Bloom by Blue Cactus: Recent Episodes
bloombybluecactus
The Bloom by Blue Cactus Podcast is led by Clare Martin, founder of Blue Cactus Digital. Blue Cactus is a digital marketing agency, focusing on the startup and disruptive brand market.
The Bloom Podcast is all about getting the fastest growth by investing in your business marketing, whether that's your branding, your website, your social media, ads or email marketing strategy. We'll be chatting to real business owners that have scaled their business by investing in the right things at the right time and by getting to know exactly what their clients and customers want.
We're in a chocolatey mood this week for the Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast 😍
In this episode we speak with Maya Simler, the founder of @playinchoc They are a confectionary company that couples organically grown and ethical chocolate with recycled cardboard toys!
Clare and Maya discuss the logistics of setting up a chocolate brand and how angel investments matched with crowdfunding can really help with funding your business.
Our new episode of the Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast is now available for you to listen too🌵
This week we have been speaking to Dejan Mit, CEO and Co-Founder of Moree. They are a reusable and refill services offering B2C companies the opportunity to help reduce their waste!
Clare and Dejan discuss changing consumer habits towards sustainability, and how finding investment as a business owner can take up a lot of your time!
In episode 10 of the Bloom by Blue Cactus Podcast, we talk to Francesca Bruni, co-founder of Two Brrooks, a hard seltzer brand. Two Brooks was set up as the Covid pandemic took hold, but that has worked to the company's advantage as people began drinking at home instead of in the pub.
The company has gone from strength-to-strength. It's entirely self-funded and has managed to grow fast in the last few years.
Francesca explains why it's so important to invest in branding and a decent website, but also reveals investment mistakes her and her brothers have made along the way.
Welcome to Episode 9 of the Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast, available now!
We speak with Ben the founder of Bare Fruit: The drinks brand that turns fresh fruit into a delicious and nutritious drink, giving a new take on the smoothie.
We talk to Ben about: 🌵How the business was set up 🌵How the idea came about 🌵Why subscription was the way forward 🌵How growth occurred with a tiny investment 🌵The struggles and successes of bootstrapping 🌵Time management 🌵Navigating the food & beverage industry
In episode 8 of the Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast, our founder Clare chats to Mark Hirschel, co-founder of Hownd, a natural dog grooming and food brand. Mark discusses how the brand has developed to offer a new product offering, his experience with investors and plans for the future. It's a must-listen for any pet-based brands or businesses looking to grow with investment.
In the 7th episode of the Bloom by Blue Cactus Podcast, we chat to Nadia Hamila, founder of Amboora, an innovative spice and sauce brand that has sustainability and culture at the heart of everything it does. Clare talks to Nadia about distribution and how she's responding to customer demand, deals with minimum order quantities and packaging!
On this weeks podcast we spoke to Laura Clacey, founder of Sxollie (a craft cider with sustainability at its core).
We discussed:
- How Sxollie was founded
- The meaning behind the name
- The struggle with gaining investment and how this was overcome
- The most valuable thing to the business
- Did you know that Sxollie ciders are 100% vegan, gluten free, no concentrate, no added flavourings, lower in calories & no added sugar!
Listen below or save for later!
We chat to Laura Harnett, founder of @seep, a plastic-free cleaning company focused on using natural, innovative materials for all your cleaning needs. Founded ONLY a year ago when discovering the difficulties of finding plastic-free cleaning products in the supermarket. Current ranges include, compostable sponges, bin-liners and recyclable copper scourers. We talk about:
- Founding and setting up a business
- Sourcing the materials of these eco-friendly designs
- Developing products in response to customer demand
- New product launches
THIS is a must, for anyone interested in eco-friendly alternatives or anyone who is looking for some tips when starting up their own business!
We spoke to Zane Bermaka, founder of @atlantis.skincare - an all natural skin care brand.
Atlantis focuses on 100% natural skincare products that are handcrafted in the UK. Based around anti-ageing natural health and beauty encouraging people to appreciate our environment and pay attention our surrounding plants as they can teach us a lot.
We talk about:
🌱 How the business was founded 🌱 Developing formulations and marketing 🌱 Experiences learnt from developing Atlantis skincare 🌱 Opportunity to learn online and re-establish as an online marketplace 🌱 Valuable lessons learnt 🌱 Marketing to a global audience 🌱 Researching global markets 🌱 Tips for start ups
In this episode of the Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast, Clare chats to Aleksandra Matthews, a super-successful fashion entrepreneur who's built up eco-minded children's clothing brand Raspberry Plum.
The brand has had huge success with PR and social media marketing, catching the attention of premium retailers, with its clothing sitting beside Karl Lagerfeld, Givenchy and Fendi in Selfridges and Farfetch.
