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

Resilient Retail Club's Catherine Erdly
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Welcome to the Resilient Retail Game Plan - giving you retail insights, retail trends updates and best practices for any retailer, from Shopify stores to bricks and mortar units. I'm Catherine Erdly, veteran retail expert and consultant and also founder of The Resilient Retail Club. This is the podcast for anyone wanting to start, grow, or scale a profitable small medium or large product retail business. Aimed at independent retailers, e-commerce brands, indie sellers, online shops, independent boutiques, shopkeepers, brands and makers. I'm dedicated to breaking down the concepts and tools I’ve gathered from twenty years in the retail industry in the UK and USA and showing you how you can use them in your small business.

  1. Retail insights around the "Invisible Ceiling": Why Your Shop Has Stalled

    3D AGO

    Retail insights around the "Invisible Ceiling": Why Your Shop Has Stalled

    You’ve opened your shop. You’re selling. You have loyal customers. And yet something feels stuck... (this episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/systems Your sales are inconsistent, stock builds up or runs out, cash feels tight even on the good weeks. Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. In this episode, I'm naming the “invisible ceiling” independent retailers hit when they move from opening a shop to running a proper retail business — and explain exactly what structure the next level needs. Drawing on my recent road trip through Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, and nearly 20 years inside seven-, eight-, nine- and ten-figure retail chains, I'll talk you through the systems that separate hobby shops from real businesses: sales plans, stock plans, trading calendars, cash flow visibility, team roles and SOPs. If you’ve ever wondered “is there more to this?” — this episode is your answer. In this episode: Why so many independent retailers start their business “almost by accident”The invisible ceiling that stalls shops around the 1–3 year markThe difference between opening a shop and running a retail businessThe six systems every next-level retail business needsWhy there is no such thing as a “natural business person” — and what to do insteadHow to know whether you need the Stock Doctor, Retail by Design, or just the back catalogue Resources mentioned: Episode 299 — Retail Bottleneck: How to Stop Being the “Go-To” for Every Answer in Your BusinessBook: Tame Your Tiger: How to Stop Your Product Business Eating You AliveStock Doctor — done-for-you stock managementRetail by Design — my 1:1 serviceThe Resilient Retail Club — reopening later this yearresilientretailclub.com

    11 min
  2. Retail Stock, Profit and Mindset: Three Pillars of a Resilient Retail Business

    APR 30

    Retail Stock, Profit and Mindset: Three Pillars of a Resilient Retail Business

    This episode contains a freebie download. Scroll down to find it. Believe it or not — today is episode 300 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan. Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and in this episode, which is six years, 300 episodes, and over 1 million downloads later since I started this podcast, I'm sharing a fast track to the biggest themes that have shaped this podcast and the retailers who listen to it. In this milestone episode, I'll walk you through the four essential episodes from the back catalogue that I believe every independent retailer needs to hear. Whether you're brand new to the show or a long-time listener, these are the ones that cut to the heart of what it really takes to build a resilient retail business. So what are the three big themes? Stock. Profit. And mindset. Visit the episode's show notes for links to all the episodes mentioned at https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/retail-stock-management-profit-and-mindset/ And ensure you go to this link for your free download: resilientretailclub.com/300.

    14 min
  3. Retail Bottleneck: How to stop being the go-to for every question in your business

    APR 23

    Retail Bottleneck: How to stop being the go-to for every question in your business

    This episode is sponsored by Intuit Mailchimp. Do your retail team ask you the same questions over and over? Has "what are we focusing on this week?" become the soundtrack to your inbox? Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and in Episode 299 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm explaining why so many independent retailers and product business owners accidentally become a bottleneck inside their own business — and walk you through exactly how to fix it. You'll learn why the classic wheel-and-spoke information flow creates constant delays, inconsistency and interruptions; why growing your team makes it worse rather than better; and how to build a single source of truth that finally gets your team self-serving the answers they need. I'll also share a £100,000 lesson from my Coast days on what poor information flow really costs a business, the categories to include in your single source of truth (weekly focus, key dates, stock and order trackers, priorities, SOPs), and the crucial step most business owners skip — how to actually make your team use it. If you've built a business that can't run without you in the room, this is the episode to start unpicking it. Chapters00:00 Why Everyone Asks You01:18 The Bottleneck Wheel02:52 Build One Source of Truth04:20 What £100,000 of Poor Information Flow Really Costs05:50 What to Put in Your Single Source of Truth08:27 Why It Won't Stick (And How to Fix It)10:22 Holding the Line With Your Team13:05 Where to Start (Small and Specific)14:20 Wrap-Up Related linksResilient Retail Club: https://resilientretailclub.comRetail Roar 2026 summit: https://retailroar.co.ukListen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcastsPrefer to watch? Full episode playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFwdhK_WMJvXntxKLZj83Inz1fFNAN2P About the podcastThe Resilient Retail Game Plan is a podcast for independent retailers and product business owners who want to build more profitable, sustainable businesses. Hosted by Catherine Erdly — retail expert, coach and founder of The Resilient Retail Club. If this episode helped, hit like, subscribe and share it with another retailer who needs to hear it. Mentioned in this episode: Mailchimp resilientretailclub.com/mailchimp

