Two Minute Tweaks w/ Lisa Uhrik

Tweak #095: Special 6 Minute Tweak on Financial Strategies

We've been talking with a lot of people who are rebuilding after losses – and we want to help. This special edition of the Tweak is focused around Franklin Fixtures as unique assets with hopes of giving a workable strategy for all the rebuilders, as well as those looking to expand their operations.

Three strategic insights, three paths to financing and one or two good ideas are all packed into this unique six-minute tweak. Click to listen now!

 

Tweak #094: Mindy Massey of Anthropologie Brings Us "Home"

It's a tiny word with a big mind shift: home. 

We've long adopted the third space mindset, but Mindy Massey's use of a different word took it further and gave Lisa pause – and a useful insight for our bookshops. Click to listen now.

Tweak #093: Omnium rerum vicissitudo

Omnium rerum vicissitudo — holding Edsel Fords Cufflinks and Leonard Snart's wisdom, Lisa Uhrik reflects how PLENTY Downtown Bookshop, during their second relocation in as many years, faced unexpected challenges during renovation and re-opening operations, and how the bookshop team embraced flexibility and improvisation to overcome obstacles.

 

Make the plan, execute the plan, expect the plan to go off the rails, throw away the plan. Sound familiar?

 

Resilience and adaptability is needed in today's ever-changing landscape. How are you dealing with the unexpected? Click to listen now.

Tweak #092: Mr. Rogers and You

Like Mr. Fred Rogers, you're creating a special sort of space for your neighbors. And there are three specific things you're doing that he did too. Let's think for a moment together about those things – listen now!

 

Audio credit to Fred Rogers and PBS, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

Tweak #091: Moving Our Fences

Join Lisa Uhrik as she shares an inspiring story of a real-life Christmas miracle, and reminds us that each of us has the power to move things — fences, mountains and hearts.  What are your fences that need moving in 2025?

Tweak #090: Join or Die

Inspired by Robert Putnam's book Bowling Alone and Netflix special Join or Die, we're exploring the reason we'll likely have no Christmas parade in our small town this year... and importantly, underscoring the vital importance of the small gatherings we facilitate as bookstores.  As we navigate a world where traditional community bonds are weakening, we are reminded of the power of connection and the importance of revitalizing our communal ties. From the significance of book clubs to the potential of shared community initiatives, this week's tweak highlights why fostering a sense of togetherness is more vital than ever.

Tweak #089: Not Rote, but Real

Peter Miller's Shopkeeping book inspires a look at the way we greet each other in the bookshop. We all are subject to falling into our routines and this is perhaps the most profound tweak yet, rooted in the simplicity of a real "I see you" greeting. 

Let this episode inspire you to foster real relationships and enrich the experiences of everyone who walks through your doors. Listen now!

Tweak #088: Preparing for the Unimaginable

As we think about and offer help to our colleagues hurt by Hurricane Helene, it's a moment to take stock of those things we don't think about every day: insurance, fighting for our rights, and how to get the payouts when we need them. Click to listen now!

Tweak #087: The "Pow" of Specialness and Scarcity at Powell's

If Indiana Jones went for the Holy Grail and found it in a heap of other stuff, it wouldn't seem nearly so worth the quest. Let's look at the power of creating feelings of specialness and scarcity in your displays this week with a great example from Madeleine Moore at Powell's Books.  

Tweak #086: Are We Telling Our Stories This Well?

Inspired by the NPR article on DJ Johnson's Baldwin & Co, we're thinking about telling the story of your store today. How is it possible for a person in TN to know so much about a store in NOLA – to know their story, their initiatives, their whys?  It's rooted in great storytelling, and inspires us all to think about our uniquely wonderful store's stories. Click to listen now!