Explore every episode of the podcast How To Start Up by FF&M
Dive into the complete episode list for How To Start Up by FF&M. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
How to grow a productive & happy team, Katharine Pooley, Founder & Executive President
10 Sep 2024
00:31:41
With Zippia reporting that happy workers are 13% more productive than unhappy workers, clearly it’s crucial to maintain a supportive and welcoming company culture as you grow your business. Not only will this keep your employees motivated, but you’ll also reap the benefits of higher productivity.
So, I wanted to find out how to grow a productive and happy team. That’s why I spoke with Katharine Pooley, Founder & Executive President of her eponymous luxury interior design studio. As one of the UK’s foremost interior designers, Katharine has grown her team to fifty people and adeptly balanced maintaining a creative environment with ensuring her team gets stuff done.
Keep listening to hear Katharine’s advice on how to keep your team happy as well as productive as you scale and why thinking about the octopus effect can really help imbue each and every employee on a daily basis.
Katherine's advice: Know your limit in terms of number of employees The happiness of your team is critical and will spring from:
Enjoyment of the work
Good collaboration
Bonuses, salary raises and perks
Knowing each other well
Being allowed autonomy and being trusted
Having a safe work environment
A pleasant office with a reasonable commute
Being trained and having the opportunity for meetings and discussions
Examining a project after it has been delivered and discussing its good and bad points
If a team is a happy one, productivity will be the result
A happy team will be a loyal one and the longstanding employees will be so valuable
Longstanding members can perhaps each manage their own team
It’s a symbiotic relationship between employer and employed
You need each other and ideally will stimulate each other
From the employer’s point of view, when interviewing:
Try to assess the candidate quickly
Trust the ones who speak with genuine warmth rather than the well-rehearsed speeches
It’s important to like your employees
Avoid ones who chatter rather than answering the question
Those who can communicate and engage with you face to face will be strongest
As the boss make sure you tackle your emails every single night
If you have children be up front with them about what you need to do (and then make the most of your time with them)
Give yourself goals at the start of the year and check up on them in August
Remember, your enthusiasm will be infectious to your employees
Be consistent
Always be approachable; make yourself available at all times and respond to requests
Try to deal with problems yourself rather than handing them down
Be prepared to forgive mistakes
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups 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
How to manage a portfolio career with Nnenna Onuba, Founder of LBB Skin
27 Aug 2024
00:41:59
The Department for Education found in 2022 that 63% of UK adults hold multiple roles, demonstrating the extensiveness of the portfolio career. However, how do you create multiple roles for yourself and, importantly, ensure you deliver across them all?
To answer this, I wanted to hear from an experienced portfolio career holder who manages several roles at once - as an M&A growth expert, angel investor and advocate for inclusive leaders Nnenna Onuba founded her first business, LBB Skin, in 2018, & has since built a mergers & acquisitions consultancy and the leadership & inclusion advocacy organisation 100 Allies. Nnenna also holds directorships with organisations including the British Beauty Council and the Royal Veterinary College.
Keep listening to hear Nnenna’s advice on separating your different roles and effectively balancing competing demands on your time.
Nnenna’s advice:
You need plenty of life experience first
You must know yourself and what you’re good at, so you can hone in on your strengths
You need to be the sort of person who enjoys continual learning
Tackle the tough creative tasks at the beginning of the day when your energy is highest
When you are relaxed you will be more creative
Accept that as you age your energy levels may alter, and different times of day will suit you better
Stay innovative
If you mentor others you will learn from this
Attract people with different skills to your own
Don’t be afraid to delegate important things and trust others
Additionally, surround yourself with people who inspire you
If you tackle uncomfortable jobs you will get better at them
If you are properly self-aware you will be more observant of others
Try to do even one small thing that makes a difference
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & Licence
How to establish your brand's voice: Millie Kendall OBE, The British Beauty Council
23 Apr 2024
00:35:35
With research showing 90% of marketers agree that brand language is vital for business success, your business needs to speak confidently and clearly. Given this, I wanted to learn from an expert on how you can differentiate your brand’s voice in an ever-crowded market.
In this episode, we hear from Millie Kendall OBE, renowned brand builder and founder of the British Beauty Council, Brandstand Communications and Ruby & Millie. With a 30-year track record of launching and marketing beauty brands, Millie founded the British Beauty Council in 2018 to nurture talent, growth and development within the industry.
Keep listening to hear why Millie thinks a brand voice is critical for any new brand and how to begin defining yours.
Millie’s advice:
When branding your product, it is not just a question of logo
Vitally important is that the branding should show the ethics of the company
The brand identity will always represent the values of the founder (if a product is taken over, the brand identity is precious)
When establishing a brand identity, try putting in a box the ten things in your home you value most - and then identifying what they have in common. Your brand should reflect who you are, your DNA
Imagine your customer is yourself
Do your research, and be sure you know your audience (as well as your competitors)
Then the tone of voice will come naturally, followed by the name, the packaging, the style
These things will generate trust and loyalty in your customers
Your brand voice will evolve over time, and rebranding can occur spontaneously
It is important to be clear and authoritative
If you believe in the efficacy of your product your brand voice will be strong
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to be the new kid on the block with Nick Bridle, Belstone Dart International
17 Nov 2020
00:20:48
In this episode we hear from Nick Bridle, who having retired from the military, founded Belstone Dart International, a risk management consultancy in 2017. Nick explains the importance of getting a client to pay for your product or service as soon as possible, as you need to qualify the concept commercially... because until that happens, it doesn’t really matter how pretty your logo is. He also talks about how being new to the playing field can mean you’re a target for bullying tactics from the more established players, but that is ok as it means you’re a genuine threat.
Belstone Dart is a consultancy specialising in providing advice and support for those entering or operating in challenging markets. info@belstonedart.com
Nick's advice:
Be aware of your communication and leadership skills when it comes to stakeholders
Know which strengths you can take from your previous roles and where you may need to improve certain skills
Always do what you say you’re going to do
Always be reliable and responsive when you’re a start up; get back to your clients straight away and make it easy for them to hire you
In the beginning, ask people for advice and garner opinions on your business idea
Write a business plan to get you in the right mindset
Look at your financial projections and costs, know that you’ll reduce the former and increase the latter
You just need to start doing it and the rest will follow
At the start, get a paying client to see if your idea is viable. Someone paying you is essential to prove your concept works in reality - it almost doesn’t matter how much, you just need an actual transaction to start with
Accept that things take longer than you might expect and map that into your plan; it can take months to win business
You’ll work a lot harder when self-employed but you’ll have flexibility as well
With pricing, work out what your costs actually are and what margin is fair. By pricing yourself fairly within the market and being able to justify your pricing clearly, you’ll win more business in the long run
If you don’t have to take on a business partner, don’t. If you do, be really sure you trust that person absolutely. Question the ratio of ownership as 50/50 can lead to a stalemate if things go wrong
Accept even small clients as you never know where they might lead
Growth through word of mouth is the most effective way to grow your business quickly
Links
LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between devices. Affiliate link here .
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets.
Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your own startup stories and please do let me know if you have any questions for future guests as well: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020. Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
How to find the opportunity with George Coke, By Georgie travel
10 Nov 2020
00:17:44
In this episode we hear from Georgina Coke who founded By Georgie in 2015. George explains how, having been made redundant, she took a step she would never have anticipated. Prompted by friends she took the plunge to set up on her own and six years later she has no regrets, saying redundancy was the best thing that could have happened to her. She is the 100% owner of a company which connects luxury travel companies to a select group of destination management companies.
By Georgie represents a select few destination management companies and boutique lodges in the UK and European market. You can contact George on georgina@bygeorgie.comr
Georgina is also a founding member of The Conscious Travel Foundation, a social enterprise established to unite and educate owner-operated travel businesses and promote travel as a force for good, raising funds for grass-roots charity projects around the world.
George’s advice includes:
Redundancy is an opportunity; once you’re over the shock that is
Practical first steps include registering your company, set up the business bank account and find an accountant
Speak to a range of people you trust, both for practical advice and for emotional support
Delegate to experts: don’t try to do it all yourself, but allow those more experienced to do the jobs you dislike as you’ll get a better return
Make sure you take time off, break up the day and ensure you take holiday
Plan your day so nothing gets forgotten; two meetings a day is enough
Observe your work/life balance consistently in order to get it right
Relish your autonomy and the flexibility it gives you
LastPass offer a free of charge service which I've been using. This post is unpaid however there is an affiliate link you can use here should you want to support the podcast.
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets.
Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your own startup stories too and please do let me know if you have any questions for future guests as well: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020. Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020.
MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & Licence
How to take the long road with Uwern Jong, OutThere magazine
03 Nov 2020
00:19:42
In this episode we hear from Uwern Jong, Experientialist in Chief and co-founder of OutThere magazine. He talks about why being on your own clock enables a whole new autonomy in how you work, why adopting the slow road may be more rewarding in the end, and why taking time away from work can have a big impact. Uwern can be contacted at: uwern@outtheremagazine.com
For those who have not yet discovered it, OutThere is an award-winning luxury and experiential travel inspiration journal rooted in diversity, discovery and discernment. OutThere specialises in curating opinion-leading content, from in-depth, first person essays on the world’s most amazing experiences – taking our readers on journeys that extend beyond the mainstream – to celebrating global cultural expressions and the people responsible for making the OutThere world so unique.
Uwern’s advice includes:
Learn to appreciate slow travel
Why the full, possibly long and quite hard journey you take is worth every step in your learning
Networking is essential especially at the start: don’t forget to tell people what you're up to, get the word out and don’t be shy
Do ask friends for help, as they may have the experience to point you in a quicker/better direction
Enjoy being on your own clock
If you find your income is irregular, try to take the long view
You can do more than you think you can and you will surprise yourself
Make sure you find a balance outside work, you need to have things to talk about that are not work related. Learn to switch off
Trust yourself at the beginning, don’t waste time worrying about things, just solve them and have confidence in yourself
Remember brand development is as important as the day to day business
Big picture thinking is key, focus on:
Creativity. Innovation. Stewardship. Resilience
Identify what people need, even if it’s only a small group of people
Links
LastPass offer a free of charge service which I've been using. This post is unpaid however there is an affiliate link you can use here should you want to support the podcast.
