Become the most knowledgeable founder at the table with The Founders Edit, a weekly email that provides you with actionable business insights and resources to stay ahead of the curve.
Welcome to The Founders Edit, the weekly newsletter where you'll learn the latest trends, opportunities, and advice for UK female founders. ​ This week, we're spotlighting some incredible opportunities and insights tailor-made for your growth. Let's leap right into what’s brewing in the business world!
Inside This Edition:
đź’° Funding Focus: Discover how the "Creative Catalyst 2024" grant can fuel your creative venture with up to ÂŁ50,000. Plus, essential application tips to make your submission stand out.
📰 Industry Insights: Dive into the latest e-commerce trends – from the business side of Dry January to 2024's market and geopolitical forecasts. Plus, get expert insights with 'Rebecca's Take' on each article!
đź‘ Founder Networking: Mark your calendars! Unmissable networking events for women entrepreneurs are just around the corner. Connect, share, and grow with founders like you.
🛠️ From The Vendor List: An AI-powered e-commerce tool that can add revenue to your bottom line.
🛍️ Featured Female Founded Products: Celebrating innovative brands created by inspiring women. Discover what makes them special and how you can apply their lessons to your own business.
Funding Focus: Creative Catalyst 2024
Innovate UK's "Creative Catalyst 2024" grantis offering up to ÂŁ50,000 for UK-registered micro or small businesses in the creative sector. This grant, open from 23 January to 6 March 2024, is not just financial support but a comprehensive package to accelerate your business growth.
🙋‍♀️ Application Tips for Success:
Innovation Showcase: Clearly articulate how your project brings a novel approach or solution to the creative sector.
Economic Impact: Demonstrate the potential for substantial economic benefit, ensuring your proposal stands out.
Cohesive Planning: Present a well-structured project plan with a timeline, detailing how you'll use the funding effectively within 12 months.
Engaging Video Pitch: Create a concise yet compelling video pitch that encapsulates the essence of your innovation and business vision.
Stay up to date with the latest trends and news in the business world. Here are three stories that caught our eye this week and what you can learn from them:
​Dry January: A Trend Turning into Big Business
You’ve probably heard of Dry January, a growing trend where folks take a break from alcohol for a month. But, plot twist: it's actually a golden opportunity for booze makers!
Key Insights:
Historical Roots and Modern Resurgence: Originally from Finland in 1942 as "Sober January", this concept was rebooted in 2013 by Alcohol Change UK. It's gained momentum, with search terms for "Dry January" skyrocketing, especially around—you guessed it—January!
Boom in Non-Alcoholic Beverages: As folks miss the social aspects of drinking, non-alcoholic alternatives are stepping into the spotlight. Big names like White Claw and celebs like Katy Perry’s De Soi brand are riding this wave with their own non-alcoholic lines.
Think about how your brand can contribute to this shift in consumer habits, making a statement while tapping into a lucrative market. Cheers to innovation and being part of a positive change!
Check out these Female Founded alcohol-free brands on our Instagram page​
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Expert Predictions for 2024: Key Trends and Forecasts
Visual Capitalist analyzed over 700 pieces of content for their 2024 Global Forecast Series, summarizing what top experts predict for the economy, geopolitics, and technology this year. Let’s see what the future holds!
Key Insights:
Economy and Markets:
Inflation: It's expected to cool off, aligning with target levels, following a decline in 2023.
Interest Rates: Major banks predict cuts by the Federal Reserve, ECB, and Bank of England, with the Federal Reserve itself forecasting 2-3 cuts.
Markets: Positive outlook for stocks and bonds, thanks to anticipated interest rate cuts. The growing AI sector is also a factor (see below!).
Geopolitical Predictions:
Global tensions remain high, with no resolution expected in conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas.
Elections in major countries including the U.S., Russia, and India, could lead to more geopolitical shifts.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
AI faces regulatory challenges following its surge in 2023.
Legal disputes and the potential misuse of AI in global elections might push for stricter regulations, especially in the EU.
For UK female entrepreneurs, these forecasts underscore the importance of staying agile in 2024. The evolving economy and market dynamics, especially with AI and geopolitical shifts, offer both challenges and opportunities.
Embrace technological advancements but be mindful of regulatory changes. In geopolitics, keep an eye on global events, as they can impact your business directly or indirectly. Most importantly, leverage these insights to steer your business strategically through 2024's dynamic landscape.
