UNBOXED

Founder and CEO of fashion brand Saint and Sofia, Dessi Bell, joins Connie Nam for this week’s episode. 

Dessi reflects on how her experience moving to the UK from Bulgaria as a teenager has informed her role as a business owner, why she prefers to give her team full freedom rather than micromanage and practical advice for working with your romantic partner. 

Plus, she offers advice on how to crack the US market and teases the future of Saint and Sofia as they look to open their first ever physical store. 

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential and @saintandsofia

This episode is sponsored by Payhawk.

Schedule a demo using the link above and be sure to tell them you came from Astrid & Miyu podcast to receive 20% off.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From out of Natasha Thoma’s kitchen, Lockdown Liquor was born as a fun pandemic activity to share with friends; now their chic and stylish premium blended cocktails are in stores, bars and restaurants. 

In this conversation with Connie Nam, Natasha explains how she was able to found her first business at 24, what it was like entering an industry she had no experience in and her advice for securing investment. 

Plus, Natasha discusses how they’re giving back in tribute to their lockdown origin, how they’ve adapted from a consumer brand to selling into hospitality and how she finds working with her co-founder, who happens to be her husband. 

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential and @lockdownliquorco

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Angel Investor Gary Clarke joins Connie Nam for a behind the scenes look of early stage investing, and what an investor can offer you and your business.

Gary shares how failure has been pivotal for his success, what he looks for in potential founders for investment and the biggest mistakes he sees people make while trying to grow a business. 

Connie also shares her experience with investors, Gary explains the difference between public and private investing and how you can secure money for your business. 

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential and find Gary on Linkedin.

This episode is sponsored by Harbottle & Lewis and BAO.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna Jensen created sensitive skin products for her own daughter, but through founding Childs Farm it went on to change children’s lives around the world who were suffering from Eczema. 

Joanna joins Connie to discuss the shameless ways she sought customer feedback, how her stubbornness helped her succeed and the grief she felt after selling the business. 

As an investor herself, she also shares what she looks for when looking at potential investments, how she assesses a founder’s character and the importance of finding your gap in the market. 

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential, @childsfarm and @joannajensenofficial

This episode is sponsored by Harbottle & Lewis and BAO.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of modern eyewear company Cubitts, Tom Broughton, joins Connie Nam to share his mission to change the stigma on wearing glasses.

Tom shares how his disappointment in the high street glasses option when he was a teenager sparked his entrepreneurial vision, the turning point after only selling one frame a day for the first 6 months, and getting ghosted by investors. 

Plus, Tom and Connie discuss the difficulty of hiring the right person, how they separate being a founder and a CEO and how it feels when they see people wearing their products in the wild.

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential and @cubitts

This episode is sponsored by Payhawk. Schedule a demo using the link above and be sure to tell them you came from Astrid & Miyu podcast to receive 20% off.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Lopes, founder of Stripe & Stare, shares how she overcame £1.5 million debt, a relationship breakdown, and her low self-confidence, to create the knicker brand that everyone is talking about.

Katie tells Connie Nam the devastating circumstances that pushed her to build a future for her children, how she learnt to trust her instincts, and the frustrating assumptions placed on female founders.

Plus, they discuss the surprising impact of the #MeToo movement on underwear sales, how Stripe & Stare are showing their genuine pledge to sustainability and what exiting their businesses might look like for Katie and Connie.

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential and stripeandstare

This episode is sponsored by Payhawk.

Schedule a demo using the link above and be sure to tell them you came from Astrid & Miyu podcast to receive 20% off.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of cult coffee brand Grind, David Abrahamovitch, joins Connie Nam on this episode of Unboxed. 

After David’s first appearance on the podcast in 2020, where Grind was just focussing on its high street presence, it has now evolved into a multimillion-pound multichannel venture.

David reveals the story behind acquiring Bottleshot Coffee, why it’s hard for him to sometimes provide leadership, and the joy of being able to do the things your biggest competitors can’t. 

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential and @davidabrahamovitch and @grind.

This episode is sponsored by Payhawk. Schedule a demo using the link in the podcast description and be sure to tell them you came from Astrid & Miyu podcast to receive 20% off.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Elliott, the Founder of NEOM Organics joins Connie In this episode of Unboxed.

After spending seven years working 60-hour weeks as a journalist, Nicola wanted to create a brand to address rising stress levels, lack of sleep, energy and low mood. 

NEOM Organics quickly became one of the first and fastest growing wellbeing brands in the UK, which specialises in 100% natural fragrances to boost your wellbeing.

Nicola talks about the wellness movement, starting again and introducing NEOM to American audiences and the importance of testing your brand's story. 

Follow us @unboxed_founderconfidential and Nicola @nicolaelliottneom and @neomorganics.

This episode is sponsored by Payhawk. Schedule a demo using the link in the podcast description and be sure to tell them you came from Astrid & Miyu podcast to receive 20% off.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.