Retail Outlook 2026: Why 71% of Independent Retailers Are Growing - And How to Join Them

71% of independent retailers in the UK are growing or stable. And 9 in 10 shoppers say AI has made them MORE likely to trust your shop over an algorithm. Here is what the data actually says.Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.Are you tired of reading headlines that make it sound like independent retail is finished? The noise about AI, empty high streets, and big-box competition can feel genuinely frightening if you are running a small business. But what if the data tells a completely different story — and what if that story is one you desperately needed to hear?In this episode, I sit down with Elyse McAvoy from Faire to unpack the Voices of Retail report — a landmark piece of research that surveyed 650 independent retailers and over 2,000 UK consumers. It is the first time a report of this kind has merged the retailer perspective and the consumer perspective into one honest picture of what is actually happening on Britain's high streets. And the findings will surprise you.Once you listen, you will leave with a clear understanding of what is separating retailers who are growing from those who are struggling, a completely new perspective on AI and your business, and three specific actions you can take this month. If you have been feeling uncertain about whether your shop has a future, this is the episode that will give you the data — and the confidence — to move forward.CHAPTERS00:00 — Introduction: Why This Report Matters for Every Independent Retailer02:30 — Key Findings: AI, the 71% Statistic and the Branding Gap07:13 — Consumer Spending Power: What Shoppers Are Ready to Spend With You10:28 — What to Do Now: Three Practical Actions to Take This MonthUSEFUL LINKS📥 Download the Voices of Retail report free from the Spring Fair website — link in show notes🛒 Explore Faire as a wholesale marketplace: faire.com🎙 More episodes: resilientretailclub.com/podcast🔗 Connect with Catherine: linkedin.com/in/catherineerdlyMentioned in this episode:Faire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'This podcast uses chapters