Corporate Cafe: Conversations with Entrepreneurs

Ep.14: Learning About Your Market with Alexandra Cheung (La Grotta Collective)

Established at the end of 2019, La Grotta Collective has quickly established itself as a successful UK-based eCommerce jewellery brand which is already expanding into other markets, including China. In today's Corporate Cafe, La Grotta Collective's CEO and founder Alexandra Cheung explains how she moved from FinTech to eCommerce, and offers vital tips on how to discover new customers, working with influencers, taking advice, and the need "to let go of the perfectionist mindset." For more information on Alexandra and La Grotta Collective, see: Website: https://lagrottacollective.com/ [https://lagrottacollective.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagrotta.collective/ [https://www.instagram.com/lagrotta.collective/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cheung-82b24b5b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cheung-82b24b5b/]

Ep.13: Creating a Company with a Social Mission with Bhavesh Patel (Storyteller)

Combining a love of travel with a desire to give back, Bhavesh Patel created Storyteller - a social enterprise that uses a percentage of its profits to help fund educational programmes around the world. In the latest episode of Corporate Cafe, hear tips on how to prepare to jump from a comfortable full-time job into running a business, including advice on product development and gaining feedback, understanding finances, defining the perfect customer, and turning a customer base into a fan base. Bhavesh Patel is a UMi Social Entrepreneur Index 2020 listed business owner who has also been names as a UK Point of Light - an award given daily by the Prime Minister's Office to outstanding individuals who can make change. For more information on Storyteller see: Website: https://www.storytellertravel.co.uk/ [https://www.storytellertravel.co.uk/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytellerteam/ [https://www.instagram.com/storytellerteam/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/storytellertrav [https://twitter.com/storytellertrav]

Ep.12: Consumer Psychology & Growth Hacking with Louis Barnett (Chokolit)

There are few individuals like Louis Barnett. Despite being diagnosed with multiple neurodiverse conditions at school (including dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD), he became Europe's youngest entrepreneur at 12, and the youngest supplier to both Waitrose and Sainsbury's with his confectionary business: Chokolit. Soon trading with 17 countries, he even gained a major foothold in Mexico – the birthplace of chocolate! Still in his 20s, Louis is now a leading business consultant - or 'growth hacker' as he prefers to be described - sharing his extensive knowledge of everything from raising money and scaling up to consumer psychology with other businesses. Listen in to Episode 12 of Corporate Cafe as he discusses the difference between debt and equity funding, acquiring the right customers, international trade (including the vital role of such bodies as the British Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses), and the importance of "you don't ask; you don't get." To find out more about Louis Barnett, see: Website: https://www.louisbarnett.org/ [https://www.louisbarnett.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisbarnett [https://bca09b4f-ce8a-4973-87c8-70abd509ab6f.pipedrive.email/c/xkx0v705kz/wy550gpx8y/l24m0elzk7/0?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Flouisbarnett%2F] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barnettlouis [https://bca09b4f-ce8a-4973-87c8-70abd509ab6f.pipedrive.email/c/xkx0v705kz/wy550gpx8y/l24m0elzk7/1?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fbarnettlouis%2F]

Ep.11: Finding your Brand Voice with Gemma Edwards (So Contented)

Your business isn’t just what you sell or the services you provide. Your business has a personality, a voice, one that’s unique and true, and one that will help you establish your brand, communicate its values, and convince buyers and clients that you’re the best – regardless of pricing. But how do you establish that ‘brand voice’? What does it entail? And how do you get over the obstacle of having multiple individuals, all with different perspectives, producing your messages? Find out more as Gemma Edwards, co-founder of copywriting and brand voice specialists So Contented explores the vital importance of high quality and consistent content. Moving from engineering to banking, Gemma quit the financial world in 2017 to start So Contented with business partner Helen, whose background was in law. Despite their obvious lack of copy/content experience, the duo turned this into a unique selling point. Emphasising their extensive real-world business experience across multiple sectors, they quickly established So Contented as a fast-rising new company. Tune in as Gemma offers tips on developing the personality of a brand, how to capture someone else’s voice, customer loyalty, pricing, changing careers, ‘mum guilt’, and the role of personal development. To find out more about So Contented, see: Website: https://www.socontented.com/ [https://www.socontented.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socontented/ [https://www.instagram.com/socontented/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemedwards/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemedwards/]

Ep.10: Starting a Business during Lockdown with Lucy Hitchcock (Partner In Wine)

The 2020 lockdown inspired many people to set up their own businesses, including Lucy Hitchcock - founder of the insulated wine bottle business Partner In Wine. Inspired by the challenge of keeping a bottle of rosé wine chilled for a summer picnic, Lucy started her new venture with just £3k, and is now seeing a monthly five-figure income! Join us for Episode 10 of Corporate Cafe to hear how Lucy used her experience in digital marketing to promote and establish her new business, and eventually fulfil her aspiration of getting stocked by Selfridges. Plus vital tips on product testing, handling orders yourself, using social media, the importance of email newsletters, budgeting, money mindset, and more. Check out Alexandra Holder's Open Up: Why Talking About Money Will Change Your Life via Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Open-Up-Power-Talking-About/dp/1788161874]. To find Partner In Wine, check out the following links: Website: https://www.partnerinwine.co.uk/ [https://www.partnerinwine.co.uk/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partnerinwineuk/ [https://www.instagram.com/partnerinwineuk/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partnerinwineuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@partnerinwineuk]