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  

Let's Talk Shop

Let's talk shop - What to do and not to do when sales are slow

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  

Let's Talk Shop with Jake and Freya from Studio Wald

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  

Let's talk shop - How to stat to wholesale?

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  

Let's talk shop with Leonara from Tanaka

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  

Let's talk shop with Jennifer MacFarlane, The Money Medium

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  

Let's talk shop with Megan from Sandwick Bay Candles

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  

Let's talk shop with Julie and Karin from Spring and Autumn Fair

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  

Let's talk shop with Sara Ittelson from Faire.com

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  

Let's talk shop with Sara Collins, ethical production consultant and brand owner of Sister and Kin

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  

Let's talk shop with Jacqueline Snyder and Minna Khounlo-Sithep from The Product Boss podcast

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

Let's Talk Shop- Solo episode on Brexit and small business

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  

Let's Talk Shop with Judy Andrews at Tickety Boo Creative

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/ 

Let's Talk Shop with Haley Solar

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/

Let's Talk Shop with Abigail Warner

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/

Wholesale marketplace platforms - are they right for you?

A weekly podcast for the small business owner and creative entrepreneur to help you grow your wholesale. Brought to you by Therese from the Small Business Collaborative. Find out how buyers select new products, what it takes to make a product successful, how to build a long-standing relationship with a retailer and what you can do to stand out.

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Let's Talk Shop

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