In this episode, Nicole is in discussion with Pamela Laird, Beauty Entrepreneur and Previous UK Apprentice candidate. Pamela Tells us about how she went from working in a salon as a teenager to creating her own beauty brand Moxi Loves. Learn about why her bestselling product had to be discontinued and how Pamela ended up in Lord Sugar’s boardroom. She talks about Her vision for waterless beauty and what personal & professional success look like to her.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Launching a bespoke product requires a large order from manufacturers as opposed to the small numbers you can get for simply altering an existing one.
• You need to be resilient in the face of lack of progress trying to get your products into store. Patience and persistence will pay off. The people you’re pitching to are usually as busy as you are and have a lot to get through.
• Be front and centre for your brand. It’s all well and good having distributors but you need to maintain a relationship with the buyer. You're the best person to passionately push your product.
• Having investment is important in building a talented team with the right skills to allow your business to scale.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I wish I had known that the buyer relationship was such an important thing’

‘Working in a team with really good people is so inspiring and there is so much value in that’

‘My advice for people thinking about starting a business is you have to just start’

‘You’ll never work as hard as you will for your own business’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Moxi Loves on Instagram

Pamela Laird on Instagram

moxiloves.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line.

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM)

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

In the summer, thoughts often turn to holidays and warm evenings, but could now be the perfect time to consider your Christmas strategy?

In this episode, Nicole talks about why you should be thinking about your Christmas goals, and how best to prepare yourself, and your product business so as to make the most of the busiest shopping period of the year...

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• On average, sales from December tend to make up around 30% of most business's revenue - more if you sell seasonal items.
• Think about last year's best-selling items and consider whether or not they're still relevant? Could they be updated for this year? Most importantly, if you plan to stock them again, have you bought enough?
• If you have a bricks and mortar store, have you thought about the layout of your shopping space? Remember that impulse areas work best around the till areas.
• Consider hiring. VA or assistant to help you in the run up to the Christmas period, They can take the pressure off you and double your working potential in this most busy of periods!

BEST MOMENTS

'This might be the last thing you want to think about when it's 27 degrees outside!'

'Have a look at what price points worked best for you'

'Double-check all your lead times with your suppliers!'

'This can really help you focus and prioritise your time in the business'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Book a call with me at https://thebuyerandretailcoachltd.as.me/discoverycall

PR Dispatch - www.prdispatch.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode, Nicole is in discussion with Lucy Haslam, founder of children’s-wear retailer, Acorn and Pip, who are celebrating five years in business.

Lucy discusses the ways in which she took her business from a market stall in Manchester while working as a teacher, to going full-time with the business and taking operations online in 2020. Lucy also talks about the way her brand has evolved, along with practical advice on the steps she has taken to create the brand that Acorn and Pip is today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Making the leap between employment and following our business dream, is all about making sure our plans are well made, that our future is in sight, and that the systems and processes are in place.
• Situations aren’t always perfect, but we can mitigate and overcome challenge by planning.
• Identify your unique selling point. The brands that lodge in people’s minds are the ones who know how they stand alone.
• Look at your sales funnel and examine the ways in which your customers arrive, and what shape their journey takes as they pass through your sales process.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I planned out the dream. I knew what I wanted Acorn and Pip to become’

‘My head and my heart were saying “you’ve got to do this”’

‘There are communities out there, where you can learn from each other’

‘You don’t have to be better than your competitors. You have to be different’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.acornandpip.com

www.acornandpiploves.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode, Nicole offers some of the most valuable insights she’s gained from her own journey in business, as well as from those in the top tier of the business world. It’s a practical, insightful guide through some of the finest business wisdom out there, including what to do when you hit a slow period, the importance of preparation, and why you should take action as soon as possible!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Always do your research! Making sure you’re prepared from the outset can save you time and money, as well as maximise your profits.
• You can’t get anywhere in business unless you take action. Stop waiting and procrastinating and take action today.
• During slow periods of business, it’s always worth taking another look at your purpose, revisiting your vision, and engaging with your community in creative ways
• Never dwell on errors. We all make mistakes. View them as lesson, pick yourself up, and get moving. Keep that momentum high.

BEST MOMENTS 

‘Don’t forget its always easier to reduce something than it is to increase after you’ve launched’

‘Don’t wait for perfection. It will nearly never happen’

‘Understand your own strengths and where you need support then ask for that support when you need it!’

‘At some point you will make a mistake. Learn from it and move on’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

If you're interested in the email list resource mentioned in this episode, send a message to Nicole at nicole@thebuyerandretailcoach

www.klaviyo.com

www.typeform.com

www.smartsurvey.co.uk

www.edited.com

www.globaldata.com

www.wgsn.com

www.statista.com

[email protected]

ABOUT THE HOST 

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

In this episode, Nicole talks to Moira Fuller, founder of Craftiosity, a specialist in helping people to establish and grow their subscription box business, and the author of ‘The £100k Subscription Box Masterclass’.

Moira talks about how she grew her business from the kitchen table to a six-figure concern, why you should always follow your instincts when it comes to business, and the secrets behind how to build a successful subscription model for your business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sometimes it takes trial and error to find our place in the business world. Never assume that you can’t make a change for the better, no matter where you are.
• When you’re a part of a small business, implementing automation, systems and processes can help you to accelerate growth and establish patterns for the future
• Subscriptions appeal to people as specially curated collections of products are desirable. They have to involve products that people buy regularly, and which have that wow factor.
• By focussing on subscription models, we are selling direct-to-customer, instead of going through a middle-man. This affects profit margins considerably, and also allows you to develop a personal, intimate rapport with the people you supply.

BEST MOMENTS 

‘I enjoy the creativity of creating something’

‘There was a very strong gnawing inside, that this was the right thing to do’

‘You have to work out if it makes sense for your customer’

‘It’s about creating little moments for people’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.moirafuller.co.uk

www.instagram.com/subscription_box_academy

https://www.moirafuller.co.uk/8-elements-to-100k-subscription-box-masterclass-join

www.craftiosity.co.uk

www.instagram.com/craftiosity

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Want to start, scale and succeed in your product business? This weekly business podcast is here to empower you to do just that by providing you with inspiration, motivation and insight from entrepreneurs and experts to help you in the retail industry. 

This podcast includes tips, tactics and conversations that you can learn from and implement into your own business - from start-up entrepreneurs that have just launched, to multi million pound businesses. With tips from experts and how to’s to help your business grow to enable you to live the life you crave. From side hustle to stock market and everything in between. 

Start listening and subscribe now.

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/