Retail Trends 2026: Four Shifts Retail Businesses Need To Prepare For

The shopfront of retail is about to change—will you be on the right side when the robots come knocking? Hi, I'm Catherine Erdly.This week on the Resilient Retail Game Plan, I’m laying out the four seismic shifts set to hit independent retailers by 2026.Think agentic AI that shops for your customers, TikTok Shop turning the high street digital, trust as your most valuable currency, and the resale boom rewriting what “new” means.With 25 years of retail trenches behind me, I’m sharing not just the what, but the how—so you can cut through the noise, strengthen cash flow for retailers, and make sure your product business survives (and thrives) in the new landscape.Grab your notebook and come behind the counter—these are the independent retailer tips that matter.Make sure you grab my freebie at http://resilientretailclub.com/freebieEnjoy the episode? DM me your lightbulb moments or next guest wish list @resilientretailclub on Instagram. Please rate, follow, and review this podcast in your app—it helps more indie founders decide to give us a try!00:00 "Top Retail Trends for 2026"06:05 "Future of Shopping: AI & Shoptainment"10:07 "Shoppable Live Streams on TikTok"14:16 TikTok Shop: Creator-Brand Strategies16:33 "AI Pets and Trust Issues"18:42 Building Trust for Small Businesses22:44 "Building Trust Through TikTok"Mentioned in this episode:Retail RoarHave you signed up yet? retailroar.co.ukRetail RoarFaire 50% off - use code 'Resilient50'