How To Start Up by FF&M – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, we hear from physio, Tim Blakey, creator of PRIME BODY.  Born from his own health and fitness challenges and overcoming training injuries, Tim combines corrective work with strength training to optimise body composition and combat body betrayal. 

Tim shares his perspective on why founder mobility is so important to incorporate from the beginning, why to prioritise resistance training over cardio and why it can actually be a great investment in your overall business to look after your mobility.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2024 Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. 

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

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Jenna Hope, registered nutritionist and founder of Jenna Hope Nutrition helps implement beneficial nutrition strategies, through a combination of talks, presentations and workshops, to improve people’s well being, productivity, sleep, stress management and mental health. 

FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2024 Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. 

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ella McKay, founder of FATSO, the unapologetically bold, brilliant and beautiful chocolate brand shaking up the confectionery world.

Launched in 2022 after being dreamt up in lockdown, FATSO is on a mission to make chocolate fun again - big, chunky, and full of life - while doing things ethically and with integrity. Behind the humour and bold branding is a founder navigating motherhood, lean budgets, and the ever-shifting culture of work.

Stay tuned to hear how Ella has managed imposter thoughts, turned limited resources into major visibility, and learned to prioritise both sales and operations without burning out in the process.

Ella’s advice:

• Imposter experience insight: be aware of your weaknesses (not insecurities) and accept that sometimes you just have to work on them
• Accept your vulnerabilities, don’t be overwhelmed by them
• Support-network lesson: Have a good mentor network and ask for help.  You can usually overcome self doubt by talking something through with someone.  But spend time first thinking it over, deciding who best to share with
• There’s a fine balance between sharing a problem and being swamped with too much advice
• Budget-friendly growth tip: Be honest about what you can afford. Approach partners transparently and find people who want to grow with you.
• Sales-first strategy: Sales always come first. Everyone in the business should think like a salesperson — you can’t build operations without revenue.
• Hiring advice for startups: Trust your gut. Look for energy, passion, curiosity, and the willingness to get hands-on. Not everyone is built for startup life.
• Motherhood and entrepreneurship: There’s no maternity cover when you’re the founder. Embrace help, drop the guilt, and remember — your child benefits from seeing you strive.
• Mindset for founders: Don’t chase perfection. Start, iterate, and learn as you go. 
• Values-driven business tip: FATSO wasn’t started to make piles of money — it’s about building a brand with purpose, humour, and integrity. Stay true to why you began.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2024 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.  Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. 

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

• Know your strengths and know when to delegate tasks 
• Offer work experience to people when you’re starting out
• Manage your expectations of team members 
• Set boundaries for everyone to manage their mental health. 
• Provide your staff with a work phone to help them separate work and personal lives
• To get reinspired have a conversation with a friend or do something for you
• You can’t perform well if you don’t have fuel in the tank
• People are not overnight successes, it takes a lot of graft but it’s worth it

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

Today we’re joined by Suzanne Duckett, founder of Onolla: The Natural Health and Beauty Edit, a concept store and experience platform which blends nature, science, beauty and wellness allowing you to put people as well as products in your cart.

As a renowned author and former health, beauty and spa editor for the likes of Tatler, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping, Suzanne identified how many people had become disconnected with nature. Setting out to solve this, Suzanne launched Onolla in 2020 as a platform to foster a synergy between nature and urban city dwellers through a curated range of science-led, natural health and beauty products, practices & practitioners. Today, Onolla delights clients in person at their London store in Barnes and online, as well as their newly launched concierge service. 

Suzanne shares with us her experience transitioning into entrepreneurship from a journalism career and why good health and wellbeing is so vital for those embarking on entrepreneurial journeys. 

Suzanne’s advice:

• Use your toolkit of self-care and well-being practices to help discover what’s going to make you thrive. 
• Using a timetable to block your time can reduce stress 
• Tune into nature when it comes to making business suggestions.  Read
• Organise your meetings around the full moon because that's when people are much more open and up for talking. 
• Incorporate meditation into your working day. 
• Know the difference between motivation and inspiration. Motivation is often generated in the mind and triggered by the need to, whereas inspiration is something that comes from your spirit and it really gets you excited. 
• Everyone you need is on your phone right now. 
• You know so much more than you think you do.

If want to personalise a more natural, flowing way of living and working. Book a 1-1 with Suzanne.

Suzanne’s recommendations: 

• Shift is the desktop app for streamlining your accounts, apps, and workflows.
• The E-Myth: teaches us the difference between working on your business and working in your business.

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLe

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In today’s episode we’re joined by Alex Noonan and Sarah Humphries, co-founders of Sydney-based beauty market research agency The Review Works.  Following media, marketing and PR careers of nearly two decades each, Alex and Sarah decided to pursue the path of joint entrepreneurship during the pandemic whilst continuing to lead their existing independent media agencies. 

Alex and Sarah share with us their advice on starting a new company while simultaneously running another, how to approach it professionally rather than personally, and how trust and transparency are vital attributes to have as a business owner. 

Alex & Sarah’s advice:

• Starting a partnership is very different from setting up on your own: always be pragmatic and businesslike
• Remember to discuss issues frankly with each other; tackle things head on
• Don’t take things personally; if you have a disagreement, be respectful of each other
• A big advantage of a partnership is that you can support each other (with time off etc.) and take things in turn
• Make the most of bouncing ideas off each other
• Always know when to outsource - know what you do well and stick to that
• Contracting is better than paying salaries - at first anyway - and takes away pressure
• When employing people, ensure you are providing a nice place to work
• You owe it to your staff to be honest about your goals
• If you are running two businesses concurrently, make sure to give the second business its own schedule and its own time
• When running your own business, you will surprise yourself at the different skills you will be able to master

If you’d like to contact Alex or Sarah you can reach them on alex@thecontentworks.com.au and sarah@shapr.com.au 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In this episode we hear from Olivia DeRamus, Founder and CEO of Communia: a social networking app empowering women, transgender and non-binary individuals to share experiences, seek advice and make new connections. 

