Balancing Growth and Steady Progress: Perspectives on Scaling a Product-based Business

In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I speak with, Jake and Freya from Studio Wald. This is the second time Jake and Freya comes on the podcast and a lot have happened in their business since last time.

They have now got over 1000 stockists who bought from them, with over 300 buying regularly, and they now employ a team of 4.

In this episode, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of running a product-based business, focusing on wholesale strategies, production quality, and market conditions. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

1️⃣ Balancing growth with life: We chat about that it’s not always about growth in business. Sometimes, it’s more about maintaining business so you can achieve a good life-work balance. It’s a nice reminder that we’re building our businesses for us, and they need to fit into our life.

2️⃣ Attention to production quality: Maintaining high production quality is crucial for success, and this always creates new challenges. Studio Wald’s bestselling flower press used to be made with Birch Ply, but since the war in Ukraine, this is now sanctioned as it is mainly produced in Russia, which meant resourcing and switching to maple veneered MDF. This in turn, meant working with a new material, and having to balance the increased costs with maintaining affordability to the customer.

3️⃣ Adaptability and growth mindset: Jake and Freya shared how their approach to product releases has evolved over time. They moved from a perfectionist mindset of waiting until everything was ready to an organic and agile approach. By building a stock of adaptable photos and embracing flexibility, they were able to release designs more quickly.

About Studio Wald

Freya and Jake, are the owners and creatives behind Studio Wald. Freya and Jake met while studying a degree in 3D design. And now they have 3 children and a busy Leeds city-centre studio where they make or compile their products. All paper products are printed and finished in England, mainly in their home county of Yorkshire, using either 100% recycled or FSC certified paper.

All their products are made in the UK with care & attention to ideas, pattern & process.

Jake and Freya have been on the podcast before, so I’m excited to have them back to hear how they have grown their business since we last spoke. Plus, when I ask paper-based business owners who they look up to, quite often Studio Wald comes up, so I know you’re just as keen to hear from them.

https://studiowald.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/studio_wald/

My links

https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/