Issue #5 - Sunshine after the rain đ€
The Backbone is a newsletter for anyone involved in a business. The backbone of the UK economy. In this issue - grandma's chocolate recipe, Hebridean beer, horror film analogies, tunes, podcasts, etc.
đŠŸ G O
Where is the silver lining shining at the rainbow's end? đ
What will it be first? A haircut? A bit of retail therapy? A few bench presses? Or straight down the pub for a pint?
In case you hadnât realised, Monday is April 12th.
Whatâs usually a fairly innocuous date in the calendar has become the biggest milestone so far in the governmentâs roadmap out of lockdown. So big, it even has its own hashtag.
With ânon-essentialâ shops back open (remember, all businesses are essential), along with hairdressers, salons, gyms, most outdoor attractions, and outdoor hospitality, itâs beginning to feel like things really could be getting back to normal.
Weâre not out of the woods yet, but the sunâs coming up and we can hear the cars on the nearby road. It looks like we may have given that hockey-masked maniac the slip too.
But enough of the bad horror film analogies, below is a quick reminder of some things you need to consider before you reopen. You can find out more at our business blueprint for getting out of lockdown.
Now, letâs get stuck in to Issue #5 of The Backbone - the fortnightly business bulletin from Bionic. Thanks for joining us.Â
đ„Â H A S H T A GÂ
#BIONICSMALLBIZSHOUTOUT - Goupie
If youâve never heard of Goupie, youâre in for a treat (literally). Bionic recently caught up with Grace Simpson, who runs the scrumptiously sweet chocolatier business with her parents, selling her grandmotherâs sacred Goupie recipe.
Bionic: How has technology changed business for Goupie? Â
Grace Simpson: âOur social media and website is important, especially throughout lockdown we made a few changes so that people could order from our site whereas they couldnât before. I think things like QuickBooks and accounting help can be game-changing too. Itâs all about finding that balance.â Â
B: Have you been using any new apps to better your business throughout lockdown? Â
GS: âWeâve been adapting and every time weâve opened, weâve luckily been able to find our groove. We started using QR codes in the cafĂ©, so customers could order from their tables. So that was something new.âÂ
B: How do you feel about technology in business in general?Â
GS: âI think it's all about getting that balance between communicating though technology and communicating through real life. Before we had the chocolate shop and cafe, social media was our only way to speak to people, and it was useful. Now we have that unit though, itâs great to feel like part of the community.âÂ
B: Have you tried any new strategies over the past year?Â
GS: âWeâve actually tried paid advertising for the first time this year, which is a big thing for us, itâs probably not a big thing for other businesses, but itâs something weâd never tried out before.âÂ
đ€ S H A R E
Behold, Semmi! The Backbone! A business newsletter we have been denied for far too long.
đ° N E W S
Building a brewery from the ground up
There are many reasons people start their own business - to fulfill a lifetime ambition, to escape the nine-to-five rat race, to continue a family legacy, or simply because thereâs no good beer to drink.
A dearth of decent ale was one of the big inspirations behind the Isle of Eigg Brewery - Scotlandâs first co-operative brewery.
But for itâs co-founder, Stu McCarthy, itâs about more than canning the Carling and binning the Budweiser. Itâs about creating a people-centred, values-based business.
âAnd weâve got a serious track-record at thisâ says Stu âEigg has, for the last twenty two years, been a leading-light in land reform and community ownership. Itâs now time to explore community business ownership - from Eigg, but beyond its watery borders.â
Sat about 10 miles off Scotlandâs west coast, Eigg has a 100-strong community determined to ensure the island is fully self-sufficient and sustainable. The sort of place youâd immediately head for if there was a zombie apocalypse on the mainland.
It already has two community-owned utilities companiesâŠ
Eigg Electric is a community-owned, managed and maintained company which provides electricity for all island residents from the renewable sources of water, sun, and wind.
Hebnet is an community internet service provider that provides fibre broadband to the remote Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides.
âŠand the Isle of Eigg Brewery has become the latest community asset, but this one will benefit both island-dwellers and beer-drinkers alike.
