Independent Thinking - Exploring a new era for retail and the high street

We've all heard the term Metaverse by now, but what is does it actually mean?  What could it mean for how we do business or how we shop, for example? How we interact with brands? Will it be detrimental to bricks and mortar retail? And how relevant is it to independent retailers? The answers might not be what you think. This week's episode is with Mary Wallace, Retail and Customer Experience Consultant and member of IBM's Metaverse team. Mary's brilliantly animated and accessible way of talking about tech is one of the most refreshing things about this episode, as she helps us understand the many opportunities available to independent retailers in the metaverse, why the technology shouldn't lie solely in the hands of the ‘tech bros' and why co-creation is at the centre of making technology more meaningful. Mary's article for BRC which I mention on the episode: https://brc.cld.bz/The-Retailer-Winter-Edition-2023/38/Get in touch: independentthinkingpodcast@gmail.comSupport the show

This week we're talking the power of localism, collaboration in retail and why a bleak future isn't inevitable for the high street, as we sit down in conversation with Professor Leigh Sparks - Professor of Retail studies and Deputy Principal of University of Stirling. In this fascinating episode, Leigh talks brilliantly about the choices that have brought us to where we are, and how we too can choose a different future for ourselves when it comes to reinvigorating town and city centres - as we discuss systemic change, holding multinationals to account, community action and why Starbucks' drive-thrus aren't all they're cracked up to be…Support the show

This week, we're continuing our look at industry wide trends and the retail sector as a whole, as we speak to Ailsa Forbes, Retail Impact Fellow at International Longevity Centre UK. Founded in 1997, the ILC is the only specialist thinktank of its kind, looking into longevity in our society and how people can live meaningful and independent lives, regardless of their age. The ILC has lobbied government and pushed for change for decades, and is now leading on a sector wide project that will for the first time, reflect on the impact of longevity on the retail industry, and how, for example we can ensure retail spaces can be accessed with by older people with dignity and  comfort. This fascinating discussion starts with Ailsa's own unique journey into retail, before looking at small changes that retailers can make to improve the experiences of older people, casual ageism in retail and our society more generally, and why recent strides made in improving menopause awareness can give us hope in improving conversations around getting older in the UK. More resources will be shared as the project progresses, but for now you can read more here: https://ilcuk.org.uk/spending-with-dementia/ Support the show

We're kicking off this series in discussion with Andrew Goodacre, CEO of British Independent Retailers Association, BIRA - who have been supporting independent retailers for over 120 years. They have an incredible overview of the sector, speaking daily to their indie members about being in business, supporting them to navigate challenges in the industry as well as championing their successes. Who better, then to talk to about the sector, to provide some context, to talk about the many ups and downs of running a independent business in 2023, but to also think about the bigger picture - as we zoom out, and think about how we can weather the storm with hope, optimism and the spirit of collaboration and creativity. Our chat with Andrew is a wide-ranging one, as we talk about putting your money where your mouth is, what indies contribute to our high streets, speaking up about mental health in retail, why countless governments have dragged their heels on business rates and why investing time in our communities makes for successful high streets. If you'd like to become a BIRA member, find out more here: https://bira.co.uk/membershipAnd if you're curious about the resources on mental health that we discuss in the show, you'll find out more here: https://bira.co.uk/resources/hubsAnd information on the Retail Trust's resources in this area here: https://www.retailtrust.org.uk/your-health-and-wellbeing?navCode=677Support the show

This is the second of our Christmas themed episodes, as we sit down with Kate from Curate Glasgow, an online discovery platform for independents, that enables them to share their work with new audiences, and helps people like you and me discover our new favourites. From cafes to chocolate makers, ceramicists to florists and much much more, Curate celebrates the best of Glasgow's independent scene.We first chatted to Kate back in early 2021, so I thought I'd check back in to see how the past 2 years have been, what's in store in their Christmas gift guide, and how Kate has managed to find balance juggling this project on top of her full time job, 2 house moves and the return to ‘normal' life. Whether you're thinking of starting your own project or are currently running your own - Kate shares what has worked for her and offers some words of advice to anyone looking to launch something in 2023. And, if you're looking for some last minute gift ideas, well we have something for you too…https://www.curateglasgow.com/ Support the show

 A cheeky festive special before the new series kicks off in the new year!  And what better way to kick off proceedings that by chatting all things whisky - a drink that so many of us toast with at Hogmanay, or treat others to as a present at this time of year. So, we're chatting to Duncan from Woven - a disruptor to the market and makers of blended whisky,  based in Leith, Edinburgh. We chat about the incredible expertise that whisky shops can offer, what role supermarkets have had in shaping our tastes nationally, why it remains such a gendered product and why your taste in curries can say more about your whisky preferences than you'd think…Useful links from our chat:  https://wovenwhisky.com/Becky Paskin and her work in challenging gender stereotypes in whisky: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-63284148Our Whisky Foundationhttps://www.instagram.com/ourwhisky_foundation/?hl=en https://linkpop.com/ourwhisky_foundation Support the show

