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Posted: Wed 20th Aug 2025
Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.
This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.
In episode four of the series, we're joined by creative entrepreneur Alice Mayor.
Alice Mayor is the founder of We Built This City and London Made Me – two pioneering platforms that have championed independent artists, designers and makers by putting them at the heart of the high street.
From opening a central London souvenir store celebrating local creatives to partnering with the Mayor of London on a retail training programme, Alice has spent over a decade empowering creatives to build meaningful retail experiences.
In this episode, Alice shares her journey from pop-up pioneer to retail mentor, and explains why supporting artists and independent makers is vital to the cultural and commercial future of the high street.
How We Built This City brought creativity to Carnaby Street
Why independent makers deserve visibility in central retail spaces
The power of storytelling in connecting customers with local products
How London Made Me helps creatives learn, build and trade on the high street
Advice for creatives looking to run a pop-up or try physical retail
Why footfall data – and real customer insight – matters more than intuition
The emotional and economic value of products with meaning and provenance
The role of humour and accessibility in breaking down retail barriers
How artists can turn retail into a workshop, event or community space
The future of retail as collective, purpose-driven and deeply human
You can also listen on other platforms and Enterprise Nation.
