Growing a Product Business by Doing Things Differently, with Lizzie Lane

What happens when you decide to build a business in an industry where you don't necessarily fit the mould?In this episode, I'm joined by Lizzie Lane, founder of Carparts Queen. Lizzie started working in the motor parts industry at 18 and spent more than a decade learning the trade before deciding to take everything she'd learnt and start a business of her own. We talk about what growing a product business has really looked like for Lizzie, from making her first sales to experiencing much faster growth than she expected, and some of the challenges that have come with that.Lizzie also shares her experience of building a business in a traditionally male dominated industry, why making car parts easier and less intimidating to buy is so important to her, and how she's using customer service to create a business that feels very different from others in the industry. There's a really interesting conversation about growth too. We talk about the pressure to keep pushing for more, knowing when you might need to slow down and get your processes in place, and the parts of growing a product business that aren't always visible from the outside. In this episode, you'll hear about:• How Lizzie went from working in the motor trade to starting Carparts Queen• Finding a way to stand out in a competitive industry• Building trust and confidence with your customers• The realities of running a business in a male dominated industry• Managing unexpected growth and knowing when to slow down• Staying true to what makes your business differentIf you're starting or growing your own product business, I think you'll really enjoy Lizzie's openness about what's worked, what's been challenging and what she's learnt along the way.Find Lizzie here: www.carpartsqueen.co.ukChapters00:00 Meet Lizzie Lane and Carparts Queen02:05 From employee to business owner04:42 Starting Carparts Queen07:22 Women in the motor parts industry13:23 Helping customers feel more confident20:07 Making car parts easier to buy23:07 Building trust with your customers30:18 Running a business in a male dominated industry36:07 Managing unexpected business growth40:35 Growing the team and looking ahead44:17 The reality behind running a business46:33 Lizzie's advice for product foundersLET’S CONNECTFollow me on YouTubeFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Amazon Made Easy is now openMy membership, Amazon Made Easy is now open. It’s a membership for people who are selling on Amazon (or planning to) and want regular access to support, somewhere to ask questions and talk things through, and a bit of structure and accountability as they grow. Inside, there are live Q&A calls, optional co-working sessions and a small, supportive community. Find out more: https://vickiweinberg.com/membership membership