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The Inventory Genius Podcast

The Inventory Genius Podcast

By: Ciara Stockeland
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Looking for a business mentor with decades of experience in business ownership, inventory and cash flow management, and client coaching? Get started with Ciara Stockeland’s Inventory Genius podcast. As a Fractional CFO and Profit Strategist, Ciara specializes in breaking complex business topics into bite-sized, actionable steps you can implement today. Tune in, get inspired, and learn from Ciara and her range of incredible guests. Discover why thousands of products-based businesses owners turn to Ciara for guidance on inventory management, debt reduction, e-commerce strategies, financial strategy, business growth, retail profitability, and more. Whether you’re a new business owner or a long-time entrepreneur, each episode with give you nuggets of information, insights and strategies you can start implementing now. For business inquiries please email: hello@ciarastockeland.com.© 2026 Ciara Stockeland Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • #292: Interview With IGOS Graduate, Rachel

    #292: Interview With IGOS Graduate, Rachel
    Jun 30 2026

    I am thrilled to sit down with a very special guest: Rachel Lien, a yarn shop owner from the Pacific Northwest who is officially graduating from the Inventory Genius Operating System Program this month!

    One year ago, Rachel found herself trapped on the classic retail hamster wheel. Despite bringing in massive revenue from a local yarn crawl event, the cash quickly vanished, leaving her with mounting credit card debt, zero clarity on where the money went, and a deep-seated fear of her own numbers.

    Tune in as we discuss her incredible transformation over the last 12 months. Rachel shares how shifting from blindly jumping in to establishing a fearless, weekly Money Mondays routine gave her total control over her business finances. We talk about ditching wishful thinking for concrete data, the pride that comes with stepping up as a true CEO, and how she is now confidently using numbers to evaluate a major retail expansion.

    If you've ever felt like your business is a sieve leaking cash, this episode will inspire you to look at the scary things, take action, and reclaim control of your inventory and profits.

    Key Takeaways

    • Sales Don't Equal Profit: High-revenue events are great, but without a clear inventory strategy, that cash can disappear into a black hole of debt and over-purchasing.

    • The Power of the Routine: Establishing a non-negotiable rhythm—like Money Mondays—to look at your numbers every single week eliminates the fear of the unknown.

    • Data Backs the Dream: Wishful thinking is the spark that starts a business, but data is the fuel that makes major decisions (like expansions or moves) safe and sustainable.

    • It’s Not a Hobby: Operating a retail business with financial discipline moves you away from playing store and into building a long-term asset that supports your community.

    Memorable Quotes

    "I didn't want to feel like I was standing in a sieve. There were leaks everywhere, and I didn't know where the money was going. I wanted to make the money and be able to decide what to do with it." — Rachel Lien

    "The wishful thinking was the spark, and then the data is the actual thing that's gonna back up the decision." — Rachel Lien

    "Even if you're scared—especially if you're scared—you need to take action. You need to look at the scary thing, because if you don't, it's gonna keep you stuck." — Rachel Lien

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    14 mins
  • #291: If Customers Annoy You, You Are Missing The Point

