Are you using your stories to their full potential? 

Using stories to connect and sell is key to help you business grow. Ep 136 is with creative content consultant May Castillo our key focus today is How to sell in your stories. 

Some of the topics we chat about are: 
"Fearless Selling" - Overcome the emotional barriers to confidently sell your products or services.
"Sales Foundations" - Understand essential sales strategies before utilizing Instagram stories to sell.
"Consumer Shifts" - Adapt to changes in consumer behavior favoring stories and messaging over feeds and reels.
"Story Sequencing" - Craft a compelling narrative throughout the day to engage viewers and lead them to purchase.
"Client Transformations" - Use client stories to show the impact of your product, enhancing its value proposition.
"Storytelling Mastery" - Maintain a logical sequence in storytelling; start with a problem and end with a solution.
"Creative Sales" - Infuse creativity in sales through gamification and customer involvement for better engagement.
"Avoid Mistakes" - Ensure context, relevance, and storytelling flow to avoid common storytelling pitfalls.
"Profile Optimization" - Create a strong profile with strategic pinned posts to attract and retain followers.
"SMS Engagement" - Utilize SMS marketing sparingly to build personal connections and boost engagement.



Guest 

May Castillo 

https://www.instagram.com/talktomay/

https://www.talktomay.com/10commandmentsofigstories



Nicole Higgins 

The Buyer and retail coach 

Nicole Higgins Links 

https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/

Neon Digital Clicks 

Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  

Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 

So whether your sales have plateaued or you

’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 

Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 

https://scaleandglow.com/

https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/

Are you using your stories to their full potential? 
Using stories to connect and sell is key to help you business grow. Ep 136 is with creative content consultant May Castillo our key focus today is How to sell in your stories. 
Some of the topics we chat about are: 
<ol>
<li>"Fearless Selling" - Overcome the emotional barriers to confidently sell your products or services.</li>
<li>"Sales Foundations" - Understand essential sales strategies before utilizing Instagram stories to sell.</li>
<li>"Consumer Shifts" - Adapt to changes in consumer behavior favoring stories and messaging over feeds and reels.</li>
<li>"Story Sequencing" - Craft a compelling narrative throughout the day to engage viewers and lead them to purchase.</li>
<li>"Client Transformations" - Use client stories to show the impact of your product, enhancing its value proposition.</li>
<li>"Storytelling Mastery" - Maintain a logical sequence in storytelling; start with a problem and end with a solution.</li>
<li>"Creative Sales" - Infuse creativity in sales through gamification and customer involvement for better engagement.</li>
<li>"Avoid Mistakes" - Ensure context, relevance, and storytelling flow to avoid common storytelling pitfalls.</li>
<li>"Profile Optimization" - Create a strong profile with strategic pinned posts to attract and retain followers.</li>
<li>"SMS Engagement" - Utilize SMS marketing sparingly to build personal connections and boost engagement.</li>
</ol>
 
Guest 
May Castillo 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/talktomay/">https://www.instagram.com/talktomay/</a> 
<a href="https://www.talktomay.com/10commandmentsofigstories">https://www.talktomay.com/10commandmentsofigstories</a>
 
Nicole Higgins 
The Buyer and retail coach 
Nicole Higgins Links 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/">https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/</a>
Neon Digital Clicks 
Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  
Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 
So whether your sales have plateaued or you
’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 
Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 
<a href="https://scaleandglow.com/">https://scaleandglow.com/</a>
<a href="https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/">https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/">https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/</a>

Want to start, scale and succeed in your product business? Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit. In this weekly business podcast, Nicole is here to empower you to "start, scale and succeed" by providing you with inspiration, motivation and insight from entrepreneurs and experts to help you in the retail industry.

This podcast includes tips, tactics and conversations that you can learn from and implement into your own business, from start up entrepreneurs that have just launched to multi million pound businesses. With tips from experts and how to’s to help your business grow to enable you to live the life you crave. From side hustle to stock market and everything in between.

