Retail Reckoning - Retail Stories from Retail Frontlines

Customers are getting wise to the Boxing Day Blues. Gifts that drop to half price two days after Christmas, last-minute discount emails, and retailers training shoppers to hold back are fuelling frustration and eroding trust.

Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion.

In this episode, I explain how post-Christmas behaviour has shifted, why bargain hunting is now a year-round reflex, and what retailers can actually do about i...

Remember the familiar adage, “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas”?

Welcome to Retail Reckoning. I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion.

In this episode I'm sharing why that's relevant to one of the biggest secrets to successful Christmas trading in retail—training.

I'll explore why so many retailers panic-hire and rush new employees onto the shop floor with little to no preparation, risking poor service and damaged bra...

I built my business on conferences and bestselling books — until the world changed and suddenly, none of it worked anymore...

Welcome to Retail Reckoning. I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion.

Lockdown forced me to rethink everything. Instead of republishing my old books, I created something that actually fits the way people learn and work now — short, practical Playbooks.

In this episode, I’m sharing how I made that leap, wh...

Welcome to Retail Reckoning. I'm Clare Bailey, founder of Retail Champion.

In this special episode, I sit down with Steph, a key member of the Retail Champion team, to dig beneath the surface—beyond e-commerce tactics and spreadsheet strategies—to explore the person behind the consultancy.

We'll hear how Steph reinvented her life and career by moving to Scotland, reshaping her work to support her passions.

Together, we share candid...

Welcome to another episode of Retail Reckoning! I'm Clare Bailey and this week, I'm joined by the dynamic Kim Hulse, a true leader in placemaking and retail strategy.

Having spent years revitalising high streets and supporting local businesses, Kim shares her journey from corporate retail to transforming communities, like Knowle, across the UK through destination marketing, collaborative events, and hands-on partnerships.

Together,...

Welcome to Retail Reckoning, the podcast from Retail Champion where we explore the real challenges facing our high streets and town centres. In this episode, I’m asking a burning question at the heart of yet another government regeneration scheme: will the new multi-billion pound "Pride In Place" programme transform our towns, or is it just déjà vu with taxpayer money at stake?

Drawing on my own experience with these schemes, I refl...

Peak season doesn’t reward panic - it rewards preparation.

In this episode of Retail Reckoning, myself, Clare Bailey and e-commerce pro Steph Briggs lay out the Q4 playbook: three website fixes you can do this week, email + remarketing that actually converts, the simple SEO steps most indies skip, and the ops guardrails that stop Christmas disasters before they start.

Plus, how to keep the human touch that Amazon can’t copy.

Prepar...

Welcome to another episode of Retail Reckoning! In today’s show, host Clare Bailey looks into how sustainability and supply chain resilience are no longer just buzzwords - they’re powerful drivers of profit and customer loyalty.

With supply chain disruptions becoming the norm and eco-conscious consumers pushing brands to do better, retailers are faced with new challenges and opportunities.

Clare unpacks the latest risks shaking up ...

As we approach the critical shopping season, it is imperative to recognise that the preparation for Black Friday commences well in advance.

Hi, I'm Clare Bailey, and welcome to this new episode of "Retail Reckoning".

The salient point here is that retailers must take proactive measures now to ensure their platforms are primed for the anticipated surge in e-commerce activity. This entails not only rectifying technical issues such as ...

The current state of Rugby town centre is alarming, as it is reported that one in four shops remain vacant, a statistic that underscores the pressing need for strategic intervention. In this bonus episode, Clare Bailey, the Retail Champion, provides insights to BBC CWR into the implications of this phenomenon and the potential measures that local authorities, such as Rugby Borough Council, can enact to revitalise the area.

The coun...

September isn’t just the end of summer. It’s retail’s reset button. In this episode, I, Clare Bailey, The Retail Champion, am talking you through why September is the real starting gun for quarter four.

From the back-to-uni boom to freshers’ week loyalty grabs, and Halloween’s shaky baskets, the signs are everywhere: heritage alone won’t protect the High Street.

Woolworths, Debenhams, Claire’s Accessories, River Island — all proof th...

Welcome to another episode of Retail Reckoning with me, Clare Bailey.

In this week’s show, we move beyond the headlines about planning reforms and tackle what it really takes for the UK high street to thrive.

With the government slashing red tape—think easier outdoor dining permits and fast-track conversions for empty shops—there’s plenty of buzz.

But do these changes address the core issues facing retailers and local economies, or...

Too many retailers still believe discounting is the only way to keep customers walking through the door.

In this episode of Retail Reckoning, I, Clare Bailey, will explain why that mindset is a fast track to collapse. From the real meaning of value in 2025, to the dangers of a “race to the bottom” on margins, Clare explores how economic uncertainty, squeezed supply chains, and outdated 9–5 trading hours are reshaping the retail lan...

What do this summer’s trading patterns tell us about the Golden Quarter ahead? In this episode of Retail Reckoning, retail expert Claire Bailey unpacks the UK retail trends every high street and e-commerce business should know before heading into Christmas.

From the impact of hot weather on spending habits, to back-to-school and back-to-university purchasing, shifting consumer moods, and the growing importance of convenience, Claire...

Welcome to “Retail Reckoning,” the place where you get the real truth about what’s happening on Britain’s high streets.

Hosted by Claire Bailey, aka "the retail champion", this podcast is basically a walking encyclopedia for all things retail. We skip the sugar-coating and get straight to the good stuff.

Claire brings you sharp insights, honest stories, and no-fluff advice from someone who's lived and breathed retail for years.

Whe...