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets.
Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your own startup stories too and please do let me know if you have any questions for future guests as well: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020. Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod
How to protect your company legally with Will Davies, HBD Partners
27 Oct 2020
00:17:17
In this episode I speak with Will Davies, Co-founder and Director of HBD Partners. He shares invaluable advice on the importance of legally protecting your business from the start, also how to manage the pressures and responsibilities of being a new business owner and what steps you can take to look after your teams remotely.
HBD Partners is a specialist recruitment consultancy operating within the Hospitality, Leisure and Travel sectors. We focus on middle to senior management positions and work in partnership with our clients in a consultative manner and with the highest integrity. Will can be contacted here: will@hbdpartners.co.uk
Will’s advice:
Have confidence in your brand and believe in what you do
Map out a topline business plan and include the company ethos and culture you’d like to aim for
Reevaluate and update it continually as your business grows
If you are a partnership, draft a shareholders’ agreement as soon as possible, to protect the business in case of unforeseen disagreements or disasters in the future
Partner with a good accountant who will help you run the business efficiently
Be prepared to diversify your business offering should the market require it
Leave a healthy percentage of cash in the business at all times
Make sure your employees are fully engaged and feel valued at all times
Set a clear direction and framework for your teams in order to deliver back to the business
Always thoroughly research suppliers before committing to any long term business
LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between devices. They offer a free of charge service which I've been using. This post is unpaid however there is an affiliate link you can use here should you want to support the podcast.
Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your own startup stories and please do let me know if you have any questions for future guests as well: hello@fallowfieldmason.com I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & Licence
How to seek advice with Hugo Chance, Chance Capital
20 Oct 2020
00:22:30
In this episode we hear from Hugo Chance, founder of Chance Capital. He shares his recommendation about asking advice from your nearest and dearest is not always the best strategy, and maintains that sticking to your pricing structure and building your support network from the start is paramount.
Chance Capital is a corporate advisory firm that assists early stage private companies with business planning, pitch preparation, legal services and more specifically their capital raising requirements. With an experienced team of advisors, the team at Chance Capital are well positioned to connect growing private businesses with their strategic network of HNW, Family Office, institutional equity and debt financing investors. Chance Capital always seeks to co-invest on each transaction. Contact hugo@chancecapital.co.uk also hear at Talk VC
Hugo’s advice includes:
Learn what you’re personally, not just professionally, wanting to achieve by running your own business.
Success isn’t just about the bottom financial line. It can be freedom and independence too. Learn what you really value in being self employed.
Mapping out what you’re aiming for at the end will really help plan the journey in order to get there.
Put as much preparation into your business as you can; this includes talking to as many people as possible, including other entrepreneurs, to get advice (& they don’t have to be from the same industry either).
When updating your records with new contacts, note a distinctive aspect of the meeting to ensure you remember where you met and what you talked about.
Know you’ll have to be flexible when it comes to time and task management.
Don’t be a busy fool. Ensure you’re efficiently busy, given you’ll be spinning so many plates.
Every meeting or call should be necessary, beneficial and have a clear delineated follow up.
Learn from every mistake.
Be resolute in what you charge and know why you’re worth it.
Late payments can be frustrating. Protect yourself contractually and ensure payments are transparent. This applies to you too.
Continue to talk to people in your industry, as often as you can, in order to keep motivated and in touch with your market.
Thank you for listening, I welcome your feedback at hello@fallowfieldmason.com I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory, Fallow, Field & Mason, the How To Start Up podcast hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & License
How to secure funding with Quintin Clover, Founder of Kanallan
12 Oct 2020
00:33:48
In this episode I speak with Quintin Clover about how he started up Kanallan. Founded six years ago, Kanallan facilitates tailored independent humanitarian projects for clients to help the most impoverished and neglected people and communities around the world. Using Kanallan’s established and trusted global network, they ensure direct giving with 100% transparency. Please do get in touch with Quintin if you’d like to find out more about the charity sector or how you could support via Just Giving.
You never know where communicating with everyone, at any event, may lead
Trusting your gut feeling about what direction to go in
How sometimes it comes from facing the hardest areas of life to show you your purpose
What it feels like to effect change
How to structure your day and find balance
How to structure your business to make it simple for your stakeholders
Why going above and beyond for clients builds trust for the long term
Why managing tight budgets actually delivers far more in the long run
Why sitting at your laptop doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily working efficiently
Thank you for listening, I welcome your feedback at hello@fallowfieldmason.com I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory, Fallow, Field & Mason, the How To Start Up podcast hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & License
How to start with recruitment, Steve Johnson, CIO Forager Funds
05 Oct 2020
00:21:20
In this episode we hear from Steve Johnson, founder of Forager Funds. Having been self-employed for over twenty years Steve shares advice on how to manage working with a business partner who is first and foremost a friend, why your stakeholders aren't just your clients and that it is critical to learn about how to do recruitment really well in order to be successful.
About Forager: With approximately $315 million of funds under management and a focus on long-term investing, Forager Funds is a unique Australian funds management company. Now with a ten-year track record, Forager is a sustainable business but remains nimble enough to invest in smaller listed companies not accessible to many investment managers. The company is majority owned by staff and Forager’s external shareholders support the desire to place performance before revenue. That means capping the size of funds before too much money becomes an impediment. We use our small size, long experience and long-term investment approach to generate our investors above market returns.
You don’t need a full plan in place in order to start a company.
Know your core values and what makes you happy in terms of working out what your business could be.
Be flexible and open to opportunities.
When starting a business with a friend you’ll need to know from the start what the balance and priority is between friendship and the business.
Why it’s just as important to envisage how success - as well as failure - could have a bearing on your future.
Regularly re-evaluate the structure of your business in order to ensure that you’re all getting what you want out of it.
It’s not just your clients who are the stakeholders - it’s your staff and your shareholders as well as yourself.
Learn what you are good at. Be honest at what you’re not good at. Then work out a way to compensate for those areas as that’s more efficient than trying to change yourself.
Always be truthful with clients as it’ll help manage long term expectations. Work out who is the best person to run the company at its different stages; this may not always be you.
Take the time to learn about recruitment. Then make good recruitment decisions. Or bring in an expert to support you on this.
Thank you for listening. Please do share your feedback, as well as your own start up stories, to hello@fallowfieldmason.com
I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track. Feedback welcome: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & License
How to find work life balance with Anna Fernandez, Founder of IZAPA Beauty
05 Oct 2020
00:16:52
In this episode we hear from Anna Fernandez, founder of IZAPA Beauty. She talks through the hows and whys of her ambition to start up her own brand after leaving her marketing director role with CHANEL. She shares why being a small fish isn’t always the worst thing to be, how moving to a new country has been a major source of inspiration and says her approach of being ‘always on’ actually gives her far more freedom than a salaried job.
At the heart of the brand are unique fine fragrances that give life to IZAPA’s range for the hands, body, and home. These fragrances take the customer on a sensorial journey, inspired by the stories and landscapes that evoke Anna’s encounters in Mexico.
Anna’s advice includes:
Take time to absorb your surroundings, formulate your story and found your brand in something real and authentic
Execution is key, but storytelling is paramount in order to succeed
Get to know people in your environment, as you’ll be inspired, as well as finding potential collaborators and a local support network
Time can be a true luxury and enable you to achieve the work/life balance you’re after
Be prepared to do the follow up with third parties and don’t be disheartened by the chase
Leaving a big brand behind you doesn’t mean you’ll lose your real identity
If you’re ready to launch earlier than you think, be ok to let your company out in the world; just go for it
Success isn’t just about the bottom financial line. Celebrate each and every win as you go and do look back on what you’ve already achieved as it’ll encourage you to keep going forward
Learn what areas you’re strong in and what you might eventually have to delegate
Thank you for listening. Please do share your feedback, as well as your own start up stories, to hello@fallowfieldmason.com
I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Links
LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between phone & desktop. They offer a free of charge service which I've been using. This post is unpaid however there is an affiliate link you can use here should you want to support the podcast.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track. Feedback welcome: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & License
How SEO & security are key with Tom Fallowfield, Director, UGLI
05 Oct 2020
00:23:49
Today I speak to Tom Fallowfield, founder of Ugli Web Design. As my brother, he was one of the first people I spoke to about my redundancy. His comment, ‘If you work that hard for other people, why don’t you work that hard for yourself?’ was enough for me to head to Companies House registration page. Here he shares tried & tested experience on pricing, proposals & passwords.
Ugli assists SME clients in adopting internet & e-commerce technologies to find the opportunities in this weird new world which we’ve all suddenly landed in: tom@ugli.hk
Tom’s advice:
There is nothing to be afraid of when becoming self employed
Your work ethic can be far stronger for yourself than when working for others
Know your pricing and don’t be too cheap
Always put yourself in the customer’s shoes, price yourself by value. Think about what value it has to them rather than the cost to you
Always know why you’re different to the competition & price yourself accordingly
Don’t win the work at all costs: you’ll be on the back foot, the client will treat you accordingly & it will become hard to earn your workload well
Always ask for feedback, especially on the declined proposals
The proposal just needs to satisfy the task at hand, it is to win the business & get the client to the next stage, nothing more
Draft your website content before briefing a web designer - it’ll save you time & money. Live with it for a little while before contracting it out
Why password security is so important given how many people are trying to hack sites all the time. Do not use dictionary words
Why SEO is important to get right to win new business. Inbound links to your content will get promoted
Website text (not just images) is vital for SEO, but don’t overdo the keywords. "Keyword stuffing" will get you penalised
Google/Facebook Ads (PPC) is an alternative to SEO: rapid results but can be expensive
Delegating is important, delegate anything you don't love doing
Hiring people dramatically changes your business immediately. Making these decisions upfront and quickly needn't be scary either and you (probably) won’t regret it
Links
LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between phone & desktop. They offer a free of charge service which I've been using. This post is unpaid however there is an affiliate link you can use here should you want to support the podcast.
The cheesy American consulting book Tom mentioned is available here
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track. Feedback welcome: hello@fallowfieldmason.com
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link &
How to start with a mentor with Harry Anscombe, CEO Beagle Media
05 Oct 2020
00:22:35
In this episode we hear from Harry Anscombe, founder of Beagle Media, who create TV documentary series for the likes of BBC2 and Discovery channels and who are celebrating ten years this year. He shares advice on how important it is to get a mentor from the start, why people and processes are as important as the product and generally just how to behave.
Get a mentor from day one. Meet someone you click with, enable them to invest in the business too so there is a commitment from both sides, and be ok with constructive criticism - you will absolutely need to hear what you’re doing wrong.
The best advice he was ever given was to work hard and don’t be a dick. You can turn people down in a gracious way.
Be prepared to be ‘always on’, know that you’ll have to be ok with the fact that what you’re doing will never feel enough.
Ensure you create some discipline around work boundaries.
You need to have real passion for what you do. You really need that belief in what you do to do well.
If possible, have a financial buffer to start with to help with the initial hurdles in starting a company.
The hardest thing about running a company is around people; ensure you seek the right advice when it comes to managing difficult situations and conversations with clients and colleagues.
Learn how to delegate, empower your team to do a great job and free yourself up to grow the business.
Surround yourself with people who are better than you.
Success is more than just the bottom line, it can come from developing teams and having a balanced life too, but ultimately you do need to create an income.
When you run your own business, you get to know yourself really well so recognise when you’re most efficient and structure your days accordingly.
The relationships with people plus the process are more important than the end product you’re producing. Long term relationships and trust are what really matter.
When it comes to pricing, a triangle of budget v. how nice a client is v. how long term the relationship could be helps to make an informed decision. Always aim for two out of three.
Thank you for listening, I welcome your feedback at hello@fallowfieldmason.com I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020.
Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in October 2020.
How to build a print brand in a digital world with Lucy Cleland, Co-Founder & Editorial Director of Country & Town House
09 Apr 2024
00:34:56
We often hear that print newspaper and magazine sales are declining as people switch to digital versions of their favourite titles. However, print still plays an important role in the publishing world and as ‘brand’ is such an important part of this I wanted to speak to someone who had started their own.
In this episode, I hear from Lucy Cleland, co-founder and editorial director of the renowned B Corp Certified lifestyle magazine Country & Town House. Lucy co-founded the magazine in 2007, just before the financial crash of 2008, and has since continually advocated for living a ‘life in balance’ through its very popular print and digital editions.
Keep listening to learn why Lucy thinks brand is important for any business but also why timing on developing it is key.
Lucy's advice:
Be aware of your market, and your position within it
Concentrate on your unique selling point
When you’re starting out, brand is not necessarily the most urgent or important thing, as there’ll be so much else to get on top of
Take advice from your shareholders or board if possible
Invest in design and good writers
Consider the ethos of B Corp and promote its message where appropriate
Your branding may grow organically with your business
Use LinkedIn for help and advice
Remember you are your own best resource
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Are you starting a company from scratch and aren’t really sure of what to do first? Great news!
In HOW TO START UP by FF&M you’ll hear interviews with a broad mix of people who have all successfully started, run and even sold, their own businesses or company. They share not only professional but personal experiences and valuable lessons on what we should be doing now, next or never when starting a company.
We are in the eye of a storm that is now becoming a ‘new normal’. An uncharted territory where many skilled people are facing unemployment and are rethinking how to earn their income. Values are recalibrating, missions are shifting and purposes are set to become clearer.
We are also experiencing an overwhelming surge in willingness to support others. It is in that spirit I wanted to collate and curate all the advice being so kindly offered to me, as I step into my own new world of starting a company.
Hosted by me, Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR advisory for startups www.fallowfieldmason.com this podcast hopes to bring you, the founder, confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your question via a voice note for future guests of the podcast, plus we’d love to hear your feedback and startup stories too. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or @fallowfieldmason on Instagram.
MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link & License
How to define your mission, vision & purpose with Julian Parmiter, Co-Founder of Create Academy
26 Mar 2024
00:39:43
As defining your mission, vision and purpose statements is an important step when building a comprehensive brand for your business I was keen to speak to someone who has not only done this successfully but also recently.
In this episode, I hear from Julian Parmiter, co-founder and CEO of Create Academy. Founded in 2019, Create Academy offers beautifully curated video courses providing unprecedented access to the expertise of today’s best designers, makers, gardeners and chefs - with a mission to help people build their creative confidence.
Having recently evolved Create Academy’s original proposition by launching an annual membership offering, Julian shares his advice on how to define your brand’s mission, vision and purpose and how to remain true to them as you scale.
Julian’s advice:
The mission is what you want to do/produce/create
The vision is where you want to go with it/how you want to see the world changed by what you do/where you want to be in the future/ what will your impact be
The purpose is your motivation/why you want to do it
The “what” and the “how” will probably change. The “why” should stay with you. It’s the “why” - the purpose - which will bring investors and others with you, will lift you when you’re down. So take time to articulate this one (even if privately, just to yourself) early on. It will represent your personality, your ethos, your creed
You are the best person to articulate it
Keep these three things distinguished one from the other
Understanding your customers will inevitably lead to changing or adapting your vision in time but you need to stay relevant and be flexible
You have to be able to answer the question: “who cares?”
Don’t spend too much time and effort at the start on branding
Find inspiration in other people and other places
You can contact Julian via email on julian@createacademy.com
How to build your brand organically through social with Estée Lalonde, CEO & Founder of MIRROR WATER
12 Mar 2024
00:37:00
With Statista reporting there are 35 million Instagram users in the UK, social media platforms are a powerful tool to build brand awareness and convert followers into loyal customers.
Given this season is a focus on all things branding I was keen to speak to an expert content creator.
In this episode, I hear from Estée Lalonde, CEO and founder of bodycare brand MIRROR WATER. The brand champions mirror work and self-care, inspired by Estée’s quest to find effective relaxation tools during the pandemic. Estée has enjoyed a long career working within social media building a following of over 677k before founding her brand in 2021 which has already amassed a following of 35k.
She shares her advice on how to build your brand through social media, why doing the initial creative work on your brand is crucial for success and how DM’ing one of your idols (in this case Bobbi Brown) can be the motivation you need to keep going.
Estée’s advice:
Always start with a good business plan
Branding so important; to start with, concentrate on aspirational visuals that can then inform further work
Don’t rush this stage:
Create mood boards
Take care of yourself and go with your intuition
Get to the essence of what you want
Settle on a name, which will take you in the right direction
Look for a designer to support you and ensure you click with them, build that relationship to a point of trust
Be strategic on social; post regularly and expect this to be a slow build
Social media can help you launch, it is a big time commitment however it will pay dividends
Brand instagramming is harder than being a social media influencer (owned content v earned, DM FF&M to find out more on this)
Posting every day becomes a burden so look at process and systems to help you on this
You can’t do it all so be clear on what success looks like and work backwards
Keep it lean - less is more in all things in business, focus on one thing and do it well rather than trying to post on multiple platforms all the time
Take time to reflect on what you’re doing and enjoy it
Expect to be overwhelmed at times; but hang on it there!
If you'd like to contact Estée you can reach her via @esteelalonde on Instagram
How to create your brand story with Tom Marchant, Co-Founder of Black Tomato
27 Feb 2024
00:37:18
Creating a brand story is a central part of building your overall brand identity. It’s crucial that your brand story is coherent and resonates with your audience to attract loyal customers.
In this episode, I speak with Tom Marchant, Owner & Co-Founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato. Tom and his co-founders launched their business in 2005 after seeing first-hand how people had such little time to plan their own travel experiences. Since then, Black Tomato has grown exponentially and delights clients all over the world.
Tom shares his advice on how to begin drafting your brand story and what you should and shouldn’t include within it.
Tom’s advice:
Your brand is fundamental to your business - it’s your identity - so it’s vital that you are sincere about it and believe in it
Always keep in mind what you stand for
Customers must trust your brand and feel comfortable with it
Communicating your brand values will be easier if you use recognisable language that people can identify with
Use language to convey feeling and emotion - and sincerity
Keep it simple and truthful
Share what matters
Your brand story can communicate how it started/who with/what you were aiming for/your values
When writing copy don’t be a slave to perfection; try ‘stream of consciousness’ to start off with. The important thing is truthfulness
If you’d like to contact Tom you can reach him via tom@blacktomato.com
Once you’ve secured investment and used it to build and scale a profitable business, the time might be right to exit. However, when is the right time to sell?
In this episode, I speak with Asher Moses, founder & CEO of Sherbet London, the capital’s leading electric taxi company. A serial entrepreneur, Asher grew his original small fleet of London taxis into one of London’s leading transport companies. Through Sherbet, Asher is future-proofing the iconic London Black Taxi for future generations.
Having sold his commercial advertising company, Taxi Media, to US company VeriFone, Asher shares his advice on what to consider before exiting a venture and when he feels it’s right to consider selling up.
If you’d like to contact Asher you can reach him via asher@sherbetlondon.com
Asher’s advice:
A good exit is all about timing since you obviously want a high multiple return
Operating companies are very different to tech companies in terms of multiples
Hopefully you will have created a brand to out-compete others in your sphere
Exiting from your company gives you financial freedom and the space to re-think
It also gives you credibility when you start your next venture
It gives you the time to make improvements and move with the times
If you receive an offer, it’s probably wise to accept it as they don’t occur frequently
Make yourself part of a growth plan in the company (it’s you they’re buying)
A CEO can always stay on, to give advice and support - not necessarily for very long
You will inevitably find it hard to step back and phase out
You must be hard-headed about the valuation
Be very precise responding to the questions
Know who to sell to
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to maintain communication with your investors with Michelle Kennedy, Founder & CEO of Peanut
30 Jan 2024
00:23:36
With Sifted reporting that European startup funding plummeted by 40% in 2023, maintaining open and transparent communication with your investors is vital to maintain such an important relationship.
In this episode, I hear from Michelle Kennedy, co-founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest-growing social media apps for women. Michelle launched Peanut in 2017 to help women combat the loneliness that comes with being a new mother. Peanut has raised over $23 million in funding since its inception.
Having raised an exceptional amount of funding, Michelle has brilliant insights to share on the most effective ways to communicate with investors.
Michelle's advice:
Avoid outside investment for as long as you can
When communicating with your investors approach them on an equal footing; it’s not necessarily the case of you only reporting the good news
Use them for help and dispassionate advice - they should be people who understand crises and will be able to be objective
They may be able to help you with introductions
A quarterly meeting with investors is probably enough; if necessary you can have ad hoc calls in addition
Structure your meetings with investors: they will need to see metrics and hear about targets and performance; they will also want to know about your plans for the next quarter
Have your list of questions prepared and make sure you ask for what you need
Be open about any failures
Generally only the founder needs to be present at these meetings; they are investing in you because they believe in you, the founder, and the founder’s voice is crucial
Always be confident when communicating with your investors
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to leverage Dragons' Den with Déj Doherty, Co-Founder, The Wholeleaf Company
16 Jan 2024
00:34:00
With over 225 episodes of Dragons’ Den recorded so far, thousands of entrepreneurs have pitched their business ideas to leading investors. However, the show offers a lot more than just investment.
In this episode, I hear from Déj Doherty, founder of The Wholeleaf Company, the sustainable palm leaf tableware brand. Déj co-founded his company to reduce the amount of plastic tableware going to landfill, while also creating employment opportunities in developing countries. Appearing on Dragons’ Den was a pivotal moment for the business which has since gone on to supply leading organisations including Waitrose, Glastonbury Festival and Buckingham Palace.
Déj shares his experiences of Dragons’ Den, how he leveraged his appearance on the show and his advice for anyone thinking of applying.
Déj's advice:
The more you prepare the less nervous you will feel
It’s not a comfortable experience, waiting to be interviewed
You may be encouraged to ask for more than you actually want - to make your case more exciting - but this could work against you
They prefer only one interviewee, even if you do have a co-founder
Have confidence in your forecast numbers
If you show you are genuinely passionate about your business, that is more likely to convince them
Afterwards, do as much PR/social media as you can to maximise the effect of the show
More than any investment, what you will be gaining is brand awareness for your business
You will probably notice an increase in attention (from potential investors) as a result
Raising money is a full-time job which is hard for a one-man band, so you may find it better in the long run to grow more slowly and do without outside investment
If you’d like to contact Déj you can reach him via adejare@thewholeleafco.com
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to pitch to Dragons' Den with Rohan Radhakrishnan, Co-Founder of Quarter
02 Jan 2024
00:28:45
With episodes of Dragons’ Den often reaching millions of UK viewers, the show is a brilliant platform for entrepreneurs to seek investment while promoting their businesses.
So in this episode, I wanted to speak to someone with first hand and recent experience of the show. Rohan Radhakrishnan, is one of the co-founders of Quarter, the acclaimed quarter-strength spirits brand. Having founded their brand in 2021, Rohan and his co-founder Fabian quickly went after an appearance on Dragons’ Den as part of their marketing as well as investment strategy. Listen on to hear what happened to the duo and what goes into the preparation of Dragons’ Den before anyone steps inside the studio.
Rohan’s advice:
Entering Dragons’ Den can win you both publicity and investment
Be aware that not everyone interviewed will be shown on the programme
It took nine months of preparation and initial interviewing before the studio appearance
You have to provide a video recording in advance of yourself pitching your product
You are interviewed in advance by a panel of producers
The due diligence is extremely rigorous; every claim you make must be verified
Proving all your claims can be very time-consuming
The recording will be halted immediately if you make a false claim
In the studio you are interviewed for an hour and a half; only ten minutes of this gruelling ordeal will be shown
The reach of the programme is huge and you will probably be very nervous
But all of this is superb media training and valuable practice in pitching and raising investment - so even if you reject the Dragons’ offer it will not be a waste of time
When accepting investment, remember that as much as the financial investment, you need investors who will mentor you, encourage you, and help you to assess objectively what it is you’ve achieved (the Dragons will not necessarily be this type of investor)
When composing an investor deck, be concise; and aim for a personal rapport before you go into too much detail - it’s the personal relationship that matters
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to pitch to an angel investor with Mathilde Lacombe, Co-Founder & President of AIME
19 Dec 2023
00:23:59
UK angel investors collectively invest £1.5 billion per year and are believed to be the largest source of investment for start-up and early-stage companies. Angel investors can bring cash to your business along with contacts and advice too.
In this episode, I hear from Mathilde Lacombe, founder of French skincare and supplement brand AIME. Having previously co-founded beauty subscription service Joliebox, Mathilde founded AIME in 2018 to help others overcome similar skincare challenges to hers. AIME blends nutrition, supplements and cosmetic skincare and, amazingly, achieved €3 million in revenue in its first twelve months.
With many founders wondering which type of investor to partner with, Mathilde shares how angel investment has helped her scale AIME and her advice on how to pitch to angel investors.
Mathilde’s advice:
Angel investors tend to be experts in their field, and will be more interested in you as an entrepreneur and what you will bring to that field that’s new
VCs will be more focussed on the numbers and accurate forecasting
When pitching to an angel investor it will be important to make an impression as a story-teller and an innovator with a vision
The best angel investors are those who are entrepreneurs themselves
It’s vital that you have a relationship with them in which you are comfortable asking for advice; you need this as much as you need their investment
Ideally you will be able to consult them regularly
Make a list of your dream investors/advisers
Don’t be afraid to ask for introductions; use LinkedIn and network to try to gain first-hand introductions
Be content with refusals; there is nothing lost
Don’t waste their time; they are usually busy people with a job as well as an interest in investing
Ask outright for what you need; explain that you’ll need advice as well as investment
You can always start with small amounts which may gradually increase if they have confidence in you; you may not need to progress to VC investment
Angel investors will usually understand your long-term vision and be less fixated on end dates
Finally, if you don’t need investment, don’t look for it
If you'd like to contact Mathilde you can reach her on mathilde@aime.co
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to scale your business efficiently with Nina Briance, Founder & CEO of CULT MIA
13 Aug 2024
00:37:04
UK productivity was ‘24% lower in 2023 than it would have been had it continued climbing at the rates seen before the global financial crisis’ according to the Economics Observatory. Given time is the most limited factor for any founder, for our eleventh season I’ve set out to find answers on how we can all improve our productivity in business.
First up, I wanted to find out how to scale a business efficiently. So I spoke with Nina Briance, Founder & CEO of CULT MIA, the online fashion marketplace for the world’s leading sustainable designers. Since founding CULT MIA in 2019, Nina has grown her business to become one of fashion’s leading online retailers.
Keep listening to hear Nina’s advice on implementing the right systems for efficient growth and how to avoid duplicating work.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
Nina’s advice:
Always aim to achieve more with less
When you start you need a solid foundation of 1) clear processes 2) strong leadership 3) a business model which is scalable - that way you will be able to grow comfortably
Time block your calendar well in advance
Always ask yourself WHY you are doing something
Keep focussed on your long-term goals
Learn when to step back and let others make decisions (trust people and let them feel empowered)
Save time by automating processes where this is possible
All team members need to have a clearly defined role; a growing business does not necessarily need a growing workforce
Keep auditing your thinking and structures
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to pitch to a VC with Steve Tidball, founder of Vollebak
05 Dec 2023
00:33:11
It has been reported that the value of UK venture capital deals in quarters one to three of 2023 fell by 43.1% year-on-year while the number fell by 25.9% in the same period. However, VC deals are still being struck by innovative businesses.
In this episode, I speak with Steve Tidball, co-founder and CEO of Vollebak, the material science-driven clothing brand. Having co-founded in 2015 with his twin brother Nick, the brand has raised over $10m in outside funding, led by the London-based venture firm Venrex, with participation from Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, and Headspace CFO Sean Brecker, among others. This allowed Vollebak to create the world’s first solar-charged jacket and the first computer-programmable clothing.
Given the uncertainty around raising VC investment, Steve offers his advice on the best ways to pitch to a VC fund and shares how his business has used VC investment to scale.
Steve's advice:
Build your network (if you can bring one from a previous career so much the better)
Be original to be noticed
Be prepared to tolerate some failure
Be aware that Venture Capitalists tend to invest in just one area/type of business
VCs are typically willing to take earlier and relatively speculative risks
Whereas private equity investors are risk-averse
And angel investors will take on even greater risks than VCs
Another way of raising funds can be crowd-funding
Because a VC can take over control, it’s important that you are compatible (apply the flat-mate test!)
It’s a mutual commitment; they will care about your success, and help in a crisis
It’s useful to read up on how big businesses work (always expect a crisis)
You must learn to communicate quickly and have a coherent, compelling story which you can express in 30 seconds
You need a good idea which will elicit a question in return
Eventually there will probably be a full or partial sale/industry buy-out; know in advance what the likely time period for this is
Always have an idea of what you want to achieve in the long term
Allow your subconscious brain the chance to work things out (by exercise, meditation etc.)
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to set up a investor data room with Laura Fullerton, Founder of Monk
21 Nov 2023
00:30:05
When raising investment, it’s important to present prospective investors with your financial information as clearly as possible. This is where a data room comes into play.
