UNBOXED

Richard Harpin sold his business, Home Serve, for 4 billion pounds. Yet he believes if he’d just done 8 things differently he could have grown better and quicker.  In this episode, he joins Connie Nam to share his 8 secrets he wishes he knew before building his business.  He explains how to lock down your dream mentor, how to accept losing control when you’re hiring your replacement and...

You may recognise Frankie Gaff from her time on Made in Chelsea, but since leaving she’s built a huge following online. But how did she break free from reality TV to be known as her authentic self? In this episode, Frankie shares with Connie Nam the strategic decisions she made to distance herself from the Made in Chelsea persona, what content works best when collaborating with brands, and how Ast...

Before Vanita Parti, no one in London threaded their eyebrows. After she founded Blink Brow Bar, it became a staple in thousands of women’s routines.  Vanita joins Connie Nam to share how she went from one cramped chair in a department store to 15 stores internationally, how she built a client base before social media and why micro-influencers are crucial for their brand.  Plus, she expl...

Investor Daina Spedding is passionate about putting more money behind female-led businesses and in this conversation, she explains how she’s trying to close the gap.  Daina shares with Connie Nam the shockingly low percentage of funding that goes to female founders, what being on a board is actually like and how you should approach valuation and your company.  The pair also discuss the n...

Co-founder and Creative Director of Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard, joins Connie Nam on this week's episode.  Molly reveals how she dropped out of university twice, the challenges of growing a business and a family, and how she navigated the complexity of the fashion industry with no experience.  Plus, she explains why she’s always loved customer service and how she’s redefining th...

Co-founder of amie wine and marketing guru Abbie Roden Sandbach joins Connie Nam to share how far perseverance can take you. Abbie explains how she made her own opportunities in social media, why networking was the key to her success and why she doesn’t care about university when it comes to hiring.  Plus, she shares small steps to elevate your brand, how she manages running multiple brands a...

Founder and CEO of Nails. INC, Thea Green, joins Connie Nam to reveal how she transformed the culture of nail treatments in the UK over 20 years ago.  Thea explains what nail salons were like in the late 90s, how she pitched to investors and why she thought about quitting by the hour. Plus, she shares how collaborations with Percy Pig came to be, how she overcame her ‘mum guilt’ and why it’s...

In a special episode of Unboxed, host Connie Nam is interviewed by her producer Charlie about how she took Astrid & Miyu from idea to cult brand. Connie explains how she spotted the gap in the market, if she ever considered a co-foudner and how she found her initial audience. Plus, she offers insightful advice for entrepreneurs: what the difference between an Angel and VC investor is, what que...

Lorna Luxe is one of Astrid & Miyu’s OG influencers and now she has 1.4 million followers and is the founder of her own brand LA SPACE. Connie Nam sits down with Lorna to discuss the steady yet meteoric growth she saw in the early days of influencing, how she wasn’t always the relatable creator she is today and her previous experience with a fast fashion edit that sold out in a day.  Plus...

Jo Tutchener Sharp shares how a traumatic event led to founding Scamp & Dude and the poignant mission that she is still working towards today.  Jo joins Connie Nam to discuss the near-death experience that led to her business, her advice for PR if you have zero budget and how the surprising transition from kidswear to womenswear occurred.  Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential , @scamp...

In a special episode of Unboxed, Connie Nam is joined by Astrid & Miyu’s Chief Marketing Officer and her first-ever hire, Sarah Hrywnak, to reveal what the early days of the business were like.  Sarah shares the tumultuous times of interning in London, Connie shares the reasons she hired Sarah and they reminisce about working in Connie’s flat.  Sarah and Connie also discuss the chall...

Aimee Connolly, the founder and CEO of makeup brand Sculpted by Aimee, joins Connie Nam to share how she went from MUA to building a beauty empire. Aimee explains how she built a simple beauty brand during the heavy IG makeup era, how she manages the influencing side of her role and how she juggles it all.  Plus, Aimee describes the brand’s connections to South Korea, tips on how to find your...

What is an investor is really like? Connie Nam sits down with Matt Truman, founder of True Global, to find out if Dragon’s Den is more than a reality show.  Matt breaks down common industry jargon, reveals the key market opportunities for the next 20 years and the important traits a successful founder needs to have.  Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential and follow Matt on Linkedin . This...

