Season 4 Episode 7: The Better Trends co-founder Louise Healy joins us to discuss how trends can be used for the better and the importance of collaboration in this challenging retail landscape

Today we are joined by co-founder of The Better Trends Company, Louise Healy, here today to talk about her career journey and of course all things trends! The Better Trends Company are a trend and design agency doing better, with focused trend insights and design strategies to fuel creativity and empower confident decisions for SME's. By turning trends into actionable tools, they help you create purposeful products that resonate with your audience. Better trends lead to better products—and brighter futures for your brand, your customers, and the planet.As buyers, trend planning and research is part of the job that we LOVE the most, so we are super excited to talk to Louise today about how she started The Better Trends Company and her career journey to date, that squiggly line that led her to where she is today. After graduating from Central St Martins, Louise started out as a stylist and art director creating editorials for Vogue, GQ and Harpers Bazaar and has worked for global brands such as Samsung, Chanel, Google and Ikea. Louise tells us how she met her co-founder Natalie and the inspiration behind starting The Better Trends CompanyWe discuss how important it is that trends are used for the better, to connect with your customer and not to drive unwanted product ranges. Louise talks about how the The Better Trends Collective membership is creating a community of collaboration which is key for retail survival. We also chat through some valuable trend round ups from the latest catwalk shows as Louise talks us through what trends she’s been seeing coming through and the brand/designers she is admiring right now. Our key takeaways:1) Investing in trend information is incredible valuable for your brand DNA - giving confidence, alignment with brand and reducing markdown2) Trends don't exist without people, real trends form through behaviours and attitudes, pay attention to the big picture over fads!3) Trust the journey you are on, your experiences will help inform your thinking and approach and that is your individual superpowerFor more information on The Better Trends Co. membership or how to work with Louise and Natalie head to www.the better trends company.com or email them directly on [email protected] 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.ukAutumn fair coffee meet up- come and meet us at Autumn fair at our coffee meet up and podcast live, see link below for all the details on how to sign up:  https://www.autumnfair.com/buying-beyond?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=buying_beyond_channels&utm_campaign=buying_beyondIf 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