
The Resilient Retail Game Plan - retail insights, retail trends and best practices
A podcast for retailers and e-commerce brands, hosted by retail consultant Catherine Erdly. It covers retail trends, insights, and best practices for businesses from small independents to larger operations. Each episode aims to break down concepts and tools from Erdly's twenty years of experience in the UK and US retail industries, offering practical advice for starting, growing, or scaling a product-based business.
Episodes

Christmas Retail Strategy: Why August Decides December
The retailers who have a brilliant Christmas are not the ones working hardest in December.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.It is the middle of August, and I know that for a lot of you the word "Christmas" right now produces a small internal flinch. But here is the uncomfortable thing about peak season: by the time December arrives, almost every decisi

Retail Profit: Sales Down 23%, Profit Up 22%
One of my clients finished the month with sales down 23% on the year — and profit up 22% in that very same month.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.There's an old business adage I wheel out more often than I probably should: turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash is reality. Most of us know the phrase. Far fewer of us have ever been shown what i

Retail Sales Are Vanity. Retail Profit Is Sanity
A retailer I once worked with was selling children's clothes by the hundred. When we finally costed everything properly, she was making about 50 pence an item.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Most of us build a product business the sensible way round — get trading first, worry about the back end later. And that is the right instinct at the start. But

Ghost stores, fake shops and what they mean for real independent retailers
"It's with a heavy heart that we share this message with you." A little boutique closing its doors after years of love and care, one final sale, the owners off to enjoy being grandparents. Except the shop never existed."Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.I started this episode pulling on one thread — a closing down sale that didn't add up — and ended up

The Retail Stock Mistake Even Veteran Retailers Make
I’ve had retailers with 18 years in business tell me the same thing after just a few months working with us — and it isn’t what you’d expect.Hi, I’m retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Most of us are convinced we’re on top of our numbers. Shopify pings with every sale, we know our best sellers by heart, and we watch the sales roll in. But in this episode I dig i

The 4-Step Sales Strategy Every Independent Retailer Needs
Sales are quiet, and you've already decided it's your fault. It isn't.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Every retailer I have ever worked with has quiet weeks — including the multi-billion businesses. The only real difference is that they have enough stores and enough channels for the inconsistency to smooth itself out. When it's just you, one shop, on

Drowning in Data? The Only 3 Retail Numbers That Matter
Have you ever opened your Shopify dashboard looking for one answer and somehow ended up with ten new questions?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Most retailers I work with don't have a lack-of-data problem — they have the opposite. They're drowning in dashboards, apps, reports, spreadsheets and AI notifications, yet they still can't confidently answer

Independent Retailer Trends 2026: Plan Christmas Now
The shoppers who start researching Christmas earliest are also the ones who spend the most — and most retailers are invisible during exactly that window.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.If you think July is far too early to be thinking about Christmas, this episode will change your mind. I sat down with Hannah Bartlett — founder of Jolly Festive and T

Retail Planning 2026: Why a Mid-Year Check-In Beats Starting Over in January
We're coming up fast on the halfway point of the year — and if that fills you with dread, don't panic. Here's the good news: a midyear review beats a New Year's resolution every time, because right now you're not working from a theory about how the year might go. You have six months of real data. This episode is how you use it.Oh, and the episode comes with a free download - https://www.resilientr

How AI Agents Are Changing Retail Stores (Retail Industry Trends 2026)
Right now, as you read this, an AI chatbot is running a real retail store in San Francisco — managing the product selection, deciding what to stock, and curating a customer experience. It sounds like science fiction. It is already open for business. And it is just one signal of how fast the rules of retail discovery are changing.(Our sponsor Faire are offering 50% off and free shipping on first or

How retailers can build demand on TikTok
What would it mean for your retail business if — right now, at this very moment — three thousand creators were actively requesting samples to promote your brand? That's not a fantasy for Luke Arnall-Cameron, founder of YASS CLEAN. It's Tuesday. That's just how his business works.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by Faire.

