Episoder
-
In the final episode of 'Living the Small Business Life' Season Two, Ben, Ben and I reflect on the highlights and lessons learned from our conversations with various guests.
We discuss the realities of running a small business, the unplanned nature of business growth, the importance of drive and determination, and the significance of work-life balance.
We also emphasise the value of backing oneself, the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship, and the evolving nature of networking.
Special mentions to our wonderful guests from Season Two - More Driver Solutions, Vision 29, Happydashery, and Red Rascal Creative.
00:00 Welcome to the Season Finale
01:09 Reflecting on Our Guests
01:49 Key Takeaways from Season Two
02:11 The Reality of Business Planning
04:04 Challenges with Admin and Regulations
09:09 Balancing Work and Life
12:21 The Importance of Physical Activity
18:27 Would You Go Back to Employment?
22:40 The Freedom of Running a Small Business
24:43 Networking and Knowledge Sharing
30:19 Looking Forward to Season Three
31:28 Thank You and Goodbye
More Driver Solutions - https://moredriversolutions.ltd.uk/
Happydashery - https://happydashery.co.uk/
Vision 29 - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocoxhill
Red Rascal Creative - https://www.redrascalcreative.com/
---
Check out the dedicated page for the Living the Small Business Life Podcast: https://movedigital.co.uk/podcast/living-the-small-business-life/
Or, connect with us in the comments below or find us on social media ⬇️
https://www.instagram.com/livingthesmallbusinesslife
https://www.linkedin.com/company/living-the-small-business-life/
https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.small
https://www.twitter.com/living_smblife
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In this episode of Living the Small Business Life, the host welcomes Wes Venn, a multi-business entrepreneur and the show's cameraman! Wes shares his journey from being a radio presenter to starting a greetings card company, Buddy Fernandez, known for its 'naughty' cards.
He discusses how COVID-19 led him to focus full-time on his ventures, including founding Red Rascal Creative, a company providing video ads and promotional content. Wes touches on the challenges and funny moments of running multiple businesses, his unique marketing strategies, and the value of saying 'yes' to opportunities. We also chatted about work-life balance, financial planning, and the importance of being adaptable in the small business world.
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:18 Meet Wes Venn: The Media Mutt
00:41 Wes's Small Business Ventures
01:37 The Impact of COVID-19
02:01 Red Rascal Creative: A New Beginning
02:23 Voiceover Work and Calgon Adverts
02:57 Adapting to New Media Platforms
03:50 The Art of Juggling Multiple Roles
06:35 Challenges of Running Small Businesses
08:35 The Tesco Experience
14:00 Defining Success in Small Business
15:10 Struggling with Work-Life Balance
17:02 Weekend Work and Holiday Plans
17:12 Chillfest and Celebrity Encounters
17:52 Balancing Work and Personal Life
18:46 Financial Planning for Freelancers
19:44 Adapting to Change and Taking on Odd Jobs
20:53 Marketing Strategies and the Buddy Fernandez Tour
23:55 Unique Marketing and Event Filming
27:42 Funny Trade Show Stories
29:53 Business Mentors and Personal Philosophy
31:54 Quirky Customer Requests and Theme Songs
34:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
---
Check out the dedicated page for the Living the Small Business Life Podcast: https://movedigital.co.uk/podcast/living-the-small-business-life/
Or, connect with us in the comments below or find us on social media ⬇️
https://www.instagram.com/livingthesmallbusinesslife
https://www.linkedin.com/company/living-the-small-business-life/
https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.small
https://www.twitter.com/living_smblife
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Manglende episoder?
-
In episode 4 of the Living the Small Business Life podcast, hosts Ben and Ben welcome Jo from Vision 29. Jo shares her 10-year journey from starting a marketing consultancy to transforming it into a company focused on internal communications, employee experience, and organisational culture.
She discusses the initial challenges she faced in balancing work and family life, the trigger that led her to start her own business, and how she overcame fears and doubts along the way.
Jo also talks about the importance of networking, work-life balance, and staying motivated.
The episode offers valuable insights into running a business, dealing with burnout, and the evolving landscape of business networking.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:30 Joe's Business Journey: From Marketing to Internal Comms
03:20 Trigger Points and Challenges of Starting a Business
06:47 Transitioning from Limited Company to Sole Trader
09:38 Daily Life and Networking Strategies
20:25 The Role of Internal Communications
22:48 Employee Engagement and Feedback
23:49 Challenges in Implementing Feedback
25:26 Winning and Attracting New Customers
27:55 Balancing Work and Personal Life
29:18 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Public Speaking
36:50 Experiencing Burnout and Recovery
41:41 Reflecting on Business Journey
43:09 Podcast Conclusion
Produced by Move Digital - https://movedigital.co.uk/podcasts/
Jo at Vision 29 - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocoxhill
---
Check out the dedicated page for the Living the Small Business Life Podcast: https://movedigital.co.uk/podcast/living-the-small-business-life/
Or, connect with us in the comments below or find us on social media ⬇️
https://www.instagram.com/livingthesmallbusinesslife
https://www.linkedin.com/company/living-the-small-business-life/
https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.small
https://www.twitter.com/living_smblife
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In this episode of 'Living the Small Business Life' we hit the road and are on tour in Leighton Buzzard!
Sarah and Carrie, owners of Happydashery and The Workshop, two shops next door to each other on the High Street, share their inspiring journey from pop-up shop to two premises. They discuss the transition from part-time jobs to full-time business owners, the importance of a supportive local business community, and the candid challenges of retail, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We talked about the value of adaptability, strategic planning, and embracing imperfection. It was so great to hear both Sarah and Carrie reflect on the difficulties of running a small business, such as managing cash flow, juggling roles, and maintaining work-life balance.
Sarah and Carrie were such great guests and shared some wonderful personal anecdotes, quirky customer experiences, and moments of unexpected joy from running their business. Big thanks to them for joining us.
00:00 Welcome to Living the Small Business Life
00:11 Meet Sarah and Carrie of Happydashery
00:42 The Journey of Happydashery
02:39 Taking the Leap: From Part-Time to Full-Time
05:58 Community and Collaboration in Leighton Buzzard
12:42 Challenges and Triumphs During the Pandemic
20:56 Balancing Multiple Revenue Streams
24:07 Implementing Processes for Business Growth
25:09 Balancing Strategic Planning and Daily Operations
26:08 The Importance of Team and Delegation
27:31 Admiration and Strengths in Business Partnership
29:33 Building a Community-Centric Business
31:00 Handling Disagreements and Business Philosophy
35:15 Staying Motivated and Reflecting on Achievements
40:19 Balancing Work and Personal Life
47:38 Unexpected and Hilarious Business Moments
49:08 Final Thoughts and Fun Questions
Find Happydashery here: https://happydashery.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Move Digital - find out more about our podcast work here: https://movedigital.co.uk/podcasts/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In this episode of 'Living the Small Business Life' podcast, Laura, Ben and Ben discuss the interconnectedness of branding and reputation for small businesses.
We explore personal experiences with branding, including how a recognisable brand can spark memories and influence customers' buying decisions. Drawing on our own (mis)adventures in coming up with branding for our businesses, we also look at the challenges faced in maintaining consistency across various platforms.
We also chat about how Google reviews can affect business reputation and the necessity for businesses to manage online perceptions. How does your branding help (or hinder?) in recruitment, how does customer feedback shapes business strategy, and how can you leverage referrals and case studies?
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:10 Understanding Branding and Reputation
01:28 The Role of Consistency in Branding
02:03 The Evolution of Business Logos
05:02 Branding in the Real World
07:56 The Importance of Professionalism
15:05 Consistency Across Platforms
18:33 Customer Feedback and Reputation
28:52 Handling Negative Reviews
30:27 Responding Professionally to Criticism
33:14 Dealing with Fake Reviews
35:33 Importance of Customer Referrals
36:30 Effective Use of Case Studies
39:47 Website Optimisation for Better Leads
42:58 Fun Branding Questions
49:23 Dream Collaborations
53:38 Conclusion and Call for Guests
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
We're back for Season 2!
In this episode of Living the Small Business Life, we welcome Emily and Nikki of More Driver Solutions. They dive into their journey of building a business from its humble beginnings in 2008 to becoming a key player in driver recruitment in the logistics industry.
They discuss their initial lack of a formal plan, how they funded and eventually bought out their initial business partners, and the importance of flexibility and resilience. They share the challenges they faced, including navigating a recession, managing cash flow, and dealing with regulatory changes. The conversation also explores their partnership dynamics, the support they provide each other, and their emphasis on work-life balance and exercise.
It was so lovely to have them and hear about how they have turned challenges into growth opportunities and gave us some genuine insights into the highs and lows of running a small business.
https://moredriversolutions.ltd.uk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In our final episode of Season 1 we've gone off-script and are answering questions about running a small business that Ben has found from Chat GPT!
Find out what AI thinks we should have been talking about in the last 5 episodes and what answers we have.
Subscribe to the podcast now so you're the first to know about Season 2 - coming soon!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
How do you achieve work life balance as a small business owner? What is important to you? In this episode Ben, Ben and Laura discuss how they achieve and work on a work life balance that works for them.
How does it work for you? Let us know in the comments!
Produced by Move Digital: https://movedigital.co.uk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
This time around we're talking about growth and expansion for small businesses.
What does it look like? What are the growing pains that small businesses face? And what does it look like when your business is growing and expanding but you're constantly trying to keep up.
Join Ben, Ben and Laura to chat about all things small business, the highs, the lows and everything in between.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
This time round Ben, Ben and Laura talk about the small business reality of recruitment and outsourcing.
We talk about everything to do with building a team, growing a team, what your team my look like in terms of employment versus using freelancers and outsourcing including outsourcing overseas.
Like and subscribe wherever you get your podcast to hear the next episode first and find us on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEWshi7mIvNoVMDJB7TrPLg
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
When you’re starting out, how do you plan for your small business? What is recommended, and what is the reality?
We’re Laura, Ben and Ben and we all run small businesses. In this episode of Living the Small Business Life, we tackle strategy and planning. What did we do when we were starting out? Was it helpful? How has it changed along with our businesses?
Join us for a frank conversation about the highs and lows of running a small business, and subscribe to the podcast to catch all our upcoming episodes!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Join Ben, Ben and Laura to find out all about us, the small businesses that we run and why we've decided to start this podcast.
We'll also be talking about what we're going to cover in our first series.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