Start listening and subscribe now

Want to start, scale and succeed in your product business? Buying &amp; retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&amp;S, Debenhams and Asda, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit. In this weekly business podcast, Nicole is here to empower you to "start, scale and succeed" by providing you with inspiration, motivation and insight from entrepreneurs and experts to help you in the retail industry. This podcast includes tips, tactics and conversations that you can learn from and implement into your own business, from start up entrepreneurs that have just launched to multi million pound businesses. With tips from experts and how to&rsquo;s to help your business grow to enable you to live the life you crave. From side hustle to stock market and everything in between. Start listening and subscribe now

Start Scale Succeed

Ep 136 - The Secret to Selling in Instagram Stories with May Castillo

What to do when your product  business just isn’t working for you anymore?, this is where Kayley was a few months ago and she has reassessed and reflected on what she wants her brand and business to be and so she is pivoting and changing her business model. 

In this episodes she shares her journey of how she started,  the challenges she has faced and why she is pivoting to move forward with podcast host Nicole Higgins 

Some of the topics covered

Building a Brand with a Unique Selling Proposition:** Learn about Kayleigh's strategic shift towards a brand with an "always-in-stock" component, annual color changes, and seasonal drops.

Wholesale and Market Strategies:** Insight into Kayleigh’s plans to wholesale her brand, her preparation for trade shows, and why she chose to delay her participation to ensure brand readiness.

The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship:** Kayleigh discusses overcoming her fear of failure, redefining what failure means, and the personal pride she takes in managing her business alongside motherhood.

Strategic Pivots and Operational Changes:** Hear how Kayleigh handled challenges including subletting her store space, closing the playroom, and her plans to focus more on her own successful brand.

Future Aspirations and Current Projects:** Get a sneak peek into the upcoming launch of Kayleigh's new brand and the winter collection planned for September/October. 



Host Nicole Higgins 

The Buyer and retail coach 

Nicole Higgins Links 

https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/

Neon Digital Clicks 

Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  

Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 

So whether your sales have plateaued or you

’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 

Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 

https://scaleandglow.com/

https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/

What to do when your product  business just isn’t working for you anymore?, this is where Kayley was a few months ago and she has reassessed and reflected on what she wants her brand and business to be and so she is pivoting and changing her business model. 
In this episodes she shares her journey of how she started,  the challenges she has faced and why she is pivoting to move forward with podcast host Nicole Higgins 
Some of the topics covered
Building a Brand with a Unique Selling Proposition:** Learn about Kayleigh's strategic shift towards a brand with an "always-in-stock" component, annual color changes, and seasonal drops.
Wholesale and Market Strategies:** Insight into Kayleigh’s plans to wholesale her brand, her preparation for trade shows, and why she chose to delay her participation to ensure brand readiness.
The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship:** Kayleigh discusses overcoming her fear of failure, redefining what failure means, and the personal pride she takes in managing her business alongside motherhood.
Strategic Pivots and Operational Changes:** Hear how Kayleigh handled challenges including subletting her store space, closing the playroom, and her plans to focus more on her own successful brand.
Future Aspirations and Current Projects:** Get a sneak peek into the upcoming launch of Kayleigh's new brand and the winter collection planned for September/October. 
 
Host Nicole Higgins 
The Buyer and retail coach 
Nicole Higgins Links 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/">https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/</a>
Neon Digital Clicks 
Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  
Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 
So whether your sales have plateaued or you
’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 
Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 
<a href="https://scaleandglow.com/">https://scaleandglow.com/</a>
<a href="https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/">https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/">https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/</a>

Ep 142 - Pivoting When Your Business Isn’t Working For You

At some stage in your business journey you may look for  investment to help you  start or grow. This week in  ep 141 Luke Desmond joins the podcast to demystify investment and explain the investment landscape, who you should be approaching depending on what stage your business is at and the funds you are looking for. 

