How Bird and Blend Turned Tea into an Experience at Retail ROAR with Mike Turner
The Resilient Retail Game Plan · Resilient Retail Club's Catherine Erdly
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (episodes.captivate.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Bird & Blend, so chatting with co-founder Mike Turner at Retail ROAR was a real treat. From a single market stall to 25+ shops across the UK, Mike and his co-founder Krisi have built something truly unique.
In this episode—a sneak peek from our Retail ROAR 2025 summit—Mike shares how Bird & Blend grew from iced tea samples and hand-packed blends into a beloved national brand, all while staying people-focused and rooted in community.
We cover:
- What “experiential retail” actually looks like (and what it doesn’t)
- How thinking omnichannel from day one set them up for growth
- The joy of unexpected blends (think rhubarb and custard tea!)
- Using crowdfunding, customer feedback, and team ideas to scale
- Why real loyalty comes from inclusion—not discounts
Whether you’re planning your first shop, growing your brand, or simply after a dose of retail inspiration—this one’s worth a listen.
🎟️ Want more content like this? Get on the waitlist for Retail ROAR 2026!
Mentioned in this episode:
Retail Roar
Have you signed up yet? retailroar.co.uk