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 Customer Experience Consultant and member of IBM's Metaverse team. Mary's brilliantly animated a...

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 are, and how we too can choose a different future for ourselves when it comes to reinvigorating town and city centres ...

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 has lobbied government and pushed for change for decades, and is now leading on a sector wide project that ...

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 their successes. Who better, then to talk to about the sector, to provide some context, to talk about the many u...

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 independent scene. We first chatted to Kate back in early 2021, so I thought I’d check back in to see how the past ...

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, Edinburgh. We chat about the incredible expertise that whisky shops can offer, what role supermark...

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 meet targets to policies like 'levelling up' and scrutinising what they mean... Recently they’ve turned their a...

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 authors so special, of course, but what about the booksellers themselves? Well, it turns out they can be just as im...

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 universe intervene and what mafting means… This was such a joy to record, just such a good laugh, I absolutely lo...

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 tumultuous lockdowns. Sidonie’s story is one of seeing the value in every step of your journey, and making it the b...

After a slightly longer break than planned - we are BACK! And what a series opener we have for you... If you've ever reminisced about teenage days spent lolling around your town centre and the role your high street played in growing up, or spotted a ghost sign on the side of a building and pondered "what's that?" - then you're going to love this episode. But that's not to say this episode is all about looking back, as our chat with Ellen, Head of Creative Programmes and Campaigns for Histori...

In the last episode of this series, this week we’re speaking to Food by Nourish, a gourmet grocer and deli, based in South Lanarkshire. Created by friends Greg and Richard, the business started life in a humble van (the Tattie Wagon) delivering veg throughout lockdown, but my, have they come a long way since then. We talk about food as a force for good, running with an idea, an unfortunate lack of Piccalilli lovers locally and why, if an idea's no good, well "it goes in the soup...

This week, we are joined by Taisir Gibreel, Head of Retail at Restoration Yard, the winner of Best Store Design award at Draper's Independent's Awards 2021. Taisir speaks about how she's brought her years of experience as a designer to store merchandising, the thrill of buying and connecting with producers and why she just loves the magic and theatre of retail. You are going to get so excited for Christmas after hearing this - enjoy! https://www.restorationyard.com/ https://www.tais...

Now, it’s fair to say this year has thrown its fair amount of challenges at retailers. Covid restrictions, Brexit.. just to name two hugely important factors this year of course. But to this we can add; wider global economic uncertainty, global heating and climate change becoming more acute... all making us consider our decisions as consumers and in fact what it means to ‘consume’. We are of course in the midst of a huge amount of change. S...

This episode was brought to you by Rebecca, Elaine and Natalie who have kindly pledged their support for the show through Patreon! Hello to you all - you have my eternal gratitude and are helping keep this show on the road! This week we have the first of our Revisited episodes, where a guest from a previous series joins us once again to update us on their business journey. This week we're joined by Edinburgh-based childrenswear brand Bon Tot - who has seen an enormous amount of change in the ...

This week, we are speaking to Rare Birds Books founder, Rachel. Rare Birds Book Club started life as a subscription service, created by Rachel to fill a gap in the market - offering a hand-picked selection of women’s literature to shake up your regular reading habits and broaden your horizons. In the past 4 years the business has gone from strength to strength - and this year has fulfilled Rachel’s dream of opening an HQ, by making a move to the local high street and into bricks and mortar re...

Our first guest of the series is a special to coincide with COP 26, the UN Climate Change Conference which, if you’re listening to this on the day of release, started yesterday in Glasgow. So, who better to talk to than a business based in the city, which has sustainability at its heart. Today we’re speaking to Bevan from Bawn - an ethical textile atelier in Glasgow’s Southside, a place where you can find sustainably made, ethically sourced fabrics and textiles. Bevan is a huge believer...

Just like that, we're at the end of series 3! We'll off on our summer break, but worry not - we'll be back before you know it with more stories from independents across Scotland in the Autumn! Before we go though, we are delighted to bring you our chat with East Coast Cured - as we speak to founders Susie and Steven. Founded in an attic in 2017, East Coast Cured was borne out of a shared love of food, a passion for local produce and a longing to be able to access the kind of cha...

There has been much talk about the new St James Quarter that opened in Edinburgh last month, and a huge amount of discussion and excitement about their food market - Bonnie & Wild. We’ll be discussing the wider development in more depth next series, but we wanted to first catch up with one of the traders in the new market, gelato makers Joelato - because what better way to celebrate summer on the show?! Founded in Perthshire by Joe Sykes with his partner Lucy, this will be Joelato’s first...

This week, as we continue to look at partnerships in small business - we’re chatting to Jo and Georgina from Edinburgh-based interior designer company - Jeffrey’s Interiors, who have recently completed a management buyout from the original owners, Jeff and Alison. It’s not something we’ve discussed a great deal on the show so far - what happens when owners decide to retire, or move on to other projects; how do owners plan for their future of their business? Both Georgina and Jo, Managin...