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 website works beautifully on mobile, and why your founder story could be the key to connecting with customers.

Whether you’re on Shopify or another platform, you’ll come away with practical ideas to help your product-based business convert more visitors into buyers.

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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 beloved national brand, all while staying people-focused and rooted in community.

We cover:

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3. What “experiential retail” actually looks like (and what it doesn’t)
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7. How thinking omnichannel from day one set them up for growth
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11. The joy of unexpected blends (think rhubarb and custard tea!)
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15. Using crowdfunding, customer feedback, and team ideas to scale
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19. Why real loyalty comes from inclusion—not discounts
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Whether you’re planning your first shop, growing your brand, or simply after a dose of retail inspiration—this one’s worth a listen.

🎟️ Want more content like this? Get on the waitlist for Retail ROAR 2026!

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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.

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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 is running you instead of the other way around—this one's for you.

I dive into the essential mindset and structural shifts that independent retailers need to make to grow their business sustainably, without sacrificing their sanity or freedom.

Plus, I invite you to my free live webinar on how to scale your product business to seven figures without burnout. 🎧 Tune in for insights and actionable steps!

What's Inside:

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In episode 157 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Cally Russell, CEO and Co-founder of waste-free clothing brand ‘This Is Unfolded’, supporting children’s education and paying garment workers better wages. 

Cally inarguably posits that fast fashion and current retail models are killing the planet - but that they also create a bland customer experience. To change a global business model that is fundamentally flawed, Cally believes we need to create brands and production processes that are driven by communities and in collaboration with their customers, which is exactly what he’s doing with ‘This Is Unfolded’.

In this podcast, we discuss educating people about the journey their purchases go on, the importance of identifying your best growth channels and extending the number of dopamine hits your customer experiences post-purchase. We also talk about how scaling bigger can take you away from your core customers as well as rethinking sustainability and circularity when it comes to the lifecycle of a product.

Check out the amazing community-driven fashion range at:

https://thisisunfolded.com/

Connect with Cally and ‘This Is Unfolded’ at:

https://www.facebook.com/thisisunfolded

https://www.instagram.com/thisisunfolded

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callyrussell

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Trying to increase a customer's average spend or basket size can be tricky. With a lot of focus across e-commerce on the pre-purchase experience, brands can easily fall into the trap of frustrating, and even losing their prospective customers with annoying pop-ups and offers that potentially cheapen their brand.

In episode 156 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Ruth Even Haim, the COO & co-founder of ‘ReConvert’, the number-one upselling app on Shopify, about how focusing on the post-purchase experience has enabled her business to help merchants generate millions of extra revenue in sales.

In this podcast we discuss the best practices for upselling, covering such areas as discounts and exclusivity. We talk about the shipping and profitability benefits of a successful upselling strategy, and we also discuss the importance of tailoring your post-purchase offering to your audience and not overwhelming your customers.

Check out the ‘Reconvert’ app here: https://www.reconvert.io/

Connect with the brand at: https://www.instagram.com/reconvert.io/

Struggling with low-profit margins? Fix it today with Reconvert’s FREE Conversion Rate optimisation guide:: https://www.reconvert.io/shopify-conversion-rate

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No business has shaped online retail, perhaps all retail, the way that Amazon has. Since its founding in 1994, the e-commerce giant has grown to become one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world, forever changing the way that we shop and sell. 

The idea then of trying to build a business on such a huge, busy and complex marketplace might seem a bit daunting at first, but in episode 155 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Amazon expert Emily Johnson who shares how she created her own semi-passive brand on the e-commerce platform and what you need to know to make the best go of setting up shop.

In this podcast, we discuss the importance of research, the benefits of getting to grips with optimisation and marketing, and what different business models Amazon has to offer. We also talk about sales platform glitches, troubleshooting your product listings and why it’s worth looking into brand protection in the forms of design registrations and trademarking.

Check out Emily’s Amazon coaching services at: https://www.hello-dream.co.uk/

And connect with her at: instagram.com/dreamers_should/

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

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When it comes to retail it’s never too early to start talking about Christmas! In fact, if you’ve left it this long without considering the big day you might even be too late to take advantage of some of the best ways to prepare your business for the dependably lucrative Q4 sales period. The more work you can do now to get you and your business ready for the festive season, the smoother it’ll all go - you don’t want to be scrambling for stock and pleading for PR in November and December, you want to be selling your products and delighting your customers. In today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I share seven ways you can use this summer to better prepare for Christmas 2023. We’ll begin by looking back at 2022, identifying patterns and peaks and producing a sales plan. We’ll talk about setting out your hero products ahead of time and getting savvy with your stock levels. We’ll also discuss taking part in seasonal events, pitching products to gift guides and managing your staffing situation during the busiest selling season. How ready are you for Christmas 2023? Take our quiz and get valuable feedback: resilientretailclub.com/christmasquiz

