How To Start Up by FF&M

Amid a proliferation of workplace tech platforms, Unily reports 77% of UK employees consider notifications from digital tools distracting. Despite being valuable in many areas, clearly workplace tech is hindering focus & productivity. So, I wanted to hear from an expert on how to stay focused at work. Phil Nayna is the Founder of Absolute Mind + Body: a coaching consultancy supporting businesses to build high-performing teams, resilient teams. Having trained in performance psychology, neuroscience, and a range of mindfulness techniques, Phil works with leaders & their teams to unlock untapped performance potential. Keep listening to hear Phil’s advice on how to build sustainable focus, make the transition from busy to effective, and what to do to manage your energy, so you can stay focused for longer.Phil’s advice:To be focussed, you can’t be busyAvoid distractions; all your energy and attention need to be directed to one thingIt takes energy to suppress all the small details and distractionsIf there are things you tend to do every day, automate them so you don’t have to keep making small decisionsPractise quick 2-3 minute meditations to clear your mind before each important activityIf your mind is quieter, decisions will be clearerMaintain your conviction about the core belief/mission of your business while you are undertaking minor activities - this belief will help you focus on themDoing something you care about releases dopamine which brings more motivation and focusIt’s important that you take care of yourself physically Hours of sleep before midnight are more valuable than those afterAccept that you won’t be 100% focussed all day every day; a good aim would be 2 x 2-hour sessions a day of really focussed deep work; the more trivial tasks can fill in the rest of the dayBe disciplined about avoiding distractions during those 2-hour sessionsImagine that you only have 3 hours a day to do what matters - this will show you what’s important and what isn’tConcentrate only on the revenue-creating tasksTo avoid procrastination, you must Believe in what you’re doing Address the fear which is preventing you doing the task Be clear in your head about why it needs doing and how to do it FF&M enables you to own your own PR & produces podcasts. 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. FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

The UK’s Chartered Management Institute has previously found that 41% of managers believe having direct reports increases their own productivity. So, I wanted to hear from someone who has built a strong team to help them achieve more. Anant Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Matter Of Form, a leading luxury brand and digital agency based in London. Having founded his company in 2009, Anant and his team work with some of the world’s leading brands including Aman, Belmond & Knight Frank. Keep listening to hear Anant’s advice on discovering your strengths & how to build a team around you to enhance your own productivity. Anant’s adviceYour business will evolve as you personally grow and change; you may have to let go of some initial ideasPrioritise what is important and what you should be doing; this may mean handing on to others the things you are experienced atConcentrate (without guilt!) on reflection / exploring opportunities / less quantifiable “work”Celebrate thinking time and allow space for it in your weekThere is no need to keep packing in information which is not always productiveBe modest about your daily to-do listHave belief in where you want to goKnow yourself and employ accordingly; you may require mirror personalities of yourself, or you may need strong support in those areas where you know yourself to be weakKnow the value of meditationFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva 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. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found that 96% of UK entrepreneurs admit to ‘bottling up’ the stress of running their business. Many founders are clearly overwhelmed with too much on their shoulders, leading some to feel a sense of unproductive busyness. So, I wanted to hear from a founder who has cracked the code of productivity. Emily Austen is the founder of leading PR agency EMERGE and the author of SMARTER: 10 lessons for a more productive and less-stressed life, publishing this autumn. Having founded EMERGE in 2012, Emily has navigated entrepreneurship and discovered a tried and tested formula for avoiding unproductive busyness. Keep listening to hear Emily’s advice on how founders can avoid becoming busy yet unproductive and why tracking your energy rather than your time can help unlock your productivity. Emily’s advice:Set boundaries, which will be different for everyone (soft ones which are ‘crossable’ and hard ones which are not)Be vigilant with your time; Emily uses a desk timer to time tasks and she maps out her day in minutesPrioritiseDon’t be performative; it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about your working hoursKnow when to move aside from the top jobDon’t allow small things to annoy you; take the long viewKnow your own energy cycles and plan work accordinglyFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva 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. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

It’s challenging enough to be productive while building one company. However, productively building multiple ventures at once requires incredible focus & purpose. So, I wanted to hear from someone who has achieved this alongside several investor, advisor & board positions all while keeping purpose at the heart of every endeavour. Asad Hamir is the Co-Founder of Klyk, the sustainable IT company helping businesses tackle e-waste & reduce their carbon footprint. Alongside Klyk, Asad is also a Co-Founder of Ocushield, a clinician-led eye healthcare company. In addition to both his Co-Founder roles, Asad serves as a Non-Executive Director & investor in several tech & healthcare companies. Keep listening to hear Asad’s advice on how to scale without losing productivity or purpose plus how to make your calendar work for you and not the other way round.Asad’s advice:Any previous enterprises will have been valuable experience & will teach you what not to doAt the start of the week, agree weekly objectives / at the start of the day, define what needs doingAllow time each day for checking emails, don’t leave them till the end of the dayLeave space for you to react to clients’ needs if necessaryInitially you will be fire-fighting on every front; aim to get to a place where you can look at the big picture as well as the immediate problemsCelebrate both the big and the small wins - and keep your eye on bothTry using Calendly - but protect your timeSet boundaries for yourself and make sure your team understands those boundariesParcel the week up, eg. meetings on Mondays, and maybe a certain day each week to concentrate on something differentFocus is key; concentrate on one business at a timeDraw a line at a certain time and finish your dayPay attention to your health / fitness / diet and you will be more energisedBe open with your team and allow them to share your vision and plansB.Corp is a big help both guiding people inside the business and attracting people from outside who will want to work with youWrite your own job descriptionFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva 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. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

CIPD research shows that 67% of UK working women aged between 40 and 60 with menopausal symptoms had experienced a negative impact on their work, with 79% reporting feeling less able to concentrate at work. Clearly, hormones play a large role in the lives of female founders of all ages. I wanted to hear from a team with great experience in helping people overcome hormonal imbalances.  Margo Marrone, founder of The Organic Pharmacy and her daughter Roxy are the co-founders of eyeam, the solution-led skincare, supplements and education brand. Inspired by Roxy’s experience with adult acne and hormonal imbalance, the duo are supporting people to overcome debilitating conditions which impact their energy both at work and at home. Keep listening to hear Roxy and Margo’s advice on how founders can harness their hormones at work and how they can create a supportive environment for their teams too. Margo & Roxy’s advice:Never go against what your body is telling youThe four different hormonal phases are effectively four different sets of skills:Follicular - energised, a good time to schedule and planOvulatory - communicative, a good time to set up talks and eventsLuteal - detail-driven, a good time to tackle paperworkMenstrual - a good time for rest and reflectionCommunication is important; there is no shame attached to your bodily cycle so share how you are feeling.  This is constructive and helpful for your colleaguesListen to your needs; you don’t have to push to the limitsManaging hormones is not just a physical concern, it’s a mental one too.  Understand why you are stressed and self-regulateWork smarter not harder; it’s the output that counts, not the time spent.  Ideas which come when in the shower or on a walk can be so usefulQuick ways to reduce stress can be breathwork (4-7-8 breathing helps) and hummingNutrition means not just food but your whole environment: the people around you, the things you read and watch, as well as what you eatStop worrying about the to-do list; simply clear your head and tackle one task at a timeFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva 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. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 employeesThe happiness of your team is critical and will spring from:Enjoyment of the workGood collaborationBonuses, salary raises and perksKnowing each other wellBeing allowed autonomy and being trustedHaving a safe work environmentA pleasant office with a reasonable commuteBeing trained and having the opportunity for meetings and discussionsExamining a project after it has been delivered and discussing its good and bad pointsIf a team is a happy one, productivity will be the resultA happy team will be a loyal one and the longstanding employees will be so valuableLongstanding members can perhaps each manage their own teamIt’s a symbiotic relationship between employer and employedYou need each other and ideally will stimulate each otherFrom the employer’s point of view, when interviewing:Try to assess the candidate quicklyTrust the ones who speak with genuine warmth rather than the well-rehearsed speechesIt’s important to like your employeesAvoid ones who chatter rather than answering the questionThose who can communicate and engage with you face to face will be strongestAs the boss make sure you tackle your emails every single nightIf 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 AugustRemember, your enthusiasm will be infectious to your employeesBe consistent Always be approachable; make yourself available at all times and respond to requestsTry to deal with problems yourself rather than handing them downBe prepared to forgive mistakesFF&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 &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 firstYou must know yourself and what you’re good at, so you can hone in on your strengthsYou need to be the sort of person who enjoys continual learningTackle the tough creative tasks at the beginning of the day when your energy is highestWhen you are relaxed you will be more creativeAccept that as you age your energy levels may alter, and different times of day will suit you betterStay innovativeIf you mentor others you will learn from thisAttract people with different skills to your ownDon’t be afraid to delegate important things and trust othersAdditionally, surround yourself with people who inspire youIf you tackle uncomfortable jobs you will get better at themIf you are properly self-aware you will be more observant of othersTry to do even one small thing that makes a differenceFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva 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 &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 lessWhen 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 comfortablyTime block your calendar well in advanceAlways ask yourself WHY you are doing somethingKeep focussed on your long-term goalsLearn when to step back and let others make decisions (trust people and let them feel empowered)Save time by automating processes where this is possibleAll team members need to have a clearly defined role; a growing business does not necessarily need a growing workforceKeep auditing your thinking and structuresFF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 delegateThose 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 yourselfA combination of ambition and humility is goodWhen 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 basketBe 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 assetBe flexible and adaptable; businesses may not evolve in the way you had expectedIf 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 decisionsFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Text us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 ideaFind a gap in the market Be passionate about what you doTiming is vital but stick to your original mission to bring back the dynamismInstagram 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 salesKnow every department of your business inside out even if you’re delegating a lot of itListen continually to your customers - imagine you are one of them, learn from their feedbackPay attention to company culture and make sure your staff are loyal to the ethosKnow your competitors but don’t worry about them, no need to copy themDon’t overproduce; try sustainable initiatives like rentals/preloved/alterationsAvoid 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. FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

