PASSION to PROFIT Philippa Craddock

In today’s episode, we continue our conversation with Nick Jenkins. If you missed last week's episode you can catch up HERE, where we discussed how Nick enabled Moonpig's extraordinary growth, his unique insights on customer service, building and trusting your team, and marketing.

In Part 2, Nick shares his thoughts on ways to help you overcome the discomfort of pitching by focusing on your passion and the problem your product solves. He shares common mistakes to avoid, and we explore the difference between stubbornness and tenacity, emphasising the importance of being open to feedback.

Nick also highlights the need to focus on your core business before diversifying and the value of simplicity in business communications. He talks about the power of organic growth and genuine customer referrals over gimmicky promotions, and hugely importantly, and my biggest takeaway, he shared his personal strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

My favourite part of the conversation and biggest takeaway was when Nick shared his personal strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. His approach to scheduling activities outside of work and avoiding unnecessary commitments is inspiring and practical; I hope you find the conversation helpful too.
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-041

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by our first guest, Nick Jenkins. Nick is the founder of Moonpig.com and many of you will know him as a former dragon on the BBC series 'Dragon's Den’.

Through our conversation, Nick shares his journey from his early career in Moscow to becoming one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs. We discuss the insights that led to the creation of the revolutionary online retailer that transformed the greeting card industry with its unique personalised cards. There was so much to discuss that we split the conversation into two parts to keep each one bite size and actionable, and so as not to lose any of his insights. In Part 1, we look at Nick’s entrepreneurial beginnings and how Moonpig was born, the criteria he set for his business, and how he enabled its extraordinary growth.

We explore customer service, discussing how technology can help, but every brand definitely needs the founder’s personality and care, and how it can be a real opportunity to develop a truly positive relationship with your customers. We also talk about failures, hiring, building and trusting your team, and marketing. And finally, in this first Part, I ask Nick about any standout moments for him on 'Dragon's Den,' which he shares both happily and amusingly.

I’m excited to share our conversation with you in the audio above and show notes below.
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-040

Over the past six months, we've conducted extensive research, uniquely tailored to the creative industry, gathering insights from hundreds of small business owners who, like you, are passionate about turning their creative visions into thriving businesses.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing the findings of this research with you, revealing the top challenges and the underlying factors that can either stall or propel a creative business forward. Understanding these challenges is crucial for anyone looking to break through barriers and fully realise their potential in the world of creative entrepreneurship.

So, whether you’re just sketching out your ideas or already managing a growing venture, this episode will provide you with valuable perspectives and tools to help you get through the complexities and move your business towards greater success.

I’m excited to look at what holds us back, how we can thrive in all our creative markets and transform challenges into stepping stones for growth.
PODCAST LINKS
To see the show notes:
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-039
To receive the research
https://www.masterclass.philippacraddock.com/topfive
To find Philippa on Substack:
https://philippacraddock.substack.com/
 

I was recently asked a brilliant question, how do you know if your idea for a business will thrive in reality? So, in this episode, we’re exploring exactly that. What makes an idea viable and how you can assess its potential to become a successful enterprise. I’ll discuss the importance of market demand, the cost of bringing your idea to life, and the simplicity of the business model—essential elements that can make or break your entrepreneurial plans.
So whether you’re sketching ideas on a napkin, you've been nurturing a passion project on the side or you are looking to find ways to evolve your business, this episode is designed to give you insights and tools to evaluate and refine your concepts into business plans that succeed.
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-038

How to pursue what you love without being derailed.
So often, we get caught up in the motions, following paths that might not truly resonate with who we are or what we desire most deeply.

In this episode we'll explore how to identify whether you’re on the path that’s right for you, how to realign if you’re not, and how to protect what you most would love to achieve from anything—or anyone—that might try to derail you.

We’re looking at why it’s so important to create your own direction and how doing so can prevent any kind of regrets. Whether you're feeling uncertain about your current business, thinking about a shift, or just need a little inspiration to reaffirm you're on the right track, this episode is for you.
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-037

In this episode we're discussing how to communicate your worth and ways to really help you understand and confidently see the immense value of your offerings. It's more than just the exchange of services for payment; it's about establishing a connection with your target audience, ensuring they understand not just what you do, but why it matters and makes a difference to them. It's not just about the numbers; it’s about the stories, the relationships, and the transformative experiences we foster.

We'll look at how to effectively present your offerings, making sure your clients see the heart, the dedication, and the expertise you bring and deliver. From actionable strategies to mindset shifts, we're covering methods to help you confidently assert your worth. I very much hope this episode will affirm the value you bring to every project, customer and client you work with.
If you’ve been rethinking how you communicate your own value or are looking for new perspectives on validating your worth, I hope this conversation offers you both guidance and motivation.
https://www.philippacraddock.com/podcast-036