Highlights of this episode include:

Pitching to Investors: The value of a compelling story, clear data, and a precise ask in your pitch deck. Understand your business valuation and be prepared with all necessary documentation.

Business Valuation: Factors influencing valuation and the differences between valuation methods based on profit or potential growth.

Preparing for Investment: A walk-through of how to best get ready for investment, including having a well-organized pitch deck and data room for potential investors.

Explaining Lifetime value  We delve into the components required to calculate a customer's lifetime value – average order value, frequency of purchases, and customer retention period – using a kidswear business as a case example.

Client Acquisition Cost (CAC) Insight: Understanding CAC not only in terms of initial profit but over the longevity of client relationships and how it influences marketing budgets and investor relations.

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS): Luke breaks down these tax-relief schemes aimed at aiding investors who back risky startups.

Investor Relations: Tips for aligning with the right investors – what to look for, what to ask, and how to establish mutual expectations for a fruitful partnership.

Guest 

Luke Desmond founder of crisp accountancy and fractional CFO has worked with businesses across a range of sectors but has specialist knowledge of technology, SaaS & E-commerce. He has helped businesses fine-tune original ideas & launch from day 1, raise seven figures and exit for eight figures.



founder and CEO of Crisp Accountancy, an accountancy firm that works with a range of businesses from Solopreneurs to Scale Up in a variety of different sectors.

Luke works with businesses across a range of sectors but has a specialist knowledge of and passion for technology, SaaS & E-commerce.

Through his work as Fractional CFO,  he helps businesses  fine-tune original ideas & launch from day 1, raise seven figures and exit for eight figures. He is on a mission to improve the financial understanding of business owners and I works closely with businesses to increase their profits and equip them with the necessary skills to master their finances and make better informed financial decisions.

https://www.instagram.com/crispaccountancy/

https://crispaccountancy.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukedesmond/

https://www.lukedesmond.co.uk/

Host Nicole Higgins 

The Buyer and retail coach 

Nicole Higgins Links 

https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/

Neon Digital Clicks 

Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  

Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 

So whether your sales have plateaued or you

’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 

Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 

https://scaleandglow.com/

https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/

At some stage in your business journey you may look for  investment to help you  start or grow. This week in  ep 141 Luke Desmond joins the podcast to demystify investment and explain the investment landscape, who you should be approaching depending on what stage your business is at and the funds you are looking for. 
Highlights of this episode include:
Pitching to Investors: The value of a compelling story, clear data, and a precise ask in your pitch deck. Understand your business valuation and be prepared with all necessary documentation.
Business Valuation: Factors influencing valuation and the differences between valuation methods based on profit or potential growth.
Preparing for Investment: A walk-through of how to best get ready for investment, including having a well-organized pitch deck and data room for potential investors.
Explaining Lifetime value  We delve into the components required to calculate a customer's lifetime value – average order value, frequency of purchases, and customer retention period – using a kidswear business as a case example.
Client Acquisition Cost (CAC) Insight: Understanding CAC not only in terms of initial profit but over the longevity of client relationships and how it influences marketing budgets and investor relations.
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS): Luke breaks down these tax-relief schemes aimed at aiding investors who back risky startups.
Investor Relations: Tips for aligning with the right investors – what to look for, what to ask, and how to establish mutual expectations for a fruitful partnership.
Guest 
Luke Desmond founder of crisp accountancy and fractional CFO has worked with businesses across a range of sectors but has specialist knowledge of technology, SaaS &amp; E-commerce. He has helped businesses fine-tune original ideas &amp; launch from day 1, raise seven figures and exit for eight figures.
 
