Let's Talk Shop

In this episode of Let's Talk Shop podcast, I speak with, buyer and owner Priya Aurora-Crowe of Lark London.    Lark London is a wonderful chain of 18 independent brick-and-mortar stores in London and Surrey, that is owned by Priay and her husband Dominic Crowe.    Priya shared her experiences and perspectives on the ever-evolving world of retail. Here are some of the key takeaways:    Previews and Prototypes: Priya expressed her love for getting early glimpses of new ranges and products. It's like Christmas for her team at Lark! They enjoy opening boxes, reading emails and letters, and examining samples. These previews allow them to stay ahead of the curve and make informed buying decisions.    Supporting Small Businesses: At Lark London, community support and finding hidden gems are at the heart of their buying process. Priya and her team review applications from local businesses on a weekly basis, selecting small businesses to support and help grow. This aspect of their job is particularly fulfilling and inspiring.    Dealing with Challenges: Priya shed light on the challenges they face, including the unfortunate issue of shoplifting. They have been experiencing thefts at their stores, resulting in frustration and concern. Priya emphasised the need for more effective actions to deter shoplifters and prevent such incidents that ultimately affect both businesses and local consumers.    Dividing Responsibilities: Priya and her partner, Dom, have wisely divided their responsibilities to ensure a harmonious relationship and to run Lark London efficiently. While Priya oversees buying, staffing, social media, and merchandising, Dom takes care of managing the shop, handling fit-outs, and dealing with legalities and maintenance tasks.    Importance of Branding: Good branding and packaging are vital for standing out in a competitive market. Priya highlighted the significance of products having a story and visually cohesive branding for effective merchandising. Strong branding and packaging can truly make a product shine on the shelves of Lark London.    We hope these insights from Priya have given you a fresh perspective on the world of product businesses.    This episode wraps up another season of Let's Talk Shop, the podcast is all about empowering and supporting you on your journey to building a profitable product business through wholesale.  https://www.larklondon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lark_london/   My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let's Talk Shop, I speak with, Jake and Freya from Studio Wald. This is the second time Jake and Freya comes on the podcast and a lot have happened in their business since last time.   They have now got over 1000 stockists who bought from them, with over 300 buying regularly, and they now employ a team of 4.    In this episode, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of running a product-based business, focusing on wholesale strategies, production quality, and market conditions. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:   1️⃣ Balancing growth with life: We chat about that it's not always about growth in business. Sometimes, it's more about maintaining business so you can achieve a good life-work balance. It's a nice reminder that we're building our businesses for us, and they need to fit into our life.    2️⃣ Attention to production quality: Maintaining high production quality is crucial for success, and this always creates new challenges. Studio Wald's bestselling flower press used to be made with Birch Ply, but since the war in Ukraine, this is now sanctioned as it is mainly produced in Russia, which meant resourcing and switching to maple veneered MDF.  This in turn, meant working with a new material, and having to balance the increased costs with maintaining affordability to the customer.   3️⃣ Adaptability and growth mindset: Jake and Freya shared how their approach to product releases has evolved over time. They moved from a perfectionist mindset of waiting until everything was ready to an organic and agile approach. By building a stock of adaptable photos and embracing flexibility, they were able to release designs more quickly.  About Studio Wald Freya and Jake, are the owners and creatives behind Studio Wald.  Freya and Jake met while studying a degree in 3D design. And now they have 3 children and a busy Leeds city-centre studio where they make or compile their products. All paper products are printed and finished in England, mainly in their home county of Yorkshire, using either 100% recycled or FSC certified paper.  All their products are made in the UK with care & attention to ideas, pattern & process.   Jake and Freya have been on the podcast before, so I'm excited to have them back to hear how they have grown their business since we last spoke. Plus, when I ask paper-based business owners who they look up to, quite often Studio Wald comes up, so I know you're just as keen to hear from them.   https://studiowald.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/studio_wald/   My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let's talk Shop, I had the pleasure of talking to Myfanwy Gloster from Glosters Pottery. Mev and her husband Tom founded Glosters Pottery, with Tom being the potter and Mev handling the day-to-day operations. They started with a café and gradually transitioned into a craft pottery shop, which has now become a thriving wholesale business.   During the conversation, Mev shares their journey of starting small, how the business grew throughout the pandemic, and how they this year decided to start to wholesale. She discusses their decision to exhibit at their first trade show, and the incredible response they received from buyers. In fact, they went from having only ten stockists to over seventy within a short period of time. Mev also talks about the challenges and learnings from the trade show experience, as well as their plans for expanding their workshop space and adding new products.   If you're a product business owner looking to grow through wholesale or are curious about the world of trade shows, this episode is a must-listen. Learn from Mev's firsthand experience and gain valuable insights into building a successful brand.   [00:00:00] Podcast for product businesses, retail buyers, brand owners. Joined by Mev from GlosterPottery, discussing their wholesale and business expansion. [00:05:36] Stockists and growth; Kew Gardens reordered. [00:07:23] Trade shows are hard work, underestimated busyness. [00:11:25] Creating an easy and efficient wholesale process. [00:13:33] Planning Autumn, ordering complementary items, Christmas preparations. [00:17:41] Summary: Relocation, more space, shop visibility, mug painting. [00:19:48] Challenging journey, but great team and experience. [00:25:49] Thanks for listening to the podcast! About Glosters   Glosters Pottery was founded by Myfanwy Gloster and her husband Tom Gloster. Tom is the potter, and Myfanwy runs the day to day of their busy Porthmadog based pottery workshop and shop.    Glosters designer ceramics are made from stoneware clay and they use a range of glazes inspired by their local surroundings and the changing seasons in North Wales. https://www.glosters.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/glosterspottery My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

