Own Your Space - Your brand deserves to get noticed for all the right reasons

Clare Sheffield
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Own Your Space brings you inspiring conversations with founders, actionable advice from industry experts, and practical insights to help you claim your place in a competitive market.As the founder of Strong & Together, I’ve helped ambitious, purpose-led businesses build brands that stand out, connect, and thrive. This podcast offers the insight and inspiration you need to do the same—whether you’re scaling up, refining your niche, or taking the first steps toward owning your space.Each episode is here to support you as you grow your brand with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

  1. May 14

    Build It Right Then Grow

    There comes a point where you know your brand needs to step up—but knowing where to invest first can feel unclear. In this episode, Clare Sheffield shares one of the most common (and costly) mistakes founders make: investing in packaging, marketing or content before building a strong brand identity. Using real client examples and a simple “building a house” analogy, Clare explains why your brand identity is the foundation—and how skipping it can lead to wasted time, money and momentum. You’ll learn: Why identity should always come before packagingHow to invest in your brand in the right orderWhat to prioritise if you want your brand to scaleIf you’re a founder of a product-based, purpose-led brand and you’re ready to invest more seriously, this episode will help you do it with clarity and confidence.

    13 min

  2. Apr 29

    Brand Ready to Scale? Chapter 5

    Consistency is not just about looking polished. It’s a strategic growth tool. In Chapter 5 of Brand-ready to scale? Clare Sheffield explores how to build consistency across your brand so every touchpoint works together to strengthen recognition, trust and credibility as you scale. As your business grows, more touchpoints appear — from packaging and website to social media, printed materials, unboxing and customer experience — and each one plays a role in how your brand is experienced. Clare breaks down the practical role of brand guidelines, showing that they do not need to be overcomplicated to be effective, and explains how a brand guardian can protect and evolve your brand as the business expands. She also shares a simple way to review your customer journey and identify where inconsistency may be quietly weakening your brand. You’ll hear why disconnected touchpoints create confusion and dilute brand impact, and how clarity and alignment can make your brand far easier to recognise and trust. If you are a purpose-led product founder who wants more clarity, stronger implementation and a brand that feels joined up as you scale, this episode is full of grounded, useful insight.

    10 min

  3. Apr 20

    From Product to Experience with Rosie and Jon Winter

    In this episode of Own Your Space, Clare speaks with Rosie and Jon Winter, founders of Eden & Co. about the reality of evolving a brand over time and what it truly takes to move from product to experience. From hitting growth ceilings to redefining their audience, they share how deep customer understanding, bold brand decisions, and a commitment to quality transformed their business commercially and emotionally. This conversation explores: Why being guided by your customer is essential for growthThe shift from selling products to creating experiencesHow packaging, positioning and own-brand products unlocked scaleThe power of knowing your audience in granular detailWhat investing in branding really delivers beyond aestheticsIf you’re building a purpose-led product brand and feeling the tension between where you are and where you want to be, this episode offers grounded, practical insight to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. You can explore Eden & Co.’s hampers at edenandcohampers.com. Rosie and Jon have also generously shared a 10% discount code for listeners: 9VZEZMMY63QH

    1h 14m

  4. Apr 1

    Elevating Eyecare on the High Street with Dr Valarie Jerome

    If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve got a logo, so I’ve got a brand”… this chapter is for you. In Chapter 3 of Brand-Ready to Scale? Clare Sheffield breaks down what a brand actually is and why your logo is just the tip of the “brandberg”. Clare explains the full system that sits beneath the surface, from your logo suite, colour palette and typography through to photography style, illustration, tone of voice, brand story and key brand messages. This is especially relevant for product-based founders because as you scale, you create more touchpoints: packaging, tape, stickers, invoices, social posts, trade show materials and more. Without a full brand system, consistency slips, customer trust erodes, and every new asset becomes harder than it needs to be. You’ll come away with practical audit actions to identify what you have, what’s missing, and how to fill the gaps, so your brand becomes a clear, cohesive force that supports growth.