founder and CEO of Crisp Accountancy, an accountancy firm that works with a range of businesses from Solopreneurs to Scale Up in a variety of different sectors.
Luke works with businesses across a range of sectors but has a specialist knowledge of and passion for technology, SaaS &amp; E-commerce.
Through his work as Fractional CFO,  he helps businesses  fine-tune original ideas &amp; launch from day 1, raise seven figures and exit for eight figures. He is on a mission to improve the financial understanding of business owners and I works closely with businesses to increase their profits and equip them with the necessary skills to master their finances and make better informed financial decisions.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/crispaccountancy/">https://www.instagram.com/crispaccountancy/</a>
<a href="https://crispaccountancy.co.uk/">https://crispaccountancy.co.uk/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukedesmond/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukedesmond/</a>
<a href="https://www.lukedesmond.co.uk/">https://www.lukedesmond.co.uk/</a>
Host Nicole Higgins 
The Buyer and retail coach 
Nicole Higgins Links 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/">https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/</a>
Neon Digital Clicks 
Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  
Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 
So whether your sales have plateaued or you
’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 
Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 
<a href="https://scaleandglow.com/">https://scaleandglow.com/</a>
<a href="https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/">https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/">https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/</a>

Ep 141 - What Investors Are Looking For In Your Business

This weeks episode Nicole chats about how  to build commercial ranges for your product business. 

Nicole shares some of the mistakes she made whilst working as a buyer for major high street retailers and how you can create and develop products that are the right fit for your business 

Focusing on people, the product and profit  Nicole breaks down actions to take when planning for the seasons ahead. 



The Host 

Nicole Higgins is a seasoned professional with over 18 years experience in the retail industry, having worked as a buyer  with blue-chip companies such as Primark and M&S across multi product categories from Bras to Beauty 

 Her journey in the corporate world has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and insights that she now dedicates to empowering startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their journey to growth, profit  and scalability.

Nicole specializes in guiding businesses through the intricacies of start up,  strategy, sourcing and  product development. Her keen understanding of market dynamics allows her to provide tailored solutions that drive success in today's competitive landscape.



Nicole Higgins 

The Buyer and retail coach 

Nicole Higgins Links 

https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/

https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/





Sponsors 

Neon Digital Clicks 

Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  

Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 

So whether your sales have plateaued or you

’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 

Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 

https://scaleandglow.com/

https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/

This weeks episode Nicole chats about how  to build commercial ranges for your product business. 
Nicole shares some of the mistakes she made whilst working as a buyer for major high street retailers and how you can create and develop products that are the right fit for your business 
Focusing on people, the product and profit  Nicole breaks down actions to take when planning for the seasons ahead. 
 
The Host 
Nicole Higgins is a seasoned professional with over 18 years experience in the retail industry, having worked as a buyer  with blue-chip companies such as Primark and M&amp;S across multi product categories from Bras to Beauty 
 Her journey in the corporate world has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and insights that she now dedicates to empowering startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their journey to growth, profit  and scalability.
Nicole specializes in guiding businesses through the intricacies of start up,  strategy, sourcing and  product development. Her keen understanding of market dynamics allows her to provide tailored solutions that drive success in today's competitive landscape.
 
Nicole Higgins 
The Buyer and retail coach 
Nicole Higgins Links 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/">https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/free-discovery-call/</a>
<a href="https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/">https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/blog/</a>
 
Sponsors 
Neon Digital Clicks 
Are you ready to scale your ecommerce store? Want to do it without having to wear yet another hat and become a digital marketing expert? This episode is brought to you by Neon Digital Clicks, THE paid-traffic partner for family and women’s e-commerce brands wanting to scale their stores from five figure to six figure months using Meta, Google and Klaviyo marketing services.  
Neon is offering listeners a FREE scaling audit worth £3000! 
So whether your sales have plateaued or you
’re looking for growth, this is a great opportunity to lift the lid on your biz and identify where the opportunities are hiding. 
Head to scaleandglow.com to discover just how much revenue you could scale your store to this year. 
<a href="https://scaleandglow.com/">https://scaleandglow.com/</a>
<a href="https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/">https://neondigitalclicks.co.uk/</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/">https://www.instagram.com/neondigitalclicks/</a>

Ep 136 - The Secret to Selling in Instagram Stories with May Castillo

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