In Episode 10 of The Founders Blueprint, host James sits down with Liam Quirk, CEO and founder of Quirky Digital. Liam shares his inspiring journey from Despite leaving school without formal qualifications in math's, english, or science to leading one of the fastest-growing SEO agencies in Merseyside.

Liam's entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. He began his career with an apprenticeship and began building PCs from scratch. Motivated by his uncle's success in search engine optimization (SEO), Liam taught himself everything he needed to know, to build his own business. As a teenager, he began earning money by creating and renting websites to businesses—a venture that paved the path for his current success.

Fast forward to today, Quirky Digital is thriving under Liam's leadership, boasting a soaring turnover and a reputation for excellence. Join us as Liam shares his insights on entrepreneurship, the digital landscape, and the mindset required to run a successful business.

In episode 9 of The Founders Blueprint, James is joined by the multi-award-winning and world-renowned artist, John Charles.

Born and bred in Kirkby, John opens up about his early love for art, and recalls the day he sat a small coffee table with a tiny easel where he painted Disney pictures. However, his story takes a dark turn, when during his teenage years, he struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. John bravely recounts these dark times and discusses his inspiring path to recovery.

John, supported by his wife Jen, reflects on his return to the art world he loves. He speaks of his next steps in opening his own art gallery in Southport and is excited to showcase his work to the public.

This is an amazing conversation with an inspiring and warm-hearted man who has turned his passion into a celebrated career.

artistjohncharles.com

In this weeks episode, James dives into the entrepreneurial journey of Jess, the dynamic force behind Spray Tans By Jessy. After completing her apprenticeship as a barber, and working many hours in hairdressers, Jess felt she needed more from her career. Embracing her passion for beauty, she embarked on a new path in spray tanning, a decision that would soon transform her professional life.

Jess shares her experiences of stepping into the world of self-employment. After the birth of her second child, she made the courageous choice to leave her role as a barber to launch her own business, fully aware of the trade-offs like forfeiting holiday & maternity pay.

Jess opens up about the unseen side of her success. From the highs of running a flourishing business to the challenges of managing anxiety and maintaining a vibrant social media presence, Jess offers a heartfelt account of balancing her roles as a busy working mum and a successful business owner.

In this episode of Founders Blueprint podcast, we dive into the fascinating journey of Chris Redman, founder and CEO of Ultimate Kids Ltd in Merseyside. Redman, a successful business owner has built a thriving enterprise despite his aversion with asking for payment. Chris candidly discusses the challenges he faced in overcoming his discomfort with sales and shares the innovative strategies he employed to grow his business without compromising his values. Listeners will gain insights into how to build strong client relationships and develop a mindset that balances passion with profitability. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, Chris' story offers valuable lessons on navigating the financial aspects of entrepreneurship with integrity and confidence.

Ultimatekids.co.uk

Welcome to this week's episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, where James chats with Kosta Xenos, the co-founder and co-owner of the luxurious Liverpool menswear store, Andrea Kosta.

Kosta's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Eleven years ago, he left his home city of Athens with a dream. Armed with the skills he honed as a tailor in Greece, Kosta envisioned a menswear store that combined traditional craftsmanship with modern luxury. But like many entrepreneurial stories, his began not with a storefront, but in the stockrooms of Liverpool.

It was during his time at Flannels that he met his future business partner, Andreas Doukanaris. The two shared a vision—a dream to create something unique in the world of men's fashion.

They focused on the finer details, from selecting the perfect fabrics to arranging contracts with Italian suppliers, ensuring that every piece in their collection was crafted with excellence.

Today, Andrea Kosta is a thriving name in luxury menswear, and it doesn't stop there. With plans to open new stores in Manchester and Athens, Kosta and Andreas are taking their brand to new heights. Join us as Kosta shares the trials and triumphs of their journey, offering insights into the world of fashion entrepreneurship.

Listen in and remember to dream big and dress well !

In this episode James, speaks with Holly Braithwaite and Callum Webb, the dynamic duo behind Pow8r, the revolutionary online fitness app. In this episode, Holly and Callum reveal the trials and triumphs of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic while managing two thriving personal training business', each boasting six-figure turnovers. As the world went into lockdown, they took the initiative to raise funds for the NHS and provided free online training sessions to help maintain public health and wellbeing.

Despite the uncertainty, Holly and Callum remained optimistic that life would eventually return to normal. However, the question loomed: would they return to the traditional gym floor? Tune in to learn how their vision and innovation led to leaving their business' behind, to launch Pow8r's presence in over 60 countries, transforming fitness routines worldwide.

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint Podcast, host James sits down Jack Brewitt, the founder and CEO of 92 Degrees Coffee Shops. Listen in as Jack shares his inspiring story, from his humble beginnings in Liverpool with dreams of becoming a professional footballer to his unexpected detour working on a building site.

Jack's path took a transformative turn when he was recruited by Steven Bartlett's Social Chain, which led him to the innovative environment of Silicon Valley. Inspired and driven, Jack returned to his roots with a vision to create something extraordinary. With the support of investors, he launched 92 Degrees Coffee Shop in Liverpool. However, just six weeks in, Jack realised his true calling was to lead the company independently, resulting in him buying out the investors.

Today, with 20 thriving locations, 92 Degrees has become a beloved name in the coffee community. But this success story isn't without its challenges. Jack discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his business and the uncertainty that loomed over the survival of his shops.

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, host James Quinn sits down with Elle Hughes, founder and CEO of LovElle Skin Solutions, in Liverpool.

Elle offers listeners a rare glimpse into her daily routine, which begins at the crack of dawn - 4:30 AM to be precise! Despite her busy schedule filled with running a thriving skincare clinic, maintaining an engaging social media presence and being a devoted mother, Elle's energy and passion for her work remain unwavering. She shares how she manages to treat an impressive 20-30 clients a day, of all ages with unique needs, ensuring they receive personalized and exceptional care. Elle is committed to ensuring each client who leaves her clinic following a treatment, feels supported and happy.

Tune in to this episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast and prepare to be inspired by Elle’s remarkable story and learn practical strategies for balancing life's many demands while pursuing one's passion.