<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:rssdatehelper="urn:rssdatehelper"><channel><title>Videos from Smarta</title><link>http://www.smarta.com</link><pubDate></pubDate><generator>umbraco</generator><description>Small business advice from Smarta - watch how others did it</description><language>en</language><item><title>Day in the life: toy shop</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/day-in-the-life-toy-shop</link><pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:17:49 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/day-in-the-life-toy-shop</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Learn more about <a
href="http://www.playlounge.co.uk/">Playlounge</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Millie Kendall, Ruby &amp; Millie</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/millie-kendall-ruby-and-millie</link><pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:30:11 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/millie-kendall-ruby-and-millie</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<p>Mille Kendall is the successful female entrepreneur behind the
cosmetic brand Ruby &amp; Millie, which she co-founded with Ruby
Hammer 15 years ago. Kendall has been heavily involved in brand
management and over the years has developed a beauty publicity
business and has had a lot of experience in launching and
developing niche cosmetic products. In 2007 Mille Kendall was
awarded an MBE for her contribution to the cosmetic industry.</p>

<p>In this video interview Kendall talks about how she became an
accidental entrepreneur and how her reputation for launching large
brands for a small budget led to her gaining a lot of business. Her
relationship with Ruby Hammer developed from business to friendship
and Millie talks about the importance of partners sharing a
combined passion and drive for the business as well as having a
balance in skills and task delegation.</p>

<p>She also gives expert advice on the cosmetic industry and the
struggle that small businesses may find in entering the
"mastige"market. Kendall gives tips on maintaining stock level and
deciding minimum purchasing orders. The entrepreneur also talks
about how working on the shop floor was the best experience she had
in terms of understanding the product and customer. With Kendall's
great experience in the health and beauty industry, as well as
brand management, means that this video will provide a unique
insight into how a small business idea can become a huge
international success story.</p>

<ul>
<li>Learn more about <a href="http://www.rubyandmillie.co.uk">Ruby
&amp; Millie</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Viviane Jaeger &amp; Emma-Jayne Parkes, SquidLondon</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/viviane-jaeger-and-emma-jayne-parkes-squidlondon</link><pubDate>Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:47:00 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/viviane-jaeger-and-emma-jayne-parkes-squidlondon</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<p>Viviane Jaegar and Emma-Jayne Parkes are co founders and
directors of SquidLondon and are responsible for the highly
innovative umbrellas the "Squidarellas". The umbrellas are
developed with material technology that means the umbrellas reveal
a colourful design when it rains. The pair came runner up in the
Deutsche Bank Award 2008 and the first 100 limited "London Skyline"
umbrellas sold out within 100 days.</p>

<p>Both Viviane and Emma-Jayne gained first honours degrees at the
University London College of Fashion in Product Design and
Development and decided to commercialise the prototype of the
umbrella they created. In this video interview, the co founders of
SquidLondon talk about the importance of developing a strong
relationship with the manufacturer, which in their case was in
China, as well having a cultural understanding of foreign business
practises. The importance of efficient market research is also
highlighted, looking at the viability of the business idea and the
presence of competition, as well as identifying target audience and
potential retailers.</p>

<p>The entrepreneurs also speak of risk taking and the advantage of
starting up young and how to deliver a good pitch. The product
design pioneers are hoping to set the trend with material
technology by connecting science, design and marketing. In the
words of BBC Radio 4 "SquidLondon are the entrepreneurs to watch in
the future".</p>

<ul>
<li>Learn more about <a
href="http://www.squidlondon.com">SquidLondon</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Being unaware of trademark issues could cost you thousands - Mark Kingsley-Williams</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/legal/intellectual-property/being-unaware-of-trademark-issues-could-cost-you-thousands---mark-kingsley-williams</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:04:10 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/legal/intellectual-property/being-unaware-of-trademark-issues-could-cost-you-thousands---mark-kingsley-williams</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Trademarks give your brand legal protection - Mark Kingsley-Williams</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/legal/intellectual-property/trademarks-give-your-brand-legal-protection---mark-kingsley-williams</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:56:05 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/legal/intellectual-property/trademarks-give-your-brand-legal-protection---mark-kingsley-williams</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Watch our full interview with <a href="/advice/general/mark-kingsley-williams-trademarkdirectcouk"
title="Mark Kingsley-Williams, TrademarkDirect.co.uk">Mark
Kingsley-Williams</a></li>