In this episode, I speak to Laura Fullerton, the founder and CEO of Monk, creators of the world’s first smart ice bath and cold water therapy app. After discovering that ice baths helped her regain control of her physical and mental health, Laura launched Monk to make cold water therapy more accessible.
About to close a £2 million round, Laura breaks down what a data room is and what needs to be included in yours to successfully raise investment.
Laura’s advice:
Setting up a virtual data room is a confidential and controlled way of sharing information with potential investors
It’s efficient and helps them make a quick decision, which is what you want
It’s a way to show you are competent and professional
It can highlight your potential
It’s an easy way for them to do due diligence
Security is important and it’s wise to ask them to sign an NDA before having access to the data room
Doc Set enables you to send them a tailored choice of links
If you have your pitch deck on Doc Set you will have version control over it
It also enables you to see which pages potential investors have been paying most attention to - so that you get a sense of what is important to them, and this will help you build a relationship with them
Laura suggests you use Calendly
Having a data room sets a professional tone; Laura has five sections in hers - business summary / financial model / product development folder / people and contracts / marketing and PR. This makes it easy for investors to understand your business
You need to protect yourself from the wrong investors
Interrogate them as to what value they can bring apart from capital; ask for specifics and don’t be satisfied with generalisations
Remember that fund-raising never stops, even if it is just building relationships with people who may invest in the future
Try to go to the right events where you will build relationships and friendships for the future - founders always need support
If you'd like to contact Laura you can find her @discovermonk on Instagram.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to write a pitch deck for investors with Venetia Archer, Founder of Ruuby
07 Nov 2023
00:25:13
According to Seedrs, investors spend an average of 3 minutes and 44 seconds reviewing a pitch deck so clearly, it’s crucial to create one that is sufficiently brief yet still conveys your business proposition to your target audience.
In this episode, I hear from Venetia Archer, founder & CEO of Ruuby, the UK's leading at-home beauty & wellness service founded in 2015. After identifying a gap in the London market for an on-demand beauty app, Ruuby has grown to become the fashion set’s beloved digital beauty concierge.
Venetia shares her advice on what a pitch deck should include, how long it should be and the pitfalls to avoid when putting yours together.
Venetia’s advice:
You must outline the product and the mission of the company
Concentrate on the story & make it make sense
But the three vital components must be: the financials: what you want to raise, and on what terms / your team (or the team you hope to acquire when you have the investment) / the market environment and your competitiveness within it
You may need to use an advisor to help you with the financial modelling
You obviously can’t expect your modelling to be accurate as there are so many unknowns, it just needs to be plausible
You can’t expect to tailor the pitch deck to each individual. You could try a three tiered approach - start with a “teaser deck” just showcasing the main highlights. Then if someone shows interest follow up with more detailed metrics, and finally if someone is seriously interested give them a thorough financial breakdown
You may want to invest in some design help to make it look slick
Always write it yourself, because you know the subject best and it’s a good exercise for you; if necessary you can bounce your ideas off a colleague
You will get more expert at doing this, and it’s good to practise on potential investors as much as you can
Always have all materials and information ready to draw upon
Know in advance which investors you want and set out your intentions, making it clear how much time you expect from them and how much time you are prepared to give them in turn
General good advice: it’s crucial to have a strong, experienced team as early as you can
Finally, have the courage of your convictions
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to ask your investors for advice & support with Michael Tobin OBE
24 Oct 2023
00:34:50
Although securing cash is the key objective when raising investment, money isn’t the only thing to consider. Many investors can offer vital support and advice too.
Michael Tobin OBE is a serial founder, author and non-executive chairman of several international businesses and CEO of technology company Telecity from 2002 to 2015, Michael grew the company from a market cap of £6 million into a FTSE 250 company worth £2 billion. In 2014, Michael was awarded an OBE for services to the UK digital economy.
Given many founders require more than just an injection of capital when scaling their businesses, Michael shares his advice on how to ask investors for extra support and what help you can reasonably expect from your investors….plus the importance of the cost of umbrellas.
If you'd like to contact Michael you can reach him via LinkedIn
Remember that all investors will be looking for different things: return, timeline etc.
Know your worth; speak from a strong position not a needy one
Be ahead of the need point; show that you can manage and may not need a great deal now, and your position will be stronger later
Don’t over-borrow - wait till your valuation increases
Go in with confidence and foresight
When looking for investors, consider whether or not they are well-connected; look ahead to the next round and how they could help in the future
Look for investors who may have contacts to help you expand your business; it’s not all about the cash
Choose investors with whom you can engage; make sure you’re on the same wavelength
Be candid with them as to your reasons for choosing them and discuss the many different ways in which they can help you
Aim to have an independent chairman or mentor who could arbitrate between you and your investors if necessary
Keep networking; Michael calls it ‘opening doors’. This builds your reputation and may earn you support in many ways further down the line
When you are starting out don’t be afraid to fail; you will have less to lose
Always ask questions; and be prepared to listen carefully and perhaps change your point of view
Enjoy the challenge!
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M recommends:
LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to get your finances ready for investors with Daisy Knatchbull, Founder of The Deck
10 Oct 2023
00:42:54
Having decided to raise investment for your business, it’s important to prepare your financials so that prospective investors can assess the inner workings of your company. Given everyone can find business finances complex to get their heads around, I wanted to talk to someone who didn’t come from a financial background but has totally smashed it in raising investment efficiently for their business.
In this episode, I hear from Daisy Knatchbull, founder of The Deck, the first women’s-only tailoring house to have a shopfront in Savile Row’s 200-year history. Beloved by the fashion press since its launch in 2019, The Deck represents Daisy’s mission to change tailored clothes for women and offer them a compelling alternative to fast fashion.
Daisy shares her advice on how to approach finances when you don’t have a background in it, who to bring in to support you and what to be aware of when going into pitch… all before having those extensive investor conversations.
Daisy’s advice:
Before you start, it is vital that you have complete belief in what you do.
Learn the basics of economics (Daisy used a platform called “Upwork” to school herself)
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, make the most of mentors
Research the market and look at other business models
There is a government tax relief scheme (SEIS) to help investors
Build a strong pitch deck with at least a three-year (preferably five) projection; explain your business succinctly but assume no prior knowledge on the part of investors
When you have no business history, no evidence of transactions, it will be harder to raise money because everything is based on estimates; on the other hand, the next time round you will have to justify your track record and your position
Try to be choosy and select investors who really believe in you
Accept failures and learn from them; be transparent with your investors, as no business is perfect and this will gain their respect
Don’t waste mental energy on worrying about their risk; this is something they have taken on themselves
Always take confidence from remembering that you are the expert in what you do
If you'd like to contact Daisy you can reach her on Instagram @thedecklondon_
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to value your business with Ed Lee, Co-Founder of Bowbridge
26 Sep 2023
00:35:00
Valuing your business is one of the most important yet challenging aspects of raising investment. It’s important to be realistic while also not underselling your proposition.
In this episode, I hear from Ed Lee, founder & director of investment and consultancy firm Bowbridge Capital. Ed and his team work alongside business owners to implement growth strategies, build infrastructure, deliver efficiencies and embrace technology, whilst also working closely with them through funding rounds, growth capital and, ultimately, exit.
With Sifted reporting that the pre-series A investment deal number has hit a 3-year low, Ed shares timely advice on where to begin when valuing your business for investment as well as how the recent market changes have changed everything for founders.
Ed’s advice:
When you are looking for investment, you need to have at your fingertips:
Your business plan
Your strategy
Your historical numbers
Pre-empt the due diligence question
Understand the market you are in
Have pre-prepared responses
You need to instil confidence and not lose momentum, so be quick to provide information
If you’re not sure what you need to know, get involved in networks to learn what you need to learn
Ask advice from people who’ve done it before and never be embarrassed to ask
Don’t be wedded to a particular evaluation
The reputation of your business, and the founder’s track record, will count
Future cash flows and profits will be taken into account
Remember that the enterprise value is different from the equity value (which may be affected by debts)
Try to have 18 months ‘cash runway’ - ie you are covered for 18 months. Sharp investors may try to run the clock down on you and delay until you are seriously short of capital, thus in a weak position
If you'd like to contact Ed you can reach him on ed@bowbridge.co.uk
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to know when is the right time to seek investment with Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green & Blacks
12 Sep 2023
00:39:07
One of the most challenging aspects is knowing when the right time is to seek investment for your company. If too early your business may not be ready, however, if too late you may slow down its growth potential.
In this episode, I speak with Jo Fairley, co-founder of the renowned chocolate company Green & Blacks. Jo co-founded the business in 1991 with her partner, Craig Sams, to create the world’s first organic chocolate and the UK’s first Fairtrade-marked product. In recognition of her entrepreneurial talent, Jo received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Studies from Kingston University.
Jo is one of the UK’s leading female entrepreneurs and has been an inspiration to me throughout my whole career, originally in PR and now as someone who has started a business, so I was thrilled to speak to her about her investment experience and hear her advice on key considerations around the timing of raising investment.
Jo’s advice:
If your business grows quickly you may find your cash flow restricted so you will need investment
If you are lucky, you may be able to play one potential investor off against another
Avoid being in a situation where you are tempted to take the ‘wrong money’ because you are under pressure
You may need to keep your day job to finance growth
Be prepared for investors to want to investigate every area of your business: your contracts, your financial details, your social media history - they will want to see every detail
Finding the right investor can be a full-time job
You must decide how much equity to give away; keep this as minimal as possible
Be aware that with an investor, you lose power and autonomy
Consider crowd-funding as a source of revenue, rather than finding a single investor
Be mentally fit for this challenge - your well-being is vital for your whole business
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to meet investors with Francesca Smith, Founder of Frankie's
29 Aug 2023
00:35:34
Approaching and meeting investors can be one of the most daunting aspects when growing a company. From knowing where to find the right ones to crafting your elevator pitch, there is a lot to consider.
