Behind the Business
Name: Jo Myles
Job title: Managing Director
Business: 3 Blonde Bears
What does your business do?
We are an on-line personalised gifting
company, specialising in printed &
engraved gifts.
Tell us how your business started?
I started the company back in 2011 after
noticing a trend for upmarket family
focussed personalised items. It’s called 3
Blonde Bears after my 3 children, Finley,
Amelie & Dexter (all blonde). I have
always referred to them as ‘the bears’ so
it was a natural name for the company.
How many staff do you have?
There are 5 permanent members of staff
and we grow to 20 staff during peak
trade times throughout the year.
What makes your business different
from your competitors?
We have a fun and inclusive take
on gifting and offer a wide range of
products, from aprons to wooden multitools & chopping boards. Humour and
laughter is really important to us as a
brand.
What is your motto in business?
Have fun and get on with it!
What three pieces of advice would you
give someone looking to start their
own business?
• Think – This is how you can devise your
plan for what you’re about. What are
the ends, the ways and the means?
What is your purpose, your objective?
Where do you want to be?
• Decide – There will come a time when
you have shone a light in every corner
and looked under every stone that you
will have to make a decision.
• DO IT - Energy and effort is best
put into implementation. There is a
difference between what should be
done, must be done, and what can be
done. By differentiating you can avoid a
whole heap of distraction.
What is the biggest challenge facing
start ups in 2016?
I would say it is being able to find a
way of exciting and engaging with your
target customers whilst offering a point
of difference to any brands or services
already in existence.
Where do you see your business going
in the next five or ten years?
We are currently amidst a total brand
overhaul, looking forward to 5 years’ time
customer interaction and experience is
the main focus. I am building the brand
awareness within social media streams
and ease of purchase is always a focus
for an internet retailer. Recently we
reduced our lead times to 3 working
days for standard orders. I’m planning
to reduce this further offer a faster high
quality delivery for our direct customers.
What does the future hold for you
personally?
Doing more of what I love both inside
and outside of work. So for 3BB that
means range developments into new
areas. Outside of work it mainly involves
power-lifting and travelling.
What do you do to relax?
Power-lifting… this probably doesn’t
sound very relaxing to most people but
I find it incredibly relaxing (post training).
I’ve always maintained the opinion that
it helps enable me to have clear headspace in an otherwise busy lifestyle. Plus
it makes me happy lifting up heavy things
and winning medals.
Who has been/is the most influential
person in your life?
A fair few people have been significant
through my life so far. The most influential
would be my Father, Paul Myles. He
ran a successful steel business whilst
my brother and I were growing up and
subsequent companies have followed
over the years. He is a natural born life
enthusiast and has re-invented himself
several times over. He has been, and still
is very an inspiring influencer in my life.
What is the most important piece of
advice you’ve received and who was
it from?
Jan Etkins, Director of Fashion at Laura
Ashley told me many years ago to
stop worrying about what other people
thought of me. To stay true to my
intentions and do what I felt was best for
myself and those I hold dearest. It has
been the most resonating advice and I
often think back to that conversation.
What is the biggest challenge your
business faces?
To remain a market leader within an
increasingly competitive market sector
whilst maintaining high quality products
and excellence in customer services.
What do you need to be successful?
Passion, awareness and realism.
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