Shows
The Resilient Retail Game PlanRetail Marketing Without A Plan = Noise! Here's How Retailers Get Consistent SalesFeel like you're shouting into the void with your marketing? You're not alone—and it's not your fault.Social media wants you reactive, emotional, and constantly second-guessing yourself. Meanwhile, big retailers operate from detailed seasonal plans made months in advance.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 revealing:✓ Why sporadic marketing makes sales feel random✓ How algorithms keep you stuck in chaos✓ What big retailers do differently (without massive teams)
2026-02-1214 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanHow indie shops grow sales WITHOUT discounting!Why Profit Matters More Than Sales in Indie RetailSales growth is often treated as the goal in retail.But without profit, growth just creates more pressure.In this episode of Resilient Retail Game Plan, we look at why profit isn’t optional for independent retailers, and how better stock decisions change far more than just the numbers.I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn’t about chasing turnover.And it...
2026-02-0527 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanKnowing When Your Retail Business Is Ready To ExpandWhen Is the Right Time to Open a Second Shop?Opening another shop is often seen as the obvious next step in retail growth.But knowing when to do it, and whether your business is actually ready, is far harder.In this episode of Resilient Retail Game Plan, we look at what really changes when you move from one shop to two, and then beyond.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.ukI’m Ca...
2026-01-2930 min
The Resilient Retail Game Plan5 Common Issues Growing Retail Businesses Don't ExpectThe 5 Problems Growing Retail Businesses Don’t Expect (But Almost Always Face)If your retail business looks successful on paper but feels far harder than it should behind the scenes, this episode is for you.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.ukI’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn’t about fixing beginner mistakes or chasing the next growth tactic.
2026-01-2219 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanHow to build a profitable online shop while ignoring 'best practices'How Artichoke Built a Profitable Online Shop by Ignoring “Best Practice”If you’ve been told that online retail growth means more ads, more automation, and more noise — this episode will quietly challenge that.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.Get 10% off SumUp hardware with the code GamePlan10 at https://sumup.co.ukI’m Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn’t about scaling fast or chasing the latest ecommerce tactic.It’s about bui...
2026-01-1530 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanWhy Retail Business Growth Starts to Feel Heavy at Six Figures!Why Retail Business Growth Starts to Feel Heavy at Six FiguresIf your retail business is doing well on paper, but somehow feels heavier than it used to, this episode is for you.With thanks to this episode’s sponsor SumUp.com.Get 10% off hardware with the code GamePlan10.I’m Catherine Erdly, and this is the Resilient Retail Game Plan — product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.This isn’t about chasing more sales or adding more tactics.It’s about the moment growth stops feel...
2026-01-0815 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanMeta Ads Have Changed: What will actually work in 2026!Meta Ads Have Changed – What Actually Works in 2026If Meta ads feel like a wild goose chase lately, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining things.With thanks to this episode's sponsor SumUp (https://sumup.com) Use the code 'GamePlan10' to get 10% off hardware from their online shop!Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly, and this week on The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m rolling up my sleeves with Meta Ad strategist CJ Sinclair to dig into why product business advice for retailers is evolving fast.Algorithms have turned upside dow...
2026-01-0115 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanHow Christmas 2025 Really Felt In Retail (and why that matters for 2026)Ever wondered what Christmas really felt like at the sharp end of retail—and what it’s whispering about your 2026 playbook?This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"I’m Catherine Erdly, and welcome to this festive edition of the Resilient Retail Game Plan—your product business advice, with a side of reality.This isn’t a spreadsheet post-mortem, it’s an honest (sometimes wry) look at how Christmas truly landed for independent...
2025-12-2515 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanYour January Stock Clearance StrategyJanuary clearance doesn’t have to feel like a panic move, a brand compromise, or an admission of failure.This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"Hi, I’m Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m walking you through how to run a proper stock clearance. Not a blanket discount. Not a last-minute scramble. But a strategic, cash-releasing reset that helps you start the year lighter, clearer, and mo...
2025-12-1823 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanRetail Profit vs Turnover: When £3 Million Nearly Broke the BusinessOn paper, Anna Scaife's business Anna Lou of London looked unstoppable — multi–seven-figure turnover, dream stockists like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, celebrity customers, even a Carnaby Street shop. But behind the scenes, the numbers were quietly telling a very different story.This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m digging into the real retail profit vs turnover conversation.What...
2025-12-1121 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanRetail Trends 2026: Four Shifts Retail Businesses Need To Prepare ForThe shopfront of retail is about to change—will you be on the right side when the robots come knocking? This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m laying out the four seismic shifts set to hit independent retailers by 2026.Think agentic AI that shops for your customers, TikTok Shop turning the high street digital, trust as your...
2025-12-0426 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanWhat Shopify and Klaviyo Agree On: Christmas 2025 SpendingChristmas 2025 is shaping up to be a season of cautious confidence — and coziness.This episode of "The Resilient Retail Game Plan" is brought to you by SumUp. Get 10% off their hardware by clicking the link and using the coupon code "GamePlan10"Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.In this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm sharing insights from my Forbes.com research, drawing on data from Shopify, Etsy, Klaviyo, LoyaltyLion and more to reveal what shoppers are really planning this festive season.Discover why UK consumers are expected to spend over £91 bil...
2025-11-1323 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanGet more sales with less stock!Ever wish a retail expert would walk into your stockroom, pull up your numbers, and just tell you exactly what to do? Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly. This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m tearing down the myths and fears behind a stock audit and showing why getting your inventory under control is the most powerful move a product-based business owner can make. After 25 years in retail, I’ve seen it all: wasted cash in stagnant shelves, business owners drowning in data but starving for answers. So I created Stoc...
2025-11-0622 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanThe Power of Planning Your Retail Sales Year: How Structure Creates Freedom (and Profit)If you’re tired of winging it with your retail sales, this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan is your turning point. I'm Catherine Erdly, and in this episode I'm revealing how mapping out your sales year gives you more creativity, not less. Plus, we're all about calmer launches, better cash flow, and loyal customers. Learn how to replace last-minute panic with a confident plan that fits your life, not the other way around.Timestamped overview00:00 Planning Enhances Creativity03:40 Avoid Reactive Selling Strategies07:09 Predictive Ma...
2025-10-3021 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanWhen Numbers Finally Tell the Truth - Retail Reality Check That Changed Everything for My ClientResilient Retail Club member Petrina Reddy from "Saints at Sea" thought she was doing everything right — until the numbers told a different story. In this episode, she joins me, Catherine Erdly, to share the moment she realised her retail business wasn’t actually working the way she thought it was.We talk honestly about the emotional side of facing your figures, the hard decisions that come next, and how Petrina rebuilt her business with clarity and confidence.If you’ve ever avoided looking too closely at your sales or stock levels, this is the wa...
2025-10-2319 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanOvercome 'feast or famine' in your product retail business!Sound familiar? Ever felt your sales rhythm drop from celebration to silence overnight?Welcome to the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, where I, Catherine Erdly, cut through the feast-or-famine fog so many independent retailers face. In this episode, I crack open the real reasons your product business swings from record months to radio silence and arm you with retail-savvy strategies that’ve worked for multi-billion pound chains—plus the lean, scrappy shops braving the UK high street right now. Why listen?Ditch the rollercoaster: Learn why you’re stuck in boom-bust and how to...
2025-10-1617 min
The Resilient Retail Game Plan3 mistakes that keep small product retail businesses stuck!Ever wondered why your sales are stuck in first gear – and what you can actually do to shift them?I'm Catherine Erdly and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan drills into three mistakes I see again and again with small product businesses. If you’re posting on Instagram, trying in-person markets, running the odd promotion yet still seeing stubbornly flat sales month after month, you’re not alone. I draw on 25 years in retail, from big business stockrooms to indie brands, to break down what’s really holding back your growth – and what needs to change if...
2025-10-0920 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanGet loyalty from your retail business customersLoyalty in retail isn’t just about discounts anymore — it’s about creating experiences customers remember. In this episode, Catherine Erdly talks with Charlie Casey, CEO of LoyaltyLion, about what loyalty means in 2025.You’ll learn:Why discounts alone don’t drive loyaltyHow experiences like VIP drops & events keep customers coming backReal examples from brands using loyalty to boost salesWhy loyal customers spend 4× more in tough economiesHow to balance short-term sales with long-term trust
2025-09-2530 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanHow to Manage Cash Flow During Seasonal Peaks in RetailTeetering bank balance, shelves groaning with unsold stock, and a to-do list that rustles louder than tissue wrap? Lean in—this festive crunch is survival mode for indie retailers. Christmas is coming, and with it, that age-old retail cash flow pinch. I’m Catherine Erdly—host of the Resilient Retail Game Plan and twenty-five years deep in this glorious, gritty industry. In this episode, I break down why September and October send even the most seasoned retailers’ stomachs flipping and how you can manage cash flow during seasonal peaks without losing sleep or profit. From real tal...
