Now, that’s what I call Business.

This week we have two people in the podcast chairs today, Rosa and Margo Flanagan from The Two Raw Sisters.

You may have come across their books, app or their enormous presence on social media.

Their whole thing is about making food fun again, whilst still being good for you.

They are amazing business women and have so many lessons to share about building a business, collaborating with partners and so much more.

 In this episode they share:

 -       The ways that eating wrong and diet culture can really affect our moods

-       How they first started their business

-       What made them decide on a 'plant first' philosophy

-       How they made the business work despite not actually getting along previously

-       How they manage deciding how much personal stuff to post online

-       Their experiences releasing books and why it's their favourite thing to do

-     The marketing tactics they used to sell 800 books in one day.

 Key Quotes

 “I think being flexible within your business and accepting your failures and learning from that is really key.”

 “There’s a point where you need to draw the line and people don’t need to know every single thing you’re doing.”

 “All of our failures have led to sitting back and thinking, ok that didn’t work let’s try this. And more often than not that thing is the thing that is a success.”

 More information:

This episode is all about sustainable business and how you can inject sustainability into your business every day.

The thing is, sustainability is confusing as fuck and a survey I read recently said that 85% of business owners want to be more sustainable but have no idea where to start.

So if you are unsure where to even begin, why not start with this podcast episode.

We’ll be going through 10, easy, baby steps to get you started on bringing a little bit of sustainability into your business.

In this episode I share:

 -       The surprisingly high number of business owners who don't know how to start injecting sustainability into their business

-       What the hell business sustainability actually is

-       How to do carbon measurement and offsetting for your business

-       Things to look out for if using an offsetting company

-       Why tree planting is not really offsetting

-       Why your business should go paperless

-       Easy ways to automate turning off devices and power in your business

-       Why shipping products is actually not as sustainable as you might think

-       Some sustainable ways you can ship products

-       Examples of disposable office supplies that you can get sustainable versions of

-       Why you should be measuring your office waste

-       How to do an office compost

-       Why you should probably not make business merch

-       How to focus on cutting down unnecessary purchases and expenses

-       Ways you can minimise the impact of your business travel

-       The people based policy you must have in place in your business

-      The next stage after doing these 10 steps

 Key Quotes

“No business is truly sustainable because so much of what we do is out of our hands.”

“Offsetting is not a silver bullet but it is an excellent first step.”

“How many times have you driven through the CBD and you can see all these offices with their lights still on.”

More information: I referenced a study by NZ Post that compares different shipping materials and shows what is best. You can find that here: https://www.nzpost.co.nz/sites/nz/files/2021-10/nzpost-courier-bag-lca-report.pdf

You can get involved with the podcast online

This week I am talking to the incredible Brooke from Sharesies, a platform that is changing the investment game.

I first met the sharesies crew in 2017 in my very first angel investment pitch and I was blown away by how lovely they all were, and what a good (and simple) idea Sharesies was.

Their mission is all about creating financial empowerment for everybody and Brooke has done this as one of six co-leaders which is unusual, but super effective.

 In this episode Brooke shares:

-       How Sharesies started

-       How they worked to bring on share holders who share a similar vision to them

-       How they get their core info across to the consumer without being overwhelming

-       The conversation she and the founders had about setting up the vibe and culture at their company

-       The importance of sharing your idea

-       How to use the B Corp certification to find the weaknesses in your business

-       Her number one tip to someone starting a mission driven business

 Key Quotes

 “You don't have to be perfect from day one.”

 “When we've brought shareholders on board we've been interviewing them too.”

More information:

Today we’re talking about the infuriating world of investment and shining a light on women in business in honour of International Women’s day.

Despite the fact that statistics show just how successful women led business can be, investment in them is pitifully low and if we don’t change the status quo, that is probably not going to change.

This is not an anti men episode, or an ‘us vs them’ discussion it is just sharing what studies have found about the under representation and support of women led businesses.

In this episode I share:

-       The disappointing requests I received for international women’s day

-       A horrendous statistic that shows how little investment there is in women led businesses

-       How women are disadvantaged by industry preferences

-       How women are disadvantaged by bias

-       The benefits of investing in women led companies

-       The shocking way that businesses who receive support from women targeted funds are treated afterwards

-       My advice to women on how to combat the problem of bias

-       How to be good at pitching

-       How we can all work to help change the status quo

-       The importance of mentoring

Key Quotes

“Plenty of research has shown that identical business pitches are received way more favourably when they are delivered by men than when they are by women.”

“The underinvestment in women led start ups is not a reflection of their potential or their performance but a systemic issue rooted in bias and weird outdated perceptions.”

“If you can explain your pitch to a 5 year old and they can tell you what your business does, job done, you've nailed it.”

More information:

You can find the Harvard study I mentioned about identical business pitches still giving preference to men here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1321202111

Failure. Yes, the beloved F word, well it’s not my beloved f word, I think we all know I have another favourite F word. Most businesses fail though, in fact it’s a common statistic that 65% of businesses will collapse in their first decade. While that may seem grim but I do think that failure to try something is a far greater failure than trying and failing.

