Let’s Talk Shop

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I speak with Hazel and Jimmy Russell from The Wood Life Project. I have had the pleasure of working with Hazel and Jimmy and I really love their thoughtful products I really admire how they have built their business over the last year.

What really hit me while I was editing this podcast is just how much they have achieved in just one year, from incorporating in January 2019 to finding a manufacturer, changing manufacturer, exhibiting at a tradeshow and being stocked in around 30 stores in less than 12 months, it’s truly inspiring and in this episode, we talk all about how they achieved this.

-Why Hazel and Jimmy decided to start a business, how they came up with an idea and what has been instrumental in making this reality.

-The biggest challenges and surprises they have come across during their first year in business.

-How not knowing everything might have helped them rather than hindered them.

-How it was to exhibit at a trade show for the first time, speak to stockists and buyers and what they have learned.

-The importance of providing good customer service to their stockists, big and small retailers.

Connect with The Wood Life Project

Website: https://www.thewoodlifeproject.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewoodlifeproject/

Links mentioned in this episode

Mean Mail: https://www.meanmail.co/

And Create: https://www.and-create.com/

Friends of Jules: https://www.joules.com/friends/The%20Wood%20Life%20Project

Not on the high street: https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/thewoodlifeproject

Mama Brown and Co: https://mamabrown.co.uk/collections/tableware

Veronica Dearly: https://veronicadearly.com/

Holly Tucker: https://holly.co/

Conversations of inspiration: https://holly.co/podcast/

Julie Deane, The Cambridge Satchel Co: https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/

Will Jones, The Black Farmer: https://www.theblackfarmer.com/

Healeys: https://healeys-printers.co.uk/

Top Drawer: https://www.topdrawer.co.uk/

Darren Harper from Tech Velocity: https://www.techvelocity.co.uk/ 

FREE Webinar – Get started with wholesale

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/webinar

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Apply to be a guest on season 3 of Let’s Talk Shop

https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode visited Martina and Andrea at their concept store 1n1 Fashion n Pizza in East London.

Martina and Andrea is a couple from Italy who managed to combine their two passions, fashion and pizza into one store/restaurant.

It all started around three years ago with a pop-up and in this episode, we talk about:

-Working together as a couple

-Sustainability

-How Martina and Andrea find new brands and new suppliers

-The difference between buying fashion and other items such as accessories and giftware.

-How to approach a potential stockist.

-The enjoyment they get from building a relationship and chatting with their customers.

-What they learned over the last 3 years.

-The importance of being flexible when running a brand and a business.

Connect with 1n1 Fashion n Pizza

Website: https://1n1fashionnpizza.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1n1fashionnpizza/Twitter:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1n1fashionnpizza

Links mentioned in this episode

PR Dispatch: https://prdispatch.com/

Future Retail: bit.ly/planyoursales

Top Drawer: https://www.topdrawer.co.uk/

Scoop London: http://scoop-international.com/Home

Documentary mentioned: A True Cost

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Apply to be a guest on season 3 of Let’s Talk Shop

https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure to speak with Jana Pavasovic who is the founder of The Completist. The Completist creates fun, vibrant and totally swoon-worthy paper products in their South London studio in Peckham.

I am a self-proclaimed stationery addict and which I could basically buy everything Jana creates and I’m so impressed how The Completist has grown in such a short period of time.

Jana runs the business together with her husband Marko and we talk all about:

-Growing the business and the importance of having a range plan.

-Working with Mentors and having business friends.

-Attending and exhibiting at Trade Shows.

-How Jana has grown their wholesale and all her top tips and much more.

Connect with The Completist

Website: https://the-completist.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.completist

Twitter: https://twitter.com/completistldn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lecompletiste/

Links mentioned in this episode

Papersmiths: https://www.papersmiths.co.uk/

Mean Mail: https://www.meanmail.co/

Search and Rescue: https://www.searchandrescuelondon.co.uk/

Bravery and Co: https://www.braveryco.com.au/

PR Dispatch: https://prdispatch.com/

LFA: https://www.lfa.agency/

Present and Correct: https://www.presentandcorrect.com/

Goods For The Study: https://www.mcnallyjacksonstore.com/

Rare Device: https://raredevice.net/

Tickets for the PR Dispatch event: https://prdispatch.com/upcoming-industry-panels-workshops/2020/1/28/should-i-be-doing-a-trade-show

Tickets for Start-up 2020: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/startup-2020-the-uks-biggest-start-up-show-of-the-new-year-tickets-66868813421

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Apply to be a guest on season 3 of Let’s Talk Shop

https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

A new year and a new episode of Let’s Talk Shop, it seems to be very fitting that to be talking about planning this time of the year and who’s better to share some wisdom and planning magic than Josephine Brooks.

Josephine Brooks is a Make it Happen mentor. She helps purpose driven creatives find clarity, plan more effectively and most importantly make those plans a reality. Her mission is to empower creative business owners to do more of what they love and create the slower, more meaningful lifestyle they long for. But her philosophy isn’t all about being busy and striving to get more done, it’s all about doing less and focussing on the most impactful projects and tasks.

In this episode we talk all about:

-How Josephine got started and how she came to realise that she wanted to help others plan and grow their businesses.

-How we stay motivated

-How planning can help you stay on track with your wholesale and break down all those tasks so they seem less daunting.

-How we can’t let the fear of rejection win and how planning can help us move past this and stop procrastinating.

Connect with Josephine Books

Website: https://www.josephinebrooks.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephinepbrooks/

Podcast: Make a Plan Make it Happen: https://www.josephinebrooks.co.uk/podcast/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/JosephinePBrooks/

Free workbook: https://www.josephinebrooks.co.uk/free-resources

Nurture and Thrive https://www.josephinebrooks.co.uk/community

Links mentioned in this episode

Kyleighs Papercuts: https://www.kyleighspapercuts.co.uk/

Gretchen Rubin Quiz: https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

12-week group training program – FAST TRACK TO WHOLESALE

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/12-week-group-training

Apply to be a guest on season 3 of Let’s Talk Shop

https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

This is the last episode of the year, we will now be taking a little Christmas break and the podcast will be back on the 6th January 2020. Thank you so much for listening this year and I really look forward to the next one. 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I speak with Keira O'Mara, founder of Mama Designs, a baby product business that has been going for over 10 years. Mama Designs make practical baby products and just started producing some of their new range in the UK, something that has bee a goal for a while in the business.

Keira started her business after being made redundant whilst on maternity leave and we spoke all about that and much more on our podcast. Keira also recently launched an online course for small business owners and in 2020 she will be hosting events in the Birmingham area. 

- Building a business and growing it.

- The importance of being persistent with your wholesale.

- Third-party warehousing and how it can free up your time to work on your business vs working in your business. 

- Tradeshows and what's next for Mama Designs.

- Keira's newly launched online course and what's next for Mama Designs Business Club.

Connect with Mama Designs

https://www.mamadesigns.co.uk/

https://www.mamadesigns.co.uk/mama-designs-business-club/

https://www.instagram.com/mamadesigns/

Links mentioned in this episode

https://www.instagram.com/velveteen_babies/

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me - I am now taking bookings for 2020

Book a discovery call today:

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/book-a-discovery-call

If you're interested in hearing more about my group training program and sign-up for the waitlist, just DM me https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ or drop me an email on [email protected] 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I speak with Carina Lawson who’s the founder of Ponderlily. An Eco-friendly stationery brand based in the Newcastle area.

In Carina’s introduction, it sounds like she says that the business started in 2007, that should be 2017 and 2018.

I really admire that Carina has built her business whilst working full time and raising twins. We spoke about:

- Building a business that is sustainable to Carina’s lifestyle.

- Building a family business and how that happened.

- Wholesaling and building relationships with your stockists.

- Tradeshows and Carina’s top tips.

- How there really is room for everyone and how we need to help each other as a community.

- What’s next for Ponderlily and much more.

