Cheeky Panda: Julie Chen on building a bamboo revolution

Building the Brands of Tomorrow by Ruth Fittock

Episode notes

“It's about evolution, not revolution - make your distinctive assets better, not different.”

Julie Chen shares the story behind Cheeky Panda - the sustainable brand that turned bamboo into a household staple. From spotting a missed opportunity in China to launching from her spare bedroom, Julie talks about creativity without restriction, learning fast, and leading a major rebrand while staying true to her founding vision.

In this episode:

  • The “Eureka” moment that sparked Cheeky Panda 🌱
  • Growing a brand from bedroom startup to Tesco shelves
  • Creativity without restriction: the early scrappy years
  • Lessons from rebranding a purpose-driven business
  • Why evolution beats revolution when refreshing a brand
Keywords
Entrepreneurship leadershipBranding