Start Scale Succeed

Want to start, scale and succeed in your product business? Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit. In this weekly business podcast, Nicole is here to empower you to "start, scale and succeed" by providing you with inspiration, motivation and insight from entrepreneurs and experts to help you in the retail industry.This podcast includes tips, tactics and conversations that you can learn from and implement into your own business, from start up entrepreneurs that have just launched to multi million pound businesses. With tips from experts and how to’s to help your business grow to enable you to live the life you crave. From side hustle to stock market and everything in between.Start listening and subscribe now

Start Scale Succeed is a business podcast hosted by Nicole Higgins, with 196 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Nicole Higgins hosts Start Scale Succeed, a business show with 196 episodes published.

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  Start Scale Succeed

  Christmas 2026 what's trending and how to turn it into sales with Hannah Bartlett

  Sep 24, 202634 min

  In this episode, Nicole and Hannah discuss the evolving trends in Christmas marketing, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer behavior and emotional connections to the holiday season. They explore how retailers can leverage nostalgia, storytelling, and immersive experiences to engage customers effectively. Hannah introduces the 'Three P's' —Purpose, Personalization, and Provenance as essential elements for businesses to consider in their strategies. The conversation also highlights the significance of creating memorable retail experiences, whether in physical stores or online, to foster customer loyalty and drive sales during the festive season. Takeaways Christmas trends are influenced by consumer emotions and nostalgia. Retailers need to adapt to the changing buying patterns of consumers. The 'Christmas creep' phenomenon shows early holiday shopping is on the rise. Storytelling is a powerful tool in marketing Christmas products. Purpose, personalization, and provenance are key to product appeal. Creating immersive experiences enhances customer engagement. Nostalgia plays a significant role in holiday marketing strategies. Retailers should focus on emotional connections with their audience. Physical stores should create sensory experiences to attract customers. Online retailers can enhance the shopping experience through creative packaging and storytelling. Key Points Keywords Christmas trends, holiday marketing, consumer behavior, festive shopping, emotional connection, product marketing, retail experience, nostalgia, storytelling, immersive experiences links download hannah Christmas playbook here https://thechristmasinsider.com/trends-playbook/ DON'T FORGET to follow me on instagram from lots more tips https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/ Sign up to the newsletter and get support straight to your inbox https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Start Scale Succeed

  Ep 195 Scaling A Global Beauty And Wellness Brand, How Popmask grew 500% in one year

  Jul 17, 20251h 27m

  On this episode of Start Scale Succeed, Nicole chats with Louisa Booth, the inspiring founder behind Pop Mask and Blushing LA. Louisa shares her entrepreneurial journey from investment banking to bootstrapping and building a global beauty and wellness brand, now found in over 35,000 retail doors worldwide—including CVS, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Superdrug, and Boots. Nicole and Louisa chat about: The story behind Louisa’s first product, Pop Band (the hair ties that don’t damage hair), and her accidental pivot into the US market. How Louisa grew Pop Mask into a brand that brings joy and innovation to everyday essentials—from sleep masks to femcare solutions. The logistics of scaling internationally: cracking the US market, dealing with retail red tape, vendor setups, and surviving cash flow challenges. The reality of copycat competitors and how Louisa kept innovating and moving forward. Product development inspiration—how her own family’s needs and feedback from a multigenerational team drive new ideas. Navigating tariffs, Trump policies, and the need for dogged focus on margins The shift to showing up as the face of the brand and connecting with customers on a relatable, human level. The rollercoaster of founder life: bootstrapping, remortgaging, 18-hour days, pinch-me moments, and finally seeing her products in major UK retailers. Louisa’s best advice for founders at every stage: trust your instincts, scrutinize every penny spent, focus on margins, and remember—there are no shortcuts in scaling a product business. https://www.instagram.com/lovethepopmask/ https://popmasklondon.com/ https://blushingla.com/en-gb Host Nicole Higgins The Buyer and retail coach Nicole Higgins Links https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/ Sponsor Neon Digital Clicks Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store?This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, the agency dedicated to helping kids’ and family brands achieve explosive growth with high-performing digital marketing campaigns. Neon’s new Runway to Results programme is a revolutionary paid-advertising service that will help you understand your brand’s true potential and reach the heights of success you dream of. Over the course of 60 days, Neon’s expert team will test and optimise your Meta and Google ad accounts to establish your business KPIs and optimum Cost Per Acquisition. At the end of the Runway period, they’ll analyse your data to establish what profitable scaling looks like and arm you with knowledge, confidence and a clear plan for the next phase of your growth. If you’re ready to elevate your e-commerce game, Neon is the navigator you need on your flight deck. https://runwaytoresults.com/ https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

