Last year I decided to push myself and try something new for me and my business. As a founder and mum of 2, I don't have time to be out there relationship building rather than selling.

So I tried cold sales - and it worked!

Cold sales have, sometimes justifiably, a bad rap - I’m sharing my worst experiences from both sides of the sale. But it really worked for me. In this episode I share my conversion rates, my ‘how to’ and the mindset tips that helped me succeed.

Resources:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/
Dripify: https://dripify.io/

Takeaways

• Coldselling - maybe it’s time to try it

• The worst thing that happened to me when I tried cold selling

• Choose the right platform - LinkedIn v Instagram

• What is a good conversion rate for sales

• Be prepared - it can be a huge time commitment

• How not to build relationships

• My cold selling approach - a how to

• Mindset tips and how to handle rejection

Chapters

01:00 Introduction to Podcasting Challenges
02:02 The Reality of Cold Selling
02:50 Experiences with Cold Selling
04:44 Navigating Relationship Building and Sales
06:16 Lessons from Sales Calls
07:58 The Direct Approach to Sales
10:41 Handling Rejection in Sales
12:14 Consistency in Communication and Sales
13:24 Conclusion and Reflection on Cold Selling

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

How do you stay motivated to keep going when times get tough in your business?

Good question. And an increasingly important one as the economy continues to fluctuate with tariffs, UK legislation and uncertainty creep in.

In January I was in a difficult situation with my business, but I got through it and learnt a lot. This week, I’m sharing my tips for keeping going when times are tough in your business.

Takeaways

• The realities of being a working mum

• Keeping going when times get hard in your business

• Trumps tariffs are worrying for many founders

• March 2025 was my best month in business so far

• January was a real struggle

• What I learnt

• My tips for getting through difficult times in business

Chapters

00:00 Embracing the Chaos of Motherhood and Business

01:19 Navigating Tough Times in Business

07:34 Finding Community and Normalizing Struggles

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

This week on Bump To Business Owner, I’m joined by Ning Cheah, founder of The Beauty Crop, mum of two, and former banker turned beauty entrepreneur. What started as a side hustle to solve her own skin struggles has grown into a multi-million dollar brand, stocked by the likes of Boots and ASOS.

In this honest and wide-ranging chat, Ning shares how burnout led her to rethink everything, the fertility struggles she faced while building a business, and the two very different maternity leaves that followed. She opens up about the realities of scaling, the pressure of cash flow, and why she chose crowdfunding and bank loans over giving away equity 👀

We talk mum guilt and what we can learn from men, support systems, and why she only ever plans three years ahead. Plus how she’s learning to let go, delegate, and make space for joy (think K-dramas and sheet masks - the dream).

Takeaways:

• Ning’s career journey from finance to side hustle to million dollar business

• Stress makes us neglect our wellbeing when we need it the most

• Ning’s personal skin struggles made her identify a gap in the market

• Naivety can be a blessing for founders

• Why Ning chose crowdfunding and bank loans over equity funding

• Fertility struggles and mat leaves as a business owner

• Mum guilt and what we can learn from men

• The challenges of scaling a business and the realities of working with retailers

• Why Ning doesn’t plan more than 3 years ahead

• Support networks and what a working week looks like

• Where Ning finds joy

Resources:

Crowd2Fund: https://www.crowd2fund.com/

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Ning Cheah

Ning Cheah is a mother of two and the founder and CEO of The Beauty Crop, a clean beauty brand that has become known for its high performing plant-based products that don't compromise on fun, affordability or ethics. With a background in chemical engineering and a high-powered career in investment banking behind her, Ning's personal struggle with eczema and cystic acne led her to launch The Beauty Crop in 2014.

Now a multi-million pound business, it’s a brand that crops out harmful ingredients whilst delivering vegan, cruelty-free, nutrient-rich cosmetics in sustainable packaging. Since launching in 2014, it's become a cult favourite, stocked in major retailers like Boots, Beauty Bay, ASOS and Urban Outfitters.

Ning Cheah’s Links:

Website: https://thebeautycrop.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ning-cheah-4310642/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautycrop/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeautycrop

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

What is your story?
What is your super power?
What do you want to be known for?

In today's episode of the podcast I'm giving away all my PR tips.

In the last 5 years me and my business have been featured in
Grazia
The Guardian
The Independent
The Daily Mail
Waitrose Magazine

To name just a few. And all of that has been under my own steam, no PR experience, no connections.

If you're looking for some PR coverage for your business, this is for you

Resources

Editorelle: https://www.editorielle.com/

Pressflow (FREE): https://www.pressflow.io/

Lightbulb: https://www.lightbulbhangout.com/

Rosie Davies-Smith, founder of PR Dispatch episode: https://bumptobusinessowner.com/s3-episode-7-rosie-davies-smith-pr-dispatch

Jelena Skene co-founder of Press Flow episode: https://bumptobusinessowner.com/s5-e4-jelena-skene

Takeaways

• Excellent PR coverage with no PR background

• Featured in Grazia, Stylist, Guardian, Metro, Clockify, Daily Mail, The Independent, The Guardian, Waitrose Magazine, Start Ups Magazine, Pally Talks

• You are newsworthy

• Why your location is important

• How to create a simple PR pitch deck

• PR platforms and resources

• Why you need an angle

• How to work with journalists

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

My guest this week is Lauren Currie OBE, mother of one, founder of 6 businesses and PTSD survivor. Lauren is a serial entrepreneur, who after being featured as the only woman on an event bill decided she needed to build something to challenge the lie of meritocracy. Her business, Upfront, was born.

