Curious Business: Insights for B2B Growth

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 to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and anecdotes to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity and take action, igniting real momentum. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call.

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 to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and anecdotes to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity and take action, igniting real momentum. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call.

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 to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and anecdotes to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity and take action, igniting real momentum. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call.

Dan Klein, a veteran in data-driven technology, shares insights on the evolution of Generative AI. He argues that curiosity is key to leveraging AI for business innovation rather than simply adopting new technologies. Klein emphasizes the importance of skilled professionals in ensuring effective AI integration and decision-making. He critiques reliance on legacy systems like Excel, advocating for continuous learning and adaptation. Storytelling from various sectors highlights how organizations can thrive by fostering a culture of experimentation and questioning.

It seems we're awash with data these days. It's meant to improve decision-making and outcomes. While sales data tells us what has happened, it rarely tells us why it happened. It also tells us nothing about what didn't happen. Why did a customer walk away? What didn't they choose — and why? In this podcast, I talk to Tessa Stuart who dives into the mysteries of actual consumer behaviour almost every day. Tessa works in the food and drink retail space, helping brands to understand customers and decode their preferences, choices and actions. She helps to reveal the mindset behind the metrics. These consumer insights bring the numbers to life and transform how companies present themselves to customers when it matters most. Known as 'The Shopper Stalker', Tessa shares her journey from advertising focus groups to becoming a leading voice of live customer insight via attempting to sell her children to Innocent drinks. Featured on Radio 4's The Today Programme, she's also the author of two books about getting stocked and then getting picked off the shelf. What Tessa does is eminently transferrable outside of food and drink, listen to 'What Data Doesn't Tell Us' to find out: Tessa's approach and how she became the Shopper Stalker What she's learned about how consumers think and behave How real-time encounters can help brands connect with customers What her observations of buyer behaviour reveal about how brands should present themselves How augmenting sales data can help us connect with actual customer needs -- Connect with Tessa on LinkedIn. Sign up for her insight-packed newsletters. Buy her books on Amazon: Packed and Flying Off The Shelves. -- Thanks for listening to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and anecdotes to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity and take action, igniting real momentum. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call.

Join Andrew Seel, a veteran of employee advocacy and founder of Togethr, as he unpacks the art of getting employees to share their stories on social media. Discover how genuine engagement can transform branding and trust. Andrew discusses the power of authenticity and the importance of equipping employees with social media skills. Learn about the structured approaches needed to encourage participation, the unexpected benefits of advocacy, and ways to measure success that go beyond just engagement. It’s a treasure trove of insights for modern businesses!

In a fascinating discussion with Christopher Martlew, author and expert in organizational change, the challenges of adapting to rapid technological shifts are explored. He emphasizes that change is not just a business hurdle but a human one, urging leaders to embrace it organically. Delving into the role of AI in management, Chris raises intriguing questions about decision-making dynamics. He also highlights the importance of ethical leadership and the need for businesses to foster resilience and innovation in this ever-evolving landscape.

Stephanie Forrest, founder and CEO of TFD, dives into the art of storytelling in business communications. She discusses the crucial evolution of media and how companies can earn trust through authentic storytelling rather than paid ads. Stephanie shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences, highlighting the importance of knowing why people should care about your product. She also offers insights on effectively engaging journalists to ensure messages cut through the crowded media landscape.

Karen Green, a retail sales expert and bestselling author of Buyerology, shares her insights on the art and science of understanding buyers. She reveals surprising tactics used by professional buyers to gain leverage and discusses the critical importance of building relationships in sales. Green introduces her five-step buyer model, emphasizing tailored approaches in today’s market. She also dives into the emotional complexities of negotiation and the necessity for innovative sales strategies in a rapidly changing landscape. A must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their sales skills!