Julie Macken is the Deputy Queen Bee of Neve’s Bees a family business turning the produce of their bee hives and local beekeepers into products that are now certified 100% natural. Founded in 2017, they switched focus to eCommerce in 2021. They now sell via their WooCommerce store, wholesale, and a couple of events, and have now reached £100,000 a year and have just sold their 80,000th product.

She shares how focusing on what truly works — and saying no to what doesn’t — helped her turn a local gifting brand into a six-figure sustainable skincare business. Hear how she refined her eCommerce strategy, built a lean but powerful team, and is now leading a mission to make the skincare industry more honest and eco-friendly.

It’s always a treat when a past guest returns, and Julie’s comeback episode is packed with even more insights you can apply immediately to grow smarter and operate more sustainably.

Hit PLAY to hear:

• 💡 The simple shift that helped Neve’s Bees double down on what really drives sales
• 🐝 Why splitting one brand into two strategies unlocked major eCommerce growth
• 💬 How Julie turned sustainability into a standout marketing story (not just a value)
• ⚙️ The key roles she outsourced — and how it boosted profits and freed up her time
• 🛍️ The brand placement mistake that nearly hurt their image — and how they fixed it
• 🌍 Julie’s bold mission to take on the skincare industry’s “ultra-processed” problem

Key timestamps to dive straight in:

[04:32] Skincare Definition: Face vs Body

[06:39] Skin Care eCommerce Revolution

[12:17] "Skincare Website Revamp Focus"

[16:09] Finding Income Through Quick Solutions

[17:27] Small Business Operations Explained

[22:23] "Pure Ingredients, No Water"

[23:13] Skincare Industry Reform Needed

[27:32] Listen to Julie’s Top Tips!

Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/571

In this WWYD episode, eCommerce Director Jaime Hill – whose career spans Monsoon, FatFace, Jack Wills, Oak Furnitureland, Hurtigruten, and more – joins host Chloe Thomas to share how she’d approach one of the biggest challenges facing eCommerce leaders today.

Jaime dives into where to start, how to prioritise quick wins vs. long-term impact, and why real efficiency begins with your people, not your processes.

Expect practical ideas, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiration for anyone trying to do more with less.

Hit PLAY to hear:

• 🎯 How Jaime would tackle a “make us more efficient” brief as Head of eCommerce
• 🧠 Why your team (not your tech stack) is the first place to look for efficiency gains
• 💸 Smart ways to shift ad spend between SEO, paid search, and social without hurting results
• ⚙️ How a 2-week payments project boosted conversions in Germany by 35%
• 🤝 The simple cross-team conversations that can save you time, money, and stress
• 🌱 A quick sustainability win: the one website check that can cut your carbon footprint

Key timestamps to dive straight in:

[04:59] Streamlining Operations and Team Efficiency

[06:47] Team Optimization and Process Review

[13:09] Prioritizing Efficiency in Evolving Industries

[14:15] Optimizing Spend and Data Accuracy

[19:58] Improving Processes Through Experimentation

[21:44] Breaking Silos Through Communication

[23:31] Listen to Jaime’s Top Tips!

Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/570

Chris Forbes is the co-founder at Cheeky Panda, leading the bamboo revolution selling toilet paper, period products, kitchen roll and more. Founded in 2016 they now sell via multiple international Shopify sites, and a plethora of wholesale and marketplace locations. Turnover is now £15,000,000 a year, and did I mention they’re a B Corp?

In this episode, Chris Forbes reveals how The Cheeky Panda turned a bold eco idea into a £15M brand loved by customers and retailers alike. From smart scaling moves to making sustainability fun, Chris shares the mindset and marketing strategies behind their incredible growth.

Hit PLAY to hear:

• 🚀 How The Cheeky Panda grew from a bedroom idea to a £15M sustainable brand
• 🧠 Chris Forbes’ biggest lesson: what to focus on (and what to outsource) when scaling
• 🌿 Why sustainability alone isn’t a USP anymore — and what actually sells now
• 😂 How a giant panda costume helped them win fans and supermarket deals
• 🛒 The secret behind their omnichannel growth across Shopify, Tesco, and more
• 💡 What it really takes to turn purpose into profit — and stay ahead of the competition

Key timestamps to dive straight in:

[04:24] "Sustainable Innovation with Purpose"

[07:36] Expanding Bamboo Product Range

[12:01] Supermarkets Prioritizing Sustainable Suppliers

[13:47] Pricing and Quality Drive Success

[16:12] "Cheeky Panda: Fun & Friendly"

[21:14] Channel Strategies: Pros and Challenges

[22:36] Listen to Chris’s Top Tips!

Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/569