Retail Reckoning - Retail Stories from Retail Frontlines

Clare Bailey (Retail Champion)
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Welcome to “Retail Reckoning,” the place where you get the real truth about what’s happening on Britain’s high streets. Hosted by Clare Bailey—aka the retail champion and basically a walking encyclopedia for all things retail—this show skips the sugar-coating and gets straight to the good stuff. Clare brings you sharp insights, honest stories, and no-fluff advice from people who've lived and breathed retail for years. Whether you love your local high street or just want to know what’s really going on behind the shop windows, you’re going to get plenty of sass, soul, and stories that actually matter. If you care about your town centre or just want the straight facts on retail, you’re in the right spot. Let’s get into it!

  1. Making Tax Digital Is SCARY (If You Don't Understand This)

    1D AGO

    Making Tax Digital Is SCARY (If You Don't Understand This)

    Making Tax Digital is scary. If you don’t understand it. And most people don’t. Hi, I’m Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m joined by accountant Rachel Parker, someone I trust with my own business finances. We’re talking about Making Tax Digital. What it actually means. Why so many small business owners are panicking unnecessarily. And what really matters if you want to stay compliant without losing sleep. This isn’t an episode about jargon, scare stories, or buying expensive software you don’t need. It’s about understanding how your business structure, reporting habits, and routines affect your tax, your cash flow, and your stress levels. We talk about why Making Tax Digital feels overwhelming, why spreadsheets aren’t the enemy, how business structure choices quietly shape your tax position, and why monthly financial routines are where calm actually lives. This episode isn’t about becoming an accountant. It’s about feeling more in control of your business. This episode breaks down: What Making Tax Digital really is (and what it isn’t) Why your business structure matters more than you think How VAT and reporting decisions create knock-on effects Why people cost more than just salaries Why businesses fail on cash flow, not profit How monthly financial habits reduce panic and penalties If you’ve been quietly stressing about tax, deadlines, or whether you’re doing things “right”, this episode will help you breathe a bit easier and see the bigger picture. Less panic. More clarity. Better decisions. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together. Useful links: Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Champion https://theretailchampion.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    25 min
  2. Your Retail Sales Are Fine. Your Profits Aren't. Here's Why.

    FEB 2

    Your Retail Sales Are Fine. Your Profits Aren't. Here's Why.

    Your retail sales are fine. Your profits aren’t. Here’s why. Hi, I’m Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m joined by Graeme Sharp from Sharper Margins. We'll be unpacking where retail profits really disappear and why it’s rarely down to one big dramatic mistake. This isn’t an episode about paranoia, security theatre, or treating your team like suspects. It’s about the small, everyday losses that quietly erode margin and add up far faster than most retailers expect. We talk about why shoplifting is only part of the story, how mispricing, admin errors, poor stock control, and broken processes quietly drain profit, and why relying on instinct alone stops working as your business grows. This episode isn’t about complicated systems or expensive tech. It’s about awareness, consistency, and simple controls that actually protect your margin. This episode breaks down: Why retail profits leak even when sales look healthy The hidden losses most retailers underestimate How poor stock accuracy quietly destroys margin Why trust and control aren’t opposites What retailers should focus on in the next 90 days to protect profit If your business looks busy but the money never quite stacks up, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on behind the scenes. Fewer leaks. More clarity. Healthier margins. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together. Useful links: Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Champion: https://theretailchampion.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    18 min
  3. Why Email Blasting Is Costing Retail Businesses Sales

    JAN 26

    Why Email Blasting Is Costing Retail Businesses Sales

    Most retailers don’t lose sales because email doesn’t work. They lose sales because they send the same message to everyone. Hi, I’m Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m joined by email marketing, CRM, and paid ads specialist Sophie Walton to unpack why email blasting is quietly costing retail businesses sales. Email isn’t dead. But bad email habits are expensive. We talk about why blanket emails damage engagement, how poor segmentation wastes time and ad spend, and why your email list is often more valuable than chasing new customers through paid ads. This episode isn’t about complicated funnels or marketing jargon. It’s about making your marketing calmer, more human, and far more effective. This episode breaks down: Why emailing everyone backfires for retailers How simple segmentation improves sales and retention Where most retailers waste money with paid ads How email, CRM, and ads should actually work together What to focus on first when marketing feels overwhelming If your marketing feels noisy, exhausting, or expensive, this episode will help you simplify what you’re doing and focus on what genuinely moves sales forward. Less blasting. More relevance. Better results. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together. Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Useful links:Retail Champion: https://theretailchampion.co.uk Sophie Walton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-walton-3877b221/ Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    28 min
  4. Pinterest (ed) in ramping up your retail business's visual search?

    JAN 19

    Pinterest (ed) in ramping up your retail business's visual search?