In this episode, I speak with Francesca Smith, founder of Frankie’s: a membership for businesswomen that helps them connect, collaborate and engage with finance. As an experienced strategic financial planner, Francesca is passionate about increasing the amount of investment provided to female founders by equipping them with the confidence they need to grow their businesses and demonstrate their value.
With many founders wondering what to do first when pursuing investors, Frankie shares her advice on how to leverage your existing network, how to identify the right investors and why ‘people first’ is the best approach.
Frankie’s advice:
Always aim to meet people naturally, by networking or joining a club
Be open to building a relationship through friendly conversation, sharing possible common ground. Be interested, rather than interesting!
Make sure you follow up promptly
It’s not just about the financial investment, it’s about bringing on board someone who can contribute - so look for gaps in your skill sets and consider areas where you might need help
Never be afraid to reach out and ask for help
LinkedIn and free events can be a useful way to meet the right people
Make sure your message is clear and concise and that you have a well-defined business plan
Be conscious of how much of your business you are prepared to give away to an investor; don’t be over-eager to surrender too much in the early days
Always look at the investors’ track record
While you need someone on your wavelength who understands your aims, you also need someone who will challenge you and sometimes disagree with you
The best approach on meeting someone is to find common ground - or appeal to their imagination
Anticipate that finding the right investment could take a year and many pitches, so be tenacious
Always trust your instincts; you need someone you know/trust/understand, who knows/trusts/understands you in return
Finally, it’s about the people first, then the money
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to start a sustainable fashion brand with founder Aoife McNamara
15 Aug 2023
00:26:40
With Barnardo's reporting that on average clothing items are only worn 7 times before they are thrown away, the fashion industry is clearly responsible for overproduction and excessive use of resources. However, many emerging brands are encouraging their customers to shop more mindfully to reduce their personal environmental impacts so I was keen to speak to an expert to find out more.
In this episode, I speak with the founder of the eponymous fashion brand Aoife McNamara who has always placed transparency at the centre of her business. In contrast to fast fashion brands, she prioritises quality over quantity and encourages customers to care for their garments to make them last.
Aoife shares advice on building an environmentally transparent fashion business and how important transparency and sustainability are to customers.
Aoife’s advice:
Sustainability means putting the planet, people and local materials first
Believe in: earth logic not growth logic
Have your “why” foremost in your mind and if you believe in this it will help you take the more difficult route
Be curious; have mentors/ a board of advisors; network; take courses; go to talks
Never be ashamed to ask
Internship is a useful way to learn an industry
When making decisions on sustainability you need to show responsibility
Supply chain transparency is vital; be honest with your customers (in fashion this means being honest about the fabric, the makers of the garment, its origin)
Educate your consumers, not to make a profit from them but for the sake of doing it
Make each item you create as good as it can possibly be
You will never be perfect but as long as you try that’s the main thing
If you'd like to contact Aoife, you can reach her via aoife@aoifemcnamara.com or @aoife_ireland
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. We also offer podcast production services.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
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How to focus on the S in ESG with Rafael Museri co-founder of Selina
01 Aug 2023
00:16:59
When building a business from scratch, founders have an opportunity to consider the environmental impact of all their activities, including work travel. According to Statista research, 81% of global travellers believe sustainable travel is important, however, 43% of respondents to a Booking.com survey said they “never, rarely or sometimes” manage to travel in a sustainable way.
In this episode, I speak with Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski: the co-founders of Selina: the travel company combining beautifully designed accommodation with coworking, recreation, wellness and local experiences. Having founded their business in 2014, Rafael and Daniel aim to make more sustainable travel easier, particularly for founders, and support the local communities living and working near their properties.
As a big fan of remote working and slow travel, I am determined to reduce my own environmental impact when travelling, so I was keen to hear from Rafael and Daniel on how founders can reduce the environmental impact of their travel as well as how companies can give back to the local communities in which they operate in.
Rafael’s advice:
When you set up your business, be conscious of ESG from the outset
Profitability will come from this ESG awareness as customers will look out for it
Be authentic and credible - customers require reassurance
Be realistic about what you can achieve as you may not be able to tick every box straight away
Build a long-term plan; measure your achievements regularly; communicate them to your team
Take advice from impartial shareholders; small shareholders who have been with you from the start will have no conflict of interest (unlike bigger shareholders who may be looking for quicker profits)
Always try to be prepared for dramatic shifts in the economy
Love what you do; if you are 100% engaged it will show and be infectious
If you’d like to contact Rafael or Selina please drop them a line at:
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. We also offer podcast production services.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
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How to build multiple brands with Hind Sebti, Founder of whind & Waldencast
30 Jul 2024
00:43:10
Building, scaling and maintaining one brand is challenging. However, successfully creating multiple brands is a brilliant feat of focus and endurance. With this in mind, I wanted to learn from an expert brand builder.
Hind Sebti is the founder of whind, a beauty brand that merges both science and sensoriality to deliver Golden Hour Beauty, inspired by her home of Morocco, in a high efficacy yet super indulging range of skin care, body care and fragrances, and the founder of Waldencast, a beauty and wellness platform that creates, acquires and scales the next generation of high growth purpose driven brands.
Waldencast Ventures, is a privately owned brand incubator that has launched and built whind but also sister brands coat[s] and glaze. Waldencast PLC acquired Obagi skin care and Milk Makeup and was listed on the Nasdaq in July 2022 and valued then at over $1bn.
As a multi-brand founder, Hind has a wealth of experience building brands that win customers’ hearts.
Keep listening to hear Hind’s advice on building multiple brands and effectively managing different businesses at the same time.
Hind's advice:
As a founder you will start by doing everything yourself, but once you have a team you need to prioritise what to do yourself and what to delegate
Those things only you can do will be the most important things - prioritise!
Being able to trust your team and confidently delegate is vital; you cannot do everything yourself
A combination of ambition and humility is good
When building several brands at once, space out the various processes as you will learn from each one, which will benefit the next one - don’t put all your eggs in the same basket
Be flexible when building a company culture; every business is different, and every employee works differently. Allow the employees to contribute to the company culture as people are your most important asset
Be flexible and adaptable; businesses may not evolve in the way you had expected
If you can find a partner whose skills complement your own, you are in luck as it’s great to have someone with whom you can discuss decisions
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to create a sustainably minded supply chain with Emilie Holmes, Founder of Good & Proper Tea
18 Jul 2023
00:32:25
When starting and scaling your business, it’s important to consider the impact of your supply chain on not only the planet but also people too. 88% of respondents to an OpenText survey said ‘they prioritise buying from companies that have ethical sourcing strategies in place’, while 64% of 18-24 year-olds surveyed said they would never buy from a company again if it were ‘accused of working with unethical suppliers’.
In this episode, I speak with Emilie Holmes, founder of Good & Proper Tea, the tea brand committed to doing things properly. Having founded her business in 2012, Emilie has invested considerable time and money in making sure her business positively impacts the communities within her supply chain. Given how many consumers value companies who prioritise supply chain responsibility, Emilie continually reviews Good & Proper Tea’s own supply chain.
With many companies wanting to better understand the implications of their suppliers’ actions, Emilie shares her advice on auditing a supply chain, supporting the communities you work with and achieving profitability more sustainably.
Emilie’s advice:
At every step, consider what is the “right” thing to do, keeping in mind your environmental and social responsibility
Accept that “sustainability” can be complicated and means different things to different people; continually examine what is the right way to go
Be honest and authentic
Admit to your ignorance when setting up a business and talk to as many people as possible in order to learn
Share your own experience and use recommendations from other business owners
Accept that doing things right will take longer and cost more
It’s hard to measure these credentials, although B Corp is great because it’s iterative and doesn’t allow you to gain certification and then rest on your laurels
Include a sustainability roadmap in your business forecasting, and have an impact report in your year-end report
Consumers struggle to understand real sustainability, so be transparent and clear in all that you do and claim to do
If you are feeling overwhelmed, just take one job at a time
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. We also offer podcast production services.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
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How to pitch to sustainability journalist with Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey, Founder of VCH Style
04 Jul 2023
00:39:06
When starting a business, founders have the opportunity to start with a clean slate as well as start as they mean to go on. So the aim of this season is to share as much as we can on how businesses can start with ethical practice at their core.
We’re all aware of how certain industries do a lot of damage. For example, fashion is responsible for 10% of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions [BBC], however the second any business owners turn on a light, they have a responsibility to the planet.
In this episode, I speak with Ginnie Chadwyck-Healy, founder of VCH Style. Ginnie is an environmentally conscious stylist and fashion writer, who champions considered consumption and a more mindful approach to purchasing products. The former Retail Editor of Vogue, now a contributor to The Telegraph and Grazia, Ginnie became self-employed to help guide her clients in purchasing fewer, higher-quality items and share her philosophy of shopping sustainably.
Given brands and businesses are all keen to secure editorial press coverage, I was keen to speak to Ginnie about how we can pitch to her with information that she really wants to hear about, how to avoid greenwashing and some simple do’s and don’ts when it comes to sustainable PR messaging.
Ginnie’s advice:
Leaders need to look at the salary split to ensure change
Businesses that promote buy-back schemes and/or recycling of products are doing the right thing
Transparency in all aspects of the company is vital; CEOs need a thorough knowledge of the whole production chain
When pitching with a sustainable message don’t do it via Instagram DM, write an email
Pitch emails need to be short
Tailor your pitch - and get their name right!
A sustained charity link-up can be impressive
Start as you mean to go on
Avoid too much gifting; it’s expensive and usually wasteful
If you do gift, avoid extravagant packaging
Avoid glossy press releases on expensive paper
Have a business coach or mentor to offload onto
Structure your week (eg back-to-back meetings days, desk day)
If you'd like to contact Ginnie you can reach her via https://www.vchstyle.com/contact
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. We also offer podcast production services.
Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to champion social responsibility with Alex Head, founder of Social Pantry
20 Jun 2023
00:36:42
Sustainable and ethical behaviour isn’t limited to environmental practices. It translates into all areas of business including providing opportunities for people who may find themselves excluded from the workforce.
Alex Head is the founder of the leading sustainable catering company, Social Pantry. As one of the first 15 UK companies employing ex-offenders to be awarded the prestigious YOUNITED Flag award, Social Pantry is a dedicated champion of equity and opportunity within the workforce.
In this episode, Alex shares her advice on how founders can overcome the stigma of starting up a business differently and why now is the right time to declare what your intentions are with your ESG goals.
Alex’s advice:
Always employ the best possible people
Make sure your staff feel valued / enjoy their work / do not feel out of their depth
Crucially, ensure that they learn as they go, so that they benefit from working with you
Give junior staff responsibilities
Have a sustainability expert, as standards are constantly changing
Put sustainability at the heart of your business
Be transparent in everything you do; be honest about what you can’t do
Always work with the best suppliers; every part of your product has to be excellent
Celebrate your wins
Move staff around in order that they learn different skills
Be honest about challenges, be flexible and keep learning
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, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to reduce plastic packaging in your startup with Joanna Jensen, Founder of Childs Farm
06 Jun 2023
00:34:11
The amount of plastic produced in a year is roughly the same as the entire weight of humanity. EarthDay.org reported that humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total. Approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled. Everyone is aware that we need to use less plastic every day and new founders have the opportunity to lead the way on this.
So for this episode, I wanted to speak to a proven expert on how to solve the packaging problem. Joanna Jensen founded the children’s toiletries brand Childs Farm as she was determined to help soothe her daughters’ painful eczema, so formulated a collection of natural products packed with essential oils to care for children’s sensitive skin. Childs Farm has been certified as a B Corp and became the number one brand in the baby and child segment in 2019.
Having been a sustainability advocate throughout her life, Joanna shares what investors now expect from businesses on sustainability, how to build it in from the beginning and why packaging doesn’t have to be the hardest part to solve.
Joanna’s advice:
Investors care about sustainability and expect it
Don’t pay the plastic tax: just don’t use plastic. If you have to, it must be recycled
If you set your standards high, and care about ESG (Environment, Sustainability, Governance), you will attract quality people who share those standards
If your product falls short in its packaging, attempt to improve and be honest and open about your attempts to do so
Shareholders, just like investors, will appreciate high standards in this area
Push back on suppliers because your whole supply chain should be in line with your standards
Talk to other founders to get advice; learn, ask and be curious
Surround yourself with like-minded people who will be honest with you
Communication is a vital asset in any business; if this is not your strength employ someone to support you in this
Click here to find out more about Prevented Ocean Plastics.
If you'd like to contact Joanna you can reach via Instagram @childsfarm @joannajensenofficial or via Iona@catchpolecommunications.co.uk
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.
How to build a community around your business with Diana Stenbolt & Gemma Estrela, Co-Founders of Skindays
23 May 2023
00:30:34
A lot of people comment about how lonely becoming self-employed can be. Leaving behind regular structure and income is one thing, but also a lack of community of support can be significant too. In this episode, I speak with two founders who know the importance of community as they’ve built their whole business around it.
Diana Stenbolt and Gemma Estrela are the co-founders of the skincare and wellness discovery platform SKINDAYS. Having met at Farfetch, Diana and Gemma shared a frustration with existing skincare retail experiences. Determined to change this, they founded SKINDAYS to offer expert advice, bespoke recommendations and impartial vetting for their community of beauty customers.
Diana and Gemma share their thoughts on the importance of community, both for brands seeking to build loyal customer bases and for founders when they need support during the often lonely journey of founding a business. Skindays’ advice:
Building a community around your business gives a sense of belonging
Usually there is a community that exists between brand founders and customers; it should be one of shared beliefs and will offer mutual support
It is vital to engage with your customers, to listen to their feedback and their expectations; this is a crucial community to build. Listen so that you can tailor new ideas to their aspirations
Surveys, round table events, membership clubs and education around your product are all useful ways both to build this community and to promote your brand
When you are starting up, an entrepreneurship community of similar founders can be a great support, and will cover many different aspects of business
There is also your existing community of friends, family, perhaps mentors - be open with this group, share your anxieties and pay attention to the feedback
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too. FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes. FF&M recommends:
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How to prepare for B Corp certification, with founders of CYD Connects, Jenn McGarrigle, Mica Janiv & Aisling Connaughton
09 May 2023
00:35:57
In this episode, we hear from Jenn McGarrigle, Mica Janiv & Aisling Connaughton: the co-founders of sustainability consultancy CYD Connects. With extensive backgrounds in beauty, technology and sustainability, the team came together in 2019 to help other founders and businesses become more sustainable and benefit a wider group of societal stakeholders other than just shareholders.
As experts in becoming B Corp certified, Jenn, Mica and Aisling share practical advice on how to achieve B-Corp certification and how every business has the potential to be a force for good.
CYD Connects advice:
Before you can make public statements about your company you need to explore the background internally; be the first to ask the tricky questions
Remember that consumers can now ask questions directly thanks to social media
Sustainability (the UN definition) means meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Remember sustainability is an essential not a luxury
The three pillars of sustainability are:
The environment
Societal imperatives like gender equality/black lives matter/mental health
The economy and how we make money.
All three are essential and need to be balanced with each other
B Corp expects a legal commitment
You can download B Impact Assessment to measure and track your performance; there are online tools to measure your impact (use of energy, carbon footprint)
When starting up, having a plan to be sustainable from the outset will make you more efficient in the long run
Simple steps to accreditation: complete your impact assessment; then if you score over 80 points, you will join a queue; then you await verification (this will depend on the type of business you are)
Verification will give you enormous self-assurance and confidence which will help you build your business
And remember to share the experience you have gained doing this, with other founders
How to protect your sleep with Professor Russell Foster CBE, FRSB, FMedSci, FRS & author of Life Time
25 Apr 2023
00:25:00
In this episode, we hear from Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and the Head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford as well as the author of Life Time which explains how our body clocks work. Through his work, Russell has made great advances in our understanding of how the circadian rhythm is generated and how it suffers under societal pressures, ageing and disease.
Russell explains why a good night’s sleep is so important, as well as what ‘good’ means to an individual, plus how to balance your sleep schedule with building your business. Russell’s advice:
Sleep is a fundamental need, not a luxury
Lack of sleep can cause: - fluctuations in mood - a negative bias - loss of empathy - an inclination to take unnecessary risks - the use of stimulants and sedatives (which affect natural sleep patterns)
In the long term lack of sleep also leads to: - altered immune response - vulnerability to cardiovascular disease - type 2 diabetes - obesity due to eating carelessly - depression and psychosis
Learn how much sleep you need as an individual, and keep to it regularly
Don’t change habits at weekends as this will throw you off
If you take a nap, keep it to 20 minutes - any longer will encroach on your night’s sleep
If you wake in the night: - simply read a favourite book and stay relaxed - don’t look at the clock
Don’t exercise too vigorously before bed (raised body temperature defers sleep)
If you’d like to contact Russell, you can reach him at X
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on Instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to manage imposter syndrome with Hamish Mackay-Lewis, leadership & life coach founder
11 Apr 2023
00:26:13
In this episode, we hear from Hamish Mackay-Lewis, founder of a leadership coaching company. Through his work, Hamish supports individuals to step into leadership roles as well as working with teams to support their growth.
Hamish shares his advice on how to understand your imposter syndrome, explains why it is actually an experience rather than a syndrome and some simple things you as a founder can do to manage those sometimes sabotaging thoughts that can come into your head when going out on your own.
Hamish’s advice:
Impostor experience is very common: feelings of inadequacy which can come and go
One advantage of these feelings is that you will prepare thoroughly and be highly motivated
The disadvantage however can be feeling constantly anxious, doubting yourself
It’s important to celebrate yourself, not to constantly compare yourself with others
Don’t set yourself unreasonable goals
Observe your thoughts; if you are noticing self-doubt, check in with others to get an objective opinion about your achievements - and trust their opinions
Recognise where this self-doubt stems from (often from childhood) and come to terms with this
Don’t bury the sadness / frustration / nerves; learn to accept and understand these uncomfortable feelings. Face up to what is causing them
Consciously choose your response to life; practise daily to be in the moment
Understand what is important about your business, its bigger purpose, quite apart from any financial rewards
Keep a diary to record your satisfactions and frustrations and be attentive to what gives you energy and joy
Be kind to yourself; remembering you are not alone with these feelings can give you resilience
Accept that you will always have nagging doubts and may never feel good enough; and at the same time recognise that you are, of course, perfectly good enough!
If you'd like to contact Hamish you can reach him via hamish@hamishmackaylewis.com
Fallow, Field & Mason enables you to own your PR in-house for the long term. This saves you money on monthly PR agency retainer fees and allows you to build your own press network.
FF&M also offers an end-to-end podcast production service for businesses, brands and individuals to reach and connect with new audiences while further raising their profiles.
Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on Instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your startup journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Recorded, edited & published in 2023 by Juliet Fallowfield founder of PR & podcast production consultancy Fallow, Field & Mason. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod. Link &
How to harness your cycle as a female founder with Le'Nise Brothers, founder of Eat Love Move
28 Mar 2023
00:26:49
In this episode, we hear from Le’Nise Brothers, a leading nutritionist and yoga teacher specialising in women’s health, hormones and the menstrual cycle. Le’Nise develops nutritional programmes through her Eat Love Move consultancy to empower and educate women to understand their bodies and advocate for better healthcare.
Le’Nise’s first book, You Can Have A Better Period, was released in March 2022 and she also hosts the Period Story podcast, breaking taboos around menstrual health, hormones, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
In today’s episode, Le’Nise shares her advice on working to the rhythms of your body and harnessing the power of the four stages of the menstrual cycle to benefit you both professionally and personally.
