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Behind the Best: The Pitch 2011 special - Boozeberries, Northern Ireland

This month we’re introducing you to the finalists in this year’s The Pitch awards, run by SiftMedia in association with Yell. The Pitch 2011 supports and celebrates small businesses from start-up to success.

Today we meet the Northern Ireland finalist Barbara Hughes, co-founder of Boozeberries Artisan liqueurs.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?
Boozeberries is a premium Artisan Berry Liqueur naturally enhanced with the infusion of whole wild fragrant berries. Hand-crafted in small batches, supreme selected berries are infused in a rich mellow blend of Irish grain spirit to give a clean delicate taste of summer fruits all through the year!
‘Ireland’s 1^st Fruit liqueur’ can be served chilled, over ice or added to Champagne, Prosseco or other sparkling wine to create amazing Champagne cocktails (it’s a real treat to watch the berries dance in the bubbles) It can be used to create innovative cocktails and sumptuous desserts… - Check out our free Boozeberries cocktail recipes
Boozeberries has picked up a clutch of awards at food and drink shows, and has been honoured with celebrity chef and 5 star restaurant endorsements:

Boozeberries Liqueurs are Available in 3 flavours:
Wild Cranberries, Zesty Blackcurrant and Wild Blueberries.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?
We currently work from home; however we are searching for suitable premises close to home in the Banbridge area in Co Down.
Our stockists include The Drink Shop, Tesco NI, and other independent off licenses and restaurants.

What inspired you to start your business?
Both I and my husband Stuart wanted a better work/life balance and wanted a way to use our skills to create a better life for our family. We pride ourselves on high quality unique products and service.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?
Firstly commitment and determination to succeed in a very competitive market dominated by giants, then the niche we have focused on – high-end specialist Liqueurs, 100% natural and 100% delicious.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?
We have created a culture that treats alcoholic drinks like food, the barman has become a chef and is searching for high quality ingredients. People appreciate what we are doing, the Mixologists and key players in the industry have told us our products are what they have been waiting for. Our Liqueurs are described as Fresh they are not sticky or sweet and allow the bartender versatility with his carefully balanced flavours.

Do you have a signature product you could tell us about?
All our liqueurs are created and flavoured naturally from whole Berries; the berries become a delicious garnish in your drinks, cocktails and desserts, and the little boozy berries add to your experience.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? 
Don’t let negative people put you off! When you have researched your business and are confident in what you are doing – Go For It! It’s not easy but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?
My favourite local business are
Slice of Heaven - one of my very best friends Heather makes amazing desserts.
Harnett’s Oils - Jane is making natural and healthy oils rapeseed, hemp and flavoured from her own farm.
Fluid Voodoo - Richard is educating people in the art of cocktails both for fun and for the professional bartenders.

How does it feel to have won your heat of The Pitch?
Really good! But the pressure is on now not to let Northern Ireland down on the Final!

Are you confident about the final?
Yeah – pretty confident if I can keep the nerves at bay… Just one to beat I think (not telling who though lol)
All great wee businesses but think there are only 2 of us that are global brands.

If you could give one piece of advice for an Entrepreneur considering entering next year’s Pitch competition, what would it be?
Go for it and focus on what makes you unique!

Finally, following The Pitch, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?
Better distribution and new brands – our Facebook page is a good place to keep up to date with our progress

The Pitch 2011 final is on 18th November.
The four region finalists will be joined by a fifth, chosen by live public vote for the Wildcard Award - Voting ends 6th November. 

The overall champion will win a package of business products and services worth £50,000. We wish them all good luck!

Behind the best: Short Couture in Tring

This week we talk to Hayley Chalmers, creater of Short Couture, the clothes brand for style-conscious Petite/Short women looking for fashionable, well fitting clothes to wear to work.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?
It’s smart clothing for short/Petite ladies. Mainly it’s clothing that is appropriate for the office but is fashionable too. By ‘short’ I mean about 5’4” and under.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?
At the moment it’s only available on the website www.shortcouture.com.
Being a niche market this is the most efficient way of reaching enough people. If I had a shop I’d be restricting my market too much. A website is also much cheaper than opening a shop and getting into leases, etc

What inspired you to start your business?
I’m 5’1” and have had a lifetime of wearing clothes that are too big in several ways. There are Petite clothes on the High Street but nothing really aimed at women 30+ that want smart clothes for the office.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?
I’m aiming at a market that others ignore. For a start all my dresses have sleeves! Everything on the high street is sleeveless, a lot of women want sleeves for many reasons, it’s definitely more appropriate for the office.
This isn’t just about selling lots of clothes and making lots of profit – it’s about creating clothes for Petites that aren’t available, and selling them at affordable prices.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?
I use freelance UK designers (and I do a bit myself too), everything is made in England in small quantities and I choose fabrics with great texture or patterns. Mostly it’s different because I make clothes that women in their 30s, 40s, 50s can wear to work and still be fashionable. Petite clothes on the High Street are either for the under 30s (and too short and very low necklines) or they are very aging styles.

Do you have a signature product you could tell us about?
It’s the shift dress. It works perfectly for Petite women. It doesn’t cut them in half and it accentuates the natural figure. We shorties don’t have a long waistline so we can’t wear high waist trousers etc, but the shift dress is perfect.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?
Research, research, ask questions, learn! Unless you are an expert in a certain area then don’t assume that you know what to do – research it!
Don’t give up! It will take more money and time that you think – to get going. But don’t give up. DO check that what you are doing is right – and investigate other ways to promote your business/find customers. But don’t give up.
Look at any new-ish successful business – they will all tell you that it took them ages to get started, but if they’d given up we wouldn’t have Innocent smoothies, Dyson cleaners or King of Shaves!

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?
Old Dairy Garage on the outskirts of Tring. –family business and they are so lovely, friendly and helpful, and reasonably priced.
Graces Hardware in Tring – an old business – they stock everything and are really helpful. You can have a loyalty account and get 10% of everything too! I get my Calor gas canisters there (there’s no gas in the village) and the ‘gas man’ is so chatty and friendly.
Dunsley Farm Shop – super little farm shop with their own free range eggs at a very good price. They will have a little tea room too soon.
Tring Brewery – what can I say? An award winning local brewery. Great shop on the premises so you can take beer home.

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?
Dresses are more popular than I thought - so there will be more dresses, they won’t all be pure straight shifts, skirts will be slightly flared, and there will be more tops and blouses. It will all be interesting fabrics and designs with a fashion edge.
I’ll also be adding some videos to the site, starting with how to measure yourself, and there will be styling and shopping tips.

Behind the Best: ‘Mumpreneur’ Kate Wilson - NosyCrow

We’re interviewing the winners of the 2011 Mumpreneur Award, this week’s business mind is Kate Wilson from London, winner of this year’s Inspiration Award.

www.nosycrow.com

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?
We’ve very new, so there’s no reason why your readers should be aware of us! We are a small, independent children’s publishing company, publishing books for children from babies to young teenagers and apps for iPads and other touch screen devices for children between the ages of two and around seven. We started publishing in January of this year. We’ve published books by new writers and illustrators, but also published books by people who are better known, like a series of books by Axel Scheffler, who is the illustrator of The Gruffalo.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?
You can find us at 10A Lant Street, London, SE1 9QR. We’re just around the corner from Borough Market. We wanted a central London location, but we wanted to be careful with our money, and Southwark (and Lambeth where we were previously) both represented relatively good value for money. But it’s also a really vibrant area, with the food market happening at the end of every week and a really great mix of residential property, offices and retailers.

What inspired you to start your business?
I’ve worked in children’s publishing for most of my career – so for over two decades! But it took spending time away from children’s books (I worked briefly for an adult publishing company) to realise how much I loved creating really engaging reading experiences for children and to recognise how important children’s literacy and encouraging children to read was for me. I’d also got to the point where I felt that I had learned a huge amount from corporate companies, and was ready to be my own boss!

