The Resilient Retail Game Plan - retail insights, retail trends and best practices

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

Mentioned in this episode:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Everyone has that one story (well, one at the very least) of a time that their customer experience with a business fell short of their reasonable expectations and landed somewhere between being mildly disappointing and exceptionally infuriating. 

Mistakes, breaks and being late are facts of life, but sometimes businesses drop the ball and the whole retail relationship turns sour pretty quickly.

As much as we might like to ‘dine out’ on a bad sales story with our friends - lambasting the rude staff, lamenting the missing deliveries, picking apart the quality issues - the positive customer experiences we have stick with us just as much, if not more, and in stark contrast to those businesses that mishandle their clientele, those with extraordinary customer service end up seeing improved resilience in their business through the confidence and loyalty they build through their consumer-positive actions. 

So, In episode 109 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to share with you my top nine tips for creating an extraordinary experience for your customers. 

We’ll discuss how to go the extra mile, the value of saying hello and harnessing positivity effectively. We’ll also talk about seasonality and purchase cycles, the importance of not just listening but reacting and the infrastructure and communication required to create loyal customers that will soon be on their way to becoming super-fans of your business.

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Between the legacy of the Coronavirus pandemic, ballooning energy costs, rising levels of inflation and strikes left, right and centre, I think it’s safe to assume that some of you might be feeling a bit drained, exhausted even. 

Maybe you’ve had issues sourcing your products or materials, perhaps your online sales have dissipated dramatically post-lockdown, or maybe everyone around you seems to be succeeding whilst you’re struggling to make ends meet. Whatever your situation, when things get tough, it can be hard to find the love, positivity and motivation needed to run your own business - without those qualities, frustration, stress and pressure can soon follow.

So, in episode 108 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I want to help you rekindle your affection for your products and reframe your outlook on your business as I cover five ways to avoid your product business becoming a burden. 

In this podcast, we’ll discuss the vital importance of setting boundaries and the variety of tools to help you do so. We’ll delve into finances and how setting realistic expectations can help relieve some pressure in the slowest of sales months. I’ll also touch on how managing your mindset is key to growing your business, how asking for support helps share the load and, as always, how knowing your key numbers will help give you better control over your business.

Use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

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E-commerce can be very demanding. It takes enough energy and focus to create, source, produce and manufacture wonderful products - finding the consistent motivation, correct strategy and optimal platform on which to then sell can feel like an exhausting and elusive endeavour at the best of times. 

That's why in episode 107 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles. Equipped with over 15 years of experience in the retail industry, Elizabeth focuses on the three key pillars of manufacturing, mindset and marketing to help founders form financially sustainable businesses.

In today’s podcast, Elizabeth shares her top tips for online selling success. We discuss social media sales channels, posting more regularly and why we have to stop blaming the algorithm for slow growth. We also talk about “selling through the silence”, creating the kind of content you enjoy consuming, moving out of your comfort zone in order to connect authentically with customers and how the evolution of Instagram, TikTok and the rest means you can’t get away with phoning it in any more.

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

Connect with her at: 

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

Use the code: 10podcast to get £10 off your first month when joining The Resilient Retail Club.

Mentioned in this episode:

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As the summer sun continues to beat down harder than ever, for some of you, it might seem like your sales have dried up along with the nation's rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and whether you’ve been seeing steady growth throughout the year or not, it’s all too easy to let panic set in when you’re confronted with a sudden drop in sales. But fear not! In today’s podcast, I’m here to remind you that, unless you're a summer brand, August is typically a quiet time for many businesses - and that actually if we pump the breaks, take a breath and apply some logic, we can often attribute shifts in sales throughout the whole year to seasonality - it’s impact on consumer habits and a number of external factors that we can, in fact, exercise some control over.

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In today’s episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Emily Canino, founder of Doodlemoo, a UK-based independent lifestyle brand offering art prints, homewares, stationery, jewellery and gifts. 

Doodlemoo has been featured in numerous magazines and has also found fame on the small screen, having been included on programmes such as ‘The Circle’ and ‘Tattoo Fixers’, but, as you can imagine, it’s not all been plain sailing! 

Emily has had to learn everything about running a business from scratch. From working around budget limitations to getting the word about her brand out, Emily’s journey has required her to take some calculated risks, make some bold leaps of faith and stay resilient in the face of some unexpected challenges. 

In today’s podcast, we discuss managing small budgets and short lead times and take a look at the possibilities afforded by crowdfunding. We also touch on the importance of being adaptable and of learning lessons and moving on from the obstacles and experiences that threaten to derail us and our businesses.

Check out Emily’s wonderful products at: https://doodlemoo.com/

And connect with her and Doodlemoo at:

https://www.facebook.com/doodlemoohello https://www.instagram.com/doodlemoo_official/ https://twitter.com/Doodlemoo

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify