Skip to content

CEO Secrets: 'Have a Plan B in case things don't work out'

When China closed its factories at the start of the pandemic, it could have ruined Natalie Quail's business.

Natalie is the founder of SmileTime, which sells teeth-whitening kits that she has made in China.

But Natalie says she always suspected she might have problems relying on supplies from so far away, so she drew up contingency plans when launching the business. These helped her cope with the emergency.

Words and video: Jeremy Howell

1 June 2021

Entrepreneurship

Explore More

Twins James and John Makanjuola,

The twins cleaning London's unloved spaces

Joshua looking directly at the camera, wearing a school uniform with black blazer and tie

'I'd like to start my own business in the future'

Northern Ireland

Tatti Lashes

Tatti Lashes: The school friends who built a beauty empire

Robots

'We had to adapt our robots to the AI revolution'

Picsart

'AI won't steal your job, but people using it may'

Keyframe #1

People queue for third day to register for dentist

Front benches at PMQs

Sunak and Starmer trade barbs on £1,000 Rwanda bet

UK Health Secretary speaking on BBC Breakfast

Health secretary asked if dental budget is lower

Tracy Rabi standing outside

Tanzania’s 13-year-old money expert

Joanna Jensen

'A viral Facebook post nearly blew up our business'

Earring

'This earring helped me build my £4bn business'

Jay Williams

'We went from the streets to the stores'

Arne Schepker

Babbel boss: Baseball taught me a valuable lesson

Vivien Wong

'If you can't see it, you can't be it'

Athan Didaskalou

'You've got 30,000 days to live'

Amit Walia

From 'introvert kid' to billion-dollar leader

Mark De Lange

‘Be honest when you mess up’

Woman smiling at camera

Homeless gain dental treatment through NHS scheme

Leeds & West Yorkshire

Jane Wurwand

'It’s not how smart you are, it’s how are you smart'

Jordan Schwarzenberg

'My generation has a different view of alcohol'

Rachel Reeves

Watch: Reeves 'deeply proud' to be first female chancellor

The Chancellor has presented her first Budget in the Commons.

Paula Vennells at the Post Office inquiry

Key moments from former Post Office chief's three-day testimony

Paula Vennells faced three days of questions about her role in the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters.

Paula Vennells reaching for a tissue in the Post Office inqiuiry

Ex-Post Office boss cries while giving evidence

Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells is speaking about the incident for the first time in ten years.

Santiago Paredes

Whistleblower claims Boeing supplier sent faulty parts

Spirit AeroSystems supplied Boeing with faulty parts, a former quality inspector has told the BBC.

Ocado has added robotic arms to its newest warehouse near Luton.

Watch Ocado robots in action

Ocado has added robotic arms to its newest warehouse near Luton.

Business Headlines

BBC World News business headlines

The latest international business headlines from BBC World News.

Jo Hamilton

'I feel survivor's guilt' says Post Office victim

Former sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton told BBC Breakfast she feels "guilt" after settling with the government over the Horizon IT scandal.

Woman in sunglasses smiling while answering questions related to the Budget

Watch: 'My biggest financial regret is...'

People in Kent share their finance stories ahead of Wednesday's Budget. Would you share yours?

Mohsin Issa

Issa brother to step back after 'fixing' Asda

Mohsin Issa, one half of the so-called "billionaire brothers" who own Asda, says he plans to hand over the running of the UK's third biggest supermarket.

Picture of The Body Shop storefront in the 80s

'They thought it was a sex shop' - The Body Shop in the '80s

Archive footage shows Dame Anita Roddick talking about her company's success, in an 1984 interview.

Raid on Co-op store

CCTV shows violent raid on Co-op store

The retailer gave the footage to the BBC as it warned of a rise in attacks on retail staff.

Sir Howard Davies

Not that difficult to buy a home, says NatWest chair

Sir Howard Davies says he believes it is not currently "that difficult" for people to get on the housing ladder.

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes

Broadband rises must be 'clearer', says Ofcom boss

The regulator has plans to make mobile and broadband firms more upfront about mid-contract price rises.

Olivia DeRamus and BBC reporter Lora Jones

'Taking control of my abuse story'

Olivia DeRamus set up an app in the wake of her sexual assault. Now she's ready to take on Big Tech.

Virgin Atlantic flight

Watch: Take off for ground-breaking green fuel flight

It is the first transatlantic flight powered solely by alternative fuels.

A handful of plastic chips

The enzyme that chews up plastic

Could this be the solution for recycling more plastic?

Laura Trott

National Living Wage will increase to £11.44 per hour

The rise is "fantastic news" and is worth £1,800 for full-time workers, says the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Ella Lambert

How lockdown inspired fight against period poverty

Inside a project tackling period poverty, with an army of thousands of volunteers across the world.

Kathryn Jacob

'I don't enter leadership awards, it's not about me'

Kathryn Jacob, CEO of cinema advertising firm Pearl & Dean, explains her philosophy of team leadership.

Kim Innes

‘Pumpkins saved my business but almost squashed me’

Kim Innes founded Humble Crumble, a crumble bakery that’s sold more than half a million sweet treats.