PODCAST

The Small Business Sessions (S5E3): How Cambridge Satchel Company went from £600 start-up to £40m business

The Small Business Sessions (S5E3): How Cambridge Satchel Company went from £600 start-up to £40m business
Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events

Posted: Wed 30th Jun 2021

It's time for episode three in series five of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast sponsored by Starling Bank.

Why did you start your business? For Julie Deane CBE, it was to pay for her children to go to private school because her daughter was being bullied. She invested £600 to get her idea off the ground and just five years later, the Cambridge Satchel Company was valued at £40 million.

The entrepreneur joins journalist Dan Martin to share her inspiring story. This one is a must-listen!

Listen to the podcast

On this week's Small Business Sessions podcast

There is so much inspiration and loads of lessons for small business owners in this week's show. Among the insights Julie Deane shares are:

  • how celebrities including Sophie Ellis-Bexter have boosted her business

  • why she took control of her own manufacturing after problems with a supplier

  • the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on her physical retail outlets

  • why she is still learning despite being such an experienced founder

Listen and subscribe on your favourite platform


You can also listen on other platforms and Enterprise Nation.

Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events
I''''m a freelance content creator and event host who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I have 18 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from billionaires like Sir Richard Branson to the founders behind brand new start-ups. I''''ve worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company''''s blog and social media. I''''m based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community and have strong connections to major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I''''ve hosted over 50 events; from intimate meet-ups to conferences with an audience of hundreds including events for international brands like Facebook and Xero. I''''m also a big fan of podcasts having hosted Enterprise Nation''''s Small Business Sessions as well as lots of online events including Facebook Live interviews, webinars and three live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street. With my partner, I co-run Lifestyle District, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

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