The Art of Retail w/ Rachelle Clack, Odin Leather Goods | Beyond the Workbench #13

What does it take to create a retail space that sells, even when you're closed? This episode explores the strategy, psychology, and practical lessons behind effective merchandising for small business owners.

In Episode 13, Rachelle Clack (COO of Odin Leather Goods) shares how she built merchandising skills from the ground up, not from formal training, but from being an intentional customer and learning what actually works. She walks through the process of setting a retail space, the importance of outside-in perspective, why everything needs to move and change, and the mindset shifts required when running a small business.

From managing guilt to trusting your team, this conversation goes beyond merchandising into the real challenges of entrepreneurship.

GUEST:

Rachelle Clack

Chief Operating Officer at Odin Leather Goods, managing retail operations, merchandising, HR, events, and everything in between. Rachelle has built two successful retail locations in Texas while balancing entrepreneurship with community work, pageantry, and being a sports mom.

Instagram: @rclack and @ray_clack_official

TIMESTAMPS:

01:00 - Meet Rachelle & The COO of Everything

06:10 - How Rachelle Learned Merchandising

10:01 - The Outside-In Perspective

13:27 - Everything Moves: The Merchandising Game

18:45 - Customer Psychology & Store Flow

25:12 - Trusting Your Team

32:40 - Managing Multiple Roles in Small Business

41:15 - Letting Go of Guilt

48:22 - Health, Focus, and Productivity

55:03 - Activity vs. Productivity

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HOSTS:

Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather

Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released on the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

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