WIN a Ponderlily Planner

ENTER GIVEAWAY by 9am on the 9th December by sharing where you are tuning in or your favourite Ponderlily planner and tag @weareponderlily and @small_business_collaborative.

Connect with Ponderlily

https://ponderlily.com/

https://www.instagram.com/weareponderlily/

FREE Printable Library https://ponderlily.com/pages/printables

Links mentioned in this episode

Penfax https://www.penfax.co.uk/

Papersmiths https://www.papersmiths.co.uk/

Lauren Aston Designs https://www.laurenastondesigns.com/

Tincture London https://tincturelondon.com/

Maddi Alexander https://www.maddialexander.com/

Hunger Project UK https://www.thehungerproject.org.uk/

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me

1:1: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/one-to-one-mentoring

Apply to be a guest on Let’s Talk Shop

 https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

This episode of Let’s talk shop is a little different as I speak to a sizable retailer,  Tom Joule, is the founder and Chief Brand Officer at Joules and I invited Tom as guest before I even launched this podcast because I wanted to share his story of how he and his team built a business from a stall at a country fair to being a listed company and about Joules new marketplace “Friends of Joules”.

On Monday the 18th November I packed up the car with the dog and husband and drove up to Market Harborough for our podcast recording, I would love to be able to take the time to do this all the time and we had such a lovely day out.

For this podcast I have invited buyers and industry professionals from all sort of sized businesses and I continue to invite them and stay persistent but it’s not always easy as there’s often lots of red tape to get past but at Joules there was none of that and Tom said yes right away which I really appreciate and I really hope you enjoy this episode and that you go and have a look at Friends of Joules and discover some new small brands to support.

In our chat Tom and I talk about:

How it all started with a stand at a county fair in 1989. Tom used his close relationship with his customer to constantly innovate and develop new types revenue streams.

How Tom built a truly multi-channel business that has stayed true to its values and the importance of building a team and keeping them.

Friends of Joules, why and how this came about and how Tom see it develop.

The challenges of building a marketplace that doesn’t get overcrowded and that stays true to Joules values.

Importance of building a mailing list from the start.

Connect with Joules

https://www.joules.com/

https://www.joules.com/friends-of-joules

https://www.instagram.com/joules/

https://www.instagram.com/friendsofjoules/

Links mentioned in this episode

Tillyanna

On Joules: https://www.joules.com/friends/Tillyanna

Website: https://tillyanna.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tillyanna/

HiHo Silver

On Joules: https://www.joules.com/friends/HiHo%20Silver

Website: https://www.hihosilver.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hihosilveruk/

The DenKit Co

On Joules: https://www.joules.com/friends/The%20Den%20Kit%20Company

Website: https://www.thedenkitco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denkitco/

The Marmite Fudge I mentioned is from: https://www.instagram.com/getfudgedonline/

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me

1:1: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/one-to-one-mentoring

Apply to be a guest on Let’s Talk Shop

 https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s talk shop, I chat to Jo Johnson, owner of fashion and lifestyle boutique Form SE15. Jo opened her shop after she was made redundant with the help of a small business grant and we talk all about:

- Jo’s story and background.

- How social media helped Jo grow her audience and customer base even before she opened her doors.

- How Jo finds new suppliers, what’s important and how to build a good relationship with a retail buyer. 

- How it differs to buy fashion vs. lifestyle products.

- The challenges of running an independent business.

- The ever-changing retail climate and how independent businesses can stand out.

Connect with Jo and Form SE15

https://www.formse15.com/

https://www.instagram.com/formse15/

Links mentioned in this episode

https://www.manrepeller.com/

https://www.joinstorelondon.co.uk/

http://www.waranddrobe.co.uk/ 

https://www.instagram.com/waranddrobe/

https://www.folkclothing.com/

https://lfmarkey.com/

BUY JO’s CHARITY CANDLE

https://www.formse15.com/lifestyle/form-se15s-nurture-candle

BOOK A POWER-HOUR

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/power-hour

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me 1:1: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/one-to-one-mentoring

Apply to be a guest on Let’s Talk Shop https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s talk shop, I chat to Niko Dafkos and Paul Firmin from Earl of East. Earl of East started as a market stall and has grown to be a lifestyle brand that includes 2 permanent shops that host regular workshops plus a pop-up shop. As well as being stocked by over 200 retailers worldwide.

