Carina Lepore: ‘I saw Lord Sugar’s car and it was a sign’

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Carina Lepore podcast interview transcript

Howdy and welcome to Small Enterprise Snippets, the podcast from SmallBusiness.co.uk. I’m your host, Anna Jordan.

Immediately we have now Carina Lepore – entrepreneur and the most recent winner of The Apprentice again in 2019.

She’s thought of essentially the most profitable candidate of all time, profitable 9 out of ten challenges and by no means showing within the backside two.  

Earlier than she went on the present, Carina joined her dad to start out a espresso store enterprise after his earlier bakery burned down. Now Dough Artisan Bakehouse has two branches in London and has plans to tackle Greggs.

We’ll be speaking concerning the legislation of attraction and beginning a enterprise in an unfamiliar subject. 

Anna: Hello Carina

Carina: Howdy

Anna: How are you doing?

Carina: Yeah, good.

Anna: Hello, Carina, the way you doing?

Carina: Hello, I’m good. You?

Anna: Yeah, I’m doing nicely. Having fun with this beautiful heatwave after the thunderstorms yesterday.

Carina: I acquired caught in that!

Anna: Me too. Oh, I do know. I do know. And also you suppose, is it simply going to be solar, bathe, solar, bathe.

Carina: I do know. It was terrible.

Okay, so the very first thing I need to ask you is a bit about earlier than you joined your dad’s bakery enterprise. You had your first enterprise whenever you had been 18? Inform us a bit extra about that.

Carina: Sure. So, I left college, left sixth type and I had been working for our small Excessive Road store, I suppose, and I used to be actually simply within the methods he ran the enterprise. I’d begin to, at a really younger age, say 14-15, I’d begin to ask the best questions, simply attempt to get entangled with merchandising and his little takings e book and the place he would get inventory from. I began to need to know extra concerning the methods the enterprise labored, actually. So, I had that eager curiosity and drive at such a younger age.

It’s clearly A stage outcome day [at time of recording] and we’ve been speaking and the principle factor I’ve simply hold considering and saying is that whenever you get them outcomes, you simply suppose, ‘Oh my God. Is that this making or breaking my life?’ I keep in mind that as nicely – and I bear in mind I didn’t get nice grades, no, however I nonetheless had that entrepreneurial drive. So, I used to be going do one thing with that. That was extra my route.  

I then went and opened up a store and I did a store, car-boot gross sales and a market – Wimbledon Market. What I’d do is I’d purchase my inventory. Lots what Lord Sugar says, and now I can say to him, ‘Odor what sells.’ I’d decide prime sellers and simply bung them in my retailers or no matter I had. That was me actually. It was daring, it was courageous. It was completely different. It was simply one thing I wished to do. I used to be simply actually excited by it. Yeah, I actually loved it.

Nice stuff. What was your first enterprise then? I imagine you had a style retailer.

Carina: Yeah, it was a store referred to as Faze. And it was – nicely, it was a part really, as a result of it didn’t final too lengthy. It was extra of an ‘I wished to do it – that is what I used to be going to do’. It was a type of, what you’ll name now, I suppose, garments that you simply see on Fairly Little Factor and Boohoo – simply style garments for younger individuals. I additionally began to promote, this was loopy, I imply, recognizing traits is vital for any businessperson. I began to note individuals would love, I don’t know if you realize, you’re going to be like, ‘What a weirdo’, individuals used to put on, like, designer gold enamel. I bear in mind the American style websites are available. I used to be like, ‘I’m going to supply grills and promote them’. On the time I used to be so excited. I had this well-known rapper are available, I used to be like, ‘Oh my God’. However that’s what’s thrilling. Now 16 years on, it’s the identical type of factor. You understand, you scent gross sales, you notice a development, you get a couple of influencers to place your stuff up. That’s how the world is working.

So if you happen to suppose you’ve acquired a terrific thought – and I hold bearing on it, and it’s my factor at the moment – is I’ve actually realized lots about completely different routes popping out of college for A stage college students actually I’ve realized masses concerning the qualification that AAT provide. It’s an accountancy agency, they usually provide this apprenticeship in accountancy. I think about if I’d had that operating alongside me working and wherever or not it’s, whether or not I used to be at M&S or Vibe (on the time), however I’d have had that within the bag as nicely. It might have simply made me really feel much more assured as a result of I’d have really recognized a bit about actual numbers again then. Understanding your numbers in enterprise is simply so key, so essential. I’ve realized masses from Lord Sugar, he might simply whip numbers up like this. Whereas, with somebody like me, it takes much more. But when I’d had, for instance, that qualification with AAT I’d have been up on his stage.