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?
I think that we are really focussed on the child reader. When we decide to publish a book or an app, we try to have a really strong sense of who the eventual reader will be. Are they three years old or four years old? Are they a girl or a boy? Are they a keen reader or not such a keen reader? We publish, for example, a series of books called Mega Mash ups. These are books that are perfect for reluctant readers, mainly boys, of seven and older. They have short, action-packed, funny stories, and the reader is invited to complete the illustrations by drawing in the book, with suggestions of what to draw.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?
We sell our print books to UK retailers from independent booksellers to big supermarkets. We also sell internationally. We have partnership arrangements with publishers in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Candada so our books are available in those countries in English, and we sell our books to publishers in other countries so that they can translate them into their own languages. In the nine months since we’ve started publishing, we’ve sold rights to translate our books in 12 languages.

We sell our apps – and we’ve published two so far, Nosy Crow The Three Little Pigs and Nosy Crow Cinderella – through the iTunes stores throughout the world. They’ve received awards and been listed in “best apps” listings in publications like The Guardian and The New York Times.

We don’t sell directly to readers/readers’ parents ourselves, though you can link to Amazon and iTunes through our website.

One thing that I think that we do particularly well is engage with parents, retailers, authors and illustrators through social media. If you’re a small company, you can have a really distinctive, friendly voice that is properly authentic and sincere.

Do you have a signature product/speciality you could tell us about?
We publish lots of great books, but I think that the most unusual thing that we produce is our Cinderella app, which has only been out since the middle of September. It’s a reading experience for a child, but not exactly a book: there’s music and voice audio and lots of interactive animation. You can choose what dress Cinderella wears to the ball and what music she and the prince dance to; you can help her tidy up in the kitchen and find the things that the Fairy Godmother transforms into the coach, horses and coachmen; and you can even, if you have a phone or iPad with a front facing camera, appear in the mirrors throughout the app. You can find out about it on our website or watch the trailer.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?
Three things:
- Do a really good financial plan. Ours was for our first three years. It helped us to identify how much money we’d need, and when we’d be squeezed for cash. Even though things haven’t turned out exactly as we planned (they never do!), having the plan to go back to has been something for us to measure ourselves against.
- If you’re not working on your own, surround yourself with people who complement you, temperamentally as well as in terms of their skills and knowledge. There are MANY things I am not good at, and it’s important for me to recognise them and to have people working with me who ARE good at those things.
- Make sure your family is supportive of you: don’t underestimate how much work it is and how absorbing it is to set up your own business. I am hugely reliant on the daily support of my husband, Adrian, and on the understanding of my two pre-teen children!

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?
We haven’t been here long – just since September, so we are still exploring the area. Food is a big priority for us. Of course, we love all the stalls Borough Market, but on days that there isn’t a market, I am addicted to the takeaway mixed meze at Tas on Borough High Street and many of us are great fans of El Vergel on Webber Street. When we have important guests and we haven’t baked ourselves, we splash out at Konditor and Cook on Stoney Street. We love the Riverside Bookshop in Hays Galleria near London Bridge. We use Rymans on Borough High Street for stationery emergencies.

How did you hear about Mumpreneur & why did you enter the competition? Were you confident you’d win?
I went to the conference last year. Having worked in big companies, I felt that it would be useful to immerse myself in a different sort of atmosphere and a different sort of community. I entered the competition because I thought it would be great to win, of course! But I also thought that, just over a year after founding the company and a few months after our launch, it might be interesting to reflect on our journey: the questions make you think about your business from the outside, and that’s always a good thing to do! I think it is safe to say that is was absolutely astonished to win! Anyone who saw me bumble up to the stage, go a bit flushed and teary and fail to say anything that made sense would have a good idea of how surprised I was!

How does it feel to have won your Mumpreneur award?
It feels great! It was a great validation of the work of the staff and the authors, illustrators and other creative people who work for and with Nosy Crow. I am really grateful to Yell and DHL and to Intuit, who sponsored the specific award I won.

If you could give one piece of advice for anyone considering entering next year’s competition, what would it be?
Take time over the process, think about your business from the outside.

Finally, following the Mumpreneur win, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?
More Nosy Crow books available in even more shops and more Nosy Crow apps: we’ll publish 23 books and four apps this year, and twice that many of each next year. And, to help people find out about them, more tweets, more blogs and more Facebook updates.

Congratulations to Kate and all of this year’s winners!
Yell are a proud sponsors of the Mumpreneur awards and we recommend the site to any parent looking for support with their business. Who knows, maybe next year you could be a winner too!

Behind the Best: ‘Mumpreneur’ Emily Goodall - BundleBean

We’re interviewing the winners of the 2011 Mumpreneur Award, this week’s business mind is Emily Goodall from London, winner of this year’s Most Unique Product: Bronze Award.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?
BundleBean Ltd designed and sells the first 5-in-1 waterproof fleece blanket that works like a cosy-toe to fit all buggies, bikeseats, rear facing car seats and front style baby carriers. It also opens up flat for use as a picnic rug or play mat!

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?
I run my business from my family home in Fulham and sell directly from our website: www.bundlebean.com. I chose to work from home to save costs on renting office space and so I could effectively juggle childcare and running a business. We distribute throughout the UK to various high street and online retailers including Asda, Amazon, Halfords and Mothercare.com. We are shortly going in to Toys R Us stores and Boots stores in January.

What inspired you to start your business?
I absolutely love being self employed, having been a freelance Events Manager for several years. I had the idea of BundleBean in my head for a while and after the birth of my second child decided to go for it and turn it into a business. It was definitely the right decision – I have the freedom to work around my children and have the enormous satisfaction of running my own business.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?
BundleBean is a uniquely versatile solution to the time old problem of ‘too much baby kit’! By fitting securely onto so many different modes of transport we manage to save parents from having to buy endless branded foot muffs and waterproof covers for each appliance. We are very proud at BundleBean’s affordability – at £29.99 it is a cost effective and highly practical solution – and we think that makes us stand out in a crowded market place.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?
Our business follows a simple model. We buy in bulk from China and supply to customers and small independent retailers directly. We also supply in bulk to high street and major online retailers through our UK distributor PHP Ltd. I don’t think we vary hugely from other similarly sized business in this sector, but we do pride ourselves on offering a personal edge and excellent customer service, coupled with a rigorously tested and perfected product that performs extremely well in all weather.

Do you have a signature product/speciality you could tell us about? 

Our only product at present is our 5-in-1 BundleBean but we are working furiously on other complimentary products to add to our range.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?
The secret to success is to outsource as much as you possibly can. As a working mother it is simply impossible to do it all yourself and by surrounding yourself with an excellent team, from manufacturers, designers, PR and distributors, you can create a far more successful and profitable business, with a supportive team and freedom to think about your next product…

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?
I am lucky to live in a vibrant and fun part of the London and as a mother to two small children I am delighted with the local businesses on offer.
Eddie Katz in Putney is a great place to spend a rainy morning with two bored and energetic children. BabyWorld on Munster Road is a truly local and caring nursery store which offers a personal and friendly service as well as fantastic products. For a rare night out – Sukho Thai Restaurant on Fulham Road is very hard to beat!

How did you hear about Mumpreneur & why did you enter the competition? Were you confident you’d win?
I heard about Mumpreneur after searching online for support and advice on starting a business. I entered the competition as I feel hugely proud of my product and from our incredible customer feedback I felt confident that the product is needed and well designed. I was delighted to be shortlisted and get a chance to go to the Conference and network with other successful women (and men!) but to get a Bronze Award and receive that endorsement was fantastic.

How does it feel to have won your Mumpreneur award?
I am over the moon! We have only been trading for three months and our success to date has already far exceeded all my expectations so to win an award so early on really was the icing on the cake for our first quarter in business. It is also a great feeling to have endorsement from an impartial third party, especially as the competition was so strong.

If you could give one piece of advice for anyone considering entering next year’s competition, what would it be?
Go for it! Be confident in your product and service and write your entry with the passion you have for your business. Be proud of what you have achieved and make sure the judges feel this in your application.

