Re: Spring 2016 | Page 103

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. 103