The death of the high street. Of shopping in person. Of bricks and mortar retail. Feels like we've been talking about it for years. But is it really as simple as that?... We suspect not. Join us on from Monday 12th December as we delve into stories from some of the best independent retailers in the country, and talk to experts working in the field to unpack some of the myths around what's really happening on the high street, and how we can look beyond the to-let signs and soulless retail parks, to build a much more hopeful future for communities up and down the country. Support the show

And just like that, we're at the end of series 5! To round off then, today we're speaking to Valentine from Centre for Cities, a leading think tank dedicated to the prosperity of the UK's towns and cities, who conduct a huge amount of research on everything from the impact of urban transport on the success of a local high street, to net zero and how cities can evolve to meet targets to policies like 'levelling up' and scrutinising what they mean... Recently they've turned their attention to how the pandemic has impacted our local areas in different ways, and how we're faring in our post-pandemic recovery. Today is a super interesting discussion about the eternal north/south divide, how the pandemic  pulled the issue of inequality into sharp focus and why our next steps on how we approach those issues matter, and how we can build more inclusive spaces and reimagine cities that better serve those that live there  - enjoy! Read more about their research and find out how your town or city is faring here: https://www.centreforcities.org/Support the show

There are few places you can escape reality better (on the high street at least) than in a bookshop. Shelves filled with history, memoirs, adventure, sadness, scandal and delight; wonder, joy, pleasure and heartbreak. Books can transport us to another time and remind us that some thoughts and feelings are as old as time itself.Imagination is at the heart of what makes books and authors so special, of course, but what about the booksellers themselves? Well, it turns out they can be just as imaginative as the authors on their shelves. And that's what I'll be exploring this week with two-time winning bookshop Mr B's Emporium, based in Bath.I chat to co-founder Nic about extreme customer service and why it matters, how customers respond to world events through their reading habits, why he remains an optimist about the health of the high street  and whether writers can truly predict the future…Support the show

Three podcast hosts for the price of one! This week we have a very special collab episode with the Business Proposal Podcast as we speak to hosts Ellie Kime and Rachel Emma Waring all about our love of small business and winding paths to success, all the times they've taken huge leaps of faith, reliving moments with some truly terrible bosses, what happens when you let the universe intervene and what mafting means…This was such a joy to record, just such a good laugh, I absolutely loved chatting to them both - hope you enjoy! Business Proposal Podcast: https://www.thebusinessproposalpodcast.com/Sparketype quiz that Rachel mentions:  https://sparketype.com/Support the show

This week, just in time for those Back to School and fresh pencil case vibes, I'm delighted to be in conversation with Sidonie from Papersmiths, a ‘stationery shop of your dreams' with branches in London and Brighton. Sidonie shares her story about the brand's humble beginnings, through the growth of the business, moving cities, scaling up, and getting through those tumultuous lockdowns. Sidonie's story is one of seeing the value in every step of your journey, and making it the business owner you are today. Whether you're looking to start a business or are even thinking about whether to make the leap in another aspect of your life, I think you'll find our chat really inspiring - we talk about creative and innovative approaches to problem solving, why even the smallest items in our lives deserve to be beautiful and bring us joy, and why there's a time and a place to take risks...Support the show

After a slightly longer break than planned - we are BACK! And what a series opener we have for you...If you've ever reminisced about teenage days spent lolling around your town centre and the role your high street played in growing up, or spotted a ghost sign on the side of a building and pondered "what's that?" - then you're going to love this episode. But that's not to say this episode is all about looking back, as our chat with Ellen, Head of Creative Programmes and Campaigns for Historic England, proves. Far from it. Because whilst it's important to preserve and honour the past, we also need to consider how we learn from it, and how it can inform our future. Historic England are doing just that as part of their High Street Cultural Programme - which celebrates the wealth of stories and tales that our are embedded in our high streets. Ellen talks about how they're working closely with communities, artists, photographers, poets, musicians, writers and others to take a snapshot of high streets now, celebrate and uncover stories of the past, and help us reimagine where we could be going next. Find out more about the programme here:  https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/high-street-culture/And check out some incredible photographs from '100 years of high street shopping' here: https://historicengland.org.uk/#gallery-0-2Support the show

In the last episode of this series, this week we're speaking to Food by Nourish, a gourmet grocer and deli, based in South Lanarkshire. Created by friends Greg and Richard, the business started life in a humble van (the Tattie Wagon)  delivering veg throughout lockdown, but my, have they come a long way since then.  We talk about food as a force for good, running with an idea, an unfortunate lack of Piccalilli lovers locally and why, if an idea's no good, well "it goes in the soup"... We recorded this one a while back, but it's only now mainly for technical reasons that it's been able to go out - listening to it back I remembered how fun this one was to record, how funny they were,  and how invested they both are in making sure their produce is as high quality as it can be - so reckon you'll enjoy this one!   Check them out here: https://foodbynourish.co.uk/Support the show