Olivia created Communia after surviving a serious sexual assault. Through the social network, Olivia now facilitates a community to support those who have overcome similar situations on topics including mental health and wellbeing. 

Olivia shares with us her advice on defining your vision and audience at the outset of your startup journey and the importance of clarifying the legal aspects of your startup. 

Olivia’s advice:

• Start off with a clear vision of your goals
• Don’t be afraid to start, but also don’t be afraid to take your time to formulate your aims thoroughly
• Outsource if necessary and, when beginning, network with freelancers rather than employ full-timers
• Use a good small business lawyer to check out your trademark among other things
• Structuring your day will make you more productive and also help keep you calm
• Instagram and LinkedIn are useful ways to find staff
• Make sure you market your business to new talent as its competitive 
• If you need refreshing mentally, try a change of scene, change your surroundings, exercise, take a break
• When making requests of others, remember they have needs and deadlines too, with which you may be able to help

If you’d like to contact  Olivia you can reach her via olivia@restlessnetwork.com 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In this episode, we hear from co-founders Perdie Alder, CEO, & Margaret Anne Coyle, COO, of Spice Startups, the funding and liquidity platform for tech startups founded in 2020. 

Spice provides tech founders with the tools and resources required to effectively raise investment for their ventures. And their second venture is also set to launch this month - Hot Bed is a place for the ecosystem’s best startups to get funding and liquidity, pillared around relevant content, accountability and community.

Perdie and MA share with us their advice on how to bring in revenue quickly while supporting your ultimate business idea and why it's important to have really worked with a co-founder before committing to starting up together. 

MA and Perdie’s advice: 

• Speak to everyone who shows an interest in what you have to offer
• You need a cash flow from the start, so adapt what you do for clients - if they want consulting, this will help you get to know them - respond to their demands
• Understand your customers and their needs - build them what they want
• Listen to the challenges experienced by clients - this will help you tailor what you offer
• Build relationships with clients
• If in a partnership, divide the work, don’t duplicate it
• Co-founders ideally should have worked together already
• Co-founders should share the same values, and attitudes to money
• Because founding a company is hard work, you will need passion and conviction; don’t think it’s an easy option which simply gives you freedom
• Take advice from other founders who understand
• Enjoy your autonomy and influence
• Have someone near you who will show you your weaknesses and help you look out for pitfalls

If you’d like to contact Perdie or MA you can reach them perdie@spicestartups.com on and margaretanne@spicestartups.com 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

In this episode we hear from Alice Edwards, founder of Memo Press: a bespoke plastic free stationery brand based in London. Founded in October 2020, Memo was born out of a vision to make stationery both beautiful and accessible in equal measure.

Following her successful career as the jewellery editor for Tatler, Sunday Times STYLE and LUXX magazines, Alice now writes in an equally beautiful but very different way.. delighting clients with stationery which is all personalised by her own hand.

Alice shares with us her experience on trademarking and why there is now better time to start than now. 

Alice's advice:

• The autonomy self-employment gives you offers huge advantages to parents
• Self-criticism is a useful quality when you are your own boss
• Being well-organised and motivated is also vital
• Recognise your weaknesses and delegate to someone more skilled in those areas
• Play to your strengths
• The community of startups is one in which advice is readily shared; don’t hesitate to ask for help.  Similarly, be ready to share if you can help others
• You’ll be surprised which suppliers will be helpful - don’t hesitate to ask
• You are bound to make mistakes; learn from them
• You’ll surprise yourself at what you can achieve
• When starting out, investigate resources and support geared for startups (eg. the Prince’s Trust) for business plan models, etc.
• When choosing a trademark, one word is harder to copyright; choose two.  
• Filing for a trademark should be done before anything else so you can avoid unpicking it later
• Know what time of day suits you best for different activities and plan accordingly
• Use mentors, official or unofficial to inspire you

If you’d like to contact Alice you can reach via: alice@memopress.co.uk 

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.

FF&M recommends: 

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show

Today we have not one, but five, guests!

Hannah, Ellie, Ria, Lucianne and Camilla are the founders and members of the hybrid e-commerce consultancy collective A Few Great Women. With a wealth of previous career experience working with renowned brands including Harvey Nichols, Kurt Geiger and Stella McCartney, the team identified that start-up e-commerce businesses could benefit from a unique combination of the flexibility of freelance consultants powered by the collective dynamism of an in-house team. 

Today, A Few Great Women offers a range of services for e-commerce businesses including website development, digital strategy, branding and email marketing. They share with us their experiences of founding a collective and why five heads are better than one. 

Advice:

• Manage day-to-day running by using helpful apps like Notion
• Structure weekly tasks - Monday.com useful
• Outsource those things you’re less good at
• Connect with others, time spent catching up with colleagues is always constructive
• Always ask for feedback;  even knockbacks are a useful learning tool
• When pricing, be confident; a fair price guarantees good work.  Don’t doubt this
• When self-employed, take breaks and never feel guilty about them!
• Understand your limits: say no to a client if the fit isn’t right, and if necessary make a client wait
• Self-employment is particularly good for women a) because employers are not good at offering flexibility, and b) because women are so often limited by the glass ceiling
• Be confident in what you know, your experience and your value
• Keep going with an annual appraisal, even if it’s private and personal
• Go with your instincts
• Have faith in yourself

If you’d like to contact any of the A Few Great Women you can reach them on hello@afewgreatwomen.com

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. 

MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan Mail

Support the show