The Retail Whisperer Podcast
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The Retail Whisperer Podcast

Welcome to The Retail Whisperer Podcast by me, Michelle Sherrier: a podcast of stories and lessons from a life in retail. After decades spent in the retail industry, I’ve seen and done it all. Join me every week as I interview people from all walks of retail, the service industry, the wholesale gift industry, and more. We’ll talk about what drives them, the things they love, and some of the biggest lessons they have learned along the way.

Brace yourself for The Retail Whisperer Podcast, a podcast that entertains and educates!

EP 258: WHEN THE PACKAGE SELLS BEFORE THE PRODUCT WITH KELLEY KEMPEL
The Retail Whisperer Podcast
EP 258: WHEN THE PACKAGE SELLS BEFORE THE PRODUCT WITH KELLEY KEMPEL
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Shelf Talk with Michelle & Susan

Real Talk. Retail Trends. Fresh Perspectives.

Welcome to Shelf Talk, a monthly special edition of The Retail Whisperer Podcast featuring host Michelle Sherrier and co-host Susan Esayian!

Join Michelle and Susan once a month for candid conversations about retail trends, store experiences, seasonal favorites, and everything happening in the world of retail. From industry insights to their latest obsessions, nothing is off the shelf!

Have a burning retail question? We'd love to hear from you!

Submit your questions for Michelle and Susan, and yours might be featured in an upcoming Shelf Talk episode!

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS HERE

New Shelf Talk episodes every month!

You can catch all Shelf Talk episodes right here on The Retail Whisperer Podcast, alongside our regular episodes. No need to subscribe to a separate show. Just tune in on your favorite podcast platform and enjoy!

Recent Episodes

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258
Nov. 11, 2026

EP 258: WHEN THE PACKAGE SELLS BEFORE THE PRODUCT WITH KELLEY KEMPEL

Kelley Kempel is a packaging designer with over 20 years of experience, including in-house roles at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s. She has seen firsthand how packaging impacts buying decisions long before a customer reads the About page. Today, she helps product-based businesses move from “good enough” packaging to packaging that’s clear, confident, and built to sell. Her work blends strategy and design to make sure packaging does its job. Communicating what the product is, who it’s for, a
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257
Nov. 4, 2026

EP 257: WHEN GREAT RETAIL GOES BEYOND THE MERCHANDISE WITH MARC & RICK

Marc and Rick are husbands and owners of nook in Mt. Juliet, TN. Marc's first store, also called nook, was located in Rochester, NY and was phenomenally decimated by the recession of 2008. Marc is a trained scientist, former librarian and current hospice nurse who has worked at Entertainment Weekly and People magazines, taught at the University of Michigan and worked as a Senior Content Strategist at a global digital ad agency. He loves helping new wholesale vendors get their feet wet and is ...
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256
Oct. 28, 2026

EP 256: FOLLOWING YOUR INSTINCTS AND BUILDING A MAGICAL RETAIL BUSINESS WITH KRISTA NESTORUK

Krista Nestoruk has always loved design and decorating. Twelve years ago, her dream of opening a shop became reality when she founded Tweedside Road in a seaside tourist town. Two years later, she opened a second location in the capital city of her province. Tweedside Road has also been a spiritual journey for Krista, and the shop has evolved alongside her over the years. Two years ago, she opened another shop in the neighboring city of Saint John called Emporia. Krista and her husband
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Oct. 21, 2026

INSPIRING STORES, THOUGHTFUL DETAILS & RETAIL DISCOVERIES — SHELF TALK WITH CO-HOST SUSAN ESAYIAN

In this episode, Michelle and Susan Esayian are sharing inspiration from their recent travels, from Michelle's retail adventures in Seattle to Susan's shopping experiences in London and Paris. They explore what makes a store unforgettable, the importance of thoughtful merchandising, and how small details can create an incredible customer experience. From beautifully curated displays and creative store layouts to finding fresh ideas outside your everyday routine, they're reminding retailers wh
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255
Oct. 14, 2026

EP 255: THE JOURNEY THAT MADE ME THE RETAIL WHISPERER

In this episode, Michelle opens up about the emotional journey behind rebranding The Retail Whore Podcast to The Retail Whisperer. She takes us back to her days owning three stores at Fred Segal, the devastating experience of losing everything, and the lessons that shaped her career in retail. From overcoming failure and letting go of past shame to finally embracing her experience and accomplishments, Michelle shares why this new chapter is about more than just changing a podcast name. It's a
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254
Oct. 7, 2026

EP 254: WHEN A TEENAGE BUSINESS IDEA BECOMES A RETAIL CAREER WITH MATT TRIEST

Matt Triest is an entrepreneur, retailer, and small business owner with more than 15 years of experience in retail and e-commerce. He is the owner of Be Charmed, an independent gift shop in Medfield, Massachusetts, where he has spent almost a decade creating a unique shopping experience. Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Matt has owned and operated businesses across several industries, including a toy store, a pet store, and an online and wholesale clothing and jewelry business. He also
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Recent Blog Posts

Sept. 20, 2024

Rethinking Everyday Materials

I think a lot of people overthink displays when it comes to the storytelling aspect. Is it going to be expensive? That question seems to be the biggest hurdle. Props and materials don't have to be expensive. They can be items from the grocery stor…
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Aug. 28, 2024

No Plastic Risers (Insert Joan Crawford voice)

Holy Cow…how is it almost September? I owe you all an apology! This was meant to be a  monthly blog and true to form, I fell off the wagon. Show seasons are challenging and I find  myself at the end of the day just wanting to unplug. I’m happily hom…
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June 5, 2024

Bin it to Win it

Happy June! As promised, I am covering my biggest and best lessons from my time at Anthropologie. We are starting at the beginning with binning. Binning is one of the tricks that can do several things at once. It gives value to inexpensive item…
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Reviews

Highly recommended

"No fluff and just realness. Thank you Michelle for these honest conversations!"

Gyc2019 | May 5, 2025

Cant wait for the next one

"Knowing Michelle for over 5 years, I’ve learned so much about her past. It’s funny, informative and full of advises which I can apply to my store right away. Thank you and please keep making this Pod…"

Yana from Grow | July 11, 2021

A peek into the world of retail

"One episode in and I’m hooked. Michelle is a great storyteller which is perfect because the art of retail is really about being a storyteller."

Airdromes | July 8, 2021

Absolute MUST and absolute LOVE.

"I cant remember how I came across this podcast but it was like an angel came from heaven and said I know you need this…here🤣 Been in retail for years and I dont really have a lot of friends in retail…"

Fergus leave that food alone | Feb. 9, 2022

OMG - my people! 🙌🏼

"Michelle is seriously my kinda people. Her combination and humor, knowledge, and keeping it real is exactly what I need in business and life. Love how Michelle is a true supporter of the retail and c…"

Kitty Meow Boutique | Feb. 17, 2022

So good! So good!

"I love the variety to speakers Michelle finds for The Retail Whole Podcast, her topics are so broad, yet everything is relevant to the industry. It's a must listen!! Thank you for stepping into this …"

Tara Thorn | June 21, 2022

Great podcast!

"Michelle really knows retail and her respect and caring for retailers really shines through!"

None of your bees guts | June 5, 2025
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