Leeds Business Podcast

For many, turning a hobby that they love into a paying business is the ultimate dream. This week I speak to Dan Moylan & Michael Normanton of The Square Ball, who’ve made that dream come true.Listen how they describe how personal financial problems demanded that it became a paying success, the multiple revenue streams that power the business, the impact promotion had on the business and the growing pains, including the effect on the business two major personnel leaving. And of course, the madness of Leeds United.For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING DAN & MICHAELDan Moylan and Michael Normanton are co-owners of The Square Ball. Dan Moylan is a former nightclub and radio dj having worked previously at Metro Radio and GHR North. Michael Normanton previously worked at ITV selling advertising before working full time on The Square Ball.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] How Dan and Michael found their way to The Square Ball[00:08:45] The finances in the early days and quitting jobs for the business[00:16:00] Burnout and debt and the necessity to make it work, and bringing staff in full time[00:22:00] The importance of Leeds United getting promoted[00:24:40] The importance of Covid in the development of the podcast[00:28:00] The various revenue streams of the business[00:31:30] The effect of Leeds United’s performance on revenue[00:34:00] The growing pains of becoming a ‘grown up’ business and major [00:37:00] The issues caused by two main personnel leaving the business (and the solutions)[00:49:30] Business Surgery[00:59:00] The business strategy going forward[01:04:00] Is making a hobby into a business a problem?7 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• It’s important to keep reinvesting profits to develop the product• Audio advertising rates are 7/8 times higher than video• The more the business grows, the more demands it places on you• There’s always ‘f…in’ something• If you can’t not be there, you’ve got a job not a business• They can’t all be 10/10. As long as they’re 7/10, or more, most of the time, that’s OK• The key to growing a podcast is to think of your listeners in 3 categories; gold, silver and bronze6 COMMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“The original idea was that the podcast would get people interested in the fanzine. That’s now flipped.”“I’m getting made redundant. Give this a go or get a proper job”“It’s fine doing it part-time until ‘life’ gets in the way’“I was under so much pressure financially and professionally”“Going down might be one of the best things that happens to your business”“Authenticity is key”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.thesquareball.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-moylan-0990b62a1/ Shout out: a...

Today we have the most amazing guest in Mike Bates. Ex Covert Counter-terrorism Operations Leader turned entrepreneur, public speaker and venturer.Mike talks about his learnings from 20 years in the Royal Marines and counter-terrorism, what high performance looks like, the benefit of ‘hot debriefs’, the power of trust and so, so much more. You have to listen to this episode; it’s unlike any other we’ve done before.The business surgery segment answers the question; "I'm struggling with giving feedback to my team. Any suggestions?"For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING MIKE BATESMike Bates is a human intelligence specialist and a former covert counter-terrorism operations leader, who recently became the fastest Britain to complete ‘Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge’ solo.As the first officer in the history of the MOD to pass all relevant requirements to serve at the front line of the UK’s counter terror response, Mike's life undercover gave him a powerful and credible perspective on the human psyche. Rooted in his personal experiences of fighting terrorists, tackling mother nature at her most powerful and attaining his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.Today, Mike is a man on a mission to help others to become the best version of themselves. Drawing on his own unique, remarkable experiences he inspires and empowers others to live life without limits. Mike shares his awe-inspiring story to help you live a life without limits.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:03:00] Getting into the Royal Marines and learnings from it[00:06:00] Afghanistan, Iraq and Ireland[00:10:00] What does High performance look like and the benefit of feedback[00:15:00] Business Surgery[00:22:00] Under-cover counter-terrorism and the business lessons from it[00:30:00] Stepping into Civvie Street and giving back[00:40:00] Opening a business and lessons learned[00:45:30] How to build unbreakable self-belief[00:50:30] Next 45 – men’s health4 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Without trust you can’t have high performance• Feedback is a gift• In competition you win or you learn• You make more money as a small business than scaling to be bigger4 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR“Nothing good happens alone. You have to work as part of a team”“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”“If we can keep everyone aligned, magic happens”“I was having conversations with fish, the birds, the moon, the stars anything… just to be human again”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk https://www.mikebates.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-bates-4b2a32201https://www.graciebarraroundhay.co.ukhttps://www.nxt45.comShout out: https://randcoffeeroastery.com/...

Business Problems?Welcome to the monthly, bonus episode of the Leeds Business Podcast, featuring the latest Business Surgery problems.If you're a Business Owner, have a listen; you've probably experienced at least one, or more, of these problems..... and now you have a potential solution.This month’s round up features the following business problems;[00:00:30] "As a business owner, I've always got too much to do on my to do list. How do I solve this problem?" - with John Damonne, Salvos[00:06:00] ​"I'm currently doing my business planning. How far in advance should I do my strategy?" - with Mark Fitzgerald Cooke, Intelligent Business Partners[00:09:00] "What are the key things that I should put in an Angel Investment pitch deck?" - with Jordan​ Dargue, Lifted Ventures[00:14:30] "When should a company consider bringing in external advisors and/or NEDs?" - ​with James Kempley​, Troy FoodsTHE FULL EPISODE OF EACH GUEST CAN BE FOUND AThttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/salvos/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/lifted-ventures/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/troy-foods/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/mark-fitzgerald-cooke/WANT YOUR BUSINESS PROBLEM SOLVING?Email: phil@leedsbusinesspodcast.com with your problem and Phil and future guest will suggest a solution for youVALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.Want to work with Phil to help you? See www.philfraser.co.uk.LEEDS BUSINESS PODCASTLeeds, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Nous of Fraser, Business Sounding Board, Business Coach, Business Mentor, Mentioned in this episode:Pre roll NovemberAs November is my birthday month, I've got three special offers for you. If you can say yes to the following four points, you qualify. You have to be a business owner, have three to 15 staff, a turnover of between 350, 000 and 3 million, and wanting to develop and improve yourself and how you run your business.

This week we speak to Georgia Halston, Group CEO of the Halston Group.Georgia tells us about launching her own business, buying another one to add on to it, how she established her company culture pillars BEFORE she employed any staff, all about ‘green hushing’ and some incredible stats about our Very own NHS. The business surgery answers the question; "One of my key members of staff is causing a bad atmosphere in the team. She’s too important to sack. What can I do?"For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING GEORGIA HALSTONGeorgia Halston is the Group CEO of Halston Group. The Group consists of Halston B2B, a B2B marketing agency and Sustainability Partnerships, a company bringing about sustainable change within healthcare.Georgia is also co-founder of No Code Lab, a group looking to raise the profile of the no code movement. She has eight years’ experience running businesses and 15years in the marketing industry. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01.45] Georgia’s early career up[00:04:00] Launching a business[00:09:15] Hiring staff and company culture pillars[00:11:00] The first bump in the road[00:15:00] Acquiring another business[00:24:30] Sustainability Partners[00:30:00] How to tell your green story[00:37:00] Key learnings from your career[00:40:00] Business Surgery[00:44:00] The future of the business6 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGSPut your ego aside as the business owner; it’s not about youNo-one is irreplaceable in your teamBetter to have a hole in the team than an arsehole in the teamYou’re not Chief Executive Officer; you’re Chief Energy OfficerLeave the business purchase process to the expertsYour headcount is not a key metric4 BEST MOMENTS“3% of all of the carbon in the UK is from the NHS“The first company I worked with was a $15b, Fortune 500 company“Even before I had staff I wrote down my core principles“Have you ever heard of green-hushing”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk * Website - https://halstongroup.co/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-halston-7b353128/* Shout outs; https://imagecoltd.com/ https://www.thebiskery.com/ Use code ‘LBP20’ for 20% off your orderDON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (as...

We ask everything you need to know about selling a business with Mark Fitzgerald-Cooke of Intelligent Business Partners.Even if you’re not looking at selling right now, there’s tons of great stuff in here to get your house in order in preparation were you to ever do so.For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING MARK FITZGERALD-COOKEMark Fitzgerald Cooke is MD of business broker, Intelligent Business Partners. He has over 30 years helping people buy and sell cars, homes and businesses in the UK, Europe and Asia, working with brands like AutoTrader, Rightmove, Zoopla, proptech start ups and now with Intelligent. He is believed to be the only person whose feet were on EastEnders AND is related to former American President JFK.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:15] The key steps in selling your business[00:05:00] Understanding how to value your business[00:11:00] Types of ‘multiples’[00:14:00] How to prepare your business for sale[00:18:00] The four key questions buyers will ask[00:22:30] What to expect with purchases and transition periods[00:27:00] Protecting against problems with earn outs[00:31:00] All about due diligence [00:37:00] What happens to the money in my business bank when I sell[00:42:00] The common mistakes business buyers make6 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGSPut a business sale timeline in place early Think like a buyer when you sellTwo similar businesses doing the same numbers can easily be valued differentlyFind a business agent that has sold businesses like yoursMake yourself easy to buyGet the right legal partners in place4 BEST MOMENTS“By the nature of your business, it will be unique to a degree and therefore comparable values may not be there”“We can only sell what we can evidence”“long trading business adds value”“People, product, processes are key to preparing your business for sale”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.intelligent.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzgerald-cooke-a693662/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/mark-fitzgerald-cooke/