    #291: If Customers Annoy You, You Are Missing The Point
    Jun 23 2026
    With this episode, I'm prepared to ruffle some feathers. I hope you have thick skin, but this conversation is absolutely necessary, and I am incredibly passionate about it. Lately, everywhere I look on social media, I see small business owners posting Reels, TikToks, and memes making fun of how frustrating, exhausting, or annoying their customers are. They complain about customers asking too many questions, taking up too much time, or interrupting their day. This completely blows my mind. On one hand, I hear entrepreneurs constantly talking about how slow sales are and how desperately they need customers. But on the other hand, they are publicly mocking the very people keeping their doors open. We cannot say we want growth while simultaneously acting irritated that customers even exist. Even if you aren't posting this online, I want you to look deeper: How do you talk about your customers behind the scenes with your team? How do you think about them when you get home at night? I’m not throwing blame without looking in the mirror. When I ran my retail store, I had days where I got frustrated and, to my regret, complained to my team. But we have to change our mindset. Customers are not an inconvenience to your business; they are your business. Without them, you don't have a business—you just have inventory and bills. Key Takeaways from the Episode Your Customers are Watching Your Social Media: That "relatable" video mocking customer behavior might get laughs and likes from other business owners, but your actual customers are seeing it, too. When they see that content, they hear: You are a burden, and we don't want to help you. Why would anyone spend money where they feel unwanted? You Don't Sell a Unicorn Product: Whether you sell shoes, jewelry, candles, or clothing, customers can buy it somewhere else—Target, Amazon, or the boutique down the street. They choose your business because they want connection, experience, and service. Customer Service is the Business: Answering questions, helping people make decisions, and building trust isn't an interruption to your task list. It is the task. 5 Ways to Train Your Team to Appreciate Customers If we want better customer relationships, it has to start internally with our leadership and trickle down to our teams. Here are five practical ways to recalibrate your internal culture: Remember Who Writes the Paycheck: I don't write my team's paychecks; the customers do. Employees need to understand the direct connection between the customer experience and business survival. Stop Celebrating Sarcasm and Complaining: If leadership complains about customers behind the scenes, employees absorb that rotten mindset. Instead, actively celebrate positive customer stories and wins. Train Emotional Intelligence, Not Just Sales Skills: Teach your team how to actively listen, remain patient, read a customer's energy, and make people feel seen. View Questions as Buying Signals: Do not get annoyed when a customer asks a million questions. Questions mean interest and curiosity. An inquisitive customer is a massive opportunity, and they are far more valuable than a silent customer who walks right out. Build a Culture of Hospitality over Customer Service: Customer service asks, "How do we complete this transaction?" Hospitality asks, "How do I make this person feel?" Final Thoughts Setting healthy boundaries, having closing times, and protecting your peace is perfectly okay. You don't have to answer DMs 24/7 or let people mistreat you. But we must communicate our boundaries with kindness. People will remember how your business made them feel far longer than they will remember what they bought. The businesses that win long-term aren't always the cheapest or the trendiest; they are the ones that make their customers feel deeply valued. How are you going to shift your mindset around your customers this week? Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe
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    20 mins
  • #290: Money Mindset Part Two: Our Relationship With Debt

    #290: Money Mindset Part Two: Our Relationship With Debt
    Jun 16 2026

    Welcome back to part two of our Money Mindset Conversation! Today, I’m sitting down once again with endurance and mindset coach Jennifer Vollmann to dive deep into a topic that so many of us try to avoid: our relationship with debt.

    Debt can feel like a heavy, nasty word that gets instantly tangled up with our personal identity and self-worth. In this episode, Jennifer breaks down why numbers on a computer screen feel so personal, how shame can completely freeze our business progress, and how we can systematically rewrite the stories we tell ourselves about what we owe. We also discuss a powerful concept that got Jennifer to the Ironman World Championships: borrowing belief from a coach or mentor until you can build your own evidence.

    Key Takeaways

    • Numbers are Neutral: A figure like $50,000 is just data on a screen. It doesn't have power until your brain attaches a narrative to it.

    • The Danger of Shame: Shame is the ultimate stalling emotion. When we internalize debt as a personal failure, we freeze, avoid the numbers, and stop taking action.

    • The Micro-Action Formula: Overcoming financial overwhelm starts with taking one small action within 24 hours to give your brain immediate feedback and build proof.

    • Borrowing Belief: When you can’t see a path to financial freedom yourself, it is entirely okay to borrow the unwavering belief of your coach or mentor while you take the initial steps.

    Episode Highlights What Are You Making the Numbers Mean?

    Jennifer explains how quickly our brains assign meaning to a number. Seeing a credit card balance or loan statement triggers an immediate thought (e.g., "This is too big"), which creates an emotion (overwhelm), drives a behavior (stalling/avoidance), and reinforces the original negative result.

    Unraveling Your Debt Patterns

    Are you prone to freezing, over-delivering to overcompensate, or falling into the compare and despair trap? We look at how our internal debt stories sabotage other parts of our businesses—like stopping us from pricing our services at what we are actually worth.

    The 24-Hour Micro-Action

    I share a powerful exercise I use with my own coaching clients: writing down every single piece of debt with absolute honesty. No hiding, no lying to yourself. Putting a name and a number to everything on a single piece of paper stops the energy suck of the numbers swirling endlessly in your head.

    Can You Borrow Belief From Someone Else?

    Jennifer and I discuss how she used borrowed belief from her athletic coach to train for Kona before she ever believed it was possible herself. We talk about how to apply this to your finances—using the proof of a system or a coach's belief in you as a stepping stone to take action.

    Insights From Jennifer

    "Somebody with $50,000 in debt might feel it’s not a problem at all, while somebody with $5,000 in debt is completely crushed by it every single day. The debt is just a neutral circumstance. It is just a monetary figure. You get to decide what the story is."

    "If you find yourself in deep shame with debt, the first thing to do is see if you can get to a slightly better thought. Even reminding yourself, 'Good people also have debt,' helps disconnect your intrinsic self-worth from your ability to run a business."

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    More About the Episode Sponsor:
    T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.
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    25 mins
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