Beth Warren, Founder of Wandering Bee. "I just went for it. I went all in"
Welcome to the knot pod. I'm your host, James Routledge. And the knot is the home of good news for Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire. We're on a mission to change the narrative about where we live. And that's why every day, we share with you positive stories, events, things to do, and journalism that all shine a light on what's great about this place we call home.
James Routledge:You can find us online at www.thenot dot news, where you can sign up by email to get curated, no ads, no clickbait news direct to your inbox. On this podcast, we're interviewing inspirational creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders from across Stoke and Staffordshire. Episodes are out every other Wednesday. And you can watch the entire thing on YouTube too. Before we get into it, I'd like to thank our partners, Dissident Creative Agency and Stone, for recording and producing this podcast.
James Routledge:Duchess China, for providing the great tea sets. And Wandering Bee for providing the candles. I hope you enjoy this episode and join the knot for everything great about Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Knot Pod.
James Routledge:I think this is episode 3. And today, I'm here with Beth, founder of Wondering Bee in the stone. Hello. Hello. Thanks for coming on.
James Routledge:Thanks. Pleasure to have you here, and we're both very excited to be here.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah. We are.
Beth Warren:I walked in,
Beth Warren:and I
Beth Warren:was like, wow.
Beth Warren:I love it.
James Routledge:And before we jump in, I'm gonna say a big thank you to where exactly we are today, which is Dissident Studios, Dissident Agency, IN STONE, creative agency here with a phenomenal studio. Sick. Great setup, great equipment, great people, and they create world class content for different brands, and we're feeling it now.
Beth Warren:Yeah. So cool.
James Routledge:How does this feel for you doing, like, being in this kind of space in stone?
Beth Warren:Like it.
Beth Warren:You know what? I didn't even because I didn't know it was here. I was, like when I walked in, I was, like, blown away because I love this type type thing anyway. This is right up my street. So, like, as soon as I walked in, I was like, why didn't I know about this?
Beth Warren:Like, I want more people to know about this. Because I have other friends that has owned small businesses that would want to use this space.
James Routledge:Yeah. So, like, you know content. They wanna Definitely.
Beth Warren:And or need help creating content as well. Yeah. So it's cool.
James Routledge:And you were saying that, like, this was your thing. Like, this is what you kinda wanted to do. You wanted to create content and film and
Beth Warren:Yeah. That was, like, my dream. Like, I actually, before I went to uni, I used to pay a lot of money. I save all my pocket money up when I was little. I say little, like 16.
Beth Warren:And I used to pay to travel to London and do music videos and adverts. I worked on, like, some famous people's music videos, actually, doing, like, I was a runner, and then I worked my way up into art direction. I went from art direction. I was a production assistant. And I used to pay.
Beth Warren:I didn't get paid. I used to pay to be there. I'd work 16 and a half hour shifts for free, just so I could be on set.
James Routledge:No word. I just
Beth Warren:loved being on set. It was my dream to be on set.
James Routledge:Wow. Could could you get could you get any of that at school and stuff? Like, or was school pretty typical in terms of academic and
Beth Warren:Yeah. Like, at school, I was I want not that bright. So I got, like, alright grades. Got b's and c's. So I wasn't, like, really bad.
Beth Warren:But apart from English and art, I wasn't interested.
James Routledge:Where did you go to school then?
Beth Warren:Elaine's.
James Routledge:In Stone. In Stone.
Beth Warren:Yeah. In Stone.
James Routledge:So you've always grown up in Stone.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah. Always grew up in Stone. Then I went to Staffordshire College. And at Staffs, I did, it was like their media course.
Beth Warren:And that's when I fell into how I actually got the media roles in London was because my mom, when she thought my dad met a man who she went to school with, who worked in London So it was like friend of a friend that got me the job. Right?
James Routledge:Yeah. Yes.
Beth Warren:And as he entered my life as, like as a stepfather figure, he got me a job in London. And my very first job ever in London was James Morrison's music video.
James Routledge:No way.
Beth Warren:Yeah. I worked on that. It wasn't. No. It was the one,
James Routledge:I'm on that one.
Beth Warren:Go. Let you go. Yeah. I'm there.
Beth Warren:Oh, I was on that one. And as I was in it, they asked me to be in it as well. So there's a clip
Beth Warren:of me lying on the floor. Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely.
Beth Warren:It's really I've got, like, short hair in it. And, from there, I got, like, not scouted as such, but they said I was good. And I got on a James Morrison and Jessie J music video. And then I was on Pixiela, Tinty Striders, and I did I did a couple of others, name dropping. The, but, yeah, I did a couple of others, and I was slowly building, like, my portfolio up, really.
Beth Warren:So when I was in college, I felt like the bee's knees. Because I was at Stafford College, and I'm traveling to London, like, every I was
James Routledge:gonna say that you felt
Beth Warren:Yeah. I felt
James Routledge:like a big name on campus. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I did feel like a big name on campus. I was like, I'm in I know. I used to come in with, like, my call list with everybody's names on me. I'm like,
Beth Warren:I've got a call list.
Beth Warren:I'm on the call list.
James Routledge:Because that's not a very Staffordshire thing to be doing either. Like, there's not like there's a you know? I'm I'm sure we're similar age, I'm guessing. Like, there's not like there's a big creative Mhmm. Or an obvious creative scene in and around this area.
James Routledge:So
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:Yeah. How was that? Like, did you fit in? Like, did you have No. Yeah.
Beth Warren:At all. I actually got taken the mick out of a lot.
James Routledge:Really?
Beth Warren:So I remember that first day I walked in, if Andy was, like, my stepdad at the time, or if he had if he if he wasn't there, I would have properly felt like for an example, I'd obviously never been to London before. 16. I've been to London. And I walked on set, and the set, there was about 100 odd people there all buzzing around. And I kinda just stood in the corner, like, what am I meant to do?
Beth Warren:Who what do you do on set? And I remember I was wearing these little white plimsol pumps because my mom said they were cool. And I've put them on, and I remember the stylist coming over to me and being like, what are those? And I was like, like, something out for film. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I was like, come from Topshop.
James Routledge:That's hard though, isn't it? Because then, like, at home, you don't feel like you fit in because you're one of the only creative and 100%. People. And then when you also go
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:To London or to Yeah. Wherever that creative scene is, you then also don't feel like you fit in because you're not from there.
Beth Warren:Not from their area. The one thing I will say, though, like, I'm a super confident person. So when he said that, I almost did feel like I fit in. And and that sounds really awful, but the reason is I grew up watching American films. Right?
Beth Warren:I grew up watching, like, cheerleading movies and, like, Mean Girls. So when he said that, I was like, I'm gonna be cool one day. So I, like, took it upon myself that, like, each music video or each advert I got on, I slowly began to, like, get cooler.
James Routledge:Yeah. It was building your
Beth Warren:building your confidence.
James Routledge:And you had that way in. Like, your for your stepdad or or your mum's friend or whoever it was. Like, that door's been open for you. And I feel like like, I didn't not not it's like a where was me at all. I had a lovely childhood, but the school I went to, Painsley, the school I went to was very academic.
James Routledge:And I I actually was academic. Like Yeah. Even though actually now I see myself as extremely creative, and I've got into writing and content creation and building businesses, which is entrepreneurial and creative Yeah.
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:Because I was good at maths and science, and I could
Beth Warren:remember things.
James Routledge:Yeah. Yeah. Like straight a student.
Beth Warren:Which is weird cause you're not normally creative and good at maths. Right?
James Routledge:No, Brad. I had that. And maybe I had a bit of both or whatever.
Beth Warren:One of
Beth Warren:the lucky ones.
James Routledge:Only child syndrome, I think. Yeah. I just felt like the creative side of me was never given chance to flourish. Like, I don't know. I didn't have any role models for that.
James Routledge:I didn't have any I don't know. I just don't feel like I had the chance to express it.
Beth Warren:Yeah. I get that.
James Routledge:And I feel like that's true for for a lot of people, even though this is actually a really creative area.
Beth Warren:Do you know what, though? It is a super creative area if you find the right people, but it is like finding the right people. And I think the thing is a lot of the creatives get pushed out. So what happens is a lot of the creatives end up moving to Manchester or London, and then the ones that are behind kind of go insular. I remember I went really insular before I moved to London.