2025-09-1817 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanScaling your product retail business beyond six figuresAre you running your retail business – or is it running you into the ground?I’m Catherine Erdly, and on this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I peel back the glossy sales charts to reveal what really comes after that six-figure milestone. I’ve seen it firsthand: when independent product business owners hit £100K or more, the chaos, decision fatigue and burnout can hit even harder – unless you’re ready to swap the founder hustle for actual strategy. Through candid stories and my Focus Framework, I’ll show you how growing past six figu...
2025-09-1123 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanYour Q4 Retail Marketing Plan (PR, email, ads, social) That Works!Will your Q4 plan make or break your Christmas sales? I’m Catherine Erdly, drawing on 25 years in retail trenches, and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast is your hands-on guide to prepping a joined-up Q4 marketing plan. Featuring insights from PR guru Rosie Davis Smith, email strategist Katie Farrell, ad creative powerhouse Narada McCoy, and social storytelling pro Emily Hansen. We cut past the shiny distractions to give you product business advice you can bank on, including practical inventory management tips, cash flow strategies for indie retailers, and bite-size ma...
2025-09-0422 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanChristmas Stock Planning For Product Retail Businesses: Avoid Sell outs & overbuyingWill your Christmas cash flow jingle or stall? Hi! Catherine Erdly here, host of the Resilient Retail Game Plan. It’s that time of year when indie retailers either outsmart January’s excess stock blues or get a cash flow headache that lingers long past the mince pies. In this episode of the resilient retail club podcast, I’m rolling up my sleeves with a no-fluff checklist for peak season stock planning, tested across 25 years and countless Q4s. Forget gut feeling; I’ll help you tune into hard data, smart forecasting, and those golden “hero produ...
2025-08-2823 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanThe four best ways to grow your small product retail businessFour levers, infinite impact: Which one’s your sales superpower?Ever feel like you’re pouring all your energy into driving new traffic but your sales aren’t leaping as much as you hoped? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I pull back the curtain on the actual four ways to grow a product business—ways that go way beyond just chasing new customers. With 25 years in the retail trenches (and plenty of stockroom tales to prove it), I’ll walk you through the no-fluff reality of sales growth: what...
2025-08-2123 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanJust £170 could save your retail business from disaster!Could missing a simple £170 expense cost you your entire business overnight? This week on The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I sit down with the sharp, straight-talking Lucy Wheeler of Lucy Legal to tackle the legal booby traps hiding in plain sight for indie retailers. Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and I’ve seen it too many times: stock room full, launch morning on the horizon… only for a cease-and-desist email to land and unravel months of work. From that infamous £170 mistake to new rules around AI, GPSR, refund policies and more, we cover the real-l...
2025-08-1429 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanControlling Cash Flow - The SHOPS FrameworkEver feel like your till’s ringing, but your bank balance is whispering “not this month”?I’m Catherine Erdly, and this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan gets painfully real about the truth behind cash flow for retailers. If you’ve ever panicked at 3am, wondering how to pay that looming supplier invoice, you’re not alone. I break down my “SHOPS” framework;Sales, Having It Mapped Out, Overheads, Profit, Stock.Turning the messy, anxiety-inducing side of product business finance into a clear action plan. This is practica...
2025-08-0720 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanThe Jellycat drama explainedWhen your best-selling supplier pulls the rug out, what’s your next move? I’m Catherine Erdly and this week’s Resilient Retail Game Plan episode dives straight into the Jellycat drama that’s rocking UK indie retail. Plush toys flying off the shelves one day, a curt rejection letter from your biggest brand partner the next. So how did Jellycat, the darling of TikTok and Instagram, go from indie retailers’ secret weapon to their biggest heartache? You’ll hear first-hand from shop owners blindsided by sudden cuts, dig into what this shock move reveals about scaling a product bu...
2025-07-3136 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanProduct pricing and the value triangleWelcome to another episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, hosted by me, retail expert Catherine Erdly. In this episode, I'm getting right to the heart of one of the biggest challenges for independent product business owners: pricing your products with confidence. Whether you’re creating your own products or reselling others’, pricing often brings up tricky questions, self-doubt, and even a touch of money mindset drama.I'll be explaining why undercharging is so common and why your customer’s wallet isn’t your business. I'll also walk you through the concept of the v...
2025-07-2429 min
Don't Work HarderCatherine Erdly: Shaping the Future of the Retail Industry | Don't Work Harder Ep3Catherine Erdly is a UK-based retail strategist, author, and consultant.With over 25 years of experience in the retail industry - including senior roles managing multi-million-pound budgets for high-street brands - she now works directly with makers, shopkeepers, and e-commerce founders to bring big-business tools to small businesses.Through her consultancy, Catherine helps product-based entrepreneurs master stock control, manage cash flow, price effectively, and build systems for long-term growth.Her practical, down-to-earth guidance is rooted in deep industry knowledge, and she’s known for helping business owners move from overwhelm to clarity - often by focusing on...
2025-07-141h 03
Bring Your Product Idea to LifeHow to create a sales plan for 2025 - with Catherine ErdlyWhat Does a Sales Plan Look Like for a Small Business?You’ve probably heard that you should have a sales plan—but what does that actually look like? Why is it important, and how do you go about setting meaningful sales targets?These are big questions, and I have the perfect guest to help answer them: Catherine Erdly of the Resilient Retail Club. Catherine specialises in helping independent retailers and e-commerce brands grow their profits and take control of their cash flow.In this episode, we discuss:Why a sales plan is e...
2024-12-2740 min
The Resilient Retail Game PlanFour Retail Trends Shaping 2025Grab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.-----The holiday rush is behind us, and if you’ve been busy running your business up until Christmas, you’re probably taking a well-deserved breather, pulling yourself together, and getting your sanity back. But before you get too comfortable, let’s take a moment to look ahead at what’s coming for 2025. In this episode, I want to talk you through what’s on the horizon for next year.
2024-12-2627 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanPaid Advertising Secrets for Retailers with Aggie Meroni of White Bee DigitalGrab your essential FREE guide - How to clear excess stock without damaging your brand.-----In this episode, I’m joined by paid ad specialist Aggie Meroni to discuss everything about paid advertising in 2024 and projections for 2025. Aggie, founder of White Bee Digital, shares valuable insights on Meta ads, ad trends during Black Friday, and practical tips to enhance ad performance for retailers. The discussion covers how you should measure your ad performance against buyer behavior, the importance of being strategic with which products you put money behind, the evolving Meta platform, and the su...
2024-12-1928 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanAvoiding Stock Shortages and Curbing Impulse Buying: Practical Steps for RetailersIn this exciting episode, I introduce a brand-new format for the Resilient Retail Game Plan, featuring a live consulting call with Becky Barratt from Driftwood Designs.Becky shares with me that at times they have found that they are surprised to discover that they are out-of-stock on their most popular products only to find that it might be up to eight weeks before they can get new inventory from the manufacturer. Becky is looking for guidance on how she can move from being reactive to limited stock to be proactive.I offer...
2024-10-1023 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanMastering Retail Profit Margins with Catherine ErdlyToday we are diving deep into the critical topic of profit margins and their importance in maintaining a profitable, sustainable and abundant retail business. I’m sharing examples from my retail industry experience to break down how to calculate profit margins, common mistakes to avoid, and practical strategies for improving profitability.I will also share how to balance costs and manage cash flow. Don't miss this episode filled with fundamental principles and actionable advice. If you are looking for some additional help to working out what your profit margins should be you can...
2024-08-2936 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanClearing Slow Stock Without Damaging Your Brand with Catherine ErdlyIn this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I'm addressing one of the most requested topics from my audience: how to clear slow stock without damaging your brand. We'll explore what makes a discounting strategy harmful to your brand, and why it's crucial to avoid blanket discounts in favor of targeted promotions. I'll walk you through practical steps for categorizing your stock into prime, okay, ends of line, slow sellers, and out-of-season, and provide actionable tips on how to manage each category effectively.
2024-08-1520 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanRoutines Of Highly Successful Retailers with Catherine ErdlyThe Power of Routines: Key Habits of Successful Retailers Today we are delving into the routines and habits that highly successful retailers adopt to thrive. I’m breaking down essential routines—from daily to yearly planning—that help businesses stay proactive and in control. I discuss the importance of structure, focusing on critical tasks first, and regularly reviewing business performance. Listen in for practical tips on setting priorities, planning time blocks, and maintaining focus to grow and sustain a resilient retail business. Don't forget to check the show notes for a handy PDF gui...
