In this episode of Start Scale Succeed host Nicole Higgins is joined by guest Katie Tucker, author of "Do penguins eat peaches and founder of Product Jungle. Together, they delve into the essential topic of understanding customers and how businesses can leverage this understanding to thrive. Katie provides invaluable insights into market research, customer discovery, and the importance of aligning with customer values. Listeners will gain practical tips for conducting effective surveys, testing ...
Feb 23, 2024•26 min•Ep. 134
The UK wedding industry is worth £14 billion and this weeks’ Guest is definitely having their slice of the pie. Revolutionizing the bridal industry with the “airbnb” of bridal rentals. I chat with co-founder Ella Gaskell about PS Bridal Rental, a rental and resale platform. Celebrity Stylist Ella partnered with Zoe Jervoise Graham to start the business after establishing during covid that there was a definite gap in the market for the idea We discuss about how the idea came to life and how netwo...
Feb 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 133
Content pillars - a term we often hear talked about in relation to social media and creating content but what are they? how many should you have? and how do you establish what they are, In this episode Nicole chats with Char Dixon ex head of marketing for Dune and New Look (to name a few ) and founder of loud mouth content. Chars’ aim is to reduce the overwhelm of content creation for small business owners The episode guides both new and existing businesses on reassessing scattered content and a...
Feb 08, 2024•28 min•Ep. 132
From running home on her lunch break to post orders to now owning a bricks and mortar store, a thriving online business and co-founding a ladies fashion brand. In this weeks episode of Start scale succeed (ep 131) I chat with Sophie Cafolla founder of stock & Co a stunning children’s lifestyle brand on how the brand has evolved over the years and why bricks and mortar is key to their growth. Sophie shares great insight and tips that will really help and inspire you in you business and on you...
Feb 01, 2024•32 min•Ep. 131
In this episode, we sit down with Nikki Coe, a branding expert and business coach specializing in working with co-founders. Nikki shares her insights on why 65% of high-potential businesses fail due to co-founder fallout and offers valuable advice on nurturing successful partnerships. From identifying tensions within the business to the importance of open communication, Nikki provides practical tips and real-life examples to help co-founders navigate the complexities of their relationships. www....
Jan 25, 2024•27 min•Ep. 130
Goals aren’t just for January. In this workshop style episode host Nicole Higgins takes listeners through a comprehensive guide on setting strategic business goals for future success. Drawing from her extensive experience in corporate strategy and entrepreneurship, Nicole outlines the importance of setting goals and the actionable steps necessary to achieve them. Split into 3 parts Reflections, Review and Plan Reflection - Nicole encourages listeners to reflect on their experiences in 2023, both...
Jan 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 129
Resilience, Rebrand and Reinvention. These are some of the topics I chat about with Ness, founder of the find boutique in this weeks podcast episode. The experience of rebranding, handling business setbacks, including a social media hack, which meant she lost all her followers and had to start from scratch. The strategy behind weekly drops, engaging customers through live sessions, and the shift to smaller, more profitable fashion events. Ness's learning curve in the industry, her focus on what ...
Jan 12, 2024•29 min•Ep. 128
I’m often asked how long it takes to start a product business and the answer is how long is a piece of string as there are so many variables at play. These variables are something I discuss with TV fashion stylist turned Founder Judy Gilroy creator of home organisation brand @clossy who shares her journey of why after thinking about two other business previously she bit the bullet and started her own product business alongside a successful tv and styling career and family life. Some of the areas...
Jan 04, 2024•23 min•Ep. 127
Hands up if you remember the Barbie Launch extravaganza? I'd never seen anything like it and it made me look more at experiential marketing, what it was and how it works. Connecting with your consumers and creating a memorable experience is key to help building your brand. This week in the Start Scale Succeed podcast I dive more into that with my chat with Katie Peake founder of backlash creative THE agency for experiential marketing specialising in fashion & beauty pop ups and events. Katie...
Dec 28, 2023•41 min•Ep. 126
It's never too late to start your business. In this weeks episode of Start Scale Succeed, I chat with founder Karen Saul who started her ethical and sustainable brand brand Good Wash Day mid lockdown in her 50's. Good wash day is a organic cotton jersey towel ethically sourced to eliminate the frizz that standard towels can cause. Kind to all hair types. Karen shares about the twists and turns of her start up journey, the costs and research that went into the brand at the beginning: How her bran...