Hereâs how itâll workâŠ
After raising more than ÂŁ195,000 from 605 investors into a Crowdfunder, construction has begun on a new brewery. This new site will be capable of producing much more beer than the hilltop shed that housed Laig Bay Brewery - Stuâs former island brewery, which was a toe-in-the-water to Isle of Eigg Breweryâs divebomb into the brewing barrel.
Once the brewery is up and running, employees and members will contribute to key decisions because theyâll own the business. 25% of its yearly net profit will create a capital pool for local small business start-ups and entrepreneurship to benefit its workers, members and the broader community.
Weâll keep you updated on the progress of the brewery, but in the meantime hereâs more from Stu and the beautiful island of EiggâŠ
(please note, the Crowdfunder has now closed)
đ© J O I N
Get on, get on, get on, get on the groovy train⊠đ
đ€đ» It feels like weâre almost done with lockdown, so we want to hear all about you and your businessâŠ
What was your motivation for starting your own business? đĄÂ What are the things you worry about most as a business owner? đ Whatâs your proudest achievement as a business owner? đ€© What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting their own business? đ€ Get involved đđ»
đ„Â H A S H T A GÂ
#BIONICSMALLBIZSHOUTOUT - Ready to reopen
We had a quick chat with Martin Coles-Evans of Hargreaves of Buxton and Mark Hepworth of The Flat Cap Coffee Roasting Co. to get their thoughts on opening their doors to customers once more.
đ„ S O C I A L
Is Twitter buying Clubhouse?
Back at the start of February, Clubhouse was the biggest social network youâd never heard of. Five issues of The Backbone later, and Twitter is reportedly in discussions to buy the audio-based social network in a deal worth $4 billion. Four BILLION dollars.
Is it just coincidence that Clubhouse popped after being the lead story in Issue #1 of The Backbone? We reckon not and we want our cut.
Anyway, about this buy outâŠ
Although Twitter is already building its own rival audio app, itâs also been in discussions to buy Clubhouse outright. Proof that no one screams âI want one of thoseâ quite as loudly as social media companies when a rival introduces a new feature.
Itâs unclear which of Twitter or Clubhouse approached the other first, but it seems the talks have stalled. Even so, Clubhouse is now looking to raise money at its new-found $4 billion valuation! đ€
đș W A T C H
Dude, decentâŠ
Dude Perfect seem to have been around as long as YouTube itself - slam-dunking, bottle-flipping, and trick-shotting their way to online stardom over the last decade.
Theyâre over the top and way too excitable, but thereâs still something joyous in seeing someone hitting a ping pong ball into a moving waste paper basket and bouncing off a sofa for a slam dunk. Or is it just us..?
đ§ L I S T E N
Listen up, what's the time? Said today, I'm gonna speak my mind.
Social Distancing Distortion is a playlist curated by US singer-songwriter Matt Berninger, frontman of The National. Updated weekly, it takes you from Nina Simone to The Velvet Underground to Dizzee Rascal to Stephen Malkmus toâŠwell, you get the picture.
SmartLess is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life (but mostly really famous ones). Hosted by Jason Bateman (Michael Bluth on Arrested Development and him off Ozark), Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland from Will & Grace), and Will Arnett (Gob Bluth off Arrested Development and the actual Lego Batman), guests include Paul McCartney, Megan Rapnioe, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Kamala Harris, and loads more.
đĄ H O U S E K E E P I N G
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Thanks again for getting involved, and please feel free to get your friends and colleagues on board, and send us any ideas for things youâd like to see us cover in The Backbone.
đ« S T O P
Danke
Thanks for making it to the end of another Bionic business bulletin đ€đ»
Thereâll be no more from us here for another two weeks, but if youâd like to see us featuring some other stuff on our return - anything from inspirational stories to must-listen podcasts - just let us know by leaving a comment.
And donât forget to hit the button below to share The Backbone with all your friends âđ»
Best of luck if youâre reopening your business in the coming days - we hope itâs every bit as exciting and as prosperous as it can be.
See you all in a fortnight, when itâll be St Georgeâs Day. On a Friday. With all the beer gardens open. What could possibly go wrong? đŹ
đ B U S I N E S S
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