Niko and Paul also just released their first book, The Scented Candle Workshop which is published by Kyle Books and you can win a signed copy by sharing where you are tuning in on Instagram and tagging me @small_business_collaborative. For an extra entry, write a review on iTunes and send me a screenshot. The giveaway closes Monday 11th November 2019 at 9 am.

In this episode Nike, Paul and I talk about:

- How they built their creative business whilst both being in full-time employment until very recently.

- How they create a new scent.

- How they create a unique community-focused store experience for their customers.

- What they learned from writing their beautiful book, The Scented Candle Workshop.

- How they select new products and brands to stock in their shops.

- The challenges of scaling a business.

- What’s next for Earl of East.

Connect with Earl of East

https://www.earlofeast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/earlofeast/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/earlofeast

https://www.instagram.com/earlofeastlondon

BUY Niko and Paul’s Book

https://www.earlofeast.com/collections/books-magazines/products/earl-of-east-the-scented-candle-workshop

Links mentioned in this episode

http://www.annabatchelor.com/

http://www.taminehdhondy.com/

https://kinto-europe.com/

https://fermliving.com/

https://www.escuyer.com/

https://www.kanalondon.com/

https://couriermedia.co/

https://www.meanmail.co/

https://teressafoglia.com/

https://www.thames-sidestudios.co.uk/

https://www.webuilt-thiscity.com/

http://parker.tokyo/

https://mapstores.co.uk/

https://uk.allpressespresso.com/

ONLINE WHOLESALE COURSE BUNDLE

http://bit.ly/wholesale-bundle

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me 1:1: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/one-to-one-mentoring

Apply to be a guest on Let’s Talk Shop https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

To kick off season two of Let’s Talk Shop I’m talking to the inspirational Leona Thrift-Ola from Indie Roller. Leona has built several businesses and in today's episode we are talking about Lady Luck Rules, the jewellery brand that she set up in the early 2000s and at it’s peak was stocked in 240 stores all over the world. Leona has so much experience running an indie business, she also ran a shop and a subscription box and travelled up and down the country sharing her knowledge and it was so great to find out more about her business journey.

Leona is a supporter of indie businesses and runs a brilliant membership group for makers, creatives and small business owners and is just coming to the end of a successful Kickstarter campaign.

In this episode we talk about:

-Selling to shops and what it’s like to see your products in a retailer for the first time.

-Why wholesale was such an important part of growing her business at that time.

-The key to a successful tradeshow.

-Why flexibility is key.

-How creating a starter pack of her jewellery changed how her buyers bought from her.

-What’s important when building a relationship with a retailer.

-Stepping out of your comfort zone.

-The importance of self-care and mindset when running your own business.

-What’s the first thing to do if you want to start to wholesale.

-Making connections and marketing.

Leona’s Kickstarter campaign is closing at 5am on the 31st October. For a chance to WIN YOUR COPY, share where you are tuning in and tag me at @small_business_collaborative on Instagram by mid-day on the 30th October. For an extra chance, write a review over on iTunes/apple podcast and send me a screenshot.

Connect with Leona

https://indieroller.com

https://www.instagram.com/indie_roller/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheIndieRollercoaster/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/indieroller/the-indie-roller-annual-membership-in-2020

Links mentioned in this episode

Zabby Allen https://www.instagram.com/zabbyallen/

https://zabbyallen.com/

The procrastination Paper https://www.instagram.com/theprocrastinationpaper/

ONLINE WHOLESALE COURSE BUNDLE

http://bit.ly/wholesale-bundle

Connect with me

Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Work with me 1:1: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/one-to-one-mentoring

Apply to be a guest on Let’s Talk Shop https://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX