Innocent Inspires: How to Be Your Own Boss

On Wednesday, I finally got my chance to visit the famous Fruit Towers, home of Innocent. Greeted with Innocent Orange juice and tasty, healthy nibbles, we were invited inside to learn the finer points of entrepreneurship. As someone with a few business ideas in mind and one under my belt (Moiself) I was keen to pick up some tips from some of the most successful business owners in the biz. 

Charismatic Innocent founder Richard Reed acted as MC and gave the opening talk too. This man inspires like no other, with clear energy, enthusiasm and passion which cannot be faked (“does he have a girlfriend?” whispered a girl in front of me). Richard told us there were five key ingredients to a successful business:

1. Have a mission
2. It’s the people, stupid
3. Start small, but do start
4. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of doing something good
5. Make it the way you want it to be

He was followed by Sophie Cornish and Holly Tucker from Not on the High Street, Bec Astley-Clarke of Astley Clarke jewellery, Jeremy Gilley from Peace One Day, Eben Upton from Raspberry Pi and Ceviche founder Martin Morales. 

We had a break in the middle, sampling some seriously tasty fare from the Scandinavian Kitchen.

An incredible set of entrepreneurs who each gave inspiring talks and excellent advice. You can watch the talk here soon. My notes are pretty random, just some golden nuggets you couldn't pay for.

My notes

Innocent
Recruitment: people with the yes gene
Get rid of people who don't deliver
I’d rather have a hole than an asshole (recruitment-wise)
Start small but do start
Don't let perfection be the enemy of doing something good
Don't stop 
Make it the way you want it to be 
We want to leave things better than we find them
Remain open
21st September is Peace One Day 
Will must be stronger than skill
Make a film, storytelling is everything 
Never underestimate the emotional part.

Final pieces of advice:

Hire my wife!  - Raspberry pi
Good PR - Astley Clarke
Not having enough money can be a good thing - Not on the High Street
Social media  is key - Ceviche 
Make sure you make something that people actually want - Steve Jobs –Richard Reed

I left feeling like I could take on the world and that starting my own business really could happen one day. A wonderful, inspiring evening with free smoothies and yummy snacks - what more could a girl want? 

Becky spots Fruit Towers!

Excellent advice in the girls' loo

500!

Mmm Scandi Kitchen meatballs

Inspirational bunch

He's married, sorry girl-in-front-of-me!

Dublin and Dublin and Dublin

Why is Dublin the biggest city in the world? Because it keeps Dublin and Dublin and Dublin. Sigh. All (bad) joking aside, although Dublin might not actually be the biggest city in the world, it is certainly one of the best in my opinion. It has all the good bits of London with the sea nearby to boot! Main shopping venue Grafton Street boasts Brown Thomas, a smaller, easier to navigate Selfridges. Floral, spacious Stephen's Green is much like Regent's Park and their M&S has a rooftop restaurant. What more could you need? Oh yes, absolutely shedloads of irony, delicious Guinness. The Guinness Storehouse is definitely worth a visit, even with a killer hangover.

I was over in Dublin last weekend and stayed at the O'Callaghan Hotel. A stone's throw away from Grafton Street, shopaholics rejoice! Smart and comfortable, the staff are warm and welcoming and the breakfast is tasty; exactly what I want from any hotel.

If you haven't been to Dublin yet, go! It's amazing.

The top(shop) of Grafton Street

Hermes

Hermes balloon!

Fallon & Byrne do delicious groceries -  they have a restaurant too

Love their graphics!

My current favourite Irishman...

...and Cockney

Tasty

Even Lobsters like Guinness

And tortoises

Because it's delicious

Trolley Dash

When I lived in Belgium, buying clothes in super or hypermarkets was as normal as having moules and frites for tea. Although supermarket clothing lines have been around in Britain for a while, they have really started upping their game of late. It’s not unusual to see pieces from George at Asda, F&F at Tescos and Tu at Sainsburys in the press.

Tu had their AW14 press day recently and the offering was really quite impressive. Leopard print shifts, pleather pencil skirts and boxy, structured tops were chic and sophisticated; I have my eye on a marl-y cocoon coat and there were a lovely pair of over-the-knee riding boots on display too. Menswear was similarly impressive; I couldn't believe the quality for the price. The shirts wouldn't have looked out of place in Ben Sherman or Ted Baker. It’s clear that this is going to be one successful rebrand.

Chic, inexpensive style in the same place as your grocery essentials? Who'd have thought it?

www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk

Mac Makeover

There are two amazing things you might not already know about Mac:

1.       Collect six ‘empties’ (the actual container your Mac make-up came in) into your nearest Mac and you get A FREE LIPSTICK. Yes, that’s right, a free lipstick. This recycling initiative makes me get through Mac cosmetics like you would not believe. You wouldn't believe the number of lipsticks in my collection.

2.       If you book a Mac make-up lesson (just £30) the cost of the booking is redeemable against products. I was given a booking as a gift and decided to head to Mac in Covent Garden.

The lovely Mischa took care of my transformation, taking me from haggard, hungover, overworked mess to something much, much better! I couldn't believe how much Mischa’s skills and Mac’s amazing products changed the shape of my face and features (Mac’s ‘Harmony’ is great for contouring, I learnt). I’ll definitely go back the next time I have a special occasion - or just fancy a splurge. Thanks Mischa, thanks Mac!

Mac has recently relocated from Neal Street to just outside Covent Garden tube station and there’s a Mac Pro downstairs which makes me very. Excited. Indeed.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk