Tweak # 116: Lisa Uhrik welcomes bookshop explorer (and literacy expert) Ken Bigger, who stopped at Plenty as store #252 on his country-wide tour. Their conversation takes a turn from travel stories to a big idea: literacy isn’t a simple “have it or don’t” trait. It’s a continuum that includes traditional reading and writing, plus digital and cultural know-how, and even skills like attention, empathy, and reflective thinking. That shift changes how we talk about the people we

Tweak # 114: Hello Quiet Carpenter, I want to thank you. While reflecting on your work, I wrote you a poem. It’s from the future – 2036 – and it’s about the way you helped turn the world around, not with noise or spectacle, but with steady care. In this short reflection, I’m thinking about the people who stay. The ones who tend places, keep company, notice what needs attention, and quietly make room for others. I imagine a bookshop, a familiar rhythm, and the kind of work tha

Tweak # 113: Join Lisa Uhrik as she shares three simple ways to start the year well—grounded in joy, bold instincts, and small meaningful wins. From feeding the laughter to trusting your gut and fixing the tiny things that get in the way, this quick episode delivers three ideas you can act on today. 🎧 Click to listen now and start the year with joy, clarity, and momentum. It only takes two minutes! Subscribe: Apple Podcasts  | Spotify  | PodBean  | iHeartRadio  | RSS

Tweak # 112: During the busy holiday season, small stresses and short tempers can lead to harsh words with coworkers or customers. Lisa offers a quick reminder to pause, breathe, and notice when you’re running on empty. Simple micro-tactics—short breaks, a quick laugh, saying no to one extra task, or building margin between commitments—help you protect relationships and be kinder to yourself and others during the holidays. While you're here, take a quick pause to recharge and

Tweak # 105: What if the “industry standard” isn’t the only way? In our latest podcast, Lisa’s research reveals three broad themes shaping today’s bookshops, and how knowing yours can transform everything from layout and design to inventory strategy. We’re challenging the idea that all bookshops must adhere to 3-4 inventory turns per year. Instead, we explore how your bookshop’s core focus — whether book-centric, community-centric, or advocacy-centric — can guide your decisio

Step back in time to 1998, when You've Got Mail captured our hearts and introduced us to the enchanting world of The Shop Around the...

Tweak # 100: Welcome to the 100th episode of Two Minute Tweaks! Fun fact: Less than 6% of all podcasts make it this far! We're hitting...

Tweak # 098: This episode salutes the 10th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day, a celebration of the enduring influence of...

Tweak # 089: Peter Miller's Shopkeeping book inspires a look at the way we greet each other in the bookshop. We all are subject to...