Owning a retail business can be rewarding. But wearing a thousand hats a day can lead to overwhelm and burnout.
On the days when you need a reminder about why you started your business in the first place, reading inspirational retail quotes can reignite the passion to grow your retail business.
At Shopify, we want to help inspire you. That’s why we’ve created a list of 50 uplifting retail quotes from successful retailers and leaders to help motivate you and your team.
Happy reading.
Inspirational retail quotes for entrepreneurs
On mission
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” ―Simon Sinek
Author of Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
Key takeaway: The products or services you sell aren’t the reason you start a business, but a means of reaching a larger goal. Lead with your why—and your team, suppliers, collaborators, and customers will buy into that goal, too.
On vision
“Whatever you’re thinking, think bigger.” ―Tony Hsieh
Former CEO of Zappos and author of Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Key takeaway: Imagine a world where you have no constraints. How big would you build, and what could you achieve?
On problem solving
“Everything is figureoutable.” ―Marie Forleo
Motivational speaker, life coach, and author
Key takeaway: No matter how big a problem seems, there’s always a solution. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and always stay focused on your options and next steps.
On grit
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” ― Amelia Earhart
Aviation pioneer and author
Key takeaway: Retail entrepreneurship allows you the freedom to be your own boss and make your own choices. But it takes tenacity and grit to keep going, stay innovative, and grow your business.
On giving back
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” ―Booker T. Washington
American educator, author, orator, and adviser to presidents of the United States
Key takeaway: Ninety-one percent of consumers are more likely to buy from a company that supports social or environmental issues. As well as being good for your brand, giving back can energize you and your team to reach your goals.
On passion
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” ―Steve Jobs
Cofounder of Apple
Key takeaway: Building a retail business requires more than a desire to be successful—you need true passion for the work you are doing.
On happiness
“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” ―Seth Godin
Bestselling author of 18 books, marketer, public speaker, and entrepreneur
Key takeaway: It can be hard to take a break when you’re building a retail business—but if you really love your work, you’re less likely to feel like you need one.
On mindset
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” ―Henry Ford
Founder, Ford Motor Company
Key takeaway: Our thoughts can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you start by believing you can achieve what you want to achieve, you’ll keep pushing until you do.
On self-reflection
“Every action is an opportunity to improve.” ―Mark Graban
Author of The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, consultant, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur
Key takeaway: No matter how good you think you are or how well you think you’re doing, there’s always space to do even better. Reflect, appreciate the great work, and look for an opportunity to improve.
On first steps
“The only thing worse than starting something and failing is not starting something.” ―Seth Godin
Bestselling author of 18 books, marketer, public speaker, and entrepreneur
Key takeaway: All the planning in the world isn’t enough to be certain of success—but if you never start, you’ll never be successful. People regret the things they didn’t do far more than the things they did.
On consistency
“People like consistency. Whether it’s a store or a restaurant, they want to come in and see what you are famous for.” ―Mickey Drexler
Former CEO and chairman, J. Crew Group
Key takeaway: Building customer trust and loyalty takes time. If you’re thoughtful and consistent in your offerings, your customer base will grow.
On taking risks
“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.” ―Paulo Coelho
Author of 30 books
Key takeaway: If you never try to do something, you’ll never gain the experience of knowing what works and what doesn’t. It’s good to calculate the risk-versus-reward ratio, but taking a chance usually delivers better results than retreating.
On innovation
“I learned to push the envelope when it comes to asking questions or making requests. And if you hear ‘that’s not possible,’ then ask ‘what is possible,’ instead of just saying thank you and leaving.” ―Emily Weiss
Founder, Glossier
Key takeaway: People often say things aren’t possible because they’ve never managed to succeed in making them work. If you see a way to do something differently, try it.
📚Read: 27 Retail News Sites & Newsletters to Follow
On curiosity
“Like most retailers, we don’t know exactly where we will land at the end of it, but our curiosity and willingness to create will be a guide for us.” ―Jesper Brodin
CEO, IKEA
Key takeaway: Sometimes you have an idea of what you want to achieve, but you’re not sure how to get there. Curiosity takes you to a place you didn’t even know you wanted to go.
On simplicity
“We have a very complex business where we make our own products that we manufacture, distribute, and sell across multiple channels in different markets across the globe. We need to introduce simplicity into our systems where we can.” ―Paul Stephens
Head of data and technology, Neal’s Yard Remedies
Key takeaway: Business and retail can be complicated. Where there are opportunities to make processes and other tasks simpler, take them.
