Start Scale Succeed

From Kickstarter to L'Oréal and Steven Bartlett: how Eniye Oka is funding and building Beame This week I'm joined by Eniye Oka, founder of Beame, a sun care brand that blends SPF with science-backed ingredients, scent and tech to make reapplying on the go easy (and fun). Eniye has a background in beauty and wellness buying. Since starting Beame in 2022, she's been backed by L'Oréal...

Your Black Friday 2026 game plan: what's changed, and what to do now Whether you've got your Black Friday plan nailed or haven't started yet, this solo episode is for you. I've spent years in buying offices at Primark, M&S and George at Asda, and I've seen my fair share of Black Fridays. In this episode I go through what's different in 2026, how to plan offers that prot...

Katie shares her Rocks, Pebbles and Sand planning framework and the email frequency to build up to before Black Friday. She also covers the benchmarks worth tracking, four types of email that sell at full margin without a discount code, and a simple Instagram giveaway that moves your followers onto your email list. If you sell products online and want this Christmas to be your best yet, watch this...

From Spray Tanner to Global Beauty Brand: Jules Von Hepp on Building Isle of Paradise, Showing Up and Knowing When to Leave Jules Von Hep spent 10 years as a celebrity spray tanner. His clients included Strictly Come Dancing, the red carpet and Vogue. Then he spotted a gap no one was filling. The result was Isle of Paradise, a colour-correcting self-tan brand that went into Superdrug and Boots and...

It’s one of the most crowded times of the year, and your customers are more distracted than ever. So how do you get them to stop scrolling and actually buy? In this live recording of Start, Scale, Succeed, I’m joined by two paid media experts. Aggie Moroney is founder of White bee Digital , a paid social agency that scales e-commerce brands through Meta, Pinterest and TikTok ads and runs a CPD-acc...

How much stock should you actually be holding? With Anna Youngson of Majury Merchandising Stock and cash flow can catch out any product business, whether you're turning over £100k or £1m. This week I'm joined by Anna Youngson, merchandising and retail consultant and founder of Majury Merchandising. Anna spent 20 years in-house in corporate retail, including eight years at Topshop and, most...

In this episode, Nicole and Hannah discuss the evolving trends in Christmas marketing, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer behavior and emotional connections to the holiday season. They explore how retailers can leverage nostalgia, storytelling, and immersive experiences to engage customers effectively. Hannah introduces the 'Three P's' —Purpose, Personalization, and P...

On this episode of Start Scale Succeed, Nicole chats with Louisa Booth, the inspiring founder behind Pop Mask and Blushing LA. Louisa shares her entrepreneurial journey from investment banking to bootstrapping and building a global beauty and wellness brand, now found in over 35,000 retail doors worldwide—including CVS, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Superdrug, and Boots. Nicole and Louisa chat about: Th...

In this value-packed episode, Nicole Higgins sits down with Dean Johnson—AI consultant, and experienced product business founder—to dive into the game-changing ways artificial intelligence is transforming product businesses.  Whether you're a founder at the start of your journey or running an established e-commerce brand, you’ll learn actionable strategies for using AI to streamline operations, sa...

Welcome to another episode of the Start Scale Succeed podcast with your host, Nicole Higgins, the Buyer and Retail Coach. In this episode, Nicole is joined by Lauren Orlicky , co-founder of US Launchpad about the practicalities of launching your brand in the United States and how to do it the Easy Way Episode Highlights: - The Story Behind US LaunchpadLauren shares how her own e-commerce challenge...

When should I start talking about my brand on socials? How soon should I build a community?  These are questions I'm often asked by brands that are starting and in EP 193 I'm chatting with Heather Chan co-founder of new brand Moonbow (where Traditional Chinese Medicine meets modern skincare) The brand launched in March 2025 and the founders Heather & Dr. Felice Chan have been building the brand in...

In this weeks episode, Nicole brings back Laura, founder of The Shortlist—a premium petite fashion brand—for her third appearance on the podcast. Having followed Laura’s journey from launch to becoming a profitable business, Nicole dives deep into the milestones, challenges, and evolutionary steps that have shaped The Shortlist over the past four years. Listen in as Laura shares candid insights ab...

