Buying and Beyond

Buying & Beyond
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Welcome to the Buying & Beyond podcast, the podcast for all things Retail Buying...and more!Join us, Kate & Lyns, buyers and best friends, each week for industry insights, stories and expertise from real people in retail.   Enjoy honest stories and conversations, retail therapy and learn bite-sized tips from us and our guests from across the industry. Season 1 starts with Becoming a Buyer - the background to how we started in the industry, what exactly is a Buyer, working your way up the ladder and the main meetings and tasks working in BuyingSeason 2 is all about Being a Buyer - leading a team, coordinating trips, working with suppliers, product & personal development and sustainabilitySeason 3 takes us beyond just the direct Buying team - we introduce merchandisers, talk about designers and new trends, burnout & life coaching. Season 4 is where we are joined by more Retail Buyers and have also invited Retail Businesses to tell us their storiesSeason 5 continues with a fantastic assortment of Retail Buyers and Retail Businesses. We find out how they got started and what inspires & excites them about retail - plus we lift the lid on what Brands need and Buyers expect! We are your modern day mentors; prepping Buyers of the future and empowering current Buyers. Our insights for retail businesses and entrepreneurs will shine a light on how to to build, grow, scale and pitch like a pro! If you like listening to this podcast, please rate, follow and share - you can also find us on instagram @buyingandbeyond Come behind the scenes with Buying and Beyond

  1. 6d ago

    S10 E4 Why Consistency Is The Silver Bullet with Fran Pittaway, CEO at Biscuiteers

    In this episode, we chat to Fran Pittaway, CEO of Biscuiteers, the UK's original hand-iced biscuit gifting brand. Fran's career path is anything but conventional - from working in TV production at the BBC, to building the first-ever buying team at Children in Need, to spending nearly a decade shaping the commercial strategy at Not On The High Street, and finally stepping into the C-suite at Biscuiteers. Throughout the conversation, Fran shares candid stories from her career, including the chaos behind the scenes of Children in Need's telethon, how Not On The High Street navigated the explosive rise of competitors like Etsy, and what it's really like stepping into a CEO role after years in commercial leadership. She also opens up about what makes Biscuiteers special - from its iconic hand-painted packaging and icing café in Notting Hill, to the meticulous "biscuits per hour" production process behind its beloved treats. Fran's story is a masterclass in following curiosity over a rigid plan, building genuine relationships at any scale, and staying true to a brand's roots even when the market shifts around you. Three Key Takeaways: 1) A non-linear career can still lead to strategic leadership. Fran didn't start in buying - she moved from BBC production and commercial partnerships into building Children in Need's first-ever buying team and online shop from scratch, proving that strong commercial instincts and relationship-building matter more than a traditional career blueprint. 2) The same relationship principles scale up or down. Whether working with major retailers like Asda and Debenhams or small independent brands on Not On The High Street, Fran found that honesty, trust, and understanding the customer are what make commercial partnerships work - regardless of business size. 3) Consistency beats chasing trends. Reflecting on Not On The High Street's challenges competing with Etsy and other marketplaces, Fran emphasizes that brands need to stay true to their core audience and USP rather than knee-jerk reacting to competitors - a philosophy she's now applying to grow Biscuiteers. Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  2. Jul 14

    S10 E3 How Weather Quietly Reshapes Buying Strategy, Sales and Shopper Behaviour

    In this episode of Buying Beyond we dive into one of retail's biggest unspoken variables - the weather, and how it quietly reshapes shopper behavior, sales patterns, and buying strategy. We kick off discussing the current UK heatwave before unpacking how extreme temperatures are driving record-breaking sales in soft drinks and ice cream, changing shopping channels (in-store vs. online), and creating headaches for buyers and merchandisers trying to plan stock, promotions, and seasonal transitions around unpredictable conditions. We also explore the growing role of resale platforms like Vinted in reflecting real-time, weather-driven demand, and why blaming poor sales purely on weather isn't good enough in a trading room - you need a plan of action too. We finish with a fun "rain or shine" quickfire round on which retail categories win or lose depending on the forecast. Three Key Takeaways: 1. Weather changes behavior differently than you'd expect -  rain mainly affects where people shop (shifting to online or indoor destinations), while temperature changes what people buy (driving spikes in categories like soft drinks, ice cream, and seasonal clothing). 2. "The weather affected sales" is not a complete explanation - retailers need to pair any weather-related sales commentary with a clear action plan (e.g., pulling stock forward, adjusting promotions, reallocating inventory) rather than treating it as an excuse. 3. Resale platforms are a real-time weather signal - sites like Vinted show organic, reactive buying patterns (e.g., surges in searches for linen dresses or raincoats) that can offer retailers useful signals for demand forecasting that traditional retail calendars can't match. Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  3. Jul 7

    S10 E2 Why The Best Buyers Can Buy Anything with Natasha Caller, Head of Category at Halfords

    This week, we're joined by Natasha Caller, Head of Category at Halfords, whose buying career proves that the best buyers aren't defined by what they buy - they're defined by how they think. Natasha's journey into buying didn't follow a traditional path. She started on the shop floor at John Lewis when she was just 17 and quickly realised she wanted to be more involved in the products customers were buying. Before long, she'd talked her way into creating a new fine jewellery range, helping transform the department's performance and sparking a career that's taken her across some incredibly varied categories. Since then, she's bought everything from cookers and cameras to chocolate, hampers, entertainment merchandise and now car parts. Along the way she's worked at Argos, Comet, Hotel Chocolat, Not On The High Street, Harvey Nichols, RWS Global, Moonpig and now leads the servicing category at Halfords. What we loved about this conversation is that it's a brilliant reminder that buying isn't about becoming an expert in one category - it's about understanding customers, being endlessly curious and having the confidence to throw yourself into something new. We also chat about what it was really like developing products at Hotel Chocolat (including how a visit to the V&A Museum inspired one of their bestselling ranges), why Far East sourcing trips are still some of the best learning experiences a buyer can have, and how moving into leadership taught Natasha that managing people is a completely different skill to buying products. As always, it's packed with honest career advice, brilliant stories and plenty of reminders about why we all fell in love with buying in the first place. Three Key Takeaways 1. Great buyers can buy almost anything. Natasha's career has taken her from jewellery to chocolate, cameras to car parts - and every move has reinforced the same lesson. While product knowledge is important, the skills that make a great buyer are incredibly transferable. Understanding your customer, asking the right questions, spotting opportunities and making sound commercial decisions are skills that can be applied to almost any category. Sometimes the biggest career opportunities come from saying yes to something completely outside your comfort zone. 2. The best learning happens when you're given the chance to get stuck in. One of the things Natasha reflects on is how much of her career was shaped by managers who invited her into supplier meetings, trusted her with projects and gave her opportunities long before she felt completely ready. Whether it was building her first jewellery range at John Lewis or spending time on production lines at Hotel Chocolat, those hands-on experiences taught her far more than any training course ever could. It's a great reminder that the best leaders don't just manage buyers - they help create the next generation of them. 3. Some of the best ideas happen when you step away from your desk. In a world of AI, trend platforms and endless data, Natasha is a huge believer in getting out into the real world. From factory visits in the Far East to museum exhibitions and shopping trips, she shares why some of her best product ideas have come from experiences she never expected. Inspiration doesn't always come from your own category - it comes from staying curious about the world around you. Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  4. Jun 30

    S10 E1 The Secret Tool: Inside the World of Trend Forecasting with Jane Kellock

    This week, we're joined by Jane Kellock, Founder and Creative Director of Unique Style Platform (USP), one of the UK's leading trend forecasting consultancies. Jane's career has taken her from designing womenswear and leading design teams at Topshop to becoming one of the UK's most respected voices in trend forecasting. Along the way she's worked with WGSN, Stylus and Debenhams, helping brands understand not just what's trending now, but what's coming next. In this episode, we dive into how trend forecasting has evolved over the years, from the early days of carrying film cameras around trade shows and shopping trips, to today's world of AI, algorithms and endless streams of consumer data. We also explore one of the biggest challenges facing buyers and brands today: how do you balance instinct with insight? Jane shares why having a clear point of view matters more than ever, how to avoid blindly following trends, and why some of the most valuable inspiration can come from completely outside your category. Whether you're a buyer, designer, merchandiser or brand founder, this episode is packed with practical advice on spotting opportunities, understanding consumers and building products that feel both relevant and authentic. Key Takeaways 1) Trends should inform your decisions, not make them for you: One of the biggest misconceptions about trend forecasting is that it's simply about predicting colours, prints or viral products. Jane explains that forecasting is really about understanding cultural shifts, consumer behaviour and the wider forces influencing how people live, shop and spend. The strongest brands don't copy trends directly - they filter them through their own identity and customer lens. As Jane reminds us, not every trend is your trend. 2) Don't lose your gut instinct in a world obsessed with data: With more data available than ever before, it can be tempting to let spreadsheets drive every decision. But Jane argues that some of the most successful products come from experience, intuition and a deep understanding of your customer. While data is a valuable tool, it shouldn't replace creativity. The best buyers and designers know how to balance insight with instinct, using both to make confident decisions rather than relying entirely on one or the other. 3) The best inspiration often comes from outside your category: Some of Jane's biggest sources of inspiration aren't found on a fashion catwalk. From hospitality and interiors to gardens, travel, architecture and everyday observations, she believes the best trend spotters are naturally curious about the world around them. For buyers, that's a valuable reminder that trend awareness isn't built solely through reports and social media feeds. Sometimes the most useful insights come from getting out, exploring new environments and paying attention to how consumers are living their lives. To learn more about Jane's work, consultancy projects, trend subscriptions and upcoming events, visit: https://uniquestyleplatform.com/ And if you'd like more trend analysis, buying insights and conversations like this, join us at: https://www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk/ Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  5. Jun 23

    S9 E10 Jo Ingham & Jo Ward: How Fashion can be more sustainable and still be profitable?

    This week, we're joined by Jo Ingham and Jo Ward - two buyers who have pretty much seen it all. The pair first met at New Look (where they were so often mistaken for each other that they ended up answering each other's phone calls) before going on to build impressive careers across some of the UK's biggest retailers, including River Island, Debenhams, Boohoo, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Arcadia and Jane Norman. Between them, they've bought everything from childrenswear and accessories to womenswear, worked across stores and online, managed huge teams, and navigated decades of change in the retail industry. But what we loved about this conversation wasn't just where they've worked- it was hearing what really mattered to them as buyers. From the excitement of spotting a trend before anyone else, to building products customers genuinely loved, both Jo and Jo share how their roles evolved over the years and why they started questioning whether the industry they'd spent their careers in was still working in the way it should. After years spent balancing commercial targets with growing concerns about overproduction, waste and sustainability, they both found themselves asking the same question: Can fashion work differently? That question ultimately led them to create Our Fashion Fix - a business helping brands and retailers make better decisions by connecting sustainability with commercial performance, rather than treating them as separate conversations. In this episode, we chat about how buying has changed over the years, why buyers are under more pressure than ever, what brands can learn from the rise of resale, and how Jo and Jo are using some surprisingly high-tech tools (including partnerships with the European Space Agency!) to bring more transparency into fashion supply chains. It's a fascinating conversation with two buyers who care deeply about the industry and are actively working to help shape what comes next. Key Takeaways 1) The buying role has changed dramatically: Jo and Jo reflect on how buying has evolved throughout their careers  from smaller ranges, simpler processes and closer supplier relationships to today's fast-moving, multi-channel retail environment.They share why buyers are being asked to do more than ever before, often with fewer resources, and how that pressure can make it harder to focus on what originally drew many people into the role: understanding customers, building great product and making thoughtful buying decisions. 2) Sustainability only works if it works commercially: One thing Jo and Jo are passionate about is helping businesses move sustainability out of a separate "nice to have" conversation and into everyday decision-making. Through Our Fashion Fix's Impact Margin Calculator, they're helping brands understand the financial impact of their buying decisions alongside the environmental one making it easier for teams to have conversations that resonate across the business. 3) Resale isn't a trend - it's part of the future of retail: The rise of platforms like Vinted has changed the way customers shop, discover products and think about value. Jo and Jo explain why resale should be on every buyer's radar, what brands can learn from how their products perform in the second-hand market, and why the future belongs to retailers with a clear point of difference, strong product and a loyal customer base. To find out more about Jo and Jo's work and explore the Impact Margin Calculator, visit: Our Fashion Fix | Discover Sustainable Solutions For Carbon Literacy information ; Carbon Literacy Training — Our Fashion Fix For Carbon Literacy Eventbrite tickets ;  Carbon Literacy for the Fashion Industry Training Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite And to learn more about Ask Miranda® and become a design partner - deadline for 80% funded pilots is beginning July;  Ask Miranda — Brand Conscience And if you'd like more buying insights, trend analysis and conversations like this, join us at: 💌 The Buyers Club Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  6. Jun 16

    S9 E9 From Manchester to Japan: The Buyer's Guide to Trend Spotting

    This week it's just the two of us - no guests, no agenda, just a good old buyers' debrief. A few weeks ago we headed to Manchester for the Buying and Beyond meetup, and naturally that meant hitting the shops. What followed was a wide-ranging conversation about what we saw on the floor, where smart buyers are finding inspiration right now, and how the digital landscape is changing the way we read trends. If you've ever wanted to know where to go, what to look for, and how to cut through the noise - this one's for you. Key Takeaways Know your customer and stay true to your brand identity. Manchester's retail scene was a masterclass in brand clarity. River Island's revival showed what happens when a brand stops chasing competitors and leans back into its core aesthetic. Meanwhile, M&S continues to prove that great product + smart outfit-building styling = appeal across generations. The lesson: customers are increasingly shopping by lifestyle and interests, not age.You don't need a big travel budget to find inspiration. Japan may be the gold standard for retail theater, but Europe is packed with accessible alternatives - Paris neighborhoods, Amsterdam's sustainable design scene, Bratislava's independent makers, and emerging destinations like Slovenia. Closer to home, a visit to a completely different city (hello, Manchester) can shift your perspective in ways a quick local shop sprint never will.Vinted and TikTok Shop are trend thermometers - use them. TikTok Shop transaction volume rose 80% year-on-year in 2025, and resale/sustainable product lines are forecast to account for 20% of apparel sales by 2028. Scrolling Vinted's most-liked items gives buyers a real-time, customer-facing read on what people actually want — a live data feed that's worth adding to your regular comp-shopping toolkit.Want to go deeper on trend spotting and retail inspiration? Join the Buying and Beyond Buyers Club for curated trend analysis, inspiration trip guides, and more. https://www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk/ Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  7. Jun 9

    S9 E8: From Lockdown Idea to Luxury Brand with Elena London

    In this Buying & Beyond, we sit down with Elena, founder of Elena London, a luxury home fragrance brand she built from scratch during lockdown after becoming frustrated with reed diffusers that seemed to lose their scent within days. What started as a search for a better product quickly evolved into a thriving business, built alongside a full-time career and driven by a commitment to quality, craftsmanship and customer experience. Elena shares her entrepreneurial journey, from an early venture importing Australian salt to discovering her passion for home fragrance and creating hand-poured products made in small batches. We discuss the realities of building a product-based business, the meticulous process behind developing her fragrances, and why she refuses to compromise on quality, even when it comes to pricing. We also talk about the viral social media post that saw messages arrive from around the world, being shortlisted for the UK Start-Up Awards Consumer Product Start-Up of the Year, and her exciting plans for wholesale growth and a new candle collection. Three Key Takeaways 1. Listen to your customers, not just your own taste.  Some of Elena London's most successful products, including refill pouches and car diffusers, came directly from customer requests. Elena believes the best product development starts with understanding the problems your customers are trying to solve and creating solutions that genuinely fit their needs. 2. Quality over quantity builds loyalty that lasts.  In a market full of low-cost alternatives, Elena has built her brand around exceptional product performance. Her reed diffusers can last up to six months or more, creating a level of trust that turns customers into advocates and drives repeat purchases. 3. Stay in your lane — your brand is your brand.  From navigating imposter syndrome to growing alongside larger competitors, Elena's approach is simple: focus on your own values, stay true to your vision and avoid getting distracted by what everyone else is doing. Authenticity and consistency are what build long-term brands. Find out more about Elena London and follow Elena's journey through her website and social channels. https://elenaldn.com/ @elenalondon_ Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