Yeah, completely. And I assume you’ve been studying as you’re going alongside, and your dad could have had his personal expertise and his personal enterprise savvy. Once you determined to pair as much as begin the Bakehouse, how did you weave your imaginative and prescient together with his – and probably his enterprise companion’s? What sort of challenges did you could have there? Particularly as a member of the family, somebody who was fairly fragile on the time.

Carina: Yeah, it’s been like a curler coaster. I’m even speaking pre-pandemic, that’s an entire completely different curler coaster. And so I feel he simply allowed me to run with every part, each component I simply would run with and I don’t know whether or not he simply discovered this new confidence in me as a girl, possibly as a grown-up girl once I was 18. He was telling me, ‘Oh, what foolish mistake, go and get a job.’ Whereas now, I used to be taking a good greater danger, I used to be leaving a safe job at M&S with a great wage to then danger us having barely any takings, simply to do one thing dangerous, but additionally as a ardour of his and mine. And that’s what I actually wished to do. I noticed it as a possibility. He was going by way of such a darkish time, and I’ve by no means seen him undergo something like that in my life. I did take it as a possibility for me to assist him for as soon as in our lives and provides again to him.

It’s labored very nicely, as a result of he’s acquired this inventive aptitude. He can’t speak, he can’t relay info. If he was right here now – oh, bless him. He’s acquired this inventive aptitude and something to do with merchandise and recipes, his persona simply comes out in all his merchandise and he’s so enjoyable. That’s what clients love. However yeah, the enterprise aspect positively wanted to take a special route, extra of a structured route. That’s the place I feel have helped him.

Such an enormous a part of that route has been showing on The Apprentice. And I perceive that you simply watched the earlier sequence earlier than you went on. What did it train you earlier than you went on?

Carina: Oh my God that present. It was between that and MasterChef, however I’m not a chef, so I used to be going to be one in every of them. I simply beloved The Apprentice and every part about it. I don’t know what it’s. I don’t know if it’s the challenges, the staff, Lord Sugar, the scary component, the adrenaline rush – I don’t know. I used to at all times suppose it was one in every of them reveals the place you suppose, ‘Oh, I might have completed that’ or ‘I’d have made that’ and it’s making the concepts. I simply love every part concerning the present.  

I simply did the appliance one evening on my cellphone after which instantly acquired by way of after which simply saved getting by way of the appliance course of and I assumed, ‘Wow, that is for me, that is meant to be.’ That’s once I instantly switched into, ‘Now I have to win the present as a result of that is need.’ I would like Lord Sugar to be my enterprise companion. ‘That is for me’ – that’s what I saved considering – ‘That is meant to be.’ That’s all I saved considering after which really getting on there, getting the decision that they need you in the home. It was simply this surreal feeling, what an expertise. I beloved every part about it.

Simply out of curiosity, what number of steps are there within the software course of?

Carina: It’s as robust because the present. They set you up from day one. Once you flip up [at the audition], there’s clearly London, Manchester and one different place someplace. There’s three software spots, I suppose. I went to the London one. So, it was over three days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I went on the Sunday. I bear in mind I turned up and there was, like, fits in all places. It was stuffed with ‘Wolf-of-Wall-Road-type individuals’ as I referred to as them. It was like everybody was boardroom prepared with their briefcases and there have been a few individuals like me, extra right down to earth. We had been the minority, 100 per cent. I instantly thought, ‘Oh my God – I simply rocked up.’

Then what they do is – it’s very robust, and also you study immediately from that first process – they offer you a quantity, I can’t bear in mind what I used to be, I’m considering it was seven. Then you definately get up in teams of ten or 20, no matter. You’d get up on the road. You need to speak for 30 seconds, simply speak. ‘Quantity seven – speak.’

Anna: About something?

Carina: Yeah, something. Some individuals tried to be humorous, some individuals would go along with the entire, ‘That is what I do.’ Then it was a bit X Issue fashion. They’d name your quantity – half of you’ll go a method, half the opposite. That’s how the method was – you saved transferring up ranges. The extra I began to maneuver up, I used to be like, ‘Oh, I have to be doing one thing proper. I’m not happening the checklist, I’m going up.’ So you retain going up. Then I bear in mind sneaking off. It acquired to 10pm and it’s precisely how the present is, the times are lengthy. They’re so vigorous they usually need to actually hone out one of the best individuals for this present that they hold you there. I’m ringing my sister going, ‘It’s a faculty evening you’re going to should put Lucas [Carina’s son] to mattress as a result of I’m nonetheless right here.’ I didn’t know what was occurring. They might have saved me the entire evening. Then you definately get to the subsequent set of apply duties and it’s simply so arduous. I needed to write a manifesto. I didn’t know what that was. I used to be like, ‘What is that this?’

