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

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

-----

For small businesses, every customer counts. But how do you turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer? It’s not just in having great products, but it’s in your emails.

Today, I’m joined by Hannah Spicer, an email marketing strategist who knows what it takes to keep customers coming back. She’s worked with top luxury and premium brands, and she’s here to share what really works.

We’ll break down how email marketing goes beyond sales. From automated flows to post-purchase messages, small tweaks in timing and personalisation can make all the difference. Plus, Hannah shares simple, effective ways to use Klaviyo and other tools.

If you want to build better customer relationships and make your emails work harder, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

Signup for the Must-Attend Summit for Small Product Businesses - its FREE and designed for YOUR business!

----

What if I told you that in just two days, you could completely transform the way you run your retail business? After working with countless retailers, I know one thing for sure—the right strategies can make all the difference. And that’s exactly why I created Retail ROAR. 

And now, it’s almost here! On the 20th and 21st of March, the Retail ROAR Summit is bringing together top experts, inspiring stories, and invaluable insights—all for free. If you haven’t signed up yet, now’s the time!

I’ve spent the past year researching the biggest trends and curating an incredible lineup of speakers, all dedicated to helping you grow. In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through the must-attend sessions, the experts you won’t want to miss, and how to make the most of the event.

Whether you’re tuning in live or catching the replays in our private Facebook group, this is your chance to connect, learn, and take your business to the next level. 

Resources:

Sign up for Retail ROAR! https://retailroar.co.uk 

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

-----

Why do big retailers manage stock so differently from small businesses? Their approach can seem like a completely different world, but there’s a lot to learn. Especially about cash flow and profitability.

Today, I’m joined by Paola Maggiulli, a merchandising expert and one of our Stock Doctors at The Resilient Retail Club. With years of big retail experience and her own business, she knows exactly how both sides think.

We’ll dive into how big retailers make stock decisions, why data matters, and the common struggles small business owners face with promotions and markdowns.

Most importantly, we’ll talk about how Stock Doctor takes the guesswork out of inventory, pricing, and cash flow. So you can stop winging it and start feeling confident in your numbers.

What's Inside:

[02:58] How merchandising really works

[06:48] The role of merchandising in retail

[10:19] The transition from corporate to small business

[13:16] Challenges and rewards of small business

[17:44] The biggest difference between how small vs. big brands deal with stock

[24:52] What you should know about markdowns

Resources:

Stock Doctor

The Tiny Italian 

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

Signup for the Must-Attend Summit for Small Product Businesses - its FREE and designed for YOUR!

----

I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to Retail ROAR 2025! If you run a product-based business, whether as an independent retailer, e-commerce seller, or brand, this is the event you cannot afford to miss.

Retail ROAR is a free, two-day online summit happening on March 20th and 21st, designed specifically for small product businesses. I created this event because I saw a gap—big retail summits cater to massive corporations, while small business events often focus on service-based industries. But what about the small retailers, the e-commerce entrepreneurs, and the creative product founders? That’s exactly who this summit is for.

This year, we’re going even bigger, with an incredible lineup of expert speakers and successful product business founders who have built their brands from the ground up. Some of the inspiring names joining us this year include:

• Saira Khan (Founder of Saira Skin) – Built a 7-figure brand organically in under two years.

• Paige Williams (Founder of P Louise Cosmetics) – Turned a side hustle into a multi-million-pound empire with no outside investment.

• Daniel Priestley (Best-selling Author & Entrepreneur) – Teaching you how to attract and convert more customers in 2025.

• … and many more amazing speakers!

We’ll be covering everything you need to know to grow your business this year: ✅ Building a strong community around your brand ✅ Converting visitors into loyal customers ✅ Leveraging the latest consumer trends ✅ Selling more in 2025 with real, actionable strategies

How does it work? 💡 It’s completely free – just head to RetailROAR.co.uk and sign up. 💡 The event happens in a private Facebook group, so you can join live or catch the replays over the weekend. 💡 Talks are 30-45 minutes long, making it easy to fit into your schedule.

If you’re serious about making 2025 your best year yet for your product business, I promise you, this summit will be worth your time.