Finally, following the Mumpreneur win, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?
We are working on a new range of fabrics and a new product, but my lips are sealed for now. Watch this space – BundleBean has plans afoot!!

Yell sponsored one of the Mumpreneur awards this year and we can highly recommend the site to any parent looking for support with their business. Who knows, maybe next year you could be a winner too!

Behind the Best: ‘Mumpreneur’ Maxine Lewis - Gander Kids

Following last week’s announcements of the 2011 Mumpreneur Award winners, this week’s business mind is none other than Maxine Lewis from London, winner of this year’s Best Start-Up Business Award, which we sponsor.

After being disappointed with the lack of variety in the UK children’s market, Maxine started Gander Kids, an importer of quality toys and play furniture.

Kimberley Watts-Fitzsimmons, corporate responsibility manager for Yell in the UK, said: “It is so inspiring to read about the hundreds of parents who have taken the steps to successfully start their own businesses at the same time as raising a family.”

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?

Gander Kids import branded high design children’s furniture, toys and stationery and distribute to retailers in the UK. We currently represent the US brand P’kolino and the Turkish brand IVI.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?
You can find us online at ganderkids.co.uk, our offices are based in Greenwich, London. Greenwich actually chose us, we were offered some space in an office and since it was local it was a no-brainer. Greenwich is a fantastic place to have a business with great transport links, restaurants and of course the Royal Park.

What inspired you to start your business?
I needed flexibility, as I have a young family and having looked around I couldn’t find the types of products in the UK that I wanted for my children. When I was made redundant, I knew that if I didn’t start the business then, I never would.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?

My philosophy over the years has changed, but it has always been along the lines of if you don’t try you will never know. I think what makes me stand out is my persistence. I have a fear of failure like most people, but I don’t allow it to rule me. The more people that tell me I can’t do something, the more determined I am to prove them wrong.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?
We import our products from overseas and introduce new brands to the UK. We have chosen brands which are established in their home countries and are parent run businesses. We sell our product wholesale and drop ship to independent retailers and more recently mid and larger sized retailers. Our business is different from our competitors because our products are very unique and exclusive to us. We also like to build strong relationships with our suppliers as well as our retailers and actively invest in consumer marketing and PR to boost the brand recognition and aid retailer sales.

Do you have a signature product/specialism you could tell us about?
Gander specialises in childrens products that enhance a home aesthetically, are functional, playful and most importantly affordable. Both of our current brands fit this specialism and I’m always keeping an eye out for other products to add to our portfolio.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?
Persistence and patience. My advice is be brave, willing to take a risk and above all be persistent and patient.

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?
I’ve recently discovered a business called Sophia & Matt who sell lovely bags, purses and accessories all made in London.
I love Greenwich Market, particularly the food market and Mogul restaurant. I’m a bit of a foodie!

How did you hear about Mumpreneur & why did you enter the competition? Were you confident you’d win?
I knew about the awards through various other parent run businesses. I entered as I figured I had nothing to lose and felt confident at the time. When I checked out the other shortlisted businesses, I admit I had a crisis of confidence and pretty much talked myself out of the pole position.

How does it feel to have won your Mumpreneur award?
Fantastic! In my old professional career the most recognition I received was through formal appraisals and promotion. This feels one hundred times better than that because I have built the business from the ground up.

If you could give one piece of advice for an anyone considering entering next year’s competition, what would it be?
They should enter! The event in itself is great to be a part of and if you’re lucky enough to win it is a real confidence boost.

Finally, following the Mumpreneur win, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?
As well as introducing some new products to our existing ranges with P’kolino and IVI, I’m also on the lookout for the next innovative brand to introduce to UK parents.

Congratulations to Maxine and all of this year’s Mumpreneur 2011 Award winners!

Behind the best: Made.com in Notting Hill, London

This week we speak to Ning Li CEO of Made.com, about their furniture site which is just a little bit special - and not just for the prices! Francesca Krajewski, Founding Partner of Naked Wines, recommended them in her interview with us back in February, saying:

I really like what made.com are doing. They’re doing for furniture what we’re doing for wine.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?

