What happens when retail buyers tell you your business is “too niche”… but your customers prove otherwise?

In this episode of Own Your Space, Clare Sheffield sits down with Bethan Thomas from HotTea Mama to explore the real story behind building a brand that supports women through pregnancy, motherhood, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, and menopause, one sip at a time.

Bethan shares HotTea Mama’s authentic beginnings, the knock-backs from major retailers, and the determination it took to stay focused on a clear mission. They talk about what drove the decision to refresh the brand and packaging, and how better on-pack communication helped justify price point, showcase whole leaf quality, strengthen product differentiation, and support international growth.
You’ll also hear why bold, unapologetic branding matters in a category that often defaults to beige and clichés, plus practical advice on where to invest in design when budgets are tight.

If you’re scaling a values-led product brand, this is a powerful reminder that owning your space starts with clarity and conviction.

Follow Bethan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethan-thomas-hottea-mama/?originalSubdomain=uk

HotTea Mama Website: https://www.hotteamama.com/

Packaging is not decoration. It’s a strategic growth tool.

In Chapter 4 of Brand-Ready to Scale? Clare Sheffield explores how to build a harmonious relationship between your brand and your packaging, so every touchpoint reinforces what you stand for and why you’re worth choosing. Clare breaks down the psychology of packaging, from structure and layout to finishes and tactile cues, and explains how packaging shapes perception, trust and purchase decisions long before a customer tries the product.

You’ll hear why copying category conventions leads to generic, forgettable packs, and how to use brand voice and clarity to stand out in crowded markets. Clare also shares practical actions to review your packaging structure, sense-check packaging against your brand identity work, and test shelf standout using mock-ups.

Real examples include Boho Betty’s packaging elevation and HotTea Mama’s brand evolution, showing how packaging can unlock listings, differentiation and stronger shelf presence.

If you want packaging that sells, reflects your values, and supports scale, this chapter is essential.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve got a logo, so I’ve got a brand”… this chapter is for you.

In Chapter 3 of Brand-Ready to Scale? Clare Sheffield breaks down what a brand actually is and why your logo is just the tip of the “brandberg”. Clare explains the full system that sits beneath the surface, from your logo suite, colour palette and typography through to photography style, illustration, tone of voice, brand story and key brand messages.

This is especially relevant for product-based founders because as you scale, you create more touchpoints: packaging, tape, stickers, invoices, social posts, trade show materials and more. Without a full brand system, consistency slips, customer trust erodes, and every new asset becomes harder than it needs to be.

You’ll come away with practical audit actions to identify what you have, what’s missing, and how to fill the gaps, so your brand becomes a clear, cohesive force that supports growth.