If you watch BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’, you’ll have seen the hopeful entrepreneurs being asked whether they own the rights or have the patent for their product or invention. What is exactly is a patent or trademark, and how do you Protect your intellectual property? (Note: Some of the laws mentioned in this show may apply to the United Kingdom only.)

Julie’s guests again this week:

• Matthew Searle is a business lawyer and partner at Sussex solicitors, Adams & Remers. He has over 20 years’ experience of intellectual property law and regularly advises, writes and lecturs on the subject.
• Penina Shepherd is the founder and MD of Acumen Business Law, an award-winning and creative business law firm. She has over 10 years’ experience both as a solicitor in England, and as a barrister abroad. She regularly advises clients on company, commercial and business law matters and sits on a number of voluntary boards.
• Philip Towler is a partner at the Brighton office of Frank B Dehn & Co. He has more than 20 years’ experience of practice as a trademark attorney, and as a patent attorney specialising in chemical and pharmaceutical inventions.

Business as Usual is produced in the studio by Louise Micklewright and the executive producer is Paul McCarthy.

 

 Series 4 - Show 8: Protecting your intellectual property [36:00mm]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

There’s a common misconception that your brand is simply your logo, but it’s so much more than that. Today’s expert guests talk about how to Build your brand.

Joining Julie in the studio again this week are:

• Lorraine Bell is founder and director of Simply CSR as well as being vice chair of the Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce.  Before setting up Simply CSR, Lorraine co-founded an award winning PR and marketing social enterprise and a Community Interest Company.  She has also recently co-authored a CSR report for the Thailand Government and presented to over 200 businesses in Bangkok.
• Ed Carr is Creative Director of Brand Group and has worked for brands ranging from global blue chips and large nationals to some of the most successful SMEs and entrepreneurs in the South East.  Behind all of Ed’s aware winning design is the understanding that he has the responsibilty to deliver to the bottom line.
• Soraya Shaw of Springboard Coaching has enjoyed a successful career in advertising working at agenices such as Ogilvy and Mather working in client relationship and brand responsibility for multi-national companies such as Unilever, Kimberly Clarke and Johnson and Johnson to name a few.  She set up her management training and development company, Springboard Coaching six years ago.

Business as Usual is produced in the studio by Louise Micklewright and the executive producer is Paul McCarthy.

 

 Series 4 - Show 4: Building your brand [36:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

There are thousands of creative businesses in the UK. Are they run in a different way? Do they need specialist services? Over the next two shows, Julie and her guests consider these, and other, questions. In this first show: exactly what do mean by Creative Businesses?

Julie’s guests on the next two shows:

• Karen Cass has been working primarily in radio since she was 16, including community radio in both Australia and the UK. She set up Earshot as a radio, sound and production centre, and through Earshot she then set up Radio Reverb. Karen is also vice chair of Creative Brighton and a trustee of the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum in Brighton.
  
• Ian Elwick started Brighton Media Centre in 1992. It now has around 60-70 spaces for small creative businesses. More recently, Ian set up The Werks which aims to offer a tailored, structured environment for creatives.
• Don Elwick was originally involved with the building of the Brighton Media Centre, later becoming a director and then in 1997, managing director. Prior to his involvement with the Media Centre, Don was a teacher and, for 21 years, ran a building company.
  

 

 Series 2 - Show 7: What do we mean by Creative Businesses? [33:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

If business is all about your customers, then it follows that you need a very clear understanding of exactly what your customers think and feel about your business, and about the service or product you are supplying to them. Today’s studio guests talk about ways of finding out What makes your customers tick?

Julie’s guests again this week:

• Andrew Nichols of Andrew Nichols Interiors. For over 25 years, Andrew has been running his own successful company designing and manufacturing bespoke kitchens. He is also the Chairman of Hove Business Association.
• Nicky Chisholm runs Mums in Biz, a networking group for busy mums who also run businesses.  She has recently been featured on BBC’s ‘Working Lunch’.
• Ed Carr, Creative Director of Brand Group, is a regular guest on the show. Ed is a brand and marketing expert and has many years’ experience of working with businesses of all sizes, across all sectors.

