Vital Stats
Name: JoJo Blythen
Occupation: Co-Founder & Director
First Job: Selling trainers as my Saturday job
Best Job: Current position
Greatest Professional Challenge: Staying focused on the long term
Starting Salary: £3.50 per hour
Website: Betty & Betts

1. How did you get that f*&%ing awesome job?
By chance I shared with a friend that I wanted to start my own business, she had the same idea and that was it BETTY & BETTS was born.

2. Tell us a little bit about your company. What’s going on there at this very minute?
BETTY & BETTS is a company that believe's in contributing to the community internationally, we want to inspire anyone who works or buys from us. Our products are produced by Community Trade Suppliers in India, every person involved is paid a fair wage, money is re-invested into schooling and health care for the local communities and all the products are eco-friendly. 

It is manic! We are shipping out orders for this Christmas, whilst signing off 2011 Christmas range - totally confusing but great fun.

3. What inspired you to give back to the community through commerce?
When I first visited India in 2006 I worked amongst slum communities in Bangalore, for the first month I was in total shock that the way I lived in the UK was not the way most of the world lived. In fact only 10% of the world lives like you and I. When I arrived back in the UK I was determined to see if I could make the retail market a fairer place, not only for the buyer but also for the maker.

4. What does a typical day look like for you?
Sitting with a coffee and going through emails and then that is as similar as the days get, some are spent shipping out orders, some are spent meeting with clients, and others are spent talking on the phone sharing the story behind the brand.

5. What is the best part about what you do? What about the non-best?
Inspiring people that they can be part of the story, just by buying a BETTY BOOK. The non-best part? When someone tell's me they don't understand why giving to the most venerable communities is important.

6. If you had to name one thing (or two or three...) that’s contributed to your company’s success, what would it be?
Having an amazing business partner, going with what we believe no matter what and believing in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.

7. Do you have any words of wisdom for those of us that want to strike out on our own?
Setting firm foundations can sometimes be—lets face it—boring, but it is vital for long-term success. Along with this, find people with more experience than yourself, get them onboard, and let them challenge you everyday.

8. And just for fun, what do you want this holiday season?
Eating as much English Christmas pudding as I can and having a fantastic NY's party in my new house!

Vital Stats
Name: Tanya Clarke (aka Betty)
Occupation: Mission controller/Designer
First Job: Cashier at very bad store that sold smelly dog food next to chocolate! Yuk!
Best Job: Being mission controller of Betty & Betts
Greatest Professional Challenge: Working and living in a country very different from my own.
Starting Salary: £4.50 an hour - terrible eh!
Website: Betty & Betts

1. How did you get that f*&%ing awesome job?
One day JoJo and I met at an egg race (as you do!) on a hill in South India in 2006. We became great friends and quickly realized that we were both bonkers about sustainability, beautiful products, and people. We lived and worked in India with locals on charity programmes and wanted desperately to relieve the poverty that surrounded us.

Sitting with our Indian friends over sweet chai tea and blisteringly spicy curries, we heard one message loud and clear: “Give me a secure job and I will do the rest. I just want to put my kids through school and provide for myself and my family!”

Totally inspired by our friends, we hatched a plan to create open and honest trade between these fabulous people and the rest of the world by making beautiful products that are 100% eco & 100% ethical. That was Betty & Betts in the beginning.

2. Tell us a little bit about your company. What’s going on there at this very minute?
In order to give people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families through long-term sustainable employment, we carefully selected our Indian and Nepali suppliers, who are committed to ploughing a percentage of the profits back into the local communities, providing them with schooling, AIDS awareness, and health care.

Together, we worked with skilled artisans to select the right materials and processes that have become the Betty Book range. And now the collection continues …

In February 2010, we returned to freezing weather and good old English brews in order to launch our Betty Books in the UK retail market. We want to give everyone the chance to get in on the Bettyhood action and own a beautiful Betty Book for themselves.

This very minute we have been featured in Marie Claire and just launched first collection in Anthropologie UK. I just made my first merangue!

3. What inspired you to give back to the community through commerce?
I was inspired by knowing that life and the world is not just about me but about a global family. We can't close our ears and eyes to the world. I realised i have skills and I am passionate about making life the best it can be for people that don't have it the way it should be. There is nothing greater in life than giving. Try it!

4. What does a typical day look like for you?
A call to India to chat with our very friendly suppliers. A call to the dog importers as we try to get our Indian dog Sausage back to the UK. Picking beautiful colours and designs to make more juicy Betty books and making copious amounts of tea for me and the other Betty. A trip in the Betty mobil to our suppliers to drop Betty Books and discuss orders and ....another cuppa tea!

5. What is the best part about what you do? The non-best part?
The best: Visiting india to see my suppliers. I love love love this part of my job! Chats over curries and deep discussions about future developments of the products and community benefits. The sights sounds of india I miss this sooo much.

The non-best: Leaving all my friends in India on Feb 2010 along with my 2 wheeler scooty and hot weather.

6. If you had to name one thing (or two or three...) that’s contributed to your company’s success, what would it be?
Learning to be as wise as an owl.

Always using my ears to listen to advise.

Believing that the big dream WILL happen despite all the odds.

7. Do you have any words of wisdom for those of us that want to strike out on our own?
Be ready for an adventure. Get the best of the best people around you. Listen, learn and never give up!

8. And just for fun, what do you want this holiday season?
I live in England. I just WANT a holiday season please!!! Ha ha!

Thanks for sharing JoJo and Tanya!


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