Made.com is an online furniture retailer that brings furniture direct from the makers to you. Offering up to 70% off high street prices, Made.com works with a number of both established or young and talented designers from all over the world. Made.com was launched in April 2010, co-founded by Julien Callede, Chloe Macintosh and myself.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?

Our offices are based in Notting Hill, London . We have also an office in Shanghai.

A number of our factories are situated in the Far East and so we wanted to be closer to them in order to offer our expertise, quality inspection and to ease the manufacturing process. We chose Notting Hill as our London as its a trendy area which we felt was well suited to our brand. London is busy and bustling and we felt that Notting Hill really placed us in the centre of everything that’s going on!

What inspired you to start your business?

I was buying a sofa - almost ready to pay £3000 until I realised a factory of a friend of mine actually manufactured that sofa - and they were selling it for £300, a fraction of the price I was about to pay. I was puzzled and went on to find out that it is very much the norm of the furniture world - a public secret - that every middleman (agents, traders, importers, wholesalers, etc) makes a fat margin and it is widely accepted.

So we decided there was an opportunity for us to do the best thing for the consumers by shaking the industry a little bit. By connecting the consumers to the factories, we cut out the traditional middlemen so the consumers can save money.

What is your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?

Beautiful furniture for all…. High-end, designer furniture was the privilege of a small number of people that could afford to pay for them. Today, with Made.com, consumers can buy direct and save up to 70% off the high street price.

Bouji Chair, Pavilion Grey. Only £169 from Made.com

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?

We are currently in a recession and the public are looking for the best deals with the same quality they always wanted. We offer that unlike our competitors and with our group of designers, creating our furniture, we’re also offering that ‘designer’ edge.

Do you have a signature product/specialism you could tell us about?

One of our best-sellers, the Stroller Desk was by ex-Conran designer, Steuart Padwick. It’s a fine example of what we at Made.com believe in – high quality, beautiful designer furniture without the high street mark-up.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?

As a small, independent business your strength is being… small. Being small and independent means you can really focus on your business and your team. You can’t fight with big, cash-rich players in marketing budget, but you may be able to evolve much faster than them and innovate quickly.

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?

There are lots of ideas in the pipeline! Our team is constantly growing and we also hope to look into a showroom due to the demand of our loyal customers. We also want to deliver to Europe soon and hopefully one day the rest of the world!

Behind the best: Young & Lost Club, London

In this week’s edition of our ongoing hat tip to some of the best independent businesses from around the UK, we tracked down Nadia Dahlawi, CEO of Young & Lost Club.

A local favourite previously commended by one of our favourite music bloggers, Tim from The Blue Walrus:

There are so many great people living and working in music in London, but I have to say the people I revere most at the moment are Sara and Nadia from Young & Lost Club. They have brought so so many amazing new bands to the fore over the past five years inluding Fixers and most famously Noah and the Whale

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?

We are a small independently run record label and club night. We also do awesome DJ sets!

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?

We are based in Baker St but run our club night at The Lock Tavern on Chalk Farm road as well as many different events across London. You can find full listings of our events at youngandlostclub.com

What inspired you to start your business?

It goes; Once upon a 2002, two quiet fifteen year-old girls, best friends since twelve, read punk bible Please Kill Me and got heavily into Patti Smith and Television. Then the Strokes exploded the London scene and we got suddenly, irrevocably, heavily into new bands. Ran away from boarding school after dark and went to see these bands playing rowdy London shows. In 2003 we launched our first club night, during halfterm break. A Saturday showcase for Rough Trade, where the likes of Neil’s Children, Art Brut, Les Incompetents and Xerox Teens. Young & Lost Club was born at the tail end of 2004. “A record label felt like the next step.’’

We kept on putting out singles for the bands that we loved, like Good Shoes, Larrikin Love, Joe Lean & the JJJ, Johnny Flynn and Bombay Bicycle Club. We staged memorable early gigs from The Klaxons, The Horrors, These New Puritans, Vampire Weekend, Jamie T, Laura Marling, The Virgins, The xx, Friendly Fires, and every other buzz band of the moment.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?

