Ever felt like you’re building your indie product business with one hand on the till and the other on the panic button?

This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m cracking open five years of the Resilient Retail Game Plan podcast vault to bring you the biggest, most valuable independent retailer tips I’ve learned (and lived through) across 25 years in retail.

Whether you’re tripping over boxes in your spare room or juggling inventory management on Shopify, I’m sharing the core product business advice that actually shifts the dial; from cash flow for retailers to pricing products for wholesale, and right through to scaling a product business without losing your mind (or your margins).

You’ll hear some brass-tacks truths (yes, stock is more than 'buy and sell'), some guest wisdom, and honestly, a fair few mistakes I’d rather you skipped.

Why listen?

• Squeeze more profit and ditch “busy fool” turnover, get clear on bottom-line sanity

• Tame your 'stock monster' with strategies for better inventory management when the money seems to vanish

• Surf the trends, don’t drown in them and learn how to spot what matters and what’s just noise

• Market with heart and stop forcing yourself into social platforms that make you miserable

• Armour up your mindset and get the resilience you need to ride out the rollercoaster

Tell me what hit home:

DM @resilientretailclub on Instagram with your favourite insight or guest wish list.

Please rate, follow, and share the Resilient Retail Club podcast in your app and for extra sparkle, dive into my Forbes retail trends article (link below).

Here’s to another five years of the realest retail podcast UK founders can trust.

My freebie: http://www.resilientretailclub.com/freebie

My website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast

My Forbes page: https://www.forbes.com/sites/catherineerdly/

00:00 Understanding Product Business Profitability

03:22 Profitability and Pricing Focus

07:27 "Retail Industry Trends Insight"

12:57 Consumer Stories Drive Business Strategy

14:00 Focus on Your Circle of Control

19:06 Mindset's Impact on Business Success

24:03 Building Profitable, Sustainable Businesses

26:50 "Podcast Feedback and Future Ideas"

• Woolworths
• Toys R Us
• Forbes
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Shopify
• Sainsbury's
• Next
• Children in Need
• Eleanor Boma
• Astrid and Mew
• Air and Grace
• Lucy and Yak

Mentioned in this episode:

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Stock Freebie

In this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m joined by Shopify web design expert Pip Hounslow for a deep dive into website conversion rates.

We chat about what’s considered “normal”, why your conversion rate might be lower than you’d expect, and the small tweaks that can make a big difference to your sales.

Pip also shares tips on improving your add-to-basket button, ensuring your website works beautifully on mobile, and why your founder story could be the key to connecting with customers.

Whether you’re on Shopify or another platform, you’ll come away with practical ideas to help your product-based business convert more visitors into buyers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Freebie download

Stock Freebie

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Bird & Blend, so chatting with co-founder Mike Turner at Retail ROAR was a real treat. From a single market stall to 25+ shops across the UK, Mike and his co-founder Krisi have built something truly unique.

In this episode—a sneak peek from our Retail ROAR 2025 summit—Mike shares how Bird & Blend grew from iced tea samples and hand-packed blends into a beloved national brand, all while staying people-focused and rooted in community.

We cover:

• What “experiential retail” actually looks like (and what it doesn’t)
• How thinking omnichannel from day one set them up for growth
• The joy of unexpected blends (think rhubarb and custard tea!)
• Using crowdfunding, customer feedback, and team ideas to scale
• Why real loyalty comes from inclusion—not discounts

Whether you’re planning your first shop, growing your brand, or simply after a dose of retail inspiration—this one’s worth a listen.

🎟️ Want more content like this? Get on the waitlist for Retail ROAR 2026!

Mentioned in this episode:

Freebie download

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