Retail Trends 2026: How Independent Retailers Should Use Generative AI
AI is everywhere in retail right now — but are you actually using it in a way that's helping your business grow, or could it quietly be working against you?This episode is brought you by Faire who are offering 50% off and free shipping against new orders. Use the code "Resilient50" at checkout.This episode also features a free downloadable resource. Go to http://resilientretailclub.com/ai to claim

Retail Outlook 2026: Why 71% of Independent Retailers Are Growing - And How to Join Them
71% of independent retailers in the UK are growing or stable. And 9 in 10 shoppers say AI has made them MORE likely to trust your shop over an algorithm. Here is what the data actually says.(Our sponsor Faire are offering 50% off and free shipping on first orders until July 31st. Simply add the code "Resilient50" at checkout) Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherin

Retail Time Management: Stop Juggling Everything and Finally Get Ahead!
Do you ever feel like you're doing everything right, yet somehow still falling behind?If you run an independent retail business, you are not imagining things. Between buying stock, managing your team, keeping up with your marketing, handling customer service, and everything else that lands on your desk — the sheer volume of what your job involves would overwhelm anyone.This is not a time managemen

Retail Stock Ordering: Two questions every product business must answer
"How much should I order?" sounds like one question. It's actually two — and most product business owners only ever answer one of them.(This episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/order)Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.In this episode, I'm breaking down the critical difference between product-level stock ordering (
Retail insights around the "Invisible Ceiling": Why Your Shop Has Stalled
You’ve opened your shop. You’re selling. You have loyal customers. And yet something feels stuck... (this episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/systemsYour sales are inconsistent, stock builds up or runs out, cash feels tight even on the good weeks.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.In this episode, I'm naming the “

Retail Stock, Profit and Mindset: Three Pillars of a Resilient Retail Business
This episode contains a freebie download. Scroll down to find it.Believe it or not — today is episode 300 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan.Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and in this episode, which is six years, 300 episodes, and over 1 million downloads later since I started this podcast, I'm sharing a fast track to the biggest themes that have shaped this podcast and the retailers who listen to it.In t

Retail Bottleneck: How to stop being the go-to for every question in your business
This episode is sponsored by Intuit Mailchimp. Do your retail team ask you the same questions over and over? Has "what are we focusing on this week?" become the soundtrack to your inbox?Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and in Episode 299 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm explaining why so many independent retailers and product business owners accidentally become a bottleneck inside their own business

Retail Growth Through Data: Email & SMS Marketing Secrets with Intuit Mailchimp
If you're sending the same email to everyone on your list and wondering why it's not driving the sales you expected, this episode is for you.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.In this episode I'm sitting down with Ali Wood from Intuit Mailchimp to get practical about how independent retailers and e-commerce

The Shop Window Pyramid: Visual Merchandising Secrets for Independent Retailers
Your shop window isn't just a display — it's a salesperson working for you around the clock.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.In this episode, I'm joined by Sarah Manning, visual merchandising consultant and course leader, for a practical masterclass on how to make your window impossible to walk past.Sarah

Retail, The Lipstick Effect, and Why You Should Keep Selling
Have you ever looked at the news and wondered whether it's even appropriate to be selling your products right now?If you're an independent retailer or product business owner and the state of the world is making you hesitate about showing up and selling, this episode is for you.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of rea

The Power of Community: Why Every Retailer Needs Their People!
Nobody talks about how lonely it can be to run a small business.Your friends and family mean well — but they don't really get it. If you have a team, you feel like you have to have all the answers. And whether you're on the shop floor, in your home office, or in your unit, there's a good chance your dog is getting more of your business thoughts than any actual human being.I'm Catherine Erdly, and

Retail Industry Trends - 2026. Retail is changing FAST!
Retail is moving fast — and it can feel like whiplash trying to keep up with every new trend, tool, and headline. But here's the thing: as a small or independent retailer, you don't need to know everything. You just need the right information, filtered through the lens of what actually matters for your business.In this episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about Retail Roar 2026 — my fr