We always wanted it to be like a real club; that people could feel they were a part of, and we wanted to do a good old-fashioned singles club.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors in the industry?

As its just the two of us we do everything ourselves, we are really fussy about who we work with and how we do things. With Young & Lost you really get a full package!

Do you have a signature product you could tell us about?

One of Y&L’s more signature products is our free digital club - every two weeks we give away an exclusive track or remix by a band we like.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?

Be prepared to work very hard for little money and sometimes none at all at the beginning! It’s worth it though to be your own boss, when you are running your own company the long hours don’t seem hard.

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?

We love Key Productions (based in Camden), they make all our Vinyl and CDs. They have great customer service and have always done great work for us.

Charcoal Grill is the best place to get a Lebanese meal in Central London. Very reasonable and always good! Be prepared to queue though, especially in the evenings.

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?

We are expanding the free digital club and putting out an album by the awesome Being There.

Behind the blog: The London Perspective

This week we picked the brain of Adanma Wokoh from The London Perspective Blog on some of the best, and worst, things about living in London Town.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the blog and what you write about there?
My name is Adanma otherwise known to my readers as “Lanky Girl”. The London Perspective blog is my take on life living in London as someone in their mid-twenties. The blog is a really a collection of things I am interested in. This can be food (restaurants reviews, recipes), events, art, music, dating, and other interesting things to do in London.

What prompted you to start a blog? What attracted you blog about London?

The blog started in the new year of 2011, I’ve always been known to my friends as somebody who always had ideas for things to do in London over the week. More and more people where asking me for ideas so I decided to put it in one central place they could find it.

How would you characterise your area?

London is a massive place! A cosmopolitan, multi ethnic hub where there is always something going on. You can never be bored living here.

Do you get any feedback from locals on your portrayal of London?

People quite like my weekend run down of events going on as they don’t always have time to search through the net.

Are there any myths/misconceptions you’d like to dispel?

That I write the dating dilemma answers! They are written by two male ex-boyfriends of mine haha!

If you could change one thing, what would it be?

To be able to blog every single day, it is hard to do so because of my busy job in media at the moment its about 3 times a week.

Can you tell us what your favourite/most popular posts have been about?
Probably two:
A review of Miss Marmite Lover’s Supper Club. There was so much going on at the event, the food was delicious and the pictures still make my mouth water looking at them now.

A post about tube etiquette written by a friend of mine who has relocated to London from Bradford. It was really insightful and funny.

Who would you say are the ‘local heroes’ in your area? We’re looking for those independent businesses/trades people that you think do an outstanding job.

Bikeworks, is a social enterprise in London, that offers a range of organisational and public cycle services including; cycle training courses, repairs, bike re-cycling, travel planning and sales of new & refurbished bikes.

You can buy great second hand bikes from them and they support helping homeless people get back to work by training them to fix bicycles.

- Any local figures and/or campaigns you’d like to champion?

The Evening Standard’s Get London Reading campaign. It is aiming to tackle the problems with child literacy in London schools by encouraging people to volunteer in schools to read with children.

Any thoughts on what the big story/highlight of 2011 might be for your area – or from your blog - or is it too early to tell?

I would say the riots in London which were shocking and disappointing, but also was able to show how strong the community spirit is in London.

Behind the best: Free Space Gallery, London

Getting creative with this week’s ‘Behind the best’ interview, we talk to Melissa Hardwick, Arts Manager & Curator for the Free Space Gallery in Kentish Town.

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?

The Free Space Gallery is a gallery based within the Kentish Town Health Centre, We seek to provide free exhibition space for up and coming artists especially those with messages of social justice in their work. The aim is to put art directly into the centre of the community and to expose anyone visiting the centre to artwork in various forms.

Where can we find you, and why did you choose to set up shop where you did? - What attracted you to that area?

We are based on the first floor of the Kentish Town Health Centre in north London. This area of London is full of artists who are looking for somewhere to exhibit their work, it is a vibrant area which the Free Space Gallery fits into perfectly.

