JKR

Rob Calcraft

REN Skincare, tales of how it all began.

Platform met again on Tuesday evening. It’s the monthly event where a group of us get together to hear first-hand from some of the business world’s leading innovators. This week we heard from Rob Calcraft, co-founder of REN skincare. He's the one covered in skin cream.

Rob is the antithesis of the production line of thinking and the 5 ‘golden’ rules approach to business success. With that in mind, I’ve attempted to reflect the unconstrained delivery of his story…

There are junctions in business. What you could call ‘defining moments’. Times when you just have to close your eyes and jump.

Who you do that with is as important as what you do.

We can all relate to the frustration of being someone else’s bitch and dream of a future in which we’re not responsible to anyone else. At some point you have to choose whether to make that future the present.

If you go for it, then make sure you do something you mean. If you don’t mean it, people will sense it. But be careful to remember that a good idea is different to a good business idea. Be commercial but appear not to be commercial.

Ultimately, it has to be all about the product. Ask yourself ‘will people buy this twice?’

Don’t suffocate through analysis - too many people drown in consumer research. At some point you have to think for yourself. And if you’re struggling with that, the best tool is the one below.

Platform is an exclusive, free event so places are in high demand. If you’d like to come along e-mail amymaw@jkr.co.uk and she’ll do her damndest to get you onto the list. Our next speaker is Paul Lindley, founder of Ellla’s Kitchen.