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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 02:13 Thanks to Sage for their continued sponsorship of the podcast.
• 03:30 A big thank you to the terrific Leeds business networking group Leeds Inventure for recording the interview and to Jason Dainter for sending it in.

Features:

• 04:45 Presentation by Levi Roots, inventor of Reggae Reggae Sauce, slayer of Dragons and celebrity entrepreneur. Levi talks about his journey from hard working musician and chef to successfully gaining funding from two angel investors on one of the most memorable episodes of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den. He also talks about unique selling points, being yourself, persistence and self-belief as vital ingredients for entrepreneurial success. Music, passion, food and charisma are in abundance as well as some very practical business advice from William Shakespeare.

Comments:

• 35.22 Thanks to Jo Ward from London and Tim Guetschow from Minnesota for sticking a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map and don’t forget to sign up to the small business Facebook Group too, if you have a moment.
• 35.22 Thanks also to Abbey Business Centres for their support of the SmallBizPod blog.

• 39.04 Music

Nicodemus

from “Dancehall Giant”
(Positive Sound Massive Recordings)

Buy at iTunes Music Store

Tags: small business, levi roots, startups podcast, angel funding

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:38 Thanks to Sage for their sponsorship of SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 02:36 Interview with Tim Berry, founder and president of Palo Alto Software and UK managing director Alan Gleeson examining the right way to do business planning. Tim talks about the importance of setting a review schedule first, how all business plans are wrong and how no business plan is ever finished. Alex, Alan and Tim also discuss metrics, cash flow, why some entrepreneurs appear not to have written a business plan and how instinct and planning are complementary, not mutually exclusive.

Comments:

• 27.59 Thanks to Jesse Waugh of Prismania for commenting on how valuable SmallBizPod has been for business and for thoughts on the environment for entrepreneurship in the UK and US.
• 29.05 Thanks to Russell Pearson for including SmallBizPod in Crimson Fox’s top 10 podcasts to listen to during 2008.
• 29.32 SmallBizPod’s first African listener, Oladele Ayuba on his leap into the world of entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
• 30.13 Can you help Chloe Fowler with advice on how to find the right premises for her new market research company?
• 32.01 Thanks to Steve Townsend for sticking a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map.

• 32.33 Music – unlock by distruc with thanks to the Monotonik netlabel.

Tags: small business planning, business plans, small business podcast

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:04 Thanks to Sage for sponsoring SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 02:31 Interview with Charlie Bigham, founder and managing director of Bigham’s. Charlie talks about his passion for food, how his business was inspired by fresh ingredients and hot pans while travelling and his frustration as a consumer. Alex and Charlie also discuss how to keep energy and momentum after 11 years in business, how to deal with demanding customers like the supermarket chains, and growing a business from your kitchen table. The conversation also covers innovation, building a team, funding and making decisions for the long term.

Comments:

• 26.52 Thanks to C Ashworth for sticking a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map and thanks to all of the 140 people who are already members of the SmallBizPod Facebook group.
• 28.12 Thanks to everyone who took part in the survey and announcement of winners of the 16Gb iPod Touch.
• 28.44 If you’re interested in the topics of marketing, finance, technology or small business news, do check out the blog.

• 29.04 Music – Snowflake by Jimi Polar from the Future Classic label with thanks to Ioda Promonet.
Jimi Polar
“Snowflakin'” from “Future Classic Exclusives Vol 1”
(Future Classic)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
More On This Album

Tags: small business advice, entrepreneurship, food business, growing business, small business podcast

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:13 Thanks to Sage for sponsoring SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 01:30 Interviews include: Jo Ray, managing director of Sage UK’s small business division on its Heartbeat survey findings on women in business; Anne Duncan, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Yellowfin; Michelle Rosenberg, author of Inspiring Women; Kerry Keeling of A Woman’s Touch building services company; Karen Gill, co-founder of Everywoman; Caroline Newman of Newman Consulting; Elaine Fairfax, founder of Animal Friends Insurance; and Caroline Marshall Foster, managing director of Wordhouse Publishing Group.

Diary:

• 36:36 Diary of a Wantrepreneur with Kelvin Jones on goal setting, testing, market research and a useful survey website called Wufoo.com.

• 34.11 Music – Okno by Ocbalt with many thanks to the Monotonik label.

Tags: small business podcast, entrepreneurship, women in business, enterprise week

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 00:57 If you have a moment, please take the SmallBizPod survey and you could win an iPod Touch.
• 2:31 Thanks to Sage for sponsoring SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 03:42 Interview with Will King, CEO of KMI the makers of King of Shaves. Will talks about the early days of redundancy, stumbling on an idea for a unique shaving prep product and the valley of death and debt his business found itself in during the first couple of years of trading. The conversation also focuses on passion, persistence, common sense and the need for time to build big brands. Alex and Will also talk about the weakness of juggling too many balls, the need for focus, the challenge of building a great team and what visitors at Destination Growth 2007 will learn from Will’s talk.

Comments:

• 27:12 After his celebrity wedding, Kelvin Jones returns with a diary of a wantrepreneur entry … coming soon!
• 27:41 Paul Anthony and James Hunter get lucky as do SmallBizPod listeners who get 35% off Paul’s web design rates and 25% off James’s business Christmas card deal if SmallBizPod is mentioned on ordering.
• 29:11 email from Jonathan Morris suggesting an episode of the podcast looking at the likes of Linked-In and other online networking tools.
• 30:12 email comment from Gearoid O’Sullivan an Irish photographer studying in New Zealand who prompts thoughts on SmallBizPod covering the topic of creative businesses and how to maintain artistic integrity while still making money.
• 31:06 John Gerrity in Washington on being inspired to think big and his body bottle.
• 31:50 Thanks to all those who’ve signed up to the Frappr Map including Russian listener Dmitry Grafov, ms bowen and David Braziel.

• 34.11 Music – Duke of Hazzard by Blockhead on Ninja Tunes.

Blockhead
“Duke Of Hazzard”
from “Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book”
(Ninja Tune)

More On This Album

Tags: small business podcast, entrepreneurship, king of shaves

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 1:09 Please, if you have 5-10 minutes to spare, head over to do the SmallBizPod survey and you might end up winning an iPod Touch.
• 2:20 Thanks to Sage for their sponsorship of SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 03:34 Interviews exploring Asian entrepreneurship in India and the UK with Sunil Malhotra, CEO of Idea Farms, Raj Patel MBE, policy director of Make Your Mark, Kamel Hothi, Asian Markets Director at Lloyds TSB which sponsors the Southern Jewel Awards celebrating Asian business success, JA Chowdary, President of the Hyderabad chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs group, and Imraan Ladak, chief executive of DRC Locums and chairman of Kettering Town Football Club.

Comments:

• 31.06 Rowena Mead, inventor and guest blogger on the SmallBizPod blog is going to be featured on BBC2’s Money Programme. Do check it out on Friday 2 November at 7pm on BBC2.
• 32.07 Diarmuid O’Donovan writes to mention that cpdwise.com has been nominated Ireland’s Net Visionary Awards. Check out the site and give him a vote!
• 32.34 Thanks from Andrea for advice for her property letting business in Barcelona.
• 32.53 Thanks to Gordon Graham who writes a great blog on innovation and creates some excellent progressive house mixes!
• 33.30 Thanks to those who signed up to the Frappr map including: Helen Brown from Dublin, Paul Anthony form Northern Ireland and Sam Fisher from Cranbrook.

• 34.11 Music – Old Feelings by Beckett with thanks to Exegene.

Tags: small business podcast, indian entrepreneurship, asian business

It really is only 5-10 minutes to do and there aren’t any hard questions!

