The Independent Minds

How to build, grow, and scale a web shop by converting more visitors into customers.

Matt Stafford is the founder of Build Grow Scale, a company that helps entrepreneurs to create web shops like Anso Belts that people want to buy from.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Matt and host Michael Millward explore how anyone can establish a web shop that converts more visitors in to customers.

During their conversation Matt and Michael discuss how to:

• Convert the 97percent of visitors who do not buy into customers
• Build trust and credibility with potential customers
• Nurture value adding relationships with visitors that result in bigger sales
• Provide exceptional customer service

More information about Matt Stafford and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

Buy the Tony Robbins and Dan Kennedy books that Matt Stafford read at Amazon

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel – With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

What can how successful businesses deal with data and money teach us about building a business?

Anwin Mbah is a strategic profit advisor for time-strapped CEOs, and the founder of Wealth Fluency which helps small business owners to boost profits by eliminating the hassle of endless spreadsheets and analytics.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Anwin and host Michael Millward explore what makes successful business people different from those who just get by.

They discuss how different attitudes to money and how successful people focus on wealth accumulation whereas the people who just get by are interested in income generation.

Anwin then explains how unlocking the business data is the key to accumulating wealth.

More information about Anwin Mbah and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Which approach delivers the most sustainable business success?

Jon Goehring is a radio personality, university professor and founder of Trust Media an audio media production company, based in Rochester New York.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Jon and host Michael Millward explore the development of Jon’s business and how moving from a competitive strategy to a more collaborative approach resulted in the business succeeding.

Their discussion covers

• The importance of knowing and understanding your strengths
• How to apply the ‘ice-cream’ model to identify your unique selling point and what other unique selling points will compliment yours.
• What a successful collaboration successful
• Why collaborations fail
• The difference between collaborations and commercial relationships.
• The future of collaboration

More information about Jon Goehring and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

Buy books mentioned by Jon Goehring in this episode from Amazon

• Mindset by Carol S Dweck
• The Go Giver and other books by Bob Burg
• Audio Books narrated by Jon Goehring

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fmis where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

What can business people learn about performance management from the techniques used by the managers and coaches of elite sports teams and athletes?

Kevin Pickard is an elite sports coach, a director at AP Race and host of the Rogue Monkey podcast.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Kevin and host Michael Millward compare the different approaches to performance management used in elite sport and business environments.

Their discussion covers

• sports working towards a very clear objective
• the role every team member plays in achieving that objective
• dealing with adversity and still performing at your best
• the need for agile systems
• analysis of performance

More information about Kevin Pickard and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Looking back on twelve months of independent thinking on The Independent Minds

Michael Millward the founder and managing director of Abeceder marks the first year as and host of the Abeceder change management podcast The Independent Minds.

Find out more about Michael Millward at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr the all-in-one podcasting platform. Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Travel Members of the Ultimate Travel Club enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if, you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on The Independent Minds, please contact using the link at Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

How can small businesses compete when on-line search is dominated by the big players ?

Tobin Brogunier is the founder and at the time of recording in 2023 was the CEO of Virtual Store Fronts.

Virtual Store Fronts is a localised search engine and marketing service.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Tobin explains to host  Michael Millward the problems that small businesses in rural communities face in competing in online searches and how Virtual Store Fronts levels the playing field.

During their conversation Tobin explains how the major search engines and social media platforms work, and how their business model makes it difficult for them to adapt to meeting the needs of small bricks and mortar businesses.

Tobin explains that instead of trying to convert small retailers into mail order companies Virtual Store Fronts aims to facilitate interactions at the physical store by supporting communities.

You will rediscover the better way to shop is one that involves face-to-face interactions between customers and retailers.

Tobin refers to a case study of Andrews Valley Rail Tours.

More information about Tobin Brogunier and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

What are the commercial benefits of looking after your employees as well as you look after your clients?

Emma Sansom is the founder and CEO at Flamingo Marketing Strategies.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Emma and host Michael Millward discuss their shared approach to employee management.

They discuss every stage of the employer employee relationship, from hiring to retiring

• Recruitment and Selection
• Objective setting
• Performance management
• Training and Development
• Pay and Rewards
• Parting company

Emma explains the commercial benefits that her company gains from balancing the demands of clients, the objectives of the business, and the ambitions and aspirations of her team members.

More information about Emma Sansom and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Stop giving discounts and start offering incentives.

John Dwyer is the founder and driving force of the Institute of WOW, a marketing agency that specialises in creating knock-out customer attraction strategies.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds John explains to host Michael Millward how to create knock-out marketing campaigns using incentives and competitions.

During their conversation Michael and John discuss:

• What makes a good marketing incentive?
• How to identify the incentive that you might offer
• Why marketing incentives work
• How to deliver marketing messages in knock-out ways
• Why incentives are better than exhibition giveaways and sponsorships
• How to run a lead generation competition

More information about John Dwyer and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds – Please help us to keep The Independent Minds free to listen to.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

No one wants to be sold to, but we all like to be served. So, what will help you grow your business?

That is the question that St John Craner answers in what host Michael Millward describes as a fascinating episode of The Independent Minds.

St John is an Englishman who emigrated to New Zealand, a country with famously more sheep than people, and became an expert in selling to that agricultural community.

Notoriously difficult to sell to St John realised that he would be more successful if he stopped selling and started serving the needs of his potential customers instead.

You will hear St John explain how he changed everything from his attitude to his language to build the trust that creates strong relationships and delivers more sales.

St John focuses on sharing what he learnt in agricultural sales with sales people in every industry.

More information about St John Craner and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds

Buy books by St John Craner on Amazon.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Kate Assaraf explains how she has grown DIP Sustainable by focusing on small shops and avoiding the costs of big channels

Kate Assaraf is the founder of Dip Sustainable which aims to playfully educate people about the environment while encouraging them to buy better beauty care products, which means that can buy less of them, but to do their buying from small retailers.

Offering great products got Kate noticed by the beauty media with features in Allure, Cosmopolitan Magazine, BYRDIE. Going against the conventional business model of the cosmetics industry resulted in Kate being named in 2020 a “Woman Of Courage” in Insigniam Quarterly’s issue celebrating female leaders who “think big, confront challenges head-on and never, ever take the well-worn path”.

In this episode of The Independent Minds, Kate explains to host Michael Millward what inspired her to set-up DIP Sustainable and how she makes working with small retailers work for her business.

More information about Kate Assaraf and Michael Millward is available at abeceder.

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds

Visit DIP Sustainable and use offer code FITFORMYAGE at the checkout for a 15% discount.

Buy Company of One by Paul Jarvis on Amazon, Or take inspiration from Kate and support a local book shop at Bookshop.org

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

If you would like to try podcasting using Zencastr visit zencastr.com/pricing.

Travel

With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices on flights, hotels, trains, and many more travel related purchases.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance

Visit York Test and use this discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We use Matchmaker.fm to connect with potential guests If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.