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  Start Scale Succeed

  Ep 194 Ways To Use AI In Your Product Business With Dean Johnston

  Jul 2, 202526 min

  In this value-packed episode, Nicole Higgins sits down with Dean Johnson—AI consultant, and experienced product business founder—to dive into the game-changing ways artificial intelligence is transforming product businesses. Whether you're a founder at the start of your journey or running an established e-commerce brand, you’ll learn actionable strategies for using AI to streamline operations, save time, and scale efficiently without losing that crucial human connection. Highlights include Smart ways to use AI for inventory forecasting, automating reporting, customer service, and content creation The strengths of custom ChatGPTs for more intuitive, tailored results Workflow automation using tools like Make.com Integrating AI with Shopify Leveraging AI while maintaining authenticity and personal connection with your customers Practical steps to map your business workflows and identify automation opportunities Using AI for deep trend research and actionable business insights Key Takeaways: Start by mapping your business workflows to identify where AI and automation will help the most. Focus on repetitive, data-heavy tasks—freeing yourself and your team to focus on creativity and customer relationships. ChatGPT’s custom GPT feature is a powerful way to make business analysis fast and personalized. Trend research and strategic planning can be augmented with AI, Links https://www.gorgias.com/ https://www.make.com/en https://n8n.io/ai/ Guest Dean Johnston https://aiefficiencyhubb.com/ https://www.instagram.com/deanjohnstonai https://www.tiktok.com/@deanjohnstonai https://form.typeform.com/to/izHind8W Host Nicole Higgins The Buyer and retail coach Nicole Higgins Links https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/ Sponsor Neon Digital Clicks Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store?This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, the agency dedicated to helping kids’ and family brands achieve explosive growth with high-performing digital marketing campaigns. Neon’s new Runway to Results programme is a revolutionary paid-advertising service that will help you understand your brand’s true potential and reach the heights of success you dream of. Over the course of 60 days, Neon’s expert team will test and optimise your Meta and Google ad accounts to establish your business KPIs and optimum Cost Per Acquisition. At the end of the Runway period, they’ll analyse your data to establish what profitable scaling looks like and arm you with knowledge, confidence and a clear plan for the next phase of your growth. If you’re ready to elevate your e-commerce game, Neon is the navigator you need on your flight deck. https://runwaytoresults.com/ https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

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  Start Scale Succeed

  EP 193 Launching with Intention: Moonbow’s Journey from Idea to Indie Brand with founders Heather & Dr Felice Chan