And like all good surveys, it comes with an incentive Click here or on the iPod Touch image on the right hand side of this page to begin.

Thanks for your time and support.

Alex

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

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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.
• 1:43 Thanks to Sage for their sponsorship of SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 03:13 Interview with Jon Smith, CEO of First Artist Corporation, a sport, entertainment and marketing management company he founded in 1986. Jon and Alex talk about results of a Vodafone survey which reveals British business is slow to respond to enquiries. Jon provides an insight into time management, growing a business through acquisition, AIM listing, dealing with the media, and the business world behind premiership football.

Comments:

• 20:51 Thanks to the latest people to put their pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Blake Duerden from Wimbledon, Brian McSwiney from Cork, Graeme from Dundee and a guy from Houston, Texas.
• 21:53 Comment on the blog from Blake Duerden on the ubiquity of Google, being inspired by SmallBizPod and the diary of a wantrepreneur.
• 23:36 Comment from Richard Boyd on Sage’s sponsorship.
• 24:08 How to comment on the blog, by email or by leaving a phone message. Also check out the SmallBizPod Facebook Group and the launch of a small business news section of the site.
• 26:14 Andrea Drottholm emails seeking advice on how to set commissions for a sales team and ensure staff are delivering benefits not just costs.
• 27:48 Paul Cheatle returns to offer his advice on when is the best time to quit your day job and start your own business.
• 29:08 Andrew Banks on better titles for SmallBizPod in iTunes.

• 30.40 Music – Everything is OK by Halou.

Everything is OK by Halou (Vertebrae)

Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Tags: small business podcast, acquisition, growing business

Right click here to download

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.
• 0:55 Alex welcomes Sage as new sponsors of SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 02:27 Interview with Robert Craven of Directors Centre and author of a new book called Bright Marketing. Robert talks about how he surveyed 15,000 small business people to identify what practical advice people really wanted on the subject of marketing. Alex and Robert talk about measuring your business in terms of finance, marketing and operations (FiMO), the importance of selling, how the best forms of marketing need not be expensive and avoiding mediocrity by avoiding ‘safe’. Robert also talks about upside down marketing, strangers, friends and lovers and getting your pricing right.

Comments:

• 37:25 Congratulations to Kelvin Jones of ‘Diary of a Wantrepreneur’ fame on his recent marriage.
• 38:04 Thanks to all those who have signed up to the SmallBizPod Facebook group and commented: in particular Matt Johnson who comes up with an idea for a future podcast.
• 39:06 Check out and complete Ivy Ho’s MBA questionnaire on entrepreneurship, if you can.

• 34.18 Music – rpg by Transient with many thanks to Monotonik.

Tags: small business podcast, business marketing, startups

As I say in the latest podcast, it’s good to be working with Sage because it’s a company which from its very beginnings in 1981 focused on developing products and services by listening very carefully to what customers said they wanted. That’s an ethos that has helped them deliver software and services successfully to over 700,000 small businesses in the UK alone.

That’s an ethos that I hold dear here at SmallBizPod too and which is why all of you out there are welcome to contribute to the podcast and help shape its content.

Here’s what Dawn Baker, head of marketing for Sage’s small business division said today about linking up with SmallBizPod:

Iâ€m pleased to announce that weâ€re sponsoring the SmallBizPod podcast this year, which is hosted by Alex Bellinger. This podcast, which focuses on entrepreneurship and the issues that affect small businesses, is listened to by thousands of people around the world and weâ€re delighted to be associated with an innovator like Alex. Weâ€re always trying out different ways to connect with our own customers and I hope we can learn lots from him.

I’m flattered, of course, and will try and keep my ego under control! But what’s most important for everyone who listens to the podcast and supports SmallBizPod is that Sage’s sponsorship means we’ll be able to continue developing the podcast and bringing you more great interviews and entrepreneurial inspiration.

Right click here to download

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.
• 0:50 Thanks for your patience during SmallBizPod’s switch of servers.
• 01:51 Podcamp UK on 1st & 2nd September 2007 in Birmingham – see you there!
• 03:01 Thanks to Abbey Business Centres for sponsoring the SmallBizPod blog. Check out the special offer on virtual office services for SmallBizPod readers and listeners.

Features:

• 04:39 Interview with Jennifer Irvine of The Pure Package about how she built her successful healthy food delivery business from her own home kitchen, overcoming set-backs including the theft of computers, cancer and assault while she was six months pregnant. Jen also reveals how she combined market research with PR to kick-start her business. Alex and Jen also talk about growth plans, whether The Pure Package is only for the rich, the value of recognition and small business awards and how her company won best start-up at the Start-Up Awards.

Comments:

• 28:13 Martin Dooley on burning the candle at both ends and an idea for an episode on managing your time.
• 29:55 Darryl Caldwell on using pay-per-click or online auctions as a good research tool for products.
• 29:55 Email comments from Paul Walber in Aberdeen about developing his own business.
• 32:19 The latest people to sign up to the SmallBizPod Frappr map incluidng Karin Hoegh and Leonie Winson.

• 34.18 Music – Love Comes First by Techno Squirrels.

“Love Comes First” (mp3)
from “Love Comes First”
by Techno Squirrels
(Rave Police Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Tags: small business podcast, business awards, startups

Right click here to download

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.
• 01:04 Your comments and feedback matter, so do get in touch.
• 02:11 Podcamp UK on 1st & 2nd September 2007 in Birmingham – a free and enjoyable event for anyone interested in podcasting, social media and all sorts of online stuff.

Features:

• 02:53 Interview with Stephen Phillips of Spring Research and Surinder Siama of the Research Talk podcast. Alex, Steve and Surinder talk about the ways in which bootstrapped, start-ups can and should conduct research into their market, while not losing their ability to act on gut instinct. The discussion also focuses on how startups with funding or seeking funding should take a more detailed, structured and analytical approach to influence investors. The podcast also covers the importance of co-creation and testing online.

Comments:

• 26:04 Email comment from Angelo Tardioli who asks whether anyone knows of any fashion or food networking groups in London. Get in touch, if you do.
• 27:08 Email from Hannah Wilkinson who points listeners to a useful scheme run by the London Development Agency designed to get graduates to work on projects for your company for 8 weeks, for just £180 per week. Further details can be found at www.stepenterprise.co.uk.
• 28:16 Comment on the blog from Daksh Sharma on how much he’s enjoying Facebook and looking forward to a cd collection of the first 50 episodes of SmallBizPod.
• 29:11 Comment on the blog from SmallBizPod’s first African listeners, Oladele Ayuba, adding to Martin Webb’s thoughts about listening and learning from criticism of your business.
• 31:00 Thanks to all those who’ve signed up to the Frappr map including: Richard Marshall, Alan Noake, Mads, Rick Vanner from Macclesfield and Lisa Foster from Manchester.
• 31:00 Check out the latest posts on e-marketing, green PCs and Business Link at the SmallBizPod blog.

• 33.21 Music – Beyond Babylon by Narcissus Project with many thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: small business podcast, market research, startups

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

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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.
• 01:24 Many thanks to Eric Dadoun and Skyler Clarke for helping me develop the SmallBizPod Facebook app, which lets anyone on Facebook install a player that plays the latest podcasts. You can find out more about it at the SmallBizPod Facebook group.

Features:

• 02:48 Interview with Nigel Botterill, chief executive of thebestof.co.uk. Nigel explains how the business evolved from the community magazine business his wife had built up and franchised. He talks about how the business has grown rapidly from its launch in 2005 to over 330 local sites, and how he developed its online franchise business and revenue model. Nigel and Alex also discuss how he dealt with the leap from his corporate background to a career as an entrepreneur, the importance of responding and adapting for success, how he built a team, recruitment and the inspiration of thinking big.

