Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ex-bartender, Matt Mahatme, launched Lixir Drinks with his childhood friend Jordan Palmer in 2018. They spotted a gap in the market for tonics and mixers that combined big flavours with less sugar, fewer calories and nothing artificial. Matt and Jordan are proud disruptors who wanted to create a brand with an edge and a contemporaryContinue reading “Start-up Story – Matt Mahatme of Lixir Drinks”

Some people ooze self-confidence. Others aren’t very self-confident at all. Most of us are probably somewhere in between. Often, it is the things that happen to us in life and business that damages our self-confidence. Why do some people lack self-confidence while others are supremely confident? How can you boost your self-confidence? Self-confidence and humanContinue reading “How to become more confident when running a small business”

Following a year of eye-watering inflation in 2022, especially energy prices, economic forecasts for the UK for 2023 make for sobering reading. According to the Bank of England, the UK is facing its longest recession since records began, while the UK Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects the UK economy to shrink by 1.4% inContinue reading “How to keep your business afloat when times are tough”

Time is the one thing that small-business owners don’t have enough of, with many having to work long hours. Those starting a new business often must work even longer hours to get their business off the ground and into profit. So, what’s the key to making best use of every minute of every day? WhatContinue reading “How to get more done each day”

More than 640,000 new businesses are started each year in the UK and most don’t grow much, they pretty much stay as one man/woman-band enterprises, which suits their owners. Others are more ambitious, they want to take on staff, win more customers, expand their operation, grow their business and take it to new heights. ButContinue reading “How to grow your new small business”

The best start-up advice usually comes from the best-placed experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and done it. In this episode, we speak to Surlender Pendress, co-founder of Love Writing Co, which is based in the West Midlands. Love Writing Co sells innovative writing pencils, erasable colour pencils and washable crayons developedContinue reading “Start-up story – Surlender Pendress of Love Writing Co”

Instagram is the world’s seventh most-visited website. Some 1.22bn people use Instagram each month, with 18 to 34-year-olds making up the biggest share of Instagram’s audience. About 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business, and reportedly, half of its users have discovered new brands via Instagram. When you get it right, Instagram canContinue reading “How to use Instagram to grow your small business”

Making sure that you have the right IT can enable your new business to quickly get established and grow. If you don’t have the right hardware and software – it will hold you back. In this episode, we speak to leading small-business technology expert, Richard Hillsdon, of Caerphilly-based IT consultancy Tekeez, which provides IT systems,Continue reading “Get the right tech for your new business”

The best start-up advice usually comes from those who’ve been there and done it. In this start-up story episode, we speak to Troy Johnson, co-founder of Sweet Dee’s Jerk (Juici Jerk at the time of recording), an award-winning Caribbean food brand, kitchen and meal-kit maker, which is based in Tooting, South London. Sweet Dee’s JerkContinue reading “Start-up Story – Troy Johnson of Sweet Dee’s Jerk”

Offering superior customer service is a proven way that small businesses can be more attractive to customers and lure them away from larger and more established competitors. But any commitment to offering superior customer service must be firm and consistent throughout your business. In this episode, we speak to leading customer service expert Stephanie EdwardsContinue reading “How to provide excellent customer service”