RETAIL MATTERS
Entrepreneurial
spirit You recently attended an EY entrepreneur of the year workshop, let us more about that. The EY entrepreneur programme is fantastic, and the workshop was a great event to connect with other business leaders in the UK who are all at different stages of company growth. I’d loved the diversity of businesses represented from all different sectors, there’s a lot we can learn by looking outside of our own markets.
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Being innovative is at the heart of everything we do at Online4baby, we’re committed to disrupting the baby market by providing exceptional customer service and quality products, at the best price possible for our customers.
Christy Foster, Managing Director, cmf@online4baby.com
Retail matters
Online4Baby Managing Director Christy Foster talks to us about how being entrepreneurial is at the heart of Online4baby’s success in the wake of her award as EY entrepreneur of the year regional finalist 2022.
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nursery today
I’ve received some invaluable advice about how different businesses have found their growth, particularly focusing on how to scale at speed. The judges especially have really interesting backgrounds from fast-growing businesses and there’s a lot I’ll take from their experience. Both things that well and some things that didn’t!
Who was the most memorable person you met at the event? I’d say Stephen Bartlett, previous EY entrepreneur finalist, co-founder of Social Chain, and current Dragon’s Den dragon, who is one of the judges this year. He made a real effort to spend time with all of the finalists and especially those of us from the North. We’ve got similar backgrounds so had a lot to talk about and I could really relate to his journey.
How does your entrepreneurial style reflect within Online4baby? Being innovative is at the heart of everything we do at Online4baby, we’re committed to
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What do you think are your biggest learnings from being part of the programme?
disrupting the baby market by providing exceptional customer service and quality products, at the best price possible for our customers. We’re a fast moving and fast growing business, with innovation as a key driver of this. For me, that’s the entrepreneurial spirit I believe will deliver lasting success in the market.
What’s next for you following the EY workshop? I was blown away by the mentoring and advice I received at the workshop and it’s inspired me to get involved with mentoring young business leaders myself, something I’m really looking forward to. It’s also got me focused on the next phase of Online4baby’s growth and we’ve got some exiting plans coming soon in product development and in building the brand further.
And finally, what advice would you give to new business leaders? Don’t overthink things and always go with your gut instinct. Invest in hiring great talent who have the skills you don’t, and trust their decisions. More than anything, you’ve always got to believe in what you’re doing, even if other people question it, because if you don’t believe in yourself then no one else will.
Online4Baby are delighted to be a Which? Recommended Provider for Baby & Child Retailers 2021.
