Buying and Beyond

In this milestone 100th episode, we reflect on the journey so far - from recording under a duvet during COVID to interviewing over 60 guests across every corner of the retail buying world. We look back at the conversations that shaped us, the guests who surprised and moved us, and the lessons we've learned about buying, leadership, resilience, and the future of retail. With favourite funny stories, standout advice, and a heartfelt thank-you to listeners, this episode is both a celebration and a springboard for what's next.Three Key Takeaways1. Buying is not one job - it's hundreds.One of the biggest realisations after 100 episodes is that "buyer" means something different in every category, retailer, and era. From buying paracetamol at Asda to sourcing turkeys from Thailand, from fashion to fencing, from wine to poinsettias - the principles stay the same but the day-to-day varies enormously. Don't let anyone (especially recruiters) tell you that cross-category moves aren't possible. Some of the most compelling guest stories came from people who jumped categories entirely.2. People come before product.The best leaders featured on the show - Alex Demetriou chief among them - put people first and product second. The same applies to the buyer-merchandiser relationship: it works best when both sides respect each other's different DNA and challenge each other constructively. The recurring traits of great buyers aren't hard commercial skills but softer ones: resilience, instinct, curiosity, and relationship-building. And as Natasha Calder's memorable advice put it: "Hire the attitude, train the skill."3. Retail has changed more than anyone predicted - and it's still about the people.Over 100 episodes, the industry has gone from Excel spreadsheets and hand-written orders to AI, omni-channel, social selling, and circularity. Sustainability, data, technology, and supply chain complexity have all transformed the role. But burnout and identity loss are real and growing challenges, and the support systems — coaching, communities like The W Collective, and open conversations — matter more than ever. Through all the change, one thing has stayed constant: it's always about the people.Notable guests mentionedStevie (Hobbs), Lucy Smith (Jigsaw) Claire Bishop (Dobbies), Dalia (Asda), Rebecca Thompson (Jewson's), Emma (Wine), Julia Darlington, Shani (Arcadia) Natasha Calder (Hotel Chocolat → Halfords), Anna Cornwell (Mardy Bum Active Club), Nick Lambert (Primark), Jo Ingham & Jo Ward (Fashion Fix / Ask Miranda), Bex (Boho Betty), Sarah & Rachel (Everly Studios), Rosie (Not On The High Street), Katie Williams, and many more.Memorable momentsRecording under a duvet during COVID, inspired by Radio 1 DJsJanine's "I ain't got time to touch tree" - on burnout and mental health in buyingCalli the assistant buyer allergic to wool, working on hats, gloves, and scarvesStevie getting complimented on a dress by Drew Barrymore at a vintage market in LAThe green necklace wearer trial that caused a rash - proof that retail isn't always glamorousAnna Cornwell's full-circle story: from buyer at Next to founder of a brand now stocked at NextWhat's nextThe podcast is taking a pause to reflect on the first 100 episodes before returning with a new season and fresh guests. In the meantime, the hosts are building The Buyers Club - a community to support buyers and the next generation of retail talent.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

We've made it to episode 99! And to mark the occasion, we're joined by someone very special - our merchandising mate, Sarah Johnson. Think Mickey to our Minnie, Ashley to our Mary-Kate, Bluey to our Bingo. You get the vibe.Sarah has been a merchandiser for over two decades, with stints at River Island, Debenhams, Arcadia, and ASOS where she was Head of Retail during the glory days of 2008, when the whole team could fit in one room on a Monday morning. Since then, Sarah founded Flourish Retail, helping businesses of all sizes get their merchandising foundations properly in place.In this episode we take a proper trip down memory lane - from accidentally allocating 200 Nehru collar suits to Slough on her first job, to building ASOS China's entire merchandising structure from scratch on Excel while on a four-day week. We talk about the evolution of the buyer-merch relationship, why the discount cycle is so hard to break, the dangers of losing junior training in the age of AI, and why sometimes all you need is someone to tell you you're making the right call.Oh, and there's a story involving Sarah being dressed as a turkey under a desk. You'll want to stay for that one.Three Key Takeaways:1. Merchandising fundamentals are non-negotiable - and they're at risk.Sarah's career spans the era of handwritten ledgers, printed POs, and building ASOS's merchandising structure from scratch on Excel. Her point is clear: understanding why the numbers work the way they do - not just clicking buttons to make them appear, is what separates great merchandisers from average ones. As AI and data tools take over, businesses risk hollowing out that junior training pipeline, and that's a danger the whole industry should take seriously.2. The buyer-merch relationship is the most important relationship