Curious Business: Insights for B2B Growth

What’s it like to be a real legacy business? One with a heritage going back over 100 years? How do you navigate new methods, classic products and changing tastes? This is a masterclass in knowing who you are, who your customers are and what you’re about. Andy Valentine is a food industry veteran who now feels like the proverbial "kid in the sweet shop". He’s responsible for developing direct, B2B and private-label channels for a business that combines traditional handcrafted techniques with state-of-the-art facilities. Stockley's was founded in 1918 in Accrington, Lancashire and has managed to navigate tastes, trends, the second world war, the demise of Woolworths and, more recently, a number of different owners. But how far and fast should you go to open up new channels in a £6bn market dominated by multinationals?   Listen to this episode to discover: The journey from humble premises to 21st century manufacturer The channels and formats bringing new customers to Stockley's Where and what the biggest opportunities are, and how to prioritise Why being a relative minnow might just be their greatest advantage What’s the most divisive product in confectionery   Find out more and buy online: https://stockleys-sweets.co.uk   Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-valentine-1752671/ -- Thanks for listening. Curious Business is here to bring you insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris and I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite momentum in their marketing and pipeline. Like to know more? Book a discovery call: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/discovery/ Or sign-up to 'The Prompt' my monthly newsletter: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/signup/ If you'd like to talk about how podcasts can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit: www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.

Huib van Bockel, former marketing head at Red Bull Europe and founder of Tenzing, shares his journey in creating a natural, low-sugar energy drink. He reveals the challenges of launching against big brands, including why he defied traditional sugar norms. Huib discusses the importance of community in building Tenzing, how grassroots engagement helped shape the brand, and his lessons learned about rapid testing and flavor iterations. He also touches on the significance of intuition in decision-making and the pride he takes in balancing work-life priorities.

In this engaging discussion, marketing strategist James Hankins, former Global VP of Marketing Strategy at Sage, shares valuable insights on influencing consumer behavior. He challenges common marketing myths, advocating that understanding market dynamics is crucial for strategy success. Hankins introduces his innovative Hankins Hexagon model, offering a clearer view of the chaotic buyer journey compared to traditional funnels. He dives into the implications of slowing SaaS growth and explores how AI can reshape marketing influence, all while keeping the conversation entertaining and thought-provoking.

Chris Brogan, a ten-time author and strategic advisor, shares his candid insights on leadership and growth. He discusses the importance of embracing failure and how it can lead to a more adaptable organization. Chris reveals lessons learned from helping scale a B2B SaaS company and explores the need for continual learning, including his journey into coding. He offers valuable cold email marketing tips and highlights the traits that define great leaders. With a touch of humor, he reflects on how companies can retain their flexibility amidst rapid growth.

Ella McKay, founder of the unapologetically indulgent chocolate brand Fatso, shares her journey from brand marketer to entrepreneur. She discusses the provocative name as a rebellion against guilt and restriction in the chocolate world. Ella emphasizes the importance of ethical sourcing from Colombian cacao farmers and navigating the complexities of retailer relationships. With a hands-on approach, she highlights the balance between gut instinct and analytics, and her ambitious plans for making dark chocolate exciting again.

Simon Haighton-Williams, CEO of The Adaptavist Group, shares his journey from a 15-person tech shop to leading a £300m global business. He discusses the importance of empathy and systems thinking in leadership, the calculated risks that drive growth, and how adapting to change is crucial in today's tech landscape. Simon also reflects on early influences, the challenges of international expansion, and the value of diverse reading in shaping innovative strategies. Discover how diving metaphors illustrate thriving outside comfort zones.

In this discussion, Sangeet Paul Choudary, a renowned author and strategist to Fortune 500 companies, shares insights from his book 'Reshuffle'. He reveals how AI is reshaping business models, urging a shift from task optimization to system reimagination. Choudary emphasizes the importance of understanding AI’s true value beyond hype and highlights how innovators are leveraging AI to gain competitive advantages. He also stresses the need for educational reform to prepare the workforce for rapid changes in the job market. Intriguing parallels between teamwork and AI enhance the conversation.