This week, we are joined by Taisir Gibreel, Head of Retail at Restoration Yard, the winner of  Best Store Design award at Draper's Independent's Awards 2021. Taisir speaks about how she's brought her years of experience as a designer to store merchandising, the thrill of buying and connecting with producers and why she just loves the magic and theatre of retail. You are going to get so excited for Christmas after hearing this - enjoy! https://www.restorationyard.com/https://www.taisirgibreel.co.uk/Support the show

Now, it's fair to say this year has thrown its fair amount of challenges at retailers. Covid restrictions, Brexit.. just to name two hugely important factors this year of course. But to this we can add; wider global economic uncertainty, global heating and climate change becoming more acute... all making us consider our decisions as consumers and in fact what it means to ‘consume'.            We are of course in the midst of a huge amount of change. So at this point in the year, I wanted to check in again with Dr Sarah Montano of University of Birmingham to help us unpack the complexities and help us understand how the past year has impacted our habits and what the future could look like as we continue to adapt to living through a pandemic. Sarah brings some much needed groundedness to these discussions, talks about small changes we can all make, what innovation we can look forward to in the future and why we have much to be hopeful about. It's always a pleasure to speak to Sarah, we could have chatted all morning when we recorded this! Hope you enjoy! The 'What is the Metaverse?' article we mention:  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/style/metaverse-virtual-worlds.htmlSupport the show

This episode was brought to you by Rebecca, Elaine and Natalie who have kindly pledged their support for the show through Patreon! Hello to you all - you have my eternal gratitude and are helping keep this show on the road!This week we have the first of our Revisited episodes, where a guest from a previous series joins us once again to update us on their business journey. This week we're joined by Edinburgh-based childrenswear brand Bon Tot - who has seen an enormous amount of change in the past year - a shop move, a new brand and the establishment of a new business partnership between Kris, who started the company and Cara, her new business partner. We talk about evolving a brand, being tenacious, working through insecurities, reminding yourself of Beyonce, the joy of finding someone in business who just completely understands you and so. Much. More. Enjoy!https://www.bon-tot.com/Support the show

This week, we are speaking to Rare Birds Books founder, Rachel. Rare Birds Book Club started life as a subscription service, created by Rachel to fill a gap in the market - offering a hand-picked selection of women's literature to shake up your regular reading habits and broaden your horizons. In the past 4 years the business has gone from strength to strength - and this year has fulfilled Rachel's dream of opening an HQ, by making a move to the local high street and into bricks and mortar retail, setting up shop in August this year, in Edinburgh's Stockbridge.We talk to Rachel about growing a business and community from the ground up whilst working full time, being receptive to opportunity and making the move into retail.If you've ever wondered about starting a business, to follow your passion or turn an interest into an income perhaps  - you're going to find the next 50 mins very inspiring...https://rarebirdsbookclub.com/Support the show

Our first guest of the series is a special to coincide with COP 26, the UN Climate Change Conference which, if you're listening to this on the day of release, started yesterday in Glasgow. So, who better to talk to than a business based in the city, which has sustainability at its heart. Today we're speaking to Bevan from Bawn - an ethical textile atelier in Glasgow's Southside, a place where you can find sustainably made, ethically sourced fabrics and textiles. Bevan is a huge believer in the local high street, and that some things are made to experience in person - particularly when it comes to something as tactile as textiles - a belief that  began in her earlier days working in a haberdashery in her home city of Dublin. We talk to founder Bevan about how she brought her training from the world of museums into the world of retail, how she supports customers to navigate the ever more complicated world of ‘shopping ethically' and how she has led a group of like-minded individuals to create her own, unique response to COP 26 - creating something which shows how much more can be achieved when we pull together, as she tells us about the project, Cop Twenty Stitch. Enjoy! Support the show

Just like that, we're at the end of series 3! We'll off on our summer break, but worry not - we'll be back before you know it with more stories from independents across Scotland in the Autumn! Before we go though, we are delighted to bring you our chat with East Coast Cured - as we speak to founders Susie and Steven. Founded in an attic in 2017, East Coast Cured was borne out of a shared love of food, a passion for local produce and a longing to be able to access the kind of charcuterie in Scotland that they had previously only been able to get hold of when holidaying overseas. Spring forward 4 years later, we catch up with Susie and Steven to chat resilience in business, why local produce matters, the power of community and why the past 18 months has given them a renewed sense of optimism about our shared future. Enjoy! https://www.eastcoastcured.com/ Support the show

There has been much talk about the new St James Quarter that opened in Edinburgh last month, and a huge amount of discussion and excitement about their food market - Bonnie & Wild. We'll be discussing the wider development in more depth next series, but we wanted to first catch up with one of the traders in the new market, gelato makers Joelato - because what better way to celebrate summer on the show?!Founded in Perthshire by Joe Sykes with his partner Lucy, this will be Joelato's first foray into retail. They had dreams of starting their own food business, and through lockdown turned that vision into a reality, creating a product which people couldn't help but shout about - including former guest on the show, Flora Shedden. We talk about his passion for Scotland's bountiful produce, why he finds Italy so inspiring, coping when things go wrong and preparing for such an anticipated opening.  Enjoy! https://www.joelato.co.uk/ Support the show

