The Better Retailing podcast, bought to you by Newtrade Media, brings you the latest news and views from the world of independent convenience retail in the UK. With retailers, for retailers.
Each episode, hosts Stefan Appleby and Louise Banham are joined by leading retailers Natalie Lightfoot, Aman Uppal and Atul Sodha, to discuss key topics within the convenience retail world.
To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email Stefan.appleby@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via @betterretailing on X or Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Better Retailing podcast, bought to you by Newtrade Media, brings you the latest news and views from the world of independent convenience retail in the UK. With retailers, for retailers.
Each episode, hosts Stefan Appleby and Louise Banham are joined by leading retailers Natalie Lightfoot, Aman Uppal and Atul Sodha, to discuss key topics within the convenience retail world.
To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email Stefan.appleby@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via @betterretailing on X or 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.
Better Retailing Podcast: Season 2, Episode 7
“You’ve really opened a can of worms here”
Welcome to Episode 7 of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast!
Natalie is unfortunately away this month, but don’t worry – Atul and Aman have more than enough chat to go around. Rather brilliantly, to make up for Natalie’s absence we’re joined by multiple-award winning retailer Julie Kaur.
In this episode the team has a very interesting debate about the proposed legislation on energy drinks, bringing lots of different thoughts to the table and looking at all the sides of the argument. It’s a really great chat that will resonate with all legitimate convenience store retailers.
Elsewhere, we hear Julie’s story and how she got where she is today – including some great details on her recent full-store refit and how she went about it, and what she’s shifting her focus to look at now.
Julie also tells us how she manages to find time to operate as a great community retailer as well as being a trustee of various charities, a parish councillor and a marathon runner. Honestly, it’s exhausting just to listen to!
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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/
You can see Coca-Cola’s “The Bosses” campaign via their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at8tT5zvEtU
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 6
“We don’t judge!”
Welcome to Episode 6 of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast with award-winning retailers Natalie Lightfoot, Aman Uppal and Atul Sodha.
In this episode we talk about three things that have kept the team busy in the last month.
Aman reflects on his experiences judging award entries, and how adding retailers to the process – as happens at the Better Retailing Awards – is a key part of the jigsaw and help ensure there’s an experienced voice in the room.
Atul talks about a difficult time in store over the last month with an abusive customer and less-than-satisfactory response from his local police force. An awful situation that I’m sure will resonate with many listeners.
And finally, Natalie talks about the Main Street Pavement Festival that she ran outside her store. Thousands raised for charity, hundreds of attendees, and one lucky winner walked away with a raffle prize of a will. Find out who, in part three of the podcast!
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Welcome to Episode 5 of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast.
This week, the expert retail panel of Natalie Lightfoot, Aman Uppal and Atul Sodha are joined by Sandeep Bains, of Welcome Faversham.
The team touches on the recent protests against Dhamecha and News UK, talk about what’s going on in their stores right now, and then delve deeply into some key topics
· How to make parcel services work for you (or when to get out if it isn’t!)
· How to grow your delivery offer and the work – and team – needed to make that happen
· How to introduce hot food-to-go into your store
· How to compete with those around you.
Spoiler alert: stores need to look forward, focus on what they do best and what is most profitable for your shop, and look at what your shoppers want most!
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To hear more about the Retail Family Online Safe Space, visit Natalie’s LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-lightfoot/
Read Aman’s latest article, and more, via his LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aman-uppal-3a3573194/
Read more about Women In Convenience here: https://www.betterretailing.com/br/event/women-in-convenience-2025-the-path-to-personal-and-business-empowerment/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
“I sold the man cabbage water!”
Welcome to Episode FOUR of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast.
This week, the expert retail panel of Natalie Lightfoot, Aman Uppal and Atul Sodha talk about an extraordinary number of topics.
We touch on Aman’s latest foray into journalism; Nat’s refit (and how she trapped a customer in the store behind her new fridge); have a great debate about price-marked packs and whether you should or shouldn’t be stocking them; EcoTrac and how it helps sales (an extra £700 per week?!!); and talk about the importance of initiatives like Women In Convenience, which takes place this week in Coventry - including an incredibly personal story from Atul.
And, of course, we learn how Atul sold a customer cabbage water. Yes, cabbage water. Water leftover from boiled cabbages. Anything really is possible in convenience retail.
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below. We’d especially love your views on price-marked packs – please let us know your thoughts!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To hear more about Retailers4Retailers, please visit: retailers4retailers.co.uk
Read Aman’s latest article, and more, via his LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aman-uppal-3a3573194/
Read more about Women In Convenience here: https://www.betterretailing.com/br/event/women-in-convenience-2025-the-path-to-personal-and-business-empowerment/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Welcome to episode three of Series 2 of the Better Retailing podcast.
