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In this episode, Lindsey speaks with David Malone, a Corporate Lawyer and Director at O'Connors Legal Services, and Simon Mills, a Chartered Accountant and Corporate Finance Partner at Langtons Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors.

As business owners themselves, David and Simon offer expert insights into the challenges businesses face at various stages of growth. They discuss common obstacles, strategies for maximizing opportunities, and ways to mitigate risks to ensure long-term, sustainable success.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
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- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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From 80 rolls of Boob Tape in her bedroom to a booming brand in just two and a half years it is clear that Beth's journey is nothing short of inspiring. She struck gold early by tapping into the power of TikTok Shop and quickly realised the massive potential her offering could have.

Now, with Boosted Tape listed by PrettyLittleThing and major expansion plans on the horizon, Beth joins us to share the real story behind her success. Expect candid insights into the highs, the lows, and the “wish I’d known” moments every entrepreneur can relate to.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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Megan Kimmance is the Co-founder & Creative Director of Red Run, an active streetwear brand that launched online back in 2020. Red Run combines the bold, retro aesthetics of 80s and 90s sportswear with trend-led streetwear, delivering high-quality, stylish activewear.

Megan reflects on her younger years in school, where she often felt like she didn’t quite fit in as she wasn't very academic—but she always knew she was creative. Like many of us, she needed a push from those around her, including family and teachers, to recognize her own potential. With their encouragement, Megan pursued a fashion degree at UCLan, becoming a Fashion Week finalist and launching a career with prestigious fashion houses in London, Paris, and New York.

In this interview, she shares her journey, the challenges she’s overcome, and the passion that has driven her career. She also discusses how her values and beliefs have shaped her vision for building a fashion brand with purpose.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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Kath Jones is the Founder & Director of ThinK Wine Group, that offer luxury sparkling wines that are 100% vegan & organic, with reduced calories & sugar without compromising on taste.

From an early age, Kath knew she was destined to own her own business. Her journey—both professionally and personally—has been nothing short of inspiring, leading her to create a unique sparkling wine brand that stands out in the market

In this interview Kath talks about the journey she’s been on, the challenges she's overcome, and the importance of confidence and self-belief in achieving success.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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Donna Scully is a Joint Owner at Carpenters Group, a leading UK provider of insurance and legal services. 30 years ago Carpenters was a start up. Today the firm employs 1500 people over 6 sites.

As a young girl growing up in Ireland, it was expected that she would leave school at 16 – which she did – and get married. This was not the path Donna wanted to follow and through her own determination , hard slog, and ambition, Donna is now a global leader in the insurance world, renowned for her thought leadership on insurance industry fraud, reform and other matters that impact the insurance and legal market. Donna works closely with the Ministry of Justice in relation to motor claims and civil justice reform.

In this interview Donna talks about the journey she’s been on, the importance of giving people the break they deserve, and why she has never been afraid to fail.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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It was a privilege speaking to Andy Poplar, founder of Vinegar and Brown Paper for the final episode in this series of In Conversation with SMEs.

I started this podcast with a single aim – to provide inspiration, motivation and energy to those looking to start, scale or pivot their business by telling stories of others who have been brave, followed their heart, kept their nerve and grown something quite remarkable. And for me, Andy’s story is the epitome of this, and I can’t think of a more perfect story to end this current series with.

Andy had a successful career in the advertising industry, working as a creative copywriter, but reached a point of burnout and left the industry altogether, wanting to put as much distance as possible between him and what he had always loved which was the magic and beauty of words, the interplay of words and their ability to come off the page and create something much more powerful – real emotion.

But thankfully after a few years the green shoots of his love for the written word started to return and he began to explore other avenues for his creativity. He had an idea about etching words onto glass, and within a year his brand – Vinegar and Brown Paper - had gone viral and Oprah Winfrey was just one of the people who was captured by the beauty, simplicity and poignancy of his unique creations.

