Episode #418 - Scaling Sustainability: The CheekyPanda Journey - with Chris Forbes
Release Date: 10/02/2024
Episode #441 - Scaling with Values and Vision – Creating a High-Performance Culture - with Steve Rawlingson from Samuel Knight Group
ScaleUp Radio
In this special episode of ScaleUp Radio, we’re joined by Steve Rawlingson, a returning guest and the founder of Samuel Knight Group. With a remarkable scale-up journey under his belt, Steve shares insights on building a scalable team, maintaining a high-performance culture, and staying focused on strategic goals. Samuel Knight Group, a global recruitment company specialising in the renewable energy sector, has achieved impressive milestones, including £35 million in sales in 2023 and the potential to reach £1 billion+ within five years. From hiring strategies to leadership approaches,...
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Episode #440 - Ensuring Fairness In A Competitive World - with Jeremy Stern from PromoVeritas
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with Jeremy Stern, the founder of PromoVeritas, a promotional compliance specialist that has grown from a one-person operation into a global leader with a team of 50 and operations spanning 88 countries. PromoVeritas ensures that promotions, competitions, and prize draws run by some of the world’s biggest brands—like Cadbury, Pringles, and Amazon—are legal, fair, and effective. Jeremy shares the story of his entrepreneurial journey, from founding the business 20 years ago after being fired from Sega to recently transitioning the...
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Episode #439 - Building A Successful Canine Online Presence, Which Isn’t To Be Sniffed At - with Stephnie Gribble from Canine Collection
ScaleUp Radio
Hi there and welcome to another inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast designed to make navigating the ScaleUp journey a little easier by learning from the experiences of others. This week, I’m joined by Stephnie Gribble, founder and owner of Canine Collection, an innovative online dog store launched in January 2024. Stephnie has achieved remarkable growth in less than a year, combining eco-conscious values with an eye for modern marketing strategies. In this episode, we’ll dive into the fascinating story behind Canine Collection, explore the challenges Stephnie has...
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Episode #438 - Thinking Big For Growth; Going From The Street To A Full Content Agency - with Inge Hunter from Clue Content
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Inge Hunter, founder of Clue Content, a fast-growing content marketing agency blending video production, social media management, and data analytics. Inge shares the innovative ways Clue Content is helping scale-ups harness the power of organic social media through a data-driven, cost-effective approach. From her entrepreneurial roots to her vision of democratising social media marketing, Inge offers insight into both her business philosophy and her impressive growth strategies. Key Takeaways: Unique Business Model: Clue Content...
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Episode #437 - Redefining the Art World: How To Empower Artists Without Gallery Representation - with Kate Enters from ArtCan
ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Kate Enters, the dynamic founder of ArtCan, a non-profit arts organisation designed to help artists find their voice and showcase their work beyond the traditional gallery system. Kate shares the remarkable story of ArtCan’s origins, its unconventional non-profit model, and the community it has built for artists seeking exhibition opportunities without gallery representation. With over 600 artists involved from 25+ countries, ArtCan has grown into a global community for artists, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment...
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Episode #436 - Marketing the Future: AI, Marketing, and Agile Growth - with David Sloly
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I'm Granger Forson, and you can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com). In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, I’m joined by David Sloly, co-owner of HarveyDavid, a technology-driven B2B marketing agency. Over the past 11 years, David has built a unique agency that combines tech, content, and AI to transform how clients engage their markets. We discuss the unplanned approach to growth that’s at the heart of his entrepreneurial philosophy—starting small, iterating quickly, and focusing on action...
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Episode #435 - From Pop-Ups to Multi-City Restaurants: Scaling Restaurants with Passion and Precision - with Dorian Kirk
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson, business coach and host of ScaleUp Radio. You can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, I’m joined by Dorian Kirk, founder of Art Hospitality, whose restaurant group journey has transformed from humble pop-up beginnings to a powerhouse of chef-led concepts across multiple cities. Dorian’s experience in the industry—starting at the age of 14 as a dishwasher—has nurtured a deep-rooted passion for culinary innovation and authentic leadership. Dorian shares how he and his brother...
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Episode #434 - ScaleUp Club - Where Are You On Your Scaling Up Journey - with Jame James from Little Voices
ScaleUp Radio
In this ScaleUp Club Q&A episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with Jane James, the founder of Little Voices, a company she started 17 years ago to help children find confidence through drama and singing. What began as a single location has grown into a successful network of over 30 franchisees, positively impacting the lives of more than 100,000 children. In this episode, Jane shares the pivotal moments and challenges she faced while scaling Little Voices and answers questions posed to her by members of our ScaleUp Club audience. Some of the key topics discussed include: The early...
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Episode #433 - Automation & AI: The Future of Business with Data Cubed - with Helen Tanner
ScaleUp Radio
Welcome to another insightful episode of ScaleUp Radio, hosted by Granger Forson! You can find me at [www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk](http://www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating journey of Helen Tanner, the founder of Data3, a data AI consultancy that’s been transforming businesses for over seven years. DataCUBE helps organisations untangle their data and unlock powerful insights, paving the way for leaner, more efficient operations. Helen shares how DataCUBE pivoted from a traditional setup to an ultra-lean...
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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...
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.
Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.
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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/