Show notes
Find me, Granger Forson, at www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk or on LinkedIn.
Sarah O’Neill’s journey began with a simple, heartfelt need: to feel part of a community again. What started as a personal response to the isolation of lockdowns grew into Cotswold Collective, a thriving rewards-based membership platform dedicated to supporting local businesses and bringing people together. Her background in marketing and events became the spark that helped transform a difficult season of life into something meaningful for thousands of others.
In our conversation, Sarah shares the early days of the Collective, from persuading the first 40–50 local brands to take a chance on an unproven idea, through to today’s network of more than 450 businesses and a rapidly growing membership. Her energy is infectious, and her belief in conscious shopping, shared experiences, and celebrating the stories behind local businesses shines through every step of her journey.
We also explore how the Collective has evolved into a sophisticated digital product, recently launching an app that already has hundreds of downloads. Sarah explains how she designed the offers to be completely bespoke, ensuring that brands feel valued while consumers enjoy something genuinely special each time they use their membership.
What really stands out is Sarah’s deep commitment to purposeful connection. Whether through events, collaborations, or simply encouraging people to rediscover the high street,
Cotswold Collective is about more than rewards. It’s about belonging, supporting independents, and creating those magical moments when people meet, collaborate, and flourish together.
Finally, Sarah opens up about the realities of building the business while raising two young children, the power of saying yes, and what it means to grow something with heart. This episode is packed with inspiration for founders, community-builders, and anyone who believes small actions can create big impact.
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So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of community, connection and conscious shopping with Sarah.
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Sarah can be found here:
https://cotswoldcollective.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjayneoneill/
https://www.instagram.com/cotswold.collective/
Resources:
Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/harry-potter-and-the-philosopher-s-stane-harry-potter-and-the-philosopher-s-stone-in-scots-j-k-rowling/3277111?ean=9781785301544&next=t
Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/
Cotswold Collective podcast - https://rephonic.com/podcasts/the-cotswold-collective-podcast
Cotswold Collective app - https://cotswoldcollective.co/