Bringing Business to Retail

What does hunting for Airbnb properties have to do with buying inventory?
More than you think.
In this episode, I break down how searching for rental properties to grow my Airbnb portfolio completely reframed how retailers should approach inventory buying.
When I inspect a property, I do not ask, Do I like it? I ask:
Will it generate cash flow?



What is the risk?



How quickly will I see a return?



What happens if demand shifts?



Yet when many retailers place inventory orders, they lead with emotion. They buy because they love it. Because it feels safe. Because the sales rep convinced them. Because it sold last year.
Inventory is not decor. It is not a hobby. It is not a vote for your personal taste. It is an investment.
In this episode, you will learn:
How to evaluate products like income producing assets



Why buying based on feelings damages profitability



The financial lens you must use before placing any order



How to reduce risk while increasing margin and cash flow



If you want to improve sales, increase cash flow, and stop tying up money in slow moving stock, this episode will change how you buy forever.
Ready to sell before you order? Get the Pre-Sales Campaign Toolkit: https://salenaknight.com/toolkit

You know that moment when you place a stock order and feel equal parts excited and anxious. You've done the maths. You've picked the colours. You've crossed your fingers.
And then the stock arrives… and it doesn't sell the way you hoped.
In this episode, Salena breaks down why ordering stock on hope is one of the biggest reasons retailers end up with cash stuck on shelves, reactive marketing, and constant discounting. You'll learn why selling should never be the reward for ordering, how treating selling as the starting line changes cash flow, and why most retailers aren't bad buyers – they're just starting in the wrong place.
This isn't about buying less or playing it safe. It's about flipping the order of operations so you stop guessing what will work and start making buying decisions based on proof, not belief.
Inside the episode:
Why ordering stock first quietly creates cash flow pressure

The difference between customer interest and real demand

How slow-moving inventory leads to fear-based buying decisions

Why discounting trains customers to wait instead of buy

How selling before ordering reduces risk and pulls cash forward

Why selling is the filter – not the reward – for ordering stock

Ready to sell before you order? Get the Pre-Sales Campaign Toolkit: https://salenaknight.com/toolkit

Emma thought she was "doing marketing." She posted. She emailed. She showed up when she could.
And then everything went quiet.
When she finally ran a promotion, nobody responded.
In this episode, Salena Knight breaks down why inconsistent marketing doesn't just slow growth – it actively works against you. You'll learn the three invisible costs of inconsistency that most retailers never factor in, why your promotions fall flat after a quiet period, and how inconsistency trains customers to forget you exist.
This isn't about posting more or working longer hours. It's about building a repeatable marketing system that keeps you visible, trusted, and top of mind – even when operations get busy.
Inside the episode:
Why inconsistent marketing resets customer awareness back to zero

How silence quietly erodes trust with your audience

The "abandoned cart of attention" and why your message never sticks

Why three posts is never enough (even if it feels repetitive)

How to fix inconsistent marketing without adding 20 more hours to your week

Many store owners assume cashflow problems come from marketing or pricing. In reality, some of the biggest profit leaks are hiding inside your product strategy.
In this episode, Salena unpacks three subtle but costly mistakes that drain cash even in businesses with strong sales and loyal customers. These issues compound quietly over time.
You'll learn why premium customers do not buy premium in every category, how to calculate true landed cost properly, and where opportunity cost is silently eroding your profit. This episode is a must-listen as you reorder stock and plan for growth in 2026.

Most retail and ecommerce business owners are exhausted, busy, and still stuck. Not because they're bad at business, but because they're spending their time in the wrong category of work.
In this episode, Salena breaks down the difference between BAU work and CEO work and introduces a clear, practical time allocation framework designed specifically for independent retailers and ecommerce founders.
You'll learn:
Why being busy does not equal progress

The four categories of CEO work and where your time should actually go

How most business owners are unknowingly trapping themselves in operations

A realistic 90-day time allocation target that does not require disappearing from the business

Three actions you can take this week to start shifting out of firefighting

If you feel like you're doing everything but still not moving forward, this episode will give you clarity and a way out.