Independent Thinking - Exploring a new era for retail and the high street

Feb 26 2023 3

A podcast exploring a new era for the high street - we discuss how bricks and mortar retail is evolving across the UK, and why the 'death of the high street' is far from inevitable. Join us as we go behind the scenes of inspiring retailers and shops you love, speak to industry experts making their predictions for the future, and hear from those at the heart of it all, sharing stories about how they started, how they continue to evolve and why they believe in their local high street.

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"It's just headsets, innit?" - How the Metaverse will revolutionise retail and change the way we see our high streets with IBM's Mary Wallace

Feb 26 2023 67 mins

We've all heard the term Metaverse by now, but what is does it actually mean? What could it mean for how we do business or how we shop, for example? How we interact with brands? Will it be detrimental to bricks and mortar retail? And how relevant is it to independent retailers? The answers might not be what you think. This week's episode is with Mary Wallace, Retail and C

Taking the power back: why the future of town centres is in our hands with Professor Leigh Sparks

Feb 19 2023 36 mins

This week we're talking the power of localism, collaboration in retail and why a bleak future isn't inevitable for the high street, as we sit down in conversation with Professor Leigh Sparks - Professor of Retail studies and Deputy Principal of University of Stirling. In this fascinating episode, Leigh talks brilliantly about the choices that have brought us to where we a

Elasticated waists and unfriendly greetings [cards] : Why it's time to rethink attitudes to ageing in retail

Feb 12 2023 36 mins

This week, we’re continuing our look at industry wide trends and the retail sector as a whole, as we speak to Ailsa Forbes, Retail Impact Fellow at International Longevity Centre UK. Founded in 1997, the ILC is the only specialist thinktank of its kind, looking into longevity in our society and how people can live meaningful and independent lives, regardless of their age. The ILC

Why we can't give up on our high streets with Andrew Goodacre, CEO of British Independent Retailers Association

Feb 05 2023 41 mins

We’re kicking off this series in discussion with Andrew Goodacre, CEO of British Independent Retailers Association, BIRA - who have been supporting independent retailers for over 120 years. They have an incredible overview of the sector, speaking daily to their indie members about being in business, supporting them to navigate challenges in the industry as well as championing the

Christmas Special: Celebrating independents, last minute shopping and debunking hustle culture with Curate Glasgow

Dec 18 2022 33 mins

This is the second of our Christmas themed episodes, as we sit down with Kate from Curate Glasgow, an online discovery platform for independents, that enables them to share their work with new audiences, and helps people like you and me discover our new favourites. From cafes to chocolate makers, ceramicists to florists and much much more, Curate celebrates the best of Glasgow’s

Christmas Special: A toast to independent whisky shops with Woven Whisky

Dec 11 2022 35 mins

A cheeky festive special before the new series kicks off in the new year! And what better way to kick off proceedings that by chatting all things whisky - a drink that so many of us toast with at Hogmanay, or treat others to as a present at this time of year. So, we’re chatting to Duncan from Woven - a disruptor to the market and makers of blended whisky, based in Leith, Edinbur

What does a post-pandemic recovery look like for our high streets? with Centre for Cities

Aug 21 2022 41 mins

And just like that, we're at the end of series 5! To round off then, today we’re speaking to Valentine from Centre for Cities, a leading think tank dedicated to the prosperity of the UK’s towns and cities, who conduct a huge amount of research on everything from the impact of urban transport on the success of a local high street, to net zero and how cities can evolve to me

Books, Bath and beyond - chatting 'extreme customer service' and bucking retail trends with bookshop Mr B’s Emporium

Aug 14 2022 49 mins

There are few places you can escape reality better (on the high street at least) than in a bookshop. Shelves filled with history, memoirs, adventure, sadness, scandal and delight; wonder, joy, pleasure and heartbreak. Books can transport us to another time and remind us that some thoughts and feelings are as old as time itself.Imagination is at the heart of what makes books and aut

Leaps of faith and wisdom nuggets with The Business Proposal Podcast

Aug 07 2022 61 mins

Three podcast hosts for the price of one! This week we have a very special collab episode with the Business Proposal Podcast as we speak to hosts Ellie Kime and Rachel Emma Waring all about our love of small business and winding paths to success, all the times they’ve taken huge leaps of faith, reliving moments with some truly terrible bosses, what happens when you let the univer

The power of the pen: making a mark in business with leading stationers Papersmiths

Jul 31 2022 47 mins

This week, just in time for those Back to School and fresh pencil case vibes, I’m delighted to be in conversation with Sidonie from Papersmiths, a ‘stationery shop of your dreams’ with branches in London and Brighton. Sidonie shares her story about the brand’s humble beginnings, through the growth of the business, moving cities, scaling up, and getting through those tumultu

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