The Resilient Retail Game Plan – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I sit down with Daniella Raffa, founder of Mama Shack, to discuss her journey from product designer to successful entrepreneur in the baby essentials market. 

Daniella shares her story of identifying a gap in the market for stylish and practical baby products, leveraging her background in product development and design to build her business. We delve into the growth and evolution of Mama Shack, the challenges of fulfillment, and the importance of knowing your strengths and when to outsource tasks. 

With valuable insights into scaling a product business and maintaining a vision of success, this episode is a must-listen for any aspiring or current product business owner. Tune in to hear Daniella’s story and learn more about the tools and techniques that can help you build a resilient retail business.

[02:03] Meet Daniella Raffa of Mama Shack

[02:42] The Origin Story of Mama Shack

[04:54] Expanding the Product Line

[07:37] Challenges and Fulfillment Solutions

[12:11] Outsourcing and Delegation

[22:08]Advice for New Entrepreneurs

[25:16] Future Plans for Mama Shack

[26:10] Conclusion and Farewell

Links:

Gat all of the resources in our show notes at: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/leaning-into-expertise-a-retailer-success-story-with-daniella-raffa-of-mamma-shack/

Learn more about the Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/membership/

Learn more about my mastermind for product business owners: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring/

In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, I interview Lucy Greenwood, co-founder of the ethical and sustainable clothing brand Lucy & Yak. 

Lucy shares insights from their journey, which began in 2017. We discuss the importance of authenticity, community building, and the brand's purpose-led initiatives. 

We also touch on the challenges of maintaining strong values as the company grows, handling mistakes, and the impact of social media on brand representation. 

Additionally, Lucy unveils exciting future plans, including the expansion of the 'RE-YAK' initiative and the potential launch of a mobile second-hand shop.

[02:25] What would Lucy Greenwood say is the secret of success?

[06:31] The mistake that turned into Lucy & Yak's brand identity 

[10:10] The impact of community on Lucy & Yak

[17:26] Why it's so important to know your values in business

[22:44] The challenges behind building body awareness in the media

[26:49] What's next for Lucy and Yak? 

Get all of the details in the show notes: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/secrets-to-purpose-led-success/

Links:

Learn more about the Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/membership/

Learn more about my mastermind for product business owners: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring/

Other episodes you might like:

Finding Purpose In Your Brand with Jo Tuchener-Sharp Founder of Scamp & Dude https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/finding-purpose-in-your-brand/

Building In Sustainability And Changing The Fashion Business Model With Cally Russell 

https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/building-in-sustainability-and-changing-the-fashion-business-model-with-cally-russell/

Today, we're diving into your Christmas product strategy for 2024. I'll guide you through analyzing last year's sales data, identifying 'hero' products, planning your product range, setting your launch date, and making accurate sales projections. 

Whether you have years of Christmas sales data or are gearing up for your first holiday season, this episode will help you prepare effectively. 

[00:00] How to Find Your Perfect Christmas Inventory

[00:53] Overview of Christmas Product Strategy

[02:54] Analyzing Past Performance

[04:15] Identifying Hero Products

[07:17] Planning Your Product Range with a Focus on Gift Giving

[08:22] Deciding on Holiday Launch Dates

[12:15] Deciding which is worse, to have too much of this item or not enough?

[15:34] Final Preparations and Conclusion

Links:

Learn more about the Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/membership/

Learn more about my mastermind for product business owners: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring/

Related Episodes in this series:

205: Christmas in July: Thriving Through the Christmas Season with Mike Cole https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/christmas-in-july-thriving-through-the-christmas-season-with-mike-cole/

204: Christmas in July: Why Now is the Time to Plan Your Christmas Strategy https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/why-now-is-the-time-to-plan-your-christmas-strategy/

We might still have Hallowe’en and Thanksgiving ahead of us but as we all know the festive event that we really need to set our sights on is Christmas. 

Now, we’re all very familiar with the red sale signs of the high street, and with the yearly routine of seasonal discounts offered by large retailers you’d forgiven for thinking that slapping a “20% off everything” banner across your website might put you in good stead come the end of Q4 - but this week I’m here to tell you to hold your horses (or maybe that should be reindeer?) as properly profitable promotions require some real planning.

In episode 116 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I cover the five crucial factors to keep in mind when planning your Christmas promotions. We’ll look at the different types of promotions to use, as well as the ideal frequency and proximity of when you deploy them. I’ll also discuss why preparation is key and how, at the end of the day, these promotions aren’t really for the customer, they’re for you! 

If after this podcast you want even more info and tips on planning for Xmas 2022, make sure to tune in to my live talk at 1 pm on the 27th of October at resilientretailclub.com/christmas

We’ve come a long way since the days of Don Draper and the post-war triad of print, television and billboard advertising. The advent of the internet, the growth of social media and the ubiquity of mobile devices have transformed the advertising landscape, and the changes to the way we advertise and are advertised to are only getting more significant and more rapid as technology and our relationship to it evolves - it’s a lot to keep up with! 

That’s why in episode 115 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I welcome back Narada McKoy, marketing extraordinaire and founder of Bravada, the startup marketing specialists offering startups flexible, on-demand services.

