Celebrating 10 Years of Queen Bee: Our 10 Best Bits!

Wow, 10 years! Where does the time go? We’re sitting here reflecting on an entire decade of Queen Bee, and what a journey it’s been. From our ‘let’s do it’ decision to be partners to taking on challenges we never thought possible, we’ve had highs, belly laughs, and plenty of those “pinch me” moments along the way.

So, to mark this huge milestone, we thought we’d celebrate our 10 Best Bits from the last 10 years in business. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights that made Queen Bee what it is today…

1. Taking the Leap

I’ll never forget the day Helen asked me to be her partner (yes, in business – though I had to laugh at the way she said it!). It just made sense. We’d both hit a crossroads in our marketing careers and knew we wanted to bring all that knowledge and experience to small businesses who needed it most but couldn’t afford the agency fees. And so, Queen Bee was born with a launch party full of friends, family, and some of the worst photos we’ve ever taken!

2. Securing Our First Client

We will always remember our very first client who trusted us from day one. Pretty soon after, we landed a dream client in The Flower Lounge – I can still remember the squeals when we put the phone down! The nerves and excitement of those early pitches never really left us (they still give us a thrill!) and since then, we’ve been lucky enough to work with so many amazing businesses including particular shout outs to Little Belters, Borough Care, Chocolate Collective, Georgie Glass Photo, Practically Family, LOVE Bridal and the British Florist Association. Thanks for trusting us to help bring your stories to life!

3. Building Our Dream Team

From the early days working with freelancers to curating a tight-knit team of associates – copywriters, designers, and more – we’ve had the absolute best people alongside us on this ride. The funniest moments and biggest creative wins have been shared with legends like Lindsay, Lou, James, Anna, Vicki, Amanda, Ade, Lucy, and Laura. We’re lucky to have them feature in the Queen Bee hall of fame.

4. Winning Awards

We’ve been lucky enough to win a few small business awards over the years, and while it's not something we actively chase anymore, those early wins felt huge. It was a big goal for us when we started out, and having our hard work recognised gave us that extra confidence boost we needed to keep pushing forward. It’s always nice to get a shiny trophy, but for us, it’s the continued trust and recognition from our clients that feels like the biggest win (gushing moment!)

5. Moving Into an Office

The move from the kitchen/dining table to a dedicated office space was a huge moment for us. Finally, a place that was all ours, acceptance from other halves that this was for the long game and somewhere we could go to town with bee paraphernalia! We celebrated by getting Frank, the official office dog, who has kept us calm and the office smelly since 2019.

6. The Penny Drop Moment

Presenting talks might be (a bit more!) second nature to us now, but it wasn’t always the case! We still remember our first speaking gig – a Leading Ladies' lunch in Manchester – where we were mic’d up and scared out of our minds. But it was here that something amazing happened: we saw the lightbulb moments going off in the audience as we shared what seemed like simple strategies to us. That was when the penny dropped – we had the knowledge and power to genuinely help people transform their businesses, and that gave us a passion to deliver our knowledge wherever we could. It was a true game changer, not just for them, but for us as well.

7. Our Annual 'Retreat' in Nice

Every year, we head off to Nice – not just for the sun, wine, and food (though those are bonuses) – but to reflect on our business, hatch new plans, and recharge. It’s become an essential part of our yearly rhythm, and the belly laughs we have there will forever be part of Queen Bee’s DNA.

8. Finding Our Tribe

From early mentors like Jo Hawkins to networking with the amazing people at Moxie Mingle, North West VA Hub and WIBN, we’ve built a strong network of friends, clients, and supporters. Recently, our Passion and Purpose Club with Karen has given us a relaxed and updated way to connect. Surrounding yourself with people who “get it” is key to survival – and a big reason we’ve worked so hard to create a community of florists through our courses. Which leads us nicely…

9. Launching Our Own Your Marketing Course for Florists

This one’s a biggie – launching our own marketing course for florists and becoming an Industry Partner with the British Florist Association has been a dream come true. We’ve been truly humbled by the florist community's acceptance and support, and it’s an honour to be able to make a difference in their businesses. Seeing the confidence and success our OYM’ers achieve is one of our proudest accomplishments.

10. Taking On Every Challenge

From climbing Snowdon to completing the Crystal Maze, to launching our course to running this business for a decade, every challenge we’ve faced has brought us closer together and taught us just how capable we are. No matter the task, we push ourselves, rally each other, and get it done. Proud of us Mrs B.

We couldn’t do it without each other, and we’re beyond grateful for our friendship, which has made these last 10 years in business some of the best years of our lives.

Want to celebrate with us? Head over to Instagram, where we’ve got lots more 10-themed fun and special moments in store! 🎉🎂

Here’s to the next 10!