Upstyled Goods: Main Street Grant Success Story
Client Testimonial
"I cannot say enough about Tina and her marketing & Shopify expertise! I wanted help with setting up my website, but I got so much more than that from her! She shared advice on what to feature on my online store, as well as wonderful advice for my retail store too. She has so many great ideas to help a small business owner grow their business and stay focused on what is most important. I looked forward to our weekly conversations because in many ways talking through problems with her became therapy for me."
- Lori Trotter, Owner, Upstyled Goods
The Challenge
Lori, owner of Upstyled Goods, received a local Main Street business grant to improve her online store presence. The grant required marketing consulting specifically for her Shopify site and couldn't be used for advertising spend. She found me through the North Carolina Shopify Experts directory, seeking a nearby consultant who understood her business.
The Approach
We structured 8 weeks of 1:1 Zoom consulting calls with 30-minute weekly sessions divided into two strategic phases:
Phase 1: Digital Foundation
Shopify website experience optimization
SEO fine-tuning and implementation
Easy-to-implement visibility strategies for online store
Phase 2: Business Strategy
Seasonal merchandising strategy alignment
Wholesale strategy development
Customer avatar definition and targeting
The Results
Business Impact
Retail sales growth across both online and physical locations
Significant increase in marketing confidence for store owner
Scalable plan created for sustainable growth
Integrated merchandising strategy connecting physical and online presence
Strategic Outcomes
Aligned online marketing with physical store merchandising
Regular email campaign system established
Clear customer targeting and positioning
Actionable wholesale strategy framework
Key Success Factors
Holistic approach: Addressed both digital and physical business challenges
Local expertise: Understanding of regional market and business environment
Structured consulting: Weekly sessions with clear focus areas
Actionable strategies: Created doable, scalable plans rather than overwhelming recommendations
Confidence building: Empowered business owner with knowledge and strategic thinking
The Bottom Line
Upstyled Goods successfully leveraged their Main Street grant to create a comprehensive marketing foundation that drove measurable sales growth while building the owner's confidence and strategic capabilities. The integrated approach connecting online and offline experiences created sustainable systems for continued growth.
A perfect example of how strategic consulting can maximize grant funding impact while building long-term business capabilities without ad spend.