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The Shopping Forecast

Catherine Erdly and Elizabeth Stiles

The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what’s in your basket.

Retail strategist Catherine Erdly and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles bring the receipts on current consumer trends and the cultural shifts shaping the way we shop, unpacking the psychology behind our purchases and the brands redefining consumer culture.

Whether you love spotting trends before they hit the mainstream or are simply fascinated by why people buy what they buy, The Shopping Forecast is your weekly guide to the sociology of shopping.

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  • 7 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 44 min
  • English

Episodes 7

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  • #7
    Tuesday · 46 min

    When A High Street Retailer Goes Bust, Who Pays the Price?

    What actually happens when a high street retailer goes bust? In this episode of The Shopping Forecast, Catherine and Elizabeth get into the murky world of retail administration. From Harvey Nichols and Paperchase to Topshop, Debenhams and Coast, the collapse of a high-street name doesn't necessarily mean the end of the brand — but it can mean a very different future for the people and businesses behind it. What does it mean when a brand is bought out of administration, and what exactly are the buyers getting? Why can a famous name, website, customer database or intellectual property be more valuable than the shops themselves? And when a business can effectively start again under a new legal entity, who ends up bearing the cost? They also unpack the increasingly entertaining rivalry between M&S and Aldi, from Colin and Cuthbert the Caterpillar to dupe culture, premium ranges and the battle for the same shoppers. Can M&S protect its premium positioning while competing with Aldi on value? And as Aldi makes everyday shopping feel increasingly special, can M&S remain the destination for those little luxuries? Plus: the surprising things our pets actually want, leopard-print coats, customer loyalty, perfume-inspired laundry products, AI-generated adverts, why fashion deserves to be taken seriously as a career, tiny photo printers, robot hoovers and the eternal question: is a £400 vacuum actually worth it? The Shopping Forecast is a podcast about why we buy what we buy — and what our shopping habits reveal about us. To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast! Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/ Find Elizabeth: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/ Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176 Find Catherine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/ Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

  • #6
    September 15 · 47 min

    Are Weight Loss Drugs Changing our Shopping Habits?

    Weight loss drugs are everywhere, but their impact could be affecting our shopping habits too. From clothing sizes and restaurant menus to beauty treatments and tailoring, a major shift in our bodies could mean a major shift in what we buy. In this episode of The Shopping Forecast, Catherine and Elizabeth get into the surprisingly complicated relationship between weight loss drugs and retail. Are shoppers buying more clothes because they feel more confident, or less because they don't know what size they'll be next? Will retailers have to rethink their traditional size curves? And could the rise of GLP-1s accelerate the demand for flexible, adjustable and more forgiving clothing? And how much control do we actually have over what we buy? From holiday souvenirs and the music playing in a shop to price anchoring, scent, storytelling and the fantasy of our ‘future selves’, Catherine and Elizabeth reveal just how easily our surroundings can influence our spending, and why the person you're shopping for might not always be you. Plus: Zendaya's Odyssey wardrobe, the rewards programmes that are actually worth it, cigarettes making an unwelcome comeback in fashion branding, phones that seem designed to die, expensive sandals, impulse purchases and the surprisingly compelling world of mulch. The Shopping Forecast is a podcast about why we buy what we buy — and what our shopping habits reveal about us. To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast! Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/ Find Elizabeth: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/ Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176 Catherine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/ Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

  • #5
    September 1 · 46 min

    Why Are Online Brands Opening Physical Stores?

    Online shopping is booming, but physical stores are far from dead. So why are brands that started online investing in bricks-and-mortar stores, and what does the rise of Gen Z shopping in-store tell us about the future of retail? In this episode of The Shopping Forecast, Catherine and Elizabeth explore why shoppers no longer think in terms of “online” and “offline”, but simply want to shop wherever is most convenient. From M&S and Lucy & Yak to the growing importance of physical stores as a “shoppable billboard”, they unpack how stores can drive online sales, build brand awareness and create a stronger connection with customers. They also dive into the psychology of queues, using the launch of Skims’ London store to explore why Gen Z is embracing in-person shopping, delayed gratification and retail experiences. From free gifts and social connection to creating a sense of exclusivity and demand, they reveal why sometimes the queue itself can become part of the product. Plus, they discuss Primark’s cheeky Skims response, the rapid expansion of Søstrene Grene, Olivia Attwood’s marketing power, oversized packaging, confusing vintage sizing and the things that are getting firmly put in the bin. The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what’s in your basket. To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast! Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/ Find Elizabeth: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/ Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176 Catherine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/ Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

  • #4
    August 18 · 49 min

    Are We Being Manipulated to Buy More? Supermarket Psychology & AI Ghost Stores Explained