This week, as we continue to look at partnerships in small business - we're chatting to Jo and Georgina from Edinburgh-based interior designer company - Jeffrey's Interiors, who have recently completed a management buyout from the original owners, Jeff and Alison.It's not something we've discussed a great deal on the show so far - what happens when owners decide to retire, or move on to other projects; how do owners plan for their future of their business? Both Georgina and Jo, Managing Director and Design Director respectively, have grown up with the business in many ways , both starting out as Design Assistants with the company, and they share their journeys with us - not only about with their love of interior design and how they found themselves in this line of work, but their journey in the business itself. They talk about the beauty of a business partnership when it works well, and what they bring to the table - and why knowing what animal you are, can help communication immensely....We also talk immersive retail experiences, what scent can add to a room (and to a showroom), and how lockdown has shaped our relationships with our homes. Enjoy!   https://www.jeffreys-interiors.co.uk/Here's the book that Georgina mentions in the episode: https://www.nigelrisner.com/product-page/it-s-a-zoo-around-here  Support the show

The department store has, in many ways, had one of the most tumultuous journeys of all, of those on the High Street. Whilst some key players in the sector are seeking to innovate and fast -  in terms of new ranges, refurbishments of key sites, and investment in new services as they seek to make their stores real destinations for customers - the fact remains, we have seen huge numbers of store closures this year.For many, the department store's fall from grace has come to symbolise all that is ‘wrong' with traditional, bricks and mortar retail. Disconnected with their customer base, lack of investment in the look and feel of shopping in store, uninspiring product, lack of innovation in online offer - whilst these were already problems for companies like Debenhams, the ongoing pandemic certainly accelerated the effects. But companies like Debenhams, John Lewis and Frasers have historically occupied truly *enormous* spaces on our High Streets for decades; they are cornerstones of shopping centres. And some of the buildings they occupy are beautiful, important culturally to their towns, and are amongst the most iconic buildings in this country. So what's going to happen to them now? How do we preserve these buildings for future generations? And how do we stop them falling into disrepair and neglect, like many of the companies that once occupied them? We'll be exploring this and lots more with Catherine and Coco from Twentieth Century Society today.  We discuss potential new uses for these beautiful buildings, why it's important we protect them, and how you can get involved in their efforts to save these buildings that are at the heart of our town centres. Enjoy! If you liked this episode - I highly recommend episode 1 and 6 of series 2, with Midsteeple Quarter and Dr Sarah Montano respectively, as we discuss potential uses for empty spaces on our high streets.Find out more here:  https://c20society.org.uk/campaigns/department-stores  Support the show

This week, as we explore other stories from our evolving high street, we're chatting all things charity shops. We all know the pressures that non-essential retail has been under this past year, but what about the impact on a sector who rely on retail income to support those are living with long term health conditions? Who are supporting and working with the NHS during one of the most testing times in its history? How has charity retail been impacted by this year, and by changes to our high streets? To explore this, I'm delighted to be joined by Lawrence Cowan and Carole Edmonds from Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. They are Scotland's health charity supporting people and their families across the country who have chest, heart and stroke conditions to make sure everyone lives as full a life as possible. And their cause is even more pertinent this past year. They also have some of the quirkiest and most fun charity shops on the high street. We chat to Lawrence and Carole, their Director of Fundraising and Head of Retail field operations respectively to chat about the wonder of finding a bargain and giving your old clothing a new lease of life, how important charity shops are to our communities and how they incorporate a neighbourhood's stories into each boutique.Enjoy! https://www.chss.org.uk/supportus/stores/ Support the show

Welcome back! As we explore more partnerships in business, today I'm joined by another husband and wife team - Jill and Steve from Meander. Meander is a sustainable clothing brand, passionate about making outdoor clothing more accessible, appealing and wearable - clothing that looks just at home in the city as it does on the hillside. They both have a love for adventure, and so, after embarking on a mammoth charity cycle ride from London to Paris, they started a company after realising that there was a gap in the market for a cycling jacket that not only practical but something you actually wanted to wear. From there, they've gone on to develop a whole product range, had a pop up at Space at Seventeen (and check out our episode with Jess from there  - Series 1, episode 10  to find out more)  and recently opened a permanent space on Edinburgh's George Street. We talk about bringing a product to market, what challenges can come with wanting to work more ethically,  creating a vibrant community for your customers, and why there's never been a better time to explore the great outdoors. It was so lovely to chat to them both - You can tell how much they both love what they do and how passionate they are about wanting everyone to experience the beauty of Scotland's countryside! Enjoy! Meander: https://meanderapparel.com/  Support the show