Beth Warren:I remember I used
James Routledge:to go are you to this point?
Beth Warren:18.
James Routledge:Okay.
Beth Warren:Could've been 18. I used to post my artwork on, like, a private little Instagram, and it was called Aquariously Kawaii. I had this, like, little I called it. Name. Aquariously Kawaii.
James Routledge:Okay. Right. Yeah.
Beth Warren:It was because I'm Aquarius, and the word Kawaii is cute. So I just
Beth Warren:thought it
Beth Warren:was cute.
James Routledge:Yeah.
Beth Warren:So I made this little art Instagram, and I used to, like, post my art not under his bath because, like, I it was, like, it was weird, wasn't it? Like, you know, it was at a time when, yes, I was at a college that did media, but it wasn't exactly art.
James Routledge:Were you afraid of being judged? Like, was it was there a judgment thing going on? Or
Beth Warren:No. I don't think so. I've never really been afraid of being judged. I think it was more just it wasn't in anybody's chat. Like, nobody in my friendship group would be like, let's talk about art.
Beth Warren:Let's go to a gallery. So nobody within my, like, area or my circle liked art. Yeah. Yeah. When I went to uni, my very first year so I left college and went to uni.
Beth Warren:The first day, I met Josh. And it was like, woah. He likes art. Everybody here likes art. And then that's when I kind of found that, actually, there's more than just people that do maths.
James Routledge:Yeah. And you're not weird for life in art and being into creative
Beth Warren:Yeah. Stuff. And then but also off the back of that, it brought me back to when I did move back to Stone from London, I actually ended up finding out that there's actually, like, so many creatives in Stone, Staffordshire, Stoke, that you just have to find the right people.
Beth Warren:Yeah.
Beth Warren:As soon as you start making those connections, they open. You walk to someone who opens you up to someone.
James Routledge:And I feel like when you're young, the truth is you have to be given that. And if you're not given it, you probably have to go away to find it. Yes. Whereas when you're a bit older and you and you return, which sat with with both you and I have done, you've got a bit more, like, strength to go and find it, haven't you? Like, you're a bit more able to Yeah.
James Routledge:Reach out to someone
Beth Warren:Make friends
James Routledge:and find it or because that's that's exactly what's happened. Like, I left at 19, didn't think I'd return, found myself and my tribe and all that. And then as I return, I'm like, okay. There are still things that aren't on a plate for me here. Mhmm.
James Routledge:Because there are there aren't things here that I don't know. It's like in London, you can go to the best museums or
Beth Warren:art galleries in the world. 4 AM.
James Routledge:Yeah. Wherever you wanna go to. But I've got more I'm more able to find what I want. Yeah. I suppose that's so how old are you when you moved to London then?
James Routledge:Do you go to for uni?
Beth Warren:Yeah. So I moved when I was 18. I went to Westminster, And I started originally on the film and television course. I was there for 3 months. And as I say, I met Josh on my first day.
Beth Warren:And Josh became way more appealing than uni did. I actually have a funny story. Right? Yeah. So this makes me sound like a psycho because I am.
Beth Warren:But, basically, Josh walked past my window in my kitchen, and I was with my mate. Well, my flatmate that I'd only just met. And I went, I'm gonna marry him. No. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Swear in
Beth Warren:my life.
Beth Warren:Everybody knows this story. Yeah. And I was, I'm gonna marry him. And the my flatmate was like, Hannah was like, you're weird. Oh.
Beth Warren:Okay. And then that first night at uni, we had, like, you know, the social bar. We went to the the student union. It's like a
James Routledge:red, amber, green night.
Beth Warren:I literally saw him. I was like, there he is. I gunned for him. I literally was like, running. I was like, hello, my name is Beth.
Beth Warren:And Josh, if anyone's ever met Josh and watching this, Josh is like quite like a blunt person. So he was like, hi. And I was like, no. I'm gonna crack that harder out of the show, honestly. And, yeah, within 2 weeks, we were going out, and we've been together ever since.
James Routledge:Wow.
Beth Warren:Yeah. So it was like you know when you said about, like, finding a tribe? He became my tribe.
James Routledge:And you also found, you know, your your husband.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Literally. But, yeah, it was it was like going going there was like finding people that, yeah, I was connected to, basically.
James Routledge:This I'd I don't know where these tangents come from, but Go on. Do you think you'd have found, like, a source of that the man you'd have wanted stay staying around, like, into, like, art and know. Yeah. I think you can. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I think that's fair. Yeah.
Beth Warren:No. I don't. Because do you know what it was? I, well, maybe if they were willing to give me what I want. But I'm this sounds really bad.
Beth Warren:Right? I'm gonna be dead honest. But I went to London knowing what I wanted, and he fit the mold. Right? And I don't know if that's an area thing or a person thing, But he fit everything, and I think that him being out of stone allowed him to have a more open mind.
Beth Warren:So he was in like, because he where he's from, he's from just outside of London. So he could go to galleries every weekend. He was already aware
James Routledge:of his aren't exposed to
Beth Warren:We're not exposed to these things. So I think meeting him was someone that was exposed to those so he could show me things. Like, he took me to London for the first time and showed me London. You know? Yeah.
Beth Warren:So I was like, wow. He's amazing. Yeah. And I don't know if maybe someone from around here that had never left would have that same view.
James Routledge:How did you ex like, how did you sort of continue to explore, like, your career and stuff then in London? Like, what?
Beth Warren:God. It was a bit patchy. You know?
Beth Warren:Was it?
Beth Warren:I had a lot of jobs.
James Routledge:Really?
Beth Warren:I've had so many jobs, and I've been fired from jobs. But, like, I'm quite opinionated. So I'd go into a job, and I would say to them, like, how I think it should be done or could be done better. I try to be polite as possible. It obviously doesn't go down very well.
Beth Warren:I learned from that as time went on. But I, like, worked in a pub just for money. I sold nail varnish just
James Routledge:for money. Sustaining your life in London Yeah. Basically? Because that sounds
Beth Warren:like You couldn't sustain the basic. It was so expensive, wasn't it? I mean, I was paying £1,365 a month for a one bed flat.
James Routledge:Yeah. It
Beth Warren:was, like, ridiculous. And I worked in Selfridges, which was my main base. That's probably the best thing that I've learned for the wandering bee. I learned a lot from Selfridges, and I loved that job. Amazing people, super cool.
Beth Warren:And I remember because I I'd never and I feel like a lot of people from the area will back me on this. I hope so. I didn't know anything about designer brands. Nothing.
Beth Warren:So on
Beth Warren:my, like, first few weeks of Selfridges, I called Givenchy, Givenchy. And I remember Hannah, who I worked with, going, please don't ever say that again. I was like,
James Routledge:oh, gosh. A good story though. Because, like, yeah, if you'd not, yeah, if you've not heard of Chanel or Givenchy
Beth Warren:or on. I was like, what's like, actually, did
Beth Warren:you have
James Routledge:a very sane one.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Because my mom used to buy me, like, makeup when I was younger, or I'd have her, like, bits she didn't want when I was little. And it would have, like, YSL on it. And but, like, you don't learn about brands. Like, I didn't learn about that. So when I went to Selfridges, I learned this whole new thing.
Beth Warren:But one thing I will say is I've always been super ambitious. So when I was at Selfridges, I wasn't just a stylist or a sales associate. I used to there was this lady called Yona, and she was like she was head of all the floors. I used to think she was the coolest gal. She's, like, small.
Beth Warren:She wore these big heels. Everyone, like, bowed down to her, like, yes, no, Yona, no Yona. And I used to look at her and I'd be like, I'm gonna be her one day. And they did this thing. We used to have a brief every morning.
Beth Warren:And they did this thing where they asked everybody, and we had to fill it in on, like, a spreadsheet thing, like, where we wanted our careers to go with Selfridges. And I said, I'll be the next Yona. That was what I put online. And, I was like, Rob, who was my manager at the time, was like, of course you put that. Like
James Routledge:Where do you think
Beth Warren:that because
James Routledge:I because what you've just mentioned about, you know, saying Givenchy wrong and that that sort of stuff, that I think for people that are maybe from areas that are, I don't know what you how you'd say it, disadvantaged or less privileged or whatever or less affluent probably was really what it's about. Like, I feel like you can grow up with a glass ceiling. Like, your confidence is low. Almost almost from the start. Like Yeah.
