Press and media enquiries
Looking for a leading retail expert’s view on the UK industry?
Sarah Johnson, Flourish founder and retail expert, has provided industry insights to BBC News and radio, Retail Gazette, Top Drawer and more. As a leading commentator on the UK retail sector, she’s happy to help with everything from press articles to interviews, podcasts, webinars, panels and events. Whether you’re looking for a short soundbite or detailed insights, let us know what you need and we’ll do our best to make it happen.
As seen in
Press kit
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Sarah is a merchandising consultant, founder of Flourish Retail, co-founder of The Merchandising School, and a leading commentator on the UK retail industry. With more than two decades of experience working across high street names and small independent brands (via online giant ASOS), and as a media-friendly expert on the UK retail industry, she’s perfectly placed to share insights.
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Flourish Retail makes big business merchandising accessible to smaller retailers, helping them boost their sales and profit in a way that’s flexible and affordable.
From affordable tools that let brands manage their own merchandising, all the way to bespoke consultancy and training, Flourish is here to help everyone.
The team’s support can be adapted to suit any size of retailer, whether they’re just starting out, ready to scale up, or are already well established. Find out more.
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If you need an image or logo to accompany your press piece, please just ask. We can provide photos and logo files in a range of formats.
Featured in…
As a leading commentator, Sarah has been featured in a wide range of articles, radio programmes and events, from Top Drawer to CEO Today and BBC News.
Unlocking the secrets of retail merchandising
Sarah joined Vicki Weinberg to share her expertise in helping small businesses leverage product data to scale, boost sales, and stay profitable.
BRING YOUR PRODUCT IDEA TO LIFE — PODCAST
MARCH 2025
The Shein effect: is fashion stuck in a race to the bottom?
In this article, Sarah highlighted governance as key to Shein’s future, warning that supply chain opacity and ethics issues threaten profitability and investor confidence.
RETAIL GAZETTE — ARTICLE
FEBRUARY 2025
Is shoplifting to blame for rising costs?
Sarah joined Stuart George on BBC Radio Stoke to discuss whether shoplifting is adding to increasing costs and how retail staff are impacted. Scroll to 2:07:50 to listen.
BBC RADIO STOKE - RADIO COVERAGE
JANUARY 2025
Challenging the working from home stigma: my take on Lord Stuart Rose’s comments
Sarah challenged Lord Stuart Rose’s claim that home working isn’t “proper work,” sharing her own perspective on the benefits of hybrid working—a view that resonated with thousands.
LINKED IN — SOCIAL MEDIA
JANUARY 2025
Merchandising: the secret to retail success
Sarah delivered a live session on the Retail Revealed stage at Top Drawer S/S25, sharing insights on why merchandising is the secret to retail success.
TOP DRAWER S/S25 — TRADE SHOW
JANUARY 2025
Shein backlash fails to deter shoppers
Sarah had the chance to share her thoughts on fast-fashion brand Shein’s labour practices and how that relates to the price and profit, in a BBC investigation.
BBC NEWS — ARTICLE
JANUARY 2025
Five reasons why merchandising is a retailer’s best kept secret
Sarah reveals how small businesses can use merchandising to boost profits, streamline operations, and thrive with practical, scalable strategies.
BRAND YOU MAGAZINE — ARTICLE
DECEMBER 2024
Cyber Monday: How to spot a deal and not get ripped off
Sarah shares her top tips on how to shop Cyber Monday sales without ending up out of pocket.
BBC NEWS — ARTICLE
NOVEMBER 2024
Black Friday shoppers warned to be wary of deals
Sarah highlights how some brands inflate prices before discounts to create the illusion of better deals – a tactic increasingly exposed by price comparison tools.
GLASGOW STANDARD — ARTICLE
NOVEMBER 2024
Are there any genuine deals to be found on Black Friday?
Sarah joined Lorna Bailey on BBC Radio CWR to discuss whether Black Friday offers genuine deals and shared tips on how to spot them. Scroll to 1:40:30 to listen.
BBC RADIO CWR — RADIO COVERAGE
NOVEMBER 2024
Black Friday shoppers warned to be wary of deals
With so much noise around discounts, Sarah explains why it’s more important than ever to be savvy and ensure that the Black Friday deals are as good as they seem.
BBC NEWS — ARTICLE
NOVEMBER 2024
Are luxury advent calendars a good investment?
Sarah chatted to Kaye Adams on BBC Radio Scotland about her new favourite topic – luxury advent calendars! Scroll to 2:51:25 to listen.
BBC RADIO SCOTLAND — RADIO FEATURE
NOVEMBER 2024
Are luxury beauty advent calendars a rip-off?
With extravagant advent calendars launching everywhere for 2024 Christmas retail season, Sarah shared her insights on the trend alongside online influencers.
BBC NEWS — ARTICLE
NOVEMBER 2024
Taking your business from Shopify to John Lewis (DTC to Wholesale)
Sarah shared why wholesale can be a game-changer for your business, along with her top 5 tips to make it a success.
FEMALE FUSION COFFEE CONNECT — SPEAKER
OCTOBER 2024
Sourcing, Buying & Merchandising Strategies for Fashion E-commerce Brands
Sarah joined other industry experts in a discussion on how merchandising is intrinsic to successful sourcing, pricing, and stock management.
THE FASHION NETWORK E-COMMERCE SUMMIT — SPEAKER
JULY 2024
The inspiring journey of Sarah Johnson and Flourish Retail
A beacon of empowerment for small retailers, innovative consultancy, Flourish Retail, shines as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023.
FRESH BUSINESS THINKING — ARTICLE
AUGUST 2023
How to price your products to make profit
In this Lunch and Learn, merchandising pro Sarah Johnson explains how to price your products profitably and trade effectively.
ENTERPRISE NATION — WEBINAR
NOVEMBER 2022
What numbers do you need to know in your business to scale?
Buyer and retail coach Nicole Higgins and Sarah discuss how to manage your stocks, as well as the numbers that really matter in your business.
START SCALE SUCCEED — PODCAST
AUGUST 2022