You're going to want to get your notebook out for this one.    In this episode of Let's Talk Shop, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lucy Hitchcock, the founder of Partner in Wine. We discussed her experience in building a successful brand and her insights on packaging, pricing and wholesale. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:   1️⃣ Build a strong brand: Lucy emphasized the importance of getting your brand right before anything else. Consistency is key - from your packaging to your social media presence. This means aligning everything you create with your brand's image and message.   2️⃣ Pricing with purpose: Don't let negative comments on social media platforms like TikTok make you doubt your pricing decisions. Consider the value and positioning of your product, like luxury brands do, rather than solely focusing on cost. Remember, pricing should align with your target customer's perceived value.   3️⃣ Start strong, and stay persistent: Lucy shared her experience working with retailers and stressed the importance of being persistent. Don't be discouraged if stockists don't reply. Timing is crucial, so be mindful of when you approach retailers with new products or collaborations.   00:03:00 Successful branding led to stock in Selfridges. 00:06:30 2020 lockdown, wine in sad cooler bag. 00:09:47 Entrepreneur shares business journey on Instagram. 00:11:16 Love, document, story, brand, marketing, launch 00:14:38 Self-employed at 23, helping others market businesses. Working for 7 years before launching. 00:22:35 Focusing on margins to determine product pricing. 00:24:26 TikTok opinions on costs. 00:28:52 "Build strong brand identity; prioritize branding." 00:31:51 Homemade look won't sell in stores. Stand out and stay consistent with branding. 00:35:06 Building anticipation for a launch: watch, learn. 00:38:21 Lucy's amazing podcast is a must-listen.   Lucy Hitchcock, the founder of Partner in Wine and digital marketing agency Sassy Digital.    Partner in Wine is a brand that aims to keep your favourite drinks perfectly chilled on the go. The story behind Partner in Wine is a tale of serendipity – it all started with the quest for a chilled rosé on a sunny day.   Sassy Digital is a digital marketing agency helping brands with their ongoing website, e-commerce, social media and marketing support, plus, Lucy is the host of The Winging it podcast where I've also been a guest.   Lucy's links:  Partner in wine: https://www.partnerinwine.co.uk/ Sassy digital: https://www.sassydigital.co.uk/ Lucy's Instagram where she shares her business tips and behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/lucyhitchcock_/ Partner in wine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partnerinwineuk/ Sassy Digital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassydigital/   Listen to the episode I was a guest at on the Winging it Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1SF4M3LHuCQlEXshk3mnGr?si=25bd76cf2655459e   My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Welcome to another episode of "Let's Talk Shop!" In today's episode, we're flipping the script. As I asked our guest, Nina Elegba to interview me for a change. We chat about everything from selling hot dogs outside nightclubs to becoming a successful business owner. We talk about the role of gratitude, manifestation, and finding your own unique methods to stay calm, grounded, and aligned in the business world. So grab a cup of coffee and join us as we explore the keys to success, the power of trade bodies, and the joy of connecting with your audience.  Timstamps [00:01:33] Thank you to Instagram community for questions. [00:04:55] Instagram helped with daily gratitude through coffee. [00:08:09] Former sales head at publisher led multiple departments, curated books for retailers, sought work-life balance by transitioning to small business with more flexibility, ultimately made redundant due to lack of cash flow management. [00:12:49] Selling blackjack and hot dogs in Sweden. [00:14:54] Stay active, engage, and prioritize visitors. [00:18:40] Industry involvement crucial for representation and support. [00:21:46] Benefits of working for yourself: flexibility, control, self-support, rest, balance, business needs, personal needs. [00:25:50] CRM system: Absade for sales, Thinkific for courses. Whiteboard tracks clients and calls. [00:29:44] Manifestation journal helps attract ideal audience daily. [00:32:07] I love my work and stay positive. [00:35:55] Road trip analogy: map stops to save money [00:38:38] Various independent shops for homeware, gifts, and stationery. [00:42:57] Advice for younger self: embrace spontaneous living. [00:44:37] Workplace, brand, indie biz, Instagram, LinkedIn. About Nina Nina Elegba is the woman behind Recess living. Recess facilitates creative workshops, supper clubs, panel talks and workplace wellbeing events, as well as supporting companies in creating people-centred workplaces that nurture these conversations.   https://www.recessliving.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/recess-living/ https://www.instagram.com/recessliving/   Award yourself with a little selfcare moment - refer your company or someone you know to Recess, if they book a workshop, not only will the team thank you for a wonderful experience, you will also get a £100 voucher to spend on selfcare. https://www.recessliving.com/referral-program My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/  

In this episode of Let's Talk Shop, we have a special guest, David Nichols-Rice, who shares his journey and experiences in the creative industry. With a background in working with artists and trade shows, David discusses his love for wholesale and the rewarding yet challenging aspects of being a sole decision-maker. He shares insights on launching his own line of greeting cards, pivoting to online sales during the pandemic, and creating authentic relationships with retailers. Join us as we dive into David's story of resilience and success in the greeting card industry.   Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode 01:15 - Guest speaker, David, introduces himself and his background in the creative industry 02:30 - David's passion for wholesale and trade shows 03:45 - Launching his own line of greeting cards and the challenges and rewards of working alone 05:15 - Transitioning to online sales during the pandemic and partnering with a local company 07:30 - Sourcing and curating other products for his business 08:45 - The importance of trade shows and face-to-face interactions for David's business 10:30 - Highlights of David's journey, including being a finalist in the Christmas card category 12:15 - Lessons learned and advice for success in building relationships with retailers 14:00 - The role of Instagram in engaging with stockists and researching potential partnerships 15:30 - The significance of trade shows in the marketing budget and successful collaborations 17:00 - Personalizing interactions with stockists through printed catalogs and handwritten notes 19:00 - The importance of nurturing relationships and being patient with customers 20:30 - Strategies for marketing and investing in trade shows as the business grows 22:15 - Overcoming challenges with asking for contact details and incorporating it into conversations 23:45 - David's passion for greeting cards and stationery, and the story behind the name "Ricacle" 26:00 - Learning to leverage strengths and outsource tasks in managing a startup budget 28:15 - Developing relationships with retailers and seeking their input for new collections 30:00 - Future plans and stepping out of the comfort zone with phone-related projects About David David is the designer and founder of greeting card publisher Ricicle Cards. Based in a seaside town just outside of Bristol, he creates colourful, charming and whimsical greeting cards. There's plenty of illustration, hand-lettering and luxe hot foil going on in the collection and in addition to his own designs, he loves collaborating with talented artists from across the world to bring his ideas to life.   www.riciclecards.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/riciclecards Facebook: www.facebook.com/riciclecards   My links https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let's Talk Shop, host Therese interviews Hannah Paine, the founder of Epanoui. Hannah shares her journey of starting a jewellery brand and opening a brick and mortar store. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of integrating herself within the community, and the careful growth of her business. With her unique perspective as both a brand owner and a shop buyer, Hannah offers valuable insights into the wholesale market and the success of independent brands.   Time Stamps:   - [00:00:00] Introduction to Let's Talk Shop and guest Hannah - [00:01:11] Discussing the podcast hiatus and the excitement of bringing it back - [00:01:56] Hannah's journey of starting her jewellery brand from her kitchen table - [00:04:06] Taking a break from wholesale when the shop became too demanding - [00:05:17] The unique approach of being both a brand owner and a shop buyer - [00:06:45] Building buyer confidence with successful product sales in a smaller town - [00:07:01] Hannah's love for buying from small brands and the visual alignment of products - [00:08:20] The importance of customer engagement and creating a memorable shopping experience   About Epanoui Hannah Paine is the founder of Epanoui, a jewellery brand inspired by nature. She started her business in 2012 and has since grown it into a successful independent lifestyle store in Bedford. Hannah's team handcrafts each jewellery piece, and she has a unique perspective as both a brand owner and a shop buyer. With a passion for supporting small brands, Hannah is always on the lookout for unique products that visually align with her shop's aesthetic.   https://epanoui.co.uk/   https://www.instagram.com/epanouilifestyle/

