Clare Bailey — Retail Insight with Heart, Grit & Commercial Clarity

Retail isn’t just Clare Bailey’s profession — it’s her lived experience.

Known to many as The Retail Champion, Clare has spent more than three decades working across the UK retail landscape — from shop floors to boardrooms — helping businesses understand what’s really happening behind the headlines.

She brings straight-talking insight, yes — but also empathy, humour and perspective. Because retail isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people, places, livelihoods and pride.

And that human lens is what makes her sessions land so powerfully with audiences.

Why Book Clare?

Clare speaks with the authority of someone who has done the job — not just studied it.

She has advised global brands, supported independents, worked with local authorities and sat alongside policymakers shaping the future of the high street.

Her delivery is:

• Insightful but relatable
• Commercial yet deeply human
• Strategic without losing practicality
• Engaging, warm and refreshingly honest

Audiences don’t just listen — they recognise the realities she describes.

Because she speaks their language.

Signature Themes & Key Takeaways

The Future of the UK High Street

• What’s really driving footfall today
• Why place-making matters more than ever
• How towns rebuild confidence and relevance

Retail Strategy & Profitability

• Protecting margin in volatile markets
• Buying and pricing with confidence
• Turning insight into sustainable growth

Ecommerce & Omnichannel Integration

• Blending physical and digital retail seamlessly
• Where online enhances — not replaces — stores
• Building customer journeys that convert

Consumer Behaviour & Loyalty

• The emotional drivers behind spending
• What builds trust in uncertain times
• Why clarity beats cleverness

Retail Crime & Business Resilience

• The human and commercial cost of crime
• Practical steps retailers can take
• Why policy change is urgently needed

Leadership in Retail

• Leading through uncertainty
• Supporting teams under pressure
• Balancing ambition with realism

Credibility — Broadcast, Boardroom & High Street

Clare’s expertise is widely recognised across media, policy and industry.

She is a regular commentator on:

• BBC
• ITV
• Sky News
• Channel 5
• LBC and national radio

She has also featured on Netflix, bringing retail insight to an international audience.

Alongside her consultancy and speaking work, Clare is a published author.

Writing under her previous name, Claire Rayner, she authored two business books focused on retail growth, strategy and selling to retail, both grounded in her trademark blend of commercial realism and practical advice.

The author of:

• The Retail Champion: 10 Steps to Retail Success
• How to Sell to Retail

And host of the Retail Reckoning podcast, exploring the real challenges facing modern retail.

Trusted Across the Industry

Clare has worked with:

• Global brands including Amazon, Barclaycard, AXA, SAP, Accenture and SumUp
• Independent retailers and high street businesses
• Shopping destinations and retail groups
• Local authorities and regeneration partnerships

She is also engaged as:

• An expert witness in retail cases
• A strategic advisor on place and high street development
• A panel specialist on national retail issues

Tailored, Relevant & Audience-Led

No two talks are the same.

Clare takes time to understand the event, the audience and the commercial context — shaping sessions that feel relevant, current and grounded in reality.

Event organisers value her:

• Professionalism and preparation
• Broadcast confidence
• Strategic authority
• Ability to balance challenge with encouragement

Audiences value her because she tells the truth — constructively, insightfully and with care for the industry she represents.

Speaking Formats

Clare is available for:

• Keynote presentations
• Industry panels
• Fireside chats
• Policy forums
• Leadership conferences
• Retail and ecommerce events
• Media commentary and broadcast
• Webinars and virtual summits

Booking Enquiries

To enquire about Clare’s availability, keynote topics or speaking fees, please contact:

steph@stephbriggs.co.uk
Or complete the enquiry form here

“Retail is never just about transactions — it’s about people, confidence and the role businesses play in the life of a place.”
— Clare Bailey