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 pay to say it. And when you’re a small business trying to keep things honest and ethical, forking out thousands for paperwork isn’t always on the cards. So, they ditched the certification and chose to maintain transparency and ethical practices instead.

Cue a much bigger conversation about food labelling, supply chain secrets, and whether the whole system actually helps the good guys or just makes it harder for them.

Grab your ethically sourced brew and settle in for a chat that’s part uplifting, part infuriating, and very, very caffeinated.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 go cold on commuters. The jury wasn’t having it and handed over $2.7 million in punitive damages, plus $160,000 for her medical costs.

The case ended up changing the way the whole industry handles hot drinks, from temperature controls to those dramatic “CAUTION: HOT” warnings on every takeaway cup. Not so funny now, is it?

Stick the kettle on, just not that hot, and get ready for a fiery conversation that still burns today.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 kit like the double belt freezer and multi-plate freezer, making sure your peas stayed perfectly green.

His first business flopped in 1924, but just five years later he sold it for a very casual $22 million. Fast forward to 1956, and Birds Eye had become a household name, launching fish fingers that convinced kids everywhere to eat fish without the drama.

It’s a cracking tale of frozen dreams, clever inventions, and one very persistent bloke. Pop the kettle on and join us for a story that’s cooler than you’d expect.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 ten years, they still did… nothing.

What followed was a slow, painful fall from the top. While everyone else jumped on the digital train, Kodak stayed stuck in the past. Think Blockbuster vs Netflix vibes- same energy.

This one’s full of corporate facepalms, missed opportunities, and a reminder that playing it safe can cost you everything. Pop the kettle on and join us for a chat about the brand that blinked and missed the future. Here's how not to run your empire.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 around the world, raking in over $1 billion in sales. But the fallout was huge. Thousands of patients suffered, and DePuy eventually had to pay out $2.5 billion in settlements.

It’s a case that raises big questions about medical ethics, corporate responsibility, and how something so dangerous made it into so many bodies.

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

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 saplings had died.

Despite receiving nearly £700k in Scottish forestry funding, the failed project sparked some serious questions. Still, BrewDog’s ability to pivot quickly, with launches like their alcohol-free “Nanny State” beer, and their ongoing commitment to ethical practices keep them relevant.

This one’s got it all: ambition, controversy, clever branding, and a few very dead trees. Grab your brew of choice!

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 pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.