James Routledge:You base your self esteem Mhmm. On this sort of the perceived worth
Beth Warren:of So true.
James Routledge:Your area. And, like, there's a lot especially a lot of I I feel like I've met a lot of young women who yeah. Their confidence takes a lot more time to build because of maybe where they're from or those experiences you've had. It sounds like you, though, for some reason, were just able to just, like, charge
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Through that. Like, why why? Oh, yes. You know what I mean? Like, where does that were you always like that?
James Routledge:Or where where does that come from? And dad.
Beth Warren:My mom I come from a not just mom and dad. My entire family are super loud and super confident, especially my dad's side. We call it, like, we're all like, my last name is Warren. We're all, like, the Warrens are just mental. And we're all just super, uber confident and really ambitious, and we literally don't have filters.
Beth Warren:So my dad, my brothers, my uncles, my nan, were all exactly the same. So when I had this trip to America, for everyone listening who hasn't heard this, so I basically went to America in March and it was mental, was because all the Warrens were in one room, which we hadn't been since I was a kid. And it was crazy. So, like, I was born with a a a mom and dad who basically kinda swear.
James Routledge:Of course. Yeah.
Beth Warren:The shit, like, shone out of my asshole. Yeah. Yeah. Right? It was like it was like, that is the wrong saying.
Beth Warren:It's sun shines out of my ass, not shit, isn't it?
James Routledge:But I think the shit I
Beth Warren:will take it.
James Routledge:Think when you were a baby, the shit probably did
Beth Warren:shine from your ass.
Beth Warren:From my ass. Oh, so it was like one of these things where, like, I just thought I was mint. And it
James Routledge:because you were so loved.
Beth Warren:So I was so loved. Like, I was very, very lucky that I had parents that, like, told me I was amazing. I actually when I was, 15, my stepmom, she said to me, like, what do you wanna be? You know? Because my mom and dad had a messy divorce, won't go into it.
Beth Warren:And Jen came with my wife, and she helped me, like, with planning where I was gonna go into uni and stuff. And she was like, where do you wanna go? What do you wanna do? And I was like, I just wanna be famous. That was my only goal, was to be famous.
Beth Warren:And she went, what are you gonna do to do it? And I went, I'll do anything. I'll be a glamour model. I was like, don't count. Sell my underwear.
Beth Warren:I don't care. I was like, I'm gonna be famous one day. As time went on, I slowly that I mean, there's an element to me that goes, it would be good to be famous, but there is an element where that kinda got lost, especially once I'd had kids. That kind of I lost that urge to be famous. But I think that that all came from, like, a cocky confidence, really.
Beth Warren:And I'm also a really spiritual person. Like, I'm super spiritual. I I I've always done readings for people. I've always been very in touch with that side of myself. So I have an element to me that doesn't give a fuck what anyone thinks.
James Routledge:Mhmm.
Beth Warren:So I think I'd go through life like you know when people get embarrassed? I tend to not get really embarrassed because I just think, like, you're never important to anybody else. That's one thing I always talk. Someone said to me to me once, might have been in therapy, actually, that said to me that you're never as important as you think you are. So, like, you're not gonna come out of this thinking, oh, Beth this, Beth that.
Beth Warren:You'll come out thinking, was I? Did I? Yeah. You know, you're your own main character, aren't you? So I carry that through life, just thinking knowing that I'm only my own main character.
Beth Warren:And in everybody else, you're your own main character.
James Routledge:You know what I mean? Love it. And then so you've taken that family, sort of, the Warren brand
Beth Warren:Yeah.
Beth Warren:The Warren brand. Down to London, and
James Routledge:you're like you're finding yourself there. But at that point, did you have any intention of returning? Like, what was your opinion of Stone? Like Yeah. Did you see it as a place that yeah.
James Routledge:I don't know. You were just from, and obviously family, and you love your family, but, like, you can't live there. Because that's what I felt. Like, I lived in London. And I kind of, like, forgot.
James Routledge:I think I don't yeah. I do think I forgot. I I just think I forgot about the place I was born. Does doesn't mean I did I did definitely didn't forget about my family and friends. Mhmm.
James Routledge:Still stayed connected and close, and every Christmas would have come home and go out. But then I didn't really think about it. And I wasn't really thinking about where I would live. And, yeah, what was your relationship? Yeah?
Beth Warren:When I was 18, I was vowed to never return. Did exactly what you did. I vowed to never return. I was, like, I'm never coming back to stone. I just thought there was nothing there for me.
Beth Warren:There's nobody that connects with me. There's nothing here for me. And I left. And after a few years, I'll say 3, still had a very strong mindset that I wouldn't return. And then as time went on, I actually started to miss a lot of things.
Beth Warren:One of them was the quiet.
James Routledge:And how old are you at this point?
Beth Warren:I would have been 21.
James Routledge:Yeah. Okay.
Beth Warren:I'd had, I left London originally. I think there was a couple of reasons. One were sorry. I left Stone originally. One of the reasons was to meet people that were like me.
Beth Warren:But also it was to I my mom and dad had gone through a messy divorce. Right? And I think a lot of that was me trying to get away and away out of that. And I think on reflection now, like, a lot of that was to, like, run away from a situation and not be around it, which took me to London so I vowed never to return. Maybe 21, I had a miscarriage.
Beth Warren:And once I miscarried, I was like, no. I think what I need right now is to be grounded. I felt very like nothing around me was familiar anymore, And southerners were doing my head in. No offense, Josh, because he's southerner, but they are annoying. And, they don't have the northern sense of humor, or the midland sense of humor.
Beth Warren:And as much as I had lovely friends there, I just started to miss people from here. I miss the quiet. I miss the greenery. Like, okay. Yes.
Beth Warren:There's Hampstead Heath in London. You know? There's not there's no way of saying that. No. And I also missed the idea that one thing that really shocks me about, say, London versus or city life, not just London, city life versus where we are now, is people don't have kids.
Beth Warren:It's like family isn't a thing. It's work. You live to work. City life is you need to live and breathe work, and nothing else matters, really. You don't have time for anything else or money for anything else unless you're a millionaire.
Beth Warren:And I miss that side. So coming back, I was like, that decision was made off the back of something traumatic, but also feeling a need for familiar familiarity.
Beth Warren:Yeah.
Beth Warren:And coming back was what that it grounded me again. I've got to admit though, for 6 months after moving back, I hated it. I really regretted it. I cried a lot. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I used to sob into my pillow. I remember one time I worked in this awful job, and I don't care what I was saying because I'm never gonna work there again, but I worked for Allied Healthcare and it was horrible. And I was a recruitment consultant, and after 6 months, I remember the
James Routledge:paper Back here.
Beth Warren:Yeah. My first job back, I opened the door to my mom and I just broke down. I was sob crying. I've made the worst decision. I've lost my friends, because all my friends were still in London.
Beth Warren:And I was like, oh my god. What have I done? And then
Beth Warren:it was like Josh had to rebuild me back up, really, because I felt like a shell of who I am. Didn't know what I
Beth Warren:was about, didn't know where I was going. I worked as a recruitment consultant. I was like,
Beth Warren:what the hell am I doing consultant. I was like, what the hell am I doing with myself? And then I got pregnant with Callow. And that kept me here. Because falling pregnant with Callow, I was never gonna bring up kids in London.
James Routledge:So, really, family was a big drawback, as in you starting your own family.
Beth Warren:Yes. Me me I was never gonna start a family in London. And also, one thing people take for granted around here massively is the education system we have here in Stoke, Staffordshire, and also the greenery, and they're just safe. Now I hate you when people call stone, you know, or unsafe because there are elements. Obviously, things happen that are unsafe, but it's such a safe place.
Beth Warren:Like, when you've lived around the corner from Kneesden and Harleston, we ain't unsafe. No. Do you know? Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Yeah. So, like, bringing up kids is a lot nice around here.
James Routledge:Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I'm not saying that.