Comments:

• 22:52 Email from Mark Wood about how the inspiration and practical advice he’s received from SmallBizPod has helped him and his wife build their business.
• 25:14 Comments on the blog from Ian Denny re business failure and Fiona Brown on 50 episodes.
• 27:11 Latest people to sign up to the Frappr map including: Ed Masters in the French Alps, Jon King in Newport and Stefan Drew.
• 28:08 Audio comment from Gagandeep Sapra.

• 30.10 Music – Emaze by bitbasic with many thanks to Monotonik.

Tags: small business podcast, thebestof.co.uk, startups, internet business

Right click here to download

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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.
• 01:34 Thanks to everyone who has said hello and joined the SmallBizPod Facebook group.
• 02:04 Let’s meet up at the Chinwag Summer Party in London on 5 July.

Features:

• 03:13 Interview with Martin Webb, a serial entrepreneur who built a leisure company called C-Side from scratch and sold it for £15 million. As well as pursuing several other businesses, Martin is also the host of Channel 4’s Risking It All, a Daily Telegraph Columnist and the author of a new book on how to make your first million by starting a business. Alex and Martin discuss celebrity entrepreneurship, getting it wrong, business failure, common sense, whether passion is enough to carry you through and the importance of listening to criticism. The conversation also focuses on bootstrapping vs borrowing vs equity, social enterprise and the ‘People’s Pub’, and what Martin has planned for the future.

Comments:

• 18:57 Email from Jason Maslen on the interview with Jason Calacanis in the stair well.
• 19:24 Email comment from Bill Martin about music, composition and starting a business.
• 20:26 Email comment from Adam Purcell about the first PodCamp Australia.
• 21:51 Don’t forget PodcampUK which is set to take place in Birmingham on 1-2 September.
• 22:38 Email from Lucy Follett on lessons from business failure.
• 24:10 Comments left on the blog from Sam Sethi, who has recently launched a new blog on technology and startups – Blognation. And a comment from Karen on the Jason Calacanis interview and people’s thoughts on whether an ‘exit strategy’ should be planned in advance.

• 26.25 Diary of a Wantrepreneur – with Kelvin Jones including a couple of links on business planning – Business Plan Archive and BPlans.co.uk.

Comments:

• 34.13 Thank you to Wincent Kordula in Nottingham and Martin Peacock in Kildare, Ireland for signing on to the SmallBizPod Frappr map.

• 29.18 Music – Roads by Martsman with many thanks to the super netlabel Exegene.

Tags: small business podcast, martin webb, startups, business failure, small business

Right click here to download

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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.
• 01:01 Thanks to NMK for organising the superb NMK Forum.
• 01:47 A comment on the rise of Facebook and do say hello and join the SmallBizPod Facebook group, if you get a chance.

Features:

• 02:45 Interview with Jason Calacanis, about his new start-up, the human powered search service, Mahalo.com, how he plans to clean up search and reward the public for creating search pages. Jason and Alex also discuss Web 2.0 companies paying everyone but the people creating content, the hypocrisy and pomposity of some people in Silicon Valley, Jason’s own entrepreneurial past, present and future including addiction, hiring, firing, building a business, the exit and Mahalo as a Google plugin.

Comments:

• 25:12 How to comment and comments left on the blog including: Martin Dooley on notices for new shows on small business forums, Daksh Sharma on how much he enjoyed the Koopa track played in the last show which has subsequently entered the official UK charts.
• 27:12 Comment from Karen on the randomness discussion with Ben Casnocha in SmallBizPod #48 and how she prefers electronica to pop.
• 28:18 Thanks to all those who have put their pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Alison Lowndes who runs a volunteering agency for Kenya and Tom Clairemont.

• 29.18 Music – back to electronica with a track called Charlie’s Orbit by Idmonster with many thanks to the Monotonik netlabel.

Tags: small business podcast, calacanis, startups, Mahalo

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:15 A special musical treat to conclude the show for all listeners, but particularly Madelaine Kirke and David Braziel who are part of the SmallBizPod networking site.
• 01:49 How to comment on the podcast by email, phone and blog.
• 03:53 Audio comment from Chris re insolvency and the possibility of SmallBizPod covering the risk and pitfalls of entrepreneurship.

Features:

• 07:14 Interview with Ben Casnocha, a young entrepreneur who set up Comcate Inc, a successful e-government software company at the tender age of 14 and who is also the author of a book called My Start-Up Life: What a (very) young CEO learned on his journey through Silicon Valley. Ben and Alex talk about the advantages of starting a business at an early age, the connection between age and entrepreneurial success in Silicon Valley and the celebrity that goes with it. There is also discussion of recruiting an advisory board for your business, successful networking and the importance of building credibility, as well as Ben’s theory on the importance of randomness in business and the power of thinking differently. The conversation also touches on Ben’s future and how Nick Denton from Valleywag is avoiding him!

Comments:

• 30:10 Thanks to all those who have put their pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Rich from Toyama in Japan, Melvyn Henaughan from Stoke-on-Trent and Daksh Sharma and a word on the Indian entrepreneurship podcast.
• 31:08 Kelvin Jones and part III of the diary of a wantrepreneur.
• 31:20 Tim Duke from London Remade highlights a networking event on the importance of WEEE regulations.
• 32:09 Email comment from Oliver Dowding at Tonic Attack about contact he has received from listeners of the podcast.
• 33:11 Email comment from Diarmuid O’Donovan.
• 33:36 Email from Gagandeep Sapra who is developing an Indian podcast called Fire In Our Belly.

• 34.18 Music – A surprise non-electronica track called One Off Song For The Summer by Koopa with many thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: small business podcast, young entrepreneur, small business, SMB, casnocha, startups

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. 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.
• 02:29 Thanks also to all those who have put their pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Andrew Smith in New Zealand and Tym Allison from the USA.
• 03:21 The networking site continues to grow and a special mention for Anthony Brewitt and his Cyberman.

Features:

• 04:36 Interviews with some winning participants of London Business School’s (LBS) Venture Capital Investment Competition including MBA student Mike Salvaris and member of the winning VC team, Johanna Walker of London Business School, Peter Brooke from Findware the winning business and David Rowe from Microsoft. Johanna outlines the origins of the competition and how it works. The conversation also delivers plenty of practical advice from all concerned about venture capital, term sheets, pitching, preparation and communication.

Comments:

• 20:53 Email comments from Gagandeep Singh Sapra who is looking to start an Indian small business podcast.
• 21:27 Look out for a SmallBizPod special on Indian entrepreneurship.
• 21:55 Blog conversation with Clive Birnie of Severn Delta, open business and free advice on seeking equity funding.
• 23:09 Email from Chris Rivett re a Northampton networking group.
• 23:57 Plans for a series of SmallBizPod Live events in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
• 24:40 Email comment from John at BMAW and the joys of Technorati.

• 25.34 Music – One of Alex’s all time favourite electronica tracks called Connect by Blisaed with many thanks to the Monotonik net label.

Tags: small business podcast, venture capital, small business, SMB, finance

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. 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.
• 01:25 Thanks to listeners for their feedback and comments which is always much appreciated and for joining the SmallBizPod networking site as well as an introduction to some new guest contributors to the small business and startup blog.

Features:

• 03:39 Interviews with: Angela Onoforu who is looking to set up an independent record label online, young serial entrepreneur Dan Ku and Chris Rivett,web designer, all of whom were in the queue to hear Levi Roots speak. [With apologies for any misspelt names]
• 09:54 Interview with Michelle Dewberry winner of the 2006 edition of The Apprentice on her plans for the future and what makes a successful business person.
• 12:42 Interview with Katie Moore founder of the Business Startup Community on networking online and in the ‘real world’.
• 16:08 Interview with Oliver Dowding of wheat grass juice producers Tonic Attack.
• 18:30 Interview with one of Britain’s best known entrepreneurs Lord Bilimoria, chief executive of Cobra Beer at the Wiley book store.

Comments:

• 24:30 Alex on how to leave a comment for the show by emailing alex@smallbizpod.co.uk or by calling +44 (0) 20 8133 1656 or if you’re in the US (415) 287 3794 and leaving a voice message.
• 25:48 Nic Morton gives some advice on business plans in response to last week’s diary of a wantrepreneur i.e. keep it short. He also suggests these two resources.
• 27:17 Email from Colin Maddocks who runs a successful web-based travel business.
• 28:04 Email comment from Matt Kendall on how his business has developed over the last few years and the marketing seminars it runs in Manchester.
• 29:05 Thanks to all those who have signed up to the Frappr map including Gagandeep Sapra, Neil from New Zealand and Fitzpatrick from Alabama.

• 34.28 Music – thanks to South African trance artist, Alienation whose track Imagine A Star was played during this week’s show as well as this track, Mad World featuring Marty B, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: small business podcast, startups, small business

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 02:10 Audio comment from Jonathan Yates at O2GO.
• 04:14 Audio comment from Guy Kingston at the Mind Your Own Business Podcast who invites SmallBizPod listeners to be involved in a new video podcast he is putting together. If you’re interested, head over to his video site.
• 06:21 Check out the SmallBizPod blog on marketing, technology and franchising.
• 07:00 More listeners and business people signing up to the SmallBizPod networking site, including Ling Valentine.

Features:

• 07:42 Interview with Gita Patel, co-founder of venture capitalists Stargate Capital and creator of the fast growth business fund, the Trapezia fund, aimed at women entrepreneurs. Alex & Gita talk about her background, what inspired her to research a new sector to invest in and how she decided to focus on funding female entrepreneurs. There’s also discussion about the funding gap for women in business, their passion and how a new generation of women want and have the determination to make lots of money. Gita also outlines what she looks for in a business and the importance of a model which provides equity, debt, intellectual capital and a hub of value.

Comments:

• 26:28 Email from Michael Smith who has now set up a sandwich bar business just down the road from Alex in Kent.
• 27:14 Christine Abrahams points out that SmallBizPod was recently featured in New Woman magazine.
• 27:35 Nick Jones with some advice for Kelvin Jones on business planning and some key elements to think about from Stanford Technology Venture Podcast by G Steven Burrill.
• 28:32 Brett Hollis follows-up with more advice for Kelvin and suggests taking the three month business plan approach that Brett himself has found so useful.
• 30:00 Rowena Mead‘s innovative toothbrush.
• 30:35 Feedback for Kelvin from Neil Infield, manager of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, which really is a tremendous resource for any start-ups or businesses needing to get their hands on reports, databases and advice for their market research.
• 31:49 Check out David Hyner’s Goal Setting Masterclass in Birmingham on Saturday 2 June, if you want to learn how top achievers set and achieve goals.
• 33:20 Latest additions to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including Rowena Mead and Geoff Beattie.

Outro:

• 34.28 Music – Yello Sand Back by Sabi, with thanks to the Monotonik net label.

Tags: small business podcast, venture capital, small business, female entrepreneurship

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:23 Thanks to the nearly 50 people who have already joined SmallBizPod’s new networking site. Looks like a good crowd of business savvy people already congregating there and nice to see some new and familiar names there including Barry Hopkins, Anne Marie McEwan and Taylor Marek who recently interviewed me on his podcast.
• 03:10 Holidays, colds and a podcast delivered a little later than anticipated.

Features:

• 03:58 Interview with Philip Molloy, chief executive of ISold It about the rise of the Ebay entrepreneur and how businesses are also using Ebay to manage stock and as a serious sales tool. He also tells the story of how following a successful business career he wanted to try something new and came to buy the franchise licence for ISold It. Philip also talks about the challenges of rolling out a high street franchise operation and talks about how he has invested in the franchise himself.

Comments:

• 23:58 Thanks to Sue Rann, Angela Gama, Paul Scott, Peter from Warsaw and Hugo from Paris for signing up to the Frappr map.
• 24:33 Email comment from Matt Deighton at Saxon Leather who are celebrating 25 years in business with some thoughts for wantrepreneur Kelvin Jones.
• 25:29 Words of advice for Kelvin also emailed in from Brian Stevenson and Nic Morton.

• 26:47 Diary of a Wantrepreneur Kelvin Jones returns to update us on market research and asks what kind of business plan should he write. Is an 80 page business plan too long? Do you need one?

Outro:

• 34.28 Music – The Magic Come Out At Night by Chris Rusu, with very many thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: franchising, ebay, small business, internet business

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:33 Alex introduces SmallBizPod’s new networking site powered by Ning including forums, social networking and video.
• 03:12 Thanks to Bibby Financial Services and please visit them www.bibbyfinancialservices.com.
• 04.26 The launch of SmallBizPod’s small business blog with two well respected journalists contributing on technology and franchising, David Tebbutt and Guy Clapperton respectively as well as marketing expert and future blogging star, Sara Scott. Do take a look at the blog and subscribe to the RSS feed.
• 05.51 If you’d like to send comments just email alex@smallbizpod.co.uk and do get in touch if you think you’d like to be a writer on the blog too.

Features:

• 07:04 Interview with Alex Vieux of Red Herring (RH) on the state of technology companies, start-ups and venture capital in Europe and the RH Europe 100 list which this year features 24 UK companies including Zopa, Last FM and Zubka. Alex talks about the selection process Red Herring staff undertake to pick the 100. He goes on to address the challenges of scalability for European technology companies compared to their US counterparts, but talks about why he sees a bright future for the technology sector in Europe because of the quality of experienced tech entrepreneurs, venture capital going cross-border, the diversity of tech businesses, and the support of university research labs. For a list of the RH Europe 100 and more info on the European technology sector check out Vecosys.

Comments:

• 28:21 Email comment from Daniel including a 30 second fact on Google and some tips on Google local business registration.
• 30:24 Comment from David Hargrave who is enjoying the podcast and will frap the map.
• 31:53 Russell Barton requests assistance from any SmallBizPod listeners who may be familiar with the Square Space blogging/web package. He’s looking to offer some work to someone who can redesign his blog. Do get in touch at alex@smallbizpod.co.uk if you can help Russell.
• 32:36 A comment from Lee who has just launched a blog on investments and wonders whether I might link to it.
• 33:00 Email comment from Paul Scott with advice for a listener on choosing a food & drink franchise, recommending http://www.business-partnership.co.uk/.
• 33:37 Do you have any questions on market research in relation to business start-ups in the planning stage? Let me know for a future podcast.
• 34:12 Thanks to Jason and the guys at networking group Leeds Inventure for connecting to some SmallBizPod podcasts.

Outro:

• 34.45 Music – Funny Stones by Northbound, with very many thanks to netlabel Monotonik.

Tags: technology, red herring, small business, european entrepreneurship

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:00 Thanks to Bibby Financial Services and please visit them www.bibbyfinancialservices.com.
• 02:03 Comment and trackbacks from Wendy Piersall and Ponn Sabra on the SmallBizPod blog.
• 02:40 Welcome to Clare from Kent the latest listener to sign-up to the SmallBizPod Frappr Map.

Features:

• 03:07 Interview with Greg Grimer and Mike O’Hara of the Cold Calling Podcast exploring how to sell successfully over the phone. Mike, Greg and Alex discuss some of the tactics and approaches that make an initial sales/prospecting call effective and how cold calling can actually help you reach potential customers not reached by other marketing. There’s also a lot of practical advice about getting to the value proposition quickly, getting around the gatekeepers, listening to feedback, building your sales confidence and advice on the Telephone Preference System.