Yeah, it’s a really difficult software course of. However they clearly simply need one of the best candidates. That’s why they make it so arduous. They should set you up for the way arduous the present really is. It’s so arduous. It’s not for the weak. It’s so robust.

Anna: Yeah, it’s a tricky 12 weeks.

I’ve learn that you simply’re a giant believer within the legislation of attraction, and that it did play an element in you making use of for The Apprentice within the first place. Initially, might you give us a little bit of a proof as to what the legislation of attraction is?

Carina: Sure. I’m an enormous believer. I began, once I instantly simply had one thing clicking, I can’t bear in mind the day. However I bear in mind doing my imaginative and prescient board. The imaginative and prescient board clearly performs an enormous half. If you happen to want any books, positively begin with The Secret. It provides you every part you want.

If you wish to change your mindset – I used to wrestle with anxiousness and massively I nonetheless do. Attempt to breathe and suppose that every part is written and every part is for a motive and that it’s about manifesting what you need and believing in what you need and reaching and getting your outcomes, actually.

I bear in mind this one instance. I feel I advised This Morning or one thing I used to be on with Ruth and Eamon. And I bear in mind saying, I sat in my store – August is at all times quiet. We’re going by way of the identical factor now. So, I bear in mind it was an August month, and it will need to have been 2018, simply earlier than I utilized for the present. I sat there and I noticed the AMS 1 (Lord Sugar’s automotive). It was that automotive. It was like an entourage of three vehicles, I used to be like, ‘It’s Lord Sugar.’ I knew the automotive from the present. And I instantly noticed it as an indication. That is meant to be my enterprise companion. In order that was all good. I then utilized for the present in January and acquired on. All of it occurred fairly rapidly.

If you happen to imagine and if you happen to actually suppose that is [meant to be]. I bear in mind, that was an indication. I’m now going to both meet Lord Sugar, or I had Karren Brady on my imaginative and prescient board. Once more, pre-Apprentice, she was up there, simply as I didn’t know…

This can be a factor with the legislation of attraction – you possibly can put it on the market, however you simply you don’t know the place it’s going to return in. You possibly can’t pressure it. It’d simply occur. Then it simply occurs that every part I’ve on that board was ticked off. It’s loopy. I speak to my pals about it who’re massive believers. Certainly one of them is a giant artist. He’s actually recognized on the earth of music. He’s simply so profitable with it. He has this imaginative and prescient board, he reveals individuals what he places on, he then takes it off a 12 months later. It might take years, months, I don’t know. However you’ll slowly begin to suppose that I’m really getting every part I would like out of life. That’s what’s so essential. I might discuss all of it day, I get so keen about it. And I’m discovering different individuals that actually perceive it and imagine in that lifestyle.

I recognize that loads of it’s based mostly on constructive psychology – visualisations, gratitude, that type of factor. What would you say to people who find themselves extra sceptical and suppose it’s a bit sufferer blaming in some methods? Possibly there’s a way that if someone in a enterprise instance, say you’re fighting their enterprise, they’re possibly not manifesting in the best approach. Maybe it devalues the work that the person does and says it’s extra from the universe fairly than the actions that the person has put in the direction of reaching their targets? What sort of issues would you say to them?

Carina: Yeah, individuals suppose in a different way to me, which is okay. However in the end, you get the outcomes that you’re keen to place in. I’m not saying you’ve acquired to go and say that is the factor. That is what the books train you. I would need a mansion, I haven’t acquired a mansion but, however so long as I hold believing that I’m going to have a mansion, then possibly hopefully at some point, we’ll simply put it on the market, simply give it away after which cease interested by it.

However close to operating a profitable enterprise, if my mindset was like, ‘That’s it. What a nasty month’ or taking a look at takings for that month or, ‘We hit a pandemic, we are able to’t commerce anymore.’ If you happen to simply say that to your self all day, you’re going to finally get right into a lull the place negativity is simply consuming you up and also you gained’t have the ability to see a approach out. Anytime I’m having a nasty week, in fact, you must then actually take into consideration your ideas as a result of they play such a giant half. But it surely’s very straightforward to get wrapped up in these unfavorable ideas. I even nonetheless wrestle with it.