James Routledge:That's like it feels fairly it feels quite young to have, like because I've lived in that again, it's not just London, is it? We shouldn't just we're not this isn't a London bash. All city life
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Is very individual.
Beth Warren:Yes.
James Routledge:And, like, it's about
Beth Warren:Super individual.
James Routledge:Really, you go there for your career.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Find yourself.
James Routledge:Yeah. And you stay there, and then you meet your like minded people. And people even start to to move away and branch out when they start guessing families. But it it's it's kinda like a I don't really mean this in a negative way. It's a selfish place.
Beth Warren:Oh my god. You're there really You've just summarized it.
James Routledge:For yourself. That's Yeah. That's my experience of
Beth Warren:I agree.
James Routledge:I'm there for myself. And I think I got to a point of, like, you know, getting married in a long term relationship. And I'm starting to think about o others. Yeah. And I've I think it's given me what I've needed.
James Routledge:Like, it's given me that hit
Beth Warren:and that I may. Yeah.
James Routledge:That inspiration, all that creativity, all that confidence, and it's allowed me to maybe explore the parts of myself that I didn't feel like I could explore Yeah. In one area. That's what I would travel indoors. It's not why everyone wants to go travel in when they're feeling it lost because you it's a free hit. It's blank canvas.
James Routledge:You wanna
Beth Warren:So true.
James Routledge:You know, you wanna go and do magic mushrooms in Bali because you can't do that.
Beth Warren:Yeah. I suppose London was art I was well, it was for me was my traveling.
James Routledge:How you explore. Mhmm. But, yeah, I found it towards the end. Like, I think I just started to see everything that I didn't have, which was, like, space, quiet.
Beth Warren:Same.
James Routledge:And it didn't it didn't feel like I could build a yeah. I didn't feel like I could build a family or even a Mhmm. Really a future for myself. And even on a basic level, I think there's a lot of people even if you do make a a a lot of money, and, obviously, there is a load more opportunities to do that in a in a city. It's very difficult to get on the property ladder.
Beth Warren:So difficult. And not just a property ladder, a career. A lot of people get trapped in a retail route, in a bar job because it's so expensive in a city. One thing that we have a blessing of here is there isn't as much, what's the right word, like, competitors in terms of if you're going for a job role. Right?
Beth Warren:Like, in London, you're, like, competing with the world. Yeah. Like, you're going for a job role that you think you're highly qualified for, the best person for the job, but there's also 15,000 other people going for that role. Whereas Stone, Stoke, Stafford, there's a lot less people going for that role. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Same with houses.
James Routledge:Yeah.
Beth Warren:When you're looking for a property, you can actually get on the property ladder when you've got enough or whatever. Or if you've got help to buy a house, we got help to buy ours because we were really lucky. And, you know, I would never have had that opportunity in London.
James Routledge:No. And let's talk candles. Yeah. Where where do candles come into all of this? Like, where because some at the moment, I'm like
Beth Warren:Where's the
James Routledge:where are the candles? Other than you being creative
Beth Warren:Yes.
James Routledge:And, like, kinda ambitious and entrepreneurial, that makes sense. I'm like, hey. I can understand why she would start a candle brand. But not at one point in this so far have I heard you say, like, oh, yes.
Beth Warren:I love candles.
James Routledge:Yeah. Or, like, you know, where did that oh, Selfridges maybe. Like, what's the yeah. What was the link? Like, how did it come about?
Beth Warren:God's honest truth. Wanted to work for myself. Only.
James Routledge:Oh, can I We're only allowed
Beth Warren:God's honest truth? So it was December 2020. Yeah. Christmas had just been. I had 2 Yankees burning on the shelf.
Beth Warren:I'd spent, like, a 30
James Routledge:plus So you're living in back in stone at this point. Where are you working?
Beth Warren:I was at the dentist. I was a receptionist at the dentist. Okay. And color would have been about 2.
James Routledge:Yeah. I can't imagine you as a receptionist.
Beth Warren:I'm so sorry. And I was a really loud receptionist. Yeah. You're I bet people I'm surprised I surprised people. And I was a dental receptionist.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Hello. Yeah. It's actually an alright job, to be fair. But
James Routledge:No. Not really the job.
Beth Warren:I can't imagine. Yeah. Yeah. Hello. Hi.
Beth Warren:You're super loud.
Beth Warren:Oh, you
James Routledge:haven't done
Beth Warren:that yet.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah. Theo. So I I was working there, and it actually ended up getting a really crap job, because it was during COVID. So everybody else was living it up, living life to the best.
Beth Warren:I was working 12 hour shifts at the dentist. I said to Josh, I'm not doing this anymore. There is absolutely no way I'm not doing this anymore. And I googled the top 10 most profitable small business ideas, and candles was number 1. So I just chose candles.
Beth Warren:No way. Yeah. I swear. No way.
Beth Warren:So I
Beth Warren:just chose it. I went, yeah, but then candles. And Josh went, woah. Woah. Woah.
Beth Warren:Woah. Woah. Woah. Before you go for it, order just one little bag of wax. I went, of course.
Beth Warren:I ordered a 22 and a half kilogram bag of wax. Yeah. Loads of fragrances oils, loads of wax.
James Routledge:And had you done anything freelance on blanks also yourself before? Or was this the first?
Beth Warren:First proper one. When I was in London, me and Josh did do a little thing called Pink Ginger. Pink Ginger, all it was. I was pink. He was Ginger, obviously.
Beth Warren:And he he did all the graphic design works. He's a graphic designer. And I basically did the invoices and built the website. Okay. So you you
James Routledge:dipped your toe into line doing something for yourself.
Beth Warren:I did nothing with it. It just kind of I love building websites. So I built a website. Yeah. And that
James Routledge:was it. So so so let me get a story straight. Because it's actually a mad story, really.
Beth Warren:Yeah. There's actually not
James Routledge:many people that have probably
Beth Warren:well, I
James Routledge:think there will be more than we think, which is the beauty of this area. But Yeah. You've you've you've grown up in stone. Yeah. You've gone to college in Stafford.
James Routledge:Mhmm. You've then gone to London to sort of find a creative career. And I suppose I don't mean I'm gonna sound a bit hard. You've not found like, it doesn't actually sound like you've found the thing you wanted. No.
James Routledge:Nothing.
Beth Warren:I found it. Yeah.
James Routledge:You want realized you want a family. Mhmm. Moved back. Yep. And then you've Googled that that you've Googled top business ideas.
James Routledge:Yeah. You've picked the first one. Top one.
Beth Warren:Top one. Yeah. So, yeah, go on then. We'll do that. I'm just not somebody that does anything by halves.
Beth Warren:Like, just even if the fact that I've ordered a massive bag of wax that cost me, like, x amount more. Yeah.
James Routledge:How much did that cost?
Beth Warren:I think it was, like, £60.
James Routledge:Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Okay? And then I ordered something like fragrance oils, and I had no money. Literally no I'm still skinned, but I had I then I really had no money. I was, like, living paycheck to paycheck. You know?
Beth Warren:Klarna and everything, which I still do. Love Klarna. So I had all this wax. And Josh was like, just make one. Before you do a business, just make one.
Beth Warren:As I'm stirring my very first candle on the hob, I'm writing business names in a diary, Mike doing this. And I went, Josh, we're gonna make a logo tonight. And he was like, really tuned? We call each other tune. Tune, really?
Beth Warren:I'm like, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So we sit on the sofa, we built a logo. The next day, I I think I went I have ADHD.
Beth Warren:Not to drown on about it because I hate using that as like a thing, if you couldn't tell. But, my ADHD makes me, like, super hyper focused on anything. So I literally hyper focused the shit out of candles. I mean, day night, every day. And I was doing loads of research.
Beth Warren:And what I was kept coming across was they were all shit. I was like, why are everybody's candles so shit? It's not that difficult. Just buy higher end and make good candles. So I got my recipe.
Beth Warren:And then I realized that I had no candle glass because there was COVID. You couldn't order it from anywhere. And that's when Josh had some beer bottles lying around. And he went, why don't you use a beer bottle? And I was like, Josh, that looks so tacky.
Beth Warren:No. And he was like, no. I think you should. I think you should use a beer bottle. I was like, go on then.
Beth Warren:So I made 7, sent it to my friends at the dentist, and they were like, mate, they're sick. Where are they from? I was like, I made it. And they were like, no. I think you should I think you should
James Routledge:do this.
Beth Warren:That's how it blossomed.
James Routledge:Wow. And I
Beth Warren:just went for it. I just, like, built a website, started
James Routledge:making candles. Deep on candles. Deep. Like, you
Beth Warren:just throw straight in. Everything in.
Beth Warren:I literally stopped doing nothing. My manager at the time at the dentist went, I knew you'd stopped working here the minute you came in the next day and was like, I've started a candle business. Yeah. Because my mind just went, right, I'm going in it. And I'm a massive manifester.
Beth Warren:I believe in manifesting. And I just, in my head, would sit every night, and I didn't want it. I knew I was gonna have a shop. Like, in my head, I've I walked myself through my shop. I imagined the piano.
Beth Warren:That was what I always said. I'll have a piano. I'll have a piano. I walked me through getting 1,000,000 of pounds. I still do that one every night.
Beth Warren:I'm
Beth Warren:gonna get my £1,000,000 check.
Beth Warren:I'm gonna get
Beth Warren:my £1,000,000 check. And, I was just manifesting all the time. And I think it was in I launched the business, just like it was on 12th February 2021, so it was just 2 months I was doing research for. Launched the business February 2021 and posted it in, like, a local it's, like, a fairly posh estate in stone. I posted it in the White Bridges, like, group.
Beth Warren:Yeah. And I got 12 orders.
James Routledge:Oh, wow.
Beth Warren:And then the next night, I got, like, 14, and then I got 17. And then it became word-of-mouth, and it kinda grew from there. And that's kind of how the Wandering Bee began to grow.
James Routledge:Wow. So literally, you've made how many did you make initially then?
Beth Warren:7.
James Routledge:You made 7.
Beth Warren:7.
James Routledge:Gave them away, and then you just come up with the brand and the name. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
James Routledge:Which is a great it's not like, you know, you've still I think that you shouldn't sort of gloss over that, like, it's a great brand. You know, like, the logo and the
Beth Warren:name Identifiable. Yeah.
James Routledge:It's a good brand. Yeah. Like, it's not.
Beth Warren:And to be honest, I can't claim all of that. Josh is an amazing graphic designer, so he really helped me. And also he pulls me in because I'm I go, like, I want paint splatters, and I want this, and I want pink. And he was like, woah. Woah.
Beth Warren:Woah. K. Bring it back. Let's go minimal. And I knew I didn't want the word candles in my name, so I could have a brand rather than a business.
Beth Warren:It's just candles. Yeah. The 1 GMB was always gonna be a brand, so I can branch out into self care or plants like I do now. I do plants and terrariums. But if I had called it the one that would be candles, none of that would have made sense.
James Routledge:Yeah.
Beth Warren:So I always had that. And the one that day, we sat on that sofa and we're designing our logo. We both said big business moves. Everything I do is big business moves. So like the day I hired Jen, everything I've done, we do quarterly reviews, one to ones.
Beth Warren:I have contracts. I got an accountant straight away. Like, everything was super
James Routledge:You you're building it for how you want it to be. Yeah. You're making it.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Never went in just with, like, a view that was gonna be
James Routledge:So it's been 3 years now?
Beth Warren:3 years. 3 and a half. Yeah.
James Routledge:Wow. 3
Beth Warren:and a half years.
James Routledge:And then just just, like, what's been the like, just summarize. Like, you started selling them out of your bedroom, essentially, out of your house. Mhmm. And then when did you you sign them online? And then, yeah, what what have been the steps to where you are now?
Beth Warren:So launched February 2021. Yeah. 6 weeks after launching, I got an email or a message off the World of Wedgwood, which is in Barleston. And Gemma, who's the head of World of Edgewood, I owe a lot to her. I'm not gonna just take I owe a lot to her, and she knows that.
Beth Warren:I'm so grateful. She messaged me and basically said, come for a meeting with me. I wanna discuss you having a space here. And, I met I said, do you mind if I bring my daughter? I've got no childcare.
Beth Warren:And Callow was 2. She was like, no. No. That's fine. So I took Callow to the World of Edgewood.
Beth Warren:And as I walked in, she said she couldn't believe it was just me and Josh because and our daughter because she said it looks like a bigger brand than what it was online, which was the big business news posting as if I was huge when it was just me in my kitchen. And, she was like, look. I know you're tiny, still busy. I know you're gonna be going 6 weeks, but I love your brand, and I think there's a lot that you could bring here. Can I offer you a warehouse?
Beth Warren:So I had a warehouse at the World of Edgewood. I moved in the just, I think it was the October. So from Feb to October, moved to the warehouse, started selling there, and god's honest truth again. I got really depressed. Like, I love Gemma.
Beth Warren:I was so grateful, but I was underground, and it was really lonely. It was like working with someone with no natural light. And as much as I tried to be super grateful that I'd kind of achieved what I wanted, which was to be self employed, I just had this, like, thing where I was, like, I'm meant to be around people and just wasn't. The business took a plummet. I believe I'm not gonna go on too much about it, but I believe everything is energy.
Beth Warren:And when my energy dropped, sales dropped. And I used to do this thing with Jen, which I don't do anymore. If any business people are listening, they're gonna be like, don't do that. But I did do this. I used to write what our turnover was for the month, profits.
Beth Warren:I used to write everything we where we were going, right, every month and every week. And, obviously, as the profits are going down and the turnover's going down, Jen, who worked for me, could see it going down as well. So the whole team is just demotivating. We were like, what's happening? Jen went on holiday, and this was in the, like would have been coming up to the September of the following year.
Beth Warren:Jen went on holiday for a week and went by the time she'd got back from holiday, I'd taken over a shop down Adey's Alley with the last £1200 aired. So I had, like, £1200 left in the business account. And I just thought, right, this is do or die. I either take the shop on or I go back to the dentist. Was I hell going back to the dentist?
Beth Warren:Took the last 1200 pound into the shop, and we just flipped it. Josh bought, like, fence panels to build the till out. We bought, like, wood from the builders' merchants, the cheapest we could get. You know, we just kitted out. But it looked mints.
James Routledge:How come you went big on because, you know, the the narrative that we keep seeing in in the media and everything is, oh, the high street's dying. Yeah. Yeah. Like, what how come you were so, like, bullish on having your own because a lot of people would have said, oh, just stay at home and build a build a candle brand online and sell candles online.
Beth Warren:You know
James Routledge:How come you went for it?
Beth Warren:Was in a corner. It was well, the online didn't work. Well, it did, but not to a point that was profitable enough to have a member of staff and be in a warehouse. So I was pushed into a corner where I either had to make the leap and just go for a shop or stop because I couldn't afford to stay in the warehouse. So it was kind of like a do or die.
Beth Warren:Just felt like I was in a corner, and it was like, do something now. And I was like, okay. I'll just take a shot.
James Routledge:Like you need the shop as well. Like, it sounds like you need people, like,
Beth Warren:or else
James Routledge:you don't have that energy.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah.
James Routledge:And it's yeah. It's so sensual, obviously, that you need it.
Beth Warren:People will take a a gamble online and order a candle, but a lot of people wanna smell it first.
James Routledge:Of course. Yeah.
Beth Warren:So that always helps. But, also, I think there's people buy from people. And I think people wanna buy from me and my family. And I think we hold an energy as a family that is, like, people like. Like, I I wanna say without being big headed, but there were likable people.
Beth Warren:Yeah. People could see that we're good people, and people wanna support local people. So I think when you can come in, have an amazing service given to you. Like, you everybody that comes to the Wander and Beal say the same. We, Millie, and Jenny worked for me.
Beth Warren:Me and Josh, like, we give outstanding customer service. You can't get that on me.
James Routledge:And I also feel like the truth is, I mean, I live I live in stone, so I love having the Wander and Bee on the high street because I want I want to have a a cool independent brand on the high street. So I I suppose, yeah, I want that to happen. It's part of not like a tax, but, like, it is. It's like an investment in
Beth Warren:Yeah.
Beth Warren:It is.
James Routledge:And I feel I definitely am not the only person that feels like that. So, yeah, it sort of works. Like, we we want it there. Yeah. And yeah.
James Routledge:What are your thoughts on because it's a it's a massive conversation at the moment. Like, obviously, doing the knot, find myself online a lot. I'm looking at the news a lot. Mhmm. And every week, I'm I'm curating good, positive positive news stories, of which there are loads and loads of great events and whatever.
James Routledge:However, when I'm doing, I suppose, essentially my research, I also see a lot of just negativity Yeah. That's often actually centered around town centers.
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:That's a massive, just point of kinda just disappointment and sadness and anger for for a lot of people. So, you know, my sort of competitor really is Stoke on Trent Live in The Sentinel. They're they're
Beth Warren:It's not really a competitor, but
James Routledge:But they're the main they are really the only news outlet in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire. And if they put they they could they can put a news story out that says, you know, another shop closes on the high street. And it's true. Maybe they didn't have to say another to stoke the fire, but they do anyway. And the comments and the people, so we can't
Beth Warren:The people.
James Routledge:Will will and it'll be blame, and it'll be anger. Yeah. Usually, the council gets blamed. I don't know why. Bless them.
Beth Warren:Yeah. That's fine.
James Routledge:Blame for everything. And there is just but I see through that. And what I see is sadness. People want thriving. They do.
James Routledge:They want sort of town centers. They want that sense of community. Yeah. And I feel like it it feels like we all really care about it.
Beth Warren:Yeah. It does.
James Routledge:The truth is not a lot of people are doing a lot
Beth Warren:of positive. Yeah. It's a and then my pet hate is when people come in and complain, but then they don't support local. It's, oh, it's a bugbear of mine. Like, you'll get people coming into the 1 gym b, and, generally, my customers are incredible.
Beth Warren:But I do get occasionally somebody will come in, and they won't buy anything or anything. And they come in, they're super, uber negative about the area, and they'll say something like, oh, the high street's looking shit. And I'm like, woah. No. It's not.
Beth Warren:I was like, it's actually really coming alive. There's loads of new businesses that have opened. And when you get chatting to them, it's like they go, oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Yeah. And it's like a politeness, but you can see that they're, like, programmed themselves to just speak negatively for no reason. Yeah. They're not opening their eyes and seeing all these beautiful businesses that are pumping love and creativity into them. What they're looking at is they're going, oh, well, I've been conditioned to say this area is a shitter, so I'm gonna continue to say it.
James Routledge:I mean, I just, if you listen, it's head in hand. I just couldn't I feel like it's, it is a conditioning.
Beth Warren:It is a conditioning. And I
James Routledge:actually think I had it.
Beth Warren:Yeah. I think I did.
James Routledge:I think I had it. I think I think because growing up here, I did feel aggrieved that there were things I wanted that didn't exist. Yes. I mean, I had a great childhood and a great time. Loved going out in Hanley and Stafford and Stone and all that.
James Routledge:Brilliant time. Yeah. Really did. Love my mates. Love my family.
James Routledge:But I still felt like there was something I didn't have. Yeah. And the truth is I blamed this place for that
Beth Warren:Mhmm. Which
James Routledge:is not fair. Mhmm. Like, there's loads of reasons why this region has changed and transformed. They're beyond lots of people's control, you know, that we they are hard to understand and just change. Things change.
James Routledge:Yeah. And I think when I came back, yeah, I sort of had an expectation that it should be a certain way or, like, I just yeah. I just think I had that story. It's just a story that's been placed in my head. Replaced.
James Routledge:From from whether it's from people or the media or just been placed in my head, which is, you know, this place has got nothing going for it. Yeah. You can't be anyone here. You can't be successful. You can't make money here.
Beth Warren:Oh, I see. Yeah.
James Routledge:All this stuff that she's placed in my head. And I feel like I've had to go through this, like, unlearning of just, like, letting go of that and then seeing what is there. So rather
Beth Warren:than So true.
James Routledge:Rather than being frustrated at what there isn't, which we could all spend all our life doing anywhere we live. So I was doing that when I lived in London. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I was too. I was saying,
James Routledge:well, this this hasn't got green.
Beth Warren:Well, it hasn't got any green
Beth Warren:grass there.
James Routledge:No one I go no one I go to London. I'm like, oh my god. How many galleries are there? It's brilliant. Yikes.
Beth Warren:Anyway So too. Grass is green on the other side.
James Routledge:But I was only seeing what wasn't there. And I feel like I've I've I've been able to, like, get myself to a place where I'm seeing what there is. And think of it, it doesn't mean I don't want I don't know if Stone High Street had a Mexican restaurant.
Beth Warren:Yeah. It'd be great.
Beth Warren:I know what you mean.
James Routledge:And there's not. And it's okay. And I can live with that. Yeah. But that doesn't mean I can't be beautiful.
James Routledge:I can't be grateful for what we've got
Beth Warren:and see who we've got. See the people Yeah. As well. And I think a lot of the people that make complaints are the people that have never moved out. I I honestly believe that.
Beth Warren:I believe the people that have moved away or the people that go to uni away and then come back are the people that don't complain. And it's the people that have never moved out that make the complaints because they don't go somewhere else to see how bad it actually is.
James Routledge:No. And they probably don't appreciate what What they've got. What they've got. Because maybe if you've never left, you're just seeing Mhmm. What you've not yeah.
James Routledge:What what experiences you've not been able to have, which I completely get, by the way. Mhmm. Like, I I do understand it. Mhmm. And I feel like what's really refreshing, like, talking to you is just is telling that other side of the story that's not told any I'm like Yeah.
James Routledge:No one it's hard to find positivity. It's hard to find people. And I think there's it's there, but it's it's still I feel like we're still early on
Beth Warren:Very.
James Routledge:In that.
Beth Warren:It's hard as well because I feel like there's a massive generational shift with how people are. Like, there's a large portion of people that, like or a large portion of the of Gen z's that, like, they are how do I say it politely? But, like, it's like glorifying depression, and I don't mean depression like clinical. Obviously, that's I've suffered clinical depression. But I mean, it's like a lot of it's like, fuck society, fuck the towns, fuck this, fuck that.
Beth Warren:Everything's shit, so why should we care?
James Routledge:Mhmm.
Beth Warren:And I think that can sometimes have a really negative
James Routledge:knock on fast. Feel like most supported by, like, given given you're someone you're on the high street. You're an independent business selling a consumer product
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Which everyone in theory should say is impossible Yeah. Basically. Give if you just read it, believed everything you read Yeah. You wouldn't do what you were
Beth Warren:doing. True.
James Routledge:There's no way you would do it. No. Someone, like, came to me and said Yeah. Start a candle. Start a candle shop.
James Routledge:We'd be like, oh, that
Beth Warren:never worked. Never worked. Yeah.
James Routledge:But it is working. Like, who do you feel, like, most supported by? Like, is that
Beth Warren:generationally? Or
James Routledge:Just, yeah, just generally. Is it is there a certain type of person? Are people traveling in from across Staffordshire? Is it the stone residence? So I'm just I'm just curious.
James Routledge:Like, who's your You
Beth Warren:know what? I'd probably say it is what would what would the generation be above like, our parents' generation? Yeah. That's the generation I'm most supported by. And I do think that's a monetary element
James Routledge:to that because I've got more money
Beth Warren:got more disposable income. I'm really supported by them, but I also think they can see that I'm achieving something that I suppose, especially back in their day, was maybe not something that was pushed as much as it is today. Yeah. Like today, working for yourself is glorified. People think, you know, working for yourself, that's the goal.
Beth Warren:Yeah. But maybe back in their day, it was to get a job, stay in a job, and live in that job forever. So I think people, they support that. I'm also super supported by people locally. Definitely, again, within that same generation, like 40 plus.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Or 30 plus, actually. I'm gonna say 30 plus. Again, I think again, it's disposable income, but also I think there's a lot of money in stone. Mhmm.
Beth Warren:And, actually, not just in stone. In the Midlands, like, there's a lot of people with a lot of money.
James Routledge:Honestly, kids me. I just always look at the car parks.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Honestly.
James Routledge:And the cars
Beth Warren:and the spinarounds. There was if you go to Stoke, people drive and I I I we will love to knock Stoke. People love to knock Stoke. Yeah. But people drive nice cars.