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A lot of small product business founders have likely experienced that same exciting moment of thinking or feeling that what may have started as a hobby or a side hustle is starting to turn into something more! Taking your ideas, personal projects, or businesses to the next level does take a lot of work and requires a good degree of self-belief - what it requires is getting serious about your intentions. In today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to the founder of sensory sensation, science-led, baby essentials brand, Etta Loves. With a career in Media, Jen didn’t have much background in buying or production, but inspired by her first daughter and with support from her NCT friends, Jen has built her business from one great idea, by taking herself and her vision seriously, into a hugely successful multinational company. In this podcast, we discuss the challenges of operating overseas, managing cashflow issues and how setbacks can help shape your business. We also talk about growing your brand awareness, cultivating sustained and gradual growth and how important it is to nurture connections and take chances. Check out Jen’s beautiful products at: ettaloves.com / us.ettaloves.com / eu.ettaloves.com And connect with her and the brand at: instagram.com/@ettaloves

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Whether you’re someone who’s just started a creative product business and are chasing that first sale or whether you’re an experienced founder trying to leverage even greater growth for your long-running and established brand, something we all share in common is that we all want to experience success, in its many shapes and forms. From social media to shop windows, the popularity and success of a product or brand can sometimes seemingly explode out of nowhere, but it’s not often the case that these businesses are overnight successes. In episode 151 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Sallie King of small-space furniture brand, Urbansize. From humble beginnings selling single units on Etsy to being stocked in Urban Outfitters and Not On The High Street, Sallie shares how she gradually built up her business from a single idea and product into the successful brand it is today. In today's podcast we discuss the challenges of stock management and warehousing, creating growth without investment and the virtue of patience. We also talk about the long-term cost, and even personal, benefits of outsourcing and how we might better delegate and share the load of our businesses with our teams. Check out Sallie’s beautiful products at: www.urbansize.co.uk And connect with her at: https://www.instagram.com/urbansize_home ANNOUNCEMENT Launching July 10th, I’m offering a brand new, 6-month programme combining award-winning business mentoring with the magic of masterminding, for ambitious small business owners. Book a discovery chat at: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring

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“How do I run a promotion that doesn’t damage my brand?” is a question I get asked all the time. It’s a valid concern, evidenced no better than by what my friend and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles calls “The Gap Trap” - where the constant over-promoting and discounting of stock at the famous clothing retailer culminated in the admittedly flagging brand having to shut up shop in the UK. The important thing to remember is that promotions should look like they’re designed for and are beneficial to your customers, but really, first and foremost, they need to work for you! One of the best questions to ask yourself when you’re considering running a promotion is:  “What is your end goal?” In today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game plan we’ll discuss the types of promotions, discounts and campaigns available to small businesses, their effectiveness and when best to employ them. We’ll discuss the powerful but short-term impact of blanket promotions, using specific targeted promotions to clear stock and how this differs from a ‘stock clearance’ sale. We’ll also talk about plotting your promotions against your sales calendar, promotional options such as free shipping and how promotions, at their core, are a great way to have new conversations with your customer. PROMO: If you join the Resilient Retail Club before June 18th you’ll get your first month at 1/2 price! You’ll also be just in time to join our brand new, very exciting 30-day sales challenge. Exclusively for members the challenge will include daily audio prompts, access to a private members-only podcast, goal setting, some truly special guest talks and group co-working sessions. Join now at: resilientretailclub.com/membership

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As you’ve undoubtedly heard me say before, the best sales strategy is a great product strategy. Everything works better for you and your business when your audience and customers are excited about your product - they’ll buy more, they’ll tend to convert at a better rate on your website and they’ll tell more people about your brand. So if you are feeling stuck, or find yourself in a bit of a rut it’s always best to bring it back to the product and to ask yourself - is it the best it can be in order to attract customers? Big retail businesses are constantly reviewing their current product lines and trialling new ideas to figure out what the customer wants, so in episode 149 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m going to share with you my tips to help small business owners like yourself to create products your customers really want. In this podcast we’ll discuss communicating with your customers, figuring out who they are, what they’re going through and how that informs what they want and need. We’ll think about asking what our customers DON’T want and how it can help us make choices that better align with the desires of our customers. We'll also discuss how we buy based on emotions and why it’s almost more important to sell your audience on the ‘transformation’ a product promises than the item itself. PROMO: If you join the Resilient Retail Club before June 18th you’ll get your first month at 1/2 price! You’ll also be just in time to join our brand new, very exciting 30-day sales challenge. Exclusively for members the challenge will include daily audio prompts, access to a private members-only podcast, goal setting, some extraordinary guest talks and group co-working sessions. Join now at: resilientretailclub.com/membership

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Artificial intelligence certainly is a hot topic at the moment! There’s a lot of heady discourse flying back and forth in the news, as well as concerns about its use (or misuse) in specific contexts. Still, I think it’s worth remembering that AI, in the form of algorithmic and machine learning applications like Google Maps, has existed and been in use for a long time. It’s the advent of platforms like Chat GPT, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, that have really begun to shake things up and for creative product businesses, offer opportunities that could be quite transformative.

In today's episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, we’ll be discussing a number of ways that you can use artificial intelligence in your business to fill gaps in your knowledge and save yourself one of the most important commodities of all - time! From customer service responses to product descriptions, we’ll look at how you can leverage AI to cut down on time-consuming copywriting. We’ll delve into generating blog posts, newsletters and even targeted ads. I’ll run some examples to demonstrate the idea generative capabilities of AI and we’ll also talk about the importance of maintaining your tone of voice and an eye for detail when working with this sort of technology.

