Independent Thinking - Exploring a new era for retail and the high street

Hello and welcome to Independent Thinking, the podcast exploring a new era for the high street. 

In today’s episode,  I’m delighted to be joined by Jamila and Natasha from The Good Store, a plastic free groceries store in the leafy neighbourhood of Inverleith, Edinburgh. 

With a background in Nutrition and a passion for sustainability between them, the two sisters established their waste-free grocery store in late 2019, recognising there was a gap in the market to make zero-plastic shopping feel altogether more chic...

We discuss developing an idea and bringing it to fruition, how their relationship with their customers has evolved during lockdown, the impact of Black Lives Matter as black business owners and why it's so much more pleasant to 'shop slowly'. 

We discuss the recent controversy around Blackstone's investment in the oat milk company, Oatly. You can read Oatly's statement, and their side of the story here: https://www.oatly.com/int/climate-and-capital

Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode:

The Good Store: https://www.thegoodstore.scot/

Style Your Spaces: https://styleyourspaces.co.uk/

Untitled Oats: https://untitledoats.co.uk/

GreenCity : https://www.greencity.coop/

Our Lovely Goods: https://ourlovelygoods.com/

Pieute: https://pieute.scot/

Treen: https://shoptreen.com/

Company bakery: https://www.companybakery.com/

Elliot Clark Flowers: https://www.elliottclarkflowers.co.uk/

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A bonus episode especially for those in the midst of Sober October, and something a little different to our usual episodes about shops and shop-fronts, as we talk to Nuisance Drinks about starting a business during lockdown and what it takes to break into the world of soft drinks.

Hugo, founder of Nuisance,  decided to leave his job working in the city to pursue a new path, making a soft drink out of what many of us would class as a weed - the humble nettle...

We talk about the benefits of being a risk taker, inspirations in the drinks industry and the journey of taking a product to market.

Businesses and Stockists mentioned in the episode:

Edinburgh:
Nuisance Drinks: nuisancedrinks.co.uk (for all stockists and to buy online)
Margiotta's: margiotta.co.uk/
Beetroot Sauvage - beetrootsauvage.co.uk
Little Fitzroy: http://littlefitzroy.coffee/
Nomad: https://www.nomadfood.org/
Tanimodi: https://www.tanimodi.co/

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Today I'm delighted to be joined by Holly, from Holly Grows. 

Established during deepest lockdown, Holly Grows is a plant and interiors business which promises to liven up your home with a beautiful range of houseplants. For those who have no idea where to start, they have an interiors service to help you decide what plants are right for you, and where to put them. In fact it was love of interiors which led Holly to be so interested in plants in the first place, as well as a terrible break up... 

Businesses mentioned in the episode:

Plantstands - Ogle: @ogle_

Plant Pots - Anther and Moss: @antherandmoss , antherandmoss.com

Plant shops:
Grow Urban: @growurban, growurban.uk
Apercu (Edinburgh and Glasgow): @apercuedinburgh @apercuglasgow 
Prick: @prickldn , prickldn.com

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Today I'm delighted to be joined by Lesley, from The Pastry Section in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. 

Nestled in the heart of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, lives The Pastry Section, a bakery for anyone with a sweet tooth. Established in 2017, it is a contemporary bakery that you won’t find baking sausage rolls or offering sandwiches anytime soon - for this place celebrates all things sweet- from traybakes, loaf cakes and biscuits, to sandwich cakes, sponges and patisserie - this place is a must for anyone for whom a cup of coffee isn’t complete without a side of something sweet to indulge in.

It was a total pleasure to welcome Lesley on the show - she was so generous with her stories, so I hope you enjoy!

NB: As we're recording remotely, there is a slight reduction in sound quality at the end of the episode - hope it doesn't impact your enjoyment too much!

Businesses mentioned in this episode, if you'd like to find out more:
The Pastry Section: https://www.pastrysection.com/
@the_pastrysection

Splintr: https://www.splintr.co.uk/
@splintrdesign

Cotton Rake: http://www.cottonrake.com/
@cottonrake

Groats: @groats.edi

Pie Dolly: @piedolly

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Welcome to Independent Thinking, the podcast exploring a new era for the high street. 

We’ll be celebrating those who are doing wonderful, creative things in the most difficult of circumstances. It’s about going behind the scenes of businesses and shops you love, that you look forward to visiting, that add joy to your high street. 

Before we begin the series though, thought I'd do something a little different to my other episodes, and tell you a little more about me, my inspiration for the podcast and explore my own experiences of retail...

Businesses mentioned: 
Ruby & Frank, Tynemouth (North East England) 
Find out more and shop the collection at rubyandfrank.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/rubyandfrankboutique

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The UK High Street has been on a difficult journey. For a number of reasons. Some large retailers had got lazy, not responding to their customers, doing the same old, same old, not thinking about the context in which they sit in their customer’s lives - what their concerns will be, what impact events will have on their pockets.

And that, yes a lot of shopping and commerce is moving on line, but there is very much still a place for physical retail, for those that are doing something different. That's where the future is. 

And this is where independents come in. Because they can do that better than anyone else. They can be nimble, agile and as we saw throughout lockdown - incredibly creative. 

This is what Independent Thinking is all about. We’ll be celebrating those who are doing wonderful, creative things in the most difficult of circumstances. It’s about going behind the scenes of businesses and shops you love, that you look forward to visiting, that add joy to your high street. 

Because when we haven’t been able to visit the city centres, it’s the local high streets that are stepping up, and keeping us all going. 

So join me, Alexandra, as I speak to some of the most inspiring businesses across Scotland, and meet some independent thinkers. We look forward to having you along!