    Most retailers don’t need another social media platform. They need traffic that actually shows up ready to buy. Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m joined by Pinterest and visual search specialist Frances Brown to unpack why Pinterest works so differently for ecommerce retailers, and why so many businesses overlook it. Pinterest isn’t social media. It’s a visual search engine built around intent, planning, and discovery. We talk about how shoppers use Pinterest when they already have a problem to solve or a purchase in mind. Not for doom-scrolling, but for ideas, inspiration, and decisions. And why that makes it such a powerful platform for independent retailers with visual products. This episode breaks down: Why Pinterest content lasts months, not minutesHow visual search changes buyer behaviourWhat boards and pins actually do behind the scenesHow Pinterest integrates with ecommerce and ShopifyWhy planners beat algorithms when it comes to long-term traffic If you’re tired of posting constantly, watching content disappear, and feeling like visibility is getting harder instead of easier, this episode will help you rethink where your effort belongs. Less noise. More intent. Better quality traffic. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together. Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter – https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Useful links: Retail Champion: https://theretailchampion.co.uk Pinterest Business: https://business.pinterest.com

    35 min
  5. AI as a Calm Retail Assistant: Smarter Stock, Pricing, and Decisions

    JAN 12

    AI as a Calm Retail Assistant: Smarter Stock, Pricing, and Decisions

    Most retailers don’t need more data. They need clearer signals. Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m demystifying AI for independent retailers. Not the scary, Silicon Valley, robots-taking-over kind. The practical, everyday kind that quietly helps you get better at the basics. We talk about how AI can act like a calm assistant in the background. One that spots slow sellers, flags missed opportunities, highlights margin issues, and taps you on the shoulder before small problems turn into expensive ones. This episode is about using AI to support your judgment, not replace it. I share real retail examples. From forecasting demand more accurately, to spotting underperforming ranges earlier, to making better pricing and promotion decisions without panic discounting. If margins feel tighter, time feels shorter, and retail feels heavier than it used to, this episode will help you see where AI can earn its place. Calmly. Practically. On your terms. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together. Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter – https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    15 min
  6. Christmas Debrief: 2025 Retail Pain Points → 2026 Profit

    JAN 5

    Christmas Debrief: 2025 Retail Pain Points → 2026 Profit

    Shall we take a brutally honest look at the highs and lows of the 2025 festive retail season? Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, we dig into what worked, what flopped, and what business owners should focus on to ensure 2026 doesn’t leave any cash on the table. This episode is packed with straight-talking advice: from sellout items that vanished too soon, to stubborn shelf-sitters that eroded your margins. I've got some practical checklists to share with you for reviewing customer feedback, staffing woes, and digital visibility—making sure you don’t miss a thing. Whether you’re a seasoned shop owner or an ambitious start-up, this episode is your guide to turning post-Christmas chaos into clarity, actionable strategy, and a winning 2026. Let’s get your Retail Reckoning together—no dusty shelves allowed! Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter – https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    24 min
  7. Retail Trends 2026: What Independent Retailers Must Get Right Next Year

    12/29/2025

    Retail Trends 2026: What Independent Retailers Must Get Right Next Year

    Retail might be stabilising, but certainty still isn’t coming back. Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m sharing my perspective on what retail in 2026 is really shaping up to look like. From cautious consumers and selective spending, to the changing role of the high street, loyalty, technology, and staffing, I break down what genuinely matters for independent retailers right now. We look at why waiting for “normal” is holding businesses back, why emotional loyalty beats points schemes, and how independents can use their hyper-local knowledge to compete with bigger players. I also talk about where technology helps, where it distracts, and why getting the basics right will always matter more than chasing shiny tactics. If you’re planning for 2026 and want a clear-eyed, practical view of what’s ahead, this episode will help you focus on what to prioritise and what to ignore. Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter – https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    18 min
  8. The High Cost of Post Christmas Returns for Retailers

    12/22/2025

    The High Cost of Post Christmas Returns for Retailers

    Christmas might be over, but for retailers the hard part is only just beginning. Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I’m talking about the real cost of post-Christmas returns and why January can feel like a hangover no one warned you about. From gift receipts and goodwill returns to consumer rights and reverse logistics, I break down what shoppers are entitled to, where retailers often get caught out, and why poorly handled returns can quietly damage your brand. We look at why the “Great Christmas Returns Rush” has become a new festive tradition, how sales and price drops fuel cynical returns, and what retailers can do to protect margins without turning the returns desk into a battleground. Whether you’re a retailer bracing yourself for January or a consumer trying to work out what you’re actually entitled to, this episode will help you understand the rules, the realities, and the emotional toll of the post-Christmas remix. Subscribe to the Retail Reckoning Newsletter - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Mentioned in this episode: Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights Newsletter Get Retail Reckoning Podcast Insights and Goodies - https://retailreckoningpodcast.co.uk/newsletter Retail Reckoning Podcast VIP newsletter

    14 min
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About

Welcome to “Retail Reckoning,” the place where you get the real truth about what’s happening on Britain’s high streets. Hosted by Clare Bailey—aka the retail champion and basically a walking encyclopedia for all things retail—this show skips the sugar-coating and gets straight to the good stuff. Clare brings you sharp insights, honest stories, and no-fluff advice from people who've lived and breathed retail for years. Whether you love your local high street or just want to know what’s really going on behind the shop windows, you’re going to get plenty of sass, soul, and stories that actually matter. If you care about your town centre or just want the straight facts on retail, you’re in the right spot. Let’s get into it!

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