in retail.Whether it was turning around a department with a trusted partner or navigating a tough range sign-off, Sarah's experience consistently shows that when buyers and merchandisers are aligned and pushing in the same direction, the business wins. When they're not, everyone suffers - including the customer. Invest in that relationship early and deliberately.3. Breaking the discount cycle requires courage and planning.Sarah has watched ASOS navigate heavy discounting cycles at least twice and come out the other side. Her view: it is possible to break out of the race to the bottom, but it requires businesses to make brave decisions -  sometimes accepting a sales dip to protect profit and brand perception. The brands that keep chasing sales at any cost are training their customers to wait, and devaluing their product in the process.Find Sarah at Flourish Retail: https://www.flourishretail.com/Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

Our guest this episode is Alex Dimitriu, Product Director at White Stuff, whose 30-year buying career has taken her through some of the UK's best-known retailers, including M&S, House of Fraser, New Look and Miss Selfridge, buying across menswear, womenswear and childrenswear. Alex also had one of the most legendary send-offs from M&S, with former colleagues gathering on a freezing January night to sing her off- a testament to the kind of leader she has become.Alex's route into retail wasn't conventional. She began her career as a French teacher in Tower Hamlets before taking a leap of faith at 28, accepting a significant pay cut to join M&S as a Buying Admin Assistant in hosiery. It's a story that proves there isn't one path into buying and one that sparks a wider conversation about why passion, curiosity and commercial instinct are just as valuable as a traditional retail degree.Throughout the episode, we explore how the buying role has transformed over the past three decades. From the hierarchical buying floors of the 1990s to today's fast-paced, multi-channel retail landscape, Alex reflects on why buyers are expected to wear more hats than ever before. Balancing product, sustainability, supply chains, strategy and leadership, often all at once. We also discuss what great leadership really looks like, why putting people before product creates stronger teams, and how M&S successfully reinvented itself by taking bigger design risks while staying true to its customer.Whether you're just starting your buying career or leading a large team, Alex shares honest advice on building resilience, backing yourself when opportunities arise, and why there are no shortcuts to becoming a great buyer- the foundations you build early on will shape the rest of your career.Three Key Takeaways1. There isn't one route into buying.Alex's journey from French teacher to Product Director is proof that successful buyers don't all follow the same path. Curiosity, resilience, commercial instinct and a willingness to learn can be just as valuable as a traditional retail background.2. Great buyers put people first.The strongest leaders create environments where teams feel supported, trusted and empowered to grow. Alex shares why authenticity, mentorship and building genuine relationships have been at the heart of her leadership style throughout her career.3. Buying is more complex than ever before.Today's buyers are responsible for far more than selecting products. From managing global supply chains and sustainability to balancing data with creativity and leading cross-functional teams, the role has evolved into one of the most varied and strategic positions in retail.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode, we sit down with Nayaa Owusu, a retail analyst and solutions developer at OSP Retail, to dig into one of the most contested topics in retail: shelf space. Anyone who's worked in buying or merchandising knows how heated the debate over category space can get, every team feels their products deserve more room, and decisions are often driven as much by gut feeling and internal politics as by hard evidence. Naya brings a rare dual perspective to this conversation: she spent years on the merchandising side at major brands like Debenhams, Peloton, and Lipsy, living through exactly these space battles firsthand, before crossing over into retail tech to help build the tools that solve them.Before moving into software, Nayaa first started out on the shop floor in roles at Topshop, Selfridges, and River Island while studying maths at university. That analytical foundation, combined with genuine hands-on retail experience, set her up for a merchandising career spanning beauty at Debenhams, international operations at Peloton during its explosive pandemic-era growth, and commercial/business analysis at Lipsy. Today, she's part of the team at OSP Retail building Macro Space Optimization (MSO), a data-driven platform that helps retailers make smarter, less emotional decisions about how they allocate space across categories and stores.In this conversation, we explore how Nayaa's varied background shaped her approach to solving one of retail's oldest arguments, what MSO actually does under the hood, and why data-not gut feel alone, is becoming the deciding factor in how