What inspired you to start your business?

The Kentish Town Improvement Fund charity was created to bring art to the local community through the Free Space Gallery space and the workshops which it runs. Its success thus far has shown what a positive service it provides.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?

The Free Space Gallery is based on the principle of free expression and discussion and seeks to show art work which promotes discussion on issues of social justice. This is backed up by a series of talks and events which use the art as a starting point.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?

The Free Space Gallery provides free exhibition space for up and coming artists in an award winning public building. We are different from those other small galleries around us because of the sheer numbers of people who are exposed to the work hanging in the gallery. The Kentish Town Health Centre within which we are based, provides a flagship NHS facility and art and community work is key to this.

Do you have a signature product you could tell us about?

Our next event will be a private view of the work of Pascal Ancel Bartholdi his work is a beautiful manipulation of story telling photographs. His monochromatic photographs seek to transport us from a world in which we are over stimulated by colours and advertisements. This will be at the smaller of the Free Space Galleries based at 76 Queens Crescent, London, NW5 4EB, 15th September 6-9pm.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?

Dedication and determination is essential to successful independent ventures. And this has definitely been the secret to the Free Space Gallery.

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?

Somewhere to eat Marios Cafe on Kelly Street in Kentish Town and a great place for a hair cut and somewhere to view art Flaxon Ptootch on Kentish Town High Street

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?

A continuing programme of activities, exhibitions and talks so come along and get involved. Check out our website, Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Do you have a local hero you’d like us to interview? Contact us, and/or write a review of the business on Yell.com

Behind the best: Lothian Handyman Ltd, Edinburgh/Lothian

Time again for our ‘Behind the best’ interview, celebrating independent businesses from around the UK. This week we head north and talk to Laurie from Lothian Handyman Ltd, roving handymen for hire for everything from bathroom installations to flat-packed furniture!

In a time of stress, this company did everything for me, I didnt need to lift a finger. The finished floor is perfect and very well finished with attention to detail. I will be using them again and would very highly recommend them. I found them totally trustworth and very open and fair about costs.

- Yell user review

For any of our readers who aren’t aware of you, can you give us an intro to the business?

Big or small, we do it all, from full property renovations to putting up mirrors, for homes, landlords and commercial properties.

What inspired you to start your business?

Bad workmanship from other trades and encouragement from friends who had work done as a favour.

What’s your philosophy in a nutshell? What would you say makes you stand out from the crowd?

We care about your property as much as you and we will also give honest advice, even if that means less work for us.

Can you explain how your business works and what differentiates it from your competitors’ in the industry?

We can manage and carry out all the work required. A bathroom makeover could require; plumbing, tiling, plasterwork, flooring, joinery, electricals and decorating. We provide this at the same hourly/daily rate, without you having to get separate quotes and organising them in the right order. Saving valuable money and time for the job to complete.

Do you have a specialism/most popular service you could tell us about?

Our speciality lately has been full flat or house, value for money renovations for landlords and house sellers. We are landlords ourselves, so well informed as to what is required, we can include PAT, gas and electrical safety testing at competitive prices.

What would you say is the secret to a successful independent business? What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your shoes?

The client is of upmost importance, we keep ours fully informed, turn up when agreed, provide as accurate estimates as possible and do an excellent job, leaving the property tidy and clean. We have much repeated and referred business from many happy clients.

Can you share a few of your favourite local, independent businesses with us?

Aurora Heating - whenever our clients require heating or plumbing services, they are prompt, reasonably priced and carry out excellent work, we have had great feedback for them.

Finally, what can we expect from you in 2011/2012? Anything our readers should be looking forward to?

With the lending interest rates staying low, many people can access funds through their mortgages to renovate or improve their property. It’s worth shopping around to get a good deal on a mortgage, especially if they haven’t done so in the last few years. Many businesses are keen to win your business, so there are many sales and offers around on products, grab them while they last!

Do you have a local hero you’d like us to interview? Contact us, and/or write a review of the business on Yell.com