Really F*cking Trying

“You are the business, the business is you.” It’s a statement we’ve uttered countless times on this podcast. But just how much of you should go into your business?

Is there a fine line between personality and professionalism? Has social media forced us to perform for our audience rather than simply talk to them? And do political views have a place in your small biz?

These are the all important questions we’re getting into in this episode.

Join the two of us as we chat about our own personal boundaries, what we love to share, and what stays firmly behind closed doors.

A controversial topic? Maybe. But perhaps it’s one we could all do with looking at from a different perspective.

Because yes, you are the business, and the business is you. But we’ve got some good news: you get to set the rules.

Let’s talk stockists! In this episode, we’re joined by the lovely Heather from Heather Anne Home Fragrance to chat all about getting your makes stocked on the high street!

If you’ve ever wondered how to approach stockists, how much stock to offer, how to keep track of inventory, what to do (and definitely what not to do), or whether having stockists is even worth it… We have MANY thoughts, experiences and bits of advice to share.

Heather and Ellie both have products stocked in several shops up and down the country, while Jade brings a different perspective as a shop owner herself, running Green Jam Creatives. Together, we’re talking about both sides of the maker/stockist relationship and how to get the most out of selling on the high street.

It’s a long one, and a juicy one! So grab a brew, stock up on snacks and get comfy!

Today we’re not speaking as Ellie and Jade…

Instead, we’re joined by Sas from Sassy Makes, and we’re putting on our other hats as ‘Green Jam Creatives’ and ‘Hazlehurst & Friends’ 

What really goes into running a brick-and-mortar shop that stocks over 90 artists? How hard is it to organise and run your own artisan market? Well… We’ve got the experience! And we’re here to spill the beans! 

As always, we’re being completely honest. Absolutely no sugar-coating here.

From dealing with customers and working alongside fellow artists to the never-ending promotion, social media, and behind-the-scenes admin, we’re leaving no stone unturned.

Is it living the dream? Absolutely. But dreams don’t come without a price.

Started your business from a hobby you loved? Now you’ve got a mini empire and that hobby makes up about 5% of what you actually do? Fucking same, babes. Let’s talk about it.

This week we’re diving into productivity. The art of getting shit done… or lack of it in some cases. We’re talking to-do lists, being our own worst boss, toxic hustle culture, social media trends, and one very controversial ‘productivity tool’ (Yes… we’re talking about ai. You’ve been warned.) 

Is productivity actually about getting more done, or are we all just chasing the feeling of being productive? We’re not claiming to have the answers, but we’re definitely having the conversation.

Okay, okay... the girlies have been busy this month.

We promise not to make a habit of it, but while we're juggling businesses, life, and trying to keep all our ducks in a row, we've put together a little compilation episode of some of our favourite Q&As from previous episodes.

So if you're new around here and fancy a catch-up, this is a great place to start. It's packed with some of our favourite questions and advice. 

That said, we'd still recommend going back and listening to the full episodes (obviously) because there are loads of good bits that didn't make this cut. But in the meantime, this should keep you going. Enjoy!

This week we’re getting into the nitty gritty of mental health - where the line sits between self-care and self-destruct, and how it actually feels to navigate it all while running a small business.

We’re joined by Katie from Mama Bear Creates for a real, open conversation about decision fatigue, coping mechanisms, the not-so-pretty sides of “self-care”, and what’s actually helped (and what hasn’t).

It’s honest, a bit messy, and probably very relatable.

We’re back! And this one involves you guys 👀

When you run a small biz for any length of time, or do anything remotely creative, expect plenty of ‘Why the fuck did I do that?!’ moments 🤷‍♀️ To be honest… it’s basically in the job description at this point 😅

And of course, they’re frustrating - but they happen to ALL of us. So fuck it, let’s laugh about it instead.

From typos to misprints, social anxiety to spillages… we’ve covered it all. (Erm… we might’ve even had a minor crime confession 😳)

This week we’re finally tackling the topic we can’t avoid any longer (trust us, we’ve tried) - the financial side of running a small business.

From start-up costs and packaging expenses to keeping your business afloat, managing fluctuating material prices, staying on top of your finances, and facing the dreaded self-assessment… Nothing is off the table.

We’re also talking about why making a loss isn’t always a bad thing, and how the numbers behind your business don’t always tell the full story.

We’re getting honest about our own experiences, sharing the struggles we’ve faced and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

So whether your small business is thriving or you’re feeling like it’s been one long uphill climb - we get it. We’ve been there. & you’re not alone.

Let’s break down the barriers and start talking about money.

This episode has landed right between Galentine’s and International Women’s Day, so it felt like the perfect time to chat about female empowerment, and what it’s actually like being women in the small biz world.

We’re also joined by the lovely Caitlin from W0bblybits, who shares her story and her take on building a business as a woman doing things her own way.

We’re sharing our own experiences of working for ourselves (and for other people), the good, the bad, and the “oh what the fuck!?” moments. We talk about how the small business community can be such a supportive, inclusive space - but also how it’s very female dominated, and what that’s meant for us personally.

It’s honest, it’s reflective, and it’s basically a big chat about backing ourselves, learning as we go, and figuring it out together!

In this episode we’re joined by David from Wooden Heart Customs to chat about the glow-up from “I made this” to “people can actually buy this.”

We get into the difference between custom work vs reproducible products, the mistakes we’ve made along the way (yes, including bad orders and questionable decisions), and what it really takes to turn a handmade idea into something sellable.

If you’ve ever looked at something you made and thought “could this be a product?” - this one’s for you.