Retail Trends 2026: How Independent Retailers Should Use Generative AI
From The Resilient Retail Game Plan - retail insights, retail trends and best practices by Resilient Retail Club's Catherine Erdly
June 4, 2026 · 21 min · Episode 305
About this episode
Catherine Erdly discusses the current state of generative AI usage among independent retailers in 2026, highlighting both its benefits and pitfalls.
AI is everywhere in retail right now — but are you actually using it in a way that's helping your business grow, or could it quietly be working against you? This episode is brought you by Faire who are offering 50% off and free shipping against new orders. Use the code "Resilient50" at checkout. This episode also features a free downloadable resource. Go to http://resilientretailclub.com/ai to claim it. Hi, I'm retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club , Catherine Erdly . And in this episode of the Resilient Retail Game Plan , I'm sharing the honest picture of how independent retailers are actually using generative AI in 2026. According to government data, just 16% of UK businesses are formally using AI — yet surveys suggest up to 80% of SME decision-makers have tried it in some form. The reality? Most people are using it to write emails faster, draft product descriptions, handle awkward customer messages, and generate ideas. And that's where it genuinely shines. But there are pitfalls too. I'm talking through the messy data problem that makes AI-powered sales analysis fall flat, the real concerns around AI imagery and brand trust, what I think went badly wrong with…
People in this episode
Host: Catherine Erdly
Topics covered
- generative AI
- independent retailers
- retail trends
- AI usage
- business growth
- data problems
Keywords
- AI in retail
- business growth
- independent retailers
- generative AI
- data problems
- customer messages
- product descriptions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Resilient Retail Club
Places: UK
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