Smart Shopkeeper Club
I was really pleased to be featured by PG Buzz in an article titled ‘Sophie’s Boost for Shopkeepers’, recognising some of the work I’ve been doing to support independent retailers through campaigns, ideas and practical resources. The phrase “boost for shopkeepers” actually captured something quite important to me,
Small Shop Summer
I was delighted to see the Small Shop Summer campaign featured in Gifts & Home magazine, helping spread the message and ideas behind a campaign I created to support independent retailers during the quieter summer months. Like many shopkeepers, I’ve always felt that summer can sometimes become a strangely
Smart Shopkeeper Club
They’re not just buying things, they’re choosing us. Let’s make it easy for them do a little bit more Something has become crystal clear to me this year: customers aren’t just buying products, they’re backing people.They’re not passive. They’re not indifferent. They
A free, feel-good campaign for indie retailers that’s easy to use, beautifully designed, and guaranteed to brighten up your summer trade, without burning you out. Have you ever felt like your shop deserves more attention than it gets? Like you’re putting your heart into the window displays,
Summer in retail can feel like a weird pause. Spring seasons are pretty much over. Christmas is ages away. Holiday season kicks off. The kids are off school. The routine disappears. Some shops get quiet. Others are packed. Most of us just try to ride it out. But what if
Smart Shopkeeper Club
If running a big retail store is like captaining a cruise liner, then running your own independent shop is more akin to sailing a tiny boat across an unpredictable ocean. It's easy to overlook just how different these two experiences truly are, especially when we're often
There's plenty of advice out there for people starting businesses, growing businesses, scaling businesses and selling businesses. There is advice for creators, coaches, consultants, influencers, makers and online brands. But what about shopkeepers? I'm talking about real, physical shops. The kind where customers walk through the
A few years ago, I was exhibiting Petimo at a trade show when I got chatting to a buyer. After a friendly introduction and a quick overview of the cards, I asked what I thought was a perfectly ordinary question. "Do you have a shop?" The reaction caught
Smart Shopkeeper Club
Summer has a way of creeping up on us in retail. One minute you’re polishing off your Easter eggs… The next, the weather’s turned, the kids are off, and the town’s full of flip flops and out-of-office replies. The routine vanishes. The energy shifts. And
bbc
I joined Ben Jackson live in the BBC Radio Leicester studio to talk about the growing impact of retail theft and the reality of how it affects independent shops behind the scenes. Retail theft is often discussed purely in financial terms, but the reality for small shopkeepers is far more
Smart Shopkeeper Club
After our most successful April to date at More Than Just a Gift, PG Buzz featured the story behind the growth and how it ultimately led to the creation of Smart Shopkeepers Club. The article explored something I feel very strongly about: success in independent retail rarely comes from one
Smart Shopkeeper Strategy
People love to say Taylor Swift is successful because she’s a perfectionist. But I think they’ve got it all wrong. Her real superpower? Action. Here's what shopkeepers can learn from the way she works and why I’m taking a leaf out of her book as