2024-08-0822 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanCrafting Creative Christmas Content: Innovative Ideas for RetailersMaking Christmas Content Fun: Tips for Product Businesses with Alice Loveday Today I’m joined by Alice Loveday, founder of Loveday Social, to discuss how small businesses can create fun and engaging Christmas content. We emphasize the importance of planning and starting early (we mean now, in the summer!) with a strategy that includes breaking down content purposes, using creative techniques like stop motion and video transitions, and nurturing customer relationships throughout the year. Alice shares practical tips and app recommendations for creating compelling content and stresses the value of showing passion and personality to con...
2024-08-0129 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanHow Your Mindset Impacts Your Business SuccessIn this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, host Catherine Erdly and coach Annabel Gonifas explore how mindset influences business performance. Catherine discusses her personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of addressing mindset in her Product Business Mastermind. Annabel elaborates on the key challenges small business owners face, such as limiting beliefs, values alignment, and understanding personality strengths using tools like Clarity 4D. They discuss how understanding these elements can help business owners overcome procrastination, enhance motivation, and align their businesses with their true values and strengths. The conversation offers practical insights into how a strong partnership between...
2024-06-1330 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanCelebrating 200 Episodes: Milestones and Lessons LearnedI can't believe I'm actually saying this, but it's episode number 200 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan. It is unbelievable to me that the podcast that I started nearly four years ago in 2020 has just hit its 200th episode, and I wanted to do something a little bit different today. I have swapped places with my guests and I am being interviewed for today's episode. I'm being interviewed by Sarah Scott, who is my...
2024-05-3036 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanFour Golden Rules for Building a Business You LoveBeing in the retail business today has been described to me as standing on one side of the Grand Canyon and being able to see the other side, but having no idea how to get across. You are an ambitious, focused business owner who has big plans, and big dreams for their businesses, but you just can’t see how to bridge the gap between where you are today and where you want to be. So today I'm going to be sharing with you...
2024-03-2134 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan176 | The Power of Influencer Marketing in Retail with Lindsay SchneiderIn episode 176 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, host Catherine Erdly, founder of the Resilient Retail Club, engages in an insightful discussion with Lindsay Schneider, founder of the self-tanning brand, Get Into the Limelight. We discuss the trials and triumphs of building a brand, focusing on Lindsay's experience in product sourcing, the process of creating a quality self-tanner, and the marketing strategies that worked best for her. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of influencer marketing, discussing strategies for selecting influencers that have a genuine love for the product and authenticity in their promotion. She also talks ab...
2023-12-1428 min
Bring Your Product Idea to LifePreparing to sell your products at Christmas - with Catherine ErdlyThis episode is a timely release of episode I record a while ago with Catherine Erdly, the founder of the Resilient Retail ClubCatherine helps product businesses start, grow and scale profitable businesses that last. In this podcast Catherine shares the best things that you can do as a product-based business now to prepare for Christmas, get ahead and boost your sales.It is an episode packed full of specific, actionable steps, and is going to help so many of you have a less stressful Christmas season! Listen in to hear Catherine share:A...
2023-06-2339 min
Building your BrandUnleashing your profit potential: Catherine Erdly's guide to retail successFor those of you who've been around a while, you'll know that before I focused solely on branding I used to run a stationery shop alongside my full-time job, selling at markets on weekends so I know just how hard running a product-based business can be. I'm really excited to share today's episode with retail expert, author of Tame Your Tiger and Resilient Retail founder Catherine Erdly who joined me to talk all things retail. We explore the hurdles that can consume product-based businesses if not addressed effectively. Even if you don't run a product-based b...
2023-06-1454 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan127 | The Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Business In 2023So, we’ve made it - 2023 is here! Times have been tough for the retail industry for a good, long while now and who knows what unforeseen events lie ahead as we enter a new year, but against the odds and throughout the uncertainty I still believe the most important thing I can recommend you do for your business this year is to plan, plan and plan! Now, you may well be asking, “Catherine! Why make a plan when things are always changing?”, and it all comes down to perspective - we’re a very outcome-led society and I want to...
2023-01-0525 min
Bring Your Product Idea to LifePreparing to sell your products at Christmas - with Catherine ErdlyCatherine Erdly is the founder of the Resilient Retail Club, and helps product businesses start, grow and scale profitable businesses that last. In this podcast Catherine shares her top tips for how you can prepare to sell your products this Christmas.EPISODE NOTES**Please remember to rate and review the podcast - it really helps others to find it.**Today on the podcast I'm re-releasing a conversation I recorded with Catherine Erdly last September about how to prepare for Christmas.Catherine is the founder of the Resilient Retail Club. Catherine worked...
