Let’s Talk Shop

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...

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....

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 directio...

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.  ...

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 quest...

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 pr...

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 me Website:  https://www.smallbusines...

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 retai...

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. So if you, like many other businesses are feeling...

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 w...

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...

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 ty...

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 co...

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 Associatio...

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,...

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...

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...

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 ne...

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 y...

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’...

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 th...

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 bu...

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 blac...

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 t...

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...