This week we speak to Adam Oldfield, Founder & CEO of Force 24.Adam tells us about ‘forming, storming, norming and performing’, the dangers of having too much money in the business, how market pressure forced him to change the business offering and how he rejected, perhaps wrongly in hindsight, an offer to sell the business.The business surgery segment answers the question; "Our team is growing and I'm recruiting. Any tips on writing job descriptions and roles & responsibility documents?”For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!INTRODUCING ADAM OLDFIELDAfter spending 20+ years in senior marketing roles, in 2010 Adam began a journey to develop a solution that allowed marketers to hold greater conversations with their audience at speed. He called it Force24 – now one of the in-demand marketing automation platforms in the UK.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00.00.00] Adam's early career[00.03.45] merging two businesses, the pros & cons[00.06.45] exiting one business and launching another[00.12.00] Funding and growing the start up[00.16.30] Changing the business strategy[00.22.00] The problems in scaling the business[00.24.00] Finding equity funding and a trade offer[00.34.00] Spending PE money and Non-Exec Chairs[00.38.00] Business Surgery [00.43.00] The problems caused by having PE funds[00.48.00] How to build a team to support scale2 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGSRecruiting 'troops on the ground’ quickly, doesn't workPE want you to spend their cash in a slow, diligent, controlled measured mannerVALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.force24.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/force24 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-oldfield-7b5a1813/ Shout out: https://www.bobbledigital.com DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/kate-ballhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/george-fairhall

This week we speak to start-up founder George Fairhall all about her business journey to date with WAC.If you'd been cheated out of £200 in wages over a two week period, what would you do? This week's guest used it as the inspiration for her business....Hear how George has gone all the way from problem to solution via paper mock ups, pandemic launches and all the bumps in road that the journey has brought.The business surgery segment answers the question; "I have fallen out of love with my business. What can I do?"For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING GEORGINA FAIRHALLGeorgina Fairhall is a female founder in tech, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a public speaker dedicated to supporting the lowest-paid employees nationwide. With first-hand experience working in the hospitality industry, she would always encounter a serious problem – she wasn’t getting paid correctly. George founded WAC and it has since become the go-to platform worldwide, to ensure every minute of work is accounted for, empowering hourly paid workers to break free from disorganisation and feel good about money. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] George’s background[00:05:00] Where the idea for the business came from[00:07:00] Starting the business and the benefits of an accelerator[00:17:00] Going full time and the pandemic[00:27:00] The challenges of fund-raising[00:30:00] Business Surgery[00:35:00] The current status of the business and future plans[00:39:00] How to build an app-based business 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS·      Pick the right level of accelerator for your stage in business·      a convertible loan is a great way to get early funding·      Conversion for subscription apps is 2-8% 3 BEST MOMENTS"I paid my friend in beers to build my first mock up""I mailed 2,500 people on LinkedIn to find more funding""We launched the week before Covid hit" VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk Website: https://www.wac.rocksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginafairhallShout out tags: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-sutton-the-data-refinery https://areoi.io/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a...

Kate Ball founder and director of Mini First Aid shares with us the family tragedy that inspired her to launch her business, tells us all about her successful appearance on Dragons Den (and how a McDonald's bribe helped seal the deal) and explains how, and why, the business is built as a franchise.The business surgery segment answers the question; "I’m constantly battling problems in my business. Can you recommend a system or process to solve them?”For more information on our sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and when you contact them tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)INTRODUCING KATE BALLKate Ball is the founder and director of Mini First Aid - the UK's largest specialist paediatric first aid training company training over 1000 families each week. Kate founded Mini First Aid following the sudden death of her brother, Matthew, from cardiomyopathy. As seen on Dragons' Den, Mini First Aid train over 1000 families each week in life saving first aid. Kate has made it her mantra to teach everyone how to save a life.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02.00] Kate’s background [00:06:00] The source of the idea[00:08:30] The death of Kate’s brother (inspiration from tragedy) positives[00:14:00] The first training course…[00:17:00] The launch of the business for real[00:20:00] All about franchising[00:27:30] Appearing on Dragon’s Den[00:40:00] Working with Sara Davies[00:46:00] The biggest problem so far[00:49:00] BUSINESS SURGERY[00:52:00] How to be the face of your business5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Early CPR and a defibrillator saves people’s lives • Lots of positive language stops people being anxious• The key point of franchising is that it’s a business in a box’• As you grow all of your systems and processes have to grow with you• Sharing a problem with your team is hugely beneficial5 BEST MOMENTS“I put the kids to bed, swept the baked beans of the floor, spread out some cushions and taught in the kitchen”“Franchisees are an extension of ‘brand Kate’“The due diligence for applying to Dragons Den is ridiculous”“Dragons Den said, “the only kids you can use are your own”“We had a year’s worth of franchise enquiries within 24 hours of the show airing”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUPhil’s PITA Patter problem-solving technique - https://philfraser.co.uk/how-to-be-your-own-sounding-board/Kate on Dragon's Den - https://youtu.be/JpwsV1gp61AWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://minifirstaid.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mini-first-aid https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-ball-28a34637/ Shout out tags: https://www.buttercrumble.comDON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (as mentioned)a...