Episode Links:

https://resilientretailclub--marketingwithmenekse.thrivecart.com/the-marketing-magic-dashboards/

Chat.openai.com

Bing.com

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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 features are transforming how people shop, why you don’t need to dance or go viral to succeed, and how to build a strategy that actually drives sales.

What’s Inside:

[00:00] Why TikTok still matters for retailers in 2025

[01:25] Meet Penny Walker: TikTok trainer & content strategist at BarBrusa Social

[01:56] What’s trending now (and how to reuse old trends)

[04:54] TikTok is now a search engine—here’s how to use it

[09:41]   How realistic is it for small businesses to drive sales directly through the TikTok app?

[15:08] Real-world retail TikTok success stories

[17:15] What type of content is working on TikTok?

[20:23] Where to start: Penny’s step-by-step intro TikTok strategy

[24:04] Connect with Penny

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It’s a fact of running a small product business that some days are better than others. When you spend so much time and put so much passion into creating or curating your line of products, it can feel deeply demoralising when your sales numbers suddenly drop or fail to materialise for that item you had such high hopes for. This is often when the ‘cycle of doom’ starts to spin and whir and where in some extreme cases people end up shutting up shop due to low confidence and inaction. That’s why I want to spend episode 147 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, giving you a little pep talk and to share with you seven vital ways to help you avoid giving up on your business during those slow sales days. In today’s podcast, we’ll talk about looking at the bigger picture and not focusing on the daily, we’ll revisit cultivating a 'CROP' mindset and discuss looking for the ‘green shoots’ in your business, as well as talking about the importance of not forgetting our existing customers in the drive for increased sales. We’ll also discuss implementing low-risk, low-cost shake-ups in an effort to help refresh your business, seeking out complimentary, non-competitive collaborations and finding the right support to help you push on through and innovate. Remember to use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

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It probably holds true that many small product business owners dream of the day that they can hand their notice in at work and dedicate themselves to their own businesses full-time. It’s an audacious goal and certainly isn’t going to happen overnight (in most cases!) but it’s completely possible as my guest today demonstrates.

In episode 146 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to children’s decor and gift designer and founder of Hannah Joy Designs, Hannah Burn. Having always wanted to run her own business, Hannah decided to create her own fun and colourful brand after she fell out of love with her career and needed something new to get excited about, all with the purpose of “creating a life that she loves through creativity”. 

Starting with a little know-how and a lot of determination, five and half years on Hannah’s fully transitioned from running a side hustle to running her business full-time. In today’s podcast, we talk about her amazing journey. Throughout this episode we talk about the need to test out products, the importance of failure in discovering what does and doesn’t work and how sometimes the hardest decisions are the best ones. We also discuss “gold medal syndrome”, the realities of sustaining success and how the Resilient Retail Club has made a difference in the growth of Hannah’s business.

Check out Hannah’s beautiful products at:

https://hannahjoydesigns.co.uk/

And connect with her at:

https://www.instagram.com/hannahjoy_designs/ https://www.facebook.com/HannahJoyDesigns/ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/hannahjoydesigns/

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Use the code: BIRTHDAY23 for £60 off annual membership to the Resilient Retail Club (promotion ending 10 pm on May 19th 2023)

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Celebrations are in order! May is not only the month of my birthday but it also marks the third anniversary of The Resilient Retail Club. When I started the business back in 2020, I never set out to create a membership, but instead planned to offer courses, starting with my ‘Grow Your Sales’ course back when I used to operate as ‘Future Retail’. But with the challenges presented by COVID and the subsequent lockdowns, I pivoted from offering courses to creating a community where people could come get the support they needed - and, as they say, the rest is history. It’s been an absolute joy and privilege to work with so many small businesses and such wonderful people since starting my business, so in today’s podcast, I want to share my top ten highlights from the last three years of running the Resilient Retail Club. I’ll be talking about the strength of our community, sharing our weekly and quarterly wins and the reward of running a business that does good. We’ll also talk about the importance of celebrating each other, the delights of meeting in person and how the club helped shape my new book: ‘Tame Your Tiger’. Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club. Want weekly updates and news you can use? Subscribe to the Weekly Sales Review emails at: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/sign-up/

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With Easter not long behind us, the next big calendar event on the horizon is Father’s Day. Whilst the dad-centric holiday sees lower spending on average than Mother's Day, it’s still a major event in hospitality and retail. Now, some of you may be looking at your range of products and thinking where does my business fit into Fathers Day? It’s true that not every small product business will be suited to catering for gifts for dads, that's why I want to spend today's episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan breaking down the sort of product categories that broadly appeal to men to help give you some gifting ideas in order for you to make the most of Father’s Day. We’ll discuss pampering versus practicality and the male proclivity for functional upgrades. We’ll look at the undeniable gifting staples that are clothing, consumables and electronics, as well as covering some more varied ideas that are more lifestyle-led, and we’ll also discuss some possible product approaches for those of you who have a majority-female customer base or female-focused product range.

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The impact of mindset on your business truly cannot be underestimated, it affects everything we do as small business owners, from the way that we interact with our customers and staff to how we show up on social media and market our products.

