Adam and Peter sit down with Matthew Holland, Managing Director at William Swindells Ltd, to talk about the least sexy, but most important part, of scaling a brand – money.
From Shopify Capital to PayPal Working Capital (and everything in between), Matthew breaks down what alternative financing really looks like for growing brands — minus the buzzwords and VC fluff.
William Swindells Ltd has scaled its portfolio of brands, including Hollands Country Clothing and Hollands Workwear, into a multi-million-pound business without giving away equity or losing control.
In this episode, Matthew shares how he’s kept the balance between growth and cash flow — and the financial lessons every operator needs before scaling up.
They cover:– The real cost of “growth at all costs”– How to use funding tools like Shopify and PayPal without getting burned– Why cash flow forecasting matters more than your P&L looking pretty– Balancing sustainable growth with risk and reality– Lessons from building a profitable, family-run business– How to make smarter decisions when funding feels tight
This episode is for founders and operators who want to grow their brand without selling their soul (or 40% of their company).
If you’ve ever stared at your bank balance mid-scale-up and thought “oh sh*t,” this one’s for you.
About the Guest
Matthew Holland, Managing Director of William Swindells Ltd, a family-run retailer turned eCommerce powerhouse. Matthew has grown the business sustainably through smart financing and operational discipline — no venture capital required.
About the Hosts
Adam Pearce, Co-founder of Blend Commerce and eCom Collab Club®, CRO specialist and professional chaos-stirrer.
Peter Gardner, Co-founder of Blend Commerce and eCom Collab Club®, obsessed with what actually works in eCommerce.
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#eCommerce #Scaling #Funding #CashFlow #AlternativeFinance #Shopify #DTCGrowth #eComCollabClub #BlendCommerce