Product Photography Tips for Ecommerce Stores in 2024
We all know photography is one of the most important parts of any e-commerce business. Entrepreneur rounded up some quick tips you can use to improve your own product photography and increase conversions:
Key Insights:
Trends in Product Photography:
Lifestyle Imagery: Pictures that show products in real-life scenarios help customers emotionally connect and imagine using them.
Minimalism: Clean and uncluttered backgrounds are in vogue, especially for luxury items, providing a sleek and elegant look.
Mobile-Friendly Photos: With the surge in mobile shopping, photos must look fabulous on smaller screens, load quickly, and be optimized for the mobile experience.
For our community of female business owners, embracing these photography trends could be a game-changer. Whether you're selling artisanal crafts or high-end fashion, showcasing your products with these techniques can create an irresistible online presence.
Consider hiring a pro photographer or experimenting with different styles and lighting to find what resonates with your brand. And remember, in the fast-paced world of online retail, staying updated with these trends is crucial.
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Founder Networking: Upcoming Events (25 January - 3 February, 2024)
Here are some of the best female entrepreneur networking events happening in the next week:
Women in Business Networking Event
Date and Time: Thursday, 25 January 2024, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: The Sipping Room, Canary Wharf, London
Price: ÂŁ15
Who it’s for: Hosted by Getshop Today, this event is perfect for women looking to network, exchange ideas, and grow professionally in a small group setting
Date and Time: Thursday, 25th January 2024, from 7:00 PM until 11:00 PM
Location: Mint Leaf Lounge
Price: ÂŁ10 or ÂŁ16 for 2 tickets
Who it’s for: An exclusive event by Socialite Connections, specially designed for female entrepreneurs and professionals, this event offers a unique opportunity for women in business to connect, share insights, and grow together.
Date and Time: Wednesday, 29 January 2025, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: London (exact location to be announced)
Price: Free to attend / exhibition spots available for ÂŁ50
Who it’s for: This event is the biggest monthly business and startup gathering in London, perfect for networking, showcasing your products, and sharing business advice with fellow entrepreneurs.
​Rebuy is an AI-powered e-commerce personalization platform that enhances online shopping experiences through smart product recommendations and automated marketing tools used by companies like Vuori, Liquid Death, and Pura Vida.
Why It's Useful:
Increased Sales: By suggesting relevant add-on products, Rebuy can boost average order values, for instance, recommending accessories for fashion items at checkout.
Improved Customer Engagement: Automated follow-up emails based on customer behavior can encourage repeat purchases, like sending a discount offer on a complementary product after a purchase.
Personalized Shopping Journeys: AI-driven upsells and cross-sells tailored to individual customer preferences can enhance the overall shopping experience, such as showing health supplement suggestions to a customer who frequently buys fitness products.
Shop Female Founded
Featuring remarkable female entrepreneurs and their products, along with unique qualities that can inspire your own business approach.
This week, we're spotlighting three exceptional women-led brands we love:
Hotel Lobby Candle: Hotel Lobby Candlespecializes in luxury candles inspired by the luxury hotel experience, designed to bring the essence of high-end hotel lobbies into your home.
What makes them stand out? Brand Transparency and Integrity. Hotel Lobby Candle effectively uses Lindsay’s passion for travel and luxury to create a compelling story around its products. This storytelling approach helps in building a deeper connection with customers, enhancing brand loyalty and appeal.
Sunday Riley: Sunday Riley is a high-performance skincare brand that combines advanced, clinically proven ingredients with balancing botanicals for non-irritating, fast-acting formulas aimed at improving skin quality.
What makes them stand out? Brand Transparency and Integrity. The company's commitment to transparency involves being open and honest about the ingredients and processes used in their products, ensuring that customers are fully informed about what they're putting on their skin.
HotTea Mama: An award-winning UK tea companyspecializing in teas that support better periods, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause, with each blend created using tea science to provide natural support for women's wellness.
Founders: Bethan Thomas and Kate Achilles
What makes them stand out? Brand Personal Experience and Empathy. The founders' personal experiences with fertility struggles, pregnancy, and parenthood deeply resonate with their customer base. This personal connection adds authenticity and empathy to the brand, cultivating relatability
Do you know of an amazing female-founded brand that should be featured in a future newsletter (or want to see your own business featured)? Reply to this email and let us know!
That’s all from The Founder House this week! Keep pushing boundaries, breaking ceilings, and supporting each other.
Become the most knowledgeable founder at the table with The Founders Edit, a weekly email that provides you with actionable business insights and resources to stay ahead of the curve.
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