Le’Nise’s Advice:
Recognise your tiredness when you are using sugar and caffeine throughout the day as a prop, and when you no longer feel excited about what you do
Respect your body and its energy levels; don’t feel guilty about taking breaks (these can be productive in terms of ideas)
Be aware of your menstrual cycle and plan your diary accordingly; when you have your period this is a time for slowing down a little, being more analytical and insightful
When you are ovulating, you will be more energetic/confident/sociable; this is a time for negotiating and dealing with people
Be disciplined about good sleep habits; your body needs to anticipate sleep and wind down for it. You may need a little more when having your period
Pay attention to your diet. During a period you will need more iron which is a great source of energy so eat red meat if you can, and boost your Vitamin C intake. To counteract stress you need magnesium (in for example dark chocolate) sodium (in salt) and potassium (in bananas, coconut water)
Monitor your menstrual cycle and note if it is being affected by external stresses; understanding this can help you guard against too much stress
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to avoid founder burnout with Nina Nesdoly, Founder of Workplace Clarity
14 Mar 2023
00:30:46
In this episode, we hear from Nina Nesdoly, founder of Workplace Clarity. As a workplace stress and burnout prevention consultant, Nina draws on her management and neuroscience background to deliver workshops and training courses to help her clients overcome workplace stress, prevent burnout and improve their workplace performance.
Nina shares her advice on maintaining a work/life balance, identifying stress triggers and techniques for relieving stress.
Nina's advice:
Burnout happens when demands exceed resources; build your own resources by outsourcing the things you’re less good at to experts, thus reducing the demands on yourself
Set realistic expectations and don’t set goals for yourself that depend on you being superhuman or neglecting rest
Schedule in buffer time (to give yourself a break if you are unwell) and have an emergency budget (to give yourself a break if there’s a crisis)
Three stress triggers are:
Feeling overwhelmed
Dealing with unpredictable/unfamiliar situations
Social evaluative threats
Look for the positives: turn threats into something you can be excited about, and move away from the negative thoughts to focus consciously on what makes you happy
When establishing work-life balance, set boundaries between the two. Try blocking notifications when not working
When seeking to de-stress, remember social connections and community can be supportive; ‘social buffering’ is when oxytocin (produced by social interaction) helps fight stress
As a sole founder you have no-one to moderate you, so check in on yourself.
Remember your own brain is your harshest critic.
To summarise, the six causes of burnout are:
workload
lack of community
lack of control
mismatch of values (if you are working for a company whose ideals you don’t share)
a sense of unfairness in the processes operating around you
absence of reward
If you’d like to contact Nina, you can reach her at contact@workplaceclarity.com
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for our future guests. Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
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How to build a dynamic brand with Henrietta Rix, Co-Founder of RIXO
16 Jul 2024
00:35:48
With the UK fashion sector’s annual revenue estimated to be just under £60 billion, it is a highly competitive sector in which you need a strong brand to differentiate your offering. Given this, I wanted to speak with an expert about how to build a fashion brand that stands out from the crowd.
In this episode, I speak with Henrietta Rix, Co-Founder of RIXO, a leading British womenswear brand. Together with her co-founder Orlagh McCloskey, the pair founded RIXO in 2015 to bridge the gap between great fitting pieces and unique designs and offer a dynamic in-person experience too.
Keep listening to hear Henrietta’s advice on starting a fashion brand and why sticking to your roots and gut feelings will help you to distinguish your brand from its competitors.
Henrietta’s advice:
When building a dynamic brand, be true to yourself and to your original idea
Find a gap in the market
Be passionate about what you do
Timing is vital but stick to your original mission to bring back the dynamism
Instagram is a readily accessible and fast way to spread your brand’s image once you know what you want to do
Immerse yourself in the product and become familiar with every single aspect of production and sales
Know every department of your business inside out even if you’re delegating a lot of it
Listen continually to your customers - imagine you are one of them, learn from their feedback
Pay attention to company culture and make sure your staff are loyal to the ethos
Know your competitors but don’t worry about them, no need to copy them
Don’t overproduce; try sustainable initiatives like rentals/preloved/alterations
Avoid wastage and dead stock at the year’s end
FF&M enables you to own your own PR. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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How to build mobility into your working day with Tim Blakey, founder of PRIME BODY
28 Feb 2023
00:25:03
In this episode, we hear from physio and PT, Tim Blakey, creator of PRIME BODY, the affordable personal fitness training app that helps you progress and learn as you go. 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.
Tim’s advice:
Physical health helps not only mental health, but business health too - if you are well you will be more productive
Posture is important, affects how you look, feel and can prevent injury; but more important than posture is movement
If you are deskbound, make sure you build movement in all through the day
A meeting between two people can take place on a walk
Movement can produce ideas
Even five minutes’ movement is better than none
Mobilisation before a walk or a run will help
Fitness is not vanity - it is good for stress management
Even if your day is unstructured, find time for exercise - it doesn’t really matter when
Put strength before cardio: muscular-skeletal strength is the most important thing
Sleep is important, and caffeine will affect the quality of that sleep
When travelling, don’t make it an excuse not to exercise; therabands can be helpful
Encourage your team to use a gym/order nutritious takeaway meals/try cold water daily dips
Exercising can be a good way of networking with different groups of people
Celebrate the small wins when exercising
Take an interest in your own body! Learn about it, examine the mind/muscle connection
Follow this link for a video on tips and tricks. If you’d like to contact Tim, you can reach him at contact@primebody.co.uk
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for our future guests. Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
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How to balance work with a healthy diet with Jenna Hope, Nutritionist and Founder of Jenna Hope Nutrition
14 Feb 2023
00:27:37
Today we hear from Jenna Hope, registered nutritionist and founder of Jenna Hope Nutrition. Working with businesses and individuals, Jenna 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.
Today, Jenna shares her advice on the most common nutritional issues that founders can face and how to incorporate healthy eating routines into your working day.
Jenna Hope’s Advice:
Eat mindfully. Pay attention to eating your food which will help it to be digested properly, allow nutrients to be fully absorbed into the body and make you feel more satisfied
Reduce your reliance on caffeine, which can make you feel more stressed, affect your sleep and seduce you into consuming more sugar
Diet / exercise / sleep: these are all important and interrelated
Try to make three better dietary choices each day!
Eat more probiotics (yoghurt, kefir etc.) and prebiotics (onions, leeks, bananas, chickpeas etc.)
Hydration: make sure you keep up with water, using an app if necessary to remind you. It can often be the cause of you feeling hungry
Try to have 70g of protein per day (important for skin/hair/brain/hormone production) and try to make sure that 50% of what is on your plate is veg or fruit
If you’re snacking, make sure it’s protein or fibre - this makes you feel fuller (try oatcakes + cream cheese/nuts/hummus/yoghurt/roasted chickpeas/a boiled egg)
Research quick meals in your local supermarket so that when you’re in a hurry you know exactly where to go and make the right choice. Also batch cook when you have the time
Spices and herbs are not just good for you, they make food more exciting; it’s important to enjoy your food
If you eat breakfast make sure it’s healthy - what you have is as important as whether you have it
It’s a good idea to have your evening meal fairly early because sleep is more difficult if you are digesting; if you have to eat late, make it a light meal
‘The Optimum Nutrition Bible’ by Patrick Holford is a classic on the subject
If you’d like to contact Jenna, you can reach her at jennahope@jennahopenutrition.com
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
How to manage stress using breathwork with Jamie Clements, founder of The Breath Space
31 Jan 2023
00:30:02
In this episode, we hear from Jamie Clements, founder of The Breath Space. By using breathing techniques to overcome anxiety and panic attacks, Jamie discovered the extensive benefits of breathwork for improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Having trained in many modalities of breathing, Jamie now shares his techniques to help others accelerate their healing and personal growth as part of his business.
Today Jamie introduces us to the many benefits of breathwork and shares his advice on why founders and business owners should be encouraged to build a strong wellness routine around a busy schedule.
Jamie's advice:
Particularly for a founder, but for employees too, physical/mental/emotional health is essential
Breathing can be a window onto your mental state; check in with it during the day to assess how you are. Schedule moments e.g. between meetings, in a taxi - for yourself, breathing breaks when you can check how you’re doing
It’s possible to shift your mental and emotional state by using simple breathing exercises; conscious breath control can quickly and effectively regulate your nervous system
By being aware of how you are breathing, you can avoid dysfunctional breathing patterns e.g. allowing quick and shallow breathing, which triggers stress, to become habitual
If you are a busy high-achiever, it’s important to avoid burnout; take short breaks to breathe consciously (always a longer exhale than inhale) and you will optimise your performance and increase stamina
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
Season 7 Founder health, launch ep: How to protect your mental health with Matt Johnson, Founder The Checkin Co
16 Jan 2023
00:45:58
In this episode we hear from Matt Johnson, TV presenter and Founder of The Checkin, an online space to connect people to mental health specialists as well as the mindfulness book, The Checkin Journal.
Given today is blue Monday we thought it particularly important to kick off our new season with a focus on mental health. Matt shares his personal advice on how founders can manage theirs as well as why it is so important to be aware of it too.
Matt Johnson's advice:
Make boundaries to reserve time for yourself, especially if you work alone. Time for mindfulness/breathing exercises/journal-writing/peace
When establishing boundaries, assess your needs and wants; put yourself first for a change
In order to work as well as you can, you must look after your health; always take mental health very seriously
Prevention of mental ill-health is better than cure
Check in with how you feel and work out why
Value your time: to be alone, to be with other people and to be in nature
Accept that there will always be peaks and troughs
Let go of expectations and be curious about what will happen next
If you’d like to contact Matt you can reach him via The Checkin @thecheckin.co on Instagram
Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.
FF&M enables you to own your own PR.
Edited by Milun Haggipavlou. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason.
Let us know how your start up journey is going or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss in future episodes.
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LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.