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WIZZ&CO Retail and Brand Consultancy

A little post to say I have capacity for a couple of new projects over the coming months.For anyone who doesn’t know my ...
12/10/2026

A little post to say I have capacity for a couple of new projects over the coming months.

For anyone who doesn’t know my background, I’ve spent 20+ years working across retail, brands and consumer businesses - from being Head of Beauty Buying at Selfridges, to senior sales and commercial roles within brands, to founding my own consultancy and, most recently, co-founding and building a consumer brand myself.

That means I’ve experienced business from pretty much every side of the table.

I’ve been the buyer deciding which brands get listed. I’ve worked inside established businesses responsible for sales and growth. I’ve advised founders and leadership teams on strategy, trends, retail and what to do next. And I’ve built a brand from the ground up - raising investment, launching into major retailers and navigating all the highs and lows that come with entrepreneurship.

I bring all of that experience together working with founders, brands and retailers who want an experienced external perspective, commercial clarity and someone who isn’t afraid to challenge their thinking.

If you think there’s something we could work on together, I’d love to have a conversation.

And if someone comes to mind who you think I could help, I’d really appreciate you sharing this with them or tagging them below.

Getting stocked is one thing, building a profitable retail business is another.The Sephora x M&S partnership is a fascin...
11/10/2026

Getting stocked is one thing, building a profitable retail business is another.

The Sephora x M&S partnership is a fascinating move for UK beauty retail.

For M&S, it offers a faster route to a more compelling beauty proposition. For Sephora, it’s an opportunity to reach new customers and expand its UK presence.

But there are some bigger questions worth asking.

What happens to the beauty brands already stocked at M&S? Who owns the customer relationship? And can the partnership deliver sustainable profitability, not just initial excitement?

For beauty founders, there’s an equally important lesson here.

Retail is constantly evolving. Getting listed doesn’t guarantee long-term success, and securing distribution is only the start.

You need to know why a retailer needs your brand, how you’ll drive demand and whether the commercial model actually works.

Having spent years on the buying side of the table at Selfridges, these are the questions I encourage brands to consider before approaching major retailers.

I’ve unpacked my thoughts on the partnership, what it could mean for the wider beauty market, and the lessons for brands looking to grow through retail in my latest article.

Read the full article via the link in bio.

And if you’re preparing for your next retail pitch or looking to grow your existing accounts, get in touch.

What if your next £1m in revenue isn’t hiding in new customer acquisition?It could already be sitting in the customers y...
10/10/2026

What if your next £1m in revenue isn’t hiding in new customer acquisition?

It could already be sitting in the customers you’ve paid to bring through the door.
On 22 October, I’m bringing together a small group of senior brand and retail leaders for an intimate VIP dinner in Soho to ask:

Where is the revenue you’re not seeing?

From the moment someone browses to the moment they buy, there are countless opportunities to recognise intent, remove friction and turn existing demand into growth.

We’ll get into the uncomfortable questions around customer journeys, personalisation, AI, discovery and conversion and, importantly, have a candid discussion with peers under Chatham House Rules.

Smart people, honest conversations and ideas you can actually take back to your business. In partnership with Wunderkind

Applications are open. Link in bio to apply.

I’m back after a much-needed holiday, feeling recharged and raring to go! ☀️This summer has been A LOT. I’m not quite re...
09/10/2026

I’m back after a much-needed holiday, feeling recharged and raring to go! ☀️

This summer has been A LOT. I’m not quite ready to share everything just yet, but IYKYK.

What I do know is that I’m excited about what’s next.

One thing I’ve really missed is doing what I love most. Helping ambitious businesses unlock opportunities, navigate the world of retail and turn big ideas into commercial success.

It’s where my experience, passion and true zone of genius come together.

Having spent my career on both sides of the table, as a retail buyer, sales director, consultant and founder, I bring a unique perspective on what it really takes to build, launch and scale a successful consumer brand.