On setting goals
“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” ―Tony Robbins
Life and success coach, author of self-help books like Unlimited Power, Unleash the Power Within, and Awaken the Giant Within
Key takeaway: Seeing the place you want to get to can make you push harder to get there.
On action
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” ―Henry Ford
Founder, Ford Motor Company
Key takeaway: Planning and setting goals is important, but it’s not worth anything to anyone if they can’t see you do it. Instead of just thinking about it, go out there and get results.
On fundraising
“I approached fundraising as an opportunity to align myself with partners who have more varied experience and diverse backgrounds than I do to help bring Glossier to life.” ―Emily Weiss
Founder, Glossier
Key takeaway: While investment can be a purely financial transaction, it also creates opportunities to bring in expertise from people who can support your business in other ways.
On partnerships
“The biggest sources of opportunity are collaboration and partnership. And today, with digital communication, there is more of that everywhere. We need to expose ourselves to that as a matter of doing business.” ―Mark Parker
Executive chairman, Nike
Key takeaway: There are valid reasons to be wary of social media and other forms of digital communication. But when you use them wisely, you create opportunities to collaborate with the brightest minds in every corner of the world.
On opportunity
“It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” ―Henry Ford
Founder, Ford Motor Co.
Key takeaway: Staying motivated and focused when your competitors are not using their time wisely can open up opportunities to get ahead.
On store design
“My company is an extension of me, so when I designed my stores, I wanted people to feel that they were in my home.” ―Tory Burch
Founder and creative director, Tory Burch
Key takeaway: A brick-and-mortar store is much more than a location to sell. It’s a chance for brand marketing, to show the world your personality, and to build strong customer relationships.
On emotion
“Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” —Damon Richards-Evangelista
Fictional character, played by Ryan Jamaal Swain, in the FX television series Pose, written by Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck, Janet Mock, Our Lady J
Key takeaway: Sales is all about building relationships. Customers remember how you made them feel more than any specific product or sales pitch.
On connection
“Nobody in my shop’s allowed to stand behind the counter unless they’re actually ringing somebody up. It’s greeting, it’s listening. It’s a very traditional customer service approach.” —Cricket Newman
Owner, Cricket Newman Designs
Key takeaway: Connect with your customers and give them your full attention. Give them space but be ready the moment they need you.
On trust
“Our brands—Nike, Converse, Jordan Brand, and Hurley—are loved by customers all over the world. But we never take that for granted. We know that every day we have to earn their trust—by serving them completely and adding real value to their lives through products and experiences.” —Mark Parker
Executive chairman, Nike
Key takeaway: In business, the consequences of losing trust can be devastating. Make sure you are working to consistently earn and retain your customers’ trust.
On staying customer-centric
“Retail is a customer business. You’re trying to take care of the customer, solve something for the customer. And there’s no way to learn that in the classroom or in the corner office or away from the customer. You’ve got to be in front of the customer.” —Erik Nordstrom
CEO, Nordstrom Direct
Key takeaway: Customers are at the heart of everything you do, so keep them at the center of every decision you make. You can support your customers and you can learn from them too.
Retail quotes on customer experience and delight
On crafting great experiences
“People are always going to go shopping. A lot of our effort is just ‘How do we make the retail experience a great one?’” —Phillip Green
Chairman, Arcadia Group
Key takeaway: The retail landscape is changing. But whether you’re selling products in person or online, your number one priority should be to create a positive shopping experience for your customers.
💡 PRO TIP: Offering in-store pickup as a delivery method at checkout is a great way to get more online shoppers to visit your store. To get started, enable in-store pickup availability in Shopify admin to show online shoppers whether a product is available for pickup at one of your stores.
On service mindset
“The customer’s perception is your reality.” ―Kate Zabriskie
Founder and president, Business Training Works
Key takeaway: Your internal retail metrics mean nothing if a customer feels let down. A customer's perception is the only reality you must manage, making every touchpoint an opportunity to shape their understanding.
On relationships over transactions
“Make a customer, not a sale.” ―Katherine Barchetti
Pittsburgh specialty retailer, K. Barchetti Shops
Key takeaway: Shift your focus from closing a single transaction to opening a long-term relationship. Securing a loyal customer for life generates far more value than simply completing one sale.
