This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is sponsored by Champion Green, to celebrate ‘turning Black Friday green’. I’m joined by Jenny Johnston, Head of Marketing for Kilkenny Design, one of the founding members of Champion Green and Sheelin Conlon, founder of The Kind.

 Times are tough for both retailers and consumers right now, with rising costs and uncertain times ahead. However as this episode explains, you don’t have to spend more to #shoplocal you can write a review or share a social media post. Champion Green is about supporting everyone in your local community, from the local café to the local service provider. This is a really important episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to an someone who juggles being a successful retailer and an award winning maker. Rita Oates is a contemporary Irish artist who has created her own brand of greeting cards, fine art prints and designer scarves. Her collections combine images with messages of hope and encouragement that are positive, meaningful and thought-provoking. Rita’s work is inspired by nature, kindness and the power of the human spirit. She gives me the inside story with two different points of view. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break is a little different, as it is brought to you in collaboration with Salesforce. I’m joined by 3 very special guest to discuss consumer data and customer loyalty. I speak to:

• Jennie McGinn, Head of E-commerce for Lifestyle Sports
• Paul Gillart, Chief Operating Officer at The Skin Nerd
• Gurpreet Kaur, Director of Retail Solutions and Strategy at Salesforce

We discuss data strategy and the importance of gathering the right data (for the consumer and the brand). We learn about different types of loyalty programme, how to build one and how best to use the information. Jennie describes how Lifestyle Sports have gone back to basics to focus on their values and service proposition in order to best serve their customer in the long term. Paul explains how listening to The Skin Nerd’s customers led to the creation of Skingredients. This is an episode packed full of useful tips and idea, so grab your cup of tea (and a notebook) and listen in…..

Just how important is your target customer and do you know how to communicate and sell to them? In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to an expert who believes ‘words are your 24 hour sales person’. Aimée Lopez from Copy Unleashed is a copywriting expert with years of shop floor retail experience! She takes us through her 3 step framework to discover who exactly your target customer is. Aimée also describes the true impact of writing copy, which is going to surprise you. This is a fast, hilarious episode, FULL of insights and useful information. Grab a cup of tea (and a pen and paper), sit back and listen in!

Retail has had a tough few years, but with innovation, incredible people and strong values it is possible to grow a retail brand right now. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to one of the leading figures in Irish retail. Evelyn Moynihan is the Chief Executive Officer of Kilkenny Design, with 18 retail outlets, 5 restaurants and a thriving e-commerce site. This year they have opened new stores including a Christmas pop-up in Kildare Village. During the summer they launched a virtual reality store, bringing an immersive shopping experience to their global audience. Evelyn explains how important it is to continue investing in their people and their values to ensure long term growth. This is an incredible conversation, one not to be missed! 

Retail technology can be so much more than a fancy till

system, used in the right way it can enhance the customer experience and future

proof the business. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to

an expert who has the inside story. Patrick Heslin is the Managing Director of

Retail Integration; the company pride themselves on individually supporting

retailers by providing solutions including EPOS, online and instore sales

integration and stock management. He talks about how he and his team not only

support their retail customers, but their customers’ customer too!

This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is sponsored by Mayo Local Enterprise Office to celebrate National Women’s Enterprise Day. “Now in its 16th year, National Women's Enterprise Day celebrates the success of female entrepreneurs and inspires female start-ups”. I’m joined by the award winning fashion designer Lou Brennan, to talk about developing her business. She describes her journey from working as Textile Manager for John Rocha to putting together her first trade show. This is a charming episode full of tips and ideas. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

In this rapidly changing retail world, are destination retail

spaces and shopping centres as relevant today as they once were? In this

episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to an expert who has the

inside story. Chris Igwe from Chris Igwe International runs a retail advisory

firm, providing services to luxury and premium brands, as well as shopping

centre owners and high street landlords. His vast knowledge of, and experience

within, global retail is absolutely mind blowing. This episode is full of

examples of best practice, as well as a clear message to get back to retail

basics. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is a little different, as it is brought to you in collaboration with Salesforce. I’m joined by 3 very special guests as we look ahead to planning for Christmas and the Holiday season. I speak to:

• Jennie McGinn, Head of E-commerce for Lifestyle Sports
• Paul Gillart, Chief Operating Officer at The Skin Nerd
• Gurpreet Kaur, Director of Retail Solutions and Strategy at Salesforce 

We delve into Salesforces’ predictions for peak 2022 and their tips for delivering amazing experiences whilst providing a hyper-personalised service for customers. We also hear how Irish brands Lifestyle Sports, The Skin Nerd and Skingredients are preparing for the golden quarter. Paul tells us about the power of gifting (and self-gifting) and we discuss Jennie’s top tips for what not to do this Black Friday! This is an incredible episode, one that should not be missed!

Working in a rapidly growing small product business means wearing many hats, often juggling a very tight budget. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to a passionate creative who has the inside story. Kaitlin Brozek is the Marketing & Brand Manager at All About Kombucha, ‘born and brewed’ in the West of Ireland. She describes how understanding and using data is just as important in her role as being artistically creative. Kaitlin shares the incredible wins that she and the company have had, as well as the mistakes that they have learned from. On top of her role with the product business she freelances for Pleanmór, a female-led digital creative agency that helps and supports small businesses. This is an episode not to be missed!