Comments:

• 27:04 Email from Michael Smith looking for advice on food and drink franchising opportunities and advice.
• 28:23 Email from Andrew Turner who is finding is feeling less isolated in sunny Italy now he’s discovered a lot of valuable resources and small business communities on the web.
• 29:34 Email from James Hunter who has just started an IT support business.
• 30:02 Comment from Gerry who listens to SmallBizPod in bed, despite his girlfriend’s occasional disapproval!
• 31:09 Comment from Nick Fogarty in Barcelona who recommends podcast produced by Stanford Technology Ventures.

Outro:

• 32.08 Music – Flashback by Fitzpatrick with many thanks to small business owner and progressive trance producer Patrick Mauldin.

Tags: sales, cold calling, small business, business leads

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 02:30 An update on new sections of the SmallBizPod site including a three new bloggers, video interviews and a small business events calendar.

Features:

• 04:42 Interview with Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation on the subject of homeworking – the home now being the most popular location for business start-ups. Emma talks about her new home working podcast and the reasons why she works from home herself including costs, high productivity levels and the flexibility of when and how you work. Alex and Emma talk about homeworking loneliness, the virtual water-cooler, the power of technology and the importance of outsourcing to grow your business without outgrowing your home. Emma also talks about kitchen table tycoons and work at home mums.

Comments:

• 17:49 Email comment from Russell Barton on contributing some updates to the show on the development of his new business.
• 19:15 Email comment from Tony Campbell on the apathy of his local Chamber of Commerce.
• 20:41 Email from Simon O’Keefe suggesting Alex sticks with his first question of guests rather than refining it.
• 21:58 Sympathy for the umm and the err from Andy Hyland.
• 23:05 Comment from Andrew Turner who finds SmallBizPod inspiring in Italy where he encounters less of a passion for entrepreneurship.

Features:

• 24:36 Interview with Wendy Piersall and Ponn Sabra. Alex, Wendy and Ponn talk about the work at home mum (WAHM) movement in the US, the opportunity and accessibility that technology and the internet brings. Also highlighted is the importance of a strong sense of self worth for women working from home to be successful as well as the motivation and focus required to cope effectively with work and home life in one location. There’s also practical advice on mentors, networking and the importance of outsourcing at the right time.

Comments:

• 36.36 Feedback from the SmallBizPod Frappr Map with thanks to the following for signing up: Moosey, Williams Edwards in Orange, California, Nico Goodall from Joannesburg, South Africa, Simon O’Keefe in Australia, Christian Hoffmeyer from Copenhagen, and Colin from Milton Keynes.

Outro:

• 38.26 Music – Cakes by Beak with many thanks to the Monotonik netlabel.

Tags: homeworking, WAHM, small business, female entrepreneurs

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:55 Thank you and hello to all new listeners and how to send your feedback.
• 02:46 Thanks for the promo voice over from Simon Davies.

Features:

• 03:23 Interview with Hugh Smith, programme manager for the Enhance initiative at London Remade. Hugh explains how London Development Agency funding of £3 million is used to provide consultancy and advice to businesses wanting to grow in the green sector and also to establish a capital fund providing grants for recycling projects within companies. Alex and Hugh talk about the growth of environmentally friendly business, what practical steps should SMEs take to improve their environmental impact, but also their bottom line by going green. Hugh also highlights other support networks across the country including: the Community Recycling Network, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, Envirowise and the Green Procurement Code.

Comments:

• 15:54 Email comment from Paul Grant at Capital Partners Group to a free seminar called the Funding Game in London on Thursday 15 February which helps early stage businesses explore funding options. Contact Paul, if you’d like to attend: 0207 7482215.
• 17:03 Thanks for the trackback from Ed Stivala who has been enjoying SmallBizPod #4 on blogging.
• 17:51 Email comment from S Rajasekar an Indian entrepreneur from Theni who has been enjoying SmallBizPod, particularly the Taylor/LaBarre episode and the interview done by Juliette Prouse. He also makes an interesting suggestion about adding a 30 second business tip and 30 second joke to each episode of SmallBizPod, to add to the variety.
• 20:10 Update on new people to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr Map including: Rajasekar, Ed Stivala, Richard Boyd, and Daley Ervin.
• 21:23 Email comment from Jim Markham saying yes he would like a SmallBizPod forum.
• 22:16 Email comment from Greg Sue who runs a fashion label start-up in Brighton and the concept of vuja de.
• 23:59 An audio comment from Nick Rogers on open source business models and the Juice screencast.

Features:

• 26:48 Interview with Colin Crooks, managing director of Greenworks who explains what his company does, why it does it and how to define a social enterprise. Alex and Colin also talk about how green business and social enterprises have grown together to lead the way in the recycling arena. There’s also some discussion on recycling profits, the difficulty of motivating social enterprises to make money, the need to recruit employees with commercial experience and the options in terms of company formations.

Outro:

• 38.45 Music – The return of Carl Barton the original SmallBizPod roving reporter with a track called Coming Home composed by Carl and friends as v.f.d with thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: social enterprise, green business, small business, recycling

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:32 Thank you and hello to all new listeners and how to send your feedback.

Features:

• 04:29 Interview with Marcus Stuttard, deputy head of AIM. Marcus outlines some of the practical issues facing businesses looking to list on AIM including how to work with nominated advisers, dubbed NOMADS. Alex and Marcus also talk about why a business might prefer listing rather than private equity as a means of finance, how challenging an IPO is for a business, understanding the practicalities of being under public scrutiny, disclosure and open communication. The interview also touches on some of the challenges facing AIM itself.

Comments:

• 19.10 Email comment from Daley Ervin at Arizona State University with comments on the Taylor/Labarre interview and seeks advice on reading for budding entrepreneurs from SmallBizPod listeners.
• 20:41 Email comment from Nick Jones re umms and errs.
• 21:38 Email comment from Nuno Pereira in Portugal who suggests a SmallBizPod listeners’ forum. What do you think, should SmallBizPod have a forum?
• 22:39 Email comment fro Lucie at Follet Motors on Commerzbank or Commerce Bank.
• 23:19 Email comment from entrepreneurship student Laura Hammond.
• 23:19 Email comment from Russell Barton, a photographer in Western Australia with a particularly impressive blog.
• 25:13 New faces on the SmallBizPod Frappr Map – add yours too and check out MyBlogLog.com too.
• 26:48 Comment on the blog from Rob Smorfitt re innovation – inspiration or necessity?

Features:

• 27:43 Diary of a Wantrepreneur with Kelvin Jones. Don’t forget to email your views or leave a comment here on whether or not Kelvin should attend a course on entrepreneurship?

Outro:

• 40.56 Music 2 Steps Back by Nick Zero with thanks to Rest.

Tags: entrepreneur, growth business, small business, IPO

The next episode of SmallBizPod will be with you on Thursday this week.

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Comments:

• 01.24 An update from the Frappr map with thanks to new listeners: Mark Keenan in Swindon, Marcel Zapata in Chile, Taylor Marek in Milwaukee, Alicia Forest from Walden NY, Melanie Langenhan from Germany, George Reavis from Tulsa, David Terrar from St Alban’s and Gary from South Shields.
• 02.41 Email comment from Daley Ervin at Arizona State University who has learned lots from SmallBizPod and contributes to the debate on US vs UK entrepreneurial culture.