Dec 21, 2023•29 min•Ep. 125
From Barrister to Beauty brand to B-Corp This weeks episode of the start scale succeed podcast we are chatting all about becoming a B-corp with This is silk founder Sonal Keay who during her legal career began a side hustle focused on the benefits of silk in skincare based on her own skincare needs and problems which then flourished and became her main focus and business Sonal shares her start up story and the initial research that went into the brand along with why she wanted to become a B-corp...
Dec 14, 2023•30 min•Ep. 124
Do you find selling easy? and are you using your socials to sell as much as you could. If you answered no to both of those questions then this episode is for you. Today's episode is a must-listen for every small business owner and entrepreneur looking for sustainable strategies to boost client engagement and sales without the burnout. Special guest Sara Dalrymple , a renowned sales trainer and mentor, who brings a treasure trove of practical advice from her new book 'More Sales, Please.' Dive in...
Dec 07, 2023•35 min•Ep. 123
One of the challenges that a small business can be faced with is when a larger retailer with bottomless pockets blatantly rips off your designs. This is one of the topics I'm talking to Cara the founder of snoozeshade on ep 122 of Start Scale Succeed. Cara Sayer, founder of Snooze Shade, shares her gripping journey of battling corporate giants and protecting her invention. With her blend of personal anecdotes and business acumen, Cara divulged how she dealt with a big retailer replicating her pr...
Nov 30, 2023•58 min•Ep. 122
In this episode, host Nicole Higgins sits down with Georgia Williams, founder of Ray of Social and Canva Queen, to discuss how to create content that captures attention and stands out from the competition. Georgia shares valuable tips on finding your unique voice, showcasing confidence, outsourcing tasks, and creating a content plan with a purpose. Whether you're starting fresh or in need of a content refresh, this episode provides practical advice to help you elevate your content and stop the s...
Nov 23, 2023•17 min•Ep. 121
Building a business on your own can be tiring and overwhelming, as you have to wear many hats and juggle all the tasks. Experienced Make Up Artist Donna May Clitheroe founded Donna May London in 2017, creating embroidered make up bags. Rapid growth led Donna to partner with Sarah Spence, her website and brand designer. Together they have taken the business from strength to strength, expanding their customer base, introducing several new products and expanding more into wholesale Some of the key ...
Nov 16, 2023•37 min•Ep. 120
How can you boost your personal performance in business and life? Elevate yourself, and you will make better decisions, have more energy and more to give. Harvey Fairburn is the founder of Fairburn Fitness and a high-performance coach who specializes in helping business owners elevate their personal standards and improve their performance in their businesses. His passion for this work stems from his own personal journey, having experienced the detrimental effects of neglecting self-care and focu...
Nov 09, 2023•34 min•Ep. 119
So many women I speak to follow a varied path before they start their business. And this week's guest also had a varied career before she set up her business. Jenni Retourné is the founder of independent, natural skincare brand, Willowberry. Join us as we dive deep into Jenni's journey of starting her own beauty brand, the challenges she faced, and the incredible success she has achieved. From formulating her signature products at her kitchen table to forging partnerships with key retailers, Jen...
Nov 02, 2023•37 min•Ep. 118
When should you consider working with a digital marketing agency? How can you ensure smooth growth and maximize returns on ad spending? How do you know what agency is the right fit for you? For this week’s episode I am joined by Anna Frapwell, the founder of Neon Digital Clicks and an industry expert with 20 years of digital marketing experience. Anna shares her invaluable insights on when to consider investing in digital marketing, how to decide if an agency is the right fit for your goals, and...
Nov 01, 2023•31 min•Ep. 117
In this week’s episode we are diving into an alternative tool you can use to help you thrive in business, and manage stress. I’m joined by Shauna Corr, an EFT (Emotional Freedom Therapy) expert. EFT is a relatively new therapy, but it is quickly gaining popularity due to its simplicity, effectiveness, EFT combines Chinese acupuncture with modern talking therapy. Shauna helps people address their issues by tapping on certain parts of the body while discussing their concerns. Despite some initial ...
Oct 19, 2023•35 min•Ep. 116
This weeks episode I’m joined by Sallie King who started her business urbansize in 2015 leaving behind a career in law to establish her own business creating stylish furniture for small spaces. Slowly, establishing her business through etsy, not on the high street and DTC, We are debunking the overnight success myth and focusing on real stories, real business , real life Her innovative floating bedside tables began to take off with sales initially coming from Etsy, Sallie shares how she reimagin...