 

 Series 2 - Show 6: What makes your customers tick? [32:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

Business is about people: customers, suppliers, staff… but how do you get to meet those people? Very often, it’s by networking. Yet the very idea can strike fear into the heart of the most confident business owner. So what is the best way to go about it? This week’s ‘Business as Usual’ guests pass on their Networking know-how.

In the studio this week:

• Andrew Nichols of Andrew Nichols Interiors. For over 25 years, Andrew has been running his own successful company designing and manufacturing bespoke kitchens. He is also the Chairman of Hove Business Association.
• Nicky Chisholm runs Mums in Biz, a networking group for busy mums who also run businesses.  She has recently been featured on BBC’s ‘Working Lunch’.
• Ed Carr, Creative Director of Brand Group, is a regular guest on the show. Ed is a brand and marketing expert and has many years’ experience of working with businesses of all sizes, across all sectors.
  

 

 Series 2 - Show 5: Networking know-how [33:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

There’s nothing which causes a business owner more headaches than the dreaded cashflow! Today’s guests talk about ways of Keeping the cash flowing.

In the studio this week:

• Paula Tomlinson trained as a chartered accountant in the city of London and then went to work for KMPG, one of the largest accountancy firms in the country. She has recently set up On The Spot Tax, a service supporting small businesses across Sussex.
  
• Victoria Mason gained her ACCA qualification in 2001. She is now a partner of Cardens Accountants and is responsible for a wide range of clients ranging from one-man bands to large companies.
• Laurance Thomas has spent most of his career in industry, in research and engineering, along with spending many years in the USA. Laurance joined Business Link seven years ago as a general advisor, but now specialises in finance.
  

 

 Series 2 - Show 3: Keeping the cash flowing [34:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

There’s a marketing revolution afoot, and if you’re not in the know, your competitors just might be. Today’s guests spend some time thinking about Finding the right customers, with a particular emphasis on ‘new’ marketing methods, such as social media.

Julie is joined again this week by:

• Jacky Misson, Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 in the Sussex Business Awards, set up Nido Marketing six years ago with the aim of helping businesses to grow through finding the right customers. Nido now employ 13 sales and marketing professionals.
  
• Mona Walsh is business development manager for Qube Media, who specialise in marketing through social media.
• Ed Carr is Creative Director of Brand Group. Ed is a regular guest on the show and is a branding and marketing expert.
  

 

 Show 8: Exploring social media [33:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

Research shows that a high percentage of businesses underprice their product or service, our guests talk about the best ways of Pricing it Right.

Julie is joined again this week by:

• Julia Chanteray runs The Joy of Business. She helps small businesses develop, using her years of experience running successful businesses.  Julia was the ‘expert in residence’ on Channel 4’s Risking It All programme.
  
• Jem Spiller, Managing Director of award-winning web development and SEO company, White Hat Media.
• Simon Balley has been running his own very successful design agencies for over 20 years. He currently runs Balley Designs Limited, as well as gift-book packaging company, Paperwasp.

 

 Show 4: Pricing it right [30:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog

In this week’s show the guests discuss if there is a difference between being Entrepreneurial and Enterprising, or are they just the same?

Julie’s guests this week:

• Julia Chanteray runs The Joy of Business. She helps small businesses develop, using her years of experience running successful businesses.  Julia was the ‘expert in residence’ on Channel 4’s Risking It All programme.
  
• Jem Spiller, Managing Director of award-winning web development and SEO company, White Hat Media.
• Simon Balley has been running his own very successful design agencies for over 20 years. He currently runs Balley Designs Limited, as well as gift-book packaging company, Paperwasp.

 

 Show 3:Entrepreneur vs. Enterprising [38:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For more about Julie go to the Our Vision page, or read Julie’s blog