Welcome back to Let's Talk Shop! In today's episode, we have a very special guest joining us. Sakina Bouy, the visionary behind The Somerset Toiletry Co, will be sharing her incredible journey in the toiletry industry. From navigating through economic crashes to understanding ever-changing legislation, Sakina has built an impressive brand known for its integrity and beauty.    Tune in as she discusses the expansion of her company, the importance of understanding market demands, and the challenges faced in today's business landscape. We'll also delve into the impact of Brexit, the company's commitment to becoming more environmentally sound, and the exciting plans for future growth. Get ready for an eye-opening conversation filled with insights, trends, and the passion behind creating luxury products at reasonable pricing.  Timestamps [00:00:00] Shop is back, featuring Somerset Toiletry Co. [00:03:41] Toiletry company offers luxury products at reasonable prices. [00:07:59] Economy crashed, expanded products, different market appeal. [00:11:41] Trade show relationships, new storefront excitement. [00:13:29] Store owners guide us, customers influence trends. [00:19:15] Industry stricter due to legislation, Brexit impact. [00:23:40] Post-Brexit, business faces challenges amid changing landscape. [00:29:36] COVID brought big wins: garden centers open, internet sales booming. Men's/unisex products sell well. Teams improve. Son's product development adds value. Manufacturing sorted out, soap base a win. Mixed weather in June and July. [00:31:41] Expanding offices, retail, cafe, and products.     More about The Somerset Toiletry Co Founded in 1999, serial entrepreneur Roger and aromatherapy expert Sakina identified a gap in the market to produce beautiful, honestly priced luxury toiletries. Following the initial success of producing body care for other companies, the business developed their own popular collections. Design is at the core of the business, as the team of extremely gifted designers, tirelessly create exquisite packaging for each and every product. Over the years the company has been recognised for many prestigious awards for business and design, including the Queens Award for Enterprise.     Trade Fairs all over the world have been used to build brand awareness and develop valued customer relationships. The Somerset Toiletry Co. gifts can be found on most UK high streets and garden centres and are now sold in over 50 countries worldwide. We've had busy time in recent years, opening a soap manufacturing facility in Somerset using sustainable palm oil. We also run a café and gift shop from our HQ in Somerset and give space to homeless charity Billy Chip. The future continues to look bright for the business as Zantore, Sakina's son has recently joined the company.   https://www.instagram.com/thesomersettoiletrycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/SomersetDistributionUK   https://thesomersettoiletryco.co.uk/

Season 6 is coming to an end and in this episode, Sasha and I speak about how we both found the experience of working together and what she's learned about growing her sales.   We also set some goals for the next 6 months and talk about what's been surprising and what's worked and hasn't worked.   Growing your wholesale and your sales can feel lonely and challenging at times but remember that consistency and staying focused is the way to go. If you need help and would like to work together in 2022, please apply to work with me via my website.   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave us questions in the comments. ---------------------------------------------------   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:   https://www.southsearock.com/ https://www.creasedcards.com/ https://www.jeffandthesquirrel.co.uk/ My wholesale courses: https://smallbusinesscollaborative.mykajabi.com/online-courses-beginners-guide   ---------------------------------------------------  

Today we're in Brighton where Sasha cold calls on shops in the hopes of getting some new stockists so that she can grow her wholesale business.    Cold calling, whether by phone, email, or in-person can be very scary but it doesn't have to me. When it comes to cold calling practice really does make a huge difference, in particular, if you visit in person.    In-person cold calling will allow you to check if the store is a good fit before you approach and you will often find out the name of the buyer and get their initial reaction.    In between Sasha's store visits, we do little mini-interviews about how it felt and we hope these will help you get more comfortable with cold calling and help you grow your business.   We also visit one of Cheeky Zebra's stockists and see the cards out in real life.    Next Monday we will be back with another episode where we will talk about where Sasha is now with her wholesale and how she hopes to grow it over the next half a year.   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave us questions in the comments. ---------------------------------------------------   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:   Sasha's longest stockist: https://www.creasedcards.com/ My wholesale courses: https://smallbusinesscollaborative.mykajabi.com/online-courses-beginners-guide   ---------------------------------------------------  

Since Sasha has done some wholesale in the past and had lost a bit/a lot of faith in it we needed to put the right foundations in place this time around to avoid costly mistakes and work way to hard for no return.   We started from the very basics with setting Sasha's wholesale terms and prices and then moved on to creating her new and much improved wholesale catalogue. Since Sasha's range is so big, she basically has a greeting card for every occasion you may ever come across, and of course, in a brick and mortar store, it's unlikely they could fit as many and such a big range could be overwhelming. As such, Sasha did a lot of work on refining her wholesale range to include all her bestseller before creating her catalogue.   Remember to have a look over on Instagram as we wanted to show you the difference between Sasha's old catalogue and the new one.   In this episode of Let's talk shop, we talk about: How to set your wholesale prices.  New catalogue vs. old catalogue, what Sasha do differently this time around? How to set your wholesale terms? Hint: you set your terms!   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave us questions in the comments. ---------------------------------------------------  

In this continuation of us documenting Sasha's wholesale journey, we speak about selling.    Insecurities around selling are very common and sometimes they show up in very strange ways. It's very easy to make yourself very busy to avoid having to step outside of your comfort zone and sell your products.   In this episode, we talk about how this showed up for Sasha and what tweaks we've made to her workweek to set her up for success so she can reach more retail buyers and get stocked in more shops.   In this episode of Let's talk shop, we talk about: What Sasha has done in the past to sell her products.  How we implemented a bit more structure to Sasha's week and what that feel like.  What retailers to target and what to say? Mindset - insecurities to start and to continue to sell. How some insecurities show up in peculiar ways. How to reframe and prioritise selling and how a sales mindset changed how you showed up online.   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave us questions in the comments.   ---------------------------------------------------  

It's not always that everything goes to plan when you try something new.   When Sasha from Checky Zebra first started to wholesale her greetings cards she would have looked very successful to most of us, getting a big order from a well-known multi-chain card retailer but all was not as well as it might have looked on the surface. In reality, it was very stressful and in the end, Sasha had very little to show for all that hard work.   This really put a damper on her wholesale experience and her focus turned to growing her business using Facebook ads instead and up until recently this worked really well until the ads for Father's day flopped and Sasha's sales fell off a cliff.   Building a sustainable and successful business takes resilience and bravery and when something doesn't go to plan it's your ability to pick yourself up and admit that it's not always unicorns and roses.   Diversifying your sales channels can help you grow a much more resilient and sustainable business and over the last few months I have been mentoring Sasha to start to wholesale again and we documented her experience and can't wait to share it all with you.   In this first episode of Let's talk shop, we talk about: Sacha's previous experience wholesale with lots of funny stories! Sasha's reluctance to do wholesale. And we set some goals for Sasha's wholesale for this year and next.   Please like and subscribe if you enjoy this episode. ---------------------------------------------------   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:   Facebook ads expert: https://www.carlystringer.com/ Sasha's longest stockist: https://www.creasedcards.com/   ---------------------------------------------------  