Travel writer and content creator Gina Jackson joins Connie Nam to share her expertise on influencing. As someone who has worked with influencers for huge fashion brands and is an influencer herself, Gina offers valuable insights whether you’re an aspiring influencer or you’re ready to use creators to promote your business.  Gina explains how influencing has changed over the years, why she ma...

Motivational speaker, author and founder of F*ck Being Humble, Stefanie Sword-Williams sits down with Connie Nam to explain why she turned her back on modesty.  Stefanie explains how she spotted her gap in the market, where the FBH slogan came from and how she couldn’t have timed going freelance worse when she quit her job in March 2020.  If you hate networking like Connie, Stefanie also...

Founder and CEO of fashion brand Saint and Sofia, Dessi Bell, joins Connie Nam for this week’s episode.  Dessi reflects on how her experience moving to the UK from Bulgaria as a teenager has informed her role as a business owner, why she prefers to give her team full freedom rather than micromanage and practical advice for working with your romantic partner.  Plus, she offers advice on h...

From out of Natasha Thoma’s kitchen, Lockdown Liquor was born as a fun pandemic activity to share with friends; now their chic and stylish premium blended cocktails are in stores, bars and restaurants.  In this conversation with Connie Nam, Natasha explains how she was able to found her first business at 24, what it was like entering an industry she had no experience in and her advice for sec...

Angel Investor Gary Clarke joins Connie Nam for a behind the scenes look of early stage investing, and what an investor can offer you and your business. Gary shares how failure has been pivotal for his success, what he looks for in potential founders for investment and the biggest mistakes he sees people make while trying to grow a business.  Connie also shares her experience with investors,...

Joanna Jensen created sensitive skin products for her own daughter, but through founding Childs Farm it went on to change children’s lives around the world who were suffering from Eczema.  Joanna joins Connie to discuss the shameless ways she sought customer feedback, how her stubbornness helped her succeed and the grief she felt after selling the business.  As an investor herself, she a...

Founder of modern eyewear company Cubitts, Tom Broughton, joins Connie Nam to share his mission to change the stigma on wearing glasses. Tom shares how his disappointment in the high street glasses option when he was a teenager sparked his entrepreneurial vision, the turning point after only selling one frame a day for the first 6 months, and getting ghosted by investors.  Plus, Tom and Conni...

Katie Lopes, founder of Stripe & Stare, shares how she overcame £1.5 million debt, a relationship breakdown, and her low self-confidence, to create the knicker brand that everyone is talking about. Katie tells Connie Nam the devastating circumstances that pushed her to build a future for her children, how she learnt to trust her instincts, and the frustrating assumptions placed on female found...

Founder of cult coffee brand Grind, David Abrahamovitch, joins Connie Nam on this episode of Unboxed.  After David’s first appearance on the podcast in 2020, where Grind was just focussing on its high street presence, it has now evolved into a multimillion-pound multichannel venture. David reveals the story behind acquiring Bottleshot Coffee, why it’s hard for him to sometimes provide leaders...

Nicola Elliott, the Founder of NEOM Organics joins Connie In this episode of Unboxed. After spending seven years working 60-hour weeks as a journalist, Nicola wanted to create a brand to address rising stress levels, lack of sleep, energy and low mood.  NEOM Organics quickly became one of the first and fastest growing wellbeing brands in the UK, which specialises in 100% natural fragrances to...

We're kicking off the New Year with the launch of our internal mini series Inside A&M. Listen in as Lex, our People & Culture Director sits down with three of our Retail team Adam, Charlotte and Abi to discuss all things experiential retail. The panel discussion shares inside HQ behind the scenes knowledge and their tips on finding a career in retail from our services to the design side. Thank you...

We're kicking off the New Year with the launch of our internal mini series Inside A&M. Listen in as Lex, our People & Culture Director sits down with three of our Finance team Ellie, Amit and Parisha. The panel discussion shares inside HQ behind the scenes knowledge, actionable interview advice and their tips on finding a career in finance. Thank you so much for tuning into the episode of #InsideA...