The Obsessed View

How SYLKA Became the World’s First Luxury Faux Silk Carpet Brand

In this powerful episode of The Obsessed View, host Charlotte Carter sits down with Steve Farrell, founder of SYLKA Carpets, the world’s leading faux silk luxury carpet brand.
Steve shares his extraordinary journey—from leaving school at 13 and working labour jobs, to becoming a pioneer in the high-end interiors industry. With clients ranging from Harrods to luxury yachts, Steve has built a global empire rooted in craftsmanship, innovation, and relentless work ethic.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Steve turned a hands-on trade into a luxury global business
Why he developed SYLKA fibre as a sustainable, high-performance alternative to silk and viscose
What it takes to build long-term relationships with premium interior designers
How his eco-silk innovation is shaping the future of sustainable luxury
This conversation is a must-listen for product-based business owners, luxury brand builders, and anyone who believes that traditional education isn’t the only path to success.
🎧 Listen now at: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact – your one-stop shop for smarter small business marketing.

The Reality of Business Closure and What Comes Next With Dan Plesko From YrPod

The Obsessed View is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs, product-based business owners, and brand builders looking for real, unfiltered conversations about business success, challenges, and reinvention. Hosted by Charlotte Carter, founder of Carter Bags, this show dives into the highs and lows of launching, scaling, and even closing a business—because the reality of entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line.
Each episode features honest conversations with industry leaders, founders, and creatives, sharing the lessons they’ve learned from building brands, navigating setbacks, and finding new opportunities.
In this series, Charlotte speaks with inspiring guests like Dan Plesko, founder of Yr Pod, who shares his raw and personal story of building a successful business, facing unexpected challenges, and ultimately having to make the difficult decision to close his company. Dan’s insights on resilience, business identity, and moving forward after closure offer invaluable takeaways for anyone navigating the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
How to successfully launch and grow a product-based business
Strategies for marketing, lead generation, and brand positioning
The truth about business closures, resilience, and reinvention
Lessons from founders who have built (and rebuilt) their businesses from the ground up
🎧 Tune in for no-nonsense advice, inspiring entrepreneurial journeys, and actionable insights to help you build and grow your business. Listen now at TheObsessedView.co.uk.
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses simplify and scale their marketing with powerful tools.

Building, Exiting & Reinventing: How Jo Stimson Found Success After Selling Her Business

What happens when you exit a business after nearly 20 years and suddenly have to start over? In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter speaks with Jo Stimson, former Managing Director of Heatmat UK, about her journey from growing and selling a seven-figure business to navigating a completely new career path.
💡 What’s inside this episode:
How Jo built Heatmat UK into a leading product-based business
The challenges of selling a company you’ve dedicated decades to
The reality of starting fresh (and why her first post-exit business didn’t work out)
Lessons on reinvention, resilience, and rebuilding confidence
Why she’s now helping other business owners scale and exit successfully
Jo’s honesty about the highs and lows of business ownership is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, product-based business owners, and anyone thinking about exiting their company.
🎧 Listen now at: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses grow with smarter marketing tools.

How to Launch Digital Products Successfully: Lessons from Claire Parsons

In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter sits down with copywriting expert Claire Parsons to dive into the real strategy behind launching successful digital products. Claire has built a thriving business over seven years, offering not just copywriting services but also digital resources and courses that have been a massive hit.
💡 Key takeaways from this episode:✔️ How to research and validate your product idea before launching✔️ Why your marketing strategy matters just as much as the product itself✔️ How to segment your email list to target the right audience (and not annoy the rest!)✔️ The importance of consistency—why one post isn’t enough to make sales
Whether you’re creating an online course, a guide, or any other digital product, this episode is packed with practical, real-world advice on how to ensure your launch is a success.
🎧 Listen now at: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses simplify and scale their marketing with powerful tools.

How AJ Activewear is Redefining Fitness Apparel & Hitting 7 Figures in 2025

In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter chats with Claire, founder of AJ Activewear (formerly Amazing Jane), about the brand’s inspiring evolution. Claire shares how AJ Activewear has doubled its growth year after year by focusing on customer feedback, product testing, and a mission to empower women in fitness.
💡 Key topics include:
How AJ Activewear’s testing strategy helped them identify best-selling products like their signature Solsoft leggings
The shift in women’s fitness habits and its impact on activewear trends
Lessons learned from scaling production and managing a fast-growing business
Why empowering women is central to AJ Activewear’s success
Whether you’re in the fitness world or looking to grow a product-based business, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.
🎧 Tune in now: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses grow with smarter marketing tools.

Lessons from the Fire: Building a Values-Driven Brand with Bruce Watson

In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter sits down with Bruce Watson, founder of Feast Alba and the creator of Hoot Sauce, to discuss his journey from premium fire chef to product-based business owner.
Bruce shares the lessons he’s learned in creating a values-driven hot sauce brand, including:
🔥 Why he turned down big contracts with major retailers
💡 How to balance ethical production with profitability
🧠 The importance of testing, scaling smartly, and staying true to your brand’s vision
If you’re a small business owner or thinking about starting a product-based business, this episode is packed with insights on resilience, sustainable growth, and how to turn lessons into future success.
🎧 Listen now: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses grow with smarter marketing tools.

How Simon Whitaker Grew Master Debonair into a High-Street Icon Across The UK

In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter sits down with Simon Whitaker, the founder of Master Debonair, to explore the journey of transforming a passion for men’s styling into a thriving high-street and e-commerce brand.
💡 Key topics covered:
How Simon’s personal story and family legacy inspired Master Debonair
The challenges of growing a high-street presence in a tough retail environment
Crafting an exceptional in-store and online customer experience
Lessons in leadership, resilience, and adapting to industry changes
Whether you’re in retail, e-commerce, or simply love hearing about unique entrepreneurial journeys, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.
🎧 Tune in now: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses thrive with smarter marketing tools.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship | Featuring Erika Robinson from Constant Contact

In this special holiday edition of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter chats with Erika Robinson, UK General Manager of Constant Contact and a successful small business owner. Erika shares her journey of leading the UK launch of Constant Contact while managing her own thriving children’s play centre.
💡 Key takeaways from this episode:
The unique challenges of running a small business alongside a leadership role
How Constant Contact supports small businesses with tools like AI-driven marketing and unlimited helpline support
Tips for delegating and building a strong team to sustain growth
How customer feedback drives innovation at Constant Contact
If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur looking for inspiration and practical advice, this episode is for you!
🎧 Listen now: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses thrive with smarter marketing tools.

Mastering International Exports with Kathryn Read | Strategies for Global Business Success

In this episode of The Obsessed View, Charlotte Carter is joined by international export expert Kathryn Read to delve into the challenges and opportunities of taking your business global.
💡 What you’ll learn:
How to assess if your business is ready for international exports
The importance of strategic planning, from budgeting to selecting the right markets
Key insights into navigating logistics, fulfillment, and marketing localisation
How to avoid costly mistakes when entering new markets
Whether you’re considering exporting your products overseas or looking to refine your current export strategy, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you succeed globally.
🎧 Listen now to turn your export ambitions into reality: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact—helping small businesses grow with smarter marketing tools.

How Ilya Lanster Built Two Thriving Product Based Brands | From Ukraine to the World

In this episode of The Obsessed View, host Charlotte Carter sits down with Ilya, co-founder of Codu and European Cabinetry, to discuss his journey from launching luxury homeware to creating bespoke flat-pack furniture.
Discover how Ilya and his business partner Marcus:
Started their ventures with personal savings and a lot of determination
Navigated the challenges of manufacturing in Ukraine during geopolitical uncertainty
Balanced wholesale and direct-to-consumer strategies to grow their brands
Took risks to stand out in competitive markets with unique, high-quality products
Ilya also shares a surprise announcement about his next passion project!
🎧 Tune in for an inspiring conversation packed with practical advice for entrepreneurs: TheObsessedView.co.uk
Sponsored by Constant Contact.