Be Your Own Boss
A new show about helping small businesses at a crossroads navigate their next steps. Delivered to your screens by Royal Mail.
Watch now on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.
Holly Tucker MBE
Holly Tucker MBE is the queen of small businesses. As founder of Holly & Co and co-founder of NotontheHighStreet, she’s sharing her knowledge and expertise with ten independent, creatively driven small businesses who are at a crossroads in their journey to success.
Each week, Holly gets hands on with the everyday entrepreneurs behind the small businesses to find out what’s holding them back and offer real, practical advice to help them move forward. From platters to potions to brownies to bird feeders, Be Your Own Boss follows each unique journey as they make important decisions to transform their business and boss it at being the boss.
Turning your ideas into reality
Have you got an idea bubbling in the back of your mind? Do you have a hobby that you’d love to turn into something more?
Here’s just some of Holly Tucker MBE top tips to help you get started.
Find your ‘why?’
Ask yourself why you're doing it. Do you love it so much you’d do it for free?
Tell your story through your brand
Put unique touches into your product and brand to make it stand out and feel undeniably ‘you’.
Design your business to suit you
Write down what your ideal workday looks like five years from now and shape your business model towards it.
Be flexible
Life happens, trend shift, so be prepared to pivot. Success comes from your ability to adapt.
Did you want to find out more about the small businesses that are featuring in the series?
Here are some small bios. To find out more about their story, watch Be Your Own Boss on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV player.
Meet the small businesses that feature in ‘Be Your Own Boss’.
Pack N Play
During lockdown Kirsty’s children loved messy play. It was their enjoyment that inspired Kirsty to create Pack N Play trays. A range of colourful ‘potion’ kits for kids, featuring ingredients that fizz, crackle and bubble to encourage fun messy play in a manageable way.
Hand-i-Craft
When Leo lost the use of his right arm in a serious car accident, he had to give up his career. Through his recovery Leo discovered a talent for woodworking and Hand-i-craft was born, selling a range of handcrafted wooden items from tea light holders to chopping boards.
Sketch Avenue
Ayesha started Sketch Avenue after spotting a gap in the market for accessible ceramics. She couldn’t find suitable products for her son, Noah, who has additional needs and struggles to hold mugs. So she took matters into her own hands and makes them herself.
Bud Hut
Three years ago, Ellie gave up her corporate career to follow her childhood dream of becoming a florist. She started Bud Hut as a wedding flower business but has recently expanded to letterbox flowers, delivering beautiful fresh blooms direct to your door.
Hannah Weston Jewellery
Hannah Weston Jewellery creates meaningful silver jewellery that’s handmade with love. Born without fingers on one hand, Hannah’s passion for jewellery making was sparked by a creative exercise her mum introduced her to as a child to help with her dexterity.
Rotherwick Bird Feeders
George and Zac started their business - Rotherwick Bird Feeders - when they were just 14 and 10 years old. With the help of mum and dad, they make and sell beautiful handcrafted ceramic bird feeders that can brighten up any garden.
Super Dinky
Super Dinky was founded after Lorna gave birth to a premature baby boy. She’s turned that difficult experience into something positive and creates tiny, specialist vests for preemie babies who often have tubes and wires that prevent them from wearing regular clothing.
Bon Mangé
Rochelle and Mandella celebrate their St Lucian heritage through their small sauce business, Bon Mangé. They create homemade sauces full of Caribbean flavour and their standout product, Aunty Val’s Hot Sauce, is based on Rochelle’s mum’s family recipe.
Seed Folk
It’s Gemma’s mission to reconnect people with nature through growing. That’s why she launched Seed Folk, to help others experiences the joy of gardening through monthly subscription grow boxes, beginners seed kits and gift boxes.
Brownie & The Bean
Luke and Charlotte run Brownie & The Bean from their kitchen. With backgrounds in hospitality their love of food runs deep, so their delicious homemade brownies are spreading the love with a cherished family recipe from Luke’s mum.