AI is no longer just for big-box retailers with massive budgets. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, Crystal Vilkaitis sits down with AI entrepreneur RJ Taylor to break down how small and independent retailers can practically use AI to save time, increase sales, and stay competitive without sacrificing authenticity or brand voice. RJ shares his journey from Salesforce to building and selling AI startups, then cuts through the hype to explain what actually matters for retailers right now. From faster email and website creation to predictive AI, real-time marketing, and ethical AI use, this conversation focuses on tools and habits retailers can realistically adopt today. If AI feels overwhelming but impossible to ignore, this episode will help you separate signal from noise and start using AI with clarity and confidence. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: 00:00 Introduction 02:33 RJ's Retail Tech Journey 04:00 AI as a Secret Weapon for Small Retailers 04:50 Generating Templates with AI 07:01 From Testing to Predicting Results 09:10 Sponsor Commercial: Just Got to Have It 10:48 How Much Time to Spend on AI? 13:28 DIY vs. Vendor Reliance for AI 16:47 The Competitive Edge of AI 18:13 Navigating AI Ethics & Transparency 20:53 Rooted in Retail Facebook Group Commercial 21:18 Real-Time Marketing with AI 27:21 Resilience Round 29:08 Connect with RJ 29:48 Outro Links: RJ Talyor’s predictive AI platform - RJ Talyor’s predictive AI platform Connect with RJ Talyor - http://www.linkedin.com/in/rjtalyor/ FB Group - www.justgot2haveit.com Just Got 2 Have It - www.justgot2haveit.com Join IndERA - Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt Book a Call with IndERA - https://indera.co 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! - Getting value from Rooted in Retail? Then you’ll love IndERA - the Independent Retailers Association, built from the same mission: to support, connect, and champion indie store owners. - Join for just $25/month or get found this holiday season when you join IndERA Pro to unlock access to your Get Listed done-for-you online listing management. Save $503 with the code HOLIDAY, and lock in that rate forever. JoinIndERA.com Get more traffic, more sales, and less stress. Our Facebook Ads Management service was built for independent retailers like you: https://www.indera.co/facebook-ads-management Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail Join our weekly newsletter at https://rootedinretail.com/newsletter/ Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

Start 2026 with clarity and intention. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, Crystal Vilkaitis shares a powerful systems-based AI prompt inspired by Dan Martell’s six-step framework. This tool helps retailers get clear on what they want, identify what is holding them back, and create a realistic plan they can review and adjust each week. Crystal walks through how to turn vague goals into a detailed “day in the life” vision, how to pinpoint the constraints limiting your growth, and how to build simple systems that support your progress all year long. Whether you love planning or struggle to know where to begin, this episode gives you a practical entry point to intentional growth in 2026. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: 00:00 Introduction 03:09 Discovering Dan Martell's Framework 04:30 The 6-Step Success Framework 05:13 Filling in the Blanks 06:31 Defining Your Vision & Time Horizon 09:37 Establishing Non-Negotiables & Values 11:15 Identifying Current Constraints & Bottlenecks 12:39 Defining "Winning" Metrics 13:48 Creating a 90-Day Action Plan 19:00 Building Systems & Automation 19:50 Sponsor Commercial: Just Got to Have It 21:28 Are You Feeling Overwhelmed? 22:50 The Upgrade Loop & Weekly Reviews 26:08 Crystal's Personal Example: Writing a Book 32:08 The Tiny Daily Operating System 36:53 How to Get the Prompt 37:54 Upcoming Episodes & Events 38:29 Outro Links: Dan Martell (YouTube Channel) - https://www.youtube.com/@danmartell https://www.youtube.com/@danmartell Join IndERA - Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt Book a Call with IndERA - https://indera.co 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! - Getting value from Rooted in Retail? Then you’ll love IndERA - the Independent Retailers Association, built from the same mission: to support, connect, and champion indie store owners. - Join for just $25/month or get found this holiday season when you join IndERA Pro to unlock access to your Get Listed done-for-you online listing management. Save $503 with the code HOLIDAY, and lock in that rate forever. JoinIndERA.com Get more traffic, more sales, and less stress. Our Facebook Ads Management service was built for independent retailers like you: https://www.indera.co/facebook-ads-management Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail Join our weekly newsletter at https://rootedinretail.com/newsletter/ Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

What makes customers return again and again not only to shop, but for the experience itself? In this special IndERA Pro coaching call, retail expert and Ari’s Pantry owner Ari Lowenstein breaks down his seven non-traditional product categories that increase engagement, encourage more frequent visits, and help retailers create stores people genuinely love to return to. Ari explains how these categories guide merchandising and content planning, why most retailers organize their products in ways that limit growth, and how rethinking your assortment can strengthen customer loyalty. He also shares the story of a major crisis that shut down his flagship store and the important lessons he learned about insurance, communication, and supporting hourly staff during unexpected disruptions. This coaching call is normally available only to IndERA Pro members. If you want access to more deep-dive trainings like this, you can use the code HOLIDAY to save on your yearly Pro membership, unlock every 2025 replay, and join all upcoming live calls in 2026. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: 00:00 Introduction 05:09 Dealing with Business Disruption 06:12 The Insurance Gap: Hourly Employees 14:11 Quick Intro About Ari's Business 15:40 7 Non-Traditional Retail Categories 17:47 The List 19:24 1.The Staples: The Foundation of Trust 20:49 2.Daily Dose: The Everyday Indulgence 23:47 3.The Good Neighbor: Feel-Good Choices, Made with Heart 28:53 IndERA Commercial 30:21 4.The Lab: Innovation on Display 32:31 5.Lap of Luxury: The Art of Refinement 39:56 6.Unexpected Treasure: Joy of Discovery 44:04 7.Funny Bone: Warm Heart 47:24 Q&A: Holiday Sales & Driving Traffic 52:52 Q&A: Maintaining Culture Across Stores 57:55 Training Staff with Social Media 01:02:37 How to Connect to Ari 01:03:34 Outro Links: Follow Ari’s Pantry - https://www.arispantry.com/ Follow Ari’s Pantry on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/arispantry/?hl=en 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! - Getting value from Rooted in Retail? Then you’ll love IndERA - the Independent Retailers Association, built from the same mission: to support, connect, and champion indie store owners. - Join for just $25/month or get found this holiday season when you join IndERA Pro to unlock access to your Get Listed done-for-you online listing management. Save $503 with the code HOLIDAY, and lock in that rate forever. JoinIndERA.com Get more traffic, more sales, and less stress. Our Facebook Ads Management service was built for independent retailers like you: https://www.indera.co/facebook-ads-management Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation - https://www.facebook.com/groups/rootedinretail Join our weekly newsletter at https://rootedinretail.com/newsletter/ Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! https://www.bystadium.com/us/en/stores/rooted-in-retail-30474/S820473454

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Limited edition print of the three EC Comics hosts signed and numbered by the comic book artist Mike Grell.