Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.

This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.

In episode six of the series, we're joined by Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best.

Give Your Best is a "tech for good" social enterprise tackling clothing poverty and fashion waste through an innovative online platform and physical store.

Launched during the 2020 lockdown, Give Your Best allows refugee women and other marginalised people to shop donated clothing for free – restoring not only their wardrobe but their dignity and agency too.

Since then, the enterprise has grown into a thriving community-led organisation, combining digital tools, peer-to-peer giving, and inclusive retail experiences.

In this episode, Sol shares her journey from humanitarian volunteer to award-winning founder, and explains how businesses of all sizes can take small, impactful steps toward more ethical and sustainable practices.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• How Give Your Best was born during lockdown and grew from a bedroom project into a national platform
• Why choice, dignity, and agency are central to ethical clothing donations
• How the platform works – like "Vinted for good" – allowing people to donate and shop for free
• The role of peer-to-peer giving in building empathy and community connection
• How the Islington store operates as a pay-it-forward space, mixing sales with free access for people in need
• Tackling fashion waste through upcycling, repair stations and brand partnerships
• The importance of trialling and testing before launching retail concepts
• What it means to build a social enterprise – and why it’s a different mindset from traditional business
• Advice for retail businesses looking to operate more sustainably or partner with impact-driven organisations
• Why slow growth, long-term thinking and collaboration are key to building a business for good

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Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.

Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/

To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast