How to use spreadsheets to help run your products business - with Alison Pollecutt - Excel Confident

How do you feel about spreadsheets? Are you a fan or do they fill you with dread?

This week my guest on the podcast is Alison Pollecutt of Excel Confident. Alison believes that spreadsheets are a vital tool for any business owner and it's her mission to demystify spreadsheets for them. In this episode, we'll talk about how spreadsheets can really help your business. We'll cover how to get started, what you can do with them, and the different ways they can open up possibilities for you.

I've always used spreadsheets for keeping track of things, but Alison has shown me how I can use them even more effectively. No matter if you're already a fan of spreadsheets or not, Alison will share how you can learn more about your business by setting up some simple systems and keeping track.

• An introduction to herself and her businesses (02:04)
• The versatility of spreadsheets (02:43)
• Excel and Google Sheets are both forms of spreadsheets (05:33)
• Using a spreadsheet as a CRM  (06:33)
• Turning data into easily digestible visual information (08:24)
• Using spreadsheets to track things like your hours, mileage, expenses (11:00)
• Using spreadsheets to work out which channels to prioritise for social media (13:02)
• Using spreadsheets to plan your social media (14:36)
• How spreadsheets save time and reduce the feeling of overwhelm (15:10)
• Using spreadsheets to track stock for retail and wholesale (19:30)
• Using spreadsheets to help work out your pricing and margin for products (23:18)
• Using spreadsheets for stock control (25:40)
• Downloading data from platforms like Shopify into a spreadsheet (26:49)
• Empowering you to understand spreadsheets so you can build your own (29:29)
• How to get more confident with using spreadsheets (34:02)
• Her number one piece of advice on using spreadsheets (36:30)

The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Excel Confident Website

Alison's Facebook Group Small Business Spreadsheet Society

Alison Pollecutt Linked In

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This episode is sponsored by Therese at Small Business Collaborative.

One of the biggest challenges that product-based business owners often face is pricing their products right! And that is even more important if you’re looking to start wholesaling your products. Right now, listeners can access a free product pricing masterclass. This masterclass will help you set the right prices to maximize profits and appeal to retail buyers. You can sign up for the free pricing masterclass using the link in the show notes. And if you want even more help, Therese's “Start to Wholesale” course is designed to help you confidently break into the wholesale market. From pricing to how to create your first wholesale cata