    16 min
  4. Retail Growth Through Data: Email & SMS Marketing Secrets with Intuit Mailchimp

    APR 16

    Retail Growth Through Data: Email & SMS Marketing Secrets with Intuit Mailchimp

    If you're sending the same email to everyone on your list and wondering why it's not driving the sales you expected, this episode is for you. I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality. In this episode I'm sitting down with Ali Wood from Intuit Mailchimp to get practical about how independent retailers and e-commerce brands can get dramatically more from their email and SMS marketing — using data they already have. We talk about why fragmented data is costing retailers real money, how segmentation can transform your customer relationships, and why the retailers who win over the next few years won't be the ones with the biggest budgets — they'll be the ones who are smartest with their data. In this episode you'll hear about: Why sending the same message to your whole list is leaving money on the tableHow to use customer lifetime value and buying propensity to automate smarter campaignsThe power of combining email and SMS — including a 22x ROI stat from SMS alone, and 41x when Shopify data is in the mixCreative ways to collect richer customer data through quizzes, pop-ups and behavioural signalsWhat clean data + AI + human creativity actually looks like for a lean retail team Whether you're just starting to think about segmentation or already running email campaigns and want to level up, this conversation will leave you with a genuinely different way of thinking about your marketing. CHAPTERS 00:00:40 The Gold Mine Independent Retailers Are Sitting On 00:02:10 Meet Ali Wood from Intuit Mailchimp 00:04:40 How Intuit Mailchimp Evolved from Email Tool to Full Automation Platform 00:08:22 The Segmentation Shift: Stop Sending the Same Email to Everyone 00:11:29 Creative Ways to Collect Better Customer Data 00:14:45 Using SMS to Drive Email Open Rates 00:15:11 How We're Working With Intuit Mailchimp 00:16:33 Measuring What's Actually Working Across All Your Channels 00:18:30 Think Strategy, Not Just Open Rates 00:21:17 SMS Best Practices: What's Working for E-Commerce Brands 00:23:24 The Trust Factor: Why Phone Numbers Are Different from Email Addresses 00:23:44 The Numbers: 22x ROI on SMS, 41x with Shopify 00:25:58 AI + Human Creativity: The Future of Small Business Marketing 00:27:45 Clean Data, Automation & Analytics: The Loop That Wins 00:29:07 Catherine's Key Takeaways & Call to Action Mentioned in this episode: resilientretailclub.com/mailchimp Note: This episode was produced in partnership with Intuit Mailchimp. All views expressed are Catherine's own.

    30 min
  5. The Shop Window Pyramid: Visual Merchandising Secrets for Independent Retailers

    APR 9

    The Shop Window Pyramid: Visual Merchandising Secrets for Independent Retailers

    Your shop window isn't just a display — it's a salesperson working for you around the clock. I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality. In this episode, I'm joined by Sarah Manning, visual merchandising consultant and course leader, for a practical masterclass on how to make your window impossible to walk past. Sarah shares her four guiding principles — including her signature framework, The Power of the Pyramid — and explains exactly what should (and shouldn't) go in your window. You'll learn why putting your bestsellers on show is usually the wrong move, how to refresh your display every four weeks without a full rebuild, and practical solutions for shallow, narrow, or open-backed windows. We also explore how post-2020 customer expectations have shifted the balance between product display and brand storytelling, and discuss the concept of 'external theatre' — the tools even small independents can use to draw customers in before they reach the window at all. Whether you sell from a shop, at markets, or at events, this episode is packed with actionable insight you can put to work immediately. What You'll Learn: The Power of the Pyramid framework and how to apply it to any displayWhy new, seasonal, and promotional products belong in the window — not your top sellersHow to change your window every four weeks without starting from scratchCreative solutions for awkward, shallow, or open-backed windowsHow the hotspot inside your store connects to your window displayWhere to find visual merchandising inspiration on a limited budget 📌 CHAPTERS: 00:37 About this episode — how the topic came from Spring Fair01:35 The Power of the Pyramid — Sarah's four guiding principles02:30 Brand story vs. product push: what's changed since 202004:36 What should actually go in your window?05:53 How often should you change your window display?07:27 The permanent skeleton approach08:33 Working with difficult or shallow windows10:18 Open windows vs. backed windows11:55 External theatre: beyond the glass14:57 The hotspot — your 'third window' inside the store16:45 Where to find visual merchandising inspiration20:00 Outro and where to find Sarah Manning Connect with me 🔗: → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly/ → Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com → Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub/ 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PODCAST APP: → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/resilient-retail-game-plan/id1558090069 → Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2EIPFznxQFQHIXmC3QoBFQ Resources Mentioned: Sarah Manning: visualmerchandisingcourses.co.uk | @visualmerchandisingcoursesThe Shop Drop Blog by Tim Nash — free newsletter every Thursday Mentioned in this episode: Mailchimp resilientretailclub.com/mailchimp

