Together, they explore the realities of running a small retail business in Austr...

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7:29

Style It, Use It: The Simple Content Series That...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/05/01

If you want customers to buy, love, and keep what they buy, you need more than great products—you need to show them how to use them. In this episode of the Retail Success Series, I’m sharing one simple marketing strategy you can launch this week: the Style It, Use It content series. This approach builds customer confidence, reduces returns, and keeps them coming back for more. Whether you're camera-shy or love to go live, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create inspiring, conf...

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15:40

The Little Things: How Personal Service Makes a Big...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/28

What if the most powerful retail lessons weren’t found in a store, but on a spontaneous holiday in tropical Far North Queensland? In this episode of the Retail Success Series, I’m sharing the story of a resort stay that flipped the switch from cautious consumer to raving fan—and unpacking exactly why it worked so brilliantly. From a private pool to personalised pre-arrival touches that made me feel like royalty, I’ll walk you through how this luxury experience can inspire game-changing shifts...

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9:33

Brava Lingerie: The Gold Standard in Customer Experience

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/24

For Australian retail business owners, creating an exceptional customer experience is key to long-term success—and Brava Lingerie is leading the way. Specialising in bra fittings for fuller-busted women, Brava has transformed what is often a frustrating shopping experience into one that is empowering, inclusive, and confidence-boosting. With expertly trained fitters who provide no-tape-measure fittings, personalised customer service both in-store and online, and marketing that represents real...

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56:46

Customer Experience: Building Trust, Consistency, and...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/21

In this episode of the Retail Success Series, I sat with the brilliant and ever-insightful Mathew Unwin—a customer experience strategist whose journey has taken him from top-tier sales to concierge desks, robotic engineering (yes, really), and building digital-first experiences at Telstra and Deakin University. Together, they unpack: Why unmet expectations are the #1 reason relationships break downThe power of setting (and meeting!) clear expectations across every customer touchpointHow small...

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11:03

The Secret to Customer Loyalty: Lessons from Taking...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/17

What makes a retail brand truly stand out and keep customers coming back? For me, Taking Shape (TS) has been that brand for years. From their rewarding loyalty program to fast, reliable shipping and seamless in-store experiences, they’ve created a shopping journey that feels effortless and enjoyable. In this episode of the Retail Success Series, I’m sharing what makes TS so successful and what retailers can learn from them. I’ll talk about their engaging fashion parades, their easy return pro...

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28:38

Creativity Meets Strategy: Behind the Brand with...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/14

This week on the Retail Success Series, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Iris Saar Isaacs – the designer and founder behind inSync Design. Iris' story is a brilliant example of how creativity and strategy can co-exist to build a business that’s not only successful but deeply fulfilling. From selling 70 brooches at a local market to becoming stocked in over 90 museums around the world, her journey is packed with lessons for creatives and retailers alike. We chat about how Iris pivoted dur...

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9:03

Retail Raves: How Evidence Skin Care nails Customer...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/10

In this Retail Rave episode, I’m spotlighting Evidence Skin Care (ESK)—a brand that’s setting the standard for customer experience in the skincare industry. From their BS-free marketing and real customer testimonials to their rewarding loyalty program and customer-first policies, ESK is a prime example of how integrity and smart strategies drive business success. I’ll break down the key elements that make them stand out, including: The power of authenticity in branding How incentiv...

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13:41

Mastering Facebook & Instagram Live: Connect, Engage...

The Seasonal Operator: Christmas and the Business of... ·

2025/04/07

Going live on Facebook or Instagram is one of the best ways to engage with your audience, showcase your products, and boost sales in real time. But if the idea of being on camera makes you anxious, you’re not alone! Many business owners struggle with the fear of live video, but the good news is—you don’t need to be perfect to make an impact. In this episode of the Retail Success Series, I’ll walk you through why live streaming is such a valuable tool for your business, how to structure your s...

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122 results

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