What do you do when people won’t pay a sustainable price for the high quality product you’ve worked so hard to produce? How do you get started in your career and find your passion? The co-founder of Hive Mind Mead tells all. Kit Newell, co-founder of the Great Taste Award-winning honey drinks brand, shares how his career in advertising and design prepared him for entrepreneurship - and the key skills that helped him build a business stocked in over 50 M&S stores. Listen now to hear all about:  The journey from advertising, design and product management to an award-winning ‘modern mead’ business How (and why) Hive Mind pivoted from high-quality honey to a modern honey-based drinks business The interplay between intuition and analytics, and the main thing Kit would do differently if the business started again How they’ve built the business, adding stockists and distribution, and what Kit spends most of his time doing Why they found themselves listening to heavy metal till sunrise four or five nights a week?   🔗 Explore Hive Mind Mead and buy online: hivemindmead.com   🛒 Find them in M&S (until end of September): See locations -- Thanks for listening. Curious Business is here to bring you insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris and I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite momentum in their marketing and pipeline. Like to know more? Book a discovery call: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/discovery/ Or sign-up to 'The Prompt' my monthly newsletter: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/signup/ If you'd like to talk about how podcasts can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit: www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.

Is communication a soft skill or is the most powerful tool in your armoury? In this episode of Curious Business, Nima Abu Wardeh, author of The Brilliant Communicator argues that it can easily be the difference between success and failure. Do you deliver your message so in a way that engages your target audience? Do you resonate with what they care about so your message takes root? Speaking from her experiences as a presenter, moderator, trainer and  broadcast journalist with a background in medical engineering, Nima shares crucial tips and business insights for better communication. Listen now to learn from her "brilliant communicator" framework, the foundations that set up you up for success. She recounts real-world examples from her time presenting on BBC World and FT TV and explains the ways that people often fail to connect. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned corporate executive, pitching to investors or inspiring your team, you'll learn how to elevate your communication skills and realise your version of success. Tune in to hear: The secrets of standing out and seducing the people you want to reach (with your ideas)  How school conditions us to mis-communicate The misalignment that cost NASA $125m How companies fumble their media appearances and misunderstand their goals Prep, focus and land your message for maximum impact Grab 'The Brilliant Communicator' book: - at Bookshop.org (affiliate link, supports local bookstores) Get weekly tips from Nima, sign up for her newsletter: - at www.thebrilliantcommunicator.com Connect with Nima:  - on LinkedIn -- Thanks for listening. Curious Business is here to bring you insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris and I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite momentum in their marketing and pipeline. Like to know more? Book a discovery call: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/discovery/ Or sign-up to 'The Prompt' my monthly newsletter: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/signup/ If you'd like to talk about how podcasts can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit: www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.

Band logos sit at the intersection of design, culture, and belonging, and can stir up no end of passion, nostalgia, and debate. In the book Logo Rhythm, Jim K Davies and Jamie Ellul have uncovered the stories behind 93 of the best band logos (and a few solo artist logos) of the last 60 years. In this podcast, we talk about how they came about and what business branding can learn. The book lovingly explores legendary (and not-so-legendary) bands and their legendary brands, revealing whether they were created by designers, agencies, the bands or even the drummer’s dad. It raises questions about what makes for an unforgettable logo, and identifies the marques that have influenced wider design and branding, or wound up on the t-shirts of today's pre-teens. Tune in to learn: Who do they think is the best-branded band of the last seven decades All about the seven-year process of bringing the book into the world Why Taylor Swift doesn’t have a logo What’s so odd about The Beatles’ logo How do band logos fit into the current music (and design) landscape   -- Buy 'Logo Rhythm' the book: -  at Bookshop.org (affiliate link) Connect with Jim: - Jim on LinkedIn - Totalcontent Connect with Jamie:  - Jamie on LinkedIn - Supple Studios   Mentioned in this episode: - Tat by Andy Altmann (affiliate link)   -- Thanks for listening. Curious Business is here to bring you insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris and I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite momentum in their marketing and pipeline. Like to know more? Book a discovery call: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/discovery/ Or sign-up to 'The Prompt' my monthly newsletter: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/signup/ If you'd like to talk about how podcasts can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit: www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.