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The Resilient Retail Game Plan
The Resilient Retail Game Plan

Retail Trends 2026: Four Shifts Retail Businesses Need To Prepare For

04 December 2025 26:45 Resilient Retail Club's Catherine Erdly

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About this episode

The shopfront of retail is about to change—will you be on the right side when the robots come knocking?

With thanks to this episode's sponsor Faire (https://faire.com/) Use the code 'GamePlan25' to claim 50% off and free shipping with your first order!

Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.

This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m laying out the four seismic shifts set to hit independent retailers by 2026.

Think agentic AI that shops for your customers, TikTok Shop turning the high street digital, trust as your most valuable currency, and the resale boom rewriting what “new” means.

With 25 years of retail trenches behind me, I’m sharing not just the what, but the how—so you can cut through the noise, strengthen cash flow for retailers, and make sure your product business survives (and thrives) in the new landscape.

Grab your notebook and come behind the counter—these are the independent retailer tips that matter.

Make sure you grab my freebie at http://resilientretailclub.com/freebie

Enjoy the episode? DM me your lightbulb moments or next guest wish list @resilientretailclub on Instagram. Please rate, follow, and review this podcast in your app—it helps more indie founders decide to give us a try!

00:00 "Top Retail Trends for 2026"

06:05 "Future of Shopping: AI & Shoptainment"

10:07 "Shoppable Live Streams on TikTok"

14:16 TikTok Shop: Creator-Brand Strategies

16:33 "AI Pets and Trust Issues"

18:42 Building Trust for Small Businesses

22:44 "Building Trust Through TikTok"

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