So don’t wait—go to RetailROAR.co.uk and sign up now! And if you know other product business owners who could benefit, please share this episode with them.

I can’t wait to see you at Retail ROAR 2025! 🎉

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

-----

Social media moves fast. It can feel overwhelming to keep up with, especially when you're running a product business. But staying ahead of the trends doesn’t mean spending all your time online.

I sat down with Janine Hardy, freelance social media manager and owner of Connected Inspired, to cut through the noise and highlight what actually matters in 2025. We’re talking short-form video, TikTok Shops, and how user-generated content (UGC) can do the heavy lifting in your marketing.

Janine also shares practical strategies for using automation and working with the algorithm instead of against it. And if you’ve been struggling to make Instagram Stories work for your business, she has some advice you won’t want to miss.

If you’re ready to get more strategic with your social media, Janine will be teaching inside the Resilient Retail Club membership during the first week of March. It’s the perfect chance to dive deeper and get hands-on guidance for your business!

[00:00] How to Make Social Media Work for You in 2025 with Janine Hardy

[02:41] What small businesses need to know about 2025 social media trends

[07:17] What retailers should look for in UGC creators

[10:35] Is there such a thing as a sustainable social media presence?

[15:03] The best way to use AI and automated for social media

[19:34] The most common social media mistakes small businesses make

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

-----

Have you ever found yourself wondering whether you’re truly making the most of your stock? Or perhaps questioned why a certain buying decision didn’t quite work out when that stock arrives? Then you’ll relate to Victoria Clark’s story today.

Victoria is the founder of Readymoney Beach Shop in Fowey, Cornwall. She turned an old public toilet block by a popular beach into a year-round shop that serves locals and visitors alike. On top of that, she runs a thriving e-commerce business selling locally sourced gifts, souvenirs, and homewares.

Her journey has had its fair share of challenges, particularly with stock management. Victoria’s here to share how the Stock Doctor service helped her move from feeling overwhelmed by inventory to gaining more control and running a more profitable business. 

We’ll talk about how she navigates seasonal demand, selects the right products, and makes smarter decisions with data.

[00:00] Meet beach shop owner Victoria Clark

[02:33] The ups and downs of growing a souvenir shop

[09:57] What business was like before Victoria joined Stock Doctor

[14:47] Learning to manage numbers and stock with confidence

[18:38] How Victoria's peak season stock management has changed

[21:25] The merchandising strategy she used to sell through overstock

Resources:

Stock Doctor 

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

-------

Do you have a plan for the year? If not, you're not alone. A lot of planning-your-year advice out there is geared toward service businesses that often suggest December as the time to plan, right when retailers are focused on the holiday rush.

That’s why I believe January and February are actually the perfect months to take a step back and plan ahead for the year. If you're ready to get organized and take charge of your business in 2025, you're in the right place.

If you’ve felt like you’ve been reacting to problems instead of planning for success, this episode is for you. We’ll explore why setting goals is so important, how it can help guide your business, and I’ll share some practical tips for setting goals that are achievable and meaningful for the year ahead.

[00:00] Q1 is the best time to plan in retail

[02:15] Why we need goals

[04:39] Four mistakes we often make when setting goals

[10:16] How to create goals that lead to success

[12:39] Goal-setting without the overwhelm

[15:03] Action steps for planning your 2025 goals

Resources:

5-Day Plan Your Sales Challenge

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify

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

-----

How does your mindset affect your sales? That’s what we’ll unpack in today’s episode with Sophie French. She’s a mindset coach and healer who works with women in business to overcome self-doubt and reach their full potential.

In this episode, we dive into how subconscious beliefs can hold you back, the fears of judgment and rejection that many business owners face, and practical strategies for building resilience and confidence. 

Sophie also shares her journey from copywriting to coaching and how entrepreneurs can cultivate a healthier mindset to thrive. 

[00:00] The impact of a sales mindset

[02:51] How mindset drives success in business

[05:05] What stops most people from promoting themselves

[06:39] How unconscious beliefs shape business decisions

[13:56] Becoming aware of your deep-rooted beliefs

[18:53] The entrepreneurial journey

Mentioned in this episode:

Capify