From Apprentice Star to International Business Success!
How did you come up with the idea for Revival Shots?
The Idea was born out of a real-life problem I encountered whilst at university and working in banking, where there was a big social demand but also a requirement to be up early and focused! After trying everything from supplements to greasy foods, and failing. I decided to create my own formula based on science and research, and after years of development I created Revival!
What challenges did you face when setting up the business?
One of the biggest challenges I faced when starting was finding the time; I launched Revival Shots while I was still working full time at the bank. A typical day at the bank would be start at 7am and finishing anywhere between 7 – 10pm most evenings, in many cases even later. It meant that I had to work most of the night, often sleeping just a few hours before going back in.
My business was and still is entirely self-financed, and launching a new business requires a lot of capital, far more then I had at the time and managing cash flow to ensure we stayed afloat in the early months and years was very tricky.
Finally, it was hard for me to learn skills that I wasn’t naturally good at, my background is economics and banking, so the numbers were pretty easy for me. On day one no one has the money to outsource or employ experts so you have to do it all yourself and for me learning the marketing and design elements of the business were definitely a challenge.
Tell us about your new ‘One for One’ charity initiative. What sparked this idea?
The Revival One for One charity initiative was kicked off in December 2019, and since this date we are donating a serving of Revival Shots to someone in need for every purchase made!
The formula is a development and improvement on the formula the World Health Organisation has used for years to help treat dehydration. As the brand has grown, we are seeing more and more people using the product for general hydration purposes. Seeing the diversity in use really triggered the idea, and when I started researching the global dehydration issue, I was shocked by some of the statistics.
We have partnered with Hope and Aid direct who are experienced in delivering aid to people in areas hit by political or natural disaster, so I am confident our sticks will not only reach the right areas but have a significant positive impact too.
You came third on The Apprentice 2019 series, what did you learn from your time on the show?
The whole Apprentice experience was so unique; being thrown in to tasks that are so far out of your comfort zones and with people you don’t know is crazy but really does allow you to learn so much about yourself. For me it really helped to not only highlight my strengths but also area in which I needed to develop further.
What has been your proudest achievement so far?
Certainly, going on to the show (The Apprentice). I still remember watching it at home with my family when I was a kid, I loved it, I could have never imagined that one day I was be on there. Hundreds of thousands apply and to get on was and still is such a surreal experience. Of course, I would have liked to have win but I am proud of how far I got.
What plans do you have for 2020?
We are in the process of launching our latest product which is a natural energy drink served in a 500ml can. The primary objective for this year is to take this product to market. Early signs and reception have been super positive, so hopefully we will be hitting shop fridges very soon!!