From start up to M&S supplier to insolvency – Greg Fraser, Bottle Baking Co
Running a business can often be compared to riding a rollercoaster.
From small beginnings in his kitchen to £1m orders from M&S and winning awards to cashflow problems and crashing back down, today’s guest, Greg Fraser has ridden that rollercoaster.
Listen to Greg’s amazing story and you’ll learn so many business lessons.
If you’re looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.
INTRODUCING GREG FRASER
Greg Fraser is a multi-brand founder with a passion for building standout food and gifting businesses that bring joy, spark curiosity and challenge the norm.
Greg has launched and grown The Bottled Baking Co and The Doggy Baking Co from scratch while also nurturing Laura’s Confectionery and Mon Dessert following an acquisition.
From kitchen experiments to nationwide and worldwide listings, Greg Fraser has learnt what it takes to go from idea to shelf, and how to keep evolving in a fast-paced consumer world. He’s also learnt the hard way, how the business world can be brutal and how life may not go the way you were expecting it to.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[00:00:00] The genesis of Bottle Baking Co
[00:07:00] From hobby to business: The early days and scaling up
[00:17:30] The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Growth
[00:19:00] Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship
[00:22:00] Challenges of rapid growth and stock management
[00:30:00] Scaling production challenges
[00:32:00] The excitement of partnering with Marks and Spencer
[00:36:00] Financial struggles, cashflow management and the dangers of over-reliance on a single client
[00:51:00] The Journey to Liquidation
[00:57:00] Reflections on the Business Journey
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS
- Stock management is food manufacture is key; getting hold of, and having enough, stock
- If you haven’t got a business support network find one, and don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Someone always needs to be looking at the longer term strategy
3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
“The first Christmas orders came through in July”
“I took time off for Christmas orders… and never went back”
“It was risky borrowing that amount of money. I could buy a house with that!”
VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU
Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/
Work with Phil – www.philfraser.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorfraser/
Shout out: https://www.thebiskery.com
DON’T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’
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https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.
As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.
As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.
Want to work with Phil to help you? See www.philfraser.co.uk.
This podcast is hosted by Captivate. Get your 30 day free trial at https://bit.ly/Captivate-Offer.
LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST
Leeds, Business in Leeds, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Nous of Fraser, Business Sounding Board, Business Coach, Business Mentor,
