Claim OwnershipBuying and Beyond
Subscribed: 5Played: 136
Subscribe
© 2026 Buying and Beyond
Description
Welcome to the Buying & Beyond podcast, the podcast for all things Retail Buying...and more!
Join us, Kate & Lyns, buyers and best friends, each week for industry insights, stories and expertise from real people in retail.
Enjoy honest stories and conversations, retail therapy and learn bite-sized tips from us and our guests from across the industry.
- Season 1 starts with Becoming a Buyer - the background to how we started in the industry, what exactly is a Buyer, working your way up the ladder and the main meetings and tasks working in Buying
- Season 2 is all about Being a Buyer - leading a team, coordinating trips, working with suppliers, product & personal development and sustainability
- Season 3 takes us beyond just the direct Buying team - we introduce merchandisers, talk about designers and new trends, burnout & life coaching.
- Season 4 is where we are joined by more Retail Buyers and have also invited Retail Businesses to tell us their stories
- Season 5 continues with a fantastic assortment of Retail Buyers and Retail Businesses. We find out how they got started and what inspires & excites them about retail - plus we lift the lid on what Brands need and Buyers expect!
We are your modern day mentors; prepping Buyers of the future and empowering current Buyers. Our insights for retail businesses and entrepreneurs will shine a light on how to to build, grow, scale and pitch like a pro!
If you like listening to this podcast, please rate, follow and share - you can also find us on instagram @buyingandbeyond
Come behind the scenes with Buying and Beyond
85 Episodes
Reverse
This week’s episode is a big one and a conversation we’ve been really excited to share. We’re joined by Nick Lambert, Head of Circularity at Primark, whose career journey is a powerful example of how deep commercial experience can drive real, meaningful change in sustainability. Nick started his career like many in retail working his way up through buying, beginning as a buying admin assistant at Arcadia (Topshop/Topman), before becoming a buyer and eventually moving to Primark ne...
In this episode, Kate and Lyns reflect on seven seasons of Buying and Beyond and take on one of the most pressing - and personal - topics in retail today: why so many buyers are leaving the industry they once loved. With no guest this week, the conversation is honest and unfiltered. They explore the realities facing buying teams today, from shrinking budgets and growing workloads to the erosion of creativity and the frustration caused by unclear or constantly shifting brand strategies. T...
In today’s episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Harry Zalk, CEO of ARKIVE Headcare at Matrix Brands an innovative, B Corp–certified brand incubator creating and scaling some of the most exciting names in health and beauty. Matrix is behind an award-winning portfolio spanning skincare, haircare, bodycare and fragrance, including Cowshed, ARKIVE Headcare and Soho Skin. Beyond their own brands, they also develop private label products and brand-led experiences for major retail, travel and ho...
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Katie and Clare, the brilliant duo behind The W-Collective - a platform built on honest conversations, practical tools, and real support for working women. If you haven’t come across The W-Collective yet, their mission is refreshingly clear: no “girl boss” clichés, no fluff - just real talk about careers, confidence, burnout, and navigating the realities of work while staying human (and keeping your sense of humour). Between them, Katie and Clare brin...
In today’s episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Claire Bishop, Senior Plant Buyer at Dobbies Garden Centres and one of the most knowledgeable people we know when it comes to all things horticulture. Claire and Lynsey first met during our time at Dobbies, and I’ve always been in awe of her depth of plant knowledge and her genuine passion for the role plants play in people’s lives. When it comes to plant care, trends, and buying live product, Claire is a true specialist - what she doesn’t kno...
In this episode, we’re joined by two absolute gems of the design world - Sarah Spires and Rachel Perkins - the creative duo and big-hearted energy behind Everley Studio. Before launching Everley, Sarah and Rachel spent years inside retail working for some of the biggest names on the UK high street: Next, George, F&F, and Laura Ashley. Between them, they’ve designed across womenswear, menswear, kids, knitwear, swim, and everything in between. They’ve lived the fast-paced, slightly chaotic,...
We’re so excited to welcome Alex Standley to the podcast this week! Alex has spent over 15 years navigating the high-stakes, fast-paced world of fashion buying at global giants like Marks & Spencer and Amazon - from trend-spotting and category strategy to negotiating those all-important big meetings. After a successful career in buying, Alex made a bold leap into entrepreneurship and founded her own personal styling company, helping high-performing women align their wardrobes ...
In Part 2 of our conversation with Julia Darlington, we shift from her remarkable career journey to the future of the retail industry and the work she’s doing now to shape the next generation of female leaders. With decades of senior experience across some of the UK’s most iconic retailers, Julia brings a clear-eyed, forward-thinking perspective on what’s changing, what still needs to evolve, and how retailers can prepare for the market of tomorrow. We unpack the role of AI and digital innova...
