The Busi-Ness Podcast with Emily Austen

Pip Durell is a former Vogue stylist and Tatler editor, starting her own label, With Nothing Underneath, to create the perfect shirt after finding herself adjusting men's tailoring for her own use. We chatted extensively about not being cool kids, early experience, how Pip learnt her talents, hard graft and working in an actual cupboard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcia Kilgore is a serial entrepreneur. She sold her first business LVMH in 2004 for a rumoured £25 million. Next up was Soap & Glory, which she sold to Boots in 2014 with over £100 million in revenue. Soaper Duper and Fitflop are globally successful businesses. Marcia’s latest mission, is Netflix for Beauty, and she wants you to have a piece of the Beauty Pie. It’s the first business Marcia has raised money for (over £100 million), and she chatted candidly with me about her extensive business journey. We talked about her obsession with customer experience, work life balance, and her secret sauce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conna Walker is the real deal. She started her now multi million pound brand as a teenager, and now, over a decade later, House of CB is one of the most successful online retailers in this space. Conna, splitting her time between London and LA, spoke candidly with me about how she's launched the iconic affordable luxury brand, with collections loved by Beyonce, J-Lo and Kylie Jenner, to name but a few. With millions of followers on social media and having been voted Forbes 30 under 30, Conna chatted to me about the launches that didn't work, how to keep company culture alive when you're scaling quickly, how her family shaped her business journey, and her thoughts on a company exit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgie Coleridge Cole founded Sheerluxe in 2007. As a lifestyle and fashion content platform, Sheerluxe has amassed a dedicated readership, most recently sending the brand viral on Tik Tok. It's accessible, aspirational and relatable advice and content has resonated with young people, and Georgie talks openly about her business journey. How she started, how it has had to evolve, what she looks for when hiring, and where she's made mistakes. Sheerluxe is a sensation, and Georgie is steering the ship. Tune in to hear more about her musings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Albert Hill and Matt Gibbert founded their hugely successful business, The Modern House, in 2008. The Modern House is a British estate agent that specialises in the sale and promotion of Modernist and 20th century architecture. We chatted about the challenges of keeping a brand relevant in the quest for long term business success, focused on hiring and how it can make or break a business, and how emotional intelligence is at the heart of their decision making. A hugely insightful and honest episode relevant for both those within the industry, and those who are not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eva Alexandridis founded 111 Skin with her husband, the hugely successful Dr Yannis. The brand started as a solution for aftercare for patients who had undergone surgical procedures. With a BA in International Business + a Masters, learning and travelling shaped Eva's world view. 111 Skin has grown to become a huge global brand. In over 85 luxury hotel spas, a list of enviable celebrities that swear by the product, including Olivia Palermo, Ashley Graham, Rosie Huntington-Whitely to Priyanka Chopra, Bella Hadid and Margot Robbie and a viral sheet mask, Eva has made the brand a household name, in a difficult market to crack. In this candid chat, Eva shares with me the reality of her business journey, the highs and lows and what she would do differently with what she knows now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Harper’s Bazaar commissioned Emily to write a piece about how the the Spring 2023 Budget will affect entrepreneurs and business owners in the UK. As a cause close to her heart, Emily jumped at the opportunity and has recorded a special podcast episode, reading in full the published article, that can be found below: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/people-parties/bazaar-at-work/a43334748/spring-budget-entrepreneurs-start-ups/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Warne, CEO and founder of Sessions. Prior to Sessions, Dan was the Managing Director at Deliveroo, an app you’ve probably heard of. He was part of the business during a time of exponential growth, ultimately leading to IPO, which was met with mixed reviews. We talked a lot about growing and scaling businesses, and what happens when you realise that the dream job you’re so invested in, isn’t going to work for you in the long-term. He’s now running an amazing company, Sessions, which aims to lower the barriers to entry and is streamline the processes for restaurants and more importantly, the hospitality industry. Sessions is democratising the restaurant industry, which has taken such a battering in the last few years. Dan has a wealth of knowledge and insights into the industry. I hope you enjoy this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! I’m thrilled this week to bring you a really interesting, honest podcast with my friend Namrata, the founder of cult skincare brand, Plenaire. You’ve probably seen Plenaire all over your Instagram feeds and popping up in a variety of amazing retailers across the UK. Whilst it’s an incredibly exciting time for businesses like Plenaire, it is absolutely not without its challenges. Namrata and I had an incredibly candid chat about where she is this week and in her business cycle. With an amazing career behind her and an amazing career ahead, we discussed some of the challenges she faces day-to-day; mentally, physically, emotionally. We also had a really accurate and honest look at the market and its performance. We looked at what it means to run a startup in these uncertain times. It’s such an important episode for anyone who’s starting to run a business and I really hope you can connect a little and realise that you’re absolutely not alone! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! In this week’s episode, I speak with Amy Liu, founder and CEO of clean beauty brand, Tower 28 Beauty. Whilst growing up, Amy had suffered with severe eczema and struggled to find products that worked for her. After several years working in the beauty industry, Amy set out to create products that worked for her and launched Tower 28 Beauty. We spoke about entering a highly saturated marketplace and the issues surrounding regulations in the beauty industry. We discussed building a brand around inclusivity and whether her founder journey had been influenced by stereotypes and the glorification of entrepreneurship. Amy also spoke candidly about creating a product for everyone and the fear of becoming a fad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! Today, I chatted with Will Sandbach and Abbie Roden, co-founders of D2C wine brand, Amie Wine. Amie was born in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the brainchild of Abbie, a marketer and photographer, and Will, who’d recently left his previous job as a director in the wine business. Launching the business in the June of the first lockdown, the pair seized the moment, tapping into the rosé market with a cool and more affordable direct-to-consumer brand that delivered straight to their customer’s doors. The lockdown project took off, thanks to wild support across social media. We spoke about the influence of social media on their brand and the advantages and disadvantages of growing a business and community on Instagram. We also discussed penetrating a very traditional industry and overcoming snobbery in the wine industry. I hope you’ve got a glass of wine and you enjoy listening to this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! Haeni Kim, founder of cult clothing brand KITRI, began her business journey in luxury fashion. Stemming from a desire to create lifelong, unique pieces, Haeni launched KITRI in 2017, bridging the gap between high street and hero pieces that don't put you out of pocket. Five years later, the brand has had an army of KITRI girls. The brand is a firm favourite of celebrities and Instagram stars, with the 2 hugely successful collaborations with Jessie Bush under its belt. Expect bright colours, bold prints and pieces you'll want to wear forever. Haeni and I covered a number of topics, including the standards we set for women through social media, why it's impossible to have a good relationship with online platforms, the challenges facing women in their entrepreneurial journeys, why competition can be bad for our mental health and why we have to be disciplined about where our focus lies. We talked about how KITRI is tackling some of the sustainability challenges that face the sector, the fear of greenwashing and whether founders should be afraid of call-out culture. KITRI is really setting the tone for the future of fashion brands and buying better and I really hope you enjoy listening to this business story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! This week, on the podcast, I’m really excited to bring you a very special episode, with a friend and an old client of mine, Julian Hearn, founder of Huel. Julian started Huel six years ago, following two previous businesses; one successful, the other, not so, but the latter led to the launch of Huel. He talked to me really openly about his business journey, the sacrifices he’s had to make and the original plan for Huel. He danced around the subject of the business IPOing this year, but either way, they have announced that they’ve done over £100million in revenue. This is an extraordinary achievement for a business that’s hardly raised any money and Julian still has a huge amount of the equity of the business. You’ll see the brand everywhere, from social media to t-shirts and the culture of the business is so special. Julian is an incredibly impressive, thoughtful and kind man, with so many exciting new thoughts and ideas. I really hope you enjoy this special episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Busi-ness Podcast! Today’s episode was recorded live in London, at the Hoxton in Southwark, with LG Gram, an amazing part of the LG business, who I’ve been working with as part of their Hustle Hub, a Facebook community where entrepreneurs can come together to chat and share stories and advice. I’ve been really lucky to be working with them this year and as a part of this work, I was fortunate enough to record this very special episode live with Tommy Mallet, founder of Mallet London. You may know Tommy from his role on reality show, TOWIE, but Tommy and I sat down to discuss his incredible apparel brand, which is now worth over £10million, with stores all over the UK and global expansion well underway. Tommy was recently named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. His business journey is far from normal and it was incredibly fascinating to hear him talk about his drive and how he created the business. He talked to me about how disappointed he was with how he was represented on TOWIE and how he thought he’d be an instant success on the show. He talks openly about finding the balance between his family and his business and managing relationships both in person and online. He’s got an insatiable drive for success and spoke openly about what happened when he became a millionaire, his mental health, his family and the tensions that many entrepreneurs feel. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Busi-ness Podcast. Today I am joined by Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder & CEO of what3words. With a background in the music industry, Chris noticed that traditional addresses for venues and precise stage doors or loading bays were not accurate enough. As a result, he set out to make a simpler version of addresses using just three words…meet what3words. Working with co-founders comes with swings and roundabouts but Chris explains how his team had an ideal natural balance, with everyone responsible for their separate areas of business. Faced with a unique proposition, Chris unusually felt he wasn’t faced with direct competitors. Instead, Chris spent his time understanding what his consumers currently use and how he can simplify this. Partnering with large companies such as Lamborghini is an essential part of what3words’ strategy. It’s evident that even though not everyone owns a Lamborghini, consideration, awareness, and credibility can be built through strategic partnerships. Focusing on the entire world, Chris and his co-founders faced a huge challenge during targeting. Receiving lots of opinion on where to direct the business, the team identified a combination of these which worked for them. Having never fundraised previously, Chris explains that there’s no written playbook and talks through just some examples of funding which may be suitable for some businesses. There’s a lot to learn from such an industry changing business in a unique space. I hope you enjoy this episode of The Busi-ness Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Busi-ness Podcast. Today I am joined by Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder & CEO of what3words. With a background in the music industry, Chris noticed that traditional addresses for venues and precise stage doors or loading bays were not accurate enough. As a result, he set out to make a simpler version of addresses using just three words…meet what3words. Working with co-founders comes with swings and roundabouts but Chris explains how his team had an ideal natural balance, with everyone responsible for their separate areas of business. Faced with a unique proposition, Chris unusually felt he wasn’t faced with direct competitors. Instead, Chris spent his time understanding what his consumers currently use and how he can simplify this. Partnering with large companies such as Lamborghini is an essential part of what3words’ strategy. It’s evident that even though not everyone owns a Lamborghini, consideration, awareness, and credibility can be built through strategic partnerships. Focusing on the entire world, Chris and his co-founders faced a huge challenge during targeting. Receiving lots of opinion on where to direct the business, the team identified a combination of these which worked for them. Having never fundraised previously, Chris explains that there’s no written playbook and talks through just some examples of funding which may be suitable for some businesses. There’s a lot to learn from such an industry changing business in a unique space. I hope you enjoy this episode of The Busi-ness Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the The Busi-ness Podcast. Today I am joined by Amanda Harrington, founder of InParlour and Amanda Harrington London. Driven by skin cancer running in her family, Amanda’s mission is to provide an alternative and safe means to tanning. Stretched, overworked and exhausted from balancing mum-life combined with flying around the world to spray tan VIPs, contemporaries encouraged Amanda to bring out her own line of products to increase her reach… meet Amanda Harrington London. Eight years in the making, Amanda discusses the unmentioned length of time that launching a business can take, including the two years that it took to get out of her at-the-time role in InParlour. Finding a reliable manufacturer who believes in what you do is a long-road. Amanda likens the search to finding a life-partner and emphasises the importance in this. She explains this was just a tiny part of the big switch from a service-based business to product. Aiming to stand out, Amanda explains how applying a different technique to mainstream brands allowed her to build a desirable brand with results of consumers raving about her products. Slowed-down supplied chains, forced to shut InParlour and faced with huge challenges, Amanda explains how she turned around the pandemic to work in her favour despite setbacks. I learnt a lot speaking to Amanda and I hope you will to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the The Busi-ness Podcast. Today I am joined by Amanda Harrington, founder of InParlour and Amanda Harrington London. Driven by skin cancer running in her family, Amanda’s mission is to provide an alternative and safe means to tanning. Stretched, overworked and exhausted from balancing mum-life combined with flying around the world to spray tan VIPs, contemporaries encouraged Amanda to bring out her own line of products to increase her reach… meet Amanda Harrington London. Eight years in the making, Amanda discusses the unmentioned length of time that launching a business can take, including the two years that it took to get out of her at-the-time role in InParlour. Finding a reliable manufacturer who believes in what you do is a long-road. Amanda likens the search to finding a life-partner and emphasises the importance in this. She explains this was just a tiny part of the big switch from a service-based business to product. Aiming to stand out, Amanda explains how applying a different technique to mainstream brands allowed her to build a desirable brand with results of consumers raving about her products. Slowed-down supplied chains, forced to shut InParlour and faced with huge challenges, Amanda explains how she turned around the pandemic to work in her favour despite setbacks. I learnt a lot speaking to Amanda and I hope you will to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.