Business and a Brew

Change. Some people love it. Most people… not so much.

In this week’s episode of Business and a Brew, we dive into the messy, magical world of change management - or, as we like to call it, “convincing people to stop clinging to spreadsheets from 2004.”

We chat about why change feels so uncomfortable, the resistance that crops up when businesses try to move from familiar (but painfully outdated) systems into something new, and how to actually make transitions smoother without everyone breaking into a panic.

From logistics nightmares to stubborn teams who’d rather w...

Is it all about the science, or can any business benefit? Let’s talk R&D

When you hear Research & Development, you probably picture lab coats, test tubes, and big pharma breakthroughs. But guess what? R&D isn’t just for the science geeks... it could be hiding in plain sight in your business.

We’re diving into the surprisingly wide world of R&D and how it’s not just about creating the next COVID vaccine or sending a robot to Mars. It’s also about improving processes, building better tech, and doing things in new, sm...

Cornflakes: the innocent breakfast staple… or the crunchy legacy of a bizarre 19th-century wellness cult?

We’re diving spoon-first into the truly wild origins of Kellogg’s, because this isn’t just a story about cereal. It’s a story about celibacy, enemas, and accidental entrepreneurship. Yes, really.

It all started in 1894 with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a wellness-obsessed doctor running a sanitarium that promised to cleanse both body and soul. Picture it: strict diets, no caffeine, no meat, and definitely no… solo activities. He and his brother, Will Keith Kellogg, created Corn Flakes as part of this...

At first glance, it looked like the future of work. Open-plan spaces, kombucha on tap, and a promise to “elevate the world’s consciousness.” Founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey, WeWork wasn’t just offering office space, it was selling a movement. By 2019, it had exploded into over 100 cities across 29 countries, racking up a jaw-dropping $47 billion valuation.

But underneath the glossy branding and community buzzwords, things were spiralling. Fast.

We dig into how WeWork’s entire business model was built on shaky foundations, leasing long-term real estate and subletting it short-term, inflating numbers, and at tim...

For decades, Boeing was seen as the gold standard in commercial aviation. The 737, launched back in 1968, became the world’s best-selling jet, trusted by airlines and passengers across the globe. But the story took a dark turn with the arrival of the 737 Max, a model that would come to symbolise how corporate pressure, poor design choices, and regulatory gaps can turn deadly.

We’re diving into the tragic failures that led to the 2018 and 2019 crashes, both caused by the MCAS system, an automated “safety” feature that instead sent planes into fatal dives. These crashes grounded the entire 737 Max flee...

Remember when getting a cab meant waiting in the rain, fumbling for cash, and hoping the driver knew your route? Uber came along in 2009 and flipped the script, offering sleek, on-demand rides with a few taps on your phone. What started as a luxury app has become a global giant, now holding over 75% of the US rideshare market and contributing a massive £5 billion to the UK economy by 2024.

But innovation always comes with consequences. As Uber rose, traditional taxi services declined, with London’s iconic black cabs falling in just a few years. The company faced intense leg...

We’ve heard the headlines... AI is coming for your job, your art, and now… your water supply?

We’re unpacking the growing concern around the environmental cost of AI tools like ChatGPT and the infrastructure that powers them. These systems aren’t floating in the cloud on fairy dust... they require massive data centres, relentless processing power, and yes, a hell of a lot of water to keep them cool. With growing pressure on natural resources and climate consciousness at an all-time high, we’re asking: what’s the real cost of convenience?

Beyond the clickbai...

It looked like a real solution. It was sold like a miracle. And it ended up costing lives.

We’re talking about the ADE 651, a so-called bomb and substance detector that turned out to be nothing more than a glorified golf ball finder. Marketed as a cutting-edge device capable of detecting explosives, drugs, and weapons from hundreds of metres away, it was nothing short of a complete scam.

This device made its way into the hands of militaries and police forces across various countries. Governments paid thousands per unit, trusting it would keep people safe. Th...

Rebrands are supposed to be fresh, exciting, and a little bit fancy. But sometimes, they’re just a really expensive way to upset literally everyone.

First up, the orange juice disaster of 2009. Tropicana decided to ditch the classic orange-with-a-straw design and go full minimalist. The result? A 20% sales drop, a $35 million packaging fail, and $30 billion in lost revenue before they sheepishly slapped the old design back on the shelf. Cheers to that.

Then there’s Gap, who in 2010 thought they’d outgrown their iconic blue box. The internet disagreed... loudly. Within days, there were 20,000 angry commen...