This week we speak to Mark Fitzgerald-Cooke, MD of Intelligent Business Partners. Mark tells all about the difficulties in moving from print to online,  a great business idea that didn’t work and how owning the process gives you power in a sector.The business surgery segment answers the question; "I'm currently doing my business planning. How far in advance should I do my strategy?"INTRODUCING MARK FITZGERALD-COOKEMark Fitzgerald Cooke is MD of business broker, Intelligent Business Partners. He has over 30 years helping people buy and sell cars, homes and businesses in the UK, Europe and Asia, working with brands like AutoTrader, Rightmove, Zoopla, proptech start ups and now with Intelligent. He is believed to be the only person whose feet were on EastEnders AND is related to former American President JFK.For more information on our show sponsors, YFM Equity Partners, please visit www.yfmep.com (and tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:30] Mark’s early career at TNT and key learnings[00:09:30] A great online idea that wasn’t executed well[00:16:30] Downsizing a business and moving it online[00:31:00] The benefits of great training and Thomson Directories[00:40:00] The learnings from working in Malaysia[00:45:00] THE BUSINESS SURGERY[00:49:00] Intelligent Business Services[00:52:00] How to prepare your business for sale[00:56:00] How to find the right advisor for your business3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGSIf you want to sell successfully, you need to be easy to buyIt’s all about your people, and you need good peopleBusiness sales are normally driven by major life events4 BEST MOMENTS“co-operating online, with our offline competitors just didn’t work”“you cant be the friendly face of doom forever”“Hindsight is a great thing in business”“Your biggest problem is themandownthepubsays.com”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUFraser Five Step (FFS) simple strategy planning tool - https://philfraser.co.uk/fraser-five-step-ffs/Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.intelligent.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzgerald-cooke-a693662//Shout out tags: https://www.getaudience.co.ukDON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE (mentioned in the show)https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/helen-oldhamhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/howard-moss/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million...

For more information on YFM equity Partners please visit www.yfmep.com (and tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)This week we speak to James Kempley, Managing Director of Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd.James tells us about the stresses and strains of being 4th generation in a family firm, the perfect storm that forced part of the business into administration and how automation makes such a huge difference. INTRODUCING JAMES KEMPLEYJames Kempley is the Manging Director of Troy Foods (Salads) Ltd. He came into the family business at 18 years old, as fourth generation, learning the business through the ranks. He is fascinated by the food manufacturing industry, especially trying to generate new talent in the industry that is badly lacking. In his spare time, he is an avid cricketer and a life long, long suffering Leeds United fan.The Business Surgery question is "When should a company consider bringing in external advisors and/or NEDs?"EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] The history of Troy Foods[00:04:30] Joining the family business and the pressures involved[00:11:00] James’ career progression through the business[00:17:00] The expansion of Troy Foods[00:22:00] Business going into administration[00:29:00] The key lessons learnt[00:32:00] The re-structured business and expanding into new markets[00:41:00] How to build a family-like culture [00:45:00] BUSINESS SURGERY [00:50:00] Future plans for the business 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Sometimes you have to go through the bad times to make a business successful• Relationships are king• You have to be laser controlled on costs4 BEST MOMENTS“You had to buy and trade well to be profitable”“I learnt more in 18 months than I did the rest of my life”“we can produce a million bottles of mayonnaise a week”“We have 10 people in the business who’ve been with us for 30 years”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: http://www.troyfoods.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kempley-56702484/Shout out tags: https://interpath.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEOther multi-generational business episodes;https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jamie-bentley/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/michael-michaelson/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/howard-moss/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/chris-black/...

For more information on YFM equity Partners please visit www.yfmep.com (and tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)This week’s guest is Jordan Dargue, co-founder of Lifted Ventures.Jordan shares with us her journey into angel investing, developing the early stage investing community in Leeds and the North and now building Lifted Ventures and its ‘flywheel’ to support both female founders and female investors. Jordan also explains the important role that men can play in being male allies to this vital area of business, and how to make your business ‘investor-ready’.The business surgery segment answers the question; ""What are the key things that I should put in an Angel Investment pitch deck?"INTRODUCING JORDAN DARGUEJordan Dargue, is a founder, senior executive, investor, NED and seasoned investment expert. Jordan is Co Founder of Lifted Ventures. Lifted exists to increase the flow of early stage capital to female founders and promote the significant business benefits of backing women. The Lifted Ventures flywheel has an angel network at its core, alongside education, community and consultancy. Previously Jordan was co-leader and Board Director of multi award winning NorthInvest, and in 2020 she co-founded Fund Her North and Women Angels of the North, a collective of women in VCs and Angel investors who support female founders to get equal access to finance.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:30] The transition from construction to technology[00:05:00] why is there a lack of women in certain industries and roles?[00:10:00] The founding of NorthInvest and its aims[00:13:00] Can anyone be an Angel Investor? And what can an angel bring to the table?[00:17:00] The founding of Fund Her North and its aims[00:21:00] The role of male allies[00:25:00] BUSINESS SURGERY[00:31:00] What is Lifted Ventures, why is it needed and the conference[00:40:00] How to make your business investor ready[00:47:00] The Athena Festival4 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Anyone can be an Angel Investor• Female founders, and the wider female business eco-system need male allies• Female founders generate more revenue, grow more quickly and are more likely to exit• Only 2% of capital goes into female founders3 BEST MOMENTS“Investors need to understand the story behind the business“I invested three times. I invested in her and loved what she was doing”“Register to attend Lifted Venture conference and/or the Athena event”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://liftedventures.co.uk/ Athena Conference - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-athena-festival-a-female-founder-innovation-festival-tickets-915591838837LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-dargue-59438433/Shout out tags: https://www.gordonsllp.com/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people

For more information on YFM Equity Partners please visit www.yfmep.com (and tell them Phil from Leeds Business Podcast sent you!)This week we speak to John Dammone, co-owner of legendary Leeds restaurant, Salvos.John tells us all about the early days of the restaurant, some key lessons learnt in some unsuccessful business expansions, how they kept relevant throughout the years and all about the effect Gordon Ramsay had on the business.The business surgery segment answers the question; "As a business owner, I've always got too much to do on my to do list. How do I solve this problem?"After you've heard Phil's answer, read this https://philfraser.co.uk/work-prioritisation/ for more on his system.INTRODUCING JOHN DAMMONEJohn Dammone founded the award-winning Salvo’s Restaurant in Leeds in 1976. With over 45 years experience in the hospitality industry, John successfully expanded what was a 40-seater neighbourhood restaurant into an 85-seater restaurant and bar. The nationally renowned restaurant has won multiple accolades and awards over the years including numerous TV appearances including being crowned the UK’s best independent Italian Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay on Channel 4’s The F Word.Amongst many honours received during his career he has been a recipient of the Yorkshire Evening Post Outstanding Achievement award for his contribution to the Leeds Restaurant Industry twice in 2012 and in 2019. In 2015 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by Yorkshire Life Magazine and, most recently was awarded a British Empire medal in the Kings Birthday honours list for services to the Hospitality Industry.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:02:00] The launch of Salvos and the role of the family[00:05:00] The early pain points[00:08:00] How do you keep a long-standing restaurant relevant[00:11:00] Two failed business expansions[00:24:00] Gordon Ramsay’s F Word[00:34:00] How was Covid?[00:44:00] How to benchmark against the competition[00:53:00] BUSINESS SURGERY QUESTION[00:58:00] Exiting the business[01:05:00] Pineapple on pizza?3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You cannot stand still in business• Don’t let one client have more than 10% of the business• Do not entrust your brand to another person4 BEST MOMENTS“In the early days we made people share tables”“Our ask was two small for venture capitalists and too big for high street banks”“I nearly put the phone down on Channel 4”“We were lucky not to be with a high street bank”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Salvos win Gordon Ramsay's Best Local Italian Restaurant on The F Word - https://youtu.be/TsBxFyt7xTQSalvos get to the final of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word search for best Italian Restaurant - https://youtu.be/unu_3ojzaUSalvos - best starters on Gordon Ramsay's search for the best local Italian Starters on The F Word - https://youtu.be/1OdjhO0kUQkLinkedIn:...

