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
Retail Christmas Window Displays: The 3-Colour Rule That Sells
Your shop window is your hardest-working unpaid employee. This Christmas, is it pulling its weight?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comIf you're an independent retailer, you're probably about to put up your Christmas window display, or you've a
Retail Stores: Do Online Brands Really Need Bricks and Mortar?
It's so easy to shop online. So why would anyone spend their precious time coming to see you in a shop?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comLast week I asked whether bricks-and-mortar shops need a website. This week I'm turning the question arou
Retail (ecommerce) Websites: Do Bricks-and-Mortar Stores Really Need One?
Everyone says your shop needs a website. So why do nearly two-thirds of independent retailers make less than 10% of their revenue online?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comThis is part one of a two-part series, and it takes on one of the least
The Shopping Forecast Podcast - 'Special Listen In' Episode
I just wanted to let you have a quick listen to my other podcast. Fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles (host of The Fashion Brand Clinic) and I teamed up to launch "The Shopping Forecast" which is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what’s in your basket.Each episode we bring the receipts on current consumer trends and the cultural shifts shaping the way we shop, unpacki
Retail Opening Hours: How 8 Independent Shops Decide When to Open
What are the right opening hours for your shop, and what should you actually be using to make that decision?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comEarlier this year I visited Jedburgh and Kelso in the Scottish Borders for my A to Z of independent
Retail Christmas Forecast: What the Summer Numbers Really Tell Us
So how was the summer for retail in general, and more importantly, what does that tell us about what's ahead for Christmas?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comDepending on what you read this summer, retail either collapsed or quietly got on wit
Retail Christmas Stock Planning: How Much Should You Actually Buy?
Before you place one more Christmas order, stop and ask a different question. Not "how much money have I got left to spend?" but "is my stock actually ready for Christmas, and where are the genuine gaps?" Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comI
Retail Christmas Promotions: 7 Ways to Drive Sales Without Discounting Everything
If your Christmas promotional strategy is "20% off everything", then you probably haven't got a Christmas promotional strategy.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at capify.comThis is the final episode in my four-part Get Set for Christmas series, and it ta
Retail Christmas Range: Stop Trying to Stock Everything
The biggest Christmas mistake I see is not ordering too little. It is trying to stock everything.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Capify - business funding made simple. Find out more at CapifyEvery year I watch independent retailers try to turn themselves into a one-stop shop for December. More lines, mor
Retail Christmas Cash Flow: Four Ways to Ease the Squeeze
Your sales aren't bad. So why does it suddenly feel like there is no money in the bank?Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Every September and October I have the same conversation, and it is almost always with someone who is convinced they have done something wrong. You planned Christmas properly. You placed the orders. And now, right on cue, the invoice
Retail Christmas 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