Features:

• 02:55 Interview with Bill Taylor and Polly LaBarre, authors of Mavericks at Work. Alex, Polly and Bill discuss how innovation not strength, and freedom not power, are the new touchstones for entrepreneurial success as demonstrated by the maverick leaders outlined in the book. There’s also discussion about how an open source approach to innovation has brought success to traditional businesses like gold mining group, Goldcorp. The wide ranging conversation also touches upon strategy as advocacy, disrupting the market you’re in to your advantage, seeing what other people don’t or ‘vujade’ and how transparency is vital for modern business leaders. Bill and Polly also offer an insight into how they started Fast Company magazine and the difficult, but vital issue of recruiting and attracting talented people.

Outro:

• 30.08 Music Never by Seathasky with thanks to Monotonik.

Tags: entrepreneur, business innovation, small business, Leadership

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 02:11 Happy New Year and thanks to listeners who left comments or emails over the festive break.

Features:

• 02:55 Interview with Shaa Wasmund, dot.com pioneer, founder of MyKindaPlace.com and Channel 4 TV presenter. Alex and Shaa talk about how online business has changed since 1999 and the real business model behind Web 2.0 companies. Shaa also highlights how she believes the internet is the way to inspire and educate the UK entrepreneurs of the future, discusses differences in business attitudes between the UK and US, and what needs to be done to develop the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Comments:

• 12:44 Email comment from Mark Richardson, a Tasmanian electrician who has just set up his own business and has filled his new Christmas mp3 player with episodes of SmallBizPod and finds the show more useful than a two year business diploma! Many thanks to Mark for such enthusiastic feedback.
• 14:08 Email comment from Caron Sprake with some advice for the listener with a binocular business to contact Chris Cardell. Also an apology from Alex for calling Caron ‘he’ in the last show, despite getting her location correct for once!
• 15:11 An update from the Frappr map and a new listener sticking his pin in the virtual map – Anders Dyhr from Bristol.
• 16:08 Alex points listeners to MyBlogLog – a great little tool social networking tool.
• 17:05 Comment from Jim Markham from Sweden who really enjoyed the interview with Adam Hildreth in SmallBizPod #36 and talks about how hard producing a podcast can be.

Features:

• 12:44 Interview with Professor Zoltan Acs of George Mason University who controversially considers why the UK may not have the same entrepreneurial energy as the US. He proposes that feudalism and the British class system have a negative impact on the UK’s approach to starting and successfully growing business. The fact that all men and women are created equal in the US, means that the cultural background encourages change and enterprise. Alex and Professor Acs also discuss the success of British corporations and whether all individuals really do have equal opportunities to build their own business in the US.

Outro:

• 30.08 Music Head Full of Stars by Transient with thanks to Monotonik.

Tags: entrepreneur, online business, small business, US small business

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 01:12 A quick plug for an electronica podcast – Beatific Podcast.
• 01:28 BJ Cunningham, branding guru and all round good chap who appeared in SmallBizPod #28, offers listeners a free teleconference Q&A on 23 January 2007 on branding and how it can benefit your bottom line. If you’re interested sign up at www.brandevolutionworkshop.com/ask

Features:

• 02:41 Interview with Adam Hildreth, CEO of Crisp Thinking. Adam talks about what inspired him to launch his first business at the age of 16 and how he was involved with the Young Enterprise initiative at school. He goes on to discuss his first business Dubit, that launched an online payment card for teenagers and consulted on marketing to the teenage market. As a veteran of the first dotcom bubble in 1999, Adam discusses online business models then and now and how he sees the current Web 2.0 boom. Alex and Adam also discuss determination and passion in business, the importance of listening and ways to encourage and support young entrepreneurs.

Comments:

• 20:10 Alex asks for listeners views and experience of what different places and countries do to encourage young entrepreneurship.
• 20:51 Email comment from David Kroesslhuber in Austria seeking advice on how to market his b2b binocular business.
• 22:38 Email comment from Doug Smart.
• 22:38 Carolyn Mumby from the Managers Club and a podcast interview with Alex.
• 23:39 Comment from Ray Algar of Oxygen Consulting about the length of SmallBizPod interviews.
• 25:05 Send comments by email, on the blog or by leaving a message on Skype or the SmallBizPod answer machine.
• 26:01 Sponsorship of SmallBizPod.

Outro:

• 26.39 Music Man Without a Hannover by Russian Linesman with thanks to Mmmph Netlabel.

Happy Christmas to all SmallBizPod listeners. Thank you for your support and have a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

Tags: young entrepreneur, online business, small business

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Features:

• 00:45 Interview with Mark Adlestone, Managing Director of Beaverbrooks the jewellers. In the last three years Beaverbrooks has been voted 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For awards and in each of these year Mark came 1st for leadership. Alex and Mark talk about how he turned around a business with a 50% turnover of staff to one 99% of staff say they’re proud to work for Beaverbrooks. Mark also discusses business as a force for social and economic good as much as it is for profit and his beusines ethos of ‘success with ethics’.

• 06:43 Interview with Claire Owen, managing director of recruitment consultancy StopGap who has also recently picked up an award for her leadership skills from the Sunday Times. Claire and Alex talk about her ‘lunch test’, how to recruit the right people and retain them. Claire also discusses developing busines values, match-making talent to your business ethos and her enthusiasm for ‘away days’.

Comments:

• 15:04 Comment left on the SmallBizPod blog by Caron Sprake in Devon on life changing information and small business advice and a music recommendation as well as a plug for Doug Smart‘s one minute podcasts.
• 17:54 Email from Stephen Embleton about entrepreneurship in South Africa and what he and others are doing to stimulate small business in the country.

Features:

• 19:51 Interview with John Timpson, chairman and chief executive of the largest shoe repair, key cutting, jewellery engraving and watch repair chains in the UK, Timpson. Alex and John talk about upside down management and how to demonstrate trust in your employees. He also talks about his takeover of Mr Minit from UBS as well as identifying ‘drongos’ and how to get rid of staff that don’t fit your business culture.

Outro:

• 28.10 Music – Puller – Another Trip Home by Jeff Rosianna with thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Tags: business podcast, small business advice, hr, recruitment

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Features:

• 01.55 Interview from SmallBizPod listener Juliette Prouse at Qube with George Torok, best selling Canadian business author and marketing guru. George talks about how to get an unfair advantage over your competitors by applying systems and business principles that will take you beyond natural talent. Juliette and George also talk about how to build a personal brand, ‘smell out’ your best customers and how to overcome the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Comments:

• 24.48 Alex on interview contributions from listeners.
• 24.48 Round up of PodcastCon with thanks to Cheeze and the other sponsors.
• 26.45 Email comment from Jason King.
• 27.47 Email from Ian Wells on whether or not SmallBizPod has covered the issue of small business joint ventures.
• 28.13 Chris Rusu checks in to say hello.
• 28.49 Hugo Carlone who runs a small advertising agency in Brazil emails the show and realises that advice for small businesses is relevant across the globe.
• 29:54 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Matt Griffiths in Malaysia and Caron in Alberta.

Outro:

• 31.11 Music – Janine by The Shakes live at PodcastCon UK 2006 with thanks to the excellent Fishbowl Acoustic and the Podcast Music Network.

Tags:
business podcast
small business advice
branding
small business marketing

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show.
• 00:55 Audio comment from Bob Cartwright at backpackinglight.co.uk who enjoyed the Andy Egan interview and has made business contacts as a result of listening to SmallBizPod.

