Episode #451 - Scale Up Club Presentation - with Charlotte Melia from D & F Creative

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent is joined by Charlotte Melia, the inspiring founder of D&F Creative, to explore how she scaled her international events business across London, New York, and Riyadh. Charlotte shares her entrepreneurial journey, including her evolution from organising children's parties to delivering high-profile corporate events globally. She opens up about the challenges of scaling internationally, from managing cash flow to hiring senior leadership and balancing the demands of running a business as a single mother.

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, female founders, and anyone navigating international growth. Charlotte also shares valuable advice on building networks, refining pitches, and embracing bold decisions when scaling up.

1. D&F Creative’s Business Evolution:
   • Originated as a children’s party business before pivoting to corporate events
   • Expanded into corporate events, focusing on sports fan zones, internal communications, and brand activations.
   • Achieved international growth with offices in London, New York, and Riyadh, delivering results faster than expected, including three events in Riyadh within ten weeks.

1. Challenges of Scaling Internationally:

• Transitioning from upfront private event payments to 30-60 day corporate payment terms caused cash flow strain.
• Seasonal revenue fluctuations led to opening a Middle East office to bridge gaps in Q1 business.
• Hiring senior roles, such as a Financial Director and operations leads, to address leadership gaps.
• Balancing international travel demands while parenting a son with severe autism.

1. Advice for Female Founders:

• Build strong networks and learn from connections.
• Practice your elevator pitch through competitions to refine your message.
• Be bold in pursuing international opportunities and pivoting when needed.
• Surprisingly, the Saudi market has proven to be very supportive of women-owned businesses.

1. Sustainability Initiatives:

• Prioritising local supply chains in all regions.
• Vetting vendors based on sustainability credentials.
• Implementing a no single-use plastics policy worldwide.
• Investing profits into a biodegradable balloon research project with Imperial College London.

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For now, continue listening for the full story from Charlotte.

 

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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/

 

Charlotte can be found here:

linkedin.com/in/charlotte-melia-4553a296

https://dazzleandfizz.co.uk/

[e-mail]