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we’re thrilled to welcome Julia Darlington a woman whose career spans some of the UK’s most iconic retailers including M&S, French Connection, Habitat, Coast, Tie Rack, Arcadia, and Accessorize (and breathe!). Julia began her retail journey back in the 1980s, giving her a front-row seat to the industry’s evolution over several decades. She brings a wealth of experience, insight, and perspective and is a passionate advocate for female empowerm...
This week on Retail Reflections: Shein’s still stealing headlines, Clarks and Walmart double down on marketplaces, and B&Q delivers paint faster than you can make a cuppa. M&S takes Percy Pigs down under, Vinted’s value goes sky-high, and Ocado launches a menopause aisle. Plus: wine bars go digital, Boden lands stateside, and Tom Daley knits Team GB into Olympic history. Retail’s never been busier - or more fun! Support the show If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscr...
In this episode of Buying & Beyond, we sit down with Stevie, Head of Buying at Hobbs, to explore her inspiring journey through the ever-changing world of fashion retail. From her early days at the London College of Fashion to leading buying teams at two of the UK’s most iconic high street brands - House of Fraser and Hobbs. Stevie’s career story is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and leadership. Stevie opens up about how her early internships shaped her understanding of the indus...
Welcome to this week's episode! Here's what you'll hear:Shein: An update on Shein’s recent controversy in FranceUK High Street: The recent nationwide crackdown on organized crimeB&M: Leadership shakeup following an accounting errorGreggs: Launching new “bite-sized” store formatsThe White Company: New partnership with ZappToy sales: Resurgence post-pandemic due to 'kidult' trendTune in for a fast-paced roundup of the week’s biggest retail stories! If you enjoyed this episode, don't ...
This week’s Retail Reflections covers a mix of uplifting and challenging stories from the retail world. The episode opens with the positive news of Nobody’s Child achieving B Corp status, highlighting their commitment to ethical practices and sustainability. The conversation then shifts to the controversy surrounding Shein and other online marketplaces, as the French government investigates the sale of inappropriate products and the resulting protests at BHV’s Shein concession. We discuss the...
In this lively season finale, we unwrap the chaos and charm of the Christmas retail season. Kicking off right after Halloween, we reflect on everything from giant spiders and creepy gingerbread men to the very first signs of Christmas fever. With years of experience in buying seasonal products, we share insider tips, stories, and laughs about when to put up the tree, the latest in festive home décor, and the ever-evolving trends in pumpkins, ghosts, and sustainable Christmas goodies. Th...
This week on Retail Reflections, we’re diving into the retail rush that’s starting earlier than ever. With Black Friday deals already flooding our feeds, we explore why brands are breaking tradition and what that means for both shoppers and sales. We also take a look at the beauty sector’s big moves, from Boots’ new store openings to the rise of loyalty programs like Club New Look and the ever-evolving Boots Advantage Card. Plus, we celebrate some impressive brand comebacks including Ne...
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Rebecca Hawkes, Buying Manager at Something Different Wholesale and someone who’s experienced the buying world from both sides of the fence: big-name retail and fast-moving B2B. Rebecca’s career started in fashion design, but it was a university placement at Tesco that ignited her passion for buying. From there, she climbed the ranks across departments like ladieswear, knitwear and nightwear, learning the importance of agility, training, a...
After a brief hiatus, we're back with a fast-paced download of the latest happenings in retail, brand news, and industry trends. Temu Controversy: Discussion on Temu's ongoing issues with product and image copying, the impact on small brands, and new takedown processes.Reebok x F45 Partnership: Insights into Reebok's new global partnership with F45 Training, and reflections on the brand's position in the sportswear market.Sneaker Wars Documentary: A recommendation for the Disney+ documentary ...
This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Glenn, Founder of DEN Loungewear — and a true retail all-rounder who’s spent years shaping menswear for some of the UK’s biggest high-street names, including Primark, Arcadia, and Next. Glenn’s story begins where so many retail careers do on the shop floor. Starting as a sales assistant at Topman, he quickly caught the buying bug and made the move to head office, where he built a career defined by creativity, commercial instinct, and an eye for great p...
This episode was recorded LIVE at Top Drawer in September 2025. Top Drawer is the UK's leading design-led trade show for buyers and retailers to discover, connect, and purchase lifestyle products across sectors like Home, Gift, Fashion, and Stationery. It's held twice yearly at Kensington Olympia, London. Join us, Kate & Lyns, for a chat with Rosie, Head of Range & Ecommerce at NOTHS. Rosie has worked in a variety of different retail environments, from slow carefully crafted col...
In this episode of Buying and Beyond, we sit down with Emma Robinson, a consultant wine buyer whose career is as rich and layered as the wines she sources. From studying science to stepping into the world of fine wines, Emma has carved out a unique path, working across yacht provisioning, supermarket collaborations, and specialist training. Emma shares what it really takes to succeed in wine buying, from the value of qualifications like WSET and Master of Wine, to the deep product knowledge a...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States