Is conventional PR over?  In this weeks episode of start scale succeed we are live from the retail revealed stage of the  Top Drawer Trade Fair    I’m joined by Journalist and communications expert Priscilla Pollara and here are some of the key areas we chat about  How PR has evolved (and what actually matters now)Storytelling that connects—and convertsWhere to focus your PR efforts for real visib...

Nicole sits down with expert fashion copywriter Katie Ramsingh to dive deep into the art and strategy of creating compelling copy and developing a distinctive tone of voice for your brand. With over 10 years’ experience writing for brands like Louis Vuitton, John Lewis, and Farfetch, Katie shares practical advice for entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. From defining the difference betw...

On this episode of Start Scale Succeed,Nicole Higgins sits down with Katy Cottam, the founder of Luna Daily—a body care brand redefining skincare for women at every age and life stage. Katy opens up about her journey from a personal struggle with thrush and sensitive skin to launching and  leading a fast-growing brand with retail partnerships at places like Boots, Sephora, and M&S, just three year...

37% of entrepreneurs suffer from Anxiety and in this weeks Episode of Start Scale Succeed Nicole chats with Psychotherapist and Author Anna Mathur we talk about Anxiety, overwhelm and mental health as an entrepreneur  Highlights include  Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt in Entrepreneurs - accepting messy imperfect beginnings and anchoring throughs in truth versus fear   Low Self-Esteem in Business...

Claudia shares her journey from marketing to design, the challenges early-stage brands face with packaging, and her expert advice on how founders can communicate their brand’s personality, maximize every inch of packaging real estate, and strike the right balance between standing out and fitting in with category norms.  You’ll hear about common mistakes to avoid, trends shaping the future, and som...

Join us as Imogen shares her journey from interior designer to creative business owner, revealing why she chose to make wholesale and trade shows a new focus, the realities of prepping for her debut trade show at Top Drawer, a UK trade show and the practical lessons she learned along the way.  Whether you’re considering your first trade show or just love hearing honest accounts of building a busin...

This episode is packed with practical advice for founders and brand owners looking to start or scale their product-based businesses—especially those considering India for production.  You’ll learn about the best product categories to source from India, key cultural and communication considerations, pitfalls to avoid, and how on-the-ground trips can transform your sourcing journey. Key Topics & Tak...

Nicole and Deryane delve into the reality of competing in a discount-driven market, strategies for driving sales, and the importance of focusing on exceptional customer service. For those considering starting a brick-and-mortar or e-commerce business, Deryane’s advice is invaluable.   Deryane shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early days in retail to establishing a successful multi-brand...

This weeks episode of Start Scale Succeed Nicole is joined by Leanne and Amy, the dynamic co-founders of Naked Biotics. They delve into the journey of launching and scaling their probiotic brand amidst challenges like the COVID-19 lockdowns. Inspired by personal experiences and the power of gut health, Leanne and Amy's entrepreneurial journey is one of passion, resilience, and innovation. The Birt...

In this episode of the Start Scale Succeed podcast, Nicole  is joined by Becci McAvoy, founder of Be Heard Socials, to discuss the importance of authenticity in social media, particularly for brand founders. They delve into the challenges and fears of showing true selves online, tips to overcome these barriers, and the significance of personal boundaries in content sharing. Becky, a content strate...

Pippa Goulden joins the Start Scale Succeed podcast to chat all thing PR for your small business and how you can DIY it and the steps you need to take to increase the visibility of you and your brand.  Highlights include  🎙️ Personal Branding Power: Learn how to weave your personal story into your brand to create compelling narratives that connect with your audience. Pippa highlights the importanc...

In this episode of the Start Scale Succeed podcast, We delve into the world of entrepreneurship with the inspiring story of Lucy, the founder of Acorn and Pip.  Lucy has successfully run her family concept store, navigating the complexities of retail in challenging times. With nearly 100,000 Instagram followers and a thriving business model that includes a retail store, cafe, and an online presenc...

Ep 178 Masters of the Market,  Elevating Small Businesses with Salad Days Market founders Daisy & Liv Tinker  In this week's episode of Start Scale Succeed  I chat with Liv & Daisy, the innovative founders behind Salad Days Market, a vibrant pop-up market showcasing the best of small businesses in London.  With their unique backgrounds in fashion and retail, they share their journey from working i...