OVERWHELMED, OVER-WORKED OR OVER-EXCITED?

August is flying past faster than any month or year, potentially because we have our first of many pallet orders going out to new wholesalers, which inevitably means much more of my time is spent doing practical/physical jobs, or maybe it’s just flying by because our whole team well and truly have been enjoying themselves. The daily challenges and highs/lows of creating a business from scratch mean every team member is along for the ride and committing to this work lifestyle mayhem from the get-go. we love it.

You may have seen one of my recent emails or IG posts about “our choices” basically a good read to tell you about the fair choices we make at Catherine’s Originals. We always share a cooked meal at lunchtime, costs covered by Catherine’s Originals and the lunchtime paid. I have decided to take it one step further... This August baking has been on the list, sharing a fresh, warm loaf straight from the oven every day connects the team, in a magically beneficial way (we have also taken up “after work” beach volleyball! Photos of that will be coming soon!

August has been madness! Christmas has officially begun. I am even in conversations with buyers about Christmas 2025. I know. I think it’s stupid too. Amongst the work hustle and bustle, Jamie and I decided to promise each other 40 mins of downtime each morning together. This means to us... a 40-minute workout every day for 30 days. Sports and athletics have been such a staple in my life from as young as 10. Netball, half marathons, yoga practices and long walks. I never thought I would be one of those people to say “I CAN’T WORK OUT I AM TOO BUSY WORKING”. I noticed IN June and July I became that person. Which is why we set this couples challenge. And our little Lewes cat decided to join in with some upper body this morn.

What was the Sainsbury’s question about?

Getting into a major retailer is no easy feat. Scrap that. Getting into any shop, big or small is not an easy feat. Sales is such an unknown and new territory for me. Fortunately, the passion behind COs usually shines through in my initial 10-second pitch, which then leads to another conversation and gaining a buyer or shop owner's engagement. Supermarkets are an exceptionally difficult challenge. Especially as a start-up. I have spoken to sooo many founders in the food world who all say “timing is everything with your first supermarket listing, make sure the timing is right for you. Not for them.” How does one even navigate that? I am the kind of person who believes in saying yes to any opportunity, but what if that opportunity could eat up the whole of Catherine’s Originals in one mouthful and then spit us right back out...

There’s only limited shelf space in a physical store. There are millions of products fighting for a place. This is why supermarkets will set suppliers and product sales targets each week. Don’t hit them and they could just boot you out.

Did you know that?? Because I didn’t until just now.  

There’s one founder I’ve been lucky enough to get mentoring from, who told me it took her 3 years to get a listing with a supermarket and even when they succeeded with that listing, it wasn’t definite they were going to be staying.

Which is why your input is the key to all of this. I was asked “Where I would position Catherine’s Originasl in the supermarket” but the real question should have been “Where would you guys look to find us?”

Taking a moment out in the work day is ok.

August was the month I was most scared of. Peak summer, the temperature rises, and some of our largest orders to date are being shipped out, along with exciting NPD and 2025 planning. When I am scared or nervous, it gives me the same feeling that excitement would and at the end of the ups/downs, I crash.

Suddenly feeling like I have had the flu for 2 weeks (but I haven’t, which is the annoying thing).

This is something I have struggled with my whole life. The countless times my dad would say to me “Just take one night off from Netball you’re going to burn yourself out” or my mum would say “Just have a lay” hinting she knew burnout was fast approaching.

I’ve always been go, go, go. Which of course, comes at a cost. Today this means working in a sleeping bag on the sofa, in the middle of August because of chill-like symptoms. An early night for me tonight guys. Or maybe a movie and box of chocs. You can still use “AUGUST” for 20% off total orders if you haven’t heard!

Stay Sweet, 

Catherine