Too often when we lose confidence in ourselves, and potentially in our business, we tend to take less action and get stuck in what I call the 'cycle of doom': sales drop - we lose confidence - we take less action - sales drop - we lose confidence, and on and on it goes.

So, in today’s episode, I want to share with you the new acronym I’ve developed (CROP) to help you maintain a mindset that keeps you feeling good and keeps your business running optimally. We’ll look at curiosity, where we’ll discuss exploring new ideas, learning from feedback and ultimately not catastrophising when things don’t go to plan. We’ll look at resilience, overcoming challenges, coping with uncertainty and the importance of staying nimble. We’ll also tap into objectivity, making data-driven decisions and keeping an eye on the big picture, and we’ll wrap up by discussing what arguably fuels your ability to be your best self, positivity.

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

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In episode 142 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I wrap up my short series about building your small business on a budget with my good friend and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles. Elizabeth and I share a lot of background and experience when it comes to the retail industry and understand the vital importance of sales strategy and skills when it comes to growing a business and that if small business owners don’t work on these areas they could end up with what amounts to a very expensive hobby! So, in today’s podcast, we talk about trying to shift our mindsets around selling, appreciating that it can be a mutually beneficial exchange and not you pulling a fast one on your unsuspecting audience. We talk about the art of conversation, seduction and the power of emotion when it comes to people's purchasing decisions. We also consider how we need to speak to our audience in different ways, understand that not everyone is ready to buy and that when things seem tough that we have to ‘sell through the silence'.

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

Check out Elizabeth’s services over at: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/

And connect with her at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFashionFeed/ https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thefashionbrandclinic/

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In the fourth episode of my mini-series of discussions about building your business on a budget, I speak to Jayne Lasley, founder of “Fairlie Curved”. Originally started as a styling page on Instagram, Jayne took a modest £500 after losing her job in lockdown to attempt to create a fuller-bust clothing line - an idea informed by her own experiences of someone with a 30HH bust and an idea that had been on her mind since the final year of her degree in Textile, Fashion Design and Management. Only a few years on, her small business is thriving - boasting a dedicated community of customers and fans and an international demand for her products. 

In today’s episode, we discuss the vital importance of cultivating communities, listening to the needs and wants of your customers and bringing them in on the decision-making. We also talk about going the extra mile, repaying the support and appreciation you receive and effectively utilising user-generated content. We also touch on authenticity and trust, the value of a quick response and how being genuinely social can transform your business.

Check out Jayne’s amazing brand at: https://fairliecurved.com/

And connect with her at:

https://www.facebook.com/fairliecurvedstyle/ https://www.instagram.com/fairliecurved/ https://twitter.com/fairliecurved

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In the second of my series of discussions about building your business on a budget, I speak to Rebecca Gibbions of the boutique jewellery brand, ‘Last Night I Dreamt’. After putting a successful career in television production on hold to raise a family, Rebecca felt a bit adrift until an opportunity to open a jewellery shop in her home of Southwell, Nottingham, ignited an excitement in her she hadn’t felt for some time. Since opening in 2015, and launching a website in 2019, Rebecca’s small business has gone from strength to strength. Offering collated collections of jewellery by the best British and international designers, Rebecca attributes the brand’s true success to her desire and commitment to authentically connect with her customers, cultivate a community and to make even the driest of business processes relevant and fun. In today’s episode, we discuss storytelling, purpose and creating unique spaces that go beyond the standard shop floor. We also talk about the importance of the personal touch as well as creating a consistent tone of voice across a multitude of marketing and selling platforms. We also talk about how producing blogs and leveraging current trends can keep things relevant and fresh when it comes to generating organic SEO. Check out Rebecca’s beautifully curated collections at: https://www.lastnightidreamt.co.uk/ And connect with her at: https://www.facebook.com/LNIDjewellery/ https://www.instagram.com/lnidjewellery/ https://twitter.com/lnidjewellery

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Today’s podcast marks the first in a series of discussions about building your business on a budget and in episode 138 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan I speak with Laura Schofield, the founder of Otto and Ivy, a specialist shoe brand, who incredibly had never spent a penny on marketing until the third year of running her business.

Having initially cultivated a career in television presenting, she felt something was missing after working for several years as a shopping channel host. It was through her creative outlet - a blog for fellow tall woman (Laura is 6ft 1 with size 9 (UK) feet) - and the loyal community it generated that Laura found the confidence to enter the small business world. From starting out by simply googling shoe brands to visiting factories in Italy, to generating a wealth of research through focus groups and surveys, Laura has managed to quickly build an impressive business from modest means.

In this podcast, we discuss how people buy from people and how storytelling often rivals specs when selling. We talk about the value of adopting a slower model of growth, allowing for refinements and how gathering feedback not only improves your products but your audience's connection with your brand, and we also speak about what it means to be trustworthy and the importance of sharing your 'why'.

Check out Laura’s beautiful shoes at: https://ottoandivy.com/

And connect with her over at: https://www.facebook.com/ottoandivyshoes https://www.instagram.com/ottoandivyshoes/

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Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.

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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 merchandising is key to drawing customers in and driving sales.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Michelle Sherrier. She’s a seasoned visual merchandising expert who’s transformed independent retailers and wholesale showrooms across the U.S. Michelle shares some fascinating insights and unexpected tips from her work with both big and small retailers.

