Celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024

Posted on: 20 November 2024 by Rebecca Black (Business Economics, 2021) in 2024

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, we spoke with Rebecca Black, a 2021 Business Economics graduate and the Co-Founder of Calm Collective Co. In this interview, Rebecca shares the story behind her journey to establish Calm Collective Co, a brand that champions innovation and sustainability at its core. With a passion for creating meaningful impact, she discusses her approach to building a business that aligns with her values, offering invaluable insights and practical advice to students and recent graduates eager to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.

What inspired you to start Calm Collective Co, and how did you identify the gap in the market for anxiety-focused jewellery?

I’ve always been a skin picker whenever I feel anxious, and when I started my corporate job, I was really embarrassed by the way my hands looked. I then discovered fidget rings on Amazon, but they were all very childish designs and terrible quality, so I decided to see if I could do it better.

Why did you decide to have your business focus on spreading awareness and normalising mental health in the UK?

I’ve struggled with anxiety since I was 14, and I never spoke to anyone about it - not even my closest friends - as I thought I’d come across as silly for getting anxious over what some people may see as ‘normal’ tasks. When I look back, I wish someone had been there to tell me I wasn’t the only one who felt the way I did.

What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business and how did you overcome them?

Our biggest challenge, which we’re constantly dealing with, is product-market fit. It’s not just you who needs to like your products but also your customers. To ensure we have product-market fit, we do surveys after someone purchases to ask why they bought from us and regularly look at sales data to see what sells the best so we can base future collections around this.

How did your experience studying Business Economics prepare you for launching and running your own company?

Understanding the basics of a balance sheet and profit and loss is critical, as you need to understand your numbers and ensure you have good gross and net margins. Basic accounting knowledge is vital since you won’t have an accountant at first. Also, it’s important to understand barriers to entry because if you’re in a market with low barriers, then you need to work hard to stand out from your competitors and always have a USP.

What specific skills should students develop at university if they’re considering starting their own business?

Basic accounting knowledge as you won’t have an accountant at first. Also, it's important to understand barriers to entry because if you’re in a market with low barriers then you need to ensure you work hard to stand out from your competitors and ensure you always have a USP. 

What advice would you give recent graduates who are thinking of starting their own business?

Start really small and don’t go all in and quit your job right away! Also, make sure to do something you’re really passionate about as you have to be committed for the long run. I’d also recommend building up a following by posting organic content about the product you want to sell to build a community before launching your product. Also, share relatable content that would be relevant to your ideal customer.

Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you had known before starting Calm Collective Co?

How hard it would be! You have to be committed for the long run and accept that you won’t be an expert at anything yet. It’ll also take a while to make money and is a really long process, but it’s super rewarding and allows you to discover so much about yourself.

What are the future plans for Calm Collective Co?

I want to continue growing sustainably with no outside investment and also look to do some in-person events to grow our community in 2025! We're also releasing lots of new unique collections with pieces you wouldn't find anywhere else!