Hello and welcome back to Independent Thinking. Thank you so much for your comments about our first episodes of the series so far, they both seem to really have resonated with you, which is what we're all about! This week, we continue our exploration of partnerships in business with Aeble, Scotland's first and only cider shop brought to you by husband and wife team Grant and Jaye Hutchison. Many of you will know Grant from his days as drummer with the band Frightened Rabbit, but might be less aware of this love for cider. Together with his wife, who has worked extensively in the world of art and set design, they have opened Aeble, in Anstruther in the East Neuk in Fife to  showcase and celebrate indie cider producers from around the world. We talk about big life changes, moving out of the city, the power of collaboration and how far cider has come. Regardless of whether you're a cider lover or not, prepare to be won over and inspired, in this story of following your passion and taking the leap. Enjoy!https://www.aeble.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/aeble_cidershop/If this has whet your appetite for chatting all things cider, you'll love Grant's podcast: https://www.neutralciderhotel.com/ Support the show

Today, I am delighted to be joined by a business who has been name checked a number of times in our past series - Nadia and Stevie from Century General Store. The past year has been a time of significant change for them, not least in them choosing to close their bricks and mortar site in Abbeyhill, Edinburgh, (which is now operated by Common Coffee) - but also in their voice becoming central in discussions around social justice, tackling inequity and inequality and in championing kindness and care at times of great upheaval. We talk to Nadia and Stevie about the evolution of their business, we reflect on the tumultuous past year and talk more about how they put honesty and compassion at the centre of their business. I found them both such gentle, positive energies to be around - definitely one to hunker down with a mug of tea with. Enjoy!https://www.centurygeneralstore.com/ Support the show

This week's guest is the wonderful Flora Shedden. Many of you will know her from appearing on Great British Bake Off back in 2015, but she is now the proud owner of ARAN bakery and LON store in the village of Dunkeld, in rural Perthshire. ARAN and LON, founded in 2017 and 2020 respectively have both become a real draw for food-lovers to the village -  with their array of artisan breads, beautiful jars and tins with tastes from far-flung destinations, as well as groceries, homewares and flowers - but getting both ventures up and running were not without their challenges. We were so delighted to speak to Flora about the evolution of Aran, Instagram vs reality and the future of rural high streets (as well as a cameo from Sorrel, her beautiful dog). Enjoy! https://www.aran-bakery.com/https://www.lon-store.co.uk/lon Support the show

Now feels like a good time to gain a little perspective and think about what's happening in retail and on our high streets in more depth; help us understand why we are where we are, what our high streets could look like in the future and what trends we can expect to emerge.And who better to do this with than Dr Sarah Montano, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at University of Birmingham who has written extensively around this area. In a recent piece, she proposes that to emerge successfully in 2021, the UK high street needs to focus on blending physical and digital, creating 'Phygital' spaces, increasing consumer confidence, and for government to understand more deeply what we, as consumers need, and the constraints that we are likely to face in future. We unpack all this and more in today's fascinating episode - enjoy!This is the last episode of our current series, but fear not - we'll be back in May! Read Dr Montano's piece in full here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2021/jan/what-does-the-high-street-need-for-a-successful-2021.aspx  Support the show

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee. In recent years, Dundee has undergone a huge amount of change, driven by design - from new public realm and waterfront development to the opening of a world-class facility with V&A Dundee, dedicated to celebrating innovative approaches to design. But how could the city's approach to design impact their city centre, local high streets, and the way people in the city shop, work and live?We chat to Annie about Dundee's creative, independent spirit; how good quality, collaborative design should be at the heart of our response to tackling the problems faced on our high streets, and we look ahead, as Dundee begins shaping their 30 year strategy for the city centre. Enjoy!   Support the show

In all this talk about numbers of job losses on the high street right now, it's very easy to forget that these are people's livelihoods, careers and pay packets we're talking about. The situation is made all the crueller when people won't be able to say goodbye to their stores that they may have worked at for years, or share one last tea break with a colleague who's kept them company on the till or in the stockroom. And so for this episode, as we continue to explore community in our high streets - we wanted to focus on staff and more importantly, celebrate those who are putting their staff first. So today; we're talking to husband and wife duo Bridget and Murray from Edinburgh hairdressers, Stag - who really live and breathe that philosophy.We chat about why morale is so important to them and their team, the role of hairdressers in how we feel about ourselves and their innovative ways they thought up to keep their customers and staff engaged when we all needed a smile on our faces (haircut at 3am anyone?!) Enjoy!  Support the show

Today I'm very pleased to be joined by Sarah from Pencil Me In - a stationery shop based in Elgin. Passionate about showcasing work from the finest UK designers, illustrators and makers, we chat to Sarah about how she curates her offer, her reflections on the UK high street and why she was inspired to start #MyShopLife back in 2017 - an Instagram challenge to unite and celebrate the small shopkeeper community.It was so nice to chat to someone so passionate and experienced in retail, we had a good old blether about what's working and what's not - lots of fun, so hope you enjoy!  Support the show

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Kate Maxwell, from Curate. Glasgow. Curate. Glasgow is an online platform to discover new independent makers, creatives and retailers. Born out of Kate's love for independent retail, as a way to celebrate Glasgow's creatives and their work - the website acts as a directory of cool and interesting businesses offering something different from the larger chain stores. We chat to Kate about how creating the platform helped her get to know her new city, why she loves independent shops and why there's nothing like shopping in person.Curate.Glasgow:  https://curateglasgow.com/  Support the show