Today's episode of Let's talk shop is a solo episode where I talk about what to do and what not to do when sales are slow to help you and motivate you to continue to grow your business.   In the episode I share 10 to-do's/don'ts:   Check-in with your sales mindset. Stop comparing yourself to others and your sales to last year, normally the latter is something I tell you to do but last year was not a normal year. Make a sales plan, without targets you may never reach the goal. Get analytical. Check-in with your ideal customer. Where's their mindset at? Don't go down the discount hole without a plan and purpose. Give products a chance to sell. Focus on getting seen by more potential customers – are there any other sales avenues that you have not tried for your business. This time of the year is a great time to work on your business, whether that's wholesale, marketing, SEO, processes, PR. What will help you make the most of the busy Christmas period. I think the future is bright for small businesses and especially British made products.   Article mentioned in the episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57531716   Waitlist for my courses: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/start-to-wholesale https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/let-s-talk-sales-course   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.     Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let's talk shop, I speak with my former clients Jake and Freya from Studio Wald. Studio Wald is a wonderful home and gift business based in Leeds. We talk all about how Jake and Freya decided to start their business straight out of university and how they have grown it since.   Jake and Freya share their top tips that has worked for them and we talk about trade shows, hiring their first team member, growing through wholesale marketplaces and so much more.   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Connect with Jake and Freya from Studio Walkd   https://www.instagram.com/studio_wald/ https://studiowald.co.uk/     Sign-up to my start to wholesale course: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/start-to-wholesale   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.     Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today’s episode of Let’s talk shop is a solo episode. The first of in season 5 and quite possibly the only in this season. Let me know if you want more episodes like this.   In the episode I talk about how to get started with your wholesale, we talk about: What wholesale is. If it’s right for your business. What you need to consider before getting started. How to set your terms and develop your sales materials. How to get stated selling to shops and where to find them. If this is something you want to learn more about. Please have a look at my next course, Start to wholesale that I’m running in June. We start on the 15th June and you can find all the details and sign-up on the below link. https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/start-to-wholesale   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.     Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let’s talk shop, I speak with my client, Leonara Manyangadze who’s the owner and founder of Tanaka. Leonara makes beautiful all-natural soaps that are good for you and for the environment as they are completely plastic-free.   Leonara started Tanaka in the autumn of 2019 and has grown the brand to now being stocked in 40 or so stores, mainly in the UK + one stockist in the US and one in Singapore. She’s done this whilst still keeping a full-time job and buying her first home and relocating to the seaside.   I love how thoughtful Leonara is with everything she creates and she’s such a joy to work with. In the episode, we chat all about how Leonara has grown the business, what has worked well for her and she shares her top tips for growing your business.   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Links mentioned in this episode Turning earth pottery course - https://www.turningearth.org/e2 Gently - https://www.gentlyelephant.co.uk/ Our lovely goods - https://ourlovelygoods.com/ Juno Nuno -  https://junonuno.com/ The Milkman - https://themilkman.coffee/   Connect with Leonara from Tanaka Website - https://tanaka.store/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tanaka.soaps/   Sign-up to my sales course: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/courses   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.   Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let’s talk shop, I speak with my coach, Jennifer MacFarlane who’s The Money Medium.   Over the past 5 months or so I’ve been working with Jen on my money mindset and I really enjoyed it. I think in particular women avoids speaking about money and by working with Jen I’ve been able to dare to realise that I can make money and fulfil my goals.   I think our money mindset sometimes holds us back in pushing our businesses forward and growing our sales and I hope that you will find our conversation helpful in addressing some of those thoughts that might be holding you back.   We talk about some of the common beliefs around money that is holding us back sometimes and how you can reframe them to move past them.   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Jennifer MacFarlane is the author of the book Think Create Jump. She is a transformational mindset and abundant life mentor, spiritual alchemist and subconscious reprogramming master.  Jen has a magical way of aligning people with their destiny. From a very young age, Jen has had a calling to understand the connection between the mind and how it creates reality. She uses hypnosis, meditation and deep subconscious conversation to help her clients and students “reprogram” their clients from all over the globe to vibrate at a higher wealth, success and abundance frequency; in turn, allowing them to attract a more abundant lives doing what they have been put on the planet to do with ease. Jennifer helps people from all over the world create a deeper connection with themselves and the life they were born to live through her personal development business @ WWW.THEMONEYMEDIUM.COM Jen Believes we are here to learn how to overcome our own limits and live our Biggest, Wildest Dreams. Dream Big - Smile More          (The words Jen lives by)     Connect with Jen from The Money Medium Instagram - instagram.com/themoneymedium FB - facebook.com/themoneymedium Website - www.themoneymedium.com Youtube - youtube.com/themoneymedium SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/the-money-medium Book - Think Create Jump - https://www.amazon.ca/THINK-CREATE-JUMP-Proven-Limitations-ebook/dp/B00QMO5CHO/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=think+create+jump&qid=1605134081&sr=8-1   IGTV video with money mandalas https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCeIZxlHOOE/     Sign-up to my sales course: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/courses   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.     Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let’s talk shop, I speak with my client Megan who owns Sandwick Bay Candles who makes candles and home fragrance products with a conscious in small batches from the very top of Scotland.   Megan have grown her business so much over the last year and it’s been amazing to see her going for it and it is paying off. She’s constantly pushing forward whilst remembering why she’s doing this and still taking time to enjoy the beautiful nature around her.   In this episode, we talk about how Megan started her business, what she learned, and she shares lots of tips that you can put in place right away to help you grow your sales.   Sandwick Bay Candles stock quite a few other small businesses which Megan buys in wholesale so she’s got experience from both sides, and in this episode we talk about both buying and selling as well as sharing some very exciting news about how the business is expanding and what’s next.   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Connect with Megan and Sandwick Bay Candles https://sandwickbaycandles.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sandwickbaycandles/ https://www.instagram.com/sandwickbayliving/     Sign-up to my sales course: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/let-s-talk-sales-course   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.     Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let’s talk shop, I speak with Julie Driscoll and Karin Hausmann from Hyve, the organisers of Spring and Autumn Fair.   Spring Fair is the UK’s largest home and gift trade show.   Julie, Karin and I meet online to hear all about the new Spring and Autumn Fair Online marketplace that is launching on the 4th May. When it launches, Spring and Autumn fair will become an all year around digital marketplace supported by the live events and buyers will be able to register and go through a vetting process to connect and buy from registered brands straight on the platform.   We talk about the marketplace, trends in the home and gift industry and what buyers are looking for as well as Autumn Fair.     Julie Driscoll, Managing Director UK Retail   Julie Driscoll is the Retail and Fashion Managing Director at Hyve Group plc. Uniting key stakeholders behind ambitious omnichannel strategy informed by customer intelligence is how she inspires and empowers organisations. Julie is a board director of the AEO and sits on various other advisory boards and committees including the NEC, the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry and the Giftware Association and is a judge for various awards. She recently completed an MBA from Imperial College Business School where she was awarded the prestigious scholarship for ‘most inspiring business leader’ with a specialisation in digital business transformation.     Karin Hausmann, Digital Marketing Director   Karin joined Hyve in 2017 and has held various global senior marketing roles in the business. She is passionate about reaching and connecting communities online and was heavily involved in the company’s pivot to digital in 2020. Karin and her team have been driving the digital marketing agenda and know how to deliver online traffic and engagement to an event or platform. As part of her remit, Karin is now managing the launch of the Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace.   If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Connect with Spring and Autumn Fair https://www.springfair.com/ https://www.autumnfair.com/ https://www.instagram.com/springautumnfair/   Online marketplace https://springandautumnfair.eventsunited.net/#/     If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.   Latest courses: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/courses   Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

