Retail Trends 2026: What Indie Stores Must Do to Grow
In the final episode of Rooted in Retail for 2025, Crystal Vilkaitis, the Wolf of Main Street, looks back at the year and shares the most important strategies retailers should carry into 2026. From elevating in-store experiences to strengthening employee training, improving ads, mastering live selling, and embracing AI, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start using right away to grow your retail business.
Crystal breaks down what is working now, what is fading fast, and what every independent retailer should focus on to make 2026 the strongest year yet.
🎯 What You’ll Learn:
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Elevating In-Store Experiences
02:21 The Power of In-Person Events
05:29 Investing in Your Team
07:36 IndERA Commercial
09:04 Paid Social Ads Strategy
15:48 The Broadway Analogy for Ads
17:24 Live Selling Growth
19:20 Doing It Messy
21:26 Sponsor Commercial: Just Got to Have It
23:05 Bringing Curiosity to 2026
24:43 Embracing AI
26:10 Stop the "Spray and Pray" Social Strategy
32:03 Establishing a Marketing Budget
33:33 Stop Waiting for Perfection
36:24 Don't Do It Alone
38:31 What's In Store for 2026
41:26 Outro
Links:
Just2Have It - https://www.justgot2haveit.com/
This conversation is part of a special Pro-only coaching call, the type members usually access inside IndERA Pro. Want more deep-dive sessions like this? Use code HOLIDAY to save $503 on your yearly Pro membership. You’ll get instant access to every 2025 replay and can start saving the dates for all 2026 coaching calls!
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Retail Trends 2026: What Indie Stores Must Do to Grow: In the final episode of Rooted in Retail for 2025, Crystal Vilkaitis, the Wolf of Main Street, looks back at the year and shares the most important strategies retailers… #RetailTrends #IndieStores #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LiveSelling