In this episode of Let's Talk Shop podcast, I speak with, buyer and owner Priya Aurora-Crowe of Lark London. 

Lark London is a wonderful chain of 18 independent brick-and-mortar stores in London and Surrey, that is owned by Priay and her husband Dominic Crowe. 

Priya shared her experiences and perspectives on the ever-evolving world of retail. Here are some of the key takeaways: 

1. Previews and Prototypes: Priya expressed her love for getting early glimpses of new ranges and products. It's like Christmas for her team at Lark! They enjoy opening boxes, reading emails and letters, and examining samples. These previews allow them to stay ahead of the curve and make informed buying decisions. 

1. Supporting Small Businesses: At Lark London, community support and finding hidden gems are at the heart of their buying process. Priya and her team review applications from local businesses on a weekly basis, selecting small businesses to support and help grow. This aspect of their job is particularly fulfilling and inspiring. 

1. Dealing with Challenges: Priya shed light on the challenges they face, including the unfortunate issue of shoplifting. They have been experiencing thefts at their stores, resulting in frustration and concern. Priya emphasised the need for more effective actions to deter shoplifters and prevent such incidents that ultimately affect both businesses and local consumers. 

1. Dividing Responsibilities: Priya and her partner, Dom, have wisely divided their responsibilities to ensure a harmonious relationship and to run Lark London efficiently. While Priya oversees buying, staffing, social media, and merchandising, Dom takes care of managing the shop, handling fit-outs, and dealing with legalities and maintenance tasks. 

1. Importance of Branding: Good branding and packaging are vital for standing out in a competitive market. Priya highlighted the significance of products having a story and visually cohesive branding for effective merchandising. Strong branding and packaging can truly make a product shine on the shelves of Lark London. 

We hope these insights from Priya have given you a fresh perspective on the world of product businesses. 

This episode wraps up another season of Let's Talk Shop, the podcast is all about empowering and supporting you on your journey to building a profitable product business through wholesale. 

https://www.larklondon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lark_london/

My links

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with, Jake and Freya from Studio Wald. This is the second time Jake and Freya comes on the podcast and a lot have happened in their business since last time.

They have now got over 1000 stockists who bought from them, with over 300 buying regularly, and they now employ a team of 4. 

In this episode, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of running a product-based business, focusing on wholesale strategies, production quality, and market conditions. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

1️⃣ Balancing growth with life: We chat about that it’s not always about growth in business. Sometimes, it’s more about maintaining business so you can achieve a good life-work balance. It’s a nice reminder that we’re building our businesses for us, and they need to fit into our life. 

2️⃣ Attention to production quality: Maintaining high production quality is crucial for success, and this always creates new challenges. Studio Wald’s bestselling flower press used to be made with Birch Ply, but since the war in Ukraine, this is now sanctioned as it is mainly produced in Russia, which meant resourcing and switching to maple veneered MDF.  This in turn, meant working with a new material, and having to balance the increased costs with maintaining affordability to the customer.

3️⃣ Adaptability and growth mindset: Jake and Freya shared how their approach to product releases has evolved over time. They moved from a perfectionist mindset of waiting until everything was ready to an organic and agile approach. By building a stock of adaptable photos and embracing flexibility, they were able to release designs more quickly. 

About Studio Wald

Freya and Jake, are the owners and creatives behind Studio Wald.  Freya and Jake met while studying a degree in 3D design. And now they have 3 children and a busy Leeds city-centre studio where they make or compile their products. All paper products are printed and finished in England, mainly in their home county of Yorkshire, using either 100% recycled or FSC certified paper. 

All their products are made in the UK with care & attention to ideas, pattern & process.

Jake and Freya have been on the podcast before, so I’m excited to have them back to hear how they have grown their business since we last spoke. Plus, when I ask paper-based business owners who they look up to, quite often Studio Wald comes up, so I know you’re just as keen to hear from them.

https://studiowald.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/studio_wald/

My links

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/

In this episode of Let’s talk Shop, I had the pleasure of talking to Myfanwy Gloster from Glosters Pottery. Mev and her husband Tom founded Glosters Pottery, with Tom being the potter and Mev handling the day-to-day operations. They started with a café and gradually transitioned into a craft pottery shop, which has now become a thriving wholesale business.

During the conversation, Mev shares their journey of starting small, how the business grew throughout the pandemic, and how they this year decided to start to wholesale. She discusses their decision to exhibit at their first trade show, and the incredible response they received from buyers. In fact, they went from having only ten stockists to over seventy within a short period of time. Mev also talks about the challenges and learnings from the trade show experience, as well as their plans for expanding their workshop space and adding new products.

If you're a product business owner looking to grow through wholesale or are curious about the world of trade shows, this episode is a must-listen. Learn from Mev's firsthand experience and gain valuable insights into building a successful brand.

[00:00:00] Podcast for product businesses, retail buyers, brand owners. Joined by Mev from GlosterPottery, discussing their wholesale and business expansion.

[00:05:36] Stockists and growth; Kew Gardens reordered.

[00:07:23] Trade shows are hard work, underestimated busyness.

[00:11:25] Creating an easy and efficient wholesale process.

[00:13:33] Planning Autumn, ordering complementary items, Christmas preparations.

[00:17:41] Summary: Relocation, more space, shop visibility, mug painting.

[00:19:48] Challenging journey, but great team and experience.

[00:25:49] Thanks for listening to the podcast!

About Glosters

Glosters Pottery was founded by Myfanwy Gloster and her husband Tom Gloster. Tom is the potter, and Myfanwy runs the day to day of their busy Porthmadog based pottery workshop and shop. 

Glosters designer ceramics are made from stoneware clay and they use a range of glazes inspired by their local surroundings and the changing seasons in North Wales.

https://www.glosters.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/glosterspottery

My links

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/