<li>Learn more about <a
href="http://www.trademarkdirect.co.uk">Trademark Direct</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The banks set us off to the worst possible start from day one - Clare Thommen</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/business-finance/business-bank-loans/the-banks-set-us-off-to-the-worst-possible-start-from-day-one---clare-thommen</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:31:28 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/business-finance/business-bank-loans/the-banks-set-us-off-to-the-worst-possible-start-from-day-one---clare-thommen</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Watch our full interview with <a href="/advice/general/clare-thommen-boudiche"
title="Clare Thommen, Boudiche">Clare Thommen</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>We turned a PR nightmare into a benefit which grew the business - Rob Law</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/sales-and-marketing/pr/we-turned-a-pr-nightmare-into-a-benefit-which-grew-the-business---rob-law</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:44:11 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/sales-and-marketing/pr/we-turned-a-pr-nightmare-into-a-benefit-which-grew-the-business---rob-law</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Watch our full interview with <a href="/advice/general/rob-law-trunki"
title="Rob Law, Trunki">Rob Law</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Blue Monday sleeve cost 10p more than the profit you could make - Peter Hook</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/business-planning/pricing-strategies/the-blue-monday-sleeve-cost-10p-more-than-the-profit-you-could-make---peter-hook</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:32:45 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/business-planning/pricing-strategies/the-blue-monday-sleeve-cost-10p-more-than-the-profit-you-could-make---peter-hook</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Watch our full interview with <a href="/advice/general/peter-hook-joy-division-and-new-order"
title="Peter Hook, Joy Division &amp; New Order">Peter
Hook</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Rob Law, Trunki</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/rob-law-trunki</link><pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:16:43 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/general/rob-law-trunki</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<p>Rob Law is the successful entrepreneur behind the innovative
Trunki, a luggage range for children. There were several failed
attempts to build up the business, the company that Trunki was
first licensed to went into liquidation and to worsen the matter
the factory developing the product in China went into receivership,
with the government seizing the factory including Rob Law's
expensive Trunki moulds. Showing great determination Law decided to
take the business into his own hands and Trunki enjoyed a turnover
of £1.14 million in the year ending February 2009 and is a huge
international hit. The company has also extended its product range
from suitcases to backpacks and a wide range of other travel
accessories.</p>

<p>How to start a business, how to manufacture a product or how to
create a direct sales marketing strategy: this video interview
covers a range of entrepreneurial topics from an expert who's been
through it all. Rob speaks of how his idea for Trunki started at
university when he entered a national luggage design competition
and the challenges he faced when he tried to commercialise his
product idea. However Law persevered with his venture and carried
on developing his business plan in the back of a campervan
travelling the east coast of Australia.</p>

<p>Listen to how a 3 year global distribution deal managed to sell
only 19,000 products and the challenge Rob faced of getting his
Trunki moulds back from the Chinese government. The UK interest in
Trunki came about after an appearance on Dragons Den, where a
rejection from all the dragons resulted from Theo Paphitis breaking
the strap of the Trixie Trunki.</p>

<p>Find out how the governments Passport for Export training
programme helped Rob sell his products internationally and his
belief that brand design and understanding is a great strength of
the UK. Rob Law has been made an ambassador for Enterprise UK, and
is an inspiration to anyone considering becoming an
entrepreneur.</p>

<ul>
<li>Learn more about <a
href="http://www.trunki.co.uk">Trunki</a></li>

<li>Rob Law is an ambassador for <a
href="http://www.enterpriseuk.org" target="_blank">Enterprise
UK</a>, the national campaign to inspire confidence, skills and
ambition to be enterprising</li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>You have to give everyone great customer service - Clare Thommen</title><link>http://www.smarta.com/advice/sales-and-marketing/pr/you-have-to-give-everyone-great-customer-service---clare-thommen</link><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:45:57 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://www.smarta.com/advice/sales-and-marketing/pr/you-have-to-give-everyone-great-customer-service---clare-thommen</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<ul>
<li>Watch our full interview with <a href="/advice/general/clare-thommen-boudiche"
title="Clare Thommen, Boudiche">Clare Thommen</a></li>

<li>Learn more about <a
href="http://www.boudiche.com">Boudiche</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>