No guest this week, but a big announcement from Aman about the future of him – and his store.
The story of how and why he’s selling up is talked about in the second half of the pod, and there’s some great advice and guidance for any retailers thinking of selling their store to move on.
Elsewhere, the argument about whether we keep Aman on board with the pod rages on, but not before we’ve spoken about the performance of all three retailers – and a special award for Louise – at the ACS Conference earlier in April, and a debate about whether hot cross buns (or square sausages) are replacing eggs for the Easter season.
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To hear more about Retailers4Retailers, please visit: retailers4retailers.co.uk
You can see the video of the Ideas Battle from the ACS Conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hg0wCnBGfc
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
It’s Series 2, Episode 2. And it’s an emotional one.
This week the team - Atul Sodha, Natalie Lightfoot and Aman Uppal – are joined by Amrit Singh, Walsall retailer, wholesale entrepreneur, forward-thinker and brilliant human.
We hear from Amrit about his journey from a speculative call about babyfood sales to becoming an award-winning convenience store retailer, and the trials and tribulations of trying to take his business empire even further.
It’s a real must-listen episode, and if there’s a thread throughout it’s about the importance of networks – as retailers, sharing the good AND the bad with each other to help make the channel and the stores within it, better. As Amrit says: no-one understands a shopkeeper better than a shopkeeper - so use those who know the issues, pleasure and pain as well as you.
Dig in for all of this, as well as a dive into the problem with the marketing of "It Ends With Us" and why a trip to the wholesaler to pick up some Flora will seemingly haunt Amrit for the rest of his days.
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To hear more about Retailers4Retailers, please visit: retailers4retailers.co.uk
You can connect with Amrit on his brand-new LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amritsinghpahal/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Happy New Year! In the first episode of 2025, the team - Atul Sodha, Natalie Lightfoot and Aman Uppal – talk to us about Christmas, Easter, community, hampers, jacket potatoes and, of course, stacks.
With Christmas sales down year-on-year, we hear how retailers are moving into new areas - air fryers, fragrances and wax melts, to name but three - and how the build-up to Easter is now the really exciting retail event.
It isn't just looking back though, as the team also look forward and give us their Retail Resolutions for the new year. What should you be focusing on over the next 12 months, and should it be resolution - or revolution!
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
The latest issue of the Better Retailing Podcast is a real “get to know you” episode. Our retailer panel - Atul Sodha, Natalie Lightfoot and Aman Uppal – talk to us about the good, the bad, and all the bits in between, that they have experienced in store.
It is a real podcast of two halves – in the first, we learn who metaphorically nearly killed a customer, who Arnold, Axe and Ann are, who has customers that look like horses, and who definitely didn’t attempt to assassinate Donald Trump.
In the second, we hear stories of how community-based stores really can be there to help the most vulnerable people in their local areas. Atul, Aman and Natalie tell us about spotting the signs of dementia, helping regular customers who are substance-dependent, and implementing banning orders.
Hopefully the stories in this episode resonate with retailers out there – please do share your own stories and feedback with us via any of the methods below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 @betterretailing on X or Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The second episode of the Better Retailing Podcast sees our retailer panel - Atul Sodha, Natalie Lightfoot and Aman Uppal - talk with Chris Noice, Communications Director of the Association of Convenience Stores, about the recent General Election results and what they might mean for independent convenience retailers.
What can retailers expect from a new "business focused" Labour government, and what should they do to make their voices heard by those in power? What are the key issues that the new government should focus on delivering - how can they tackle topics like crime and the increasing cost of doing business?
Elsewhere, you'll hear from our first ever Gobby Podder, celebrate Natalie's recent award wins and hear about how Ats is doing a great job in "empowering" his staff to look after his store while he takes care of some very important networking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email stefan.appleby@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via @betterretailing on X or Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The first episode of the Better Retailing Podcast sees our retailer panel – Atul Sodha, Natalie Lightfoot and Aman Uppal – talk with Andrew Pheasant of Hell Energy and tackle this week’s biggest issues.
How can retailers make the most of the Euros – and use space or promotion to drive sales around big events in-store and online?
As we enter Award Season, we talk about whether entering awards is worth it for retailers, what value award-winners get, and whether suppliers add bias into judging proceedings.
All of this, via the importance of “stacks” and the pain of “small shop syndrome”.
----------------------------------------------------------
To get in touch with us, ask a question of our retailer panel, or get involved with any of the conversations, please email Stefan.appleby@newtrade.co.uk, or send us a message via @betterretailing on X or Newtrade Media on LinkedIn.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
