Amanda Ketikidis – Tips to Become a Successful Entrepreneur

 Building a thriving business takes vision, grit, and a deep understanding of both your market and yourself. Amanda Ketikidis—entrepreneur, founder of the year‑long preserved‑flower brand Eternal Fleur, and Business Development Director at THG Ingenuity—has navigated the highs and lows of startup life more than once. Here, she shares her top ten tips for anyone looking to turn an idea into a sustainable, scalable enterprise.

1. Cultivate a Mission-Driven Mindset

Why it matters: A clear “why” fuels you through setbacks and inspires customers, employees, and partners.

• Find your purpose: Reflect on the problem you’re solving and the change you want to make—beyond profit.
• Embed your mission: Let it shape product design, team culture, and customer communications.

“When your business is grounded in purpose, every obstacle becomes an opportunity to reaffirm your why.” – Amanda

2. Validate Early and Often

Why it matters: Early feedback prevents costly pivots down the road.

• Run micro‑tests: Launch a minimal viable product (MVP) or a landing page to gauge interest.
• Listen closely: Survey your first beta users—what delights them? What confuses them?

Amanda’s Eternal Fleur started as a single sample box shared with friends; their reactions guided the final product.

3. Bootstrap with Smart Resource Allocation

Why it matters: Limited budgets demand creative problem‑solving and instill financial discipline.

• Prioritize ruthlessly: Spend on what accelerates learning or customer acquisition.
• Leverage free channels: Build organic traction through social media communities and word‑of‑mouth.

“Every dollar saved on unnecessary expenses can be reinvested into core growth activities.” – Amanda

4. Build a Values-Driven Team

Why it matters: Your people are the engine that will carry your vision forward.

• Hire for attitude: Look for passion, resilience, and cultural fit over polished resumes.
• Empower ownership: Give team members autonomy and accountability.

At Eternal Fleur, Amanda fosters a flat structure where even interns pitch new ideas directly to leadership.

5. Master Your Brand Story

Why it matters: Authentic narratives connect emotionally and differentiate you in a crowded market.

• Craft your origin: Share why you started and the challenges you overcame.
• Weave consistency: Use the same core messages across website copy, social posts, and investor decks.

Amanda’s story—combining her Greek heritage with eco‑innovation—became the heartbeat of her branding.

6. Leverage Strategic Partnerships

Why it matters: The right allies can open doors to new channels, audiences, and capabilities.

• Target win‑wins: Seek partners whose strengths complement yours, whether in distribution, tech, or marketing.
• Nurture the relationship: Co‑create campaigns, share data, and celebrate joint successes.

Partnering with eco‑minded event planners turned Eternal Fleur into a go‑to choice for weddings and corporate gifts.

7. Embrace Data-Driven Decision‑Making

Why it matters: Gut instinct matters—but data helps you refine and scale with confidence.

• Define key metrics: Track acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, churn rate, and product usage patterns.
• Iterate quickly: Use A/B testing and monthly reviews to adapt campaigns and features.

Amanda credits her sharp ad optimization skills for saving her from overspending on underperforming channels.

8. Prioritize Customer Experience

Why it matters: Loyal customers become your best marketers and a stable revenue base.

• Map the journey: Identify every customer touchpoint and find ways to delight or simplify.
• Ask for feedback: Post‑purchase surveys and direct outreach reveal hidden pain points.

Personalized thank‑you notes and tutorial videos turned first‑time buyers into repeat advocates for Eternal Fleur.

9. Stay Agile & Resilient

Why it matters: Markets shift, crises hit, and your ability to pivot determines survival.

• Develop plan B (and C): Anticipate risks—supplier delays, funding gaps, demand swings—and sketch contingency strategies.
• Learn from setbacks: Conduct post‑mortems on failures to extract lessons, not blame.

When COVID‑19 disrupted supply chains, Amanda quickly launched smaller “votive” versions of her flowers to maintain cash flow.

10. Invest in Continuous Learning

Why it matters: The entrepreneurial landscape evolves—and so should you.

• Seek mentors & peers: Join founder communities, attend workshops, and schedule regular check‑ins with advisors.
• Read broadly: Blend industry reports, biographies, and leadership books to spark new ideas.

Amanda’s ongoing growth at THG Ingenuity comes from immersing herself in both startup bootcamps and corporate innovation labs.

Final Thoughts

Success in entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line—it’s a winding path marked by experimentation, adaptation, and relentless passion. Amanda Ketikidis’s journey—from bootstrapping a niche floral startup to steering growth strategies for top e‑commerce brands—demonstrates that the core ingredients are purpose, perseverance, and people.

By applying these ten tips—rooted in real‑world experience—you’ll be well‑equipped to launch, grow, and sustain your own venture. Remember: every small win compounds over time. Start with clarity, move with intention, and keep learning—your next breakthrough may be just around the corner.