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 hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.uk

I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.

This isn’t about chasing expansion for the sake of it.

And it’s not a checklist for opening multiple locations.

It’s about timing, clarity, and understanding whether the business you have today can genuinely support what comes next.

I’m joined by independent retailer Sarah Holmes, from Pencil Me In, who has grown from one shop to three across different locations in Scotland. Together, we unpack how those decisions were made, what changed at each stage, and why the second shop is often the hardest.

In this episode, we cover:

1. How to tell if your current shop is ready to support growth
2. Why growth often feels like exposure rather than relief
3. What changes when each location needs a different role
4. How buying mistakes multiply once you have more than one shop
5. Why clarity matters more than creativity in multi-store retail
6. Letting go of control without losing standards

We also talk about how expansion changes your relationship with risk, cash, and your team, and why growth should support the life you want to run, not just the business you want to build.

If you’re running one shop and wondering whether there could be more, or you’re already managing multiple locations and want it to feel simpler, this episode will help you think more clearly about what growth should look like for you.

00:00 Why growth is a timing question, not a goal

01:16 From one shop to three and why pacing matters

06:19 Why growth feels like exposure, not relief

09:30 Why each shop needs a clear job to do

11:03 Specialising instead of stocking everything

15:32 The danger of unchecked buying decisions

18:08 Using data to protect cash as you grow

22:22 Letting go without losing control

29:46 Choosing growth that fits your life

Links

Retail by Design: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-by-design

Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com

Listen on your favourite podcast app: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast

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