Retail Huddle

Join the Conversation with Ami Rabheru - Retail Expert x Spring & Autumn Fair this Wednesday!

Expect, real conversations, networking, mini workshops and round tables.

Hear from Natasha Birk, Head of Product (FlightStory, The Diary of a CEO)

Scale with Retailers Ami Rabheru - Retail Expert

AI in Action Toyin | Onwards and Up | Online Business Tips

Planning for Profit Laura Harrison

Visual Merchandising to Boost your Sales Sarah Askew

Engaging your Customers in n Sustainability Rachel Sheila kan Rachel Sheila Kan

We look forward to seeing you 🤩

Save your Seat (link in bio) or comment 👇 for info.

Fantastic day 1 Spring & Autumn Fair
Look forward to tomorrow. Let me know if you’re visiting or exhibiting.

I’d love to see you 🥰

Retail Huddle Live will be at Autumn Fair! 🎉

On Wednesday 9th September, we’re taking over the Counter Talks Stage Spring & Autumn Fair for a day of honest conversations, interactive workshops and networking, bringing retailers, founders and industry voices together to ‘Join the Conversation’

Come for the conversations, leave with light-bulb moments, new connections and ideas!

That’s why our partnership with Spring & Autumn Fair feels like such a perfect fit. ❤️

Come and learn, share ideas, make new connections and be part of the conversation.

Scroll to see what’s on 👉

🎟️ It’s completely FREE with your Autumn Fair badge, but spaces are limited. Book your sessions now. Link 🔗 in bio.

Eclipse? 🌒

📸 Algarve, Portugal

We all want thriving high streets with the right mix of businesses, so I totally get the ambition, and I’m all for it.

Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time walking high streets and talking to independent businesses about what makes some town centres work better than others.

One thing is clear: successful high streets start with people and businesses.

People’s behaviours have changed, and the best high streets have evolved with them - offering the mix of businesses people actually want and need.

But the commercial reality is tough. Many independents have lost confidence and the cost of doing business is eye-wateringly high.

When VAT, business rates and employment costs and more bite into profit and cash flow, businesses don’t necessarily need another government-backed loan, or a short-term handout, they need the environment that gives them confidence and headroom to invest and grow.

And if this post suggests that councils might have greater control over who landlords can let to, what happens when councils say no?

Does the business we want instead magically appear, or does another unit stay empty?

I hope any new powers come with a real understanding of what local people want from their high streets and what businesses need from government to open, survive and thrive there.

What do you think - should we focus more on controlling what we don’t want on our high streets, or enabling more of what we do want?

Andy Burnham