Podcasts Episodes

Annie B. Jones, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA, joins Carrie on The Localist this week. Annie was fortunate that The Bookshelf already had a strong online presence before the pandemic hit, but she describes how they completely pivoted to virtual events, and how those events have evolved based on logistics. Annie and Carrie talk about juggling different aspects of owning a business, showing up on social media in an authentic way, and how you really need to know your own limits (and those of your staff!).

Morgan Johnston, artist and small shop owner in Birmingham, AL, joins Carrie on The Localist this week to talk about going into the holiday season as a small business owner during a pandemic. Morgan describes their strategy for helping people shop this season, and Carrie shares an idea for making a wishlist using Instagram. Community is an important part of Morgan’s shop’s mission, and she tells us how they’re maintaining community when gathering is difficult.

This week on The Localist, Carrie discusses the state of local businesses as we approach the holiday season (aka shopping season). Carrie dives in discussing You’ve Got Mail — just like the save-the-shop campaign wasn’t successful in the movie, Carrie believes they don’t work in real life either. But where does that leave us in 2020 when small businesses likely do need the utmost support we can give? Well, Carrie has an idea, and she wants your help to make it happen! Find details at thelocalistbham.com.

Susan Rollwagen, owner of Pepperbox Solutions (and also Carrie’s mom and secret weapon in business), is back on the podcast this week to dive into how business owners and managers can add value to the lives of their staff members. Trust is a huge component, and Susan details the many aspects of building trust and the ripple effect that can have in a company’s culture.

This week on the Localist, Pam Sanderson, Director of Account Development at Infomedia, joins Carrie to talk about everything you need to know about websites. Pam and Carrie dive in with where you should start when evaluating your website, and how to assess your goals. One of Pam’s best tips is to focus on your customers and your content first, and she gives you a road map to follow from there. Pam and Carrie then discuss the best ways to strike a balance between your users, good design, and Google’s algorithm (hint: consistent, quality content is a good place to start!).