Today on Let’s talk shop I speak with Sara Ittelson from Faire.com.   I know a lot of you are interested in finding out more about wholesale marketplace platforms, it’s something I see being discussed a lot in my free Facebook group, Let’s talk wholesale, and that I get asked about in every course I run.   Marketplace platforms can help you grow your wholesale and enter new markets and I’m so happy to bring you this podcast episode with Sara.   We talk about what Faire.com is, how you can be successful on the platform and hopefully we answer lots of the questions I’ve been getting later about how these sort of platforms work.     Sara Ittelson is the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Faire, a curated wholesale marketplace connecting more than 170,000 local retailers with thousands of emerging and established brands. Sara has a depth of experience in business development, product partnerships and strategic partnerships in hyper-growth marketplace businesses. Prior to joining Faire, Sara was in global business development at Uber, where she worked on product, API, driver, new mobility and UberEats global enterprise & strategic brand partnerships. She holds a B.S. from Northwestern University and an MBA and MA in education from Stanford.  If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Connect with Faire.com Faire.com https://www.instagram.com/faire_wholesale/     If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.   Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Free FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkwholesale Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

In episode 2 of Let’s talk shop, I speak all things ethical and sustainable with Sara Collins, an ethical production consultant and brand owner of fashion brand Sister and Kin.   We talk about what it means to be an ethical and sustainable business and how we have to choose what is important to us as brand owners to prioritise first and Sara shares lots of tips that you can use to be more confident in your sourcing.   It’s so important to talk about this as it can be both scary and overwhelming to create a brand in line with your values and lifestyle. Even though we want to do it all at once, this is not always possible and it’s important to remember that it’s better to do something well and have a plan for how you can do more in the future than to do nothing at all.   Sara has seven years of experience working one-to-one with certified Fairtrade manufacturers around the world and have brought many collections of sustainable fashion, jewellery and homeware products to the European market. She now offers help, advice, and support to independent business owners who want to find social enterprises and local initiatives to work with. Sara is passionate about building partnerships with your manufacturers and helping brands navigate around the world of ethical manufacturing.   She also has her own ethical fashion brand which celebrates artisan craft and skill, creating fashion slowly and mindfully. For Sara, it's important to understand that as a brand owner she has an impact and it’s important to make it a positive one.   You can find all the links to connect with Sara below. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Connect with Sara and Sister and Kin https://www.instagram.com/saracollins.uk/ https://www.sarahelencollins.com/   https://www.instagram.com/sisterandkin/ https://www.sisterandkin.com/   Have a look at Sara and Lottie’s course that is currently open for enrolment: https://www.sarahelencollins.com/shop/p/ethicalproductionandsustainabledesign   Sara runs this course with Lottie Woods, you can find her over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lottiewoodsdesign/   Megan and Frank source overstock and sustainable fabrics and you can find out more over on their website: https://pigeonwishes.com/   If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.   Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

I’m so excited to be back and sharing another season of Let’s Talk Shop with you. We’re kicking off the season with an episode I’ve been wanting to record for a really long time with Jacqueline Snyder and Minna Khounlo-Sithep who are the co-owners of The Product Boss. I’ve been listening to their podcast for a long time, and I love how supportive of the small business community they are and how much practical and actionable advice Jacqueline and Minna shares on their platforms. This is a first for the podcast as instead of recording two separate episodes we decided to record one episode and release it on both of our podcasts. A virtual round table of a very candid and open conversation about product businesses, trends in our industry, diversity and inclusion and how this all has a global impact on small businesses. Jacqueline Snyder and Minna Khounlo-Sithep are the combined force behind The Product Boss Podcast. They have grown a community of high-achieving product-based small business owners and have helped them scale their physical product businesses through masterminds, group coaching and digital courses designed specifically for product-based business owners ranging from start-up conception to multi-million dollar companies. Together their goal is to change the landscape of product entrepreneurship by connecting women around the world through a blend of real-life business tactics, creative strategy and modern leadership. You can find all the links to connect with Jacqueline and Minna below. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review over on Apple podcast as it really helps others discover the podcast too.   Links mentioned in this episode https://www.theproductboss.com/shop1in5 https://www.instagram.com/shop1in5/     Connect with The Product Boss on their website, podcast and Instagram https://www.theproductboss.com/ https://www.theproductboss.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/theproductboss/     If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram.   Connect with me Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

In this episode of Let's talk shop, I discuss the impact Brexit will have on your small business, what things you may want to consider and what the new rules are as I interpreter them right now.  I've also written a blog post about this which includes all the links to various sources I've found.  https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/post/how-brexit-affects-your-small-business If you're interested in my sales course, you can read more about it below and sign-up to the waitlist. https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/let-s-talk-sales-course If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Judy Andrews who’s the owner and creative director of design agency Tickety Boo Creative as well as the owner of her own typography-based print business.Last year I won a competition that Tickety Boo Creative hosted, and since then Judy and her team have been working on my rebrand, and I’m so excited that today is the day I get to share it all with you.In this episode, Judy and I speak about how it is to work with a branding agency, what it’s like to run two businesses, and about Judy starting to grow her wholesale. We cover a lot of ground, and I really hope you enjoy this episode.During January Tickety Boo Creative and I will be hosting a competition with a fab price so make sure you sign up to my newsletter as this competition will be by application. Links mentioned in this episodehttps://www.thebotanicalbaker.com/https://www.judyandrews.co.uk/blog-main/goodbye-a-spoonful-of-sugar-amp-co-ukhttps://www.ticketyboocreative.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-brand-guidelineshttps://unlimitedshop.co.uk/https://sadgirlsclub.org/https://www.thewern.com/  Connect with Judy and Tickety Boo Creativehttps://www.ticketyboocreative.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/weareticketyboo/https://www.instagram.com/judy_andrews_/https://www.judyandrews.co.uk/ If you want help with your wholesale, please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/Sign-up to my newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5df908bbf68c9d00263c9c21  