For instance, final month was a tricky month, and I bear in mind considering ‘Ugh’, however then I put a plan in place. That’s all – you simply acquired to spin it again to, ‘We’re going to go once more, staff. Come on, let’s go once more, let’s attempt for extra.’ So, I’ve a nasty day after which I’m instantly again with a notepad and a great deal of notes. We go once more and we push tougher. However yeah, getting right into a lull is tough, you’ve simply acquired to seek out one thing that may discover a approach that may get you out, whether or not it’s taking your self away for a bit, self-love or self-care which is so essential. Once more, one thing I wrestle with. I actually should pressure myself to change off, however you must as a result of in any other case you’ll be eaten up with all of the dangerous ideas. You simply should suppose, ‘Proper, let’s go once more.’ You understand?

With anxiousness and having to maintain your psychological well being and your ideas and your mindset in examine. Within the final assembly that you simply had with Scarlett and Lord Sugar, and he or she stated that you simply weren’t a longtime enterprise, you’re a beginner and also you didn’t actually know lots concerning the trade. How did that make you are feeling on the time? How did you cope in such a high-pressure state of affairs?

Carina: Yeah, you do. You do need to simply react immediately when there’s one thing stated about your online business or your self or your character or something like that. It heightens the stress within the room – it’s already actually as excessive as it may be.

I can’t bear in mind my reply. You might need it however I’m positive I used to be simply extra of the steering. And I’d present I’d simply speak to Lord Sugar and say, ‘Nicely, I do know my enterprise and I can inform you what I find out about my enterprise’ and I’d then simply relay every part. I didn’t perceive her enterprise. I’d sit there. I feel Claude stated to me as soon as, like, ‘You possibly can you possibly can take a nap now.’ So possibly she didn’t perceive what I used to be making an attempt to relay and that I didn’t know my enterprise. However yeah, even if you happen to’re a beginner and a start-up, like I’ve been touching upon, if you will get a terrific qualification, and if you happen to can perceive the significance of recognizing traits, and run with it, take dangers.

Truly, that’s precisely what I used to be nearly to ask you. We do generally come throughout entrepreneurs or want-to-be entrepreneurs who’re wanting to enter a subject that they’re not so acquainted with. As somebody who has been there, what recommendation may you could have for them?

Carina: I didn’t know. And I nonetheless get dinged up on about being the baker who doesn’t bake. That was the entire tagline I ended up getting from the present, however I didn’t let it deter me or let it put me off. In them interviews that we do with Claude and the scary interviewers, it was so scary. They had been simply choosing me up on the truth that, ‘How are you going to know your online business if you happen to don’t know your online business?’ My argument was that you could be a membership proprietor, you might be a restaurant proprietor or hotelier, it doesn’t imply that I’m going to be the chef of the restaurant or the barman and I’m going know each cocktail, each recipe.

It’s extra about your management abilities, I feel, and your ardour for that enterprise and that drive. I like every part concerning the bakery – I like bread, I like seeing them make it. It doesn’t imply I’m instantly going to muck in and make it, however I like the method. I like every part about it. That’s the place my ardour shines by way of in buyer care, the customer support piece. I attempted to relay that within the present that that’s really extra essential. Understanding your clients and realizing what they need fairly than me really realizing the best way to knead a loaf. You use individuals to do sure abilities, you don’t should have every part. In order that was my argument for the present. Any younger individuals on the market who’ve a ardour for one thing, clearly find out about it and know your online business, as a result of that is essential. However you don’t really should be the chef or no matter.

Looping proper again to the beginning. For individuals who have gotten their A ranges at the moment they usually possibly didn’t get the grades that they anticipated they usually possibly need to go down the entrepreneurial route. What would you say to them? 

Carina: I’ve realized lots myself from the qualification that AAT are providing. I’m simply going to throw out the hyperlink. Mainly, it’s an accountancy agency, and it’s an accountancy apprenticeship. The hyperlink to that’s aat.org.uk/123. The 123 spheres on the truth that realizing your numbers is so key. If you happen to didn’t get the grades you need and you realize in your coronary heart that college isn’t for you, then positively discover different routes, discover this route from AAT. See if it’s for you.

If you happen to’ve acquired concepts about enterprise, simply be sure to’ve acquired a notepad, hold every part jotted down with what you need to do. Continue to learn, hold networking. Get all of the information you want, attain out to individuals – some individuals will get again to you and offer you ideas and recommendation within the subject you need to go into.

Anna: Nice. Nicely, that looks like an excellent place to finish. Thanks for approaching the podcast, Carina.

Carina: Thanks. Thanks for having me.

Yow will discover out extra about Dough Artisan Bakehouse at doughbakehouse.co.uk. You can even go to SmallBusiness.co.uk for extra on beginning your personal enterprise. Keep in mind to love us on Fb @SmallBusinessExperts and on Twitter @smallbusinessuk (all decrease case) and subscribe to our YouTube channel, linked within the description. Till subsequent time, thanks for listening.