Oct 11, 2023•34 min•Ep. 115
Want to smash your Q4 in your product business without feeling drained come January! Lucy Haslam is the founder of children's lifestyle brand Acorn & Pip, a bricks and mortar store & cafe established in West Yorkshire with a thriving online presence. Established over 5 years ago with the customer, mindfulness and authenticity at its core. In this episode, Lucy shares her Q4 retail checklist so that you can make the most of the last quarter of the year and goes through her tips focusing o...
Oct 05, 2023•44 min•Ep. 114
If you have been in business a few years now then you might be thinking should I rebrand? Or perhaps you started your brand on a shoe string and it doesn't really fit anymore with where you want to take the brand and your business. This weeks podcast episode with Aiza Cheung founder of Sudio Coya we chat about rebranding and signs that Your business may need a branding overhaul. Some of the areas we chatted about are How does branding play a role in attracting your target audience and positionin...
Sep 27, 2023•27 min•Ep. 113
Todays Guest Rebecca McCann Founder of Pro blo group and sleep london, her mantra is say yes and make it happen and grabs every opportunity. Rebecca was inspired by her love of a blow-dry and a broken hair brush. With a vision to create a product range that was luxury yet affordable, Currently, Problogroup is in its ninth year and has achieved global recognition, selling in over 850 different countries. Rebecca decided to venture into a new business and launched Sleep London. Drawing from her ex...
Sep 20, 2023•48 min•Ep. 112
Eimer Kelly from The Creative Handle, a social media marketing expert, will be sharing her insights on what's working on TikTok and how to make the most of the platform Some of the topics shared on this weeks episode are - Importance of authenticity on TikTok - The value of behind-the-scenes content on TikTok - How TikTok's less curated platform benefits small businesses - Adding value to TikTok content through humor or education - Using comments to engage with viewers and drive more engagement ...
Aug 23, 2023•24 min•Ep. 111
Financing your dream brand can sometimes feel like a mammoth task This weeks episode of start scale succeed I chat with Jeroo Doodhmal founder of a sustainable childrenswear footwear brand on how she secured over 400k of grant funding to develop her brand Pip and Henry. Jeroo shares her insights into where to find grants and how to apply, These are some of her top tips listen to episode 110 to find out more. Research and prioritize grants that align with your specific business needs and objectiv...
Aug 17, 2023•19 min•Ep. 110
Barbie has grossed $1billion dollars in the last 17 days Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll would’ve seen the marketing efforts from pink wrapped houses in the hollywood hills to clothing collaborations with Primark But as a small business or a start up you won’t have the same kind of budgets to promote your brand or your launch. But what can you do. Today I’m joined by Steven Moffat of organic publicity who played a part in the UK launch of Barbie and he is going to share his top tip...
Aug 09, 2023•38 min•Ep. 109
Finding the right suppliers is key to the success of your business. In this episode I talk through where to find suppliers.What questions you need to ask and what they will need from you.Are you a small business owner looking for tips on finding the right supplier and pricing your products? Look no further!We dive deep into the world of sourcing suppliers and calculating product prices.KEY TAKEAWAYS Ask the right questions when narrowing down potential suppliers. Background information, minimum ...
Aug 03, 2023•24 min•Ep. 108
Scared of selling and feel uncomfortable asking for the sale? This week Fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stile Joins me on the podcast to chat selling with ease and without feeling salesy Elizabeth, dives deep into the world of sales and provides valuable insights on how to effortlessly promote your business and connect with customers.One of the key takeaways from this episode is the importance of actively promoting what you have to offer. Many people underestimate the interest their customers...
Jul 26, 2023•42 min•Ep. 107
Jul 19, 2023•38 min•Ep. 106
Feel like you are banging your head against a brick wall trying to source factories to get your products manufactured? Todays Episode I chat with Kate Hills founder of Make it British whose mission is to keep British Manufacturing alive and helps connect entrepreneurs who want to make products in the uk with the factories that can produce We discuss the impact of Brexit on manufacturing, the rise in prices of raw materials, and the difficulties in importing from overseas. With her expertise, Kat...
Jul 12, 2023•36 min•Ep. 105