On micro-moments
“Make every interaction count, even the small ones. They are all relevant.” ―Shep Hyken
Customer experience advisor and author
Key takeaway: Customers notice the little things. Nailing the small, everyday moments is the key to creating a great overall customer experience.
On “moments of truth”
“Any time a customer comes into contact with any aspect of a business, however remote, is an opportunity to form an impression.” ―Jan Carlzon
Former CEO, Scandinavian Airlines; author of Moments of Truth
Key takeaway: Treat every point of contact with your customer as a test, because that’s how they see it. From the way you answer the phone to the clarity of your instructions, each detail is an opportunity to either earn their trust or lose it.
On experiences that drive loyalty
“Physical stores are no longer merely a distribution channel for products but more importantly a key channel for experiences… It’s no longer simply about sales per square foot but rather experiences per square foot.” ―Doug Stephens
Retail futurist and founder of The Retail Prophet
Key takeaway: Give people a reason to show up that isn't just about buying something. If you make the shopping experience itself interesting and enjoyable, sales will naturally follow.
On customer happiness
“A thrilled customer is the most potent marketing asset your organization can leverage.” ―John Jantsch
Small-business marketing author, Duct Tape Marketing
Key takeaway: Why pay for ads when your customers could do your marketing for free? A recommendation from a happy customer is more trusted and effective than any ad campaign you can buy.
On learning from complaints
“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” ―Bill Gates
Cofounder, Microsoft; philanthropist
Key takeaway: Customers who complain are a gift, as most unhappy people leave without a word. Treat each piece of feedback as a window into why customers are walking away and what you can improve.
📚Read: 18 Retail Blogs Every Small Business Owner Should Be Reading
Motivational retail quotes on sales and growth
On removing roadblocks
“Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust.” ―Zig Ziglar
Sales trainer and author
Key takeaway: Instead of trying to force a sale, identify the roadblock that’s keeping it from happening and work to remove it.
On sales as the starting line
“Nothing happens until a sale is made.” ―Thomas J. Watson Sr.
Former chairman and CEO, IBM
Key takeaway: At its core, your business relies on sales more than anything else. Every other decision you might make depends on whether customers are buying, so make that your number one priority.
On persistence and momentum
“The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.” ―Barbara Corcoran
Founder, The Corcoran Group
Key takeaway: Failure and setbacks are an inevitable part of growing a business. Instead of dwelling on them, view them as a learning opportunity and keep moving forward.
On focusing your effort
“Sales cure all.” ―Daymond John
Founder, FUBU
Key takeaway: When you're overwhelmed with problems, focus on the one activity that brings in cash. More sales mean more money, and more money can make most business problems disappear.
On learning your way to quota
“Sales is an experiment—there’s no right or wrong, just varying degrees of effectiveness.” ―Jill Konrath
Sales strategist and author of Agile Selling
Key takeaway: The most effective salespeople are relentless tinkerers, constantly testing their approach and adapting to what actually works. Treat every interaction with your customers as an experiment, and move forward with what works.
On making growth predictable
“Defining the sales methodology enables the sales training formula to be scalable and predictable.” ―Mark Roberge
Former CRO, HubSpot and author of The Sales Acceleration Formula
Key takeaway: Create a standard approach for how you and your team sell products. Consistency helps you forecast sales and helps you grow your business without sacrificing quality.
On connecting the dots
“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” ―James Cash Penney
Founder, JCPenney
Key takeaway: No single factor drives growth—it’s the result of every aspect of your business working together.
Retail quotes for leading and motivating employees
On culture
“Businesses often forget about the culture, and ultimately, they suffer for it because you can’t deliver good service from unhappy employees.” —Tony Hsieh
CEO, Zappos
Key takeaway: A bad company culture doesn’t just affect employees, but everyone else who interacts with your business. Keep employee satisfaction high for a better chance at keeping customer satisfaction high too.
On employee happiness
“Too many businesses today are based on driving prices lower by screwing over somebody: pounding suppliers or squeezing employees. We’re the opposite. We put our employees first. If you take care of them, they will take care of your customers better than anybody else.” —Kip Tindell
Cofounder, The Container Store
Key takeaway: Your internal company culture ultimately shapes your customer experience. Stick to your values and treat everybody in every corner of your business with respect and integrity.
On employee loyalty
“I believe that if they’re feeling good about the company, then they’re going to stay with me a long time. I’ve been in business 10 years, and I have staff who’ve been with me eight years. So that’s really important to me, because then they build up a clientele as well.” —Janet Wright
Owner, FloorPlay Socks
Key takeaway: Employee retention is a critical part of your business strategy. If you treat your employees well so they want to stay and do their best work every day, you can concentrate on making your wider business strategy a success.
📚Further reading: 8 Proven Employee Retention Strategies
On leadership
“When you look at the reasons people leave companies, it’s usually because their boss is a jerk or because they aren’t learning and growing. So we spend a lot of time developing leaders internally and creating learning opportunities.” —Neil Blumenthal
Co-CEO, Warby Parker
Key takeaway: Good leaders are able to quickly assess needs and support their retail associates in improving or reaching goals.
Retail quotes on innovation and change
On standing out
“You walk into a retail store, whatever it is, and if there’s a sense of entertainment and excitement and electricity, you wanna be there.” —Howard Schultz
Former CEO, Starbucks
Key takeaway: What keeps customers coming back? It’s not just your products, but the energetic and positive environment you create with your retail location.
On memory
“You cannot run a successful retail business from memory.” —Josh Hartford
Key takeaway: There are too many moving parts in business to rely on memory alone. Get the right tools to manage inventory and purchases, making it easier to manage retail operations from day to day.
💡 PRO TIP:Shopify POS comes with tools to help you control and manage your inventory across multiple store locations, your online store, and your warehouse. Forecast demand, set low-stock alerts, create purchase orders, know which items are selling or sitting on shelves, count inventory, and more.
On efficiency
“One order management system, one database, one inventory. Without these you will never seem seamless to your customer.” —Andy Laudato
COO of The Vitamin Shoppe
Key takeaway: Having too many complicated back-end systems can impact the customer experience. Streamline those systems and processes wherever possible to make your business run smoothly.
On productivity and focus
“If it isn’t a clear yes, then it’s a clear no.” ―Greg McKeown
Author, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Key takeaway: Stay focused on your priorities and don’t leave room for second-guessing. If you aren’t clearly enthused about something, it’s not worth your time.
On change and agility
“Change almost never fails because it’s too early. It almost always fails because it’s too late.” ―Seth Godin
Bestselling author of 18 books, marketer, public speaker, and entrepreneur
Key takeaway: When you spot an opportunity to adapt or improve, move quickly. Waiting until change becomes necessary usually means you’ve fallen behind.
On challenging the status quo
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” ―Tony Robbins
Life and success coach, author of self-help books like Unlimited Power, Unleash the Power Within, and Awaken the Giant Within
Key takeaway: If you stick to the same formula, you’re unlikely to see any improvement in your results. Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry and stay in tune with changing trends and the competition.
Take away the retail quotes that inspire you
There are many powerful retail quotes above and you can’t absorb them all. So take away the words of wisdom that inspire you the most. Look back at them when you need to lead, delight, save time, or simply make the most of every day.
Retail quotes FAQ
What are some popular inspirational quotes that I can use to motivate my retail team?
We’ve shared many inspirational retail quotes above. Choose the ones that align with your team’s values and goals, and the culture of your store.
How can I display inspirational retail quotes in my store?
You can display inspirational quotes in various ways:
- On walls or murals for customers and staff to see
- On packaging or receipts to share with customers
- In staff break rooms to motivate employees
- On social media to engage with both customers and staff
The method you choose depends on your branding, space, and who you’d like to target with the message.
What is a good quote for excellent customer service?
A powerful quote is Maya Angelou's: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." It’s effective because it shifts the focus from just solving a problem to creating a positive emotional outcome.
How can I use quotes to motivate my sales team?
Integrate a “quote of the week” into your team's routine by starting meetings or a weekly email with it. The key is to connect the quote directly to a current challenge or goal, such as using a quote on resilience during a tough sales month. That way, quotes will feel specific and timely rather than a generic poster on the wall.
Can using inspirational quotes in my retail store really make a difference in sales or staff performance?
While the impact of inspirational quotes on sales might not be directly measurable, they can contribute to a positive atmosphere. This can boost employee morale, improve customer experience, and foster a community that values your brand. In turn, these factors may positively influence sales and staff performance.
Can I legally use famous quotes in my marketing materials?
Generally, using quotes in marketing is OK, as long as you attribute the quote to the person who said it. However, it’s always wise to consult with a legal professional to understand the specific legalities so you can make sure you’re complying with copyright laws and not infringing on someone’s intellectual property rights.