So, I’m opening up my diary for new clients and opportunities.

Here’s how I can help:

🚀 Retail Strategy & Expansion – Helping brands get retail-ready, pitch to buyers, secure listings and grow with retailers.

💡 Brand & Commercial Strategy – From positioning and go-to-market plans to identifying new revenue opportunities.

🤝 Fractional Commercial Leadership – Senior sales, marketing and retail expertise without the commitment of a full-time hire.

🎯 Business Coaching – Strategic guidance, honest advice and accountability to help founders navigate challenges and accelerate growth.

🎤 Speaking, Trends & Workshops – Sharing insights on the future of retail, beauty, wellness and consumer behaviour through keynotes, workshops and private events to get in front of your ICP.

If you think I could help your business, or know someone who might benefit from my experience, I’d be incredibly grateful for a comment, introduction or share.

Here’s to fresh energy, new opportunities and doing more of what I love. ❤️

You’re probably waiting too long to approach retailers.I actually recommend founders start talking to buyers before they...
23/09/2026

You’re probably waiting too long to approach retailers.

I actually recommend founders start talking to buyers before they feel ready.

Why?

Because retail takes time.

You need to build relationships, understand what different retailers are looking for, develop your pitch, gather commercial proof points and work out which retailers actually make sense for your brand.

And you can do a lot of that before you’re ready to launch.

I get asked the same questions by founders again and again:

How do I actually get a buyer to open my email?

Can I approach big retailers without a huge social following?

Are trade shows actually worth the time, money and effort?

And one I hear a lot:

“What do I do if buyers just aren’t replying?”

These were some of the questions that came up during the Q&A in my recent Scaling with Global Retailers webinar.

And the answers aren’t always what you might expect.

For example, you don’t necessarily need a huge audience before approaching retail.

And I’d actually recommend starting the conversation before you feel ready.

Your pitch deck?

5–7 pages. Not 20.

Because buyers are busy. They skim. Your job is to make your point of view, differentiation and commercial opportunity crystal clear.

The full webinar Q&A is now available to watch back, but be quick, it’s only available for 7 days.

If retail is part of your growth plan, there are plenty of practical takeaways in this one.

👉 Watch the replay on my YouTube channel.

And if you’re thinking “I need to get my retail strategy sorted” my Scaling with Global Retailers Accelerator is currently open. Drop me a DM or comment to chat about it.

📷 Wishing I was on holiday right now

If your retail strategy is simply “get into Selfridges”, we need to talk.One of the conversations I have most often with...
17/09/2026

If your retail strategy is simply “get into Selfridges”, we need to talk.

One of the conversations I have most often with founders is:

“Should I focus on growing DTC or start looking at retail?”
My answer?
You need to understand what each channel is doing for your business.

DTC gives you:
→ Customer data
→ Higher margins
→ Direct relationships
→ The ability to test, learn and iterate quickly

Retail gives you:
→ Reach
→ Discovery
→ Credibility
→ New customer acquisition at scale

The mistake is treating retail as the next level of DTC.

It’s not.

It’s a different commercial model, with different economics, different customer behaviour and different demands on your business.

The smartest brands build a strategy where the two channels work together.

For example:
Retail drives discovery → DTC builds the relationship.
Or:
DTC proves demand → retail helps you scale distribution.

And the data from each channel should inform the other.

That’s why when I work with founders on retail strategy, we don’t just talk about which retailers to pitch.

We look at the whole commercial picture:
Where should retail fit?
What role should DTC play?
Which channel should you prioritise now?
And how do you make the economics work across both?

Because landing a retailer is one thing.
Building a business that works because of retail is another.

I’ve hosted a webinar, Scaling with Global Retailers, where I shared the strategies I’ve learnt from both sides of the retail table. Including how to choose the right retailers, build a pitch buyers care about, and balance retail growth with DTC.

If retail is on your roadmap for 2027, go and watch the recording via the link in bio.

Let’s look at the whole commercial picture:Where should retail fit?What role should DTC play?Which channel should you pr...
16/09/2026

Let’s look at the whole commercial picture:

Where should retail fit?
What role should DTC play?
Which channel should you prioritise now?
And how do you make the economics work across both?

Because landing a retailer is one thing.

Building a business that works because of retail is another.

If your retail strategy is simply “get into Selfridges”, you need to watch my webinar’s recording. You can find it on my events page. Link in bio.

Premium skincare has a problem: “premium” isn’t enough anymore.Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable. They want to k...
28/08/2026

Premium skincare has a problem: “premium” isn’t enough anymore.

Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable. They want to know what a product does, why it works and whether it’s actually worth the price.

At the same time, skincare is expanding beyond the product itself: into devices, treatments, supplements, wellness and longevity.

And then there’s the other side of the equation: desire.

Because the brands winning aren’t necessarily the most clinical or the most luxurious. They’re the ones that can make consumers believe in the product and want the product.

In my latest article, I look at three shifts I think will be particularly important for premium skincare:

1. Performance is the new luxury
2. Skincare is becoming an ecosystem
3. Efficacy gets you considered. Desire gets you chosen.

I also look at the commercial opportunities sitting behind these trends. Spotting a trend is one thing. Knowing what to actually do with it is another.

Read the full article via the link in bio.

With Frasers buying Harvey Nichols, the big question for me isn’t simply whether the business can be made profitable aga...
27/08/2026

With Frasers buying Harvey Nichols, the big question for me isn’t simply whether the business can be made profitable again. It’s whether the next owner can make people want Harvey Nichols again.

Harvey Nichols has lost some of its distinctiveness over the past decade, particularly compared with Selfridges and Harrods. In the early noughties when I was buying at Selfridges, we were always competing for exclusivity over both retailers.

If I were looking at the turnaround, these would be my priorities:

1. Rediscover the point of difference
Don’t try to compete with Harrods and Selfridges on scale and breadth.

Harvey Nichols has an opportunity to lean into its more boutique feel - creating a more curated, personal and distinctive experience.

2. Be ruthless about the product mix
Which brands are genuinely unique to Harvey Nichols?
Which categories are driving sales and profit?
Where is space being used effectively?

And, most importantly, does the assortment reflect what its ideal customer actually wants?
The answer shouldn’t be “more of everything”. It should be better curation and more discovery.

3. Make stores worth visiting
In a world where almost anything can arrive at your front door tomorrow, physical retail has to offer something online can’t.

Experience. Discovery. Service. Community. Access.

Harvey Nichols needs to give customers a reason to visit rather than simply browse a website.

4. Rethink loyalty
Cashback is an expensive way to buy loyalty when you’re trying to rebuild profitability.
I’d be looking much more towards access, exclusivity and experiences, giving customers things they genuinely can’t get elsewhere.

Harrods and Selfridges are already moving in this direction.

5. Get the balance between commercial discipline and brand building right
Frasers has the commercial firepower to tackle costs, buying, inventory and operational efficiency.

But there is a danger with any turnaround: focusing so heavily on the numbers that you inadvertently strip away the thing that makes the brand valuable.

It needs to become more interesting.

The irony is that it already has many of the ingredients: heritage, recognition, incredible locations and deca

It was my birthday last week 💃Last year was A LOT but I’ve done so much healing, growth and breakthroughs. I’ve also bec...
26/08/2026

It was my birthday last week 💃

Last year was A LOT but I’ve done so much healing, growth and breakthroughs.

I’ve also become more unapologetically me.

So happy birthday to me…. And send me some cheers because this 🦁 is no longer afraid to admit she loves the attention.

———

I am Wizz Selvey I help you navigate your growth through retail strategy, consumer insight and business coaching, drawing on 20+ years of experience across retail, beauty and brands.

I work with founders, leadership teams and businesses looking to scale, sharpen their strategy and unlock their next stage of growth.

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+447888821344

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