We’ll uncover the psychology behind product placement, dive into clever merchandising tricks, and arm you with actionable strategies to make your displays irresistible.

[02:44] What visual merchandising involves

[04:43] Tips to create a strong presence in a small retail space

[06:50] Creative high-impact visual merchandising on a budget

[11:05] Merchandising by category vs. lifestyle merchandising

[14:43] How visual merchandising affects the way your customers shop

[18:16] Tips for driving add-on purchases with your merchandising

[22:08] How to find that spark of inspiration for a display

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Product photography has changed a lot since the days of a single image on a white background in a 500-page catalogue. As the advertising and marketing worlds have evolved, we’ve seen increasing complexity in the way businesses present their products to their audience, such as through multi-layered storytelling and creating cultural context around their products, and with the continuing growth of online retail, good imagery has never been more important in communicating the qualities and value of products outside of a traditional physical retail space.

In episode 137 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to brand and product photographer Hiral Jethwa. A passionate advocate of good photography, Hiral produces content to elevate small product businesses, bolster their brands and ultimately help increase sales.

In today’s podcast, we discuss how good photography not only helps address your customers' pain points but can lessen the risk of unwanted returns and refunds. We also talk about finding the right photographer to collaborate with, how to communicate your vision and Hiral also shares her tips for how to best prepare for the big shoot!

Check out Hiral’s work and services at: https://hj-photography.co.uk/

And connect with her at: https://www.instagram.com/hjbrandingstories/

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and get your copy of “Tame Your Tiger” at: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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So, the inspiration for today’s episode came out of a conversation I was having with fashion brand consultant, Elizabeth Stiles. We chat often over WhatsApp, sometimes about the things that drive us crazy about small businesses - and on this occasion we both found ourselves bemoaning the recent trend of founders posting negatively framed content about their businesses.

Now, this episode is definitely not about shaming you if you’re having a tough time, or indeed if you’ve recently shared posts on social media to this effect! What I really want to discuss today are the risks of implementing such a strategy, the damage it can do to your brand and ultimately why it’s important to understand that there should be a line when it comes to sharing content built around your business.

In today’s podcast, we’ll talk about compassion fatigue and not shifting your problems onto your customers. I discuss how retail is theatre, and how we as small business owners need to offer up escapism. We’ll also look at how to positively reframe your struggles and challenges, by thanking those who are supporting your business and how we can authentically connect with our audience by “sharing the scar, not the wound”.

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and get your copy of “Tame Your Tiger” at: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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Branding at its core is rooted in psychology and human behaviour - it’s how your customers think and feel about you, your products and your business, and more than ever with so many brands out there, we, as founders, need to be able to cut through the noise, set ourselves apart from our competitors and build trusted relationships with our customers if we want to grow. In episode 135 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to brand consultant Cara Bendon. With 10 years experience of running her own award-winning studio, Cara and her team help small lifestyle businesses create standout brands. In this episode, we break down branding as we talk about colour theory, shelf appeal, and the importance of cohesiveness and consistency in establishing trust. We also discuss the power of the little touches, tone of voice and the paradox of practising sustainability while offering an excellent unboxing experience. Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and get your copy of “Tame Your Tiger” at: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

Check out Cara’s services at https://www.carabendon.com/ and connect with her at:

https://www.instagram.com/carabendon/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carabendon/

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My first book, “Tame Your Tiger: How to stop your product business eating you alive“ was finally released this week and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!

To really celebrate this momentous occasion, I’ve decided to spend this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan sharing an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look into the book, where I’ll discuss my writing process, who the book’s for and why I wrote it, as well as the key learnings and takeaways small businesses can hope to find within its pages.

But today’s podcast comes with one major twist in the form of today’s guest - in that today’s guest is me! That’s right, it’s a Resilient Retail role reversal, where I’m being interviewed by none other than fellow author (‘Hype Yourself’) and PR expert, Lucy Werner.

Throughout our discussion of the development and evolution of the book, we touch on numerous topics such as the lessons that small businesses can learn from big-budget corporate strategy, and the ever-present tension between the creative impetus that leads many people to start their own businesses and the need to be on top of your numbers. We also cover my favourite tip from the book and most importantly deconstruct the three problem areas that constitute an untamed tiger.

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and get your copy of “Tame Your Tiger” at: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

Many thanks to Lucy for doing a wonderful job as today's host! Check out her services at https://www.thewern.com/lucy and pick up a copy of her amazing book “Hype Yourself here: https://www.hypeyourself.com/shop

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In today's episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to give you my expert support in order for you to understand better the figures that can ultimately make or break your small business. We’re already barrelling towards March and 2023 is looking no less uncertain for independent retail - that’s why we need to embrace and closely monitor our numbers to help us stay in control and lay out a clear and confident strategy for the future of our brands.

This subject is actually the basis of a talk I did at the beginning of February at this year's Spring Fair at Birmingham MEC, but I’m very excited to say that this episode will be discussed through the lens and give you a real sense of my brand-new, soon to be released book, “Tame Your Tiger: How to Stop Your Product Business Eating You Alive”. 