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Haley Solar, owner at Haley Solar, a fashion brand with two retail outlets in Los Angles. Haley was sourcing and making clothes out of deadstock fabric before it became a thing and this year when Covid hit she had to pivot her business fast as manufacturers in LA had to close.I love Haley’s ethos and style and both of her stores look so beautiful. Haley is my first international guest and next year I hope to speak with more shop owners from overseas so you can hear their stories as well.In this episode we speak all about the pivot, Black lives matter, taking the 15% pledge, supporting female-owned businesses and much more. Links mentioned in this episodehttps://evafranco.com/https://larissaloden.com/https://pfcandleco.eu/https://www.15percentpledge.org/https://the-completist.com/https://www.faire.com/ Connect with Abigail Warnerhttps://haleysolar.com/https://www.instagram.com/haleysolar/  If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I talk with Abigail from Abigail Warner, a creative studio that design and create luxury paper products all made in the UK. Abigail collaborates with high-end retailers to create ranges for them and runs personalised wrapping paper pop-ups within the same retailers. We talk all about how Abigail got started and I love how she is not afraid of changing direction and trying something new and we chat all about her top tips from what she is learned from running her business. Abigail’s first large retailer was Harrods, and she shares how this came about and why she had to make the difficult decision to pull out of John Lewis.Links mentioned in this episodeCentury Studios in Nottingham http://centurystudios.co.uk/ Connect with Abigail WarnerWebsite: https://abigailwarner.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amlwarner/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I talk all about third party marketplace platforms for wholesale. I share my thoughts and tips if this is something you would like to explore for your business. These platforms can be a straightforward way to gain new stockists and grow your wholesale but there are definitely a few things you should consider before you decide to whether they are right for you. Download the free marketplace comparisonhttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fb79b9a7f165b7bc9615f03 Find out more about my Let’s Talk Sales course and sign up to the waitlist, the course will run again from the end of January 2021.https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/let-s-talk-sales-course Find out more about my Start to wholesale course and sign up to the waitlist, the course will run in March 2021.https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/start-to-wholesale Listen to my episode with Sophie from Stand Twelve and Sophie home https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/podcast/episode/e74e5620/lets-talk-shop-with-sophie-from-stand-twelve-and-sophie-home https://standtwelve.com/https://sophiehome.com/ More tips and articles over on my bloghttps://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/blog Tickety Boo Creativehttps://www.ticketyboocreative.co.uk/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, this week is a quite different episode. On the 4th December at 7-9pm UK time I’m taking part in a market over on Instagram. Follow #2020mmmarket to see everything going on. From tomorrow we will start to release some more content and we’re all super excited.In this special episode I speak with 5 out of 6 business owners taking part and I ask them the same questions about business and all the answers are so different and it was such a fun episode to record. I hope you enjoy listening to all of my guests best and worst business advice and that you will feel inspired.If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you are there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes.  Connect with all of my guests and fellow market business owners https://www.instagram.com/lunaandflor/https://www.instagram.com/distinctlycaitlindesigns/https://www.instagram.com/thatsoapfr/https://www.instagram.com/thedandyintrovert/https://www.instagram.com/lauracharleydesign/https://www.instagram.com/anniesfingers/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Anita who owns Diverse Gifts in Brixton, South London. Diverse Gifts is a gift shop who has been open for over 21 years so Anita has a lot of experience to share.We chat all about:Business this year.The impact of Black Lives Matter and Black Pound Day on Anita’s business.What Anita looks for in a new supplier and how she finds and selects new products.Tradeshows and much more.If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you are there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Links mentioned in the episode The next Black Pound Day is on the 5th December https://blackpoundday.uk/https://blacklivesmatter.com/https://www.instagram.com/makerhoodlambeth/https://afrotouch.design/  Connect with and visit Diverse gifts 390 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8LF https://diverse-gifts.myshopify.com/https://www.instagram.com/diversegifts/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

Episode 3 of season 4 is a short solo episode about Scaling your Handmade business. I'm often asked how a business can make wholesale work for them when they handmake everything and before you even start to think about it it would be good to consider how you can scale your production so in this episode I give you a few ideas to get you started.  Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop speak with Sasha from Cheeky Zebra. Cheeky Zebra is a rude and hilarious card publishing company that primarily sell B2C. We chat about why that is and so much more such as: Taking your business full time from hobby to a business that can support you.Starting off doing wholesale and then deciding that it is not right for Cheeky Zebra.Dealing with larger retailers and trying to make it work for them but forgetting about your own profit.Simple mistakes that are easy to overlook when you first deliver to retailers.Facebook ads, how they turned Sasha from an ads sceptic to it transforming her business.Importance of sharing some of the lows alongside highs instead of just the highlights.Diversity in our industry.Pinterest and how it can drive traffic for you.How Instagram is not the only way to grow your business. If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Links mentioned in the episodeCarly Stringer: https://keystonevirtual.com/Elizabeth Stiles: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/Vanessa @ High Fifteen: https://www.highfifteen.com/Georgina @ Afro Touh Design: https://afrotouch.design/ Sasha’s linksCheeky Zebra Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheekyzebradotcom/Cheeky Zebra Website: https://www.cheekyzebra.com/Marketing Hun Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketinghun/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/   

