Ever wondered what Christmas really felt like at the sharp end of retail—and what it’s whispering about your 2026 playbook?

With thanks to this episode's sponsor Faire (https://faire.com/) Use the code 'GamePlan25' to claim 50% off and free shipping with your first order!

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 retailers.

After 25 years in retail, I know December isn’t just numbers, it’s stories, triumphs and warnings we need to catch while they’re fresh—because come January, all that noise gets buried under new-year resolutions and stocktakes.

In this episode, I’ll invite you, not just to audit your cash flow for retailers or nit-pick inventory management, but to actually feel your festive season.

Think: one sentence gut-checks, inspiration scavenger hunts, and surprisingly useful lessons from your own inbox, shopping habits and the businesses that quietly wowed you.

January clearance doesn’t have to feel like a panic move, a brand compromise, or an admission of failure.

With thanks to this episode's sponsor Faire (https://faire.com/) Use the code 'GamePlan25' to claim 50% off and free shipping with your first order!

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 more profitable.

If the idea of discounting makes you nervous, you’re not alone. I hear it all the time. Fear of damaging your brand. Fear of training customers to wait for sales. Fear of “doing it wrong”.

So in this episode, I break down exactly how experienced retailers approach January clearance, and how small product businesses can do the same, without ending up on a discount treadmill.

We talk about when to run your sale, what should and shouldn’t go into it, how deep to discount, and what to do if stock still isn’t shifting.

This is about releasing trapped cash, reducing mental load, and giving your business the space it needs to move forward.

We cover:

– Why clearance is a strategic tool, not a failure

– What stock belongs in a clearance sale (and what absolutely doesn’t)

– How to decide your discount levels without obsessing over margin

– Why January is different in the customer’s mind

– How to plan and promote your sale so it actually works

– What to do if products still don’t sell

– How clearance can increase full-price sales

– Turning stuck stock into space, cash and clarity

If you’re heading into January with a stockroom that feels heavy, overwhelming, or quietly stressful, this episode will help you take control of it properly.

Links:

Website: https://resilientretailclub.com

Retail Sales Game Plan: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retailsales/

Enjoy the episode?

DM me your takeaways or questions @resilientretailclub on Instagram. And if you find the show useful, please follow, rate and review — it helps more product businesses find us.

Mentioned in this episode:

Faire 50% offer

Use the code GamePlan25 to get 50% off and free shipping with your first order at faire.com

Faire 50% off - use code 'GamePlan25'

Freebie download

Stock Freebie

On 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.

With thanks to this episode's sponsor Faire (https://faire.com/) Use the code 'GamePlan25' to claim 50% off and free shipping with your first order!

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 happens when the visibility shoots up, the orders explode, but the margins… don’t?

Anna shares how she scaled too fast, drowned in stock, tried to please every buyer, and chased the kind of “success” that looks incredible on Instagram — but nearly cost her the entire business.

We talk about the ego hits, the financial shocks, the burnout, and the moment she finally rebuilt everything from a place of alignment, clarity and actual profit.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep growing, keep adding more, keep saying yes — even when it’s draining your cashflow — this one’s going to land. Hard.

We cover:

– Why high turnover means nothing without margin

– How stockists can destroy cashflow without you noticing

– When “busy” becomes a red flag

– The emotional cost of maintaining the illusion of success

– Rebuilding with a made-to-order model

– Why alignment and nervous system regulation matter more than people admit

– What sustainable retail growth really looks like

This is the story behind the story.

And it’s one every product founder needs to hear.

00:00 "Anna's Untold Business Struggles"

04:23 "Pivoting to Sustainable Simplicity"

06:29 "Misalignment and Rediscovering Purpose"

09:45 "Wholesaling: Shuffling Stock Globally"

16:03 "Staying Aligned in Business"

19:32 "Intentional Business Growth Insights"

Enjoy the episode? DM me your lightbulb moments or next guest wish list @resilientretailclub on Instagram. Please rate, follow, and review this podcast in your app—it helps more indie founders decide to give us a try!

Mentioned in this episode:

Faire 50% offer

Use the code GamePlan25 to get 50% off and free shipping with your first order at faire.com

Faire 50% off - use code 'GamePlan25'