Episode #418 - Scaling Sustainability: The CheekyPanda Journey - with Chris Forbes
Release Date: 10/02/2024
Episode #432 - Navigating Hidden Organizational Dynamics - with Vanessa Pozzali of Synthosys
ScaleUp Radio
In this insightful episode of ScaleUp Radio, your host Kevin Brent is joined by Vanessa Pozzali, the co-founder of Synthosys, a consultancy that specialises in unlocking the hidden aspects of organisations, including culture, leadership, and building high-performance teams. Vanessa shares how Synthosys uses a unique "iceberg" model, focusing on the unseen yet critical elements that drive sustainable organisational success. Synthosys takes a deep dive into what she calls the 4C model, exploring collaboration, communication, clarity, and one crucial element she keeps under wraps! With this...
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Episode #431 - Supporting Artists Whilst Changing The Marketplace - with John Sewell
ScaleUp Radio
Supporting Artists Whilst Changing The Marketplace In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with John Sewell, founder of Cosimo, an innovative online marketplace designed to help early-career and emerging artists showcase and sell their work. With over 1,200 artists already on the platform, Cosimo aims to make art more accessible and affordable while supporting artists through e-learning resources and strategic partnerships. Key Discussion Points: Cosimo’s Unique Business Model Cosimo is designed to support artists in their early careers, offering free listings for artists with...
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Episode #430 - Standing Out And Diversifying In A Busy Marketplace - with Charlotte Giddings from Brownie and the Bean
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent speaks with Charlotte Giddings, founder of Brownie and the Bean, a business that started as a mobile café and has since grown into a multi-faceted company with a strong online presence. Charlotte takes us through her entrepreneurial journey, sharing the key decisions and challenges that have shaped the business since it launched in 2019. Episode Highlights: Business Evolution: Charlotte explains how Brownie and the Bean began as a mobile café in a horse trailer and pivoted during the pandemic to embrace e-commerce. They now operate across...
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Episode #429 - Thinking of The Micro, But Maintain Company Culture Across the Macro - with Abid Jafri
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Abid Jafri, the Director of AJ Sports, a family-run business specialising in cricket and hockey equipment with stores in the UK and UAE. Founded by Abid’s father in the 1980s, AJ Sports has grown into a thriving retail business with a strong focus on community engagement and increasing sports participation at the grassroots level. Throughout the discussion, Abid shares his insights on the challenges of scaling a family business, particularly in managing people and leadership development. He emphasises the importance of quick...
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Episode #428 - Payment Pioneers: How To Revolutionise Micro-Business Payments - with Roman Loban
ScaleUp Radio
Welcome to another episode of ScaleUp Radio! I’m your host, Granger Forson. You can learn more about my journey and mission at or connect with me on LinkedIn (). Today, we dive into the inspiring entrepreneurial saga of Roman Loban, the dynamic founder behind two innovative fintech companies, Xiva and FMPay. Both businesses aim to reshape how micro-businesses handle their financial transactions, with a special focus on inclusivity and local community support in Cheltenham. In this episode, Roman shares how he bootstrapped his way to fintech innovation, starting with FMPay and...
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Episode #427 - Navigating Business, Rowing Oceans, and Giving Back – The Inspiring Journey of Corrine Amos
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent sits down with the inspiring Corrine Amos, an entrepreneur with a passion for business, sustainability, and adventure. Corrine is the founder of two diverse businesses—Coco and Kiki, an ethical fashion brand, and Cut Loose London, a video production company. She also holds the remarkable achievement of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean as part of a winning all-female team. We explore Corrine's unique journey, from running two impactful businesses to surviving the physical and mental challenges of rowing 3,000 miles across the ocean. In her...