But there are 5 very specific reasons behind why most businesses fail, and if you don’t know what they are, today we’ll be covering them and also how to combat them.

In this episode I share:

-       The many different ways that money and money mindset can cause a business to fail

-       My personal example of how starting Ethique was hard when money wasn’t my focus

-       The options for those who need money for the business

-       Why poor financial management is worst for business than insufficient capital

-       Why a business can fail just because no one wants what you are selling

-       The reason customer service is so important even if it costs more

-       The importance of setting customer service expectations with your team

-       How bad customer service creates 'switchers' customers who drive your costs down

-       Why having the wrong team and ineffective leadership can cause a business to fail

-       The importance of having a strategy

-       Why sticking to a strategy at all times is also a bad idea

 Key Quotes

 “Having a plan does not mean riding that plan all the way down to the ground.”

 “You're not selling a product, you're solving a problem.”

 “We all know the customer is not right all the time or even half the time but suck it up buttercup.”

 “Yes as the leader you can learn from those people you are leading.”

“15 years ago I hated planning and I loved the fact I was also spontaneous, I thought it made me fun. What it did was make me unproductive.”

More information:

Today we’re talking about Personal Brands. Some people will say you need a personal brand but a better way of putting this is probably to say that you ‘need to control’ your personal brand and you might even want to grow it. The relationship between your personal brand and your business is complicated and intricate and, well, confusing. But the more you understand it the better you’ll be able to utilise it and help grow your business. So that’s what this episode is all about.

In this episode I share:

-       What exactly is a personal brand

-       The benefits of a personal brand

-       How a personal brand helps with networking

-       Why personal branding is about authenticity

-       How it can give you a competitive advantage

-       The disadvantages of a personal brand

-       The importance of setting boundaries with you and your personal brand

-       Why it can be hard to exit a business that is built around a personal brand

-       How to start creating a personal brand

-       How to use strategy to plan your personal brand

-       Why your values are important to figuring out your brand

-       The best ways to get to know your audience better

-       How to best go about setting up your online presence

-       What is thought leadership and why you should consider using it

-       The difficulty of balancing business and personal brand

-       Two things to consider when building a personal brand

 Key Quotes

 “You are showing the good and the bad as you, not who you think you ought to be.”

 “To stand out you have to stand for something and yes that means some people won't like you. Spoiler alert, they already don't.”

 “Posting once a day is genuinely difficult, don't aim for that.”

 More information:

Today we are mixing things up and instead of sharing my own thoughts, we are joined by Oscar McMahon the cofounder of Young Henry’s. Besides being a wildly successful, trail brazing brewing company, they are also known for their commitment to sustainability and community. They have set the benchmark in the industry for environmental consciousness, integrating eco friendly practices at every aspect of their business. They are a stand out brand and have done amazing things with their business.

In this episode Oscar shares:

•    How they have embedded their brand so that consumers get the Young Henry's experience form every touch point

• How they managed to ensure that everyone working for them was on the same page

• The interesting values exercise they do with every new team member

• What sustainability means to him

• What Young Henry’s does to be environmentally sustainable

• The exciting project they are working on with algae

•  How they choose what sustainable challenges to tackle next

• What has been their most successful marketing tactics

• What has been the most challenging moment for YH

•  The drastic steps he takes to ensure a family life and work life balance

•  His number 1 tip for someone who wants to start an ethically driven business

 Key Quotes

“You can give your existing customers value from being a values based business”

“I think collaboration has been the most important thing we have done”

“My to do list has never been complete in 12 years. I assume that my to do list tomorrow is not going to be completed either. So guess what, it's 5oclock, I'm not answering your call.”

 More information:

I am just back from my trip to the UK for Incrediballs, and I have updates! Also, on this episode of 'Now, That's What I Call Business' we're talking how to grow your business faster, and more profitably. But maybe not in the way you think. Think ethical practices and profits don't mix? Prepare to have your mind changed!

Join me as we delve into compelling data from The Wharton School, McKinsey, and others. I'm breaking down hard facts and studies, proving that sustainable and ethical business isn't just a 'nice-to-have'; it's a powerful driver for increasing product sales.

In this episode, we explore how businesses embracing ESG principles are not only doing the right thing but are also seeing tangible financial benefits. It’s time to debunk the myth that being environmentally and socially responsible means sacrificing profitability.

Find us online:

In our fourth episode of Biz Bites, I'm joined by Kendall Flutey, the dynamic co-founder of Banqer, an innovative platform revolutionizing financial education for the younger generation. I don't know about you, but I learned nothing about money growing up... Kendall is working to change that! We chatted the essentials of instilling financial literacy in young people, the journey of overcoming startup hurdles, and the art of cultivating a purpose-driven business. Kendall is well known for her groundbreaking work in financial education and I'm so delighted she has shared her unique insights and strategies with me.

Our Biz Bites segment showcases trailblazing entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact with their ventures, focusing on their areas of expertise that can help you build your business.

Expect no long introductions or unnecessary filler (well, not much), just straight-to-the-point, valuable insights designed to help you grow!

Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey with Ethique and Incrediballs has been a whirlwind of triumphs, stumbles, and invaluable lessons. This is an honest (and deeper than expected) chat about founder well-being and mental health. Throughout this episode, the curtain is drawn back on my personal pathways of establishing boundaries, fostering resilience, and forming supportive networks, revealing that prioritizing mental health isn’t merely a personal benefit, but a fundamental pillar for business success and sustainability too. Because if you're burned out, or simply not feeling your best, you can't do your best for your business. Find us online:

Brianne:

www.briannewest.com

In today's episode, I, Brianne West, will take you on a journey exploring the critical role that community building plays in mission-driven businesses—and really, any business at all (and damn it's hard to build one!). Understand why a vibrant community is not just another marketing tactic but stands as the very foundation of successful ventures. We'll discuss how it can amplify customer engagement and even enhance investment opportunities, drawing from real-life examples like Incrediballs, Girls that Invest, Mecca, and Gymshark. Join me to gain practical advice on fostering an enthusiastic and dedicated community that can elevate your mission-driven business to unparalleled success.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

Welcome to the intricate world of product testing in this week's episode of 'Now, That's What I Call Business.' I, Brianne West, will give you a behind-the-scenes look at Incrediballs' flavour evolution and share essential insights that can benefit any business. Discover the advantages and drawbacks of focus groups, understand the nuances between soft and hard launches, and learn why paying customers are your most valuable resource for feedback. Whether you're in food, tech, or any other sector, this episode promises to arm you with the knowledge to pave your path to success.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

This week, I'm pulling back the curtain on the top 5 myths surrounding entrepreneurship. Dive in with me, Brianne, as we debunk common misconceptions like the need for massive capital, the idea of 'going it alone,' and the myth of instant success. I'll share personal stories from my journey with Ethique and give you updates on what's new with Incrediballs, including an exciting award I've recently snagged. Plus, I'll share insights from the Icehouse Ventures Showcase event and give you a chance to chip in for the Incrediballs slogan competition. Tune in for an authentic glimpse into the world of startups, peppered with my own hard-won insights and hands-on advice.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

In this episode, I'll (hi, I'm Brianne) chat about the complexities of startup investment, sharing insights from my journey with Ethique and looking ahead to what's in store for Incrediballs. Let's delve into why certain businesses go after investment while it might not be the right fit for others. I'll walk you through diverse funding paths like angel investing, venture capital, and equity crowdfunding, helping you chart your way through the maze of investment choices. Tune in to gain valuable advice and understand the potential pitfalls as you contemplate this pivotal business move.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

Dive into the world of branding with me! In this episode, I'm peeling back the layers to uncover the essence of what truly makes a brand shine in today's crowded marketplace. I'll tackle the common misconceptions about branding and give you a glimpse into real-world examples of unique brand propositions from my own experiences in building brands with purpose. But wait, there's more! Together, we'll dive into a concise branding exercise that might just change how you view your brand's foundational values. Whether you're on the brink of launching your own brand or you're simply fascinated by the magic of compelling storytelling, this episode is chock-full of practical insights to elevate your branding game. Always remember, a brand isn't just a logo or a catchy phrase; it's the very heartbeat of your venture. Join me to discover how you can make your brand not only memorable but truly iconic.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

In the third episode of "Now That's What I Call Business," it's me, Brianne West, Founder & CEO of Incrediballs and founder of Ethique. I'm jetting off to the UK, battling the never-ending rain, and cracking the code on some world-first plastic-free packaging for my drinks brand. Dive into the reasons I'm sticking to my 'ballsy' name choice, the way I'm shaping our social media strategy, and my ambitious plans to combat preventable blindness and ensure clean drinking water for all.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

In this second episode of 'Now, That's What I Call Business,' it's me, Brianne West, founder of Ethique, Business, but Better and Incrediballs! I'll be fumbling my way through the origin story and grand ambitions of my latest venture - Incrediballs. Strap in as I give a frank and funny (I hope...) exploration of my past business adventures (and misadventures), and how they've influenced my mission to change up the drinks industry. Come with me on this whirlwind journey through the wild world of bottled beverages and share my dreams of making plastic a thing of the past. With my trademark mix of straight talk and head-in-the-clouds idealism, I'm gearing up to take on the world... again. Impossible? Maybe. But hey, many thought Ethique was just a fantasy, and look how that turned out!

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com

In the inaugural episode of 'Now, That's What I Call Business,' I'm Brianne West, founder of Ethique. Today, I'll be taking you along as I embark on my new venture, Incrediballs. Dive deep into the backstory of how I founded Ethique, my past business endeavors, and why I'm now motivated to change the beverage industry. You'll get a front-row seat to the excitement, challenges, and passion behind my mission to create a sustainable, purpose-driven business. Welcome to my journey of building the next billion-dollar eco-enterprise.

Find us online:

Brianne:
www.briannewest.com