Hello #BraveFriends in today’s episode we'll be talking about a topic that's been all over the news recently. Are brick and mortar businesses dead?  In a world where everything is becoming digital, it's actually more important than ever to show up in person. Tune in to find out why. 

Our guest, Sonja Thompkins is an expert in the retail field. She helps brick & mortar boutique owners attract loyal customers. Sonja has been recognized thanks to her brick and mortar boutique businesses receiving a letter of recognition by the United States Congress for her work as a local business owner and the Neighborhood Business of the Year Award by the mayor of St. Louis, Missouri in 2001. Sonja believes that being rigid has no place in entrepreneurship and you have to be able to adjust if you want to grow your business long-term.

Tune in now to hear everything about the future of brick and mortar businesses and to find out why you should still show up in person even when you run an online company.

Here are a Few Nuggets of Wisdom From this Episode 
 

• Brick and Mortar doesn't have to mean a massive flagship store. It can be a pop up event you organize on a shoe-string budget. The goal is to bring people together in real life and to foster connections that may take months or years to build online.

People are looking for high touch customer service and elevated experiences, and if you are in a store or a live event, that can be instant."

• There's an aspect of shopping in person that you cannot replicate online. When a person enters your store, you can answer all their questions and overcome their objections. They can touch the products; they can try them on. This is why it's so important to pay attention to the people you're hiring, the people who are interacting with your customers. People are looking for high touch customer service and elevated experiences, and if you are in a store or a live event, that can be instant.
• If you're an online business owner, you need to show up. Start doing in-person events at least twice a year. You can do pop-ups or collaborate with a brand that already has a store. You could also partner with someone else, or host your own pop-up or event. It's just about getting out of your own head and thinking outside of the box.
• You don’t have to go traditional; you don’t need a twelve-page business plan, you don’t have to take out loans in order to afford your brick and mortar space. Be creative, be patient with yourself and your ideas and just get started.

Get inspired with Sonja's tools mentioned during the episode
 

• Take Sonja’s quiz: bitly.com/boutiquequiz
• Sonja’s Website: http://www.brickandmortarmaven.com

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