After much hard work, we are excited to launch ‘7, 17, 70’ – a series of one-on-one podcast interviews with dynamic, high-profile entrepreneurs. From Pitcher & Piano to Monica Vinader, Piper has been helping to build and support brands for more than 30 years. ‘7, 17, 70’ refers to the three critical stages it believes businesses will encounter where a step change is required to fuel sustainable growth. The figures relate most often to sales levels and site numbers, where Piper has frequently witnessed the requirement for a change in management approach.
The first interviewee in the series is Cassandra Stavrou, founder of Propercorn, the UK’s best-selling premium popcorn brand. Founded with the ingenious use of a cement mixer in 2011, Propercorn now sells more than 3m bags of popcorn per month in 9 countries worldwide.
Cassandra discusses her remarkable and inspiring journey from ‘useless law student’ to successful, award-winning entrepreneur. She talks movingly of her father’s death and explains how ‘starting a business was the quickest way I could think of to be able to look after my family’. She recalls how she overcame early setbacks, including resistance from ‘big burly men in industrial estates’, and reveals how she and co-founder Ryan Kohn have grown Propercorn through its tricky ‘adolescent phase’ into adulthood.
The ‘7, 17,70’ interviews are conducted by Mary Nightingale, one of the UK’s most highly regarded and experienced broadcasters. In each podcast she will unravel the motivations and techniques that drive entrepreneurs and their brands along the often bumpy road to success.
The podcast series follows on from two successful books that Piper has published in recent years containing lessons from some of the UK’s best known entrepreneurs. Each podcast can be found on all major podcast players.
