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.com

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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…

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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/

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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/membership

And 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/hubs

And information on the Retail Trust's resources in this area here: https://www.retailtrust.org.uk/your-health-and-wellbeing?navCode=677

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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/

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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-63284148

Our Whisky Foundation
https://www.instagram.com/ourwhisky_foundation/?hl=en
https://linkpop.com/ourwhisky_foundation

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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/

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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…

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