Retail Trends 2026: Four Shifts Retail Businesses Need To Prepare For
The shopfront of retail is about to change—will you be on the right side when the robots come knocking? 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 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 most valuable currency, and the resale boom rewriting what “new” means. With 25 years of retail trenches behind me, I’m sharing not just the what, but the how—so you can cut through the noise, strengthen cash flow for retailers, and make sure your product business survives (and thrives) in the new landscape. Grab your notebook and come behind the counter—these are the independent retailer tips that matter.Make sure you grab my freebie at http://resilientretailclub.com/freebieEnjoy 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!00:00 "Top Retail Trends for 2026"06:05 "Future of Shopping: AI & Shoptainment"10:07 "Shoppable Live Streams on TikTok"14:16 TikTok Shop: Creator-Brand Strategies16:33 "AI Pets and Trust Issues"18:42 Building Trust for Small Businesses22:44 "Building Trust Through TikTok"Mentioned in this episode:Freebie downloadStock FreebieFaire 50% offerUse the code GamePlan25 to get 50% off and free shipping with your first order at faire.comFaire 50% off - use code 'GamePlan25'
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Dead Stock to Cash Flow: Access Trapped Cash Tied Up in Inventory
Ever feel like your money’s gone missing—but you know you’ve already spent it?In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most common and costly problems I see in product-based businesses: trapped stock. That unsold inventory piling up in your stockroom, storeroom, or studio? It’s not just taking up space—it’s tying up thousands of pounds you could be using to pay yourself, invest in your bestsellers, or boost your marketing.I share a story that’s stuck with me for years: a shop owner who discovered over £7,000 worth of untouched stock hidden away in plastic totes. We’ll unpack why this happens (spoiler: buying on gut, not data), how to spot the mental and emotional weight of dead stock, and why clearing it isn’t failure—it’s smart, strategic retailing.If you want to start freeing up cash in your business right now, this episode is your clean slate moment.Mentioned in this episode:Freebie downloadStock Freebie
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Christmas Stock Management: How to shift slow sellers and avoid brown bananas
Christmas is close enough to smell the cinnamon, but I know for many indie retailers this is also the “please don’t let me be stuck with this stock in January” moment.In this episode, I’m talking you through the three big troublemakers you need to get on top of right now: slow sellers, overstocks, and the infamous “brown bananas” — those products that basically lose all their value the second Christmas week ends.I’ll show you how to read your Shopify reports properly, how to spot the items that won’t budge in January no matter how hopeful you are, and why targeted discounts nearly always beat the big “panic discount” button.If you want to protect your cash flow, avoid a messy January, and make smarter decisions while the footfall is still high, this one will help.Perfect for any product business juggling stock levels, nerves, and the final push of the Golden Weeks.Mentioned in this episode:Stock doctor
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What Shopify and Klaviyo Agree On: Christmas 2025 Spending
Christmas 2025 is shaping up to be a season of cautious confidence — and coziness. 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. 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 billion, how AI is reshaping holiday shopping, and why “comfort, connection and coziness” are the emotional triggers driving this year’s trends. I'll also break down what all this means for independent retailers — from loyalty strategies to smarter stock planning — so you can make this Christmas your most profitable yet.Make sure you grab my freebie at http://resilientretailclub.com/freebieMentioned in this episode:Faire 50% offerUse the code GamePlan25 to get 50% off and free shipping with your first order at faire.comFaire 50% off - use code 'GamePlan25'Freebie downloadStock Freebie
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Get 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 Stock Doctor — a done-for-you service that cuts through overwhelm with actionable clarity. Click play to hear real-world product business advice, cash flow for retailers, and inventory management tips that make strategy feel personal. If you want independent retailer tips with zero judgement, this audit episode is your toolkit.Why ListenDiscover how to squeeze more margin from your current stockholdingSee why smart inventory management means better cash flow—and a healthier bank balance Get simple, practical techniques to clear excess stock without damaging your brandLearn demand forecasting tricks specifically for small product businessesFind out how to price products for wholesale, set minimum order quantities, and scale a product business confidentlyHear success stories from real retailers who’ve used Stock Doctor to boost sales, decrease surplus, and claim more owner payDM your biggest takeaway or guest suggestions to @resilientretailclub on Instagram. Rate/follow the Resilient Retail Club Podcast in your favourite app to stay ahead.Mentioned in this episode:Faire 50% offerUse the code GamePlan25 to get 50% off and free shipping with your first order at faire.comFaire 50% off - use code 'GamePlan25'
Welcome to the Resilient Retail Game Plan - a small business podcast with me, independent UK-based small business and retail expert Catherine Erdly, founder of The Resilient Retail Club.
A podcast for anyone wanting to start, grow, or scale a profitable small business. Aimed at independent retailers, e-commerce brands, indie sellers, online shops, independent boutiques, shopkeepers, brands and makers.
The Resilient Retail Game Plan is a small business podcast dedicated to one thing - breaking down the concepts and tools I’ve gathered from twenty years in the retail industry in the UK and USA and showing you how you can use them in your small business.
Canada - english