The SME Community Podcast
The SME Community Podcast is the podcast for ambitious SME owners, entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders looking for practical insights to grow, adapt and innovate.
Hosted by Aisling Hurley, design-led innovation researcher, lecturer and founder of TBF Innovation Lab, each episode features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, researchers, industry experts, educators and changemakers shaping the future of business. Together, we explore innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), digital marketing, leadership, sustainability, business strategy, design thinking, research and the real challenges of building successful organisations.
Whether you're starting a business, scaling an SME, leading innovation, navigating digital transformation or looking for practical advice from people who've been there, you'll discover inspiring stories, expert insights and actionable ideas you can apply immediately.
Originally created in partnership with Local Enterprise Office Tipperary, The SME Community Podcast is now proudly produced by TBF Innovation Lab, bringing together conversations with innovators, founders, academics, policymakers and business leaders from Ireland and beyond.
If you're interested in innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence for business, SME growth, innovation leadership, design-led innovation, responsible innovation and the future of work, subscribe and join the conversation.
Visit https://tbf.ie for free business resources, research, training, innovation tools and professional development.
The SME Community Podcast
How Qualitative Research Helps Businesses Make Better Decisions | Robin Challis
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Why do some products succeed while others fail? The answer often starts with understanding people.
In this episode, Aisling speaks with qualitative market research specialist Robin Challis, whose work has helped global brands including Kellogg's, Cadbury and Yakult better understand their customers. Together they explore how qualitative research uncovers customer motivations, behaviours, perceptions and decision-making—insights that surveys and statistics alone often miss. The conversation covers focus groups, interviews, consumer behaviour, brand positioning, product development and why listening to customers remains one of the most valuable investments any business can make. Whether you're launching a new product, developing a service, testing an idea or simply trying to understand your customers better, this episode offers practical insights into the power of qualitative research.
You can talk to TBF on Twitter or Instagram @tbfcentral using the #SMECommunityPodcast or at https://tbf.ie.
Suggest a topic for a future episode.
The SME Community Podcast is produced by TBF Innovation Lab and hosted by Aisling Hurley.
Each episode shares practical conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, research and business growth to help SMEs, founders and business leaders innovate with confidence.
🌐 Website: https://tbf.ie
📧 Contact: aisling@tbf.ie
Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinghurley/
Looking for practical innovation tools, AI resources or leadership frameworks? Visit https://tbf.ie