This week we speak to Mark Costello, Founder of the Horsforth Brewery.Mark tells us how he’s grown the business from a home brewing hobby in his kitchen to a fully-fledged brewery and tap room, the effect of launching the business on the first week of the first lockdown, his successful crowd-funding campaign and how a Christmas disaster turned into a success.Mark also teaches us how to run a crowd-funding campaign.INTRODUCING MARK COSTELLOMark Costello is the founder of Horsforth Brewery. After a career in hedge accounting, risk management and secured funding he made the transition to full-time self-employed in March 2020 and has steered the brewery through COVID and a cost of living crisis, establishing an onsite taproom in the brewery that's open 6 days a week.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:30] How did the launch of the brewery happen?[00:03:00] Launching part time with grant funding[00:06:10] Moving from a hobby to a business[00:09:30] Launching into lockdown[00:14:30] When the business ran out of cash[00:18:00] The addition of a tap room and the additional challenges it brings[00:21:00] The Euros effect[00:25:30] How do you sell beer into an outlet?[00:31:00] Raising funding for the business[00:36:00] How to run a crowdfunding campaign[00:42:00] The Christmas disaster and the solution that worked3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• You may be eligible for 50% match funding from WY Combined Authority• You need to keep momentum going during a crowdfunding campaign• Own your mistakes and be honest to your customers3 BEST MOMENTS• “Seeing people’s businesses fall apart during Covid was hard”• “Everyone started clapping (for carers) but I thought it was for me dropping off beer”• “In the early days we sold beer to outlets via Twitter”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Phil Fraser - Business Sounding Board - www.philfraser.co.ukWebsite: www.horsforthbrewery.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-costello-68868619/Visit the Tap Room at 143 New Roadd Side, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4JZShout out tags: https://swinethatdines.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/colin-glass/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/daniel-priestley/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s...

This week we speak to Laura Bartlett, founder of fashion and lifestyle magazine, House of Coco..Laura tells us about her disastrous appearance on Dragons Den, how The Clothes Show caused her to become personally bankrupt, the growth of her current business and the benefits of being tee-total. She also shares with us how to get PR for your business.INTRODUCING LAURA BARTLETTWhat sets Laura Bartlett apart from the conventional entrepreneur is her remarkable ability to lead with her heart on her sleeve. Unlike many in her field, Laura approaches her journey with unyielding honesty and vulnerability, sharing not only her triumphs but also her struggles. She bares her soul, showcasing the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial odyssey, providing an authentic glimpse into the rollercoaster ride of chasing dreams.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:30] What is the House of Coco?[00:01:00] Laura’s early career and the original magazine[00:09:30] Appearing on Dragon’s Den[00:14:00] The Clothes Show and personal bankruptcy[00:19:00] The launch of House of Coco magazine[00:22:00] The experience and lessons of personal bankrupt[00:26:00] Building a successful magazine and taking on Conde Nast[00:29:00] The pros and cons of running a remote team[00:32:00] the alcohol-free life[00:37:00] Supporting Leeds Women’s Aid[00:29:00] The pros and cons of running a remote team4 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Always open your mail (you may avoid going bankrupt!)• The quicker you learn the lessons, the better• If someone else is doing it, it means you can do it too• If you can't quit something, you're addicted4 BEST MOMENTS"According to viewers of Dragons Den, I look like a pig in a frock""The aim was to compete with Conde Nast Traveller magazine""I could stop now and have a salary for life""No-one's coming to save me from me"VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Laura on Dragon’s Den – https://youtu.be/dvEm0WtTR-s Webinar – What’s it really like on Dragon’s Den? - https://philfraser.co.uk/whats-it-really-like-to-pitch-on-dragons-den/Leeds Womens Aid - https://leedswomensaid.co.uk/ Website: https://houseofcoco.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartlettlaura Shout out tags: https://pinkgorilla.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

This week we speak to Steve Mcdermott, multi-award winning Presentation Mastery Coach.There is SOO MUCH learning in this episode, you’ll definitely need a pen and paper. From presentation skills and limiting self-belief to launching your own business and grasping opportunities.You can also win a free copy of Steve’s book.INTRODUCING STEVE McDERMOTTSteve has been a professional motivational speaker for 30 years. He is also a 3 times winner of European Motivational Speaker of the Year Award and a international best-selling author.Before starting his own company, for 15 years he was a Copy Writer and Creative Director of a highly successful Advertising Agency. He has won over twenty international and national awards for creativity and was particularly fond of writing radio commercials.He is founder of the Confident Club. A company that uses the vehicle of presentation training to enable people to dramatically increase their confidence and to become the best versions of themselves. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] Giving up a job and going solo[00:09:00] The importance of a ‘runway’ for a start up business[00:10:00] Developing the business[00:31:00] Food on the table v stick to your values[00:32:00] How to be a Complete and Utter F**k Up[00:40:00] Win a free copy of Steve’s book[00:43:00] What is the Confident Club?[00:53:28] How to change your beliefs5 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Being totally naïve is a highly recommended start up strategy• Think ‘how can I model excellence?’• It’s so important what you say no to• You have to have absolute clarity on your personal values• Beliefs control how you feel and how you behave3 BEST MOMENTS“I built my whole business on the power of referral”“I’m only interested in ‘is it practical and does it work'?”“one of the most powerful sounds in the English language is somebody’s name”STEVE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS;Steve's book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/129234282X/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie;http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0671027034/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey;http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1471195201/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21Neuro-linguistic Programming For Dummies;http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1119106117/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week;http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1780287909/ref=nosim?tag=lbp08b-21VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: www.confidentclub.comLinkedIn:

