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PODCAST

The Small Business Sessions (S6E1): From lockdown hobby to £1m business

The Small Business Sessions (S6E1): From lockdown hobby to £1m business
Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events

Posted: Wed 11th Oct 2023

We are delighted to announce that the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back!

The sixth season is powered by the business.connected online training programme.

Every Wednesday for the next 10 weeks we'll be releasing an episode with brilliant entrepreneurs and digital experts sharing their inspiring stories and tips for business success. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode one: Ailis Topley, Pott Candles

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode is Ailis Topley, founder of sustainable and refillable candles company Pott Candles.

Ailis' business started as a lockdown hobby in 2020, but it now has sales of over £1m, its products are stocked in Selfridges and John Lewis and Ailis was named by Forbes as one of Europe's top young entrepreneurs.  

Tune into the episode to hear the inspiring Pott Candles story and its founder's tips for business success. 

Listen to the podcast now


On this week's Small Business Sessions podcast


During the show, Ailis shares brilliant advice and insights from her business growth story. Topics discussed include:

  • turning a hobby into a business

  • generating initial sales

  • attracting big retailers like Selfridges and John Lewis

  • how to work with big retailers and maintain your values

  • how to start and grow a sustainabile business

  • the power of Instagram and social media

  • finding loyal customers willing to invest in the business

Listen and subscribe on your favourite platform


You can also listen on other platforms and Enterprise Nation.

 

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Dan Martin
Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events
I'm a freelance journalist and event host who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I'm also Enterprise Nation's news reporter and Bristol Local Leader. I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden 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 now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website's news reporter and as the host of the Small Business sessions podcast. I'm based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation's Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I've hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and 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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