S9 E9 From Manchester to Japan: The Buyer's Guide to Trend Spotting

This week it's just the two of us - no guests, no agenda, just a good old buyers' debrief. A few weeks ago we headed to Manchester for the Buying and Beyond meetup, and naturally that meant hitting the shops. What followed was a wide-ranging conversation about what we saw on the floor, where smart buyers are finding inspiration right now, and how the digital landscape is changing the way we read trends. If you've ever wanted to know where to go, what to look for, and how to cut through the noise - this one's for you.Key TakeawaysKnow your customer and stay true to your brand identity.Manchester's retail scene was a masterclass in brand clarity. River Island's revival showed what happens when a brand stops chasing competitors and leans back into its core aesthetic. Meanwhile, M&S continues to prove that great product + smart outfit-building styling = appeal across generations. The lesson: customers are increasingly shopping by lifestyle and interests, not age.You don't need a big travel budget to find inspiration.Japan may be the gold standard for retail theater, but Europe is packed with accessible alternatives - Paris neighborhoods, Amsterdam's sustainable design scene, Bratislava's independent makers, and emerging destinations like Slovenia. Closer to home, a visit to a completely different city (hello, Manchester) can shift your perspective in ways a quick local shop sprint never will.Vinted and TikTok Shop are trend thermometers - use them.TikTok Shop transaction volume rose 80% year-on-year in 2025, and resale/sustainable product lines are forecast to account for 20% of apparel sales by 2028. Scrolling Vinted's most-liked items gives buyers a real-time, customer-facing read on what people actually want — a live data feed that's worth adding to your regular comp-shopping toolkit.Want to go deeper on trend spotting and retail inspiration? Join the Buying and Beyond Buyers Club for curated trend analysis, inspiration trip guides, and more.https://www.jointhebuyersclub.co.uk/Support the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support