    With AI-generated ghost stores on the rise, shoppers are entering a new era of consumer distrust. So why do supermarkets tempt us into buying more than we planned? And how can you tell a genuine online store from an AI-powered fake? In this episode of The Shopping Forecast, Catherine and Elizabeth go behind the scenes of the supermarket, lifting the lid on the clever tricks retailers use to influence what you purchase and the psychology behind store design. From why shops want you to turn right when you walk through the door to the science behind checkout impulse buys, they explore the subtle strategies designed to keep customers browsing and spending for longer. They also unpack the growing mistrust in online shopping as AI-generated websites and fake online stores become increasingly sophisticated. With "ghost stores" on the rise, Catherine and Elizabeth explore why consumers are researching brands more than ever before, what retailers can do to build trust, and why showing the real people behind a business has become essential in the age of AI. The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what’s in your basket. To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast! Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/ Find Elizabeth: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176 Find Catherine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com Podcast: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

  • #3
    August 4 · 46 min

    Can The High Street Make a Comeback? And The Rise of Copycat Clothing

    Can the high street make a comeback? And why do we keep seeing the same clothes in completely different shops? This episode of The Shopping Forecast explores the future of the high street and Andy Burnham’s pledge to revive it. Catherine discusses popular strategies for encouraging consumers back to the high street, such as free parking and the rise of pop-ups. Could empty department stores become vibrant hubs of small businesses and experiences? And is the high street really dying, or does it simply need to become more interesting? Meanwhile, Elizabeth goes behind the scenes of the fashion industry to explain why the same clothes and fabrics can appear in different retailers at the same time. From global fabric mills and wholesalers to fashion week trends and the mysterious art of creating a version of a bestselling product, she reveals how the high street can end up looking remarkably similar, and why commercial inspiration is much more complicated than it may seem. The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what's in your basket. Each episode, retail strategist Catherine Erdly and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles discuss the consumer trends and cultural shifts shaping the way we shop, unpacking the psychology behind our purchases and the brands redefining consumer culture. Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast on Youtube to watch the video version Find Elizabeth https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/ https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/ Listen to Elizabeth’s podcast The Fashion Brand clinic: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176 Catherine https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub https://www.resilientretailclub.com/ Listen to Catherine’s podcast The Resilient Retail Game Plan: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

  • #2
    July 20 · 46 min

    Will AI Become The New Personal Shopper? And Why Formula 1 Is Fashion's New Runway

    Will AI soon be doing our shopping for us? And why are Wimbledon and Formula 1 becoming as much about fashion as sport? This episode of The Shopping Forecast explores two of the biggest shifts shaping retail right now. Catherine unpacks the rise of AI shopping agents and what happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond recommendations to making purchases on our behalf. Could AI transform how we discover products, support small businesses and even buy gifts? Or will shopping always remain something we want to do ourselves? Meanwhile, Elizabeth looks at the growing intersection of sport and fashion. From Wimbledon to Silverstone, she explores how major sporting events have become powerful shopping moments and what this means for the future of marketing. The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what's in your basket. Each episode, retail strategist Catherine Erdly and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles discuss the consumer trends and cultural shifts shaping the way we shop, unpacking the psychology behind our purchases and the brands redefining consumer culture. To hear more from us: YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, to watch the video version Instagram:Find Elizabeth and Catherine Contact: / You can listen to Elizabeth’s podcast The Fashion Brand Clinic, and Catherine’s podcast The Resilient Retail Game Plan

  • #1
    July 6 · 29 min

    The Era of Shoppertainment: Why Shein Bought Everlane & The Psychology of TikTok Shop Addiction

    The Era of Shoppertainment, where content becomes commerce, is here. As the rules of retail change, so do the deals shaping the industry's future. So what happens when a brand built on radical transparency is bought by one of the world's biggest fast-fashion giants? The premier episode of The Shopping Forecast unpacks one of the biggest retail stories of the year: Shein's acquisition of Everlane. Is it a smart business move or are the two companies' sustainability values too incompatible? And what can we learn from TikTok Shop’s reliance on entertainment-driven sales, or ‘shoppertainment’, and its effectiveness for small businesses? The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what’s in your basket. Retail strategist Catherine Erdly and fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles bring the receipts on current consumer trends and the cultural shifts shaping the way we shop, unpacking the psychology behind our purchases and the brands redefining consumer culture. To hear more from us: YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, @TheShoppingForecast to watch the video version Instagram: Find Elizabeth @elizabethstiles and Catherine @resilientretailclub Contact: elizabethstiles.co.uk / resilientretailclub.com You can listen to Elizabeth’s podcast The Fashion Brand Clinic, here and Catherine’s podcast The Resilient Retail Game Plan here

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