How Another Loop got their first 24 stockists (and used grants to grow faster)

In this first guest episode of the season, I’m joined by Charlotte from Another Loop — a beautifully designed hot-foiled stationery brand based just outside Newcastle, co-founded with her partner Tom.

Charlotte shares how they grew from just 5 to 24 stockists in under a year, how they used local grants to fund mentoring and equipment, and why wholesale felt like a more sustainable way to grow — without the pressure of going viral on Instagram.

We talk about pitching, getting ghosted, creative flyers, and what it really takes to build a product business with momentum and meaning.

📥 Free Resource:

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Grab my Email Pitch Checklist — it’s quick, clear, and helps you pitch without second-guessing every sentence.

👉 https://smallbusinesscollaborative.myflodesk.com/checklist

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to Let’s Talk Shop

00:33 – Meet Charlotte from Another Loop

00:47 – Starting the business and running it with her partner

03:06 – Why they pivoted into wholesale and how it changed their growth

06:30 – Overcoming the fear of silence and rejection

09:02 – How she built confidence with pricing and wholesale conversations

11:45 – Creative outreach: making flyers and sending physical mail

14:20 – Why little touches (like handwriting and stamps) still matter

15:27 – Using local grants to fund mentoring and buy equipment

19:30 – How to approach your council for support (and what to say)

20:01 – Building relationships with stockists and gaining confidence

22:44 – What surprised her about wholesale vs. selling DTC

23:55 – Lessons from Faire: it’s not the be-all and end-all

26:01 – Big goals ahead: Liberty, Oliver Bonas, international growth

28:00 – Proudest moments and stockist feedback that made it all worth it

30:00 – Where to find Another Loop online

✨ Find Another Loop:

Website: https://www.anotherloop.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/another_loop

👋 Connect with me:

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

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

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