Blog
The Workden Journal
Practical advice on growing customer relationships, making better use of AI, automating repetitive work and keeping your business organised.
17 October 2026
How to win back customers who've stopped ordering
How to tell who has really stopped, the short personal email that brings regulars back, and why the discount should come last, not first.
17 October 2026
Is it safe to put customer details into ChatGPT?
What happens to a customer's name and order when you paste them into ChatGPT or Claude, the settings to check, and how to get the same help without them.
17 October 2026
Abandoned basket emails: what a small shop should send, and when
Two short emails that bring shoppers back to a basket they left, when to send them, wording you can copy, and what UK shops should check first.
12 October 2026
What to put in a shop newsletter when there's nothing new
No sale, no launch, no news. Nine things a small shop can send anyway, taken from what customers already ask you at the counter.
12 October 2026
How to follow up on a quote without feeling pushy
Three follow-up emails to copy, when to send each one, and how to stop a quote going quiet without ever writing "just checking in".
11 October 2026
How to collect customer emails in a physical shop, legally
Four ways to collect email addresses at the till, the wording to use, and what UK and US rules expect before you send a newsletter.
11 October 2026
How to get fewer "where is my order" emails
Four gaps that make customers ask where their order is, and how to close each one with the shop platform you already pay for.
10 October 2026
Does a small shop need a CRM? An honest answer
Most small shops do not need a CRM on day one. Here is how to tell when you do, what you can use for free, and what to check before you pay.
10 October 2026
Too many apps subscribtions in your business? How to cut the list down
A one hour check for shop owners paying for too many apps: what to list, what to cancel, what to keep, and when one combined tool is worth it.
10 October 2026
Seven emails that bring a customer back for a second order
The seven emails worth sending after a first order, when to send each, what the law asks of you, and how to do it by hand with no email tool.
10 October 2026
How to keep track of customers and orders once the spreadsheet stops working
A plain guide for shop owners on tracking customers and orders, from a notebook to proper software, and how to tell when it is time to move.