Today our guest is Scott MacKay,  Project Manager of Midsteeple Quarter.  A Community Benefit Society set up and run by the people of Dumfries, Midsteeple Quarter has a bold vision to shape a new future for their town centre - by bringing 8 underused buildings in and around their high street back into community control. It's a fascinating project that will no doubt inspire communities up and down the country to do that same - to revive and reinvigorate their town centre. If you've been inspired to be a part of Midsteeple Quarter's movement,  you can donate to help the community buy back their high street here:  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/reclaim-the-high-street Find out more about the project here: https://www.midsteeplequarter.org/ Covid 19: In the episode, Scott mentions how people had travelled into Dumfries from other parts of the country, whilst travel restrictions to control the spread of Covid 19 were in place. For up to date information on the latest travel restrictions and how you can keep safe and stop the spread, please refer to the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ Support the show

This week, in our final full episode of the series, to add a touch of joy -I give you the second of our Christmas episodes, as we speak to Style Your Spaces. Style Your Spaces is a creative floristry and styling company - who specialise in installations for retail, styling for photo shoots, weddings and events. However, like so many others working in the events industry, they had the rug pulled out from underneath them when lockdown hit in March. We talk to founder, Katie about how they pivoted to retail, the spirit of creativity and connection in Edinburgh both in floristry and in small business, and how running a shop has meant constantly learning on the job…Independent businesses mentioned in the episode:Style Your Spaces: https://www.styleyourspaces.co.uk/ Elliott's (Food and Lifestyle Store): https://elliottsedinburgh.com/Travelling Basket (Lifestyle store and Coffee bar): https://www.travellingbasket.co.ukTreen (Vegan clothing store): https://shoptreen.com/ Support the show

In a festive special, I'm delighted to be joined this week by Rory Mellis from Mellis Cheesemongers. Mellis has a special place in so many foodie's hearts across Scotland, particularly at this time of year, when joining the queue outside one of their branches to choose what cheese will finish off the Christmas meal, has become, for many, synonymous with the beginning of their festive season. They've been providing artisan cheese to customers for over 25 years, so have gone through so much in business, but it's fair to say this year has been like no other. I talk to Rory about how they've adapted and changed up how they work, the importance of connection to their customers, and what difference a mere couple of miles within a city can have on people's tastes…Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode: I.J.Mellis Cheesemongers: https://mellischeese.net/       Instagram: @mellischeeseltdBramble (Mothership - Drinks and Bars): https://mothershipscotland.com/ The Little Chartroom (Restaurant): https://www.thelittlechartroom.com/ Bross Bagels (Bagel bakery and takeaway): https://www.brossbagels.com/   Support the show

This week we return to St Stephen Street, to stop by number 17 - and to Space at Seventeen. We speak to founder, Jess about bringing an idea to life, the role of pop up spaces on our local high streets and why they're so proud to play a part in other people's small business stories. Jess has such an inspiring approach, with a charming story of how the space came about - and her warmth for the local business community and the small businesses they've hosted totally shines through - enjoy! Independent businesses mentioned in the episode: Space at Seventeen (Private Hire Concept/Pop Up Shop): https://www.instagram.com/spaceatseventeen/?hl=en Style Your Spaces (Floristry): https://styleyourspaces.co.uk/ Meraki Concept Studio (Design): https://www.merakiconceptstudio.com/ Our Lovely Goods (Candles and lifestyle): https://ourlovelygoods.com/ Treen (Clothing): https://shoptreen.com/ Meander (Clothing): https://meanderapparel.com/ Aetla (Jewellery): https://www.aetla.co.uk/ Splintr (Shop fitting and Design): https://www.splintr.co.uk/ The Little Chartroom (Restaurant): https://www.thelittlechartroom.com/ Spry (Wine bar and wine merchants): https://www.sprywines.co.uk/ Smith and Gertrude (Wine bar and wine merchants): https://www.smithandgertrude.com/ Bell's Diner (Restaurant): http://www.bellsdineredinburgh.com/  Support the show

In today's episode, we continue our St Stephen Street Series with Lovecrumbs, or Mini Lovecrumbs as their shop at number 22 is known. Mini Lovecrumbs offers a cosy nook on the street to escape into a large slice of cake and a cracking cup of coffee.We chat to founder Hollie, about their story so far, the importance of coffee shops in a community, and about how resilient she's been in overcoming the many challenges that 2020 continues to throw at small business. Hollie mentions an incredible array of local businesses in the episode: Artisan Roast (Coffee Roasters/Coffee Shops): https://www.artisanroast.co.uk/Herman Brown (Vintage Clothing): https://hermanbrown.co.uk/Company Bakery: https://www.companybakery.com/ Smith and Gertrude (Wine Bar and Wine merchants): https://www.smithandgertrude.com/ Edinburgh Food Studio (Restaurant): http://www.edinburghfoodstudio.com/Nice Times Bakery: http://nicetimesbakery.com/Mary's Milk Bar (Ice cream Parlour): https://www.marysmilkbar.com/Century General Store (Cafe/Events space and Lifestyle): https://www.centurygeneralstore.com/ The Atlas Works (Glassware): https://the-atlas-works.com/ Steph Liddle Ceramics (Ceramics): https://www.stephliddle.com/Golden Hare Books (Bookshop): https://goldenharebooks.com/ The Method (Lifestyle/Treatment Space): https://themethodonline.com/ Treen (Clothing and Lifestyle): https://shoptreen.com/ Bon Tot (Childrenswear and Lifestyle): https://www.bon-tot.com/ Pyrus (Florist): https://pyrusbotanicals.com/ Stag Barber Co (Hairdressing): https://stagbarberco.com/ Timberyard (Restaurant): https://www.timberyard.co/Lily West (Florist): https://lilywestflorist.co.uk/The Free Company (Supper Clubs and Food boxes): https://www.the-free-company.com/ Iain Mellis (Cheese Shop): https://mellischeese.net/Mothership (Drinks to order and Bars): https://mothershipscotland.com/ Noto (Restaurant): https://notoedinburgh.co.uk/ Aizle (Restaurant): https://www.aizle.co.uk/ The Little Chartroom (Restaurant): https://www.thelittlechartroom.com/Homer (Homewares and lifestyle): https://www.athomer.co.uk/homer-edinburghBennett's and The Blue Blazer (Pubs): https://kilderkingroup.co.uk/  Support the show

In this week's episode of our St Stephen Street Series, we welcome Golden Hare Books, who reside at number 68 - an independent bookshop established in 2012. I talked to bookseller David about how the shop has evolved since the business began, how independent bookshops are bucking the trend when it comes to retail, and how they have seen the effects of lockdown reflected in their sales, and in their customers'  taste in books...Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode: Golden Hare Books (Bookshop):https://goldenharebooks.com/ Lovecrumbs (Bakery) http://lovecrumbs.co.uk/ and Mini Lovecrumbs: https://www.instagram.com/minilovecrumbs/?hl=en Lighthouse Books (Bookshop): https://lighthousebookshop.com/ The Portobello Bookshop (Bookshop): https://theportobellobookshop.com/ Smith and Gertrude (Wine merchants and wine bar) https://www.smithandgertrude.com/ Support the show

As we continue our St Stephen Street Series, I'm delighted to be joined by vegan fashion retailer, Treen. We talk to owner, Cat about her incredible approach to this extraordinary year, her drive for the business and why she loves to go above and beyond for her customers. Cat has an infectious energy and passion for her business, and talks with such warmth and enthusiasm about the community she's created - this episode is another one that's perfect for starting your week on the right foot. Enjoy. Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode: Treen: (Vegan fashion retailer): https://shoptreen.com/Grams: (Vegan Cafe and Meal Prep)  https://www.gramsedinburgh.com/ Meraki Concept Studio: (Branding Consultancy) https://www.merakiconceptstudio.com/Custom Lane: (Studio/Exhibition Space/Community) https://customlane.co/Plant Bae: (Plant-based cafe) https://www.heyplantbae.co.ukCentury General Store: (Lifestyle store/Cafe) https://www.centurygeneralstore.com/Our Lovely Goods: (Candle makers/Lifestyle and workshops): https://ourlovelygoods.com/Space at Seventeen (Pop Up Space): https://www.instagram.com/spaceatseventeen/Bon Tot: (Childrenswear & Sustainable Lifestyle) https://www.bon-tot.com/ Support the show

In the first of our St Stephen Street Series, we welcome Bon Tot. Established in 2014, Bon Tot is a modern kids store. Whilst primarily known as a childrensware shop, they stock a growing range of sustainable lifestyle products and have this year upped their eco credentials even further by launching a buy back scheme, Bon Voyage. We talked to the shop's wonderful founder, Kristina, about her idea for the business, how they've evolved during the 6 years they've been open, why they've decided to change things up and why authenticity is at the core of everything they do. Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode: Lovecrumbs (Bakery/Coffee Shop/Provisions): http://lovecrumbs.co.uk/Civerino's (Pizza): http://www.civerinos.com/Treen (Clothing and lifestyle): https://shoptreen.com/Mothership (Bars and drinks brand): https://mothershipscotland.com/Smith & Gertrude (wine shop/wine bar): https://www.smithandgertrude.com/Kestin Hare (Clothing and lifestyle): https://www.kestin.co/Catalog (Homewares and lighting): https://www.cataloginteriors.com/Century General Store (Coffee shop and lifestyle): https://www.centurygeneralstore.com/ Support the show