The Britsh Airways vs Virgin Atlantic showdown in the 90s wasn’t just business, it was pure soap opera in the skies. Forget friendly competition, British Airways went full villain mode with a plot straight out of a corporate spy thriller.

We’re talking BA staff pretending to be Virgin employees, digging through Virgin’s systems, planting fake news stories, and handing out cheeky upgrades. It was all part of a full-on campaign to crush Virgin Atlantic before it really took off. But Richard Branson wasn’t about to sit quietly in economy... he sued for libel, and BA h...

Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder used to be a household staple, white, fluffy, and trusted since 1894. But behind the sweet-smelling clouds was a problem that definitely didn’t belong near babies (or anyone, really): asbestos.

Despite evidence dating back to the 1950s showing traces of asbestos in their talc products, the brand kept things squeaky clean on the outside and carried on marketing it as totally safe. Fast forward to thousands of lawsuits, billions in payouts, and a full-blown PR disaster.

The big moment came in 2018, when Reuters dropped the bombshell... internal documents proving they knew...

The Ford Pinto was meant to be the Beetle’s cooler, cheaper cousin, quick to market, easy on the wallet, and built in just two years. What could possibly go wrong? Well… quite a bit, actually.

This little car had one big problem. If you got rear-ended, the fuel tank could turn your commute into a bonfire. Between 1970 and 1976, it was linked to dozens of deaths and injuries, with some estimates suggesting up to 900 fatalities. And Ford? They did the maths and figured paying off lawsuits was cheaper than fixing the design. Nice.

It caused a ma...

Toys R Us went from every kid’s dream destination to a cautionary tale of how not to run a retail empire. Founded in 1948 by Charles Lazarus, it started as a baby store before becoming the go-to big box toy retailer. For decades, it dominated the US toy market and felt completely untouchable.

Then the internet showed up. By 2000, instead of building their own e-commerce game, they struck a deal with Amazon to be the exclusive toy supplier. Sounds clever, but Amazon let in other sellers anyway, undercutting Toys R Us and slowly eating their market share.

Organic labels might look all wholesome and earthy on the shelf, but behind the scenes, it’s a chaotic cocktail of red tape, sky-high fees, and some seriously eyebrow-raising rules.

This one’s about two friends running a cracking little tea and coffee business. They’re sourcing responsibly, passing independent tests, and doing everything by the book... except getting that fancy Soil Association stamp. Despite ticking all the organic boxes, they faced a £20,000 fine simply for using the word organic without the official seal of approval.

Yep, turns out being organic isn’t enough. You’ve got to p...

Stella Liebeck’s coffee burn case has been the butt of jokes for decades, but the real story? It’s anything but a punchline.

Back in 1992, 79-year-old Stella spilled a cup of McDonald’s coffee in her lap. Sounds minor, right? Except the coffee was served at a ridiculous 180 to 190°F and caused third-degree burns that left her needing skin grafts and two years of treatment. She asked McDonald’s for $20,000 to cover her medical bills. They said no.

Turns out, they knew their coffee was dangerously hot but kept it that way so it wouldn’t...

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the...

Clarence Birdseye wasn’t just a guy with a name that sounds made-up; he was the biologist who turned frozen food from a sad soggy mess into a global game-changer. After dropping out of college and spending time ice fishing in Labrador (because of course he did), he clocked that fish frozen quickly in extreme cold stayed fresh and tasty. And just like that, flash-freezing was born.

There were a few hiccups, obviously. Most households didn’t even have freezers, and shipping frozen food was a logistical nightmare. But Clarence was all in. He invented wild bits of k...

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the...

Kodak’s story is the business version of “you had one job.” They gave the world the Box Brownie, the first colour film, and basically made photography a household thing. Founded in 1880 by George Eastman, they were the dogs bollocks of the camera world... until they weren’t.

Fast forward to 1975 and one of their own engineers, Steve Sasson, invents the very first digital camera. Total game-changer. But Kodak? They shoved it in a drawer. Why? Because they didn’t want to mess with their precious film sales. Even after their own research said digital would take over in te...

Things took a darker turn with the story of DePuy’s ASR hip replacements, a medical device that promised mobility but ended up causing chaos inside the body.

The ASR model used an all-metal design, which turned out to be a massive problem. Over time, metal debris would shed into the bloodstream, leading to serious health issues like metallosis, pseudo tumours, and even cognitive decline. The worst part? It skipped the usual rigorous safety checks thanks to a fast-track approval route known as the 510(k) pathway.

By 2008, more than 100,000 of these devices had been implanted ar...

Let’s talk about BrewDog! The punk of the beer world that’s built its brand on disruption, bold claims, and a whole lot of attitude.

Founded in 2007, they went from a small start-up to striking major deals, including one with Tesco, all while shaking up the industry with rebellious marketing and unapologetic messaging. In 2020, they bought 2,000 acres of Scottish land for their “Buy One Get One Tree” campaign, aiming to go carbon negative. It sounded impressive, but by 2023, things weren’t looking great. Over half the Scots pines, nearly all the broadleaf oaks, and half the birch sapl...

We got into the glossy world of luxury brands and asked the question no one really wants to answer: how much of what we buy is about status, and how much is actually about ethics?

Dior and Armani took centre stage after a 2024 report revealed they’d been slapping “Made in Italy” labels on goods actually produced in China. Bit awkward, considering the whole luxury vibe rests on craftsmanship and authenticity. Then there’s the price tags. A Dior bag that sells for $2,800? Costs just $57 to make. We’ll let that sink in.

We also talked abo...

We got chatting about EDF Energy, the power giant that’s got its fingers in sockets across more than 30 countries. Known for banging the sustainability drum and offering decent perks like job security, flexible working, and proper training, it’s easy to see why people line up to work there.

But, like most corporate giants, it’s not all sunshine and solar panels. Projects like Hinkley Point C have spiralled way over budget... starting at £18 billion and now heading for £46 billion. Ouch.

And then there’s the spicy stuff. A €1.5 million fine for hacking Greenpeace (yes, really...

We got into the seriously dramatic sibling story behind two of the biggest sports brands on the planet: Puma and Adidas. What started as a shared passion for making top-notch running shoes turned into a full-blown family feud with global consequences.

Back in 1924, Rudolph and Adolf Dassler set up a shoe factory powered by a stationary bike. Their designs took off, especially with German athletes, and things were looking pretty solid. But then World War II happened, and tensions between the brothers exploded. By 1943, their partnership was over for good.

After the war, things got...

We dove into the chaos of the Torrey Canyon oil spill, one of the first major environmental disasters of its kind, and let’s just say, it was an absolute mess. Back in 1967, the SS Torrey Canyon, a huge oil tanker, hit Pollard’s Rock in the Seven Stones Reef and dumped over 31 million gallons of crude oil into the sea.

Cornwall, the Channel Islands, and parts of Brittany took the brunt of it. Coastlines were wrecked, wildlife devastated, and thousands of seabirds lost. It was a wake-up call for the shipping world and sparked a serious reth...

We got chatting about greeting cards... and trust us, it’s a juicier topic than you’d think. From ancient Egypt and China to the boom during the Industrial Revolution, we took a little stroll through history and realised just how iconic that folded bit of card really is.

The UK greeting card industry is no small thing either, bringing in a whopping £1.5 billion a year. With 94% of households buying an average of 10.5 cards annually (who’s buying the half?), it’s clear we’re a nation that still loves a handwritten note. And yes, despite all the tech, 7...

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the...

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the...

Love them or loathe them, Spanx has become a wardrobe staple for millions of women looking for that smooth, sculpted silhouette. But where did it all start? We’re going back to 1998, when Sarah Blakely, armed with nothing but a pair of scissors, a pair of sheer tights, and a frustration with visible panty lines, created what would become one of the most successful fashion inventions of all time.

Blakely had zero experience in fashion or business, but that didn’t stop her from building a billion-dollar empire. Spanx gave women a secret confidence boost, smoothing lumps and...

James Dyson built an empire on relentless innovation, testing 5,126 prototypes before finally cracking the vacuum cleaner game. That kind of persistence is impressive, but does it mean Dyson is the golden standard of engineering, or just another brand riding on clever marketing?

We’re diving into Dyson’s rise from scrappy inventor to billionaire businessman, comparing his journey to other accidental innovations like bubble wrap and Post-it notes. But not everything about Dyson’s success story is spotless. His controversial decision to move operations from the UK to Singapore, despite being a vocal Brexit supporter, raises questions about...

For 100 years, Disney has been the ultimate storyteller, bringing us childhood nostalgia, cinematic magic, and theme park dreams. But behind the castles and catchy songs, things aren’t looking quite so enchanted.

We’re digging into the controversies and cracks appearing in the House of Mouse. From early accusations of racial stereotyping and sexism in classic films to modern-day scandals involving plagiarism, bribery, and sweatshop labour, Disney’s reputation has had its fair share of dark chapters. And let’s talk about Disney+, what seemed like an unstoppable streaming powerhouse during the pandemic has since lost 2.1...