2022-06-2439 min
The PR SpotlightINTERVIEW: Catherine Erdly on how PR has accelerated her businessIn this episode I want to introduce you to Catherine Erdly, Retail Expert, Small Business Champion and Founder of The Resilient Retail Club. Catherine & I started working together in 2020, not long before the first national COVID-19 lockdown. We met when we were both presenting at Top Drawer 2020 and then started a conversation about how PR could help increase Catherine’s visibility as a retail expert. Catherine has absolutely SMASHED her visibility objectives and is now a ‘go to’ when it comes to small business retail; her results have been incredible. Take a list...
2022-03-0756 min
Bring Your Product Idea to LifePreparing to sell your products at Christmas - with Catherine ErdlyChristmas is coming! Catherine Erdly is the founder of the Resilient Retail Club, and helps product businesses start, grow and scale profitable businesses that last. In this podcast, Catherine shares her top tips for how you can prepare to sell your products this Christmas.EPISODE NOTES**Please remember to rate and review the podcast - it really helps others to find it.**Today on the podcast I'm talking to Catherine Erdly, founder of the Resilient Retail Club. Catherine worked in the retail sector for two decades, working with household names such as Coast...
2021-10-2938 min
Start Scale SucceedEpisode 15 - Getting Ready for Black Friday & the Christmas Selling Period with Catherine ErdlyBlack Friday is one of the key promotional events of the year. This week on Start Scale Succeed Nicole is joined by Catherine Erdly, founder of the Resilient Retail Club. Find out all about how to prepare for Black Friday and what you need to think about in the lead up to the event itself. KEY TAKEAWAYS Interest in Black Friday is on the decline a little with a lot of deals not actually being the best deals of the year and the lack of a connection from the UK market to the American tradition. Don’t ge...
2021-10-2132 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan56 | 5 Books That Have Made An Impact On Me And My BusinessIn my first solo episode in three and a half months and as a break from my Xmas content, I thought I’d spend this podcast sharing with you the five books that have made an impact on me and my business. You can always find me reading, I mostly have my head buried in novels, but when I started The Resilient Retail Club digging into business books keep me focused and helped me absorb info that has helped me work more productively and effectively. First up is “Profit First” by Michael Michalowicz where he ultimately discusses why ta...
2021-08-2625 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan55 | The Power Of The Personal: PR And Branding With Lucy WernerConsumers, now more than ever, want to connect and relate to the brands and businesses that they buy from. It’s not enough to just send your products out into the world and expect them to fly off the shelves - you have to convey who you are and what you value if you want to stand out to your customers. Regardless of whether your product business was born from a simple hobby, has grown out of a search for sustainable alternatives, or aims to disrupt the market, when it comes to PR and branding, as my guest on to...
2021-08-1943 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan54 | Mastering Management with Pip FoulshamWhether you’ve already established a crew of handy helpers or you’re looking to add your first extra pair of hands to the production line in time for your Xmas orders, recruiting is just the first step in putting a trustworthy team together. Setting expectations, engaging your workforce and ultimately managing your staff is a whole other ballgame with its own challenges and intricacies. In episode 52 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I speak to Human Resources Consultant Pip Foulsham. From working in retail to being employed as part of the NHS, Pip now assists business owne...
2021-08-1230 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan53 | Seeing The Funny Side With Small Biz MemesSo, today's episode is a little different for two reasons. Firstly, we experienced a little technical issue during this recording, consequently, there’s a shift in my audio quality from around 25 minutes into the episode - my apologies! But secondly, and more importantly, we’re taking a break from getting ready for Christmas to let off some steam. The life of a small business owner is generally a rewarding one, but it can be lonely and monotonous with few, if any, colleagues to vent frustrations to, or co-workers to support you through periods of stress and p...
2021-08-0533 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan52 | Santa’s Little Helpers: Hiring and HR with Mandy HamerlaIt may not be a workshop at the North Pole, but your small business is likely to be just as busy come Christmas time. By the same token, you may not have quite as many ‘customers’ as Santa Claus but you certainly might need a band of elves to ensure your orders are fulfilled, your products are produced and your deliveries are sent out on time. Taking on team members can feel like a big step for small business owners, but building a workforce, whether it’s seasonal or not, doesn’t have to be as scary as it might se...