This conversation was like food for my soul. Andy and I talk about our love of working for ourselves, the sense of freedom you have in being able to explore new ideas, try new things and feel empowered to say ‘no’ to things that you don’t want to do.

So, sit back and grab a cuppa, I think you’re going to enjoy this.

Follow [Vinegar & Brown Paper]:
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Follow Lindsey Moore, Agnes Marketing:
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Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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As a coffee lover and Crosby-born girl I was super excited to interview Jack Foster, founder of Crosby Coffee, an independent coffee roastery based in Crosby, Liverpool which is dedicated to sourcing, roasting and serving unique coffees from all around the world.

I first came across Crosby Coffee about five years ago on one of my frequent trips home to visit family. I popped into Crosby Coffee and was captivated by the enthusiasm and knowledge of the staff who's passion for coffee drew me in and gave me a whole new appreciation for something I'd always enjoyed but taken for granted. I learnt about their 'bean to cup' journey, where the various beans originated from; in some cases I discovered the stories of the people who grew the beans, and I gained an insight into the art of Crosby Coffe's roasting and hand blending process to create coffee that is unique. I literally drank it in.

Jack developed a passion and interest in coffee roasting almost ten years ago after visiting roasteries frequently when down in London. He began roasting and blending coffee at his mums house as a hobby. He says he was drawn into the ‘rabbit hole’ of wanting to learn more and more about coffee. The popularity of his blends soon stretched beyond family and friends who he was giving it away to and local people began seeking him out at local food markets.

Seven years later Crosby Coffee has a successful retail café, a wholesale arm which supplies Crosby Coffee to bars, cafes and restaurants, and they have an online business which sells roasting equipment and coffee subscriptions delivered to your door.

During our conversation Jack talks about how, from a very young age he always wanted to run his own business, inspired by his auntie and uncle who owned their own business where he loved to spend time the school holidays - his uncle is still a mentor to him now. We talk about the love he has for his home town and the pull he felt to move back home and bring something new and exciting to his local community.

And we talk about the impact of the pandemic on our daily routines, which pre Covid often involved picking up a coffee on the way into the office, and even though our routines may have changed our love of coffee remains which Jack has witnessed in the growth of his home brewing equipment and online coffee subscription service.

So, grab yourself a coffee and sit back…I think you’re going to enjoy this.

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351

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For this episode I was in my element talking to Andrew Pimbley of Claremont Farm about life’s most simple but important joys – food, music, community and being outdoors in nature.

Andrew and his brother are the fourth generation of Pimbley’s to farm the land at Claremont Farm on the Wirral, which they have been doing since 1904. As tenant farmers they don’t own the land so they need to make it work as hard for them as possible while they have their lease.

With farming having been in decline for a number of decades Andrew and his family have been entrepreneurial and innovative in how they have diversified and extended their offering beyond growing fruit and vegetables.

As well as their shop and café they host Farm Feast – a festival of food, drink and live music for people of all ages to come together and enjoy, they have a fishery, and even put on cookery and bush craft skills experiences – and that’s only the half of it.

But always at the very heart of their business is a passion and a commitment to bringing the best of the regions produce to their local community and bringing their community together to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures.

Like for so many local businesses who supply food to our communities, Claremont had to quickly adapt when the first lockdown happened in March stepping in to feed their local community when the supermarkets national and global supply and logistics chains failed.

I was truly energised and inspired by my conversation with Andrew, hearing him talk with such passion and enthusiasm for what he does.

Andrew seems to thrive on thinking of ideas and isn’t afraid to try new things. He says “Don’t be afraid of failing. Always try new things. Follow your gut. If it doesn’t work then it doesn’t work, but you’ll have learnt something from it”.

Recorded 26th November 2020. First released 29th January 2021.

Follow Claremont Farm:
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Follow Lindsey Moore, Agnes Marketing:
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LinkedIn (Agnes Marketing)
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Twitter: @AgnesMarketing

Website: https:agnesmarketing.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesmarketing/
LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyagnes
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5241351