As a previous winner of Theo Paphitis’ #SBS small business initiative, Chiltern Relocation was invited to join thousands of fellow winners at the annual conference in Birmingham on 23rd February. #SBS is one of the UK’s leading small business networks that champions a wide range of businesses from start up’s to established companies looking to grow their business to the next level.
How do you become a winner?
Every week, Theo Paphitis welcomes six small businesses to the #SBS family who tweet, comment or post an image to @TheoPaphitis describing their business. Tweets and Instagram posts need to be made during a set time slot on a Sunday (hence the name!) and Theo choses his six favourite tweets. Chiltern Relocation was thrilled to be recognised by Theo Paphitis in 2018 when we tweeted Theo.
The 2024 #SBS Event
The prestigious #SBS Event attracts many big-name corporates who share their expertise with the winners. This year Theo welcomed Google, Natwest, Ryman and Robert Dyas (Theo’s businesses), DHL Express, HP and SumUp amongst others. Google and Natwest hosted main stage presentations and a range of workshops were also on offer. Susan Bonnar from The British Craft House, who turned a business idea into £1m turnover, spoke passionately about how she turned her dream into reality during an inspirational session.
TV icon Stacey Solomon steals the show
Television presenter, author and entrepreneur Stacey Solomon was a huge hit during her ‘Fireside Chat’ with Theo Paphitis. Stacey shared her experiences and insights on personal branding and delved into the realm of business investment, particularly focusing on how entrepreneurs can leverage the power of social media to boost their ventures. Stacey’s organisation and upcycling hacks have become a social media phenomenon and are the inspiration behind her Sunday Times Number One bestselling book ‘Tap to Tidy’. Stacey is a huge advocate of small businesses and takes time to seek out burgeoning businesses and research their products. If she finds the product to be a success, she shares this on her social media platforms which have over 6 million followers. During the session the owner of ‘Stamptastic’ emotionally spoke up from the audience as to how this tweet had changed the course of her business. Sales increased with 6,000 orders overnight and £130,000 in sales. This sudden boost to the company meant that Stamptastic could hire more staff and buy new equipment.
Why Chiltern Relocation supports fellow small businesses
Chiltern Relocation regularly attends the #SBS event to connect with other like-minded business owners and learn from their experiences, in addition to telling our story. Chiltern Relocation started from a kitchen table 19 years ago when Sharon identified a gap in the market for a bespoke service for buyers. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength winning numerous awards along the way. Theo Paphitis’ endorsement of our success has been a fantastic boost and Chiltern Relocation appreciates all the business advice in addition to the retweets from #SBS community. When we started out social media hadn’t been born and now it is a major driver for all businesses.
Chiltern Relocation’s Take Aways from the #SBS Event
Stacey’s engagement with the audience was genuinely moving. Her passion for entrepreneurship and being ‘authentic’ in the marketplace clearly struck a chord with the #SBS attendees who appreciate the importance of strong values in business.
