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

Resilient Retail Club's Catherine Erdly
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. How AI Agents Are Changing Retail Stores (Retail Industry Trends 2026)

    4d ago

    How AI Agents Are Changing Retail Stores (Retail Industry Trends 2026)

    Right now, as you read this, an AI chatbot is running a real retail store in San Francisco — managing the product selection, deciding what to stock, and curating a customer experience. It sounds like science fiction. It is already open for business. And it is just one signal of how fast the rules of retail discovery are changing. (Our sponsor Faire are offering 50% off and free shipping on first orders until July 31st. Simply add the code "Resilient50" at checkout) Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. And in this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm exploring one of the biggest shifts I've seen in how customers discover products: agentic AI. This is AI that doesn't just respond to questions — it researches, compares, recommends, and in some cases, actually completes the purchase. For independent retailers and product businesses with an online presence, this changes the rules. The question is no longer just how do you rank on Google — it's how do you become the answer when an AI agent is asked to find the best product for a specific need. I dig into what agentic AI actually means, how people are already using it to shop, and what that means for the way you present your products online. I share research from the OECD, insights from Andrew Bialecki at Klaviyo, the work of retail expert Jackie Swanson, and a fascinating case study in the form of Andon Market — a real shop in San Francisco that is being managed end-to-end by an AI chatbot called Luna, which was given a three-year lease and told to make a profit. If you're an independent retailer or product business owner with an e-commerce presence, this episode is essential listening. The shift is already happening. Understanding it now means you can take simple, practical steps to make sure your products are visible in the new discovery landscape — before your competitors even realise the rules have changed. Chapter Timestamps 00:00 — Are robots taking over shopping? And what agentic AI actually is 02:05 — AI at both ends: retailers using AI and shoppers using AI — the data 04:50 — Luna and Andon Market: the AI chatbot running a real retail store 07:00 — Agent-to-agent commerce: Andrew Bialecki on what retailers need to prepare for 09:30 — What to actually do: getting your data right for AI discovery 11:25 — How customer search behaviour is changing and what it means for your product pages 13:45 — The three things to start with: titles, key info, and natural language 14:48 — The philosophical question: are we handing over too much to AI? Useful Links Resilient Retail Club podcast: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/ Catherine on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    18 min
  2. How retailers can build demand on TikTok

    Jun 11

    How retailers can build demand on TikTok

    What would it mean for your retail business if — right now, at this very moment — three thousand creators were actively requesting samples to promote your brand? That's not a fantasy for Luke Arnall-Cameron, founder of YASS CLEAN. It's Tuesday. That's just how his business works. Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. This episode is brought to you by Faire. As you will hear in the actual show, they're offering 50% off and free shipping against your first order. Use the code "Resilient50" In this episode, I sit down with Luke Arnall-Cameron — a former John Lewis graduate buyer and marketing director turned TikTok creator and brand founder — to unpick one of the most significant shifts happening in retail right now: discovery commerce. TikTok Shop has fundamentally changed how products reach consumers. Instead of paying for ads, brands are now building creator networks — and the smartest ones are doing it in a way that mirrors exactly what every good retailer already knows about range building, customer loyalty, and repeat purchase. Luke launched YAS CLEAN in November 2024. His first livestream generated £70,000. Within his first year he fulfilled over 650,000 orders across six countries, sold 10,000 bottles of one product in seven days, and achieved 45% repeat customer rates in December — for a cleaning brand, in the hardest trading month of the year. He also won TikTok's Breakout Seller of the Year Award. But what makes this conversation genuinely useful for any product business owner isn't the headline numbers. It's the retail logic behind every decision he made — why virality isn't a strategy, how to think about product range in a world driven by social selling, and what discovery commerce means for anyone selling physical products. If you want to understand whether TikTok Shop belongs in your channel mix, this episode is for you. Chapter Timestamps00:00 — The hook: 3,000 creators waiting to promote one product01:26 — Luke's retail career: From John Lewis buyer to TikTok creator04:12 — YAS CLEAN launch: £70K first livestream and 650,000 orders in year one10:02 — Building a product range vs chasing viral moments15:45 — Discovery commerce explained: How TikTok Shop's creator model works19:34 — Live shopping as real-time customer feedback Useful LinksYAS CLEAN on TikTok: @yasclean Get 50% off and free shipping with Faire - https://fairewholesaleinc.sjv.io/APj4ax Resilient Retail Club: www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/ Catherine on LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    23 min
  3. Retail Trends 2026: How Independent Retailers Should Use Generative AI

