It’s Monday which means it’s time for a new and exciting Behind the Biz interview. This is my weekly interview series where I discover small businesses, the people behind them and their business journey.
Today’s interview is with Luke, the co-founder of PACK’D.
Luke and Alex – Founders of PACK’D
Where did the inspiration for PACK’D come from?
I believe that nutrition can fuel potential. I experienced it whilst following my dream of being a professional sportsman and later in my career (after a nasty knee injury ended my hopes).
I want high quality, real nutrition, quickly. The stuff that athletes get access to, designed with nutritionists, to fuel your goals. Not pre-bottled syrups created by big business.
PACK’D was my solution to the ultimate fresh smoothie!
How did you decide upon the name of your business?
A ‘shortlist’ of 45 pages! Late night brainstorms, constantly searching for inspiration then tested on friends and family. Ultimately, though not everyone agreed, PACK’D felt right.
What did you do before starting PACK’D?
I was helping to come up with new wildlife programme ideas, like Planet Earth 2, at the BBC Natural History Unit. I also worked part-time as a football coach with Brentford F.C.
Did you always plan to set up your own business?
Yes. After my dreams in sport were ended by a knee injury my goal became starting my own business. Every job I took up to this point was with a view to learning as much as I possibly could.
What has been the biggest challenge in running your business so far?
Learning most things for the first time. Being new to the food industry means you can approach everything with a unique perspective but it also means you have to break down a lot of walls and reach a few dead ends before succeeding. Test and learn is a daily mantra.
What has been the highlight of your business journey to date?
Going from a market stall in Hackney to 750 stores in under 6 months. We always believed we could do it, our friends and family thought we were crazy, and reaching that milestone gave us a huge sense of accomplishment. That our gamble had paid off!
What role does social media play for your business and do you have a favourite social platform?
Social media is the best way for us to speak directly with our customers. It can be a a place of unrealistic expectations and filtered lives but I want PACK’D to be real and to speak honestly to our community. Instagram is the best place for charting our journey and peoples PACK’D creations.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Do something you love, aim to make a difference and success will follow. Don’t be afraid to fail.
Where do you hope to take your business in the year ahead?
Continue to lead a home blending revolution in the UK and beyond!
You can find out more about PACK’D over on their website. Don’t forget to support them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you so much to Luke for taking the time to be involved with Behind the Biz. I really enjoyed finding out about the PACK’D business journey and I hope you have too. I can’t wait to see PACK’D continue to grow over the next year and wish Luke and Alex lots of luck. I can also confirm that their smoothies taste amazing and are a really good way to kick-start the day. You can check out my review on the 3 smoothie kits here.
If you fancy getting involved with Behind the Biz then drop me an email or say hello on Twitter.