Features:

• 03.17 Interview with Jo Ray, UK managing director of global business software company Sage, on their Heartbeat survey on UK SME business attitudes. Jo reveals her thoughts on why IT and marketing recruitment was proving particularly difficult for businesses large and small. Mike Harris, head of education and skills at the Institute of Directors, confirms that the impact of a shortage of skilled employees is quite severe and is cited as a reason for holding back business growth. Lawrence Jones, managing director of award-winning ISP, UKFast talks about the difficulties his company has had in finding the skills they require, employing people from Iraq, and methods of recruiting candidates with highly technical backgrounds. The series of interviews also includes discussions on the responsibilities of employers to train their workforce, how to retain staff and the contrasting opinions of their colleagues relative skills.

Comments:

• 22:54 Highlighting PodcastCon UK 2006 in association with Cheeze the direct digital marketing agency who’ve very kindly agreed to be lead sponsor of the event. The UK’s only podcasting conference takes place on 18th November. Alex offers to buy any SmallBizPod listener attending the conference a drink.
• 25:50 A big thank you to Juliette Prouse for her interview for SmallBizPod which will be released very, very soon.
• 26:59 Comment from Andy Minshall who’s planning to start his own business and his passion for entrepreneurship.
• 28:20 Comments left on the SmallBizPod blog from Paul Cheatle on the AIM interview and Daniel chasing for new shows.
• 30:07 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Kelvin Jones, Richard Smith, Steven Benjamin, Nigel Coningham, Libby Ranzetta, Carolyn Mumby, Andy Minshall and Tish Mata.

Outro:

• 33.28 Music – Ordinary Deity by Alu with thanks to the Podcast Music Network.

Tags:
business podcast
small business advice
recruitment
skills shortage

[Please note Andy Egan stepped down as CEO of Felix Group in December 2007]

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Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show and a welcome to new listeners.
• 01:51 PodcastCon UK 2006, the UK’s only conference dedicated to podcasting will take place on Saturday 18 November.

Features:

• 02.32 Interview with Andy Egan, CEO of the Felix Group an innovative sales, promotion, kiosk and digital retail business. Andy reveals how following a severe accident as a stuntman, he moved into publicity stunts, sponsorship and found his way into the premium phone call business. From there in 1999 he invented a new terminal/kiosk delivery system for sales promotion, formed a limited company in 2002 and just two years later floated Felix Group on the AIM market. Alex and Andy talk about the business model and strategy behind the Felix Group, as well as practical advice on growing a business, getting the right people on board, launching on a stock market and communicating effectively as a listed company.

Comments:

• 24:06 Comment from Andy on the blog on interviewing business people with Irish accents.
• 25:01 Email from Ian Gotts, CEO of Nimbus, on emerging market models and why killer products don’t sell.
• 25:56 Comment from Nick Fogarty from Barcelona on new business ideas, product branding and the importance of market research. Possible collaboration between SmallBizPod and the excellent ResearchTalk podcast.

Outro:

• 29.06 Music – Best Of Life by Chris Rusu with thanks to Electromancer.com.

P.S Apologies to those of you who signed up to the Frappr map over the last couple of weeks, you will be mentioned in the next show!

Tags:
business podcast
small business
growing business
AIM

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Comments:

• 01:05 Comment from John at The Alcohol Free Shop with a suggestion on when comments should appear in the podcast.

Features:

• 02.09 Interview with Brian O’Kane founder of Oak Tree Press and author of Starting A Business In Britain. Brian talks about how he set up his own publishing business and some of the challenges and pitfalls he faced which led him to write a book for start-ups. Alex and Brian talk through a number of practical issues including advice for small businesses on business planning, market research and sales. They also discuss how to deal with difficult times and the importance or otherwise of business failure.

Outro:

• 30:26 Audio comment from Glenn Biclar with a topic suggestion and a Skype chat with his fiance Voan.
• 33:00 Audio comment from Simon in Whitstable in Kent.
• 34:23 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Kees Rozemeijer in The Netherlands, Peter from Poland, Tony Campbell, Bec from Australia, Deren Monroe in Kentucky, Oleg Bivol in France, Munch in London, Glenn Biclar in Hong Kong, D Amphlett, Mike Black, Mehdi in Tokyo, Simon Taylor and Andrew Hodgson.

• 32:12 Music – Dub in Love for S-Nail by Mahadzhan with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Tags:
business podcast
small business advice
start-ups

Right click here to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Comments:

• 00:41 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Rob Prouse in Canada, Ramanujam Thodur from Texas, Mark Hammersley, Big Steve, Ron Cesek, Rolf Binder from Adelaide and Carl from Melbourne in Australia.
• 02:08 Comment from Fraser Edwards who has a very useful podcast on affiliate marketing over at affiliateblog.co.uk.
• 02.51 Comment from Steve Pursell who is looking for advice on a business selling ebooks and a recommendation for Yaro Starak’s blog.
• 03.53 Email comment from Ollie Banks of Velocity Bars who’s been inspired to explore setting up his own podcast as a result of the SmallBizPod ‘How To Podcast’ screencast.
• 04.36 Email comment from Mike Laughton looking for advice on how he can contribute to the show.
• 05.20 Email comment from Mark Mitchell in Newcastle, Australia on what a refreshing and useful perspective SmallBizPod brings to his own business.
• 06.16 Audio comment from Mike O’Hara who took up my challenge and has recently launched a sales advice podcast called the Cold Calling Podcast.

Features:

• 07.51 Interview with David Tebbutt, a journalist who has written for the FT, The Times, Real Business, Director and edited Personal Computer World. David is also a blogger and developer of an interesting piece of shareware called Brainstorm. David and Alex discuss how to get positive press coverage for your business, how to target the right journalists and publications and how to identify and pitch a story. There’s also some very valuable advice on developing concise key messages, understanding how journalists work and how to manage negative stories and protect the reputation of your business.

Outro:

• 32:12 Music – Long Way Home by Egobomber with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Tags:
business podcast
SME PR
small business
media relations

Right click to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

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

Comments:

• 01:13 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Richard Williams, Juliette Prouse in Gabon, Marston Alfred, Xavier in Paris, Carlos Vidal, the first Peruvian listener to put a pin in the map, and Mike O’Hara a Tonbridge based podcaster who lives just down the road from SmallBizPod HQ.
• 02:50 Audio comment from Fraser Edwards.
• 04:25 A reminder about Podcast User Magazine.

Features:

• 05.12 Interview by roving reporter Carl Barton with coffee entrepreneur Steve Leighton of hasbean.co.uk. Carl and Steve talk about how and why he started up his business. They also talk about how best to import goods, issues around ethical business and fair trade and the importance of passion in business. Steve also talks about why he won’t be tempted to supply the supermarkets and how he has shared his passion for coffee on blogs and forums and how this has benefited online sales.

Comments:

• 22:03 Email comment from Simon Wyndham of Five Element Productions who’ve produced a DVD guide for startups.
• 22:41 Further feedback from James Kenny on how artists are the smallest businesses of all.
• 23:24 Email from Richard Williams who enjoys SmallBizPod on the road.
• 24:07 Everything you need to know to succeed in The National Business Awards, from Orange. This year’s deadline is 24th July.
• 25:28 Comments on the SmallBizPod blog from Comic Strip Blogger on more regular editions of the show and from Ron at Buzzoodle on the new website design.
• 27:04 How to subscribe to a podcast screencasts.

Outro:

• 27:43 Music – Sad news about Electromancer. Don’t Look Back by Crowned Dark Prescence with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Tags:
business podcast
exporting
small business
ethical business

Right click to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex on what’s coming up in the show and how to contact SmallBizPod with your comments or audio comments.

Comments:

• 01:29 Email from Phil Locke who found himself being distracted from the World Cup by listening to the SmallBizPod interview with Richard Denny. Phil also asks whether there is a SmallBizPod newsletter.
• 03.13 Email from Sam Walter who raises the issue of the importance of environmental concerns for business and mentions his new website on the subject.
• 04:37 Madelaine Kirke reminds us all of how vital it is to have off site secure backups of data, a subject dear to my own heart!
• 06:20 Juliet Prouse who oscillates between Gabon and Canada in her job for an oil company mentions her entrepreneurial ambition, enjoys SmallBizPod and seeks a link to For Immediate Release, one of the best PR podcasts on the web.
• 07:51 Comments from the latest listeners to add themselves to the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: artist Greg Manley, Sam Walter, Madeleine Kirke, Nick Fogarty a kiwi in Barcelona who’d like to know more about the pros and cons of distribution agents for his export/distribution business, and Oliver Abrahams who’d like to see a show on PR on a shoestring and who has recently launched a product innovation business.

Features:

• 11.08 Interview with BJ Cunningham a serial entrepreneur and brand consultant. BJ gives listeners a fascinating insight into how to make small business branding stand out based on his own entrepreneurial experiences as a luxury car importer, the creator of Death Cigarettes, and founder of Georgina Goodman an exclusive London shoe shop. We talk about building depth, rather than width when it comes to branding, engaging customers by communicating clearly and delivering on your promises. We also cover how to create a brand proposition through a compelling idea that shoots like a bullet into the brains of your customers and how to make the ordinary extraordinary.
• 31.41 BJ talks about brand consultancy and his forthcoming Brand Evolution workshops in London.

Outro:

• 34:18 Music – Intelligent Design by Electronic Voice Phenomenon with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Tags:
business podcast
branding
small business
marketing

Right click to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex, the prodigal zombie and proud father, returns to introduce the show and highlights the launch of the new SmallBizPod website.

Comments:

• 01:44 Comment from David George on business planning.
• 03.10 Thoughts on the benefits of podcasting for small businesses from Bob Cartwright at Backpackinglight.
• 04:24 Email from Mike Jump at Frankfurt Messe on additional advice for businesses looking to export which you can download here.
• 06:05 Comment from David Rose who is writing a book on the lifestyle and human interest aspects of becoming an entrepreneur. David would like any SmallBizPod listeners interested in being interviewed for the book to contact him at: +44 (0) 1568 611196 or davidgrose@onetel.net.
• 07:06 Another comment from David George on guidance on recruiting.
• 07:34 Comment from David Braziel with some ideas for a show on web applications and software that could benefit small business owners.

Features:

• 10.00 Interviews from the Business Scope seminar, beginning with Elaine Gold of Y’s weight on how she managed the process of developing and franchising her business idea.
• 16.00 Interview with Jeffrey Pym of Beer & Partners on the potential benefits of looking to business angels for funding and why some businesses fear giving up control and equity.
• 22.12 Interview with Sarah Staines of Sherrards on how to structure your business to protect the value of your intellectual property.

Frappr Map Comments:

• 28:41 Comments from listeners who’ve put a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Edward Kay, Richard Banks, David George, Matthew Marshall our first Maltese listener, David Cruickshank, Joel Haasnoot in Leiden, Adrian Pepper, Fin, David Anderson, Elwyn Price, James Kennedy in Dublin, Mike Cleary, Ben Moss of Robertson Cooper, Soren Helsted in Copenhagen, Mike in London, Raj Bangar, John Dutton, Dustin Senos in British Columbia, Jason Wallace, Antonino from Rome in Italy, Jess Craven, Dean Whitbread, Chris Ledden, Kare Anderson, N Tootie and James Kenny.

Outro:

• 32:50 Music – Get Into Your Brain by sublimator with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Tags:
business podcast
franchising
small business
business angels

As you’ll see, we’re having a bit of an overhaul of the SmallBizPod site which I hope you’ll like. It’s not quite finished yet, so you’ll find some pages completed over the next few days.

What’s more there’s a series of excellent podcasts due out over the next few weeks.

Best wishes

Alex

Right click to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex introduces the show and highlights the listener voicemail service for audio feedback via Skype at alex-smallbizpod or +44 20 8133 1656.
• 02:38 Comments from listeners who’ve put a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: John Ireland, Fred, Carl Barton, Derek Telles, Kare, David Fineberg, Lamia Cross, and James Turner.

Features:

• 05.07 Interview with Simon Coyle of Kschocolat. Alex and Simon talk about international trade; how to grow your business through exports; the importance of good distributors and importers; how the Kschocolat brand was built; the inspiration behind the brand; market research; small business quality and differentiation; and the key factors that have lead to business success.

Comments:

• 20:46 Comment from Alan Stevens, the MediaCoach who also runs a media training podcast.
• 22.19 Jason King thanks SmallBizPod for the inspiration behind OfficeBuffoon.com!
• 24.34 Paul Worrall comments on some issues around factoring, a business finance concept he’s developing and his open source software podcast.
• 26.42 Feedback from Guy Kingston of the Mind Your Own Business podcast and business conversations between SmallBizPod listeners.
• 27.51 Gordon Graham of the Broken Bulbs blogs puts forward some fascinating views on what defines an entrepreneur.

Outro:

• 31:42 Alex closes the show and reminds listeners of how to get feedback to SmallBizPod.
• 33:31 Music – Jupiter II by Quibus with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Best wishes

Alex Bellinger

Tags:
business podcast
international trade
business
small business
exporting

Right click to download

Click on the play button below to listen now

If you’d like to subscribe free using an RSS feed, download your free aggregator software like Juice or Doppler Radio and right click on the orange subscribe button on the top right hand side of this page copying the link into your aggregator. For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link or player above.

For those who’d like to download SmallBizPod or listen to it now, click on the link above.

Show Notes

Summary

Intro:

• 00:00 Alex introduces a packed show and apologises for a small delay in getting out SmallBizPod #25.
• 01:31 Comments from listeners who’ve put a pin in the SmallBizPod Frappr map including: Stuart Oliver, Chad Reese, Jeremy Gittens, Steve Smart, Shawn George, Giovanni Salinas, John Attree, Ben, Georgette Jarvis, Napoleon Biggs, David aka Xodust, Anne Marie McEwan, Alexis Goncalves, Lee Wilson, Katie Shellhorse, Alexander van Grunsven, and Dave from Pretoria.

Features:

• 05.33 Interview with Kate Sharp of the Factors and Discounters Association. Alex and Kate talk about how small businesses can benefit from factoring and invoice finance; which businesses suit this form of finance; how to choose the right factor or invoice discounter; what to expect by way of charges; and whether there is any benefit over a simple bank loan to cover cash flow shortfalls.
• 16.10 Interview with Jo Ashburner and Jonathan Dean of noonoo designabout their experiences of factoring and how it has helped their baby comfort blanket business secure rapid growth into international markets.

Outro:

• 33:18 Comments left on the blog from Tee and Steve Smart with some views on entrepreneurship and SmallBizPod editorial policy.
• 38:10 Email comments from Crystal and Bob Cartwright with some constructive criticism of the website and forum.
• 39:57 Comment from the mystery Mexican, Giovanni Selinas, on inspiration and his own experiences as a start-up.
• 41:41 SmallBizPod will be interviewing the shadow small business minister at a seminar on discovering hidden profits in your business put on by Gifty Enright of Business Scope – Alex hopes to see some SmallBizPod listeners there.
• 42.45 Simon Davis with another call for weekly editions of SmallBizPod!
• 44.15 Interesting comments and views on how to be successful in business from Matthew Harwood.
• 46.20 A podcast plug for FundingUniverse.com.
• 47.02 Thanks go Guy Kingston of the Mind Your Own Business podcast.

• 47:38 Music – London Chainsaw Massacre by REDXONE with thanks to Electromancer.com.

Best wishes

Alex Bellinger

Tags:
business podcast
small business finance
business
small business
factoring