This week on The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo interviews Katherine Elphick, marketing consultant, web designer, and founder of Elphick & Co., a boutique Shopify agency. Katherine shares her unique journey transitioning from art history at Christie's to working with luxury brands like LVMH and Burberry, and eventually running her own successful e-commerce development business focused on helping women-led brands. She delves into her background, the evolution of her business, and the challenges she faces as a midlife entrepreneur. The conversation concludes with Katherine’s valuable insights on the significance of technology, the importance of bespoke service, and her transformative experience with coaching and consultancy. She wraps up by sharing her 3,2,1 list: three things she invested in that were worth every penny, two things she would do differently, and one person she wishes to thank.

00:00 Welcome to the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast

00:27 Katherine Elphick's Journey: From Art History to E-commerce

01:29 The Importance of a Good Website for Business Success

02:36 Building Sheerluxe: Sponsored Content and Website Challenges

03:33 Katherine's Transition to Web Design

04:24 The Evolution of E-commerce and Web Design

13:54 The Role of AI in Web Development

21:00 Growing a Business and Overcoming Challenges

23:58 Future Vision: Growing and Selling the Business

25:08 Exploring Business Endpoints and Evolution

25:42 The Challenges of Service-Based Businesses

26:23 Naming and Branding Your Business

27:03 Building a Bespoke Service

28:00 Balancing Work and Family Life

29:14 Managing Overwhelm and Stress

32:40 Proactive Business Growth Strategies

35:51 Investing in People, Technology, and Coaching

40:59 Lessons Learned and Reflections

45:51 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Support the show

Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith
Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo welcomes Emma Pratt, founder of Elsie and Tom Candles. Emma shares her inspiring journey from her career in legal marketing to overcoming a stroke at 42, which left her unable to walk, talk, or see properly.

During her recovery, Emma rediscovered her creative passion, leading to the creation of her natural home fragrance and cosmetics brand. She talks about the challenges of balancing her new business venture with ongoing health issues, the importance of investing in one's past experiences, and her plans for scaling her business.

Emma also highlights key investments, regrets, and people who have contributed to her path. The episode concludes with Emma's 3, 2, 1 list of invaluable investments, things she wishes she had done differently, and a person who significantly helped her on her journey.

00:00 Welcome to the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast

00:24 Emma Pratt's Journey: From Marketing to Stroke Recovery

00:33 The Stroke: A Life-Changing Event

00:46 Recovery and Rediscovery of Creativity

00:56 The Birth of Elsie and Tom Candles

01:24 Emma's Life Before and After the Stroke

01:47 The Stroke Experience: Symptoms and Immediate Aftermath

05:01 Diagnosis and Early Recovery

06:29 Living with Stroke Fatigue and Rehabilitation

08:42 The Emotional and Mental Struggles of Recovery

10:26 Starting a New Business: Challenges and Triumphs

14:27 The Unexpected Success of Elsie and Tom Candles

17:58 Scaling Up: Opportunities and Challenges

23:27 The Importance of Natural Fragrances and Compliance

25:05 Regulatory Challenges in Cosmetics

25:31 The Importance of Knowledge in Perfumery

26:13 Personal Challenges and Memory Issues

27:05 Scaling Up and Building a Team

28:53 The Mission and Vision for the Business

29:48 Exploring Natural and Synthetic Ingredients

31:13 The Soap Making Process

35:32 Investing in Yourself and Your Ideas

37:01 Overcoming Personal and Professional Obstacles

45:23 The Importance of Support and Collaboration

48:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Support the show

Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith
Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, host Jo welcomes Sophie Fawcett, a brand strategist, cancer survivor, and the founder of TONIC, pioneering medical apparel. Sophie shares her inspiring journey from shaping major UK fashion brands, to founding TONIC after experiencing the inadequacies of traditional hospital wear through her own shoulder surgery. With sustainability and thoughtful design at its core, TONIC aims to provide dignity and empathy to patients during their most vulnerable times. Sophie discusses how her personal battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma solidified her mission, transforming her from a founder into a user of her own innovative garments in chemotherapy wards. Listen as she delves into the creation process, the challenges faced, and her future aspirations for TONIC, truly making health and recovery more humane through stylish, functional medical wear.

00:00 Introduction to the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast

00:15 Meet Sophie Fawcett: Brand Strategist and Cancer Survivor

00:37 The Birth of TONIC: Redefining Patient Wear

01:05 Sophie’s Personal Journey with Cancer

01:24 The Emotional Impact of TONIC’s Mission

01:38 Welcome Sophie to the Podcast

01:50 Sophie’s Journey Through Chemotherapy

02:40 The Inspiration Behind TONIC

04:30 Challenges with Traditional Medical Apparel

05:23 The Development of TONIC’s Product Line

05:46 The Importance of Dignity in Patient Care

06:32 TONIC’s Unique Approach to Medical Apparel

08:54 The Role of Design in Medical Apparel

13:24 Building the Business: From Idea to Reality

19:37 The Investment Journey and Future Plans

25:08 Passion for the Business

26:04 Challenges of Running a Business

26:54 Innovative Medical Solutions

29:07 Patient Experience and Research

32:34 Marketing and Sales Strategies

34:57 Reflections and Future Goals

39:46 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

46:37 Gratitude and Support

48:19 Conclusion and Farewell

Support the show

Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith
Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com