With 70% of respondents of a Forbes survey stating they believed personal branding is important, it’s clear that founders need to consider how they promote not just their business, but also themselves as individuals while starting their company. Eshita Kabra-Davies is the founder and CEO of By Rotation, the UK's first peer-to-peer fashion rental app. Eshita founded the platform in 2019 to challenge the notion that ownership was not the only way to consume and enjoy fashion. Since then, she has successfully built a very strong personal/professional profile internationally alongside her business. Keep listening to hear Eshita’s advice on why to question what to put out there in terms of professional and personal self, and why it is important to consider the platform contextEshita’s advice: Be careful how you use your time as social media can take up a lot of itDon’t feel the pressure to post personal content if you don’t want to, you can build a brand without sharing your personal life tooYou don’t need to be on every platform, pick a few that work but less is moreLinkedIn is just for professional, specific informationPut the business first before your personal content if you need to prioritise one Be aware of the community that follows you and ensure you speak to your audience 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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Building an engaging brand is one of the most challenging parts of starting a company. This is especially true in competitive sectors where you need to cut through the noise to create connections with your target customers. So I wanted to hear from experts on how to build a brand from scratch. Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood are co-founders of Collagerie: a leading fashion, interiors, beauty and lifestyle marketplace. The former British Vogue editors founded Collagerie in 2019 and quickly built their brand through interesting and dynamic ways. Lucinda and Serena share their advice on what to do first when building a digital brand and how to ensure your brand story and visual identity work well together. Lucinda and Serena’s advice: Work hard to realise the idea that’s in your head when designing the look of your brandPersevere until you get this right; don’t hesitate to start again from scratch if you’re not convincedIf you are not a designer, employ someone who isKnow your own weaknesses and either choose a partner who complements your strengths, or hire someone who does thisSettle the visual side of your brand first; tone of voice will follow onTake time over choosing the name; experiment with a few, try them out on friendsUse focus groups/groups of friends and bombard them with questionsUse social media; take time crafting promotional emailsBelieve in what you do; authenticity shows and will build trust in your customersNever be afraid to ask advice; admit your vulnerabilityTake time out and step back when you’re struggling to resolve a problemCollaboration can be valuableFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Edelman recently reported that ‘81% of consumers need to trust a brand to consider purchasing it’ so it is clear that brands which take time to build impact, education and purpose into their offering will also build trust with consumers and ultimately increase their sales. In this episode, I hear from Titi Bello, Founder of Ori Lifestyle, the luxury hair care brand now stocked in Selfridges and Harrods. Born out of Titi’s experiences with her own hair loss and seeing her daughter develop hair insecurities, Ori Lifestyle offers high-performance hair care products alongside coaching courses to improve customers’ confidence in their hair. Listen on to hear Titi’s advice on why building an educational and purpose-led brand is crucial for success. Titi’s advice:Find the product that meets the needs of a particular marketA good product is not enough on its own; marketing and visibility are crucialTo have the edge a product needs to look good as well as be effectiveIf a product can be multipurpose, so much the betterIt may well be useful to educate and challenge your customers and be honest with them about results; this will build trust and loyalty and ensure repeat salesTake your community with you; use feedback.  Establish contact via blogs / whatsapp / email and always listen to themYour relationship with your customers will be your motivating factor and keep you going“Go in with your heart” - businesses that stand the test of time are not just in it for financial gainAesthetics and branding are vital and must represent you and your valuesDon’t over analyse; just start!Know what you don’t know and find a partner with a different skill set to yoursFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