This week we speak to Sarah Jones, Founder of Full Circle Funerals.Sarah tells us all about the growth and the amazing sale of her first business, the post-sale emotions after you’ve sold, the launch, only 9 months later, of her second business and why she picked funeral industry. Plus, she tells us what it’s like to work with a brother. Could you work with YOUR sibling? There's also a great ‘how to’ on selecting your next business coach or mentor.INTRODUCING SARAH JONESSarah Jones started her career as a medic and then owner and managed residential care home services for adults with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. In 2016, she established Full Circle Funerals – a modern funeral directors informed by health and social care principles and focussed on making a challenging time easier. Full Circle Funerals has won several industry awards and was the first UK funeral director to become a certified B Corp. Sarah published her number one best-selling funeral arranging guide “Funerals Your Way” in 2019.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The switch from medic to business owner[00:03:30] Growing the adult residential care business [00:04:30] The benefits of working with a sibling[00:06:30] The commercial side of adult supported living[00:09:00] Exiting the business [00:16:00] What it’s like emotionally, post-sale[00:20:00] Why chose funeral care? And the other options…[00:25:00] Launching a funeral care business[00:35:00] Franchising as a solution to reduce barriers to entry[00:42:00] The differences launching a second business[00:47:00] How to get the right type of support as a business owner3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• The funeral industry has no real regulation• It is very difficult to articulate what 'good' is in funeral care• Franchising in funeral care is unusual3 BEST MOMENTS“We either needed to go national, or stop”“I did some volunteering but I wasn’t very good at it”“I did two MBAs whilst I was growing the business”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jones-fullcirclefunerals/Shout out tags: https://www.candidhr.co.uk/ https://www.mlaperformance.co.uk/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/daniel-priestley/

This week we speak to Nick Glynne, Founder & CEO of the BuyIt Direct Group..Nick tells us how he went from a single Huddersfield laptop repair shop to a £350m turnover business by buying and fixing distressed businesses. He shares with us how the learnings from two failed business acquisitions moulded the company’s strategy, the pros and cons of taking private equity and explains the difficulties caused by making too much profit. And what’s the difference between equity and profit?INTRODUCING NICK GLYNNENick Glynne is the CEO and Founder of Buy It Direct Group. Starting from a single computer repair shop in Huddersfield, the Buy it Direct Group is now a collection of product-based companies including one of the UK's largest independent online retailers. With 1,750 staff, £350m revenue, 1.5 million sq ft of warehousing across five UK sites, two showrooms, and a delivery network, the online business continues to rapidly expand.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:00:00] The start and early growth of Buyit Direct Group[00:06:30] Learnings from growth by acquisition[00:15:30] The acquisitions that didn’t work and learnings[00:21:00] How to fund acquisitions[00:24:00] Market sectors for Buyit and the company size[00:28:00] The ups and downs of Covid[00:38:30] No to Private Equity[00:40:00] Equity versus Profit[00:43:30] How to take investment in your business[00.48:00] Time to exit?3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• Don’t over-extend yourself from a risk point of view• Some times you have to sacrifice perfection to get things done• Recession makes you infinitely better as a business owner3 BEST MOMENTS“Is there more value in buying something than growing organically?”“One plus one doesn’t always equal 3 when acquiring another business”“The danger of Covid was that we were making tons of money”“Only one person owns the strategy, and that’s you the business owner”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.buyitdirectgroup.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickglynne/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEhttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jon-graves-pt1 https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jon-graves-pt2https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/david-richmond/ https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/howard-moss/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit. As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In...

Many people have asked for my business journey story, so this week the tables are turned and I’m the guest.You’ll hear how a failed angel investment pitch, turned into an accidental business launch, my ‘sliding doors’ moment, how the sale of the business came about and why you don’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’.The interview was originally broadcast on the Manager Memo Podcast hosted by Len Samborowski, Director MBA, Nichols College, Connecticut. We covered my business journey, looked at some of the learnings that I picked up along the way and touched on my work as a Business Sounding Board.INTRODUCING PHIL FRASERPrior to hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.He now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Chickens and punk…[00:02:00] From advertising agency to the new-fanged ‘internet’[00:04:30] Where did the online bingo idea come from?[00:06:00] The failed angel investment pitch[00:08:00] Turning down a ‘real job’ for the business opportunity[00:10:00] The motivation of fear in a start up[00:11:15] How the business sale came about[00:14:15] The legal difficulties of the deal[00:16:00] 18 years and no business plan[00:17:00] Hands on start-up owner to team manager[00:18:00] The ‘two week vacation’ test[00:20:20] Key lessons learnt during the business journey[00:23:00] The benefits of having no investment [00:23:50] It doesn’t need to be lonely at the top[00:26:50] Why I call myself a ‘Business Sounding Board’[00:29:30] My angel investment experience[00:31:00] The ‘PITA Patter’ problem solving process3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• If you can’t take a two week holiday without your laptop or phone, your business isn’t sellable• Success can come from a failure• Having no money makes you think creativelyVALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.philfraser.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philfraser DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review...

