Has Milly accidentally been sending off the wrong vibes with her new red neckerchiefs? We cover our love of M & S and the return of customer service hour with Spec Savers and John Lewis updates.

In actual business questions we answer because our market has become so crowded, we feel like our product is losing its competitive advantage. We’re currently adjusting our exit strategy, and wondering if we can use our internal operations to build a strategic moat? Would an acquirer buy us over a competitor just because we’re a 'better-run' company?

Who are your hosts?

Milly: I'm a serial COO with an MBA from Imperial College London. I'm the ultimate cheerleader for early-stage companies and I've got the knowledge you need to take your brilliant ideas from the drawing board to the board room. I help companies across all industries build simple strategic frameworks to help them grow by focussing on the most important tasks without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for help to fight the overwhelm, communicate with your team, or raise money for your business give me a shout and we can have a free, no-strings Discovery Call over at www.payasyougocoo.com.

Caroline: I’m a marketing strategist and coach with a passion for making marketing simple, effective, and actually fun. I help entrepreneurs and small business owners cut through the noise, get crystal clear on their messaging, and create smarter strategies that actually move the needle. If you’re ready to build a marketing plan that feels good and gets results, you can work with me 1:1 through coaching or join the Smarter Marketing Club, my community packed with training, support, and real-world marketing know-how. Head over to carolinesumners.com to find out more and book a free Discovery Call.

This podcast is expertly edited by James Ede. You can check out his services at beheardproductions https://www.beheard.org.uk/

If you’re scaling your business or just surviving your latest breakdown, we’d love to hear from you, send us a message at startup.breakdown.podcast@gmail.com.