APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions, plus try our money-saving tips.
Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to find a cheap package supplier for her new start-up.
Q: For years I have made my own non-aerosol, natural dry shampoo, trying different ingredients to create the perfect formula.
Friends and family have used my product and rave about it, and I now have people asking me if they can buy it.
I’ve contacted Trading Standards and sought some advice about getting the shampoo scientifically tested, as I understand I’d need to do this before taking it to market and selling it commercially.
I’m currently getting my containers from an online marketplace, but this is quite expensive.
Do you have any advice about where to find a cheaper packaging supplier, as well as any tips on launching a start-up?
Louise, via email
A: Congratulations, Louise! It’s amazing that you’ve spotted a gap in the market and successfully developed the perfect formula to fill it.
You’ve already overcome one of the hardest parts of starting a business – creating a product in the first place – so huge kudos to you.
I’d recommend looking into bulk suppliers.
Buying directly from manufacturers or wholesalers can really reduce costs.
Consider eco-friendly packaging options to boost your appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, too – sustainability is so important these days, especially with this type of product.
Attend small business networking events where you can connect with other entrepreneurs and potential suppliers.
Joining beauty industry forums and communities can also give you valuable insights and open doors to exciting opportunities for growth.
Finally, be diligent about tracking your expenses and earnings – it’s vital to stay on top of finances, including your tax affairs, especially in the early stages.
Best of luck on this exciting journey!
The New Year brings a renewed focus on health, but eating well can be expensive.
The Sun’s Chief Consumer Reporter James Flanders shares how to have a bite on a budget.
OPT FOR FROZEN
Next time you’re at the supermarket, go for frozen rather than fresh produce.
This ensures you have convenient meals when you’re running low on fresh items.
Frozen fruit, for example, is excellent for smoothies and helps you achieve your five-a-day.
You could spend £3 on 250g of fresh raspberries at Tesco, whereas 1kg of frozen berries is £2.99.
SHOP WONKY
Most supermarkets sell misshapen fruit and veg at reduced prices.
It’s still good to eat, but may be close to its sell-by date or have imperfections that make it harder to offload.
Some shops offer boxes of wonky produce, while others sell a range of discounted produce.
For example, Lidl shoppers can bag a bargain on misshapen fruit and veg, with a 5kg box going for just £1.50.
SWAP OUT THE MEAT
It’s among the most expensive items on anyone’s grocery list, so by swapping meat out for vegetarian options such as tofu or Quorn – even for just one day a week – you could make some big savings.
Alternatives to meat can also help to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol.
Nutrition specialists at Lifesum estimate that reducing your weekly meat intake could save the average family over £350 a year.
COOK WITH AIR
Using an air fryer instead of your conventional oven is not just a cheaper way to cook, but often a healthier option, too.
This is because they use less oil to get the same result as an oven.
For example, you need just 1tbsp of oil to turn 1kg of potatoes into chips.
Cost-wise, a 2kw oven costs around 25p to run for 30 minutes, whereas a 1kw air fryer costs almost half the price.
PICK UP VOUCHERS
Parents receiving benefits, such as Universal Credit, who are expecting a baby or have a child under four years old, are eligible for Healthy Start vouchers.
These are worth £4.25 a week, which adds up to £221 a year.
If you have a child under one, you get two vouchers, totalling £8.50 a week or £442 a year.
The vouchers can be used to buy fresh fruit, vegetables, baby formula and cow’s milk.
You can also use them to get free Healthy Start vitamins, suitable from birth up to five years.
