In this episode of Love Local, Jen chats with Michelle, founder of Little Ocean, a family-run brand creating stylish, practical beach products for children and parents. From a cold day in Cornwall with her young son to launching a bestselling range of beach pools and bags, Michelle shares the behind-the-scenes journey of starting and growing a product-based business from scratch.
You'll hear how Michelle developed her idea into a tangible product, working with factories via Alibaba, testing fabrics with her kids in the kitchen, and overcoming production setbacks (including 300 beach bags with the wrong straps!). She also opens up about navigating influencer marketing, balancing business with family life, and selling both via her website and on Amazon.
This episode is a must-listen for:
Aspiring product-based business owners
Parents looking to launch their own brand
Founders curious about using Alibaba to manufacture a custom product
Small businesses exploring influencer marketing or Amazon as a sales channel
Anyone who’s struggled with stock decisions or finding the right factory partners
Michelle also shares:
How she used her holiday time to shoot all her launch content
Why authenticity and visibility as a founder boosted her sales
How a shoutout from Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell podcast led to real growth
The biggest mistake she made in her first year and what she’d do differently
With honest advice, real talk about mistakes, and practical tips for others launching a brand, this episode is full of lessons for anyone building a small business while raising a young family.
Find out more:
* Website: https://www.littleocean.co.uk
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_little_ocean_
* Also available on Amazon (search “Little Ocean Beach Pool”)
Connect with Jennifer Cornish Design:
* Website: https://www.jennifercornish.co.uk
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifercornishdesign
If you're a small business owner in Newbury or nearby and have a story to tell, Jen would love to hear from you.
This is podcast is Recorded, edited and published by Creative Content Studio https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk/