Avon UK appoints Dragon's Den Star as Chief Inspiration Officer | Sara Davies MBE

Podcast Radio Business Interviews

Sara Davies MBE, Entrepreneur & Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss her new role as Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer

Entrepreneur, founder of Crafter’s Companion and business investor Sara Davies has been appointed as Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer.

Avon research reveals nearly a third of British women face barriers when starting their own business including knowing how to access finance, not knowing where to start, as well as lack of confidence

Being an Avon Rep enables women to work flexibly and gives them the tools and opportunity to run their own business as well as the potential to become a Leader and coach a team of Reps

Beauty brand Avon UK has appointed prolific entrepreneur and businesswoman Sara Davies MBE as its Chief Inspiration Officer.

The role will see Sara help more women run and build their own successful business and she will host inspiring masterclasses to coach and mentor Avon Reps while offering tailored advice on how to be their own boss, grow their businesses and lead a team.

Sara’s appointment comes as Avon research shows various factors deter many women from starting their own business.

The research reveals a third (33%) of women in the UK believe setting up their own business is in favour of men and just under a quarter (23%) feel they have fewer choices than men when it comes to starting their own business.

While there is appetite to change working circumstances, many women continue to face obstacles to achieving their goals.

Nearly a third (31%) of women say there are barriers to them starting their own business including money/finance (53%), not knowing where to start (40%), lack of confidence (39%), fear of failure (37%) and lack of knowledge of the market (33%).

Sara Davies, Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer, said:

“I am thrilled to join Avon UK as its first Chief Inspiration Officer.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity to work with new and existing Avon Reps who have the hunger to build and run their own business, on their own terms.

“The research reflects so many of the barriers I came up against when starting up my own business.

“I know that it still impacts women today, who have that drive, but face the same issues.

“I have always been passionate about entrepreneurship and helping people to realise their ambitions so having the opportunity to share my own knowledge and experience to inspire others is incredibly exciting.”

Sara’s top tips for building your own business and motivating a team:

Have a plan, set your goals and put them on paper: writing down what you want to achieve helps you to stick to your plans and hold yourself accountable.

Do your research: ensure that you feel a connection to the brand and what they stand for. This will make promoting your business feel natural.

Build a personal brand: give customers the chance to buy into you, not just the products you sell.

Use your support network: reach out to those around you for advice and be loud and proud when something goes well for you.

Lead from the front: as your business grows your team will increasingly look to you for inspiration and motivation. Successful leadership doesn’t come from what you do occasionally but from what you do consistently.

Tailor your leadership style: listen to what each individual team member needs to support their growth and development as you recruit new talent. If someone has done a good job, tell them and share with your community. This will inspire and motivate others.

Sara added: “The world of work has changed. The rigid 9-to-5, which is notoriouslydifficult for mums, has been replaced by more flexible work, offering women the option to put the hours in whenever suits them.

“The country is filled with women from all walks of life, who have amazing entrepreneurial spirit and ambition.

“So, unlocking all this potential should benefit them and beyond, it would be such a boost for business and the wider economy.”

Sara began her own entrepreneurship journey while at university after being introduced to the world of crafting.

After discovering a gap in the market Sara founded Crafter's Companion in 2005, now a global retailer and multimillion pound company.

In 2019, she joined the panel on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, becoming the programme’s youngest female investor.

One of Sara’s greatest passions is helping women in business achieve their dreams and she has already inspired and empowered hundreds of Avon Reps across the country.

About the research

The research was conducted by Censuswide with 1,000 women across the UK. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of The British Polling Council.