2021-07-2939 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan51 | (Merry) Digital Marketing with Narada McKoyIf the previous few episodes hadn’t made it abundantly clear, prepping and optimising your product business for Christmas is absolute vital if you want to make the most of the year’s peak purchasing season. Building genuinely engaged audiences and deploying successful marketing campaigns doesn’t happen overnight, you have to get a strategy in place and when it comes to the festive period, the earlier the better. In today’s episode we speak to Narada McKoy, founder and director of Bravada, who specialise in digital strategy, performance marketing and app marketing. Having learnt a thing or two at...
2021-07-2235 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan50 | PR, Press And Product Placement With Rosie Davies-SmithYou may remember that the power of PR played a large part in the results of my recent product business survey, and with Christmas, technically, on the way, getting into gift guides and being found in features could make a big difference to your sales come the festive season. Approaching press outlets, however, can be a bit intimidating, so, as part of this series of episodes focusing on getting set for Christmas, I spoke to PR Dispatch founder, Rosie Davies-Smith to discuss how to plan out pitching your products. Founded in 2017, PR Dispatch puts the power in the hands...
2021-07-1532 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan49 | Getting Ready For Christmas…In July with Joanne GriffinFrom the sounds of Slade and Band-Aid permeating the airwaves to the snowflake fringed points of sale at seemingly every checkout, for better or worse, Christmas seems to start earlier every year. On average, the buying public might resent the idea of turning their thoughts to the festive season as soon as the Hallowe’en decorations are down, but with one-third of all retail sales taken in the six-week run-up to Xmas, the reality for retailers is that their Chrimbo considerations have to start a whole lot earlier...and I'd suggest that's as early as July! So fo...
2021-07-0830 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan48 | Pitching To The Press with Komal Pandya-RaoThis episode marks the one year anniversary of the launch of The Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast, and to all my guests and those that have tuned in over the last 47 episodes, I can’t thank you enough! I hope the podcast continues to entertain and educate you, and I look forward to sharing more of my product business knowledge with you in the episodes to come! In today's episode, I speak to Komal Pandya-Rao of The Design Palette, a self-taught designer making bright and bold luxury stationery. Komal’s colourful paper goods have been featured in the l...
2021-07-0135 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan47 | Purchase-Planning and Pinterest with Vanessa RinaldiWith ever-improving engagement platforms and tools giving business owners so many different ways to reach potential customers, it’s important to diversify your marketing channels in order to get your products in front of the right people. Due to their cultural ubiquity, Facebook and Instagram might be some of the first platforms that come to mind when you’re thinking of where to advertise and even sell your products - but social media platforms users aren’t primarily scrolling for products, meaning you might not see the best return on your time and money. Built to drive...
2021-06-2433 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan46 | Guest Blogging with Colette MachadoBetween securing product placements and getting featured in gift guides, guest blogging isn’t perhaps the first thing you’d think of when it comes to possible PR opportunities, but it can be a powerful way to connect with your ideal clients and gain exposure. In today’s episode, I speak to PR specialist Colette Machado. From previously working as an online journalist for BBC News to helping entrepreneurs get in front of their target audience, Colette has 20 years of experience and a wealth of tips on how to approach blogs, how to provide value as a writer...
2021-06-1733 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan45 | SEO Strategy with Khaleelah JonesSearch Engine Optimisation or SEO, in simple terms, is the process of improving the quality and quantity of traffic to your website, and with more small businesses adopting a digital-first business model than ever, creating the optimal conditions for being found organically through search results is incredibly important. Compared to the simple transactional nature of paid advertising, SEO can seem highly technical and when I speak to small business owners they often report finding it overwhelming asking “Where do I start?” and “What should my priorities be?” So, for episode 45 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’ve enliste...
2021-06-1035 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan44 | Effective E-Commerce With Anna HennebeckFrom marketplace apps like Depop to capitalist behemoths like Amazon, E-commerce comes in many shapes and forms but none often so critical as your own website. In this day and age, and especially in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic, consumers expect your business, small or large, to have some form of online presence - fortunately, it’s easier than ever to set up a website. But how do you make sure that it’s working effectively, that it’s accurately conveying your range of products, and most importantly that it’s converting? In today’s episode, I speak to...
2021-06-0329 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan43 | The Power Of Email Marketing With Eman IsmailEmail has become as ubiquitous a form of communicating with customers as any of the traditional marketing mediums, and in an increasingly digital world, emails couldn’t be more valuable in helping customers to make a decision on what and what not to buy. It’s a powerful tool and really makes money when it works, but despite many small business reporting having an email list, email marketing is still hugely under-utilised. For this episode of The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’ve enlisted email strategist and copywriter Eman Ismail. She never gets bored of talkin...
