160: The Rise of Hedley & Bennett: How Ellen Bennett Built an 8-Figure Culinary Empire - 8FE

This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark.

What if all it took to build an 8-figure company was $300 and a dream?

In this episode of Beyond A Million, Brad sits down with Ellen Bennett, the visionary founder of the culinary empire Hedley & Bennett. Starting with just $300 and a passion for improving the tools chefs rely on, Ellen turned her dream into a thriving 8-figure business.

She shares her journey from working in Michelin-starred kitchens to designing gear and tools that professional chefs and home cooks love. She dives deep into the challenges of scaling Hedley & Bennett, including transitioning from bespoke B2B sales to direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and why staying authentic to the brand's mission has been her guiding star.

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 Intro

• 04:03 Michelin star rating system

• 05:58 The importance of sleep

• 09:23 Starting and growing Hedley & Bennett

• 17:21 Direct consumer vs. B2B

• 18:34 Balancing growth and efficiency

• 26:29 Stepping down as the CEO

• 31:26 Product roadmap

• 34:42 Ellen's involvement in product development

• 37:56 Becoming an omnichannel business

• 43:32 Social media marketing and branding

• 49:18 Outro

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Additional Resources:

🔹 Ellen's Website: https://www.hedleyandbennett.com/

🔹 Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmariebennett/

🔹 Hedley & Bennett on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedleyandbennett/

🔹 Kitchen Glow Up: https://www.tastemade.com/shows/kitchen-glow-up

🔹 Dream First, Details Later: https://a.co/d/gPGFZAF

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Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work.

If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU!

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