Better Retailing Podcast: Season 3, Episode 1

“January doesn't have 31 says in retail, it has 200”

Welcome to Series three of the Better Retailing podcast! We start the year with the five of us, but with some sad news - it's Aman's last ever podcast with us as part of the full-time BR Pod team. Go well, Aman.

That might be sad, but we do have the official unveiling of Atul's Big Pot to get us over this tremendous loss. Out with the old, in with the new.

The team talks about how stores should plan for Christmas - and Nat talks about the importance of planning for those "things that will definitely go wrong" moments and getting your stock levels right. Elsewhere, we look at how to analyse sales success in January, the big jobs for the start of the year, and New Year's Resolutions; and there's a great chat on the five year plan and what stores can do to counteract the pressures they feel from increased costs.

There's a great discussion about whether the convenience channel is fast enough to enact change, and Aman tells us how they do it in Dubai. We touch the value of marketing and focusing on your strengths - and going back to basics to stay relevant.

Meanwhile Atul talks us through how his hot food offer of curries, stews and pies is going (and how much time it is taking him), while Stefan reveals that he is the number one buyer of Double Deckers from Penge Sainsbury's.

It's a big start to the year in a lot of ways.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To hear more about the Retail Family Online Safe Space, visit the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Retail-Family-Online-Safe-Space-61568103505510/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email betterretailing@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Better Retailing Podcast: Season 2, Episode 9

“Starting arguments is the best way to start a following”

Welcome to Episode 9 of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast. We are delighted to be joined this week by Amit Patel, formerly of Go Local in Sandiacre but now a man with more than 240,000 TikTok followers and, in his own words, a legion of “fans” online for his social media coverage.

Amit joins us through his new Meta glasses, Aman is in Dubai, Natalie is in her house and Atul is behind the counter telling us how much he’s taking in real time. It’s a real cavalcade of retail settings.

Amit talks about who inspired him, the thinking behind his decision to sell the store, and how he is making social media work for him. In a wide-ranging and fun chat – which also features the unboxing of some mushroom coffee – Amit outlines why social media shouldn’t be the first thing a retailer does, but once you get it right it can really pay.

And finally, we talk about some very sad news around the passing of Sue Nithyanandan, formerly of Costcutter in Epsom. Sue was an inspiration to a lot of us, and she will be dearly missed not just by us, but many people within the UK convenience retail family.

If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers in memory of Sue Nithyanandan, the family asks that you support Myeloma UK (registered charity no SC026116).

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To hear more about the Retail Family Online Safe Space, visit the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Retail-Family-Online-Safe-Space-61568103505510/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email betterretailing@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Better Retailing Podcast: Season 2, Episode 8

“Get someone else to peel the spuds”

Welcome to Episode 8 of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast! Aman is in jail this week, so Atul, Natalie, Stefan and Louise hold the fort for an energised chat about some of the biggest issues of the day.

Natalie tells us about why she has removed her parcel service – a move which has helped improve the mental health of her store, led to her customers feeling less pressured and rushed, got more tasks accomplished in store and even increased her basket spend.

Elsewhere the team talk about the fact that it is two years to the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme, whether small stores will be exempt, and how to handle dealing with a service like this in a smaller store.

And then there’s a heated (AND NOT BORING!) discussion about the tobacco and vapes ban, and the impracticality of the “ill thought-out legislation” that could see stores near schools being denied the right to sell tobacco.

And finally, there’s a chat about the importance of looking after yourselves as retailers first and foremost, which will help sort. As Nat says, sometimes it’s about letting things go and giving yourself a bit of slack that can help you refocus on the important things.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To hear more about the Retail Family Online Safe Space, visit Natalie’s LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-lightfoot/

Find out more about and register to attend the Better Retailing Festival & Awards in October https://www.betterretailing.com/br/event/better-retailing-festival-and-awards-2025/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email betterretailing@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.