Beth Warren:If you drive some areas, some nice cars on some nice drivers.
James Routledge:A 100%. There's a lot more money in Stoke, on Trent, and Staffordshire than people think. I think the mad thing is it's just that they're not spending it here. Yes. They're actually go they're actually spending it in Cheshire.
Beth Warren:So, so far.
James Routledge:Elsewhere, they're not. Because that my mouth. Actually. I think the story that no one tells, because I think it's actually pretty punchy to tell, everyone likes to say, oh, the reason this area is not doing well is because there's no no money around here. You could actually flip that and say and you could sort of put the onus on us, saying it's on us to create Yes.
James Routledge:The products and the services Mhmm. And the places Yes. That people spend their money. Yeah. I think for for a county in an area that calls itself the creative county, that's got this history of, like, innovation and being at the forefront of the industrial revolution, I think we're failing.
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:I actually think we're the ones we the people are the ones that
Beth Warren:agree.
James Routledge:Frankly should be pretty embarrassed by just that performance, like Yeah. Entrepreneurially and, like, creatively.
Beth Warren:I spent yeah.
James Routledge:We like to say, oh, it's because of globalization. Or, no. All that's happened. I get that. I get that.
James Routledge:But the truth is this place was built on industrialists.
Beth Warren:It was
James Routledge:built on entrepreneurs. And, yeah, it's on us to give people good stuff. You've given people a great product that you've created
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Through your invention, and people are buying it. And there's a lot more where that came from. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Instead getting a 40 minute train to spend money at Sexy Fish
Beth Warren:in Manchester.
James Routledge:Yeah. Real because they've seen it on Instagram. Yeah. And I'm sure it's alright. But And
Beth Warren:you get so many people coming in as well. I get so many young people coming in, and they go, oh, I had this idea, and I was gonna open that. And when you get into the, like, nitty gritty, a lot of it actually isn't financial.
James Routledge:It's confidence and
Beth Warren:Confidence. There's a lot into it, and I believe it comes back to the conditioning. And it's like, well, it won't work in stone or it won't work in Staffordshire.
James Routledge:Oh, that would work in Manchester. Buy that around here.
Beth Warren:When I was opening the Wandering Bee, that first shop I had, the little one, it's really minimal. Right? Very simplistic. That was because a lot of people, everyone around me, Jen will I love you, Jen, but you know this is right. Jen was like, Josh included, we're both like, you know, people in stone won't like it if you go wild.
Beth Warren:Like, keep it held back. Make it make it likable for everyone. When we moved into the new shop, I was like, fuck you lot. The, I'm doing what I wanna do. And that's when I got the piano and disco balls and plants hanging from the ceiling and all over the room was because I went with what my gut told me, and it was to create something different that a lot of people said wouldn't work in in the Midlands or wouldn't work this way.
Beth Warren:It needed to be in Manchester or whatever. And it did work. And I think it yes. It's a confidence thing, but also it's getting past that conditioning Yeah. That everyone's having.
James Routledge:Much are we under by saying that? Like, we're underselling ourselves
Beth Warren:so much.
James Routledge:By saying, oh, that won't work around here
Beth Warren:Yeah.
James Routledge:Or people don't like great art around here, or people wouldn't like something that's bold and bright Yeah. You're basically saying the people around here don't want good stuff, or they don't like good stuff, or they're not clever enough to
Beth Warren:like good
James Routledge:stuff. Like, it's so derogatory. Yeah. And, actually, I find that we and people say it about themselves. Mhmm.
James Routledge:And it's that really saddens me because I feel like people just broadly in this area are just capable of so much more. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. There's been this this story that she's built up over the years.
James Routledge:It's been reinforced that can be validated as well because, obviously, the truth is there aren't the career opportunities and sort of average wage aren't this aren't the same. I get that, but it's not the whole story.
Beth Warren:No. It's not. Not the whole story. There's a big part of it that's not being told, which is what I think that brings it back to, like, the knot on what you're doing is so great and why it will be massively successful. I truly believe it's because there's gonna be so many people that see what you do and go, this is what we've needed.
Beth Warren:Because I don't Stoke on Trent Live have done a couple of pieces on me. Right? And so I don't like to bash another news place which China will, you know, build me up and and Yeah. Promote my brand. But the problem there is is, again, is the people on that platform have been conditioned to talk a certain way.
Beth Warren:So it could be a really there was a super positive one written about me. And the first comment, the top comment on it was there was 2. One of them was, who the fuck does she think she is, Alan Sugar? That was the top comment. Second1 was, what the fuck is she wearing?
Beth Warren:And I was like
James Routledge:Toxic. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Wow. Yeah. Like, nice. Like, obviously,
James Routledge:it's shame that the journalists wrote that with the best intentions in the world. But, unfortunately, that that audience of people have been allowed. There's no moderation. No one is like
Beth Warren:Actually, I think it was encouraged.
James Routledge:Yeah. No one's leading them and saying, no. Like, this is not what we're about. Like, you know, we're about a force for change and supporting people. People are allowed to be critical, but there's a line of
Beth Warren:There's a line. That's just just And that's why rude. The audience you're building is gonna be so different. You will, obviously, like, anywhere. You're gonna get people that are negative because that's just the nature of the game.
Beth Warren:But I think it's how you speak and how you tailor the conversation will help other people see.
James Routledge:That's the plan. That's
Beth Warren:the plan. And then for you,
James Routledge:what's manifest in, like, big dreams? Like, where 5 years, like, where where do you wanna be?
Beth Warren:Do you know what? Thought it's a bit shocking after this whole massive conversation. Had a real massive out when I first opened the new shops 16 weeks ago, I had an epiphany. Okay? Always had in my goal, I'm gonna have multiple shops across the UK and the world.
Beth Warren:I'm I'm gonna be a multimillionaire.
James Routledge:Yeah. That was my goal. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I had an epiphany, and I just wanna be happy.
James Routledge:Yeah.
Beth Warren:And for me, I might still want to be a millionaire one day. Don't get me wrong. Maybe in next year, you'll ask me, you know, this answer will be different. But right now, I'm just happy having my girls, Millie and Jen, where maybe somebody else will join the team one day, and just being happy. I just wanna have fun, sell some candles, be creative, have a really nice life, build a beautiful business for my girls, my 2 daughters.
Beth Warren:And then also, I really wanna explore, like, spirituality again for me because that's where I am at my core. So I'd love to have, like, a split business, candles downstairs, readings upstairs. Mhmm. And that's where I wanna go. Cool.
Beth Warren:But right now, I'm just focusing on being happy. I'm in my happy place.
James Routledge:You know what? So last, before we go into the final couple of, like, quick fire ones, I that that fascinates me because I feel like since I've come back, it's been a bit of a a quandary for me of, like, has my ambition decreased? Because I find that I I've got less go in me to, like, want to
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Take over the world and be this, like, fucking Steve Jobs or anything. Because I don't know how much of that was true and how much that was given to me.
Beth Warren:Oh my god.
James Routledge:I you know, London, that whole that whole, like him. I like that. World just trying to build. And I think I've come back. And I'm like, you know what?
James Routledge:Yeah. Actually, I I'd love to Take time to be in. Do well, and I wanna, like Yeah. You know, I wanna make good money, and I wanna Yes. Provide a great life, sort of whatever my family.
James Routledge:And I just wanna be, like, a good person. And
Beth Warren:So do you think this would age?
Beth Warren:I I
James Routledge:don't know if it's age, but I think I genuinely think it's here. I think it's this place. I I think because it's a place where I do see people with less as well. I feel really grateful for, like, I suppose, what I've got. And I almost I just kinda like I don't know.
James Routledge:I don't wanna try and sound like some sort of martyr, but, like, it's not I I don't know. I've got this less desire to, like, have it all for myself. Like, I sort of want Mhmm. I don't know. I feel like being here and especially doing work like I did a lot of work and I still do in with Staffs Uni, with the Peter Goes Masters in Entrepreneurship where, you know, it's bursaried.
