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/

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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 ⬇️

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https://www.tiktok.com/@living.the.small

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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

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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 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

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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!

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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.