In this episode, we dive into the powerful wave of change sweeping across the retail world as more brands step up to do the right thing. From circular business models and resale platforms to thoughtful retail strategies and new legislation pushing fast fashion to rethink its impact we cover it all.

Whether you're in the industry or just a curious shopper, this conversation breaks down the big shifts and spotlights brands and retailers that are truly leading by example.

Circular Retail Is Booming -

Circularity isn't just a buzzword it's becoming a business imperative. Platforms like Vinted are redefining how consumers shop, pushing mainstream retailers to adapt or risk irrelevance. We explore how the resale and reuse economy is reshaping everything.

-> The Rise of Rental & Pre-Loved: From renting occasion wear to proudly buying pre-loved pieces, the stigma is gone and the demand is real. We chat about the creative ways brands are building loyalty and sustainability through rental services and secondhand offerings. Think fashion with a conscience.

-> Retailers We're Loving Right Now - Shoutout to Positive Retail and The Cirkel and Loved Before brands that are building communities, offering value, and proving that ethical, thoughtful retail can also be stylish and fun. We discuss what sets them apart and why they’re worth keeping an eye on.

Retail News Round-Up -

-> Jellycat’s Strategy Shift- We discuss Jellycat’s bold move to refine their stockist network choosing to support fewer independent retailers more meaningfully, with better brand experiences in-store. Plus, how the Jellycat Café is bringing the brand to life in playful, immersive ways. Perhaps this new strategy opens the door for another brand to step in and find similar success to Jellycat especially with independent retailers continuing to play a key role in helping emerging brands get discovered by consumers.

-> France Takes a Stand on Fast Fashion 🇫🇷- Yes!! France just introduced a new tax targeting fast fashion retailers and we’re here for it! Could this be the start of a global shift toward holding the biggest offenders accountable? We certainly hope so.

💡 Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Circular retail isn't optional anymore it's the future, and every retailer needs to have a strategy.
   
   
2. Consumers are embracing pre-loved and rental more than ever, and brands that adapt will win long-term loyalty.
   
   
3. Sustainability is becoming mainstream, not just a niche, governments, consumers, and brands are all stepping up.

The retail world is being reshaped by purpose, not just profit. From secondhand to strategy, the brands leading this change are doing more than selling—they're setting standards. It’s a reminder that doing the right thing isn’t just ethical, it’s smart business. 👏

✨ Don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe if this episode inspired you! Tag us with your thoughts we love hearing how you're seeing change in retail too.

#RetailRight #SustainableRetail #CircularFashion

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk with any 'Retail Therapy' stories

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this vibrant episode, we sit down with Caitlin and Claire, the designers behind The Outdoor Edit, a bold new Scottish brand reimagining how we design and enjoy our outdoor spaces. With a mission to treat outdoor areas as an extension of the home, The Outdoor Edit brings fresh, trend-led thinking to a market previously dominated by muted tones and safe choices. Their debut range spans everything from parasols and cushions to bistro sets, lighting, and fire pits crafted to work in everything from small balconies to spacious gardens.

We dive into their design journey, exploring how inspiration from Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, international design fairs like Salone and Maison, and trend platforms such as WGSN and Pantone helped shape their six curated themes. Each one offers a unique personality from the playful, neon-soaked Moments of Joy inspired by Gen Z’s “kidult” culture, to the rich, elegant hues of Dark Bouquet and the soft, grounding neutrals of Coffee Naturals. The result is a range that invites customers to personalise their outdoor spaces just like they would an interior room.

Caitlin and Claire also share how they built the brand from the ground up from mood boards and product design to packaging and the website all with the goal of creating an elevated yet approachable customer experience. And with themes designed to be mixed and matched, there’s flexibility to build a look that’s entirely your own.

Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Outdoor Living is Evolving Post-pandemic, outdoor spaces are no longer afterthoughts they’re now considered integral parts of the home. The Outdoor Edit embraces this shift with trend-driven products that help people express their style outdoors just as they do inside.

1. Design-First Doesn’t Mean Inaccessible. With a strong focus on trend forecasting, The Outdoor Edit ensure their collections are stylish yet practical. Their range is designed to fit all budgets and spaces, from a tiny city balcony to a sprawling garden allowing anyone to update their outdoor look with just a few key accessories.

1. Colour and Personality are In! Out goes grey, in comes bold, joyful colour. The Outdoor Edit champions a move toward vibrant palettes, geometric prints, and expressive design, encouraging customers to be playful and daring in how they curate their outdoor havens.

Whether you’re a seasoned design enthusiast or just looking to refresh your space, this episode is packed with inspiration. Outdoor edit is giving buying and beyond listeners 20% off the range, just use BBEDIT20 at the checkout to redeem. This offer ends on 9th July.

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk with any 'Retail Therapy' stories

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

Welcome to another episode of Buying and Beyond! In this episode it's just us! We’re taking a small break from our guest spots, as we dive into the world of Comp Shops, discussing why they’re essential for staying inspired, spotting trends, and growing creatively in retail - not for copying! We break the myth; trendspotting is about inspiration and evolution, not duplication.

Our recent comp shop took us to the streets of London, walking down Oxford street to see the latest IKEA takeover of the former Topshop space, which felt rather eerie and strange, however the recent news of the standalone stores for the impending Topshop re-brand was a real pick me up! We talk trends, like the buttermilk yellow and boutique branding in mainstream chains, and highlight some of our standout stores, such as the fairly newish roll out of Sostrene Grene and the rise of M&S’s sell out collections.

We also dig into retail news, the shift toward experience-led shopping, and how tech (and even hackers!) are reshaping the industry.

With TALAS’s CEO declaring “we're in the hospitality business” we unpack the new expectations for high street retail, it’s more important than ever for bricks and mortar to provide a customer experience, as transactional shopping is the online offer. What is the reason a customer is coming to your store? It needs to be emotive, tangible, show quality and interaction. We are forever more reliant on technology, which has so many positive outcomes, but it also put us at risk of a more robotic future, and less human sociable interaction.

On which note, a huge thanks to everyone who attended our first networking event! We share how it went, what we learned, and why community is at the heart of everything we’re building - plus, what’s next as we expand this exciting space for industry connection!

🎧 3 Key Takeaways

1. Retail needs to constantly be evolving to stay relevant - Brands like TALAS are showing that retail spaces need more than ever to be lifestyle-driven, experience-led destinations.
   
   
2. Compshops are about creative curiosity - The best retailers draw inspiration from the market without mimicking true innovation happens when ideas are adapted, not duplicated.
   
   
3. Community is retail’s secret weapon - Our first networking event proved the power of connection retailers are craving support, collaboration, and shared experience.

If you want to find out more about us see our links below and also how to sign up for our next event! It’s going to be a gooden!!
Join the waitlist for our next event: https://www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk/event

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk with any 'Retail Therapy' stories

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support