From passion to profit: 10 lessons from the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast

At a time when small businesses face mounting pressures, from rising energy costs to shifting consumer habits, the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, a collaboration between Enterprise Nation and EDF, offers a refreshing dose of insight and inspiration.

Part of the Powering the High Street initiative, this 10-episode series brings together seasoned entrepreneurs and energy experts to share practical advice, personal stories and sustainable strategies for growth.

Hosted by retail specialist Catherine Erdly, the podcast features voices from across the UK's high street, each offering a unique perspective on resilience, innovation and community-driven success.

In this blog, we've distilled all those episodes into 10 stand-out tips, each one a powerful reminder that small businesses can thrive in even the toughest environments.

1. While the product is important, it's the people who really matter

Gbemi Okunlola, founder of Alonuko, knows the dresses she sells aren't just clothes, but key special moments in a person's life.

Gbemi and her team go the extra mile to make sure her customers feel like their purchases are truly special and life-changing.

Whether it's travelling to meet customers in person, providing a wide range of options or maintaining a high standard of expertise, it all adds up to a brand that people can trust for the defining moments of their lives.

2. You don't know everything – but don't let that stop you

Aimee and Lily Barrett, co-founders of Candid Studios, both admit that from the outset of starting their company, they had no idea how to "run a business" in the traditional sense.

But this didn't prevent them from jumping into the unknown, taking on the challenge and learning from their experiences.

They were never afraid to ask the most obvious questions or to ask for help, because each moment of revelation and wisdom took them further towards success.

3. Values aren't just words, they need to mean something

Mike Turner, co-founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co., is incredibly passionate about making sure his business is environmentally conscious.

As a result, he's baked this – along with many other values – into the DNA of the company he runs.

Though he admits it can get trickier as the company grows and expands, he now knows that the values of a business aren't just words to look inspirational.

Actually, they're an important guideline for all the decisions he makes, as well as an anchor for the image he wants his business to project to the world.

4. Channel your inner rebel

Alice Mayor, founder of We Made This City and London Made Me, set up her promotion platforms because she wanted to champion and celebrate London culture.

From those early days up to now, she's had to battle flip-flopping landlords, investors with ulterior motives and the overall status quo of the high street to make sure her creatives can give designers and artists a boost and a living within the capital.

By going against the grain, she made her voice and other people's voices louder than they would've been had she played it safe…

5. Work hard AND work smart

Jon Perks, small business director at EDF, is aware that, since the pandemic, the world has made life hard for businesses. But he believes you can still make clever, impactful decisions on every level.

Knowing when and why you use energy, for example, can provide opportunities to make savings and have money to spend where it matters to the customer.

Try to set goals and targets within your budgets and be aware of how your business operates on all levels.

6. You're allowed to make mistakes – it's how you get better

Sol Escobar, founder of Give Your Best, had the grand plan to launch a platform where people can donate their clothes to those in need.

While it's seen true success, Sol herself admits that certain ideas she and her team had in their heads wouldn't necessarily translate to the real world. This isn't a bug, it's a feature of growing a business.

Trials, research and constructive feedback are essential to making sure that your business dreams can become a reality. So, don't be afraid to get things wrong sometimes!

7. Break people out of their habits

Rob Ely, co-founder and director of TOAST, launched his first coffee shop right next to a big-chain brand outlet.

After one day photographing the queue of people bypassing his business for the one next door, he asked online what he was doing wrong.

To his surprise, he found that most people sometimes don't consider alternatives.

That's where you come in. Your business needs to give customers that feeling of uniqueness and culture.

So, make yourself stand out and urge people to break their everyday habits. Shake things up!

8. You don't need a perfect plan to start – just a powerful idea

Dionne Palmer, co-founder of My Signature Aroma, didn't wait for a sign before launching her scent bar in Brixton Village.

What began as an experiment during lockdown evolved into a vibrant, cocktail-style fragrance experience that customers couldn't resist.

By accepting the unknown and paying attention to input from the community, Dionne built a business that thrives on happiness and customisation.

Her story serves as a reminder that sometimes boldness and creativity are more valuable than a flawless business plan.

9. Transform empty spaces into thriving communities

Camilla Cole, founder of Curated Spaces, saw opportunity where others saw decline. She recognised that vacant retail units didn't have to remain empty – there was life left in them.

Camilla re-imagined the high street as a canvas for connection and creativity and used this idea to transform spaces into pop-up art galleries.

Approaching her business with a blend of commercial comprehension and cultural impact, she proved that there's more to retail than selling goods or services. In fact, there's a nature of storytelling, collaboration and breathing life back into local communities.

10. You don't have to follow fashion's fast lane to succeed

Sam Matanle, co-founder of Batch, is helping to transform the menswear industry with a made-to-order business model.

By prioritising sustainability and style, the emphasis switches from overproduction and trend-following to thoughtful shopping and classic design.

Sam's approach challenges the industry norms while asking customers to value quality and patience.

His story delivers the strong message that even in a competitive market, thoughtful innovation can build trust, loyalty and a brand that stands out.

Looking for more support and advice to grow your business, check out the EDF Advice Hub. Or watch more stories inspiring small business customers.

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