I'm kicking off season 4 of Let's Talk Shop with a solo episode.  10 things to do in your business right now to drive sales - this could not have come at a more appropriate time, I actually recorded this a while back but re-recorded it on Sunday 1st November after the PM announced another lockdown to make sure my advice is as current as possible. I hope this will motivate you and infuse a bit of positivity and give you some practical and actionable advice.  Links mentionedInstagram live with Elizabeth Stiles https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHDqQEVlKC5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this season finale episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I'm giving you a bit of a pep talk for this autumn, I reflect a little over the season 3 and how privileged I am to have been able to speak with so many incredible business owners this year. The podcast will be back for the 4th season in October so make sure you subscribe to be notified when we're back. If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes.If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call.Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Laura Bath, owner and founder of Peg and Board. Laura designs and makes beautiful storage solutions for your home. It all started with wooden peg boards and last year Laura broadened her range to include powder coated metal shelving and during the lockdown Laura received an influx of orders which has really grown her business.We talk all about how Laura got started, what exhibiting at her first trade show was like and about selling on Wayfair and Not On the High Street.If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Connect with Laura at Peg and BoardWebsite: https://pegandboard.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pegandboard/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Jessica Dawnay who is the Event Director at UK’s largest home and gift trade shows, Spring and Autumn Fair. We chat about the imminent Autumn Fair @ Home, which will be taking place on the 8-9th September online. As a result of the pandemic this year Autumn Fair decided to run their show online before the government announced that shows of this type could not go ahead, after speaking with their exhibitors and retailers. Jessica shares what Autumn Fair @ Home will be like, and how to get involved as well as some exciting news that Spring and Autumn Fair exclusively partnered with the government to be a part of their UK Retail Bounce back plan. Everything will be announced at Autumn Fair @ Home on the 8th September at 11am so make sure you tune in then. We also chat all about exhibiting at your first show, do’s and don’ts and Jessica shares so many helpful tips about exhibiting at a show. If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Connect with Jessica and Spring and Autumn FairJessica Dawnay: jessica.dawnay@autumnfair.comAutumn Fair: https://www.autumnfair.com/Spring Fair: https://www.springfair.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/springautumnfair/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Sophie McNiven, owner and founder of both Sophie Home and Stand Twelve. We chat all about both of Sophie's businesses, her journey and how it all came about and I just love how passionate Sophie is about this industry and how freely and openly she shares everything she learned from running her businesses.Stand Twelve is an online trade show that connects brands and buyers and make it easier for everyone to discover each other. After being approved buyers can place orders straight on the site from all the brands who will then approve and shop all the orders individually.Sophie Home is a lifestyle brand that makes beautiful soft 100% cotton throws, cushions, baby blankets and nursery accessories.If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Mentioned in this episodeRockhopper digital: https://rockhopperdigital.co.uk/Aria: https://www.ariashop.co.uk/Search and Rescue: https://www.searchandrescuelondon.co.uk/Unlimited: https://unlimitedshop.co.uk/ Connect with SophieSophie Home: https://sophiehome.com/https://www.instagram.com/sophiehome_london/Stand Twelve: https://standtwelve.com/https://www.instagram.com/standtwelve/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX   

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Jeremy Corner, owner of award-winning greetings cards publisher Blue Eyed Sun. Blue Eyed Sun was founded 20 years ago and Jeremy is very involved in the industry writing monthly for Progressive Greetings, is a keynote speaker at The Ladder Club, and he sits on the Giftware Association’s National Committee and is a Trustee at Greeting Card Association.  In this episode, we talk about how Blue Eyed Sun has grown over the years and how it all started, the industry right now and the future. Jeremy shares about his experience in the industry, and you will get a real insight into how it works to deal with brokers and large retailers as well as hearing how sales drive your business forward.  If you’re not quite sure how to find new retailers to reach out to and pitch to and how to grow your wholesale this year, then have a look at my new course, Let’s Talk Sales, that will be taking place in September and book your place, doors close Monday 3rd August 2020. https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/product-page/Lets-talk-sales If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Links mentioned in this episode:The Ladder Club: https://www.pgbuzz.net/the-ladder-club/The Giftware Association: https://www.ga-uk.org/Little Dog Laugh: https://www.thelittledog.co.uk/Rachel Ellen: https://rachelellen.co.uk/Tracey Russell: https://www.traceyrussell.co.uk/Progressive Greetings: https://www.pgbuzz.net/Afro Touch: https://afrotouch.design/Creased Cards: https://www.creasedcards.com/Vinegar Hill: https://vinegarhill.co.uk/Cards Galore: https://www.cardsgalore.co.uk/Malarkey Cards: https://malarkeycards.com/ Connect with Jeremy and Blue Eyed Sun:Website: https://www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/https://greenmagpie.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BlueEyedSun/Read Jeremy’s blog for industry news and insights: https://www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Catherine Erdly from Future Retail about how to pitch to large retailers if you managed to get a meeting, whether it’s virtual or in-person. Being prepared and knowing what to expect can really make all the difference so I’m so happy that Catherine and I could work together on this and give you all our top tips. As a former retail merchandiser, Catherine and I would have sat at opposite ends of the table so we thought it would be interesting for you to get to hear both of our opinions and advice. If you’re not quite sure how to find new retailers to reach out to and pitch to and how to grow your wholesale this year, then have a look at my new course, Let’s Talk Sales, that will be taking place in September and book your ticket today.https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/product-page/Lets-talk-sales If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Connect with CatherineFuture Retail: https://www.futureretail.world/Resilient retail: www.resilientretail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/FutureRetailUK/Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/femalefoundersinretail If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Maggie who’s the owner and founder of Alligator Pear, a really large award-winning gift shop in Tadworth, Surrey. We talk about the challenges of sourcing products this year when trade shows have been cancelled and how Maggie might find new things to fill her store with. Maggie shares what she needs to know from a potential brand when they pitch to her and how to get in touch to introduce your products. We also chat about what works for her store, what she’s looking for, and what changes she’s had to put in place due to Covid. If you are going to submit products, I suggest that you listen to the whole episode and then write a personal and informative pitch. If you’re not quite sure how to find new retailers to reach out to and pitch to and how to grow your wholesale this year, then have a look at my new course, Let’s Talk Sales, that will be taking place in September and book your ticket today.https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/product-page/Lets-talk-sales If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Links mentioned in the episode The GA Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2611989742457431The Bottled Baking Co (Greg): https://bottledbaking.co.uk/Creoate: https://www.creoate.com/Stand Twelve: https://standtwelve.com/  Connect with Maggie and Alligator Pearhttps://www.instagram.com/alligatorpearstore/https://www.alligatorpear.co.uk/ Visit: 15 High Street, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5QUTo submit your products for consideration, please email Maggie at: sales@alligatorpear.co.uk If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX   

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I am talking about trade shows, or rather the lack of them this year now that it’s been announced they won’t be going ahead this September. I share a few ideas of what you can do and what will be important this year and I also share about my next course that will help you stay on track of your sales this year. It’s called Let’s Talk Sales and you can find all the details below:https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/product-page/Lets-talk-sales If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with David who’s the owner and founder of Lift Store in Southwold in Suffolk. Lift is a lifestyle store that has been going for around 4 years now and during the lockdown, David moved to a new location and the store is now 3 times the size of the original shop. We talk all about retail now, how the lockdown have been, what’s important when selecting new suppliers to work with, how David sources and discovers new products and the lack of diversity in our industry. If you enjoyed this episode, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Links mentioned in the episodeMy beautiful Caravan https://www.instagram.com/mybeautifulcaravan/Homebake https://www.instagram.com/homebakeshop/Pencil me in https://www.instagram.com/pencilmeinshop/Moxon https://www.instagram.com/moxonlondon/Lottie Hall https://www.instagram.com/lottiehallstudio/Rap Cards https://www.instagram.com/wrap_magazine/ Connect with DavidWebsite:  https://www.lift-store.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftstoresuffolk/Visit the brick and mortar shop: 1 Drayman Square, Southwold IP18 6GB  Connect with meWebsite: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/ Apply to be a guest on season 4 of Let’s Talk Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I speak with Tasha who owns independent gift shop Flavour Like Fancy in Leeds. We talk all about retailing during the lockdown, what’s been selling really well, how it’s been now when Tasha has opened up her shop again, how she works with the brands and makers she stocks, diversity, trade shows and so much more. I really enjoyed speaking with Tasha and I hope you enjoy this episode too. If you do, please share where you are tuning in and tag me over on Instagram @small_business_collaborative and if you can take a moment to rate and review Let’s Talk Shop over on itunes/apple podcast I will be forever grateful. Whilst you’re there, subscribe too so you don’t miss any future episodes. Connect with TashaWebsite: https://flavourlikefancy.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavourlikefancy/Visit the brick and mortar shop: 8 Stainbeck Avenue, Meanwood, Leeds, LS7 2PA If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no-obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX   