  8. Jun 2

    S9 E7: From Buyer to Bangladesh with Nadya at NEXT

    What does it actually look like to leave the familiarity of UK retail buying and move to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to work on the supplier side? In this episode, we sit down with Nadya - a buyer turned product manager at Next Sourcing- who did exactly that. With a background spanning REISS, Crew Clothing, and lululemon, Nadya shares the career moments that shaped her, the leap of faith that took her across the world, and what she's learning from the other side of the supply chain. Nadya's story starts, as so many do, with a spark of inspiration at a young age, digging through her mum's '80s wardrobe and knowing instinctively that fashion was her world. But it was a chance encounter at a careers fair in Sweden, where a buyer from H&M was speaking, that made everything click. From that moment, every decision- moving to London at 19, studying buying and merchandising at the London College of Fashion, her roles at REISS and Crew Clothing was working towards that goal. But after years building a solid career in UK retail, Nadya found herself at a crossroads. A recruiter reached out about a product manager role at Next Sourcing in a role she'd actually first heard about years earlier from a colleague and quietly filed away as a dream. This time, she took the leap. Within two months she had her visa, had packed up her life, and was on a one-way flight to Dhaka. We talk about what her day-to-day actually looks like now, weekly factory visits, fabric sourcing, trend scouting, pitching new product ideas directly to Next, and how being embedded in the hub of manufacturing has completely changed the way she sees the industry. We also get into the bigger conversations: the future of sourcing trips, the impact of geopolitics on supply chains, the rise of AI in product development, and what sustainability really looks like from inside a factory. Three Key Takeaways 1. Being on the ground changes everything. Nadya is passionate about the value of factory visits and sourcing trips - something she feels is being quietly eroded by budget cuts. Whether it's understanding why a supplier physically can't do something, or seeing what's being produced right now (and therefore what will hit stores in a few months), there are things you simply cannot learn from behind a laptop. Her message: fight to keep those budgets in. 2. Pivoting to the supplier side gives you a whole new lens. Moving from buying to product management hasn't just been a change of scenery - it's completely reframed how Nadya sees the supply chain. Those delivery delays and last-minute requests she used to push back on as a buyer? She now understands exactly why they happen. The empathy and insight she's gained in just two months in Dhaka is something she says no amount of time in a UK office could replicate. 3. AI is coming and you have to use it, not fear it. From AI imagery in design packs to 3D model-making, Nadya is already seeing AI reshape how product development works. Her take: it's not going backwards, so the only option is to figure out how to make it work for you. The upside? Less over-sampling, less waste, better hit rates and ultimately a more sustainable industry. Enjoyed this episode? Join our membership community for online networking events with buyers and industry professionals from around the world. Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing! Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram  Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk We also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub   Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

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About

Welcome to the Buying & Beyond podcast, the podcast for all things Retail Buying...and more!Join us, Kate & Lyns, buyers and best friends, each week for industry insights, stories and expertise from real people in retail.   Enjoy honest stories and conversations, retail therapy and learn bite-sized tips from us and our guests from across the industry. Season 1 starts with Becoming a Buyer - the background to how we started in the industry, what exactly is a Buyer, working your way up the ladder and the main meetings and tasks working in BuyingSeason 2 is all about Being a Buyer - leading a team, coordinating trips, working with suppliers, product & personal development and sustainabilitySeason 3 takes us beyond just the direct Buying team - we introduce merchandisers, talk about designers and new trends, burnout & life coaching. Season 4 is where we are joined by more Retail Buyers and have also invited Retail Businesses to tell us their storiesSeason 5 continues with a fantastic assortment of Retail Buyers and Retail Businesses. We find out how they got started and what inspires & excites them about retail - plus we lift the lid on what Brands need and Buyers expect! We are your modern day mentors; prepping Buyers of the future and empowering current Buyers. Our insights for retail businesses and entrepreneurs will shine a light on how to to build, grow, scale and pitch like a pro! If you like listening to this podcast, please rate, follow and share - you can also find us on instagram @buyingandbeyond Come behind the scenes with Buying and Beyond

Information

  • Creator
    Buying & Beyond
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Buying and Beyond
  • Show Website
    Buying and Beyond

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