The dream of any small business must be to get their products stocked by renowned high-street retailers. But, as anyone will tell you, reaching the right buyers and convincing them to sell your products is far from easy. In this fascinating start-up story, we speak to Greg Fraser, founder of The Bottled Baking Co which creates ready-measured, bottled baking mixes in a wide range of mouth-watering flavours. The bottles contain all the dry ingredients you need to create delicious cookies, cakes, brownies and tray bakes.
You might have come across Greg’s products already – they are stocked in many high street shops including John Lewis, Selfridges, Fenwick, New Look and Oliver Bonas as well as a wide range of smaller independent retailers here in the UK.
In this episode, we discuss how Greg came up with the idea for the business, the key challenges he faced and how he managed to get so many top retail brands to stock his products. Greg also shares some key lessons he has learned along the way.
How I started The Bottled Baking Co – show notes
Finding suppliers
- Essential guide to selecting and negotiating with suppliers
- Essential guide to sourcing green suppliers and equipment
Negotiating contracts
- Q&A: Supplier contracts
- Essential guide to understanding key contracts and trading laws
- Getting paid – trading terms
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- How we started selling online
Case studies
- How I sold my invention through large retailers
- How I landed a big business customer
- How I began selling my products through supermarkets
Networking with other businesses
- Join the Donut Small Business Collective
- How small business owners can gain from peer support groups [podcast episode]
- Essential guide to accessing knowledge and networks
- Essential guide to sources of support for start ups
- Work with a small business mentor
Trade shows
- How we used exhibitions to sell our products and services
- 30 tips and insights for a successful exhibition
Business planning
- How to create a brilliant business plan for your small business [podcast episode]
- Essential guide to writing a business plan
- Quality business plans made easy – try for free
Protecting your wellbeing
- Protect your wellbeing as a small business manager [podcast episode]
- How to deal with stress and set backs [podcast episode]
- Smart ways to improve your work-life balance
- Ten ways to cope with a demanding workload
Naming your business
- How to create a winning brand and business name [podcast episode]
- Business names
- Choosing a business name: FAQs
About our expert Greg Fraser
Greg Fraser is founder of The Bottled Baking Co, which has been creating ready-measured, bottled baking mixes since 2016. The business was born out of a love for high-quality family baking and Greg developed the idea and every single recipe in his kitchen. Products are still handmade in Yorkshire using high-quality ingredients and are packed in their signature reusable glass bottles.
Now stocked in 100s of independent retailers across the UK from farm shops, delis, garden centres and gift shops through to a select range available at John Lewis, Selfridges, Fenwick, New Look, Oliver Bonas and more.
Visit the The Bottled Baking Co website
Find The Bottled Baking Co on Facebook
Follow The Bottled Baking Co on Instagram
Find out how to enter Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday competition
What next?
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