stores are laid out.Three Key Takeaways:1) Data removes the emotion and bias from space planning. Buyers and merchandisers are naturally attached to their categories ("gut feeling" and personal relationships with brands can skew decisions), but tools like MSO base space allocation on actual customer data rather than assumption- while still allowing manual overrides when needed.2) Store clustering reveals patterns you wouldn't expect from broad averages. Grouping stores by similar customer behavior (rather than just size or region) uncovers surprising insights like cat products outperforming dog products in London versus the rest of the UK.3) Space planning should happen earlier in the buying process, not as an afterthought. Traditionally, ranges are built first and then squeezed onto shelves; bringing space considerations in at the buying stage (rather than fitting products to space later) leads to better commercial outcomes.If you would like to hear more about how OSP could help you with your space challenges- drop us a message and we can put you in contact with the team.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode, we sit down with Talia Winetroube, who spent over 12 years building a career in fashion and accessories buying at retailers including Next, House of Fraser, and Stitch Fix. While excelling in the fast-paced world of retail buying, Talia was diagnosed with ADHD - an experience that reshaped her understanding of herself and ultimately led her to become a certified ADHD coach. We dive into her buying career journey, the realities of receiving a late ADHD diagnosis while working at a senior level, and how she now helps ambitious professionals and organizations build more neuro-inclusive workplaces.Three Key Takeaways:1) ADHD traits can be a hidden superpower in buying. Strong pattern recognition, hyperfocus, natural rapport-building, and a constant stream of new ideas all fed into Talia's success as a buyer - even as she battled a "boom and bust" cycle of overworking and burnout behind the scenes.2) Small, individualized accommodations make the biggest difference. Support doesn't require big budgets or formal programs - simple things like shared meeting agendas, clear deadlines, body doubling, and breaking tasks into smaller steps can transform how someone with ADHD thrives at work.3) Manager awareness and psychological safety are essential. With an estimated 15–20% of the workforce being neurodivergent, retail and other fast-paced industries have a real opportunity and responsibility to train managers to recognize ADHD patterns as neurological rather than a lack of effort, and to create environments where people feel safe to ask for what they need.You can find out more about all the amazing work Talia is doing here:Coachinghttps://www.taliawinetroubecoaching.co.uk/@taliawinetroubeadhdcoachingTraining https://www.neurodiversityintheworkplace.co.uk/Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

Drapers has been the trusted voice of the fashion retail industry for nearly 140 years, connecting leaders, breaking news, and shaping conversations across print, digital, and social. In this episode, we sit down with Gabriele Dirvanauskas, Deputy Editor at Drapers, to get a front-row look at how the publication covers the biggest stories in retail and what's really happening behind the scenes for the people who work in it.Gabi takes us through her own path into fashion journalism - from a work experience placement at Marks & Spencer's press office, to cutting her teeth at the Sun newspaper, to her current role at Drapers covering everything from leadership shake-ups to shop floor culture. From there, the conversation turns to one of the year's biggest talking points: Drapers' recent salary survey, which has ignited a wider industry conversation about pay, support, and transparency for buyers, merchandisers, and designers alike. We also get into how AI is changing (and not changing) the buying role, and why face-to-face industry events are more important than ever.Three Key TakeawaysRetail buying salaries don't reflect the growing responsibility of the role. Drapers' salary survey found 71.2% of respondents don't think their pay reflects their responsibilities, and only 17.2% believe their salary is fair. As teams shrink and channels multiply (global sourcing, multi-channel selling, social media competition), workloads have grown - but compensation hasn't kept pace.Transparency and support matter as much as pay. Beyond salary, respondents called for clearer pay bands, better maternity conditions, flexible working, and stronger support from leadership. Many buyers feel too intimidated to ask for raises, and businesses often lack transparency about what the next career step actually requires.AI can't replace the human side of buying - but it's reshaping entry-level roles. While AI tools are improving efficiency across retail, we all agree AI cannot replace the judgment, relationships, and hands-on experience buyers bring. The bigger risk is losing entry-level positions, which cuts off the pipeline of new talent learning the ropes.Drapers are offering our listeners a 30% discount off an annual subscription, use the link below to claim yours: https://subscribe.drapersonline.com/dragd30/Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode, we chat to Fran Pittaway, CEO of Biscuiteers, the UK's original hand-iced biscuit gifting brand. Fran's career path is anything but conventional - from working at the BBC, to building the first-ever buying team at Children in Need, to spending nearly a decade shaping the commercial strategy at Not On The High Street, and finally stepping into the C-suite at Biscuiteers.Throughout the conversation, Fran shares candid stories from her career, including the chaos behind the scenes of Children in Need's telethon, how Not On The High Street navigated the explosive rise of competitors like Etsy, and what it's really like stepping into a CEO role after years in commercial leadership. She also opens up about what makes Biscuiteers special - from its iconic hand-painted packaging and icing café in Notting Hill, to the meticulous "biscuits per hour" production process behind its beloved treats.Fran's story is a masterclass in following curiosity over a rigid plan, building genuine relationships at any scale, and staying true to a brand's roots even when the market shifts around you.Three Key Takeaways:1) A non-linear career can still lead to strategic leadership. Fran didn't start in buying - she moved from BBC production and commercial partnerships into building Children in Need's first-ever buying team and online shop from scratch, proving that strong commercial instincts and relationship-building matter more than a traditional career blueprint.2) The same relationship principles scale up or down. Whether working with major retailers like Asda and Debenhams or small independent brands on Not On The High Street, Fran found that honesty, trust, and understanding the customer are what make commercial partnerships work - regardless of business size.3) Consistency beats chasing trends. Reflecting on Not On The High Street's challenges competing with Etsy and other marketplaces, Fran emphasizes that brands need to stay true to their core audience and USP rather than knee-jerk reacting to competitors - a philosophy she's now applying to grow Biscuiteers.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode of Buying Beyond we dive into one of retail's biggest unspoken variables - the weather, and how it quietly reshapes shopper behavior, sales patterns, and buying strategy.We kick off discussing the current UK heatwave before unpacking how extreme temperatures are driving record-breaking sales in soft drinks and ice cream, changing shopping channels (in-store vs. online), and creating headaches for buyers and merchandisers trying to plan stock, promotions, and seasonal transitions around unpredictable conditions. We also explore the growing role of resale platforms like Vinted in reflecting real-time, weather-driven demand, and why blaming poor sales purely on weather isn't good enough in a trading room - you need a plan of action too.We finish with a fun "rain or shine" quickfire round on which retail categories win or lose depending on the forecast.Three Key Takeaways:1. Weather changes behavior differently than you'd expect -  rain mainly affects where people shop (shifting to online or indoor destinations), while temperature changes what people buy (driving spikes in categories like soft drinks, ice cream, and seasonal clothing).2. "The weather affected sales" is not a complete explanation - retailers need to pair any weather-related sales commentary with a clear action plan (e.g., pulling stock forward, adjusting promotions, reallocating inventory) rather than treating it as an excuse.3. Resale platforms are a real-time weather signal - sites like Vinted show organic, reactive buying patterns (e.g., surges in searches for linen dresses or raincoats) that can offer retailers useful signals for demand forecasting that traditional retail calendars can't match.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

This week, we're joined by Natasha Caller, Head of Category at Halfords, whose buying career proves that the best buyers aren't defined by what they buy - they're defined by how they think.Natasha's journey into buying didn't follow a traditional path. She started on the shop floor at John Lewis when she was just 17 and quickly realised she wanted to be more involved in the products customers were buying. Before long, she'd talked her way into creating a new fine jewellery range, helping transform the department's performance and sparking a career that's taken her across some incredibly varied categories.Since then, she's bought everything from cookers and cameras to chocolate, hampers, entertainment merchandise and now car parts. Along the way she's worked at Argos, Comet, Hotel Chocolat, Not On The High Street, Harvey Nichols, RWS Global, Moonpig and now leads the servicing category at Halfords.What we loved about this conversation is that it's a brilliant reminder that buying isn't about becoming an expert in one category - it's about understanding customers, being endlessly curious and having the confidence to throw yourself into something new.We also chat about what it was really like developing products at Hotel Chocolat (including how a visit to the V&A Museum inspired one of their bestselling ranges), why Far East sourcing