2021-05-2734 minThe Resilient Retail Game PlanBirthday Bonus Episode - 5 things I've Learnt About Creative Product Businesses From Running My MembershipFrom my long career in the retail sector to working one-to-one with large clients and hosting numerous courses I know first-hand how confusing and overwhelming running a business can be and decided last May that I wanted to create, and make available, helpful content around running creative product businesses. I quickly decided to start a membership program and the rest, as they say, is history! And now, celebrations are in order! It’s not only my birthday this week, but the Resilient Retail Club turns one, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on th...
2021-05-2631 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan42 | Lessons in Loyalty With Fiona Stevens Loyalty is absolutely key when it comes to selling creative products, but it’s something business owners often don’t prioritise. It’s easy to get distracted chasing new customers and with the prevalence of complicated legacy loyalty programs like Nectar and Tesco’s Clubcard, where consumers haven’t always seen the best return, it can be hard to know how best to entice, reward and retain your existing customer base. Loyalty, in traditional business terms, is ultimately about repeat purchases, but as today's guest Fiona Stevens explains, it’s also about engaging with customers between purchases. Fiona is Head...
2021-05-2031 min
The Gift-CastResilient Retail Club with Catherine ErdlyIn this episode we're joined by Catherine Edly, founder of the Resilient Retail Club. We learn all about the path Catherine took to end up launching her business (including some time spend living in the USA) and, of course, all about the RRC - a group dedicated to the growth of product businesses, from start-ups to SMEs. We also discuss the significant change in buyer behaviours throughout the C19 pandemic. Enjoy! ------ Welcome to the Product-Cast, aka the Prod-Cast, brought to you by Gift of the Year and supported by the Giftware Association. The podcast shin...
2021-05-1845 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan41 | Etsy And Empowerment with Silvina De VitaWay back in episode 28 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan I spoke about where to sell your creative products. Each of the better-known e-commerce platforms tend to have their own kind of community and fulfil a certain niche - but in today’s episode, I want to focus on the marketplace offering unique crafts, personalised products and DIY designs: Etsy. To help me better understand what makes Etsy so special I’ve enlisted the font of e-commerce knowledge that is Silvina De Vita - designer, paper artist and founder of My Papercut Forest. Etsy was the f...
2021-05-1334 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan40 | The World Of Wholesaling With Therese ØrtenbladThe product business survey I conducted this march turned up a lot of interesting information as well as a few surprises, and in episode 36 of The Resilient Retail Game Plan I did a countdown of one of the collections of results that I found most fascinating - the things that contributors said made the most difference to their businesses. Answers ranged from establishing a stronger brand identity to cultivating consumer communities, but in this episode with the help of today’s guest, business mentor Therese Ørtenblad of Small Business Collaborative, I want to focus on the third most...
2021-05-0629 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan39 | Sharing your journey with Manmeet SokhiThere's been a massive sea change in recent years when it comes to consumers and the relationships that they have, and maintain, with the people, companies and even industries that they buy from. We've seen this in the advent of conscious consumerism and through the more recent drive to support small businesses in the wake of COVID-19. Part of this shift in consumer mindset can be attributed to the access and visibility created by social media - never before have we, as customers, had such unbridled access to and power over our favourite brands. Showing people behind the scenes...
2021-04-2929 minThe Resilient Retail Game Plan38 | All Things Video With Jessica WrefordFrom our favourite classic adverts to the advent of celebrity Youtubers, can you think of a more powerful, versatile, or memorable way to promote a brand, business or product than through video? With the incredible reach afforded by social media and the digital wonders that are smartphones, video has become an indispensable tool for any business. So, for my second-ever interview on The Resilient Retail Game Plan, I thought I’d dig a little deeper into the subject and get in touch with video creator, consultant and collaborator Jessica Wreford. Back in 2019, inspired by her travels around Ne...
2021-04-2244 min
fashionbytes chatbyte 8: future of retail with Catherine ErdlyRecorded 23 July 2020 - Catherine Erdly has over 20 years experience working with product businesses of all sizes from high street names (such as Paperchase, Laura Ashley and Coast), all the way down to brand new businesses with just a handful of customers. She helps creative product businesses grow their sales, manage their stock and build long-lasting businesses. As well as speaking at numerous trade shows such as Top Drawer, The Stationery Show, Fashion SVP, Natural and Organic Products - Europe and the Retail Expo, Catherine is also on the Editorial Board of Modern Retail, a judge of the Good Retail awar...
2021-04-1529 min