We’ll start by covering the Tiger’s bite. We’ll study the most important number in your small business - the ‘in-margin’, as defined by your product costs, and we’ll discuss how to grow your ‘out-margin’ by reviewing your sale-relative expenditure. We’ll also look at how much you’re feeding your tiger and how using break-even analysis can help model future costs. I’ll explain how the 80/20 rule can help you better identify the desires of your customers, and we’ll finish at the Tiger’s tail, where we’ll discuss the dangers of unproductive stock to the longevity of your small business.

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and to get your copy first, remember to pre-order Tame Your Tiger at:

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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It may still be a whole six weeks away but Mother’s Day is the biggest gift-giving event in the UK outside of Christmas, out-selling both Valentine’s and Father’s day! The cost of living crisis and the ongoing recession are still presenting plenty of challenges to the retail industry, so all the while that we’re seeing less impulse purchasing and less discretionary spending, it’s important that small product businesses are ready and prepared to make the most of the somewhat spending-protected gift-giving occasions. 

So, in today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to share with you twelve top tips to help your small business finesse your messaging and tune into your customers, so you can make the most of Mother’s Day in 2023. 

In this podcast, we’ll discuss making things easier for ‘time-poor’ customers by creating gift guides and curating offerings such as gift bundles. We’ll talk about the perfect pairing of presents and personalisation, offering add-ons like gift-wrapping and how best to implement promotions across your range. We’ll also look at retargeting customers, revisiting wholesale and how now might be the perfect time to launch your newest products.

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and to get your copy first, remember to pre-order Tame Your Tiger at:

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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Coming off the back of my 5-day challenge, across the various conversations, questions and queries that arose during the week, I noticed some commonalities and a number of reoccurring themes when it came to the real-life experience of running a small product business.

In episode 131 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’ll be using those stories and discussions to elaborate on what I consider to be five essential traits you need to thrive as a small product business this year.

In this podcast, we’ll discuss curiosity and adopting a ‘what if’ mindset. We’ll look at optimism and how positivity effects action. We’ll talk about obsessing over our customers, operating with as much flexibility as possible and we’ll finish on how success in these areas affords you that all-important quality - resilience! 

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and to get your copy first, remember to pre-order Tame Your Tiger at:

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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January is a funny month in retail - starting back up after the highs of the Christmas selling season can make the new year feel exceptionally tough-going, and with Christmas never being as restful as you’d think, for many business owners January is the first time they’re really able to recuperate and have a think about the year ahead, all whilst trying to shift stock throughout the post-Xmas lull.

Over the years I’ve noticed that a lot of the advice available about planning for the year ahead is rarely produced with product businesses in mind - so, in episode 130 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to share my top four tips for getting ready for Spring and beyond.

In this podcast, we’ll discuss giving your January sale one, big, final push, shifting stock and getting cash in your pocket. We’ll talk about recapping the month, running your numbers and getting a clearer view of the state of your business. We’ll also talk about planning beyond Spring, setting your intentions and making the most of the imminent bunch of gift-giving occasions. 

Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club, and to get your copy of my new book first, remember to pre-order "Tame Your Tiger" at:

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/tame-your-tiger-how-to-stop-your-product-business-eating-you-alive/9781788604048

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Valentine’s day, one of the first annual holiday occasions of the year, is just over the horizon, and it may surprise you to hear that its popularity is actually on the rise. As a seasonal retail event, Valentine’s day has always seen some considerable spending, but as people spend less on themselves and make fewer impulse purchases during this economic downturn, we can expect to see more of people's disposable income directed towards gifting, making occasions like Valentine’s day all the more important for retailers.

Now, as product business owners, most of you will have gift-able items, but perhaps their relation to or suitability as Valentine’s day gifts isn’t immediately apparent. That’s why in episode 129 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to give you my take on why the broadening of the concept of Valentine’s day means you have nothing to lose by embracing the love and capitalising on a major spending occasion.

In this podcast, we’ll look at date nights, gifts for your loved ones and showing your appreciation to your pals and gals. We’ll also discuss self-gifting, landing the right messaging for your audience and how even the family cats and dogs are getting in on the fun.

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

Register today for my FREE 5-day challenge, running 23rd - 27th January 2023 at:

Tinyurl.com/sales2023

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So, we’re well and truly into the new year now and just as the pains and challenges of the Covid pandemic are starting to fade gradually, we’re now stuck looking for ways to deal with a whole new set of challenges in the form of a cost of living crisis and the fact that the UK economy is now officially in a recession. 

It all may sound a bit bleak, but in episode 128 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to use my in-depth research and share with you the conversations I’ve been having with a variety of experts - from business consultants to trend forecasters - to cover and explain the major industry trends that will shape retail this year.

In today’s episode, we’ll look at the steadfastness of gift-giving during periods of low consumer confidence and study the rising popularity of the resale and second-hand markets. We’ll also discuss and break down the post-pandemic shifts in e-commerce and channel diversification, as well taking a look at how retail relationships are shifting from brands and customers to individuals and fans.

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

Register today for my FREE 5-day challenge, running 23rd - 27th January 2023 at:

Tinyurl.com/sales2023

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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 perfect time to dive into your metrics and make sure you’re on track for the rest of the year.

Today, I’ll take you through the key numbers to focus on and how to use them to plan your next quarter. 

What's Inside:

[00:00] Why you need to know your store’s numbers

[05:42] The key numbers you need to know

[07:33] How often should you review your profit & margins?

[14:47] How to use Q2 as a reset button on your business

[21:00] What to do if numbers feel overwhelming

Resources:

Stock Doctor

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So, we’ve made it - 2023 is here! Times have been tough for the retail industry for a good, long while now and who knows what unforeseen events lie ahead as we enter a new year, but against the odds and throughout the uncertainty I still believe the most important thing I can recommend you do for your business this year is to plan, plan and plan!  

Now, you may well be asking, “Catherine! Why make a plan when things are always changing?”, and it all comes down to perspective - we’re a very outcome-led society and I want to suggest that the value of a plan is not in its success but in the thought process required to put it together.

In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’ll discuss how planning is a highly creative process and why it’s important to find a way to plan for your business that feels natural to you. We’ll talk about setting financial, functional and fun goals and discuss how mapping out your vision of success can help keep you more focused, prioritise what’s important and help you make better decisions.

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

Register today for my FREE 5-day challenge, running 23rd - 27th January 2023 at: Tinyurl.com/sales2023

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That’s it! Christmas Day has come and gone, and with any mercy, you can take some proper time out in these few days before 2023! 

It’s been a tough year, with the combined challenges of post-pandemic life, postal strikes and the cost of living crisis (to name a few!) hitting small product businesses hard and no doubt causing founders and business owners alike untold stress. That’s why in this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, we're doing something a bit different as I speak to my incredible yoga teacher Martyna Borek about the importance of stress relief and how we can all seize a moment of calm in our often chaotic lives.

In today's podcast, we talk about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and the consequences for our body and mind when we’re forever in 'fight' mode. We also discuss the concept of the threat bucket and the importance of allowing ourselves to ditch the mediation and freak out when things get too much. But most importantly Martyna kindly shares her tips for ‘hacking your brain’ with some illuminating neuroscience and cleansing breathing techniques. 

Check out Martyna's classes, workshops and retreats at: https://martynaborekyoga.com/

And connect with her at: https://www.facebook.com/martynaborekyoga/ https://www.instagram.com/martynaborekyoga/

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Christmas finally arrives this coming Sunday - the finish line, if you and your small product business aren’t already over it, is almost in sight. 

I hope you can make the time (I implore you to!) to put your feet up and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back during the holidays, but as the new year approaches, I know that as founders and business owners that your thoughts will inevitably start to turn towards Q1 of 2023 - that’s why for episode 125 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan I want to help you to boost your sales in what is typically the quietest month of the year in retail for almost every business.

In today's podcast, we’ll look at stock clearance events and their benefits at this time of year. We’ll also cover the importance of building relationships with the new customers you’ve acquired during this festive selling season. I’ll delve into the customer habits that are distinct to the new year and how you can better frame your products and messaging to leverage buying patterns, and we’ll also talk about making the most of your product lines by exploring different revenue streams.

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With the postal strikes looming and the adverse weather conditions currently affecting travel across the whole UK, there’s a good chance many of you will have moved your final Xmas posting day forward, or maybe you’re ahead of the curve and have already got your feet up, eggnog in hand, after dispatching your last order for 2022. 

Whether you’ve already stopped or are just about to break for Christmas, these weeks and typically January are quietest for most businesses. You may have some small items of business admin to keep things ticking over, but in today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to share five things you can do in your business during the quiet time.

In today's podcast, I’ll discuss the importance of celebrating your successes after a long year’s hard work, we’ll also look at the best way to study and leverage the data from your numbers, and I’ll share some advice on how to ‘replenish your tank’. I’ll also ask you to review the state of your business and consider whether its current trajectory is sustainable and I’ll also share some learning resources for you to sink your teeth into during your downtime.

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Good stock management is important all year round but now as we arrive about a week into December, at the annual peak selling period, it deserves special consideration.

From your year-round bestsellers to your short-term seasonal selects, you’ve no doubt got a lot of stock on your hands - so, in episode 123 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to share my thoughts on stock processes specific to the Xmas period to help keep you and your business nimble and cash-rich in these uncertain times.

In this podcast, we’ll cover those pesky ‘brown bananas’ and review how to best handle products with both seasonal and literal expiry dates. We’ll take a look at stock levels on the whole and the relationship between what you’ve got left and what you expect to sell before 2023. We’ll also discuss classifying your stock and whether it’s destined to be defined as ‘carry-forward’ or ‘clearance’. I’ll also touch on putting a clearance plan together and the importance of your sales messaging, and we’ll finish up by taking a stock sense check for Spring 2023. 

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

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*Resilient Retail News Flash*

I'm very excited to share that my new book "Tame Your Tiger: How to stop your product business eating you alive" is now available to preorder at https://uk.bookshop.org/. In the book, I'll show you how to easily apply big business tools and perspectives to help better understand your business, as well as how to get clear on what you need to do to grow profitably, and, ultimately, tame your tiger.

On to today's episode! 

In episode 122 of The Resilient Retail Game plan, I speak to the founder of 'The Ecommerce Assistant', Elle Williamson. Having spent over ten years working in e-commerce for small and big brands, Elle now helps independent businesses to get the most out of their online shops.

In this podcast, we discuss the feature-rich Shopify 2.0 and the importance of giving your customers everything they need to know in order for them to hit that 'buy' button with confidence. We also go through some tips to help you with your conversion, from personally testing your buyer's journey out to carefully curating your range of products for a more personalised shopping experience. We also delve into email marketing, and run through where you could be better optimising your mail-outs to drive an increase in that all-important revenue! 

Check out Elle’s services at: https://www.theecommerceassistant.com/

And connect with her at:

https://www.instagram.com/theecommerceassistant/ https://www.facebook.com/theecommerceassistant https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-e-commerce-assistant/

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We’re now into the golden weeks, the period where we see people spending the majority of their Christmas budget. With many ongoing economic issues, the increased cost of living and ballooning inflation plaguing the public, we can expect to see reduced spending this Christmas in contrast to last year - but after recently visiting the “Spirit Of Christmas” fair and attending “Stylist Live”, as well as a number of other markets and smaller events, the bustling crowds and the sheer number of carrier bags I’ve observed being carried around prove that people are still spending this season. In episode 120 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to assuage your fears and give you some top tips when it comes to securing those sales this Christmas. We’ll dive back into the power of “micro-niches” and why it’s more important than ever to get really specific in order to appeal to your ideal customers. We’ll discuss how important it is to not make assumptions about your customer's relationships to your brand and how to get as clear as possible on what it is that you’re selling. We’ll also look at the literal act of selling, how to avoid the ickiness and create a sales experience that’s positive for everyone, and I’ll also touch on those ever-important email lists and how you can encourage subscriptions through incentives. Don’t forget - use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

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Whether you're setting up shop at a small-scale Xmas craft fair, getting ready for one of the big branded seasonal showcases, or are yet to sign up for a festive event, it’s time to think strategically about maximising your sales at in-person events this Christmas

Events aren’t just about sales, they provide great opportunities for promoting your brand, making connections and gaining important insights from your customers face-to-face - but when Christmas accounts for such a large percentage of a business's annual turnover, it’s important to be setting yourself up for success when it comes to seasonal selling.

In episode 119 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I cover four easy ways to maximise your sales at Christmas events. We’ll look at the importance of setting yourself targets to help you stay motivated and build better forecasts for the future. We’ll discuss how to involve your existing community and why you need to continue building on that ever-vital email list. I’ll also give you some tips on preparing your stall and a potential ‘script’ and we’ll also look at a number of tactics you can use to try and up your customers’ average spend.

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

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As a small business entering the ‘golden weeks’ - the six-week run-up to Christmas - you’re no doubt looking for ways to maximise your sales at a time that can represent more than 50% of your annual turnover. 

I’ve spoken before of the only four fundamental ways to grow sales - getting more people to come, getting more people to spend when they do come, getting customers to spend more each time and getting customers to come back more often. These strategies still apply when it comes to Christmas, but ultimately you won’t see the results of things like working on your SEO now in this time frame - we’re not looking for long-term solutions at this point. 

In episode 118 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m going to give you my top four ways to grow your sales at Christmas. We’ll look at being present, whether online on social media, or offline at events. We look at the importance of giving people all the information they need to make a purchase, from gifting options to product demonstrations. We’ll discuss how to encourage spending by creating win-win situations for you and your customers. We’ll also review how vital your most loyal customers are to your business and how to best interact with them.

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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 successfully expanded into over a thousand retailers. In this episode, we look at the strategies behind that growth—using B2B ecommerce platforms, targeting niche markets, and building trust through certifications.  Even if you do not sell wholesale, there is plenty here for you! Andrew’s approach to finding and keeping customers is valuable no matter how you sell.

[02:20] How Andrew scaled the brand so quickly in the early days

[06:04] The biggest mistakes businesses make on the Faire platform

[10:22] How Andrew helps retailers succeed with wholesale

[12:49] One lesson Andrew wants founders to learn about retail

[15:31] How to find contacts in your niche market

[26:19] Ways that retailers can stay ahead in the wholesale market

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In the age of Amazon and next-day delivery, it is heartwarming to see a growing push towards people shopping local, investing in sustainability and consuming more consciously - with a more compassionate outlook shared by independent retailers and customers alike. 

Where the lumbering dinosaurs of high-street retail have failed to evolve or capture the imagination of their customers, we’re seeing more creative, engaging and meaningful products and brands slowly take their place, and with the strong communities that coalesce around them, I very much think they’re here to stay.

In today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to maker turned shop-owner, and founder of Prior Shop, Beck Prior. Based in Bristol, Prior Shop is a not-for-profit arts hub, eco-conscious retail space, workshop and gallery hosting and offering works by the local community.

In this podcast, we discuss agility and how small businesses are often in the perfect position to pivot and adapt when times are tough - we also talk about the importance of storytelling in gift buying (and receiving) and how the layout of your store can have a tangible impact on your customers - and we also focus on how running your business in an ethics-led manner can help those you collaborate with reflect better on how they operate within the broader retail picture and small business community.

Check out Beck’s wonderful online store at: https://www.priorshop.uk/

And connect with her at:

https://www.facebook.com/PriorShopBristol https://www.instagram.com/priorshopbristol

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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

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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/

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