The Midlife Entrepreneur

This episode features Chloe Luxton, founder and creative director of Bramley, a B Corp-certified bath, body and wellbeing brand known for its natural essential-oil blends and a sustainable ethos. Chloe shares her background from Paperchase to Cowshed at Soho House, and how Bramley began in 2009 when she couldn’t find a natural, soulful, beautiful bathroom product range for her husband Charlie’s country pub hotel, The Beckford Arms. She explains launching quickly with six core products, using industry relationships, growing through hospitality and word-of-mouth, building the business around raising three children, current operational challenges, and opening Bramley’s first shop in Bath.
00:00 Podcast Mission Intro
00:55 Meet Chloe Luxton
02:19 The Pub Bathroom Problem
04:06 Racing to Launch
06:55 Why It’s Called Bramley
08:37 From Side Project to Brand
10:33 Industry Edge and Slow Growth
12:27 Motherhood and Scaling Up
16:48 Team Culture and Hiring
19:37 Operational Challenges and Stock
21:06 Supplying The Pig Hotels
22:30 Perimenopause and 3AM Lists
24:58 Going High Street with a Shop
25:44 Bramley In One Place
26:02 Why Bath Makes Sense
26:30 Finding The Perfect Space
28:10 Learning Retail Fast
30:38 Designing A Store Experience
31:33 Balancing Family And Work
33:28 Creativity And Community
35:23 Three Two One Reflections
38:37 Lessons Learned And Thanks
44:07 Closing Thoughts And Farewell
 
Find Bramley here: https://www.bramleyproducts.co.uk/
And follow on Instagram @bramleyproducts
Support the show
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

Jo is joined by Anna Youngson, a retail and merchandising expert and founder of Majury Merchandising, who helps fashion founders make smarter data-led decisions to grow profit. Anna shares three ways to maximise sales opportunities: (1) know your customer, using the fundamentals of the five rights of merchandising - right product, right price, right place, right quantity, and right time; (2) always ask why and quantify results so you can learn from what sells (or doesn’t), stay ahead of shifting trends, and test new options alongside bestsellers without overcommitting stock; and (3) prioritise profitability over sales growth by managing stock investment, improving cash flow, and finding cost levers such as supplier negotiation, reviewing free delivery thresholds, auditing Shopify app spend, and planning production and shipping to avoid costly air freight. Jo closes by directing listeners to follow and review the podcast, and invites midlife entrepreneurs to get in touch via [email protected].
 
00:00 Welcome to the 15 Minute Masterclass + Meet Anna Youngson
00:35 The Big Question: 3 Ways to Maximize Sales Opportunities
01:34 Tip #1: Know Your Customer (and the 5 Rights of Merchandising)
03:25 Tip #2: Always Ask Why, Learn From What Sold (and What Didn’t)
04:22 When to Move On From a Bestseller + How to Test Newness
06:57 How Anna Helps Founders: Mentoring vs. Done-For-You Merchandising
08:38 Tip #3: Profit Over Vanity Sales, Buy to a Plan & Control Stock
09:48 Hidden Profit Levers: Free Shipping Thresholds, App Costs, and Supplier Negotiation
11:35 Planning & Logistics: Critical Paths, Shipping Consolidation, and Scenario Planning
13:30 Recap of the 3 Tips + Final Takeaways and Sign-Off
 
Follow Anna on Instagram @majurymerchandising
Or visit https://www.majurymerchandising.com/
 
Support the show
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast Jo chats to Sophie Rowell, interior designer and founder of Cote de Folk. 
Sophie shares her transition from a 24-year career in fashion styling and art direction to interiors after a difficult period that included her marriage breaking down, becoming a single mother, her best friend dying of cancer, and a health crisis that prompted her to rethink her life. After moving from Hackney to Folkstone and renovating a Georgian townhouse, she committed fully to a career change with a three-month deadline and landed her first interiors job three weeks before it ended, quickly gaining more work through referrals. Sophie discusses relying on self-trust, managing imposter syndrome with help from a business coach, and viewing success as a mix of opportunity, effort, and determination rather than luck. She explains her intuitive approach to colour and her focus on how spaces feel, not trends. Sophie talks about scaling the business, hiring staff including her right hand Sarah, bringing in a CFO for financial strategy, and expanding into furniture, fabric, and wallpaper. She also describes her preferred working environment (tidy and uncluttered), the importance of rest for creativity, her working culture mantra 'work hard, rest hard', and generous leave policies. 
 