    31 min

  5. Mar 17

    From Beautiful Product to Scalable Brand with Hattie Goodley

    What does it look like to invest in packaging and branding when you’re a small, purpose-led product business and every penny counts? In this episode of Own Your Space, Clare Sheffield speaks with Hattie Goodley, founder and creative director of Willa and the Bear, about the journey from accidental business beginnings to building a more scalable brand. Hattie shares how her beautiful hand block printed nursery essentials evolved from gifts for friends into a growing direct-to-consumer business, rooted in artisan production, ethical relationships, and thoughtful design. They talk honestly about the hesitation many founders feel before investing in packaging, the difference between selling online and being ready for wholesale, and why the right packaging can help justify price point, communicate craftsmanship, and make merchandising easy for retailers. This is a grounded conversation about growth, confidence, scarcity, authenticity, and knowing when your brand needs to catch up with the quality of your product. If you’re a founder of a purpose-led product brand thinking about what comes next, this episode will feel very familiar. About Hattie Goodley Hattie Goodley is the Founder and Creative Director of Willa and the Bear, a baby gifting brand producing award-winning, small-batch, hand block printed nursery essentials. Based in rural North Norfolk, Hattie works closely with artisans in India and Nepal to bring her designs to life. Alongside her business, Hattie is a mum to Willa, Maud and Gus, and balances family life with running a growing brand. Find Hattie and Willa and the Bear Website: www.willaandthebear.com Instagram: @willaandthebear

    38 min

  6. Mar 9

    Building on Solid Foundations With Kate Cooper

    What does it look like when a brand is built on solid foundations and still feels fresh 14 years later? In this episode of Own Your Space, Clare Sheffield speaks with Kate Cooper, founder of Absolute Architecture, about the journey of building a specialist practice rooted in one clear idea: making a house a home. Kate shares why she started the business in 2008, how early branding helped her get moving, and why she chose to invest again once the business proved itself. They discuss what long-lasting brand identity really requires: deep thinking, a clear mission, and a system that can flex as your business grows. You’ll also hear how strong branding supports confidence, credibility, referrals, and even recruitment, especially as a team expands. If you’re an ambitious founder of a purpose-led product brand, this episode is a powerful reminder that your brand isn’t just for customers. It’s a tool for growth, alignment, and consistency as you scale.

    19 min

  7. Feb 3

    Refreshing A Brand To Scale With Bethan Thomas

    What happens when retail buyers tell you your business is “too niche”… but your customers prove otherwise? In this episode of Own Your Space, Clare Sheffield sits down with Bethan Thomas from HotTea Mama to explore the real story behind building a brand that supports women through pregnancy, motherhood, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, and menopause, one sip at a time. Bethan shares HotTea Mama’s authentic beginnings, the knock-backs from major retailers, and the determination it took to stay focused on a clear mission. They talk about what drove the decision to refresh the brand and packaging, and how better on-pack communication helped justify price point, showcase whole leaf quality, strengthen product differentiation, and support international growth. You’ll also hear why bold, unapologetic branding matters in a category that often defaults to beige and clichés, plus practical advice on where to invest in design when budgets are tight. If you’re scaling a values-led product brand, this is a powerful reminder that owning your space starts with clarity and conviction. Follow Bethan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethan-thomas-hottea-mama/ HotTea Mama Website: https://www.hotteamama.com/

    39 min

  8. Feb 2

    Brand Ready to Scale? Chapter 4

    Packaging is not decoration. It’s a strategic growth tool. In Chapter 4 of Brand-Ready to Scale? Clare Sheffield explores how to build a harmonious relationship between your brand and your packaging, so every touchpoint reinforces what you stand for and why you’re worth choosing. Clare breaks down the psychology of packaging, from structure and layout to finishes and tactile cues, and explains how packaging shapes perception, trust and purchase decisions long before a customer tries the product. You’ll hear why copying category conventions leads to generic, forgettable packs, and how to use brand voice and clarity to stand out in crowded markets. Clare also shares practical actions to review your packaging structure, sense-check packaging against your brand identity work, and test shelf standout using mock-ups. Real examples include Boho Betty’s packaging elevation and HotTea Mama’s brand evolution, showing how packaging can unlock listings, differentiation and stronger shelf presence. If you want packaging that sells, reflects your values, and supports scale, this chapter is essential.

    11 min
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About

Own Your Space brings you inspiring conversations with founders, actionable advice from industry experts, and practical insights to help you claim your place in a competitive market.As the founder of Strong & Together, I’ve helped ambitious, purpose-led businesses build brands that stand out, connect, and thrive. This podcast offers the insight and inspiration you need to do the same—whether you’re scaling up, refining your niche, or taking the first steps toward owning your space.Each episode is here to support you as you grow your brand with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

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