"How much should I order?" sounds like one question. It's actually two — and most product business owners only ever answer one of them.

(This episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/order)

Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the critical difference between product-level stock ordering (the tactical "how many of this line") and business-level stock planning (the strategic "what can I afford overall"). Drawing on my time as a buyer at Paperchase and the frameworks in my book Tame Your Tiger, I'll explain why forecasting apps, Shopify Sidekick, ChatGPT and Claude can all give you the right answer to the wrong question — and how that slowly turns a healthy business into a cash-hungry "tiger".

In this episode:

• Why most stock forecasting tools assume you have unlimited cash
• The simple reorder calculation that still matters
• What "the tail" is
• Three better questions to ask before you place a single order
• The supermarket scanner analogy that makes stock budgeting click

If you're constantly reordering but never feel on top of your stock, pause and plan with this one.

🐅 Tame Your Tiger — my book on stock, cash flow and building a calmer product business

💬 Come and say hi on Instagram: @resilientretailclub

Prefer to watch podcasts? Here's mine - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFwdhK_WMJvXntxKLZj83Inz1fFNAN2P

You’ve opened your shop. You’re selling. You have loyal customers. And yet something feels stuck... (this episode features a free download resource at http://resilientretailclub.com/systems

Your sales are inconsistent, stock builds up or runs out, cash feels tight even on the good weeks.

Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.

In this episode, I'm naming the “invisible ceiling” independent retailers hit when they move from opening a shop to running a proper retail business — and explain exactly what structure the next level needs.

Drawing on my recent road trip through Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, and nearly 20 years inside seven-, eight-, nine- and ten-figure retail chains, I'll talk you through the systems that separate hobby shops from real businesses: sales plans, stock plans, trading calendars, cash flow visibility, team roles and SOPs.

If you’ve ever wondered “is there more to this?” — this episode is your answer.

In this episode:

• Why so many independent retailers start their business “almost by accident”
• The invisible ceiling that stalls shops around the 1–3 year mark
• The difference between opening a shop and running a retail business
• The six systems every next-level retail business needs
• Why there is no such thing as a “natural business person” — and what to do instead
• How to know whether you need the Stock Doctor, Retail by Design, or just the back catalogue

Resources mentioned:

• Episode 299 — Retail Bottleneck: How to Stop Being the “Go-To” for Every Answer in Your Business
• Book: Tame Your Tiger: How to Stop Your Product Business Eating You Alive
• Stock Doctor — done-for-you stock management
• Retail by Design — my 1:1 service
• The Resilient Retail Club — reopening later this year
• resilientretailclub.com

This episode contains a freebie download. Scroll down to find it.

Believe it or not — today is episode 300 of the Resilient Retail Game Plan.

Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly and in this episode, which is six years, 300 episodes, and over 1 million downloads later since I started this podcast, I'm sharing a fast track to the biggest themes that have shaped this podcast and the retailers who listen to it.

In this milestone episode, I'll walk you through the four essential episodes from the back catalogue that I believe every independent retailer needs to hear.

Whether you're brand new to the show or a long-time listener, these are the ones that cut to the heart of what it really takes to build a resilient retail business.

So what are the three big themes?

Stock. Profit. And mindset.

Visit the episode's show notes for links to all the episodes mentioned at https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/retail-stock-management-profit-and-mindset/

And ensure you go to this link for your free download: resilientretailclub.com/300.