Building a Life Beyond Retail - Tips for Balance and Career Growth
Welcome to Retail Reckoning. I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion. In this special episode, I sit down with Steph, a key member of the Retail Champion team, to dig beneath the surface—beyond e-commerce tactics and spreadsheet strategies—to explore the person behind the consultancy. We'll hear how Steph reinvented her life and career by moving to Scotland, reshaping her work to support her passions. Together, we share candid insights on finding real work-life balance, turning business challenges into practical advice for independent retailers, and why building a business should enhance your life—not consume it. Mentioned in this episode:Get Reckoning
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Strengthening Communities Like Knowle Through Consistent Place Marketing and Local Events
Welcome to another episode of Retail Reckoning! I'm Clare Bailey and this week, I'm joined by the dynamic Kim Hulse, a true leader in placemaking and retail strategy. Having spent years revitalising high streets and supporting local businesses, Kim shares her journey from corporate retail to transforming communities, like Knowle, across the UK through destination marketing, collaborative events, and hands-on partnerships. Together, we're outlining practical strategies that bring vibrancy back to our towns, from creating engaging events and consistent branding to tackling vacancy rates and fostering pride of place. Whether you're a retailer, community leader, or just passionate about your local area, this episode is packed with ideas and inspiration to help your high street not just survive, but thrive. Let's get into it!
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Pride of place or waste of taxpayer's cash? Déjà Vu on the High Street!
Welcome to Retail Reckoning, the podcast from Retail Champion where we explore the real challenges facing our high streets and town centres. In this episode, I’m asking a burning question at the heart of yet another government regeneration scheme: will the new multi-billion pound "Pride In Place" programme transform our towns, or is it just déjà vu with taxpayer money at stake?Drawing on my own experience with these schemes, I reflect on previous initiatives like the Portas Pilots and the Future High Street Fund, and I share first-hand insights from towns like Market Rasen and Gainsborough. I’ll break down the current retail landscape, consumer confidence, and the policy decisions on the horizon that could make or break our high streets. If you care about the future of your local high street—or just want to know what needs to change to make regeneration stick—this episode is essential listening.So go ahead and click play now!
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The playbook for your e-commerce business success in Q4!
Peak season doesn’t reward panic - it rewards preparation. In this episode of Retail Reckoning, myself, Clare Bailey and e-commerce pro Steph Briggs lay out the Q4 playbook: three website fixes you can do this week, email + remarketing that actually converts, the simple SEO steps most indies skip, and the ops guardrails that stop Christmas disasters before they start. Plus, how to keep the human touch that Amazon can’t copy. Preparation beats panic. So click play to learn how to do it.
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Greener Supply Chains, Stronger Profits: Turning Sustainability Into Retail Success
Welcome to another episode of Retail Reckoning! In today’s show, host Clare Bailey looks into how sustainability and supply chain resilience are no longer just buzzwords - they’re powerful drivers of profit and customer loyalty. With supply chain disruptions becoming the norm and eco-conscious consumers pushing brands to do better, retailers are faced with new challenges and opportunities. Clare unpacks the latest risks shaking up the retail landscape, explores the shift towards near shoring and greater transparency, and reveals why greener operations don’t just help the planet—they can boost your bottom line too. From real-world examples like Aldi and Innocent to actionable steps for building trust and trimming waste, this episode is packed with insights for anyone ready to future-proof their retail business and win over the next wave of customers. Click play and discover how thinking green can help you stay in the black!
About Retail Reckoning - Retail Stories from Retail Frontlines
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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