trips are still some of the best learning experiences a buyer can have, and how moving into leadership taught Natasha that managing people is a completely different skill to buying products.As always, it's packed with honest career advice, brilliant stories and plenty of reminders about why we all fell in love with buying in the first place.Three Key Takeaways1. Great buyers can buy almost anything.Natasha's career has taken her from jewellery to chocolate, cameras to car parts - and every move has reinforced the same lesson. While product knowledge is important, the skills that make a great buyer are incredibly transferable. Understanding your customer, asking the right questions, spotting opportunities and making sound commercial decisions are skills that can be applied to almost any category. Sometimes the biggest career opportunities come from saying yes to something completely outside your comfort zone.2. The best learning happens when you're given the chance to get stuck in.One of the things Natasha reflects on is how much of her career was shaped by managers who invited her into supplier meetings, trusted her with projects and gave her opportunities long before she felt completely ready. Whether it was building her first jewellery range at John Lewis or spending time on production lines at Hotel Chocolat, those hands-on experiences taught her far more than any training course ever could. It's a great reminder that the best leaders don't just manage buyers - they help create the next generation of them.3. Some of the best ideas happen when you step away from your desk.In a world of AI, trend platforms and endless data, Natasha is a huge believer in getting out into the real world. From factory visits in the Far East to museum exhibitions and shopping trips, she shares why some of her best product ideas have come from experiences she never expected. Inspiration doesn't always come from your own category - it comes from staying curious about the world around you.Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

This week, we're joined by Jane Kellock, Founder and Creative Director of Unique Style Platform (USP), one of the UK's leading trend forecasting consultancies.Jane's career has taken her from designing womenswear and leading design teams at Topshop to becoming one of the UK's most respected voices in trend forecasting. Along the way she's worked with WGSN, Stylus and Debenhams, helping brands understand not just what's trending now, but what's coming next.In this episode, we dive into how trend forecasting has evolved over the years, from the early days of carrying film cameras around trade shows and shopping trips, to today's world of AI, algorithms and endless streams of consumer data.We also explore one of the biggest challenges facing buyers and brands today: how do you balance instinct with insight? Jane shares why having a clear point of view matters more than ever, how to avoid blindly following trends, and why some of the most valuable inspiration can come from completely outside your category.Whether you're a buyer, designer, merchandiser or brand founder, this episode is packed with practical advice on spotting opportunities, understanding consumers and building products that feel both relevant and authentic.Key Takeaways1) Trends should inform your decisions, not make them for you: One of the biggest misconceptions about trend forecasting is that it's simply about predicting colours, prints or viral products. Jane explains that forecasting is really about understanding cultural shifts, consumer behaviour and the wider forces influencing how people live, shop and spend. The strongest brands don't copy trends directly - they filter them through their own identity and customer lens. As Jane reminds us, not every trend is your trend.2) Don't lose your gut instinct in a world obsessed with data: With more data available than ever before, it can be tempting to let spreadsheets drive every decision. But Jane argues that some of the most successful products come from experience, intuition and a deep understanding of your customer. While data is a valuable tool, it shouldn't replace creativity. The best buyers and designers know how to balance insight with instinct, using both to make confident decisions rather than relying entirely on one or the other.3) The best inspiration often comes from outside your category: Some of Jane's biggest sources of inspiration aren't found on a fashion catwalk. From hospitality and interiors to gardens, travel, architecture and everyday observations, she believes the best trend spotters are naturally curious about the world around them. For buyers, that's a valuable reminder that trend awareness isn't built solely through reports and social media feeds. Sometimes the most useful insights come from getting out, exploring new environments and paying attention to how consumers are living their lives.To learn more about Jane's work, consultancy projects, trend subscriptions and upcoming events, visit: https://uniquestyleplatform.com/And if you'd like more trend analysis, buying insights and conversations like this, join us at: https://www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk/Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support