Lots of people ask what it's really like to start a business, so here's what we've learnt, in short and in no particular order!

- Ask people what they want, find a gap, launch products, get customer feedback.

- Figure out how to launch a website and get visitors online.

- Run out of stock!

- Can’t pay for new stock, so negotiate terms with suppliers.

- Feel like a failure. 

- Do the packing, every day.

- Handle customer queries and look after them.

- Get featured in national press!

- Find new customers, look after current ones and grow a community.

- Feel like a superhero.

- Figure out Facebook ads. They break. Figure them out again. Apple changes everything. Figure them out again.

- Manage mindset every day.

- Get asked to go on Dragon's Den.

- Pitch in front of the real dragons(!) and the cameras.

- Don’t get through, though don’t totally crash either…Peter Jones says our numbers are pretty spot on! Deborah thinks the shampoo bar will work. Take that and regroup :)

- Do the post and packing, again.

- Record podcasts to share experiences. 

- Launch new products. Sell out again!

- Come up with new ideas and strategies.

- Find a mastermind group to share and learn with.

- Start over, again.

Are you thinking of starting your own business? Do you already run your own brand? We're thrilled to be an official affiliate for Marie Forleo's B-School this Summer! Marie's given us access to her free training, click here for more!