How to Build a Retail Community That Actually Buys From You
Most independent retailers have heard the advice to "build a community." Far fewer have been shown exactly how to do it — and even fewer have built one that actually buys.In this episode I'm joined by Ronke Fashola, founder of Love Your Look — a bold, inclusive, colour-forward fashion brand whose customers travel from Scotland and Cardiff to her pop-up shops, answer Instagram queries before she ev

How to stop feeling stuck in your own head in your retail business
Have you been feeling stuck in your own head in your retail business? Overthinking every decision, wondering if you're the only one finding it hard?There's a phrase I love:You can't read a label from inside the jar.And when you're living and breathing your business every single day, it's incredibly hard to see beyond where you are right now.In this episode, I share one of the fastest ways I've fou

Retail Sales Tracking: Are You Guessing Your Numbers, or Deciding?
Do you ever feel like you're drowning in data but still can't answer the simple question: is my business actually going in the right direction?Here's the truth: if your sales numbers feel like noise, you're probably looking at the wrong things — or avoiding looking altogether.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of real

How to Turn One-Time Buyers into Repeat Customers for Your Retail Business
Do you ever feel like you're constantly trying to convince people to buy? Like you're always explaining, justifying, or pushing a little harder than you'd like?Here's the truth: if selling feels exhausting, you're probably spending too much time talking to the wrong people.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality

Retail Marketing Without A Plan = Noise! Here's How Retailers Get Consistent Sales
Feel like you're shouting into the void with your marketing? You're not alone—and it's not your fault.Social media wants you reactive, emotional, and constantly second-guessing yourself. Meanwhile, big retailers operate from detailed seasonal plans made months in advance.I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.I

How indie shops grow sales WITHOUT discounting!
Why Profit Matters More Than Sales in Indie RetailSales growth is often treated as the goal in retail.But without profit, growth just creates more pressure.In this episode of Resilient Retail Game Plan, we look at why profit isn’t optional for independent retailers, and how better stock decisions change far more than just the numbers.I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — pr

Knowing When Your Retail Business Is Ready To Expand
When Is the Right Time to Open a Second Shop?Opening another shop is often seen as the obvious next step in retail growth.But knowing when to do it, and whether your business is actually ready, is far harder.In this episode of Resilient Retail Game Plan, we look at what really changes when you move from one shop to two, and then beyond.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp

5 Common Issues Growing Retail Businesses Don't Expect
The 5 Problems Growing Retail Businesses Don’t Expect (But Almost Always Face)If your retail business looks successful on paper but feels far harder than it should behind the scenes, this episode is for you.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.ukI’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical pro

How to build a profitable online shop while ignoring 'best practices'
How Artichoke Built a Profitable Online Shop by Ignoring “Best Practice”If you’ve been told that online retail growth means more ads, more automation, and more noise — this episode will quietly challenge that.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.ukI’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical p

Why Retail Business Growth Starts to Feel Heavy at Six Figures!
Why Retail Business Growth Starts to Feel Heavy at Six FiguresIf your retail business is doing well on paper, but somehow feels heavier than it used to, this episode is for you.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.com.Get 10% off hardware with the code GamePlan10.I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is the Resilient Retail Game Plan — product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn

Meta Ads Have Changed: What will actually work in 2026!
Meta Ads Have Changed – What Actually Works in 2026If Meta ads feel like a wild goose chase lately, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining things.With thanks to this episode's sponsor SumUp (https://sumup.com) Use the code 'GamePlan10' to get 10% off hardware from their online shop!Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly, and this week on The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m rolling up my sleeves with Meta Ad s

How Christmas 2025 Really Felt In Retail (and why that matters for 2026)
Ever wondered what Christmas really felt like at the sharp end of retail—and what it’s whispering about your 2026 playbook?This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"I’m Catherine Erdly, and welcome to this festive edition of the Resilient Retail Game Plan—your product business a

Your January Stock Clearance Strategy
January clearance doesn’t have to feel like a panic move, a brand compromise, or an admission of failure.This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"Hi, I’m Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m walking you through how to run a proper stock clearance. No

