Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Since Natalie Reynolds appeared on series nine of The Apprentice, she’s launched a new clothing business, Style Cheat.
The company drives sales with the help of Instagram, building a loyal following of customers (or Cheetahs).
Reynolds talks to us about the lessons she learned from The Apprentice and how she’s taken these forward in business.
What were the toughest lessons you learned on The Apprentice?
I learned that I wasn’t willing to be a fake, hard-nosed businesswoman so that I could win a TV show. I also realised I can’t sell something that I don’t believe in. Being in a house with 15 other people who all think they’re the best of the best really puts things into perspective.
I didn’t want to be like that or be seen in that way because I found it annoying. I must have been annoying! I just want to make money from something I’m passionate about.
Your first fashion label, Panya London, was launched in 2013. What happened to it and how did that influence Style Cheat?
We got everything wrong when we launched Panya. We invested a lot of money into product but didn’t have a route to market and couldn’t attract