Welcome to Shelf Talk: a brand new, add-on segment inside the Retail Whore Podcast!
In this new once-a-month segment, Michelle and co-host Susan Esayian dive into all things merchandising and design. Both Michelle and Susan have strong backgrounds as buyers and merchandisers in retail and wholesale gifts. On Shelf Talk, you’ll have the chance to submit your burning merchandising questions and get answers straight from the experts!
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Susan Esayian has been working in the gift industry professionally for 26 years in a variety of roles. From merchandising Kitchen-Aid mixers, buying fine tableware and even carrying a four-poster bed up a mountainside for a catalog photoshoot, Susan’s done it all—and that was just in the first 10 years!
Since then, Susan’s kept herself immersed in the gift industry as a buyer for a hospital gift shop and merchandiser for several wholesale showrooms and retailers. For Susan, retail isn’t just a job. It’s a career that she’s inspired by and passionate about more every day.
Here, Michelle and Susan catch up and share details on home reno projects and adjusting to life after the CMA show. They dive into Susan’s new side hustle, the highs and lows of owning a retail store, making use of reclaimed materials, inspiring displays, and more.

Ask Michelle and Susan for Shelf Talk! Michelle and Susan will be co-hosting an episode every month! We're diving into all things design, display, and merchandising—and we want to hear from you! Got a question? Submit it by going to theretailwhorepodcast.com, clicking on SHELF TALK, and we'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Let's talk shop and bring your ideas to life!

What’s Inside:

• An introduction to Shelf Talk
• Post-CMA life updates
• Details on Susan’s new side hustle
  
  

Mentioned In This Episode:
[email protected]
Ruepatois.com
theretailwhorepodcast.com
Rue Patois on Instagram
MC Design Collaboration on Instagram