Retail Profit vs Turnover: When £3 Million Nearly Broke the Business
On paper, Anna Scaife's business Anna Lou of London looked unstoppable — multi–seven-figure turnover, dream stockists like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, celebrity customers, even a Carnaby Street shop. But behind the scenes, the numbers were quietly telling a very different story.This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking th

Retail Trends 2026: Four Shifts Retail Businesses Need To Prepare For
The shopfront of retail is about to change—will you be on the right side when the robots come knocking? Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m laying out the four seismic shifts set to hit independent retailers by 2026.Think agentic AI that shops for your customers, TikTok Shop turning the high street digital, trust as your most valuable currency, and the resale b

Dead Stock to Cash Flow: Access Trapped Cash Tied Up in Inventory
Ever feel like your money’s gone missing—but you know you’ve already spent it?In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most common and costly problems I see in product-based businesses: trapped stock. That unsold inventory piling up in your stockroom, storeroom, or studio? It’s not just taking up space—it’s tying up thousands of pounds you could be using to pay yourself, invest in your bestsell

Christmas Stock Management: How to shift slow sellers and avoid brown bananas
Christmas is close enough to smell the cinnamon, but I know for many indie retailers this is also the “please don’t let me be stuck with this stock in January” moment.In this episode, I’m talking you through the three big troublemakers you need to get on top of right now: slow sellers, overstocks, and the infamous “brown bananas” — those products that basically lose all their value the second Chri

What Shopify and Klaviyo Agree On: Christmas 2025 Spending
Christmas 2025 is shaping up to be a season of cautious confidence — and coziness.Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.In this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm sharing insights from my Forbes.com research, drawing on data from Shopify, Etsy, Klaviyo, LoyaltyLion and more to reveal what shoppers are really planning this festive season.Discover why UK consumers are expected to spend over £91 billio

Get more sales with less stock!
Ever wish a retail expert would walk into your stockroom, pull up your numbers, and just tell you exactly what to do?Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m tearing down the myths and fears behind a stock audit and showing why getting your inventory under control is the most powerful move a product-based business owner can make.After 25 years in retail, I’ve seen i

The Power of Planning Your Retail Sales Year: How Structure Creates Freedom (and Profit)
If you’re tired of winging it with your retail sales, this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan is your turning point. I'm Catherine Erdly, and in this episode I'm revealing how mapping out your sales year gives you more creativity, not less. Plus, we're all about calmer launches, better cash flow, and loyal customers. Learn how to replace last-minute panic with a confident plan that fits you

When Numbers Finally Tell the Truth - Retail Reality Check That Changed Everything for My Client
Resilient Retail Club member Petrina Reddy from "Saints at Sea" thought she was doing everything right — until the numbers told a different story. In this episode, she joins me, Catherine Erdly, to share the moment she realised her retail business wasn’t actually working the way she thought it was.We talk honestly about the emotional side of facing your figures, the hard decisions that come next,

Overcome 'feast or famine' in your product retail business!
Sound familiar? Ever felt your sales rhythm drop from celebration to silence overnight?Welcome to the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, where I, Catherine Erdly, cut through the feast-or-famine fog so many independent retailers face.In this episode, I crack open the real reasons your product business swings from record months to radio silence and arm you with retail-savvy strategies that’ve work

3 mistakes that keep small product retail businesses stuck!
Ever wondered why your sales are stuck in first gear – and what you can actually do to shift them?I'm Catherine Erdly and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan drills into three mistakes I see again and again with small product businesses. If you’re posting on Instagram, trying in-person markets, running the odd promotion yet still seeing stubbornly flat sales month after month, you’re no

Black Friday 2025: smart strategies for small product businesses to protect profit
Black Friday: Profit or Pitfall? The Retail Game Plan for Indie Brands Black Friday isn’t designed for indies, so why do so many small retail business owners still feel pressure to play?In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I pull you behind the screens and into the real numbers; sharing where the opportunities actually lie for UK product businesses come November, what the headlines m

