Bloom by Blue Cactus

Bloom by Blue Cactus

By bloombybluecactusBusinessEntrepreneurship
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Bloom by Blue Cactus episodes

  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 2, Episode 1:Anna Brightman, Upcircle Beauty
    We were thrilled when Anna Brightman, Co-Founder of @upcirclebeauty agreed to be our first guest for Season 2.
    The brand known for pioneering the “by-product beauty” trend, we have watched them start, grow and now dominate a niche they created.  
    Anna talks about the company's appearance on Dragon's Den, getting funding and expansion into international markets. It's a CORKER!
    20 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 22:Bianca Rangecroft, Whering
    Our (fashion) prayers have been answered! 🙏👗
    Who else is a 'Clueless' fan and has drooled over Cher's outfit-picking wardrobe for the last 3 decades? It's finally a reality!
    In this week's episode, Clare speaks with Bianca Rangecroft, Founder and CEO of @whering_.  
    The digital closet, helping you rediscover your wardrobe treasures, as well as, suggesting ethical pieces that compliment what you already own.
    We are smitten with the app.
    Tune in to hear:
    🌵 How Bianca has been sending waves through the fashion industry.  
    🌵 How fashion lovers have helped Whering grow enormously since its launch last year. 
    🌵 The power of organic social media and word of mouth recommendations
    🌵 The barriers faced by female tech founders seeking funding
    We are so excited to see how Whering develops! There's a Cher in all of us just waiting to break free.
    Are you as excited as us?
    21 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 21: Bumni Scott, It's All About You Eco
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Bunmi Scott, Founder of @itsallaboutyou_eco.  The online eco shop, selling refillable pantry staples to households across the UK.
    Listen in to hear:
    🌵 What led to the creation of the business
    🌵 Why they sought external investment
    🌵 Why education forms a large part of their marketing strategy
    🌵 How the physical store came about
    🌵 What the future holds
    We love refill shops and love that it is now accessible to everyone who may not have one physically close to them.
    27 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus Podcast Series 1, Episode 20, Two Drifters Distillery
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Russ and Gemma Wakeham, the husband and wife co-founders of @twodriftersrum
    They have combined their two passions – making great rum and environmental sustainability.  
    Listen in to hear how:
    🌵 Living in Vancouver sparked their business idea
    🌵 How they went all in to fund their business
    🌵 How they went from brewing beer to distilling rum
    🌵 The importance of upskilling in digital marketing
    🌵 The reality of crowdfunding and how it's changed their business
    Such a great founder story and one we're sure will inspire others looking to make the leap into entrepreneurship.
    26 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 19: Eliza Flanagan, KanKan
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Eliza Flanagan, Co-Founder of @kankan_london.
    A business based on such a simple idea, even they can't believe no one thought of it earlier; liquid soap, beauty products and baby products sold in aluminium cans.
    We have loved watching this brand grow since they launched in 2019. 
    Tune in to hear:
    🌵 How they unusually started with their mission before embarking on creating a business around it 
    🌵 Why they decided to use cans for their products and how the execution has been more complicated than they thought
    🌵 The best advice they received from a Sustainability Consultant they hired as they were launching
    🌵 Their funding journey from self-funding the launch, to now embarking on @crowdcube funding
    🌵 Their ambitious expansion plans and how you can support them 
    We love nothing more than seeing passionate founders grow their businesses.  Listen in from the link in our bio.
    25 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 18: Josie Morris, Woolcool
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Josie Morris, MD, @wearewoolcool
    This intergenerational family business has transformed how food and pharmaceuticals are transported around the world.  All thanks to our woolly friends 🐑🐑🐑
    Tune in to hear:
    🌵 How a chance project with the @nationaltrust began research into natural polystyrene alternatives to keep food cool in transit
    🌵 How switching to natural alternatives may be slightly more expensive per unit but when you factor in the use of fewer ice packs, less water and lighter packages, the cost saving is comparable
    🌵 How a mix of self-funding, private investment and grants helped to scale the business
    🌵 Tips on how to apply for grants and why you shouldn't be put off by the process
    🌵 How becoming a @bcorpuk has changed their business
    🌵 What else they invested in which has proved to be a gamechanger
    Not one to miss.  You'll never look at a delivery the same again.  Click on the link in our bio to listen!
    24 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 17: Guy Schanschieff from Bambino Mio
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Guy Schanschieff, Founder of @bambinomio.
    While many think the renaissance of reusable nappies is a recent phenomenon, Bambino Mio launched 20 years ago and have evolved greatly in that time.
    It's always inspiring hearing about the journey of a more established business when you're just starting out.
    The nuggets we know you'll love to hear more about:
    🌵 the three stages Bambino Mio have gone through to get to £20 million annual turnover
    🌵 the investments made in digitalisation, marketing, processes and people that skyrocketed their productivity and sales
    🌵 why tough times are a blessing in disguise
    🌵 why raising awareness to the masses is proving pivotal for purpose-led businesses
    This episode gives us hope that through perseverance and being true to our purpose, we can build a brighter future.
    27 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 16: Harry Norris From Big Little Brands
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Harry Norris, Founder of @biglittlebrands_uk.
    This innovative platform, heralded as the sustainable Etsy or Not On The High Street, was launched in December to raise the profile of sustainable start-ups, helping to elevate them and raise their profile in a noisy online world.
    Harry talks us through:
    🌵 what inspired him to launch Big Little Brands
    🌵 how he financed his launch with a family loan
    🌵 his biggest lessons so far
    🌵 his tips for launching a new business
    Don't miss this episode! What's not to love about a platform championing ethical start-ups - Tune in to hear all about it 💚🌍
    18 min
  • Bloom by Blue Cactus, Series 1, Episode 15: Tom Meades from Gomi Design
    This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Tom Meades, Founder of @gomidesign.
    Gomi is a sustainable design studio in Brighton, England, that turns non-recyclable plastic waste into tech products. They started out in 2018, transforming unwanted plastic bags and wraps into colourful, marbled Bluetooth speakers.
    Tune in to hear:
    🌵 How the idea for Gomi came about
    🌵 Why they chose crowdfunding as the source of their start-up funding
    🌵 Why a failed fundraising campaign isn't necessarily the end of the road
    🌵 The pros and cons of going down the crowdfunding investment route
    🌵 Tips for creating a crowdfunding campaign and how to ask for help
    🌵 The product launches and brand collaborations in the pipeline for the year ahead.
    We loved our chat with Tom and can't wait to hear what other innovative ideas he has up his sleeve.
    What's the most innovative use of recycled plastic you've heard of?
    18 min

About Bloom by Blue Cactus

From the publisher's feed

The Bloom by Blue Cactus Podcast is led by Clare Martin, founder of Blue Cactus Digital. Blue Cactus is a digital marketing agency, focusing on the startup and disruptive brand market.