Buying and Beyond
Welcome to the Buying & Beyond podcast, the podcast for all things Retail Buying...and more!
Join us, Kate & Lyns, buyers and best friends, each week for industry insights, stories and expertise from real people in retail.
Enjoy honest stories and conversations, retail therapy and learn bite-sized tips from us and our guests from across the industry.
- Season 1 starts with Becoming a Buyer - the background to how we started in the industry, what exactly is a Buyer, working your way up the ladder and the main meetings and tasks working in Buying
- Season 2 is all about Being a Buyer - leading a team, coordinating trips, working with suppliers, product & personal development and sustainability
- Season 3 takes us beyond just the direct Buying team - we introduce merchandisers, talk about designers and new trends, burnout & life coaching.
- Season 4 is where we are joined by more Retail Buyers and have also invited Retail Businesses to tell us their stories
- Season 5 continues with a fantastic assortment of Retail Buyers and Retail Businesses. We find out how they got started and what inspires & excites them about retail - plus we lift the lid on what Brands need and Buyers expect!
We are your modern day mentors; prepping Buyers of the future and empowering current Buyers. Our insights for retail businesses and entrepreneurs will shine a light on how to to build, grow, scale and pitch like a pro!
If you like listening to this podcast, please rate, follow and share - you can also find us on instagram @buyingandbeyond
Come behind the scenes with Buying and Beyond
Buying and Beyond
S5 Ep5: Comp Shop, not Copy Shop! It's essential for staying inspired, spotting trends, and growing creatively in retail
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
- 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.
- Compshops are about creative curiosity - The best retailers draw inspiration from the market without mimicking true innovation happens when ideas are adapted, not duplicated.
- 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
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!