    Jun 4

    Retail Trends 2026: How Independent Retailers Should Use Generative AI

    AI is everywhere in retail right now — but are you actually using it in a way that's helping your business grow, or could it quietly be working against you? This episode is brought you by Faire who are offering 50% off and free shipping against new orders. Use the code "Resilient50" at checkout. This episode also features a free downloadable resource. Go to http://resilientretailclub.com/ai to claim it. Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. And in this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm sharing the honest picture of how independent retailers are actually using generative AI in 2026. According to government data, just 16% of UK businesses are formally using AI — yet surveys suggest up to 80% of SME decision-makers have tried it in some form. The reality? Most people are using it to write emails faster, draft product descriptions, handle awkward customer messages, and generate ideas. And that's where it genuinely shines. But there are pitfalls too. I'm talking through the messy data problem that makes AI-powered sales analysis fall flat, the real concerns around AI imagery and brand trust, what I think went badly wrong with AI content (including something from my own business that I'm still mortified by), and why leaning on AI for big decisions might be giving you confidence you haven't earned. If you want to use AI smarter — and stay distinctly, unmistakably you — this episode is for you. In this episode: • How retailers are really using AI in 2026 — the stats and the reality • Product pages, agentic AI, and why clarity beats fluff • The messy data problem and what to fix first • AI customer service: the triage approach that works • AI imagery — the jury's still out, and here's why • What NOT to use AI for (including fully AI-written content) • The voice note / brain dump method that keeps your content sounding like you • The confirmation bias problem with using AI for decisions CHAPTERS: 00:01:25 How Retailers Are Using AI Right Now 00:07:32 Customer Service, Data & AI Imagery 00:13:43 What Not to Use AI For — and the Voice Note Method Connect with Catherine: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly/ Podcast: resilientretailclub.com/podcast Mentioned in this episode: Get 50% off at Faire Go to Faire.com and enter code "Resilient50" Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50' Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    21 min
  4. Retail Outlook 2026: Why 71% of Independent Retailers Are Growing - And How to Join Them

    May 28

    Retail Outlook 2026: Why 71% of Independent Retailers Are Growing - And How to Join Them

    71% of independent retailers in the UK are growing or stable. And 9 in 10 shoppers say AI has made them MORE likely to trust your shop over an algorithm. Here is what the data actually says. (Our sponsor Faire are offering 50% off and free shipping on first orders until July 31st. Simply add the code "Resilient50" at checkout) Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. Are you tired of reading headlines that make it sound like independent retail is finished? The noise about AI, empty high streets, and big-box competition can feel genuinely frightening if you are running a small business. But what if the data tells a completely different story — and what if that story is one you desperately needed to hear? In this episode, I sit down with Elyse McAvoy from Faire to unpack the Voices of Retail report — a landmark piece of research that surveyed 650 independent retailers and over 2,000 UK consumers. It is the first time a report of this kind has merged the retailer perspective and the consumer perspective into one honest picture of what is actually happening on Britain's high streets. And the findings will surprise you. Once you listen, you will leave with a clear understanding of what is separating retailers who are growing from those who are struggling, a completely new perspective on AI and your business, and three specific actions you can take this month. If you have been feeling uncertain about whether your shop has a future, this is the episode that will give you the data — and the confidence — to move forward. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction: Why This Report Matters for Every Independent Retailer 02:30 — Key Findings: AI, the 71% Statistic and the Branding Gap 07:13 — Consumer Spending Power: What Shoppers Are Ready to Spend With You 10:28 — What to Do Now: Three Practical Actions to Take This Month USEFUL LINKS 📥 Download the Voices of Retail report free from the Spring Fair website — link in show notes 🛒 Explore Faire as a wholesale marketplace: faire.com 🎙 More episodes: resilientretailclub.com/podcast 🔗 Connect with Catherine: linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50' This podcast uses chapters

    15 min
  5. Retail Time Management: Stop Juggling Everything and Finally Get Ahead!