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Vanessa Belleau from High Fifteen. Vanessa is Business Strategist, Executive Coach and she also coaches in Inclusion and Diversity. I invited Vanessa to the podcast to discuss how we as small business owners can be more diverse and inclusive in our businesses and ask all those questions that I’ve been wondering about lately. I really love Vanessa’s energy and positivity and I felt so inspired after our chat and I hope you do too. I think it’s very important to recognise that we all have a role to play and we can all make a difference. As Vanessa said, as small business owners we are visionaries, we already started and built something so let’s continue and do even more. Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Connect with VanessaWebsite: https://www.highfifteen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highfifteen_ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Lucy who owns Acorn and Pip. We talk about how valuable it was for Lucy to start her business at Altrincham Market and how it’s grown into the shop and café with a play area it is today. Lucy really tries to offer as a diverse range that she can, and I came across her lovely business after it was recommended to me by Chantelle from The Wild and the Tame (link below). We were talking about the lack of diversity in children’s toys, in-particular when it comes to dolls and Chantelle mentioned Acorn and Pip and I reached out and invited Lucy onto the podcast. We chat all about Covid19, what’s been selling well during the lockdown, what’s happening in retail this year and how Lucy source her range of products. It was really lovely to chat and I hope that more independent shops will actively source more diverse going forward.Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Links mentioned in this episode:The Wild and the Tame: https://thewildandthetame.co.uk/Kitpas: https://www.instagram.com/kitpas.europeMaileg: https://www.maileg.co.uk/Miniland: https://www.minilandgroup.com/en/educational/dolls-figures/ Connect with LucyWebsite: https://acornandpip.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acornandpip/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Ebi and Emmanuel from Our Lovely Goods. Ebi and Emmanuel are a wife and husband team and they started their business around a year ago. Our lovely goods is a wellbeing company selling natural candles and skincare products as well as imported homewares from Emmanuel’s home country, Nigeria. On the podcast, we talk about how they have built their business, what challenges they have faced along the way, how they started to wholesale and how the business has been during Covid19. We also talk about diversity in our industry, the challenges of being a black-owned business and how we hope the industry will become more diverse now that it’s on everyone’s mind. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you think will happen when shops open up again? What will get you to visit a store in real life? And/or if you plan to continue shopping online more this year? Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Links mentioned in this episode:Space at 17: https://www.instagram.com/spaceatseventeen/?hl=enMeraki Concept Studio: https://www.instagram.com/merakiconceptstudio/?hl=en Connect with Ebi and EmmanuelWebsite: https://ourlovelygoods.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourlovelygoods If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX  

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop I speak with Georgina, owner and founder of Afro Touch Design.Georgina makes beautiful hand finished cards using West African wax fabric and we talk about Covid-19, business in general, wholesale and what challenges Georgina have to meet being a black-owned business as well as selling a diverse product. We talk about why there are not enough cards featuring black people on them in all sort of shops, why does Georgina as a black woman have to go to actively seek out a card in a special shop or online instead of popping into her local gift shop to get an anniversary card for her husband? This week I learned a lot about myself and about being anti-racist instead of being non-racist and I will continue to learn about this. Going forward I will actively invite more diverse guests and not shy away from having open conversations about biases and inequality in our industry. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you think will happen when shops open up again? What will get you to visit a store in real life? And/or if you plan to continue shopping online more this year? Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Links mentioned in this episode:Diverse Gifts: https://diverse-gifts.myshopify.com/Bonkers: https://www.bonkers.uk.com/Moon Lane Books: https://www.moonlaneink.co.uk/ Connect with GeorginaWebsite: https://afrotouch.design/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrotouchdesign/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Zoe, owner and founder of W.A. Green. A wonderful homeware boutique in Shoreditch in London. I love W.A. Greens mantra, “Dopamine for the home” and I never felt it was as needed as it is right now. We talk all about how the business is doing right now, how jigsaws and pretty wrapping paper played a big part in keeping the orders coming in during this time, what brand owners and suppliers can do to help and how retail might look like when shops are allowed to open again after this lengthy period of lockdown due to Covid-19. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you think will happen when shops open up again? What will get you to visit a store in real life? And/or if you plan to continue shopping online more this year? Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Links mentioned in this episode:Cire Trudon: https://trudon.com/eu_en/Chroma Yoga: https://www.chromayoga.co.uk/The Completist: https://the-completist.com/Slowdown studios: https://slowdownstudio.com/Trouva: https://www.trouva.com/ Connect with ZoeWebsite: https://wagreen.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w.a.greenlondon/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with Rosie Davies Smith who’s the founder of PR Dispatch and LFA PR Agency. We talk about pivoting your business and adapting to the current climate. Why now is a great time for small businesses to start doing PR since the press has a lot of time for small businesses at the moment, how to get started, tips for working with influencers and much more. I really admire how Rosie does business and how she is building PR Dispatch up and how it’s helping our small business community. Lastly, if you enjoy this podcast and the content I create, in particular right now please share where you are tuning in so others can discover the podcast too and rate and review it over on itunes/apple podcast. Links mentioned in this episode:Yeshen https://www.instagram.com/yeshen.uk/Crafty Fox https://www.instagram.com/craftyfoxmarket/Shrimps House https://www.instagram.com/shrimpshouse/Dinky Human https://www.instagram.com/dinki_human/Etna Loves https://www.instagram.com/ettaloves/KanKan https://www.instagram.com/kankan_london/ Connect with RosieWebsite: https://prdispatch.com/Website: https://www.lfa.agency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prdispatch/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lfa_agency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosie_daviessmith/ If you want help with your wholesale please get in touch either on my website, by email or Instagram and book a free no obligation discovery call. Connect with meWebsite: 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 Shophttps://thereseoertenblad.typeform.com/to/ZPiHVX