Listen to myself, Tim Radley, on the Louise Lally podcast, discussing the world of retail sustainability, from diverse shopping channels, rental & second-hand resell, to on-demand manufacturing & the virtual inventory, and how sustainability, ethical governance and diversity are intrinsically linked.
Join the free podcast now through this link…https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ua8ca-1307ed8
The podcast features a discussion on Timberland. They have a long history already as a sustainable brand, working with the environment, recycled and sustainable materials, social responsibility and engaging with the local community wherever that may be.
Being local, and helping local, is not just lip service, and it begins with a fundamental commitment. As part of their employment contract Timberland employees are given a number of paid days leave every year to go and work with local volunteering initiatives. These can be independently chosen or can be part of the corporate programme.
I first came across this work over twenty years ago when i literally stumbled on Timberland volunteers helping to build and restore local footpaths in the areas around their shops. From New York to Madrid, Berlin to London there are now urban walkways for local communities to enjoy.
And their local community involvement has evolved further through the development of their purpose-led retail concepts. My local shop in Carnaby Street, London, maintains its link to the environment and sustainability. It regularly uses the shop in the evening to give workshops for local residents, showing them how to plant and maintain window boxes, or what to do with their organic kitchen waste.
So, take a listen to the podcast, discover Timberland possibly in a new light for you, and understand how they fit into the wider world of sustainability, ethical trends and retail strategies.
I’ll also explain and illustrate with best practice examples, the important areas that all retailers should consider when considering their retail strategies & sustainable propositions, their choice of suppliers, how to mix rental, re-sell, and on-demand and how to run shops in a responsible way.
Topics in the interview also include:
“What is sustainability?”
“The core of sustainability – buying less stuff & producing less stuff!”
“Different ways to the ethical market – rental, resale, re-use”
“The rise of the home stylist – making the most of your wardrobe”
“Re-educating the customer to appreciate and use products in better ways”
“Ways that smaller independent retailers can be sustainable”
“Sustainable accreditation and the problem of brand transparency & greenwashing”
“The link between sustainability and ethics – ‘Patagonia selling itself to a trust to ensure profits go to good causes”
“Upcycling and creating collectable product marketplaces”
‘Loanhood and the communities across sustainability – interactive lenders & borrowers, buyers & sellers’
‘New approaches to inventory and the supply chain – committed, bespoke, virtual and instant inventory’
On-demand, digital printing, instant inventory and non-ownership’
This is the final one of 4 exclusive interviews Tim is giving during October. Other interviews cover:
- ‘Experiential Retailing’ & Shop concepts
- Visual merchandising & shop design
- The new world for Retail people