Saying “no” might just be THE most powerful move you can make in retail.

In this episode, Kristin dives deep into the art of knowing when and how to walk away from a retail deal that doesn’t serve your brand. Drawing from 21+ years of experience with giants like Costco & Amazon, she shares why strategic compromise is necessary, but blind agreement can destroy your margins, team morale, & reputation.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify your non-negotiable margins before saying yes
• The difference between smart compromise & financial suicide
• How to spot red flags like one-sided relationships and scope creep
• Why trusting your operational gut can save your business
• The exact language to use when you need to walk away gracefully

Whether you’re prepping for your first retail pitch or navigating a holiday promo gone sideways, this episode will help you protect your profits, your peace, & your partnerships.

Make margin, not excuses.

And remember, retail doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require strategy.

Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course

If this episode made you think "finally, someone who gets it"—you def need my Retailish newsletter in your life.

📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen

Your product might be incredible but if you’re tracking the wrong metrics, it won’t stand a chance in retail.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the exact data that separates retail dreamers from retail winners. After 15 years as a Fortune 50 retail buyer managing a $4B portfolio, I’ve seen too many DTC brands crash and burn—not because their products weren’t great, but because they were focused on the wrong numbers.

You’ll learn:

• The real metrics retail buyers care about (hint: it’s not your follower count)
• How to set up your data tracker for clear, strategic insights
• Why context—year-over-year, month-over-month, and week-over-week—matters more than any single number
• How to connect events to outcomes so you can make informed, confident decisions
• A simple, no-fluff system to start tracking your sales velocity toda

If you’re ready to stop guessing, start winning, and speak the language retail buyers actually understand, this episode is your blueprint.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to use data to turn your retail dreams into actual purchase orders.

Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course

If this episode made you think "finally, someone who gets it"—you def need my Retailish newsletter in your life.

📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen

Everyone loves to whisper sweet nothings about “building your brand,” but let’s cut the crap.

Retail buyers? They don’t give two hoots about your carefully curated brand vibe or how your logo makes people feel. They want to know if your product’s going to sell. Full stop.

Because retail buyers aren’t betting on your mood board. They’re betting on your numbers.

In this episode, I’m spilling the kind of truth that gets me uninvited from brunch with brand coaches:

→ Why “community” & “culture” sound good on paper but don’t move product off shelves

→ What cash really means in retail (and no, it’s not just about having it—it’s about proving you deserve it)

→ The backroom conversations buyers are having while you’re obsessing over your font pairings

→ How to walk into a retail pitch like you’ve already made them money

→ The heartbreaking reality of what happens when your dream product doesn’t sell—and who pays the price (spoiler: it’s you)

Listen, I’m not here to rain on your rebrand parade—I’m here to make sure you get paid. So if you’re ready to stop building castles in Canva and start building cash flow that gets you stocked, sold, & scaling?

Then let’s talk about what buyers actually want because it’s not your Pinterest board.

Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course

📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen