Nicole Higgins

Nicole Higgins is an award-winning retail consultant who helps product-based businesses build strong foundations and scale with confidence. With over 20 years' experience in senior buying roles at major high street brands including Primark and M&S, spanning categories from lingerie to beauty, she understands what makes products succeed in fast-moving retail environments. Nicole supports startups and growing businesses through sourcing, product development, and commercial strategy, and hosts the weekly podcast Start Scale Succeed. Her sessions equip founders and teams with practical insight and real-world clarity that translates directly into smarter decision-making and sustainable growth.

After two decades shaping product strategy for some of Britain's best-known high street names, Nicole Higgins turned her focus to a new challenge: helping ambitious founders build retail businesses that last. Her career includes senior buying roles at Primark and M&S, where she developed expertise across categories as diverse as lingerie and beauty, navigating the fast-paced demands of mass-market retail. That breadth of experience gave her a rare perspective on what separates products that thrive from those that falter, and she now channels that understanding into supporting startups and growing brands at critical stages of their journey.

Nicole's approach is rooted in commercial realism and practical application. She works directly with founders and teams on sourcing, product development, strategy, and growth planning, translating complex retail dynamics into clear, actionable guidance. Her consultancy has earned industry recognition, but it is her ability to demystify the retail landscape that resonates most strongly with clients. She understands the pressures product-based businesses face, from managing supplier relationships to making strategic decisions under uncertainty, and she equips them with the tools and confidence to move forward decisively. Beyond one-to-one consulting, Nicole hosts the weekly podcast Start Scale Succeed, where she interviews inspiring founders and industry experts, offering listeners an accessible window into the realities of building and scaling product businesses. Her down-to-earth style and willingness to share hard-won knowledge have made the podcast a valued resource for entrepreneurs seeking honest, experienced insight.

When Nicole speaks at events, she delivers content that is immediately applicable. Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of how to strengthen their product offering, refine their commercial strategy, and scale sustainably without losing sight of what made their brand compelling in the first place. Her sessions combine real-world examples, practical frameworks, and candid reflections on the challenges founders encounter as they grow. Whether addressing early-stage startups or established businesses navigating expansion, Nicole creates space for honest conversation and actionable learning. Her impact extends beyond the event itself, equipping attendees with the clarity and confidence to make smarter decisions, build stronger supplier partnerships, and create products that succeed in competitive markets. For organisations seeking a speaker who understands both the operational realities and the emotional demands of building a product business, Nicole offers insight that is credible, relatable, and genuinely useful.