Aleksandra is definitely a doer, but she chats to us about what it's like to be a creative in the entrepreneur world and why it's so important to try everything as a business owner, before deciding what you're good at and what you're not so good at!
Tune in to hear our founder, Clare, speak with Dominique Woolf, founder of The Woolf's Kitchen.
Each episode leaves us so inspired.
Hear about Dominique's story so far and her advice to other solo founders in their early stages, including how to find a manufacturer, dealing with minimum order quantities and more!
We were thrilled when Anna Brightman, Co-Founder of @upcirclebeauty agreed to be our first guest for Season 2.
The brand known for pioneering the “by-product beauty” trend, we have watched them start, grow and now dominate a niche they created.
Anna talks about the company's appearance on Dragon's Den, getting funding and expansion into international markets. It's a CORKER!
Our (fashion) prayers have been answered! 🙏👗
Who else is a 'Clueless' fan and has drooled over Cher's outfit-picking wardrobe for the last 3 decades? It's finally a reality!
In this week's episode, Clare speaks with Bianca Rangecroft, Founder and CEO of @whering_.
The digital closet, helping you rediscover your wardrobe treasures, as well as, suggesting ethical pieces that compliment what you already own.
We are smitten with the app.
Tune in to hear:
🌵 How Bianca has been sending waves through the fashion industry.
🌵 How fashion lovers have helped Whering grow enormously since its launch last year.
🌵 The power of organic social media and word of mouth recommendations
🌵 The barriers faced by female tech founders seeking funding
We are so excited to see how Whering develops! There's a Cher in all of us just waiting to break free.
Are you as excited as us?
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Bunmi Scott, Founder of @itsallaboutyou_eco. The online eco shop, selling refillable pantry staples to households across the UK.
Listen in to hear:
🌵 What led to the creation of the business
🌵 Why they sought external investment
🌵 Why education forms a large part of their marketing strategy
🌵 How the physical store came about
🌵 What the future holds
We love refill shops and love that it is now accessible to everyone who may not have one physically close to them.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Russ and Gemma Wakeham, the husband and wife co-founders of @twodriftersrum
They have combined their two passions – making great rum and environmental sustainability.
Listen in to hear how:
🌵 Living in Vancouver sparked their business idea
🌵 How they went all in to fund their business
🌵 How they went from brewing beer to distilling rum
🌵 The importance of upskilling in digital marketing
🌵 The reality of crowdfunding and how it's changed their business
Such a great founder story and one we're sure will inspire others looking to make the leap into entrepreneurship.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Eliza Flanagan, Co-Founder of @kankan_london.
A business based on such a simple idea, even they can't believe no one thought of it earlier; liquid soap, beauty products and baby products sold in aluminium cans.
We have loved watching this brand grow since they launched in 2019.
Tune in to hear:
🌵 How they unusually started with their mission before embarking on creating a business around it
🌵 Why they decided to use cans for their products and how the execution has been more complicated than they thought
🌵 The best advice they received from a Sustainability Consultant they hired as they were launching
🌵 Their funding journey from self-funding the launch, to now embarking on @crowdcube funding
🌵 Their ambitious expansion plans and how you can support them
We love nothing more than seeing passionate founders grow their businesses. Listen in from the link in our bio.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Josie Morris, MD, @wearewoolcool
This intergenerational family business has transformed how food and pharmaceuticals are transported around the world. All thanks to our woolly friends 🐑🐑🐑
Tune in to hear:
🌵 How a chance project with the @nationaltrust began research into natural polystyrene alternatives to keep food cool in transit
🌵 How switching to natural alternatives may be slightly more expensive per unit but when you factor in the use of fewer ice packs, less water and lighter packages, the cost saving is comparable
🌵 How a mix of self-funding, private investment and grants helped to scale the business
🌵 Tips on how to apply for grants and why you shouldn't be put off by the process
🌵 How becoming a @bcorpuk has changed their business
🌵 What else they invested in which has proved to be a gamechanger
Not one to miss. You'll never look at a delivery the same again. Click on the link in our bio to listen!
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Guy Schanschieff, Founder of @bambinomio.
While many think the renaissance of reusable nappies is a recent phenomenon, Bambino Mio launched 20 years ago and have evolved greatly in that time.
It's always inspiring hearing about the journey of a more established business when you're just starting out.
The nuggets we know you'll love to hear more about:
🌵 the three stages Bambino Mio have gone through to get to £20 million annual turnover
🌵 the investments made in digitalisation, marketing, processes and people that skyrocketed their productivity and sales
🌵 why tough times are a blessing in disguise
🌵 why raising awareness to the masses is proving pivotal for purpose-led businesses
This episode gives us hope that through perseverance and being true to our purpose, we can build a brighter future.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Harry Norris, Founder of @biglittlebrands_uk.
This innovative platform, heralded as the sustainable Etsy or Not On The High Street, was launched in December to raise the profile of sustainable start-ups, helping to elevate them and raise their profile in a noisy online world.
Harry talks us through:
🌵 what inspired him to launch Big Little Brands
🌵 how he financed his launch with a family loan
🌵 his biggest lessons so far
🌵 his tips for launching a new business
Don't miss this episode! What's not to love about a platform championing ethical start-ups - Tune in to hear all about it 💚🌍
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Tom Meades, Founder of @gomidesign.
Gomi is a sustainable design studio in Brighton, England, that turns non-recyclable plastic waste into tech products. They started out in 2018, transforming unwanted plastic bags and wraps into colourful, marbled Bluetooth speakers.
Tune in to hear:
🌵 How the idea for Gomi came about
🌵 Why they chose crowdfunding as the source of their start-up funding
🌵 Why a failed fundraising campaign isn't necessarily the end of the road
🌵 The pros and cons of going down the crowdfunding investment route
🌵 Tips for creating a crowdfunding campaign and how to ask for help
🌵 The product launches and brand collaborations in the pipeline for the year ahead.
We loved our chat with Tom and can't wait to hear what other innovative ideas he has up his sleeve.
What's the most innovative use of recycled plastic you've heard of?
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with David Ward, Founder of @thenurturingco, the brains behind @love.bambooloo, the eco, bamboo toilet paper.
We love David's founder story!
Listen to find out:
🌵 How a chance chat in a bar led David to leave a 25 year career in fashion to pursue a new 'green' venture, back in the days when no-one was thinking about a plastic-free world.
🌵 How he walked away from his initial venture when its path started to divert from his values.
🌵 The journey of starting again and sourcing new suppliers
🌵 How The Nurturing Co. has expanded to incorporate a collection of sustainable hygiene products.
🌵 The latest business idea which is currently crowdfunding.
We love speaking to like-minded entrepreneurs who are always leading the way and helping change consumer perceptions and buying habits.
Are you ready for your tush to make the switch to bamboo?
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Phill Kalli, Founder of @fillrefillco.
If you've ever stopped by a zero waste shop, the chances are you've come across Fill before. Suppling cleaning products in bulk either to brick and mortar stores, home delivery via partners such as @planetminimal and @freshmilkandmore and directly from their website, Fill are on a mission to eliminate waste in the cleaning supply chain.
Tune in to hear:
🌵 What inspired the idea behind Fill
🌵 Why and how Fill has grown organically
🌵 The biggest investment Fill have made in their business
🌵 How partnerships have shaped Fill's growth
🌵 Teaser of what's coming in the next 12 months
From a radical idea, when the concept of refilling was still in its infancy, to growing organically, without the need to market themselves. This episode is not one to be missed.
We were absolutely delighted when Kresse, Co- Founder of @elvisandkresse accepted our invitation to come and talk on our Bloom by Blue Cactus podcast, about how they started and their plans for the future.
Tune in to hear about:
🌵 How landfill visits and trips to the British museum sowed the seed for wanting to embark on a circular economy venture.
🌵 How decommissioned fire hoses sparked inspiration in Kresse and how a split decision shaped their business model
🌵 A thought-provoking discussion on how being self-funded allowed Elvis and Kresse to stay true to their values
🌵 How partnerships with @costacoffee @clipperteas and @burberry came about and why patience is important to make collaborations work (the circular economy doesn't work without them!)
🌵 Hints of what's to come for this incredible luxury brand
Such an inspiring episode and we love the mantra of 'rescue, transform, donate' which will continue to drive Elvis and Kresse in their growth and their normalisation of a circular economy.
This is such an inspiring start-up story and a brilliant example of how the mission and story behind the brand can be is the biggest asset in its marketing message.
Sarah admits she never planned on being an entrepreneur but a trip to Uganda coupled with a broken leg helped forge her current journey.
Intrigued? We learned so much from Sarah in the episode, not just about socio-economic injustice in Uganda and India but also about supply chains in the fast fashion industry and the lack of accountability we should all be aware of.
Listen to this episode to be uplifted and hear about:
🌵 How this brand came about - serendipity springs to mind!
🌵 How to source suppliers
🌵 What people don't tell you about crowdfunding
🌵 What access to underwear means to women in developing countries
🌵 How having a clear mission and adapting to unexpected curveballs can make or break your business.
After hearing how far this fledgling brand has come in the last 12 months, we are not surprised why it is trailblazing in the underwear sector.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Boyowa Olugbo, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of @stennahandhopeofficial and @displacedfragrances.
We loved recording this episode with Boyowa, one of our longstanding clients.
His is definitely a tale of the rollercoaster of running your own businesses.
Listen in to hear:
🌵 How learning as you go is the daily reality of being a business owner.
🌵 How to bootstrap and self-fund your own brand and the benefits of growing your business this way.
🌵 The downside of bootstrapping - can you become overinvested in your own business?
🌵 Growing a brand slowly and steadily. How in 8 years they went from kitchen table to 4,000sq ft industrial space.
🌵 The challenges of wholesale/white-labeling - how do you market a product that doesn't have your brand name on it?
🌵 The exciting launch of Displaced Fragrances, Boyowa's new social enterprise aimed at combining his passion for candle making, education, and music. We can't wait to see more!
Key take away: 'Your journey is your business'. The interesting businesses are the ones with a story.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Glen Burrows, Co- Founder of @ethicalbutcher.
With veganism a hot and often polarising topic, we invited Glen to talk to us about the business he founded in response to the poor practices he witnessed in the food industry.
Their #Regenuary movement, now in its second year, picked up even more momentum on social media this January, as an alternative to #veganuary.
You won't want to miss:
🌵 What was involved in the crowdfunding campaign process?
🌵 What is 'ethical' meat?
🌵 Why having an external party define their brand was crucial to their business success
🌵 How launching their separate, complementary business, GROUND @greenredmeat, with very different audiences and branding can help both businesses grow
🌵 How to manage a campaign that suddenly blows up on social media
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Lisa Lawson, Founder of Dear Green Coffee Roasters.
Dear Green are celebrating their 10th birthday this year and just received their B Corp status 🎉 .
Another business that is set to grow even stronger this year, despite the curveballs of the last 12 months.
We came away from this chat hopeful for the future. Well-established businesses as well as start-ups have needed to pivot this year. We love how they've adapted and how dynamic and entrepreneurial Lisa is.
This week's episode of Bloom by Blue Cactus is with Claudia Gwinnutt, Founder of Circla, 'the milkman reimagined for beauty'.
What an inspirational chat! Taking the hassle of refilling your beauty products away and delivering everything to your door.
Convenience + sustainability, our favourite combo!
From corporate life to following her calling to set something up of her own, tune in to hear:
🌵 Why Claudia decided to leave corporate life behind and the planning that went into making it financially viable to walk away
🌵 What lucky funding break Claudia received early on
🌵 Hear which other ethical brands, which are now recognisable brands in their own right, first jumped on-board
🌵 How thinking outside the box has helped funding stretch further
🌵 How Claudia finds experts that have helped her grow since Circla launched
🌵 The biggest lesson learnt along the way
This episode really is a corker, the pivot was real during lockdown 1.0 and brought opportunities that have furthered Circla's growth
In our sixth episode of the Bloom By Blue Cactus Podcast, Clare chats to Sara and Alice from FRESH, a new wellbeing centre in Ely. The duo discuss how a grant from Sport England helped them make their dream a reality, including the process of applying for a grant, barriers they experienced along the way and the advantages of working in a partnership.
*The podcast was recorded in December 2020 so some comments mentioning "last year" refer to 2019 and "this year" 2020.
Blue Cactus Digital founder, Clare Martin, talks to Lauren Derrett, founder and leader of Wear 'Em Out, a reusable sanitary pad brand that has absolutely smashed the last 10 months. The company launched in February this year and despite it being an awful year for small businesses, investing almost £40k in the right things (marketing, R&D and people!) has resulted in an absolutely staggering turnover for the brand.
What inspired our founder, Clare Martin to launch this podcast was investing in her own business, Blue Cactus. This episode follows how the business has changed over the last six months, switching from a business that really suffered during the pandemic, to a brand that's focused on process and providing the most impactful campaigns possible for startups and invested businesses.
This week, Clare Martin chats to Jayne Clark-Denyer, founder of organic dental brand, Organically Epic. Organically Epic started life as a distributor of organic skincare, but over the last 12 months, has evolved to become an organic dental and health brand in its own right, launching seven of its own products including bamboo toothbrushes, floss, interdentals, cotton buds and tongue cleaners.
Jen Fuller, founder and CEO at baby brand Etta Loves chats to us about setting up Etta Loves and how it's become a HUGE global success in just a few years.
We talk knowing when and what to invest in and why it's important to balance home and work life.
This is an introduction to Blue Cactus - who we are, what we represent and what you can expect from our Podcast.