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01_bite off more than you can chew then chew like hell

Welcome to the the first Hungry Friday feast

Author

Dan Pope
March 31, 2023

Ay oop’ aaa ki’d

Hope ya’s had a wonderful week like?

*Please pour yourself a drink of something nice

*Reeeeellllaaaaaaaaxxxxxx

*I’m slinging back a G&T and listening to gorgeous Calpol-like chimes of Simply Red “Holding Back The Years” (on my Air-pods)

And before you ask - yes hummus and crisps are bringing up the cavalry

Anyway,

WELCOME to the First Hungry Friday Feast

Starter: A little aperitif to whet-ya-whistle

Quote I’m absolutely FOOKIN’ loving and reflecting on deeply is from Minor Figures founder Stuart Forsyth.

“BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW, THEN CHEW LIKE HELL”

Short. Snappy. Succinctly sums up the challenger mindset.

The David vs. Goliath mentality.

Been wading through avalanches of work recently, but Stuarts quote is keeping me, keeping on.

Main Course: What I'm pon-de-replaying?

🥨 WHY FOOD AND DRINK FOUNDER'S MUST STOP TRYING TO LIST WITH EVERY MAJOR SUPERMARKET - IT’S DANGEROUS 🥨

I had a dream to take on CoCo Pops.

Sunday Eve, watching Bear Grylls on YouTube - practicing tying my shoelaces with a triple-threat-knot.

Bear started scoffing Elephant faeces.

I thought: “Bare weird, don’t get that stuck in your Gryll”

He rattled off Elephant Dung health benefits - iron, magnesium, copper, gold.

That’s it

"Pope's Poo Poo Pops”

You could say the GM% is pretty Gross. (Whoops - soz - caught off side)

Dreaming… dreaming…

In Year 1,

P-P-Pops would list with EVERY MAJOR SUPERMARKET.

Unfortunately, most founders have this dream.

It’s saddening, watching brands go IN AND OUT of supermarkets, too quickly.

Dreams shattered.

Listing with TOO many retailers TOO quickly is dangerous.

Why?

Imagine, you’ve got £10k budget to drive ROS.

1 retailer = £10k to drive ROS.

vs.

4 retailers = £2.5k to drive ROS.

"NARROW AND DEEP + PATIENCE”

    1. LIST WITH ONE RETAILER: INVEST ALL YOUR MONEY THERE = CREATE SLAP-BANG-DELISH ROS FIGURES

    2. TEST AND TRIAL VARIOUS (CHEAP) ACTIVATIONS I.E. SAMPLING OUTSIDE STORES = FIND YOUR BLUEPRINT:

    3. CREATE INSANE CASE STUDY WITH RETAILER “X” - PRESENT IT TO RETAILER “Y”

    4. LIST WITH RETAILER “Y” AND USE ROS ACTIVATION BLUEPRINT TO DRIVE ROS.

    REPEAT.

    Obviously, it’s way harder than that.

    But, founders must relinquish the ego and relentlessly focus on making one retailer work, first.

Dessert: What I'm watching?

Watching Gordon Ramsay’s Boiling Point on Youtube (Yep, I’m a 3 year old - my Mother whips out an iPad + Youtube for me we go for Sunday Roast)

It’s a HARD HARD watch, at times, an extremely unpleasant watch.

But it left me thinking:

  1. There’s a (Self) Punishment in the Pursuit of Perfection.

  2. To achieve great things there has to be an element of suffering

THE (REALLY fucking ANNOYING) CALL TO ACTION BIT 😉 

I am SO SO grateful you’re subscribing - we’re at 182 wonderful people.

BUT…

Growing a newsletter is like dragging your bollocks through a field of glass in February in Bognor Regis.

Astonishingly hard.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be SO grateful if you would please share with a friend, family or foe.

Alas, Now go fourth and enjoy your weekend

Dan

Still Hungry?

Course you are.

Good. Gluttony is cherished here.

Gorge and stuff-ya-face with these delicious episodes