  Jun 26, 202545 min

  When should I start talking about my brand on socials? How soon should I build a community? These are questions I'm often asked by brands that are starting and in EP 193 I'm chatting with Heather Chan co-founder of new brand Moonbow (where Traditional Chinese Medicine meets modern skincare) The brand launched in March 2025 and the founders Heather & Dr. Felice Chan have been building the brand in public for the last 18 months. . In this episode Heather shares her insights into Building a skincare brand from scratch Importance of founder visibility on social media and how to get comfortable with it. Market research and identifying white space Funding and financial planning for startups Leveraging education in brand marketing Using micro influencers to grow the brand Challenges and learnings from launch phase Strategic product and retail growth decisions #traditionalchinesemedicine #heatherchan #felicechan #startscalesucceed #businesspodcast #skincarefounderstory #podcast https://moonbowskin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/moonbow_skin/https://www.instagram.com/_heatherjchan_/ Host Nicole Higgins The Buyer and retail coach Nicole Higgins Links https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/ Sponsor Neon Digital Clicks Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store?This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, the agency dedicated to helping kids’ and family brands achieve explosive growth with high-performing digital marketing campaigns. Neon’s new Runway to Results programme is a revolutionary paid-advertising service that will help you understand your brand’s true potential and reach the heights of success you dream of. Over the course of 60 days, Neon’s expert team will test and optimise your Meta and Google ad accounts to establish your business KPIs and optimum Cost Per Acquisition. At the end of the Runway period, they’ll analyse your data to establish what profitable scaling looks like and arm you with knowledge, confidence and a clear plan for the next phase of your growth. If you’re ready to elevate your e-commerce game, Neon is the navigator you need on your flight deck. https://runwaytoresults.com/ https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

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  Start Scale Succeed

  Ep 192 The Easy Way To Launch Into The US Market With Lauren Orlicky

  Jun 26, 202540 min

  Welcome to another episode of the Start Scale Succeed podcast with your host, Nicole Higgins, the Buyer and Retail Coach. In this episode, Nicole is joined by Lauren Orlicky , co-founder of US Launchpad about the practicalities of launching your brand in the United States and how to do it the Easy Way Episode Highlights: - The Story Behind US LaunchpadLauren shares how her own e-commerce challenges inspired her to create US Launchpad—a company dedicated to helping brands expand into the US market without the overwhelming red tape of officially setting up a US entity. - Navigating the US Market as an International SellerLearn about the “international seller” route, a cost-effective and stress-free way to test your brand in the States, requiring only a US EIN (tax number) and a US dollar account—no US bank visits or 54 forms! - Sales Tax SimplifiedLauren breaks down how sales tax works for international sellers in the US, including navigating threshold laws (known as “nexus”), using tools like TaxJar on Shopify, and the surprisingly simple admin required. - What Products Are Flying Off Shelves in the US?Discover which UK/EU brands and product categories are resonating with American consumers— - Why Brand Messaging MattersNicole and Lauren discuss the importance of adapting your brand voice and marketing—Americans love “extra cheese,” and what feels salesy in the UK can truly resonate in the US. - Compliance, Packaging, and InsuranceIf you’re a food or beauty brand, find out what it takes to meet US compliance, the difference between cosmetic and drug labeling, and how Lauren’s team helps with the complicated world of US product liability insurance. - The Realistic Path to Success in the USLauren shares honest advice about managing expectations—most brands see true traction in the US after consistent effort for 10 to 12 months. Plus, why starting small, testing, and scaling are the keys to sustainable growth. - Fulfillment and Logistics Made EasyUS Launchpad provides hands-on, end-to-end support with warehousing, shipping, and even connecting you with US retail buyers—no minimum order volumes needed for US and Europe. https://uslaunchpad.co.uk https://www.uslaunchpad.co.uk/usplaybook http://linkedin.com/in/lauren-orlicky-78118b292 Host Nicole Higgins The Buyer and retail coach Nicole Higgins Links https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/ https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/ Sponsor Neon Digital Clicks Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store?This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, the agency dedicated to helping kids’ and family brands achieve explosive growth with high-performing digital marketing campaigns. Neon’s new Runway to Results programme is a revolutionary paid-advertising service that will help you understand your brand’s true potential and reach the heights of success you dream of. Over the course of 60 days, Neon’s expert team will test and optimise your Meta and Google ad accounts to establish your business KPIs and optimum Cost Per Acquisition. At the end of the Runway period, they’ll analyse your data to establish what profitable scaling looks like and arm you with knowledge, confidence and a clear plan for the next phase of your growth. If you’re ready to elevate your e-commerce game, Neon is the navigator you need on your flight deck. https://runwaytoresults.com/ https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

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