Hello and welcome to Independent Thinking, the podcast exploring a new era for the high street. In today's episode,  I'm delighted to be joined by Jamila and Natasha from The Good Store, a plastic free groceries store in the leafy neighbourhood of Inverleith, Edinburgh. With a background in Nutrition and a passion for sustainability between them, the two sisters established their waste-free grocery store in late 2019, recognising there was a gap in the market to make zero-plastic shopping feel altogether more chic...We discuss developing an idea and bringing it to fruition, how their relationship with their customers has evolved during lockdown, the impact of Black Lives Matter as black business owners and why it's so much more pleasant to 'shop slowly'. We discuss the recent controversy around Blackstone's investment in the oat milk company, Oatly. You can read Oatly's statement, and their side of the story here: https://www.oatly.com/int/climate-and-capital Independent Businesses mentioned in the episode:The Good Store: https://www.thegoodstore.scot/Style Your Spaces: https://styleyourspaces.co.uk/Untitled Oats: https://untitledoats.co.uk/GreenCity : https://www.greencity.coop/Our Lovely Goods: https://ourlovelygoods.com/Pieute: https://pieute.scot/Treen: https://shoptreen.com/Company bakery: https://www.companybakery.com/Elliot Clark Flowers: https://www.elliottclarkflowers.co.uk/ Support the show

A bonus episode especially for those in the midst of Sober October, and something a little different to our usual episodes about shops and shop-fronts, as we talk to Nuisance Drinks about starting a business during lockdown and what it takes to break into the world of soft drinks. Hugo, founder of Nuisance,  decided to leave his job working in the city to pursue a new path, making a soft drink out of what many of us would class as a weed - the humble nettle...We talk about the benefits of being a risk taker, inspirations in the drinks industry and the journey of taking a product to market. Businesses and Stockists mentioned in the episode: Edinburgh: Nuisance Drinks: nuisancedrinks.co.uk (for all stockists and to buy online) Margiotta's: margiotta.co.uk/Beetroot Sauvage - beetrootsauvage.co.ukLittle Fitzroy: http://littlefitzroy.coffee/Nomad: https://www.nomadfood.org/Tanimodi: https://www.tanimodi.co/ Support the show

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Holly, from Holly Grows. Established during deepest lockdown, Holly Grows is a plant and interiors business which promises to liven up your home with a beautiful range of houseplants. For those who have no idea where to start, they have an interiors service to help you decide what plants are right for you, and where to put them. In fact it was love of interiors which led Holly to be so interested in plants in the first place, as well as a terrible break up... Businesses mentioned in the episode: Plantstands - Ogle: @ogle_Plant Pots - Anther and Moss: @antherandmoss , antherandmoss.com Plant shops: Grow Urban: @growurban, growurban.ukApercu (Edinburgh and Glasgow): @apercuedinburgh @apercuglasgow Prick: @prickldn , prickldn.com Support the show

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Lesley, from The Pastry Section in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.  Nestled in the heart of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, lives The Pastry Section, a bakery for anyone with a sweet tooth. Established in 2017, it is a contemporary bakery that you won't find baking sausage rolls or offering sandwiches anytime soon - for this place celebrates all things sweet- from traybakes, loaf cakes and biscuits, to sandwich cakes, sponges and patisserie - this place is a must for anyone for whom a cup of coffee isn't complete without a side of something sweet to indulge in. It was a total pleasure to welcome Lesley on the show - she was so generous with her stories, so I hope you enjoy! NB: As we're recording remotely, there is a slight reduction in sound quality at the end of the episode - hope it doesn't impact your enjoyment too much! Businesses mentioned in this episode, if you'd like to find out more: The Pastry Section: https://www.pastrysection.com/@the_pastrysectionSplintr: https://www.splintr.co.uk/@splintrdesignCotton Rake: http://www.cottonrake.com/@cottonrakeGroats: @groats.ediPie Dolly: @piedolly Support the show

Welcome to Independent Thinking, the podcast exploring a new era for the high street. We'll be celebrating those who are doing wonderful, creative things in the most difficult of circumstances. It's about going behind the scenes of businesses and shops you love, that you look forward to visiting, that add joy to your high street. Before we begin the series though, thought I'd do something a little different to my other episodes, and tell you a little more about me, my inspiration for the podcast and explore my own experiences of retail...Businesses mentioned: Ruby & Frank, Tynemouth (North East England) Find out more and shop the collection at rubyandfrank.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/rubyandfrankboutique Support the show

The UK High Street has been on a difficult journey. For a number of reasons. Some large retailers had got lazy, not responding to their customers, doing the same old, same old, not thinking about the context in which they sit in their customer's lives - what their concerns will be, what impact events will have on their pockets.And that, yes a lot of shopping and commerce is moving on line, but there is very much still a place for physical retail, for those that are doing something different. That's where the future is. And this is where independents come in. Because they can do that better than anyone else. They can be nimble, agile and as we saw throughout lockdown - incredibly creative. This is what Independent Thinking is all about. We'll be celebrating those who are doing wonderful, creative things in the most difficult of circumstances. It's about going behind the scenes of businesses and shops you love, that you look forward to visiting, that add joy to your high street. Because when we haven't been able to visit the city centres, it's the local high streets that are stepping up, and keeping us all going. So join me, Alexandra, as I speak to some of the most inspiring businesses across Scotland, and meet some independent thinkers. We look forward to having you along!   Support the show