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Episode #426 - Turning A Nickname Into A Brand That Reflects Your Approach - with David Murray-Hundley from Pario Ventures
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by David Murray-Hundley, better known as The Grumpy Entrepreneur. David brings his candid insights on entrepreneurship, investing, and the challenges of scaling businesses, particularly in the UK. With years of experience as a successful investor and entrepreneur, David has a wealth of knowledge to share about what it takes to grow a startup in today's climate. During the conversation, David reflects on the unique challenges within the UK startup ecosystem, especially when compared to the more growth-focused US. He stresses the importance...
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Episode #425 - Taking On The Challenge Of Empowering Team Leaders - with Jaipal Naidu from Perse Technology
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Jaipal Naidu, the co-founder of Perse Technology, a company at the forefront of energy and carbon data infrastructure. They explore how Perse is enabling businesses to reduce costs and comply with regulatory requirements through access to critical energy and carbon data. Jaipal shares insights into Perse’s recent Series A funding round and their ambitious plans to scale into new sectors, including finance emissions and embodied carbon. He discusses the unique challenges that arise as a company scales, particularly when...
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Episode #424 - How a structured approach to recruitment helps with growth - with Mark Crane from Evolution Risk Group
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent sits down with Mark Crane, the founder of Evolution Risk Group and CEO of Coachd, to explore his entrepreneurial journey, dive deep into his sales strategies, and share insightful leadership lessons from his experience in building and scaling businesses. Mark is a dynamic leader who brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation, particularly around effective lead generation, hiring for startups, and leveraging technology to enhance business operations. Here are some key topics covered in the episode: Evolution Risk Group: Mark’s...
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Episode #423 - Scaling a Sports Academy with Passion and Purpose - with Reece Elbourn of Let's Leap Sports Academy
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we dive into the journey of Reece Elbourn, co-founder of Let's Leap Sports Academy, a business providing vital services like holiday camps, PE teachers, and wraparound care to schools across the UK. Since its inception in 2019, Let's Leap has grown from working with a single school to now partnering with over 30 schools nationally, employing more than 100 staff during peak periods. Reece takes us through the challenges of scaling a company in the education and sports industry, including: How they’ve built a rigorous hiring process to ensure quality staff...
info_outlineIn this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we are delighted to welcome Chris Forbes, the co-founder of CheekyPanda, a pioneering company in the bamboo tissue and hygiene products sector. Since its inception in 2016, CheekyPanda has grown from a visionary idea into a £15M revenue business with 35 employees and a presence in 10,000 UK stores. Join us as Chris shares the inspiring journey of CheekyPanda, highlighting the challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way.
The standout takeaway for me from this interview with Chris is his emphasis on resilience and adaptability as crucial factors for business success, especially in the face of unexpected challenges. Chris highlights the numerous obstacles Cheeky Panda has encountered, from currency fluctuations and Brexit to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain crises. Despite these challenges, Cheeky Panda has continued to grow and innovate, driven by a strong mission and strategic planning.
Key Discussion Points:
Business Overview:
CheekyPanda’s origin: Started in 2016 by Chris' wife with a mission to create sustainable, plastic-free products.
Achievements: £15M revenue, 35 employees, B Corp certified, and selling 1 toilet tissue every 2 seconds.
Scaling Challenges:
Initial struggles: Balancing operations, generating leads, and hiring the right people.
Advanced hurdles: Managing larger risks and developing an enterprise mindset.
The importance of resilience and agility to handle unexpected events.
Funding Journey:
Early financing: Using rewards and equity crowdfunding to fund working capital.
Success: Raised £500K in 4 weeks through crowdfunding, which showcased demand and facilitated retailer partnerships.
Current strategies: Accessing invoice financing and trade finance as a larger company.
Key Success Factors:
Taking calculated risks, such as removing plastic packaging.
Staying true to the core mission and purpose.
Prioritizing cultural fit over skills when hiring.
Learning from other entrepreneurs and leaders.
Make sure you don’t miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
For now, continue listening for the full story from Chris.
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Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Chris can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisforbes/
Resources:
Netsuite - https://system.netsuite.com/
Xero - https://login.xero.com/