In this podcast, we discuss the changing nature of data tracking and what it’ll mean to live in a cookie-less future. We deconstruct and review the sales funnel stages and why we need to start employing ‘broad-stroke marketing’, and we also discuss the growing popularity of TikTok and the increasingly blurred line between entertainment and e-commerce.

Check out Narada’s services at: https://www.bravada-uk.com/

And connect with him at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/narada-mckoy
https://www.instagram.com/bravada.marketing/

In an ever-increasingly digital world, real-life markets might be one of the purest and oldest forms of ‘offline’ shopping. Mainly operating historically unchanged as a selling format, the average market has had to weather some considerable shifts in the retail landscape in recent years, from the lockdowns of the COVID pandemic, and financial insecurity across the board, to the growing numbers of consumers shopping online. 

We’re living in the era of hybrid retail - if markets and stallholders want to stay relevant and secure their piece of the retail pie, it’s imperative that they build and strengthen the connection between their digital and physical retail worlds.

In episode 114 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Nicki Capewell, founder of Pedddle, an online directory for creative independent markets and stallholders. In this podcast, we discuss the power of the emotional connections made possible by meeting customers in person and how the memories and stories behind offline-bought gifts help forge deeper relationships between brands and their customers. We also talk about how seeing customers physically interacting with your stall, store or products can be one of the best ways to capture valuable audience data and Nicki also covers her sales-pattern predictions and top tips for Christmas 2022.

Check out Nicki’s amazing directory at https://pedddle.com/

And connect with her at:

https://twitter.com/pedddleuk
https://www.facebook.com/PedddleUK/
https://instagram.com/pedddleuk

To run a truly resilient retail business, amongst many things, you definitely have to be adaptable. From the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic and the knock-on effects of unforeseen global events to the recent rise in costs and impending recession, the last few years have required all of us to be flexible in the face of ever-changing circumstances. 

As business owners, we’re subject to an onslaught of competitors, the whims of transitory trends, and ever-evolving technology -  if we want to stay relevant and survive in these challenging times we need to embrace change and think creatively.

In today's episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Rob Smith about the opportunities afforded by one of the major new creative technologies available when it comes to how we conduct retail - live streaming. 

In a world that is increasingly ‘mobile-first’, Rob and I discuss the powerful democratising effect of platforms like TikTok, the power of content and creating genuine connections and communities around your brand. We also discuss how embracing “going live” can be cost-effective for both online and brick-and-mortar stores and why it might be one of the best ways to capture that all-important audience data.

Recession! After the last few years we’ve all had, as small business owners, it’s the last phrase we want to hear cropping up on the news and in the papers - but unfortunately, a perfect storm of rising costs, increasing interest rates, ballooning inflation and falling wages all point to an imminent downturn in economic activity. 

But not all is lost - far from it! I want to help you prepare for and weather the coming economic storm, as well as put into context what it actually means to be in a recession. In today's episode, I delve into the numbers, articles, research and statistics to bring you my perspective on why you shouldn’t despair but perhaps even embrace the challenges ahead, and why you’re actually a lot better prepared than you may think you are.

In this podcast, we’ll take another look at the power of mindset and how your attitude can transform your business. We’ll revisit the fundamentals of knowing your numbers and nailing an effective sales strategy as well as digging into how identifying industry trends can help you better serve your customers. We’ll also discuss stock and how building up a cash buffer can help you keep your business operating as flexibly as possible.

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

In episode 111 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to jewellery designer and founder of Good Daze (formerly Mood Good), Rosie Greener.

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2015, Rosie landed an incredible opportunity to design for some of the top high-street stores such as Topshop and relished working across multiple brands and departments in the fast-paced world of commercial retail. But it wasn’t too long before she wanted to exercise a bit more independence and creative freedom and started running her own business alongside her other work commitments.

Fast-forward to today and Rosie runs Good Daze full-time, producing light-hearted, positive designs, all made ethically in small workshops around East London. In today's podcast, we discuss Rosie’s experience of trying to trademark her business, the challenges she faced and the realities of making difficult business decisions. But on a brighter note, we also discuss how to build authentic relationships with your creative peers, and why being patient might be the key to producing the best and most organic collaborations

Check out Rosie’s beautiful jewellery at: https://gooddazeahead.com/

And connect with Good Daze at:

https://www.instagram.com/gooddazejewellery/

https://www.facebook.com/GoodDazeJewellery/

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

As the days of summer sun start to shorten and we start to pack up our parasols and barbecues, it’s time, of course, to turn our thoughts to Christmas.

The festive season is of colossal importance to almost every business’s sales calendar, but with a seemingly endless torrent of global uncertainties, economic unbalance and rising costs across the board, it’s become increasingly difficult to forecast sales, plan ahead and make the best of one of the most lucrative times of the year.

So, in today’s podcast, I want to give you my top three predictions for Christmas 2022, so you can prepare your business for (almost) every eventuality and end the year on a high.

We’ll start by looking at matching sales plans to spending patterns, setting expectations and experimenting with price points. We’ll also look into how the state of the economy is shifting buying habits and how you can best support your customers in spreading their costs. We’ll also revisit our old friend, the value triangle, and discuss why this is not the year to be coy about your pricing.