    May 21

    Retail Time Management: Stop Juggling Everything and Finally Get Ahead!

    Do you ever feel like you're doing everything right, yet somehow still falling behind? If you run an independent retail business, you are not imagining things. Between buying stock, managing your team, keeping up with your marketing, handling customer service, and everything else that lands on your desk — the sheer volume of what your job involves would overwhelm anyone. This is not a time management failure. It is simply the reality of running a retail business single-handedly. But there is a question underneath all of this that most retailers never stop to ask, and it is the one that changes everything. Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. And in this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm unpacking the framework I use with my one-to-one clients in my Retail by Design programme — a step-by-step approach to understanding how you're really spending your time, building a structure that actually works, and protecting the focused work hours that move your business forward. If you have been telling yourself for months that you will start that project "when things slow down" — this episode is for you. I work with clients who have just two hours a day after the kids are in bed, and clients who get one day a week away from the shop floor. The system I'm sharing works at every capacity level. Listen to the end to discover a clear, practical path out of the overwhelm — and toward a calmer, more intentional, and ultimately more profitable week. Listener Benefits (What You'll Discover) Why most independent retailers have less time than they think — and why that's actually the start of something usefulThe exact time-tracking method that reveals where your hours are really going (with a free tool recommendation)How to build a weekly structure around your BAU tasks so you're not starting from scratch every MondayWhy being "always available" is silently costing you hours every week — and the simple boundaries that fix it 📍 Ready to reclaim your time? Free resources: resilientretailclub.com/juggle Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why Independent Retailers Are Always Falling Behind 02:34 – Steps 1 & 2: How to Track Your Time and Understand What's Really Happening 06:10 – Steps 3 & 4: Building Your Weekly Structure and Batching Your Tasks 12:35 – Steps 5 & 6: Quarterly Planning, Decision Fatigue, and Knowing When to Let Go Links & Resources 🔗 Free time management resources: resilientretailclub.com/juggle 🔗 The Resilient Retail Club: resilientretailclub.com 📱 Toggl (free time-tracking app): toggl.com 🎙️ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube — new episodes every Thursday Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    22 min
  6. Retail Stock Ordering: Two questions every product business must answer

    May 14

    Retail Stock Ordering: Two questions every product business must answer

    "How much should I order?" sounds like one question. It's actually two — and most product business owners only ever answer one of them. (This episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/order) Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly. In this episode, I'm breaking down the critical difference between product-level stock ordering (the tactical "how many of this line") and business-level stock planning (the strategic "what can I afford overall"). Drawing on my time as a buyer at Paperchase and the frameworks in my book Tame Your Tiger, I'll explain why forecasting apps, Shopify Sidekick, ChatGPT and Claude can all give you the right answer to the wrong question — and how that slowly turns a healthy business into a cash-hungry "tiger". In this episode: Why most stock forecasting tools assume you have unlimited cashThe simple reorder calculation that still mattersWhat "the tail" isThree better questions to ask before you place a single orderThe supermarket scanner analogy that makes stock budgeting click If you're constantly reordering but never feel on top of your stock, pause and plan with this one. 🐅 Tame Your Tiger — my book on stock, cash flow and building a calmer product business 💬 Come and say hi on Instagram: @resilientretailclub Prefer to watch podcasts? Here's mine - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFwdhK_WMJvXntxKLZj83Inz1fFNAN2P Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    13 min
  7. Retail insights around the "Invisible Ceiling": Why Your Shop Has Stalled

    May 7

    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 Mentioned in this episode: Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'

    12 min
  8. 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
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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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