Living the Small Business Life

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 Episode00:18 Meet Wes Venn: The Media Mutt00:41 Wes's Small Business Ventures01:37 The Impact of COVID-1902:01 Red Rascal Creative: A New Beginning02:23 Voiceover Work and Calgon Adverts02:57 Adapting to New Media Platforms03:50 The Art of Juggling Multiple Roles06:35 Challenges of Running Small Businesses08:35 The Tesco Experience14:00 Defining Success in Small Business15:10 Struggling with Work-Life Balance17:02 Weekend Work and Holiday Plans17:12 Chillfest and Celebrity Encounters17:52 Balancing Work and Personal Life18:46 Financial Planning for Freelancers19:44 Adapting to Change and Taking on Odd Jobs20:53 Marketing Strategies and the Buddy Fernandez Tour23:55 Unique Marketing and Event Filming27:42 Funny Trade Show Stories29:53 Business Mentors and Personal Philosophy31:54 Quirky Customer Requests and Theme Songs34:11 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/livingthesmallbusinesslifehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/living-the-small-business-life/https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.smallhttps://www.twitter.com/living_smblife

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 Introduction00:30 Joe's Business Journey: From Marketing to Internal Comms03:20 Trigger Points and Challenges of Starting a Business06:47 Transitioning from Limited Company to Sole Trader09:38 Daily Life and Networking Strategies20:25 The Role of Internal Communications22:48 Employee Engagement and Feedback23:49 Challenges in Implementing Feedback25:26 Winning and Attracting New Customers27:55 Balancing Work and Personal Life29:18 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Public Speaking36:50 Experiencing Burnout and Recovery41:41 Reflecting on Business Journey43:09 Podcast ConclusionProduced 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/livingthesmallbusinesslifehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/living-the-small-business-life/https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.smallhttps://www.twitter.com/living_smblife

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 Life00:11 Meet Sarah and Carrie of Happydashery00:42 The Journey of Happydashery02:39 Taking the Leap: From Part-Time to Full-Time05:58 Community and Collaboration in Leighton Buzzard12:42 Challenges and Triumphs During the Pandemic20:56 Balancing Multiple Revenue Streams24:07 Implementing Processes for Business Growth25:09 Balancing Strategic Planning and Daily Operations26:08 The Importance of Team and Delegation27:31 Admiration and Strengths in Business Partnership29:33 Building a Community-Centric Business31:00 Handling Disagreements and Business Philosophy35:15 Staying Motivated and Reflecting on Achievements40:19 Balancing Work and Personal Life47:38 Unexpected and Hilarious Business Moments49:08 Final Thoughts and Fun QuestionsFind 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/

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 Podcast00:10 Understanding Branding and Reputation01:28 The Role of Consistency in Branding02:03 The Evolution of Business Logos05:02 Branding in the Real World07:56 The Importance of Professionalism15:05 Consistency Across Platforms18:33 Customer Feedback and Reputation28:52 Handling Negative Reviews30:27 Responding Professionally to Criticism33:14 Dealing with Fake Reviews35:33 Importance of Customer Referrals36:30 Effective Use of Case Studies39:47 Website Optimisation for Better Leads42:58 Fun Branding Questions49:23 Dream Collaborations53:38 Conclusion and Call for Guests

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/

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!