In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Robb, founder of Han Social, a marketing consultancy dedicated to empowering businesses to connect with their ideal customers and build sustainable growth without burning out. With over 15 years of experience working across major brands like Smirnoff, lastminute.com, and Unilever, Hannah shares her journey into the world of marketing and the insights she's gained along the way.

Hannah's career began in PR, working with agencies such as Shandwick, where she handled accounts for brands like Woolworths and Barclays. Her passion for media and communications led her to travel and work in Sydney, where she gained experience in travel PR. Upon returning to the UK, she joined The Pulse Group, working on Smirnoff campaigns. During her time there, she was involved in innovative projects like the Smirnoff Style Bars and collaborations with MTV and Kiss FM, which were groundbreaking at the time.

Her subsequent roles at lastminute.com and Unilever further honed her skills in brand experience and customer engagement. These experiences taught her the importance of understanding the customer journey and creating memorable brand interactions.

Despite her success in corporate marketing, Hannah felt a calling to help small businesses, particularly female-led well-being brands, navigate the complexities of social media marketing. This led her to establish Han Social, focusing on providing personalized training and coaching to empower businesses to show up authentically and connect with their audience.

Through Han Social, Hannah has worked with hundreds of businesses, offering tailored strategies to grow their audience and sales using organic Instagram, without the overwhelm of paid ads. Her approach emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and authenticity, helping businesses build a strong online presence that resonates with their target market.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace authenticity in marketing: In a crowded digital landscape, being true to your brand's values and voice can help you stand out and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
   
   
   
2. Focus on customer-centric strategies: Understanding your customers' needs and desires allows you to create content and campaigns that genuinely resonate, leading to increased engagement and loyalty.
   
   
   
3. Prioritise sustainable growth: Building a business that aligns with your values and well-being is crucial. Avoid burnout by implementing strategies that promote long-term success without sacrificing personal health.
   
   
   

For more insights and practical tips on social media marketing, you can contact Han via her instagram @hansocial and Linkedin page Hannah Robb

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In this episode, we speak with Anna Youngston, founder of Majury Merchandising and former merchandising professional at Accessorize, about her transition from a long-standing career in retail to establishing her own consultancy. With over 20 years of experience in merchandising across major British fashion retailers, Anna provides valuable insights for professionals in fashion, retail, and business strategy.

Her career spans well-known retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Principles, Accessorize, Warehouse, and Topshop. She now works with small businesses, helping them strengthen their commercial performance through data-driven merchandising strategies. This episode offers practical guidance for retail buyers, founders, and operators navigating a highly competitive and fast-changing market.

One of the key misconceptions Anna addresses is the belief that merchandising is only relevant for large businesses. In reality, it is often the missing component in smaller brands seeking sustainable growth. She explains how better stock visibility, range planning, and forecasting can significantly improve performance. Her consultancy work highlights how many small brands fail to unlock the full value of their data. Whether addressing pre-orders, managing cash flow, or responding to evolving customer behaviour, effective merchandising is not optional - it is essential.

Anna also discusses the importance of reactive agility. Successful merchandising is not only about long-term planning, but also about adapting quickly to challenges. From excess stock to supply chain delays, the ability to make timely, informed decisions can significantly impact cash flow and profitability.

She emphasises the importance of understanding financial performance at a granular level. Whether discussing pre-order models, seasonal range architecture, or margin contribution, she underlines the value of knowing precisely where growth is coming from.

Anna believes there is a need for objective, data-led decision-making. Emotional attachment to products or legacy ideas often results in poor commercial outcomes. The ability to pivot with intention and strategic clarity is a critical skill for modern retail businesses.

Takeaways from the Episode:

Merchandising isn’t just for big brands - it’s a game-changer for small businesses.
Don’t be afraid to pivot, and don’t just rely on hope - it's not a good sales strategy!
Know your numbers: You have to make sure you understand your forecasting, lessons learned, and your building blocks
Whether you’re a brand founder, a solo entrepreneur, or a retail team member trying to get a grip on your stock and strategy, Anna’s wisdom offers practical tools to build resilience, make smart decisions, and grow with confidence.

Connect with Anna Youngston or follow Majury Merchandising on Linkedin, or check out https://www.majurymerchandising.com/

Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review if you loved this episode we've got more retail gold coming your way!

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If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
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In this episode, we dive into the powerful wave of change sweeping across the retail world as more brands step up to do the right thing. From circular business models and resale platforms to thoughtful retail strategies and new legislation pushing fast fashion to rethink its impact we cover it all.

Whether you're in the industry or just a curious shopper, this conversation breaks down the big shifts and spotlights brands and retailers that are truly leading by example.

Circular Retail Is Booming -

Circularity isn't just a buzzword it's becoming a business imperative. Platforms like Vinted are redefining how consumers shop, pushing mainstream retailers to adapt or risk irrelevance. We explore how the resale and reuse economy is reshaping everything.

-> The Rise of Rental & Pre-Loved: From renting occasion wear to proudly buying pre-loved pieces, the stigma is gone and the demand is real. We chat about the creative ways brands are building loyalty and sustainability through rental services and secondhand offerings. Think fashion with a conscience.

-> Retailers We're Loving Right Now - Shoutout to Positive Retail and The Cirkel and Loved Before brands that are building communities, offering value, and proving that ethical, thoughtful retail can also be stylish and fun. We discuss what sets them apart and why they’re worth keeping an eye on.

Retail News Round-Up -

-> Jellycat’s Strategy Shift- We discuss Jellycat’s bold move to refine their stockist network choosing to support fewer independent retailers more meaningfully, with better brand experiences in-store. Plus, how the Jellycat Café is bringing the brand to life in playful, immersive ways. Perhaps this new strategy opens the door for another brand to step in and find similar success to Jellycat especially with independent retailers continuing to play a key role in helping emerging brands get discovered by consumers.

-> France Takes a Stand on Fast Fashion 🇫🇷- Yes!! France just introduced a new tax targeting fast fashion retailers and we’re here for it! Could this be the start of a global shift toward holding the biggest offenders accountable? We certainly hope so.

💡 Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Circular retail isn't optional anymore it's the future, and every retailer needs to have a strategy.
   
   
2. Consumers are embracing pre-loved and rental more than ever, and brands that adapt will win long-term loyalty.
   
   
3. Sustainability is becoming mainstream, not just a niche, governments, consumers, and brands are all stepping up.

The retail world is being reshaped by purpose, not just profit. From secondhand to strategy, the brands leading this change are doing more than selling—they're setting standards. It’s a reminder that doing the right thing isn’t just ethical, it’s smart business. 👏

✨ Don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe if this episode inspired you! Tag us with your thoughts we love hearing how you're seeing change in retail too.

#RetailRight #SustainableRetail #CircularFashion

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk with any 'Retail Therapy' stories

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.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