What started as a quirky idea, renting out an air mattress to make a bit of extra cash, has exploded into a $31 billion giant that now rivals the world’s biggest hotel chains. Airbnb has changed the way we travel, offering everything from treehouses to penthouses in over 200 countries. But has this so-called travel revolution come at too high a cost?

We’re unpacking the impact Airbnb has had on cities, communities, and housing markets worldwide. From New York to Barcelona to Paris, local governments are cracking down on short-term rentals, arguing that Airbnb has fuelled housing shor...

Football, the beautiful game, the world’s sport, the great unifier. But beneath the passion, the rivalries, and the stadium anthems, there’s a side to the sport that’s far from wholesome.

We’re talking about corruption at the highest levels, the kind that turns a game of skill and dedication into a multi-billion-dollar power play. Since 2015, FIFA has been rocked by scandal after scandal, with $150 million in bribes, the arrests of top officials, and World Cup hosting rights awarded under deeply questionable circumstances.

It doesn’t stop at the boardroom. The monopolisation of sponsorshi...

Sustainability sells, but how much of it is real, and how much is just clever marketing? Patagonia has built its entire brand on environmental advocacy, championing recycled materials, fair trade, and transparency. From their Worn Wear program, which encourages customers to repair rather than replace, to their outspoken stance against destructive policies, they’ve positioned themselves as the gold standard for ethical business. But is it all as green as it seems?

We’re diving into the reality of Patagonia’s sustainability claims, the challenges of maintaining true ethical supply chains, and the inevitable controversies that come with b...

Once upon a time, if you wanted professional-looking graphics, you either had to pay a designer or battle with the complicated world of Adobe. Enter Canva, the platform that flipped the industry on its head. What started as a simple idea from Melanie Perkins in 2000 has grown into a global design powerhouse with 190 million users across 190 countries. And the craziest part? It was rejected by 100 investors before finally taking off.

But behind the sleek templates and drag-and-drop ease, there’s a bigger conversation to be had. Canva’s AI integration, including Leonardo AI for image gene...

The stats don’t lie.

We’re digging into the hard-hitting reality of workplace fatalities, and the numbers might just make you rethink everything. In the UK alone, 137 people lost their lives at work in 2023/24. Falls from height and being struck by moving vehicles accounted for a staggering 70% of those deaths. The majority, 95% were men, and over a third were aged 60 or over. Construction and agriculture remain the deadliest industries.

Health and safety might feel like a box-ticking exercise, but when you see these figures, it’s clear why it exists. We’re breaking down the real...

Why do we keep buying Starbucks, even when we know the controversies? In this episode, we dig into the story of the coffee giant that has become both a symbol of convenience and a lightning rod for criticism. Founded in 1971, Starbucks is often celebrated for its values and branding, but its practices tell a more complicated story.

We explore the company’s public image versus its reality, touching on issues like human rights concerns, environmental impact, and supply chain challenges. From accusations of low wages for coffee farmers to union-busting and even reports of child labour, Starbucks fa...

What if Wilson wasn’t sent by FedEx? We take a deep dive into the fascinating story of how this logistics giant reshaped overnight delivery. Together, we explore Fred Smith’s bold vision to create a reliable service for time-sensitive shipments, from critical business documents to life-saving medical transplants.

We talk about the company’s strategic moves in the 1980s, its innovative investments in technology, and the uphill battle of convincing people why fast delivery mattered. FedEx’s journey shows us how resilience, adaptability, and even failure can lead to game-changing success.

Join us as we unpac...

The Dalkon Shield IUD was introduced in the 1970s with the promise of revolutionising contraception, but its story serves as a sobering reminder of what can happen when innovation outpaces responsibility. Designed by Dr. Hugh Davis and marketed by A.H. Robbins, the device’s peculiar shape, resembling a beetle might have seemed like a stroke of medical ingenuity, but the reality was far from reassuring.

This tragic chapter in medical history teaches us some hard lessons. First, the absolute necessity of rigorous clinical testing before any product hits the market. The consequences of cutting corners in th...

We take a closer look at the ever-changing world of online dating, exploring its highs, lows, and everything in between. Together, we unravel the story of Bumble, the app that put women in control by making them initiate conversations. At the core of Bumble’s creation is Whitney Wolfe Herd’s powerful story - her experience with sexual harassment at Tinder motivated her to build a platform focused on empowerment and safer interactions.

With a valuation nearing $270 million in 2024 and nearly 60 million users, Bumble has grown beyond dating, branching into networking and friendships. But we question whether it t...