This week SmallBizPod #89, the podcast for startups and small businesses, features an interview Jill Sutherland, co-founder of award-winning sandwich shop, Taste, on being successful as an independent retailer in recession.

Right click here to download the podcast for start-ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed or better still iTunes, just follow the podcast screencasts to find out how easy it is to make sure you never miss an episode of SmallBizPod.

For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, right click on the download link or left click on the grey arrow button above to play now.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

● Alex on what’s coming up in the podcast this week.

Features:

● Thanks to Audible.co.uk for sponsoring SmallBizPod and an offer for SmallBizPod readers and listeners to claim a free audio book of their choice by signing up to a 14 day trial with Audible. Thanks too to XLN Telecom for returning as a sponsor – the small business telecoms and broadband specialists.

● Interview with Jill Sutherland of Taste, the Best UK Independent Sandwich Bar 2009. Jill is also the author of Start & Run a Sandwich & Coffee Shop.

Jill talks about how her and her husband quit their office jobs to set up their own high street sandwich shop and cafe. In a great discussion about the practicalities of starting a sandwich shop, she and Alex also discuss a wide range of topics beneficial to all startups including: franchising, managing staff, keeping costs under control, keeping branding simple and the work-life balance of running your own business. There’s also a discussion about how to survive the recession as a high street retailer and the advantages you have when competing against big chains.

● Listener book review of Nigel Temple’s How To Get Clients To Come To You, from Chris Lee.

●Music with thanks to IODA Promonet B6
from “Blind Leading the Blissed”
(Clubstream Green)

Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
More On This Album

This week SmallBizPod #84, the small business podcast, includes an interview with author and Mock entrepreneur Lara Solomon on her inspiring startup story.

Right click here to download the podcast for start-ups, small business and entrepreneurs.

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed or better still iTunes, just follow the podcast screencasts to find out how easy it is to make sure you never miss an episode of SmallBizPod.

For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, right click on the download link or left click on the grey arrow button above to play now.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

● 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.

Features:

● 02:10 Thanks to XLN Telecom for sponsoring the podcast – you could save 40% on your business phone bills and line rental.

● 03:49 Interview with Lara Solomon, the entrepreneur behind mobile phone sensation Mocks and author of startup book Brand New Day. Lara and Alex talk about how she came up with the idea for the product, finding Chinese suppliers and developing strong relationships with them, creating a brand from scratch, marketing with virtually no money and how to secure deals with big retailers. Lara’s is an inspiring story for any startup and well worth a listen.

● 46.48 Music with thanks to IODA Promonet Ananda Project, Heather Johnson, Terrance Downs
“I Hear You Dreaming (Larry Heard Nocturnal Mix)”
from “Mix The Vibe: Osunlade (Digital Edition)”
(King Street Sounds)

Buy at King Street Sounds Webstore
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Napster

This week SmallBizPod #81, the small business podcast, includes a great interview with Laura Tenison, the female entrepreneur behind maternity and toddler retail fashion business JoJo Maman Bébé. There’s also a round-up of listener comments, an interview with a Scottish entrepreneur who is big in Japan and some great music thanks to Monotonik.

Right click here to download the podcast for startups, small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed or better still iTunes, just follow the podcast screencasts to find out how easy it is to make sure you never miss an episode of SmallBizPod.

For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, right click on the download link or left click on the grey arrow button above to play now.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex introduces what’s coming up in this episode and thanks this month’s sponsors of SmallBizPod, Rackspace – superb small business web hosting.

Features:

• 3.50 Interview with Laura Tenison, founder of JoJo Maman Bébé, the maternity and toddler fashion brand. Alex and Laura talk about business in the playground, her terrible car crash, building a business with no debt, organic growth vs giving away equity, the cash flow challenges facing all high street retailers, and how her business plans to continue to expand and grow over the next few years.

• 25:17 Many thanks for comments, advice and free books from SmallBizPod listeners Ryan Wood, Roy Husselby and Ed Surgeon.

• 28:33 Interview with Denice Purdie of Purdies Scottish Soap Company as part of the Alibaba.com sponsorship. Full interview available here.

• 31.17 Music – Winds of Change by Jap Jap with many thanks to netlabel Monotonik.