With Protega Global reporting that 77% of UK consumers believe brands should use ‘as little packaging as possible’, it’s important for new brands to research how to reduce their environmental impact. As packaging can be a huge barrier to entry, I wanted to speak to someone who has created a stunning brand package. In this episode, I hear from Randi Christiansen, CEO & Co-Founder of Néccessaire, one of the world’s leading body care brands. Founded in 2018, Néccessaire provides customers with minimal, high-functioning products and is now certified as both climate neutral and plastic neutral. Keep listening to hear Randi’s advice on how to create stand-out packaging for your brand and why it is so important to maintain a consistent visual identity. 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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

Defining your target audience is key when building your brand as it’s so important to know who you’re selling your products or services to. In this episode, I hear from Aaron Chatterley, co-founder of teen beauty brand indu and beauty retailer Feelunique. Having co-founded Feelunique in 2005, Aaron and his team grew the business which was acquired by Sephora for £132 million in 2021. Since then, Aaron has co-founded indu to create beauty and skincare products tailored specifically to teenage skin. Aaron shares his advice on how to identify your target audience and how to build strong customer relationships with them. Aaron's advice: Be aware of all the different audiences out thereDepending on your product, attracting a younger audience early means you build a relationship soonerLook for a gap in the marketBe confident in your authenticityIt is worth spending money on doing thorough research: when you have defined your target audience, work with a cohort of these people and interrogate them exhaustivelyBe clear about who exactly your target audience isIt is easier for the retailer - and better for the investor too - to have an absolutely clear target audienceYour primary concerns are the excellence of your product (which means it will be bought a second time) and your authenticityFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 logoVitally important is that the branding should show the ethics of the companyThe 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 DNAImagine your customer is yourselfDo 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 styleThese things will generate trust and loyalty in your customersYour brand voice will evolve over time, and rebranding can occur spontaneouslyIt is important to be clear and authoritativeIf you believe in the efficacy of your product your brand voice will be strongFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 pointWhen 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 ofTake advice from your shareholders or board if possibleInvest in design and good writersConsider the ethos of B Corp and promote its message where appropriateYour branding may grow organically with your businessUse LinkedIn for help and adviceRemember you are your own best resourceFF&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.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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/createThe 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 beThe purpose is your motivation/why you want to do itThe “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 creedYou are the best person to articulate itKeep these three things distinguished one from the otherUnderstanding your customers will inevitably lead to changing or adapting your vision in time but you need to stay relevant and be flexibleYou have to be able to answer the question: “who cares?”Don’t spend too much time and effort at the start on brandingFind inspiration in other people and other placesYou can contact Julian via email on julian@createacademy.comFF&M enables you to own your own PR.DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmasonHost Juliet Fallowfield LinkedInSubmit a guest via this link  Submit a question for the next guestRecorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 planBranding so important; to start with, concentrate on aspirational visuals that can then inform further workDon’t rush this stage: Create mood boardsTake care of yourself and go with your intuitionGet to the essence of what you wantSettle on a name, which will take you in the right directionLook 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 buildSocial 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 thisYou can’t do it all so be clear on what success looks like and work backwardsKeep 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 timeTake time to reflect on what you’re doing and enjoy itExpect 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 FF&M enables you to own your own PR.DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmasonHost Juliet Fallowfield LinkedInSubmit a guest via this link Submit a question for the next guestRecorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show

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 itAlways keep in mind what you stand forCustomers must trust your brand and feel comfortable with itCommunicating your brand values will be easier if you use recognisable language that people can identify withUse language to convey feeling and emotion - and sincerityKeep it simple and truthfulShare what mattersYour brand story can communicate how it started/who with/what you were aiming for/your valuesWhen writing copy don’t be a slave to perfection; try ‘stream of consciousness’ to start off with.  The important thing is truthfulnessIf you’d like to contact Tom you can reach him via tom@blacktomato.comFF&M enables you to own your own PR.DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmasonHost Juliet Fallowfield LinkedInSubmit a guest via this link Submit a question for the next guestRecorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.FF&M recommends: LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.Google Workspace is brilliant for small businessesBuzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directoryCanva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link &  LicenceText us your questions for future founders. Plus we'd love to get your feedback, text in via Fan MailSupport the show