Retail Entrepreneur Series - Holiday Retail Success

3-part series


Wednesday, August 20, 2025
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM (EDT)
ZOOM
Category: Retail Education Series

Education | Virtual | Workshop

Session 1: DIY Holiday Marketing Campaigns that Drive Customer Experience
This session is designed to help retail entrepreneurs create compelling holiday marketing campaigns that not only drive sales but also enhance customer experience. The panel will share best practices across digital marketing, staff preparation, and local collaborations.

  • Panelists: Kylie Ross Sibert, Kaycee McCoy, and Pamela Katrancha 

Session 2: Tariffs and the Impact on the Holiday Consumer
This session helps retailers understand how current and upcoming tariffs may impact consumer behavior this holiday season and how to respond with smart strategies that keep sales strong despite shifting costs.

  • Panelists: Jenny Crittenden and Mary Landgrebe

Session 3: Holiday Hustle & Supply Chain Shuffle: Winning Big as a Small Retailer
This session is designed for independent retailers navigating the high-stakes holiday season with limited resources. We’ll explore key holiday trends for 2025, practical marketing tactics, and smart ways to outmaneuver supply chain curveballs—without the budgets of big-box competitors.

  • Panelists: Jenny Crittenden and Mary Landgrebe

Session 1:

Pamela Katrancha, Founder of PSK Consulting

Pamela Katrancha is the founder of PSK Consulting, where she helps retail entrepreneurs and small business owners build stronger, more customer-focused operations. With over 30 years of retail experience, Pam brings hands-on expertise in everything from staff training and store operations to customer experience and navigating economic change.

Her journey began unexpectedly when she stepped in to manage one of her husband’s Hickory Farms stores—sparking a lifelong career in retail. As the owner of Garden Gazebo, she led her business through major shifts in the retail landscape, including the rise of e-commerce and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her innovative fulfillment model and ability to pivot earned Garden Gazebo national exposure on QVC and HSN.

Through PSK Consulting, Pam now channels that experience into coaching others—working one-on-one with retailers to refine their in-store experience, build strong teams, and adapt to changing customer expectations. Her approach is practical, personalized, and rooted in the belief that great businesses are built on meaningful, consistent service.

Pam’s passion for mentoring continues through her consulting work, helping entrepreneurs at every stage find clarity, confidence, and long-term success.

Kaycee McCoy, Owner/Marketing Alchemist at Create/Captivate + Co-Owner/Creative Lead at Pawsnickety Pets

Kaycee is the one-woman powerhouse behind Create/Captivate, where she offers custom GPT development, strategic marketing consultations, and a game-changing social media strategy workbook for small business owners ready to stand out and show up.

She’s also the Co-Owner and Creative Lead at Pawsnickety Pets, a holistic pet supply shop that has become a go-to for pet parents in Norfolk, Virginia. Known for giving small businesses the tools and clarity to finally feel in control of their marketing, Kaycee blends bold storytelling with savvy strategy to help businesses create connection, build loyalty, and actually enjoy showing up online.

When she’s not slinging strategic ideas or planning events, you’ll find her wrangling cats, curating memes, or building new ways for small biz owners to reclaim their narrative and grow with authenticity.

Kylie Ross Sibert, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Retail Alliance

Kylie Ross Sibert is the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Retail Alliance. She joined Retail Alliance as the Director of Corporate Communications in 2012. 

Her experience in developing and executing simple to complex marketing and communication projects throughout her career across multiple countries and continents has provided invaluable insight into consumers, cultures, and both multinational and small local businesses.

Kylie has helped many retailers gain exposure through the media. Television stations and newspaper publications have interviewed her multiple times for her expertise and industry knowledge. 

More recently, Kylie co-wrote a grant for DHCD’s Business Resurgence Grant which Retail Alliance received in 2023. Kylie was also team lead on the 2024 rollout of the $100,000 grant, working with business owners in Phoebus and the Retail Alliance Technical Team, made up of experienced consultants. 

Kylie serves on the Board of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hampton Roads chapter and the Hampton Roads Chamber’s Communications Committee. Kylie lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and family.

Session 2 & 3:

Mary Landgrebe, President and Principal Consultant of Well Retailed  

Mary Landgrebe is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in retail operations and commercial development. As the Owner and President of her own consultancy firm, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her clients, particularly in the realm of independent retailers.

With a special niche in women's apparel boutiques, accessories, and home decor businesses, Mary has honed her skills by working with owners and staff of all sizes across multiple locations and channels. Her approach involves crafting individualized plans for each business and fostering strong relationships with owners and their teams to achieve operational goals.  Mary is passionate about helping businesses succeed while upholding values of integrity and compassion. She firmly believes that strategic planning is the cornerstone of success for businesses.

Jennifer Crittenden, CEO Retail Alliance 

Jenny assumed the role of CEO at Retail Alliance in February 2023, following her tenure as Senior Vice President starting in 2022 and serving on the Retail Alliance Board of Directors for several years in various leadership capacities. With a background spanning sixteen years in the Main Street ecosystem, Crittenden notably led the Main Street Preservation Trust in Gloucester, VA, achieving national accreditation and earning awards at both state and national levels. She received the prestigious Main Street Forward Award for her innovative recovery and resiliency strategies, including the establishment of an E-Commerce Platform for downtown businesses in Gloucester. 

An esteemed speaker on retail and entrepreneurship, Crittenden frequently presents at events ranging from local gatherings to national conferences, including the National Main Street Now annual conference most recently in Birmingham, AL. In Virginia, Crittenden has presented at the Governor’s Summit, Downtown Intersections, various Virginia Main Street communities, SBDC and VEDA events. Notably, during the pandemic, she was appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to represent small brick-and-mortar retail on the Governor’s COVID-19 Business Task Force, contributing to the formulation of reopening guidelines for Virginia businesses. 

Crittenden boasts extensive experience in securing and managing grant programs, from her involvement in pilot initiatives such as the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Business Launch to Retail Alliance's current grant for piloting a retail technical assistance team in a neighborhood district. As a registered lobbyist for the Virginia Retail Federation and co-President of the advocacy organization statewide, she actively champions the interests of the retail sector. Additionally, she serves as the Executive Director of the Retail Alliance Foundation and CEO of Retail Alliance Business Solutions, the for-profit company under Retail Alliance. 

She was recognized as one of the top twenty women in business by Inside Business in 2021 and featured in CoVaBIZ Innovators & Disruptors: Women on the Leading Edge in March/April 2024 and is listed on Inside Business’s Power List for 2024 and as one of Coastal Virginia’s Most Influential Leaders by CoVABIZ.  

She has two grown children, Vaughan Crittenden (Richmond) and Allison Crittenden (Washington, DC). Jenny resides in Suffolk, VA with her rescue pup, Huck. 

 

You do not want to miss out on this three-part series! 

PRICING INFORMATION: FREE FOR MEMBERS!
$60 for non-members for all three parts!

Please note: Once you register for the series, you will receive a Zoom link in your confirmation email. Please use this Zoom link for each workshop. If you miss any parts of the series, you will be sent a recording after each event.

Contact Jess Haley with any questions. 

August 20th
August 27th
September 3rd

Annual Presenting Sponsor

LIGHTWELL DEVELOPMENT

For More Information:

Retail Alliance Logo 101 W Main St Suite 905
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
United States
757.466.1600