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Emily Newstead – CEO of Bow

Emily Newstead - CEO Bow

A BIT ABOUT BOW 

BOW are a successful and award winning Yorkshire company, with international reach and a wealth of knowledge and experience for companies who want to successfully highlight their story through the right branded products and gifts. Launched in 2014, Bow is now a multi-award-winning company that supplies business organisations with everything from branded food and drink and bespoke corporate gifts to promotional branded merchandise and personalised packaging & print. This once small Yorkshire start-up now has relationships with over 150 clients across the UK ships into 20+ overseas countries and boasts 100 % Customer Satisfaction. 

Introduction to Emily: 

Dubbed by her clients as the ‘Fairy Godmother’ of brand enhancement, this influential female entrepreneur is now a 6-time award winner, including the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Best Corporate Gifting Supplier. An advocate for charitable giving, Bow now connects with a community project twice a year and involves its team members ensuring 1% of every order is donated to a charity of the clients’ choice.  Always keen to help others, Emily when she is not working is a supportive coach and mentor and provides workshops to help others in business and personal development. She champions those around her and is an inspiration to others, with her approachability and warmth for positive change and a dynamic ability to capture the minds of those she speaks with. 

 

How did you become CEO and Founder of Bow?  

From as young as 5 and 6, I was making and selling things! I knew the enjoyment of honing my skills and the rewards in creating something people wanted! Jump ahead and 25 years later, in Jan 2014, I registered on companies house! However, shortly after, I then found myself in hospital undergoing a laparoscopy – where I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. This was the sharp turning point in my life, and my health had to come first. I had undergone surgery and a further 6 months of treatment, and in Sept 2014, I went full-time on my business idea, to allow myself the ability to manage and work around my health. I have gone from strength to strength ever since. I was once told, ‘sell something that people will always want or need’, and as I love creating solutions, developing a business around company’s’ brands and how they have impact – is spot on for me! 

Who has inspired you most in your career? 

A lot of people. I wouldn’t say there is just one person in particular. I think that when you allow yourself to be ‘inspired’, you will find it in the most unlikely of places and also the obvious ones! For me it is about mindset, and constantly developing and learning and different inspiration is needed at different stages of your growth. So, from a Linked in Post, to an audio book, to a new international innovation, I am like a sponge and will soak it up from many areas of input.  

What has been your proudest business moment?  

There’s been some awesome moments! And some wonderful proud milestones. But, I would have to say, that it has been more recently, when I reached a point, after the 5 year mark/start of 2020 – where I truly felt an amazing shift in my own self-growth, from how far we had come. It’s hard to entirely put into words, but it is the sum of so much experience running my business over the last 5 and a half years, both good and bad; and what that has taught me and is teaching me. I am much more aligned with my own beliefs, values and what, and who I want to surround myself with. I have the biggest appetite to learn, then I ever have before, and I feel like a new person. That has been my proudest moment. 

If you could work anywhere in the world where would it be?  

Oooo, tough one! I love Yorkshire, I love Chamonix, I love California and a few other places in-between. The ideal scenario is to have the ability to work anywhere in the world, with the power of technology and communication. I think that is becoming a much more plausible and possible option, as the traditional way of working changes every day.  

What are your favourite business use APPs?  

First off, check out on Spotify, ‘What you will learn’ these guys are the best! They summarise the best books out there, and make it so engaging for the audience. I also love software that allows you to measure, communicate and track anything! We like Trello, Apptivo, Microsoft office 365 and a range of the back-end apps on there. Xero is awesome for accounting alongside receipt bank. For some chilling out time, Calm – is a great app! 

Is there a piece of advice you would give your teenage self? 

Believe in yourself more than you do.  

 Name the three items you’d bring to a desert island? 

Wine! Pen knife (with tweezers) and seeds for an allotment.  

Is there anything on your bucket list that you haven’t yet done? 

Loads! I don’t think a bucket list should ever end! And having an annual one, makes it happen too! I would love to work with endangered animals, and I would love to go on a trip for a few months out in the wilderness – mountains and canyons – trekking and camping (live feral! Ha ha!) and have no ‘screen time’. Total digital detox. I sleep best outdoors!  

What would be your last meal?  

Nachos, covered in mince, sour cream, guacamole, salsa… yum yum!  

Favourite book?  

I love audible! I am better listening to a book than reading it, and what I tune into depends on what mood I’m in or what is on my radar at the time… Anything science based is fascinating, such as “Robert Winston – The Human Mind, or “The Human FACE”. Greek Mythology has always fascinated me too, and I enjoy autobiographies/true stories.