James Routledge:So we get people on the course that just wouldn't have access to that kind of education. People from all walks of life. Don't know. It just makes me wanna just, like, help others more because I I think part of the world I saw in London and outside of London as well, but I'm just keeping using London as example. It's just like this world where, like, everyone's out for themselves and no one helps each other.
James Routledge:I'm just, I don't really wanna live flat. I wanna live in, like, a community Wonderful. Where we can all grow. So I'm not saying I'm not like, yeah. I don't want a lot, but I I could take less if it meant that other people did well.
James Routledge:Yeah.
Beth Warren:I could you know what? Yeah. The, the one the podcast I said I did last week with Claire Hill, when she mentioned she said something that I think was really beautiful. It was she said it was about herself. She was like, I'm happy where I am.
Beth Warren:I'm gonna appreciate where I am and appreciate where I am right now, but it never means I'm gonna stop striving for more. So it's like finding the beauty in where you are now, but always you always have a settlement where you're moving the goal post and you want more because I think that's human nature.
James Routledge:Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:But it's just appreciating where you are, which is something I never had. I'd just keep moving the goal post and be like.
James Routledge:Yeah. Yeah.
Beth Warren:This isn't far enough. I'll move it further.
James Routledge:I also find it, like, really exciting, the thought of being being part of this this this sort of Staffordshire way. Like, I I do I think the thought of Just
Beth Warren:be generating.
James Routledge:You know yeah. Wandering Bee being, you know, one of the first Yeah. Or or one of the first few, like, new flourishing independence on Stone High Street. Like love it. What else could you do here?
James Routledge:Like, are there other opportunities? Like, you've already obviously you've done a little bit at World of Wedge. What is the other stuff that you could do more locally? Like, like that. Because I feel like the impact you can
Beth Warren:have Yeah.
James Routledge:On people here. You know, there's a little Beth somewhere. Yeah. You know
Beth Warren:what I mean?
James Routledge:Who's, like, 14
Beth Warren:or whatever? Cute.
James Routledge:Yeah. But there will be. And
Beth Warren:like Silkie. I love that.
James Routledge:That is wicked that you could be that yeah. You could have an impact on. Yeah. And I I love that. I think a lot of the new businesses around here
Beth Warren:Mhmm.
James Routledge:Are like they they feel like they wanna raise others up with them. And I just yeah. I like that
Beth Warren:a lot. Percent.
James Routledge:I like that a lot. Build it together. Right. We always end on 3 3 quick fire quotes. Say what you want.
James Routledge:Just let your brain go.
Beth Warren:I will try.
Beth Warren:I
James Routledge:mean, it's nothing, like, intense. It's not who you're gonna vote for
Beth Warren:at the election or anything.
Beth Warren:I don't know anything about politics. Yeah.
Beth Warren:I don't
Beth Warren:want me to go
James Routledge:to them. What's your favorite? I don't know if you drink coffee. Coffee, tea, hot what's your favorite coffee spot? Staffordshire.
Beth Warren:Oh, I'm
Beth Warren:gonna say one that probably a lot of people end up saying, but bear.
James Routledge:It's bear, isn't it?
Beth Warren:My bloody law. It's just in stand here.
James Routledge:I keep stressing that. He's he's off my list of sponsors podcast. I'm like, mate, every time.
Beth Warren:Every time.
James Routledge:Every time.
Beth Warren:It is bloody good coffee then.
James Routledge:What's your favorite coffee? Food?
Beth Warren:Food locally.
James Routledge:You're smiling.
Beth Warren:I know. I love food.
James Routledge:Is it a problem? Like, genuinely, is it did you find it hard?
Beth Warren:I find it hard to find really high quality food. If we were gonna go super high end, I'd say Luna at Wedgwood is probably the best I've had within Staffordshire. Yeah. But if you wanted, like, a quick, like, bite to eat, I really like Proven. Like, my dad will really kill me for saying that.
Beth Warren:Because my dad had a pizza My dad had a pizza business at one point, so he'll kill me for saying that. But I do really like Proven. Good vibes. Yeah. Good people.
James Routledge:You say you're veggie as well?
Beth Warren:I am veggie. Yeah.
James Routledge:Yeah. And it's
Beth Warren:not I mean, I eat fish. Yeah. But, so I'm pesky. It's
James Routledge:tough though. It's tough. Super tough. It is tough.
Beth Warren:Like, there's there's so many restaurants that are good, but when you go, there's not really much on the menu.
James Routledge:Yeah. They're a great like, they're great pub restaurants or whatever. You could get a great burger or steak, but Yes.
Beth Warren:Yeah. There's not really a lot of or they're just, like, boring vegetarian options. You know? Like, where you go and you're, like, oh, right?
James Routledge:Yeah. It's another, like, mushroom risotto,
Beth Warren:isn't it? It's like, wow. Yeah. More falafel.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah.
James Routledge:Okay. So proven, Luna. Yeah. And you'd like more, though? I think that's
Beth Warren:Oh, my god. Seed.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Yeah. You would.
Beth Warren:Oh, I've missed one. I've actually I take it all back.
James Routledge:Oh, wow.
Beth Warren:Little Seeds. Actually, that's my top spot.
James Routledge:Right.
Beth Warren:Right. Right. Big. Forget it all. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Little Seeds. I love Luna. I also love Proven, but Little Seeds, wow. That needs I think it was it was no. I don't think it was on the Michelin Guide, but I don't think it got a Michelin Star.
Beth Warren:I think
Beth Warren:that's how it works. Right? But,
James Routledge:so it's a high Little Seeds recommend. And see
Beth Warren:it, not Super high. It feel it. The energy. Yeah. Go, Little Seeds.
Beth Warren:Yeah. Honestly, it's the best. Yeah.
James Routledge:And just favorite thing to do.
Beth Warren:Do you wanna know the honest?
James Routledge:Honest.
Beth Warren:Is I'm just gonna, like, just bring it all back to spirituality, but it is. It's, like, I I'd love being spiritual. So when I'm reading for people, sitting with their own energy, reading for others, bringing, like, spirit through to other people, that's, like, my all
James Routledge:time high school. Anywhere? Like, is there a place you'd go for that here?
Beth Warren:Yeah. So the, I joined, literally just this Monday, a brand new socket medium group, where we practice being, like, socket mediums, basically. And, I have a a brilliant tutor called Julie Ebury, which is an amazing medium, psychic medium. And she's training me at the moment, but I think that's where I should go. I think the one dream bee will always be, oh, my baby.
Beth Warren:But I think this there's a there's an element that I've not gone into professionally that I will do. So that's, like, my favorite thing to do. My favorite thing is to meditate and connect with spirit. That's my favorite thing.
James Routledge:Love it. Eat. Yeah. At Little Seeds. Food.
Beth Warren:At Little Seeds. Yeah.
James Routledge:Love it. Honestly, this has been amazing. And fantastic. I love the Wonder and Beat. Genuinely, I love having you on Stone High Street.
James Routledge:Obviously, I live in Stone, but I also love you as just like an example of a creative, ingenious
Beth Warren:Thanks.
James Routledge:Staffordshire brands that I feel like if people haven't heard of you and haven't been down to shop, anyone in this whole county and beyond, you know, can Thank you. Can make a day of coming to stone and grab a they can grab a coffee and bear. Yeah. They can buy a candle and then go for some food and little seeds.
Beth Warren:Expensive day, but lovely. Yeah. It's
James Routledge:lovely. It's lovely. They buzz loads of money, so it's
Beth Warren:fun. Does.
James Routledge:Now and your story's genuinely inspired resonates so much with it of, like Yeah. You know, maybe feeling like you couldn't fully be yourself here, but then you go away and then you come back. And Yeah. I just I love I love how you sort of breaking down barriers here genuinely. I feel like you are.
James Routledge:So just keep Thank you. Keep shining. Keep being you. Yeah.
Beth Warren:Thank you.
James Routledge:And thank you for coming on to the Knot Pod.
Beth Warren:No problem. Thank you.
James Routledge:Thank you for listening to the Knot Pod. If you like this podcast and want more, please follow us on social media at the knot daily and subscribe to get good news from the knot direct to your inbox via www.theknot.news. Join the community, join the movement, and together we're changing the narrative and by doing that we're gonna change the place. And please always remember, when you see something positive in our area, just think, that's one for the lot. See you next time.
