The Countrywoman’s Guide to Work, Life & You…

Evie Fox-Read is a lady on a mission to grow her interior fragrance brand and have fun doing it.Fox Cub & Co is an interior fragrance company with every product being produced by Evie and her team in Cheshire. The business launched with just six candle fragrances in March 2021 and now has a wide range of soy wax candles, diffusers, wax melts and more recently, handwash and hand lotions.Using the finest ingredients and materials from UK-based businesses to make their products, Evie loves to support other small businesses and is passionate about ensuring that Fox Cub & Co adheres to the highest of standards.Starting a business is never easy and there’s always lots to learn, much of it on the job and in a bit of a whirlwind!Emma talks to Evie about where her business idea came from, setting it all up, starting to do shows, working with her husband and just generally coping with the sheer workload involving in doing it all.You can find Evie’s website here and on instagram here.You can listen to the podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts or Spotify Podcasts.Podcast Timeline:0.00 Welcome & Introduction4.12 Wax choices and aesthetics7.56 Adaptability and resilience12.47 Big growth & relocation18.20 Overcoming challenges25.52 Product improvements30.31 First Show33.38 Pricing39.44 Self-care47.26 EndsAs always thank you for reading and thank you for listening.Thanks for reading Countrywoman’s Guide! Subscribe for free to receive new posts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

This episode is an audio post originally written for the Countrywoman’s Guide Substack, where we’re building a community that supports rural and business women through the sharing of stories and wisdom, reminding us all that we’re not alone in our endeavours.In it, our Founder, Emma, talks about how the lack of a jar of pickled walnuts came to remind her how much quiet support there is around her.A surprising connection to make maybe, but sometimes the simplest of things provide insights that we overlook in everyday life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

I’m going to head this up with a trigger warning as this episode talks about death and grief. We also have some resources listed at the bottom of the article should you need them.Shock, horror, grief, disbelief, realisation - there are so many adjectives for all the emotions that hit you following the loss of a loved one, and there’s no guidebook for your own journey through the void. There are no words that can salve the wound and only time, and lots of it, can bring a little respite to your thoughts.But there’s also often a strong pull to do something to commemorate the person you have lost, and when Jo Williams’ sister, 5* Event Rider Georgie Campbell, tragically lost her life in a Cross Country fall at an event in May this year, Jo and her family, along with Georgie’s husband, Jesse, wanted to do something to honour Georgie’s legacy.The public outpouring of support after Georgie’s death was almost overwhelming, and so many people wanted to help out in some way. As Jo says in our interview, “We've been offered some really amazing money can't buy experiences.”So the idea of the Georgie Campbell Foundation was formed with the intent that The Georgie Campbell Foundation 💜🤍 will support young riders in establishing their eventing businesses in loving memory of Georgie.Their watchwords throughout establishing the Foundation have been, “What would have helped young Georgie with her career?”The introduction of good business, horse welfare and safety skills early in a young eventer’s journey will help them to navigate some of the things that crop up as they go through their career - and it’s this gap that the Georgie Campbell Foundation is aiming to fill.They will support young event riders with establishing and running their eventing businesses, by providing bursary support and mentoring on areas including financial management, and attracting and retaining staff, owners, and sponsors.Fund-raising has already started, with the Foundation’s first Ball under their belt and two exciting jewellery collaborations with Hiho Silver and Coco & Jane LovesI found talking to Jo incredibly moving, as well as really inspiring, she’s an amazing lady who is determined (alongside Georgie’s family and friends) to ensure that her sister’s legacy will continue long into the future and be a real force for good.We’re wishing them all the very best with their endeavour.Podcast Timeline0.00 Intro & Welcome3.00 Honouring Georgie’s legacy8.29 Establishing the Foundation17.46 Fund-raising events21.40 Georgie’s Twig story25.04 Collaborating with Hiho Silver & Coco Jane Loves27.42 Establishing a Charitable Foundation31.31 Memories of London Horseshow (Formerly Olympia)36.04 Memories41.28 CloseJo’s instagram is hereYou can find the Georgie Campbell Foundation hereResources:Rural Support - Bereavement and LossMind - Signposting support and self-care for bereavementMarie Curie - Signposting bereavement support This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

Grace Alexander is a lady who wears many hats; she’s a seed merchant, a writer with a full-time job as a clinical psychologist, as well as being a wife and a dog mum.Based in Somerset, she has accumulated quite a following for her business, Grace Alexander Flowers and Gather, her online membership community.We sat and shared tea and conversation around Grace’s kitchen table, with a dog snoring quietly on the settee and two more slumbering upstairs - my favourite style of interviewing!We delve into her journey of transforming a scrubby field into a flourishing flower and seed business; her primary career as a Clinical Psychologist, the fact that she designs and produces all of her seed packets herself (they are beautiful) and how she works with her membership.In common, with many busy people, Grace’s schedule is absolutely packed and she has to be organised to fit everything in, so we also talk about her techniques for managing conflicting priorities.Every time I talk to Grace, I always come away inspired, so I hope you also enjoy and, are similarly inspired, after you’ve listened to our chat.Podcast timeline00:00 Introduction to Grace Alexander00:37 Grace's Journey: From Psychologist to Seed Merchant03:31 The Birth of Malus Farm and Flower Growing06:15 The Evolution of Grace's Seed Business12:34 Balancing Psychology and Entrepreneurship26:14 The Therapeutic Power of Gardening and Walking29:18 Final Thoughts and AdviceThank you so much to Grace for spending time with me.You can find her in these places:-Grace’s websiteGrace’s instagram feedGrace’s podcast with Becca from Garden Gate FlowersGrace and Becca’s podcast instagram Grace recommended a restaurant - Briar Restaurant in Bruton, SomersetThanks for reading Countrywoman’s Guide! Subscribe for free to receive new posts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com