As a precursor to Series Two, I’ve selected what I think are 8 must-listen business learnings chosen from the 38 brilliant guests we’ve had so far. I could have picked way more as every guest that we’ve had on has been fascinating to listen to and learn from.Before we start, I have one simple request; Please hit the follow or subscribe button on the app that you're listening on. That’s it…. Thank you.8 MUST-HEAR BUSINESS LESSONS1) Daniel Priestley, explaining what you need in YOUR product eco-system.2) Nigel Botterill, from Entrepreneurs Circle, explaining a killer tip for effective use of your time.3) Jamie Bentley of Stephenson Personal Care with a painful but important business lesson.4) Carrie Rose, of Rise at 7, giving us a great 'how to' on personal brand.5) Zandra Moore, of Pan Intelligence, and a fantastic, cheap and effective sales lesson that you can use in your business6) Jon Graves of Northern Telecom, explaining to us a couple of key terms when it comes to buying loss-making businesses as part of a business growth strategy 7) Martin Wolstencroft, owner of Box, Banyan and Manahatta, giving us a great, conceptual way to evaluate our business ideas.8) Back to Daniel Priestley and a pitch structure that we can all use.I hope that you found my 8 picks interesting, inspiring and of use. Links to each episode are below if you want to hear more from any of these guests.To make sure you don’t miss any future episodes please subscribe to at Leeds Business Podcast.FULL EPISODEShttps://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/daniel-priestley/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/nigel-botterill/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jon-graves-pt1/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/jamie-bentley/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/carrie-rose-pt1/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/zandra-moore/https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/martin-wolstencroft/ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify,...

This week we speak to Simon Brown, founder of fashion and lifestyle brand, Joe Browns.Simons tells us where the inspiration for the brand came from, shares with us the business ups and the personal downs of Covid, being told that he was unemployable, the three ‘i’s the brand lives by and a great checklist for starting your own business. Rasputin and Ivan the Terrible get name checks too.INTRODUCING SIMON BROWNBorn in Leeds and raised in Bramhope. Simon Brown founded Joe Browns in 1998, inspired by a group of friends enjoying a beer in a beach bar called The Ty Coch Inn in Morfa Nefyn, North Wales25+years later, he’s the proud founder of Joe Browns, the Leeds based fashion and homeware brand centred around creating remarkable product. The brand is on a mission to make people feel great while injecting as much individuality and colour into as many wardrobes and homes as possible. Simon lives by the motto ‘Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride’ words you’ll see in lights in our White Rose Shopping Centre store, which opened on 2nd December 2023.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:00] Introducing Simon Brown and the route to Joe Browns[00:08:00] The source and essence of Joe Browns[00:11:20] The early days of the Joe Browns business[00:16:00] Raising investment and a change in strategy[00:20:00] Getting into third party catalogues and working with third parties[00:27:00] Why expand into ‘bricks & mortar’ stores[00:31:30] A trip to Russia…[00:34:00] How was Covid for Joe Browns and Simon Brown[00:39:00] Forward plan for Joe Browns[00:42:00] How does it feel bringing in staff ‘above’ the founder?[00:45:00] How to set up a business and what to consider[00:50:00] The importance of being remarkableKEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS• The power of silence; first one to speak loses the deal• Why borrow if you don’t have to borrow?• The easy solution isn’t always the right solution• Curiosity and creativity go hand-in-hand• Never ever give up• You have to understand the numbersBEST MOMENTS“When you stop enjoying something you have to move on“We’re not putting you on the books, you’re unemployable”“If we’d gone with that deal, we’d have been bankrupted“I want my stores to be interesting, intriguing, inspiring”VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUWebsite: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/Website: https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/ Shout out: https://www.theheroesjourney.com/ Negotiate to Close - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Negotiate-Close-Make-Successful-Deals/dp/0002176289Success is a choice - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Success-Choice-Make-Choices-Successful/dp/078523859X/DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal has two simple steps;1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ YOU MAY ALSO LIKEAs mentioned by Simon;https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/christine-yorath/