00:00 Welcome + the mission behind The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast
00:54 Meet Sophie Rowell: from fashion stylist to interiors with soul
02:34 The breaking point: single motherhood, burnout, and a health scare
04:11 Leaping without training: the 3‑month deadline and going all in
06:56 First commissions to steady pipeline
08:54 Drive and the ‘why’
11:45 Building confidence in a new career
13:04 The signature style: colour as a gift and reading a home’s energy
15:19 Collaboration with clients: trust, pivots, and letting the building lead
16:43 Scaling the studio: hiring, interns, CFO support, and product expansion
18:11 Design philosophy: simplicity, warmth, and how spaces make us feel
22:43 Founder realities: time, holidays, rest, and creating space for creativity
29:17 'Rest Hard': Building Recovery Into Creative Success
29:28 Designing a Rest-First Work Culture 
30:33 Early Nights, Deep Sleep & Finding Your Rhythm
31:37 Kids, Co-Parenting & Looking Forward to More Time
33:29 Redefining Success
35:36 3-2-1s: Best Investments
39:43 Imposter Syndrome in Creative Work 
43:04 What I’d Do Differently
47:07 One Person to Thank
50:07 Closing Thoughts
Visit https://www.cotedefolk.com/ 
Shop https://www.cotedefolk.com/shop
Follow @cotedefolk
Support the show
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

In this episode of the 15 Minute Masterclass, Jo interviews Rachel Carvell-Spedding, Founder and CEO of Navygrey, a B Corp certified clothing brand specialising in high-quality knitwear. Rachel shares three critical strategies for building brand loyalty, community, and trust: 'Tell the truth,' 'Make people feel something,' and 'Keep showing up.' 
She underscores the importance of radical transparency, emotional connection, and consistency in business. Rachel also discusses her experiences in running Navygrey, the challenges faced, and how these principles have guided her brand's success. Tune in to hear her invaluable insights and personal anecdotes.
 
00:00 Introduction to the 15 Minute Masterclass
00:18 Meet Rachel Carvell-Spedding: Building Brand Loyalty
01:13 First Key to Success: Tell the Truth
06:34 Second Key to Success: Make People Feel Something
09:05 Third Key to Success: Show Up Consistently
14:30 Summary and Closing Remarks
16:34 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
 
You can follow Navygrey on Instagram @navygrey.co
Or head to their website: https://navygrey.co/
 
Support the show
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

Join Jo on The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast as she converses with Helen Hopkins, also known as the Mealtime Maverick. Helen, a batch cooking specialist, wellness coach, and author with a massive online following, shares her entrepreneurial journey from going viral on Instagram in 2024 to publishing her first book, Mix and Match Batch. Helen discusses the pressures and rewards of her newfound fame, the impact of her personal struggles, and how she efficiently manages her thriving business with the help of her husband. Listen to Helen’s approach to balancing creativity with business strategy, and find out her top three investments, two regrets, and who she thanks for her success.
 
00:00 Welcome to The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast
00:54 Introducing Helen Hopkins: The Mealtime Maverick
02:04 Going Viral on Instagram: The Journey
03:15 The Challenges and Realities of Viral Fame
04:47 DM Automation: Managing the Influx
12:11 Balancing Personal Life and Business
16:03 Creating the Mix and Match Batch Cookbook
27:00 Balancing Family Meals
28:20 The Business Evolution
28:41 Membership and Income Streams
29:08 Affiliate Marketing Insights
30:10 The Role of Community
32:40 Working with a Partner
37:46 Future Aspirations
41:35 Reflecting on Success and Challenges
51:41 Closing Thoughts and Tips
 
You can follow Helen at:
Instagram @mealtime.maverick
https://mealtimemaverick.com/ 
Her new book ‘Mix and Match Batch’ is available to order on Amazon now. 
Support the show
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com