Get loyalty from your retail business customers
Loyalty in retail isn’t just about discounts anymore — it’s about creating experiences customers remember. In this episode, Catherine Erdly talks with Charlie Casey, CEO of LoyaltyLion, about what loyalty means in 2025.You’ll learn:Why discounts alone don’t drive loyaltyHow experiences like VIP drops & events keep customers coming backReal examples from brands using loyalty to boost salesWhy l

How to Manage Cash Flow During Seasonal Peaks in Retail
Teetering bank balance, shelves groaning with unsold stock, and a to-do list that rustles louder than tissue wrap? Lean in—this festive crunch is survival mode for indie retailers.Christmas is coming, and with it, that age-old retail cash flow pinch. I’m Catherine Erdly—host of the Resilient Retail Game Plan and twenty-five years deep in this glorious, gritty industry.In this episode, I break down

Scaling your product retail business beyond six figures
Are you running your retail business – or is it running you into the ground?I’m Catherine Erdly, and on this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I peel back the glossy sales charts to reveal what really comes after that six-figure milestone.I’ve seen it firsthand: when independent product business owners hit £100K or more, the chaos, decision fatigue and burnout can hit even harder – unless

Your Q4 Retail Marketing Plan (PR, email, ads, social) That Works!
Will your Q4 plan make or break your Christmas sales? I’m Catherine Erdly, drawing on 25 years in retail trenches, and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast is your hands-on guide to prepping a joined-up Q4 marketing plan. Featuring insights from PR guru Rosie Davis Smith, email strategist Katie Farrell, ad creative powerhouse Narada McCoy, and social storytelling pro Emily Hansen

Christmas Stock Planning For Product Retail Businesses: Avoid Sell outs & overbuying
Will your Christmas cash flow jingle or stall? Hi! Catherine Erdly here, host of the Resilient Retail Game Plan. It’s that time of year when indie retailers either outsmart January’s excess stock blues or get a cash flow headache that lingers long past the mince pies.In this episode of the resilient retail club podcast, I’m rolling up my sleeves with a no-fluff checklist for peak season stock plan

The four best ways to grow your small product retail business
Four levers, infinite impact: Which one’s your sales superpower?Ever feel like you’re pouring all your energy into driving new traffic but your sales aren’t leaping as much as you hoped? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I pull back the curtain on the actual four ways to grow a product business—ways that go way beyond just chasing new customers.With 25 years in t

Just £170 could save your retail business from disaster!
Could missing a simple £170 expense cost you your entire business overnight? This week on The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I sit down with the sharp, straight-talking Lucy Wheeler of Lucy Legal to tackle the legal booby traps hiding in plain sight for indie retailers.Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and I’ve seen it too many times: stock room full, launch morning on the horizon… only for a cease-and-desist

Controlling Cash Flow - The SHOPS Framework
Ever feel like your till’s ringing, but your bank balance is whispering “not this month”?I’m Catherine Erdly, and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan gets painfully real about the truth behind cash flow for retailers.If you’ve ever panicked at 3am, wondering how to pay that looming supplier invoice, you’re not alone.I break down my “SHOPS” framework;Sales, Having It Mapped Out, Overhead

The Jellycat drama explained
When your best-selling supplier pulls the rug out, what’s your next move?I’m Catherine Erdly and this week’s Resilient Retail Game Plan episode dives straight into the Jellycat drama that’s rocking UK indie retail. Plush toys flying off the shelves one day, a curt rejection letter from your biggest brand partner the next. So how did Jellycat, the darling of TikTok and Instagram, go from indie reta

Product pricing and the value triangle
Welcome to another episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, hosted by me, retail expert Catherine Erdly. In this episode, I'm getting right to the heart of one of the biggest challenges for independent product business owners: pricing your products with confidence.Whether you’re creating your own products or reselling others’, pricing often brings up tricky questions, self-doubt, and eve

Sell Less, Make More: Pricing and Profit Margin Tips for Retailers
Why Strong Profit Margins Matter More Than Sales in Your Product BusinessLet’s be honest. Selling more doesn’t always mean you’re making more. In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast I share why strong profit margins are the foundation of a sustainable product business.I’ll walk you through how to calculate your real margins how to spot the most common mistakes including ones I’v

