Talking Business Live: A journey through the galaxy

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Derby – that was one of the key messages which came out at the latest Marketing Derby Talking Business Live session.

Hosted by the inward investment agency’s managing director, John Forkin, the session showcased the stories of the winners and highly commended entries in the Rising Stars competition.

Every year, Marketing Derby, holds a search to find and reward up and coming businesses.

This year’s winner was The Swap Shop, which is a free online platform that allows businesses and organisations to ‘swap’ goods and services.

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But the standard of entries for this year’s competition was so high that for the first time, as well as choosing a Rising Star, Marketing Derby announced a ‘galaxy’ of six highly commended entries.

The highly commended entries were MiniAperture Photography, GoldBox Productions, Divine Box, Parry Creative, The Crinkle Project and Crafty You Crafty Me.

All have received a year of free Bondholder membership, with The Swap Shop also getting a year of free PR and communications support from Nielsen McAllister.

At the Talking Business Live session, all seven businesses were given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the Bondholder community.

Rachel Hayward, Dean Jackson, and Lee Marples, kicked proceedings off, revealing how the idea for the business came about from a Marketing Derby Talking Business Live webinar back in April last year. Initially starting off in Derby, the concept has since gone national.

In terms of the ‘galaxy’, first up was Charles Malapitan, founder of The Crinkle Project, a social enterprise with a focus on creating a generational difference within communities around the world.

Charles, who himself came to the UK from the Philippines aged just five, explained how the business supports communities in the Philippines, Ghana, Jamaica and Brazil, working with locals to educate future generations and tackle issues of poverty. It also helps communities in Derbyshire, helping migrant children and their families in their transition to the UK.

Sarah Hodgkinson, of Crafty You, Crafty Me, talked about how she was inspired to follow her love of craft after leaving Rolls-Royce last year. Today, the firm supplies crafting kits – and has ambitions to hold workshops once government restrictions permit.

Danielle Dunn, from Divine Box, talked about how her business had been working with fellow Bondholder Colleague Box to supply 22,000 bath bombs and how it had expanded its range of products, including some “awesome” toilet bombs!

And Josh Spaticchia, one of the founders of video production company GoldBox Productions, revealed it had been working with the British Army – and the firm’s plan to specialise in the health and fitness sector.

Laura Firth, founder of MiniAperture Photography, spoke about how her new business had allowed her to combine her passion for property and photography, while Laura Parry, of Parry Creative, revealed how she was already collaborating with fellow Bondholders.

The session also heard from previous recipients of the Rising Star award.

Ed Hollands, founder of DrivenMedia, talked about how winning the award had allowed him to make important contacts and get his business off the ground.

And Abbi Burns, founder of Darley Dance Productions, paid tribute to the Bondholder community. After a tough 2020 due to the pandemic, she explained how Bondholders rallied round to make sure her business could put on a Christmas show.

To view the full discussion, please click here.

The Swap Shop, along with the galaxy of Rising Stars, will feature in Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event, which will take place on Friday, from 9am to 10am. To register please click here.