As a systems and organisational designer, Lauren is ideally placed to see where the holes are in our society and where we need to work on them, together. The game is rigged, it might just be that our privilege means that motherhood is the first time we really see it.

Building a business whilst raising a family is a radical act. Women even working is so new for us as a society, let alone being business leaders. It’s hard, but it’s worth it and it will get easier.

Takeaways:

• The lightbulb moment for Lauren's business
• Structural inequality and the lie of meritocracy
• Scarcity mindset and career choices
• Lauren's experiences in pregnancy, birth and PTSD
• Asking For Help
• Relocating to Europe
• Building a business as a mother is a radical act
• How to build your confidence
• Honouring the season you’re in

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Lauren Currie

Lauren is the founder of Upfront, an organization on a mission to change confidence, visibility and power for 10 million women. Thousands of women from over 50 countries have now graduated from Upfront's flagship program, The Bond. It's become the go-to to for women and organisations who want to grow confidence from the inside out. Their clients include global names like Nike, Just Eat Takeaway, the Ministry of Defence, the British Red Cross and PLEO, a true sign of the movement Lauren has built.

Lauren is a sought after keynote speaker. Her goal is to help everyone in the room turn their own lights on. And she's not afraid to use her voice where it matters most. She was chair of the brilliant campaign group Pregnant Than Screwed for seven years, championing women against maternity discrimination. Her work has been recognised globally from being awarded an OBE for services to design and diversity, to being named one of Elle's Women Changing the World and one of Management Today's top businesswomen under 35.

Originally from Scotland, Lauren now lives in Uppsala in Sweden with her partner and their seven-year-old son, juggling motherhood, business and a mission that only gets louder.

Lauren Currie’s Links:

Website: https://www.weareupfront.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencurrie/
Instagram (Lauren): https://www.instagram.com/_laurencurrie_/
Instagram (Upfront): https://www.instagram.com/upfrontglobal/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

What happens when your co-founder (and sister!) steps away and you’re managing a business solo, as well as being mum to 2 kids?

In this week’s delicious episode I’m in conversation with Nicola Ward, founder of CakeDrop, who talks me through her experience of exactly that.

Nicola has run her business incredibly intuitively and flexibly, focusing on building relationships and leaning into creativity when Covid meant a pivot. She has some incredible advice to other founders thinking about motherhood and the trade offs we as working mums make.

My main takeaway? You don’t need more strategy, you just need to take action.

Takeaways:

• The unique dynamic between cofounder sisters

• Covid forcing you to pivot and get creative

• The benefits of being a small business in challenging times

• Relationship building

• Nicola’s fundraising experience

• What happens when your cofounder steps away

• The trade offs working mums make - guilt and code switching

• Advice for founders thinking about motherhood

• Why you don’t need more strategy

Chapters:

00:30 Introduction to CakeDrop and Nicola's Journey
02:36 The Dynamic of Sister Co-Founders
05:03 Navigating the Business Landscape
07:49 Adapting to Challenges During the Pandemic
10:32 Transitioning to Solo Leadership
13:03 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
18:35 Fundraising Challenges and Experiences
19:02 Navigating Angel Investment and Fundraising Challenges
21:41 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
26:15 The Impact of Parenting on Business Perspective
28:49 Embracing the Uncertainty of Motherhood
30:45 Building Relationships with Major Brands
31:49 The Importance of Execution Over Strategy
34:01 Future Growth Plans for CakeDrop
35:06 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Nicola Ward

Nicola Ward is the founder of CakeDrop, the award-winning solution bringing sweet treats to some of the UK's most exciting places, including Meta, Ladbible, Beauty Pie, and Netflix. Cake Drop specialises in branded treat experiences and automated gifting for employee birthdays and work anniversaries, making workplace celebrations seamless and delicious.

Nicola's journey into entrepreneurship began alongside her sister Anna, inspired by their own experiences working in the city, where they noticed the challenges of organizing office celebrations. This insight led to the creation of CakeDrop, aiming to make office celebrations effortless and enjoyable. Nicola has faced many highs and lows on her journey, from the shift to becoming a solo founder to navigating major business challenges, including the pandemic and operational hurdles.

Nicola Ward’s Links:

Website: https://cakedrop.london/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-ward-30404427/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakedropldn

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/

When was the last time you reflected on how far you’ve come?

In this special birthday episode, I’m reflecting on the last five years - Motherhood, trauma, recovery, business, COVID, and giving myself the advice I needed five years ago.

My business and motherhood journey are intrinsically linked, and in this period of my life - out of the baby years and able to put more energy into business growth, it’s been emotional to see how much I’ve achieved. Take a moment to look back on what you’ve achieved, everything you’ve experienced, good and bad, and celebrate yourself.

Resources

Snoop Dogg: https://youtu.be/NfF3bThOW0Q?si=I-ASqOrYhQMzIK4-

Takeaways

• The advice I’d give myself

• Building a business through the baby years

• Your business can be a lifeline in difficult times

• Working on yourself will make you a better leader

• Rediscovering yourself post motherhood

• Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come

• It’s important to be selfish sometimes

• Learn to ask for what you need

Chapters

01:00 Celebrating Growth and Reflection
03:08 Navigating the Baby Years
05:26 The Intersection of Business and Motherhood
08:02 Finding Purpose and Community
10:51 Empowerment Through Business
13:22 Lessons from the Journey
16:13 Gratitude and Moving Forward

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/