    22 min
  6. Retail, The Lipstick Effect, and Why You Should Keep Selling

    APR 2

    Retail, The Lipstick Effect, and Why You Should Keep Selling

    Have you ever looked at the news and wondered whether it's even appropriate to be selling your products right now? If you're an independent retailer or product business owner and the state of the world is making you hesitate about showing up and selling, this episode is for you. I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality. This week, one of the most common questions I get from product business owners: should I keep selling when the world feels uncertain? In this episode: → Why big brands never pause their marketing — and what that means for you → Why independent retailers are a genuine force for good → The lipstick effect and what consumer spending data actually shows right now → A practical social media tip to help you show up more consistently 📌 CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction & the question everyone's asking 00:00:44 When selling feels wrong: the shared experience 00:01:42 Why this feeling is so common in product businesses 00:02:51 The mental noise of running your own business 00:06:04 The self-fulfilling prophecy & the big brand reality check 00:08:25 Why small businesses are a force for good 00:09:55 Your duty to share what you do 00:11:30 The lipstick effect: are people actually spending? 00:12:18 A visit to Columbia Road Flower Market 00:12:57 Products are how people show love 00:13:31 None of this is trivial 00:14:23 Practical tip: separate your social media accounts 00:16:08 How Catherine implemented this herself 00:17:25 A message for every independent retailer 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: → Mean Mail: https://www.meanmail.co.uk → Retail Roar 2026: https://retailroar.co.uk → Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE PODCAST APP: → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/resilient-retail-game-plan/id1558090069 → Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2EIPFznxQFQHIXmC3QoBFQ Mentioned in this episode: Mailchimp resilientretailclub.com/mailchimp

    20 min
  7. The Power of Community: Why Every Retailer Needs Their People!

    MAR 26

    The Power of Community: Why Every Retailer Needs Their People!

    Nobody talks about how lonely it can be to run a small business. Your friends and family mean well — but they don't really get it. If you have a team, you feel like you have to have all the answers. And whether you're on the shop floor, in your home office, or in your unit, there's a good chance your dog is getting more of your business thoughts than any actual human being. I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality. In this episode, I'm being honest about the one thing most business owners never talk about: isolation. And why community — real, practical, human community — isn't a nice-to-have. It's fundamental. You'll hear: Why business loneliness is more common than anyone admits — and why it mattersHow being in a community speeds up your learning, builds confidence, and protects your resilienceWhy hearing about other people's tough weeks can actually make your own feel more manageableHow community can drive real commercial results — referrals, collaborations, and salesAll about the Retail Roar 2026 Facebook community and why it might be just as valuable as the summit itself If you've been feeling flat, isolated, or like nobody around you truly gets what you're going through — this episode is for you. 🏟️ Free Retail Roar ticket: retailroar.co.uk 📩 Join the Resilient Retail Club: resilientretailclub.com 📲 Follow on Instagram: @resilientretailclub ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:13 The Loneliness of Business 03:56 Why Community Matters 06:42 Join the Retail Roar 2026 Community

    11 min
  8. Retail Industry Trends - 2026. Retail is changing FAST!

    MAR 19

    Retail Industry Trends - 2026. Retail is changing FAST!

    Retail is moving fast — and it can feel like whiplash trying to keep up with every new trend, tool, and headline. But here's the thing: as a small or independent retailer, you don't need to know everything. You just need the right information, filtered through the lens of what actually matters for your business. In this episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about Retail Roar 2026 — my free two-day online industry outlook summit taking place on 26th and 27th March — and why I believe it's the most important shortcut you can take as an independent retailer or brand this year. You'll hear about: Why staying on top of industry trends actually protects both your business and your peace of mindThe line between useful information and overwhelming noise — and how to find itHow understanding the current consumer mindset can change how you stock, market, and sellThe headline speaker I spent three years trying to book: the legendary Mary PortasExpert sessions on email marketing, SEO, AI search, wholesale trends, marketing strategy, and the future of the high street The expert lineup includes: Mary Portas — retail legend, broadcaster, and champion of independent retailEman Ismail — email strategist on what's changing in email for 2026Vee Roberts (Insights for Marketing) — marketing strategy and trendsLuke Carthy — SEO and AI search, and what your website needs to do differentlyTherese Oertenblad (Small Business Collaborative) — wholesale trends and how to get seenIan Nicholson (Vacant Shops Academy) — placemaking and what makes a great high street This isn't fluffy. It's information for action — curated specifically for small and independent retailers and brands, so you can stop guessing and start planning with confidence. Get your free ticket at retailroar.co.uk 📩 Join the community: https://resilientretailclub.com/ 📲 Follow on Instagram: @resilientretailclub

    18 min
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Welcome to the Resilient Retail Game Plan - giving you retail insights, retail trends updates and best practices for any retailer, from Shopify stores to bricks and mortar units. I'm Catherine Erdly, veteran retail expert and consultant and also founder of The Resilient Retail Club. This is the podcast for anyone wanting to start, grow, or scale a profitable small medium or large product retail business. Aimed at independent retailers, e-commerce brands, indie sellers, online shops, independent boutiques, shopkeepers, brands and makers. I'm dedicated to breaking down the concepts and tools I’ve gathered from twenty years in the retail industry in the UK and USA and showing you how you can use them in your small business.

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