5 retail lessons from 5 years of this podcast
Hear that stockroom hum? Let's talk about itEver felt like you’re building your indie product business with one hand on the till and the other on the panic button?This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m cracking open five years of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast vault to bring you the biggest, most valuable independent retailer tips I’ve learned (and lived through) across 25 years

Sure-fire Shopify Conversion Rate Improvements with Pip Hounslow
In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m joined by Shopify web design expert Pip Hounslow for a deep dive into website conversion rates. We chat about what’s considered “normal”, why your conversion rate might be lower than you’d expect, and the small tweaks that can make a big difference to your sales. Pip also shares tips on improving your add-to-basket button, ensuring your websit

How Bird and Blend Turned Tea into an Experience at Retail ROAR with Mike Turner
It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Bird & Blend, so chatting with co-founder Mike Turner at Retail ROAR was a real treat. From a single market stall to 25+ shops across the UK, Mike and his co-founder Krisi have built something truly unique. In this episode—a sneak peek from our Retail ROAR 2025 summit—Mike shares how Bird & Blend grew from iced tea samples and hand-packed blends into a belov

Turn Comments Into Sales: Using Social Listening to Grow Revenue with Brooke Sellas
What if your next sale is hiding in your Instagram comments? This week on the podcast, I’m diving into social listening and social care with the brilliant Brooke Sellas, founder of B Squared Media and host of the Social Media CX Podcast. We get into the real reason you need to respond to those “Do you ship to ___?” questions—and how your answers could be the tipping point for someone making a purc

Stop Bleeding Cash - Fix Your Stock System
If managing your stock feels like a total guessing game, you’re not alone. And it’s not your fault. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many product business owners feel completely overwhelmed by stock decisions and what you can start doing about it.We’re talking about:Why “gut instinct” isn’t a stock strategyThe silent cost of overbuying (or underbuying) stockHow to break out of the cash fl

5 Lessons in Growing with Your Customers from Retail ROAR with Claire Burrows
Get a look at how one founder built a product business with staying power. This episode is a sneak peek into Retail ROAR, my free annual virtual summit for product business owners. I’m joined by Claire Burrows, founder of Air & Grace. She shares how she built a values-led footwear brand known for comfort, quality, and loyal customers. We talk about manufacturing setbacks, staying close to your

Storytelling That Sells (Without Sounding Salesy) with Char Dixon
Storytelling gets talked about a lot, but what does it actually look like day to day? With AI-generated content flooding our feeds, original stories are more powerful than ever. Today, Char Dixon is here to tell us why.We talk about how to make your content feel more like a conversation, why your behind-the-scenes moments are more valuable than you think, and how to stop overthinking your posts an

How Retail by Design Helped a Founder Fall Back in Love With Her Business with Katie Glickman
What do you do when your business looks like a success, but doesn’t feel like one? Katie Glickman started Bibbilyboo after struggling to find a bib that worked for her own child. What began with a sewing machine at the kitchen table grew into an award-winning business, with over 64,000 bibs sold and stockists across the UK, including the country’s largest baby store. But success doesn’t always

Holiday? Heck Yes! 3 Systems That Keep Sales Rolling
As a product business owner, taking time off can feel like a luxury you simply can’t afford. There’s always something that needs your attention—customers, orders, stock, marketing. The idea of stepping away can feel more stressful than restful. In this special 250th episode, I’m sharing a rare behind-the-scenes look at my own business. Last month, I took three separate trips, and it made me r

Idea → Aisle: Ship Your Product Faster
Today, I’m joined by luxury knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney, who’s been part of both our Retail By Design mastermind and the Stock Doctors programme. In this conversation, she shares how those programmes helped her move a long-held idea into action, which was bringing part of her production in-house after nearly a decade in business. It’s a shift that’s given her more control over stock, space

Payday for the Boss: Cash-Flow Moves to Fund You
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.----- What do you do when your business grows, but your pay doesn’t? It’s a common issue for product business owners. Today, we’re talking about how to pay yourself sustainably. Paying yourself from your product business isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, I’ll explain why it’s more com

Stuck at Six Figures? Why Retailers Must Shift Gears to Scale (Without Burning Out)
Join my Free Webinar - Scale To 7 Figures Without The Overwhelm on Wednesday April 30, 2025, at 10am UK time. Discover proven strategies that help you grow your business sustainably and profitably. ------- In this episode, I’m breaking down a hard truth for product-based business owners: What got you here, won’t get you there. If you're a retailer stuck at six figures—or feel like your business i

TikTok Till-Ringer: Retail Hacks That Sell
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.-----Thinking about using TikTok for your retail business, but unsure where to start—or if it's worth your time? In this week's episode, I talk to Penny Walker, TikTok strategist and founder of BarBrusa Social, about how to get started (or smarter) on the app. She breaks down how TikTok’s search featur

How to Create Irresistible Displays That Drive Sales with Michelle Sherrier
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand. ----- You don’t need a hefty budget to create displays that customers can’t resist. How you present your products in a physical space can directly impact how customers shop and what they spend. Whether you’re running a brick-and-mortar store, setting up at pop-ups, or showcasing at events, visual merchandisi

Track the Right Numbers to Reach Your Q2 Goals
We’re in Q2 already! Time to take a step back, have a proper look at your numbers, and set yourself up for a strong second quarter. In today’s episode, we’re going to chat about why it’s so important to know your numbers right now. Let’s review how Q1 went, make any necessary adjustments, and get you ready for the next 90 days. For many of us, Q2 can be a bit quieter, which makes it the perfec

The Wholesale Strategies That Took Bare Kind to One Thousand Retailers with Andrew Kemp
How do you go from zero to over a thousand stockists in under two years? That is exactly what we are talking about today. I am joined by Andrew Kemp, co-founder of Bare Kind and Candid Founders, a YouTube channel helping businesses grow through wholesale. Bare Kind is not your average sock company. They sell socks that save animals, supporting 40 different charities along the way, and they have

The Email Strategy That Keeps Customers Coming Back with Hannah Spicer
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand. ----- For small businesses, every customer counts. But how do you turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer? It’s not just in having great products, but it’s in your emails. Today, I’m joined by Hannah Spicer, an email marketing strategist who knows what it takes to keep customers coming back. She’s worked wi

The Talks You Can't Miss at Retail ROAR 2025
Signup for the Must-Attend Summit for Small Product Businesses - its FREE and designed for YOUR business! ---- What if I told you that in just two days, you could completely transform the way you run your retail business? After working with countless retailers, I know one thing for sure—the right strategies can make all the difference. And that’s exactly why I created Retail ROAR. And now, it’

How a Stock Doctor Helps Small Businesses Think Like Big Retailers
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand. ----- Why do big retailers manage stock so differently from small businesses? Their approach can seem like a completely different world, but there’s a lot to learn. Especially about cash flow and profitability. Today, I’m joined by Paola Maggiulli, a merchandising expert and one of our Stock Doctors at The Resi

RETAIL ROAR 2025: The Must-Attend Summit for Small Product Businesses
Signup for the Must-Attend Summit for Small Product Businesses - its FREE and designed for YOUR! ---- I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to Retail ROAR 2025! If you run a product-based business, whether as an independent retailer, e-commerce seller, or brand, this is the event you cannot afford to miss. Retail ROAR is a free, two-day online summit happening on March 20th and 21st, desig

Scroll → Sale: 2025 Social Moves That Ring Up Revenue
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.----- Social media moves fast. It can feel overwhelming to keep up with, especially when you're running a product business. But staying ahead of the trends doesn’t mean spending all your time online. I sat down with Janine Hardy, freelance social media manager and owner of Connected Inspired, to c

Retail Stock Stress to Profit Pop: Beat Inventory Pain
Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.-----Have you ever found yourself wondering whether you’re truly making the most of your stock? Or perhaps questioned why a certain buying decision didn’t quite work out when that stock arrives? Then you’ll relate to Victoria Clark’s story today. Victoria is the founder of Readymoney Beach Shop in Fowe
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