{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6762dca9d9cd65ec1eb4ee70/6a43ccb5c7346e2ec262815c?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Building NEOM: Nicola Elliott on £45M Turnover, 150 Products & Self-Funding vs Investment","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6762dca9d9cd65ec1eb4ee70/1782828105579-08ee35cd-d02b-48cd-b9ef-41c0cf2caeab.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM, takes us behind the scenes of building a brand in a category that barely existed when she started. From the early days of product creation to scaling to 150 products, 150 employees, and £45M in annual turnover, Nicola gets into the mechanics of strategically building for long-term growth. We unpack the real decisions most founders agonise over: the benefits of taking investment versus staying self-funded, and the personal sacrifices that come as a direct consequence of business ambition.</p><p><br></p><p>Beyond the numbers, this conversation digs into what makes NEOM genuinely stick, how Nicola has built a deep consumer-to-brand connection at scale, and perhaps more importantly, how she's designed the business around the life she actually wants to live. It's an honest, tactical conversation for founders who want to build something substantial without losing themselves in the process.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we cover:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>The journey of starting &amp; building NEOM</li><li>Building in a ‘unique’ category</li><li>150 products, 150 employees, £45M in annual turnover&nbsp;</li><li>Strategically building for long term growth, not pace</li><li>Benefits of investment vs self funding&nbsp;</li><li>Real life sacrifices as a consequence of business&nbsp;</li><li>Creating consumer x brand connection</li><li>Designing business around your life</li></ul><p><br></p><p>We Are Ladies Who Launch!&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>CHAPTERS</p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>00:43 Before Wellness Was a Thing</p><p>03:41 Anxiety Sparking the NEOM Idea</p><p>06:15 From Blends to NEOM</p><p>08:27 First Products and Candles</p><p>11:40 Green Lights to Quitting Your 9-5</p><p>14:29 Building the Right Team</p><p>17:58 Creating a New Category</p><p>23:11 Retailer Placement Challenges</p><p>26:32 Sponsor Break: Starling Tools</p><p>27:42 Scaling With Steady Growth</p><p>33:33 Slow Growth Wins</p><p>34:00 Realities of Raising Money</p><p>35:50 Founder Lifestyle Questions</p><p>36:58 Motherhood While Building a Business</p><p>40:01 Sacrifice And Seasons</p><p>41:50 Work That Feeds You</p><p>43:06 Protecting Brand Identity</p><p>47:32 Customer Moments Strategy</p><p>49:06 Founder Role Today</p><p>52:39 Realistic Wellness Positioning</p><p>53:47 Future Growth And Collabs</p><p>55:56 Rocket Round</p><p>58:15 Curating Your Circle</p><p>59:35 Patience Builds Brands</p><p>01:00:34 Nicola’s Dream Collab&nbsp;</p><p>01:02:00 Finding A Mentor</p><p>01:03:14 Founder Money Habits</p><p>01:07:21 Financial Myths Debunked</p><p>01:09:30 Profitability Over Hype</p><p>01:12:23 Design Success Your Way</p><p>01:14:55 Nicola’s Ideal Lunch&nbsp;</p><p>01:17:49 Wrap Up And Subscribe</p><p><br></p><p>🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.</p><p><br></p><p>#AD Powered by <a href=\"https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0V-RSnf2-26Upb77A4M5-A\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;@StarlingBankApp&nbsp;</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>FOLLOW NICOLA</strong></p><p>Instagram: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nicolaelliottneom/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.instagram.com/nicolaelliottneom/</a></p><p>NEOM: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/neomwellbeing/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.instagram.com/neomwellbeing/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>FOLLOW US</strong></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/</p><p><strong>TikTok:</strong> www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch</p><p><strong>YouTube: </strong>www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch</p>","author_name":"Rochelle Humes"}