Real Startup Stories

In this episode, I sat down with the Empress beauty salon owners to talk about their journey through the beauty industry and the challenges that came with building their business. We talked about: Getting started in the beauty world Growing the brand and building a loyal client base The realities of running a business behind the scenes Dealing with an unfair landlord and eviction drama Taking the situation to court The stress, pressure and uncertainty of it all Lessons they learned through the experience What’s next for Empress A real conversation about business, resilience and what it takes to keep going when everything feels against you. Follow their journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empresss.redruth?igsh=MWQ1emptaHQ3b3Vncw== Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness... Listening on the go Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rXVvO9... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id... Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/93c... Business enquiries: [email protected]

Sat down with Eddie from Spray Station - a painting and decorating business doing things differently. We dive into how he went bankrupt in his 20s, took time out travelling Thailand, and came back with a completely new approach to the trade… swapping traditional methods for spray painting. Fast forward to today, he’s built a team of 25+, working on luxury homes and high-end properties - including projects for well-known names he couldn’t disclose. We talk about: The reality of going bankrupt young Why he walked away and reset in Thailand How Spray Station was built from scratch Scaling a trade business to 25+ staff Spray painting vs traditional decorating Working on high-end and celebrity homes * Lessons from failure and building back stronger If you’re in business, trades, or trying to build something from nothing - this one’s for you. Follow their journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spraystationcornwall?igsh=MTBpMWF5bmljN2gxaQ== Website: spraystationltd.co.uk Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

In this episode, I sat down with The Aussie Smoker - a guy who turned a love for backyard BBQs into a full-blown smoked meat business. We dive into his journey from growing up in Australia, where BBQs were a way of life, to coming over to the UK and building something from scratch. Starting out by wholesaling smoked meats, he then took a bold step - running a venue just one night a week on a presale model… and selling it out consistently. Since then, he’s expanded into events and weddings, secured his own unit, and is now moving into a huge new space as the business continues to grow. This is a real story about spotting an opportunity, backing yourself, and scaling something simple into something serious. If you’re into business, food, or just hearing how people turn ideas into reality - you’ll enjoy this one. Follow their journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaussiesmokercatering?igsh=d3pyeW5lMjc0dnZy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theaussiesmokerbbq?_r=1&_t=ZN-95reEiICzxO Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to another episode of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. In this episode, I sat down with the founder of TradeKwest — a brand new app aiming to change how people learn real-world skills. This one’s all about building something from scratch with a small team, spotting a gap in the market, and creating a product that can genuinely help people of any age or experience level. In this episode we cover: • How he found and worked with an app developer • Building a platform with a small team • Where the idea for TradeKwest came from • Creating something for all ages and skill levels • The future vision for the app • The realities of launching something new If you’re thinking about building an app, starting a business, or turning an idea into reality - this episode is for you. Follow their journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradekwest?igsh=MWVlNWthaG9idnFkOA== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tradekwest?_r=1&_t=ZN-95hFnoQr0NC Download here for a free 7 day trial https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tradekwest-diy-trade-skills/id6757332326 Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to another episode of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. This one is wild. I sat down with Annissa and Mohsin, who built an e-commerce brand from her bedroom and scaled it to £30M in total revenue in just 6 years… before losing it all. No fluff. No pretending. Just the real story behind the numbers. In this episode we cover: • How they started their brand from scratch with no experience • The steps they took to scale to £30M • What rapid growth actually does behind the scenes • The mistakes that led to everything collapsing • The reality of losing a business you built from nothing • Lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear before scaling This episode is for anyone building a brand, running a business, or chasing growth — because sometimes growing too fast can cost you everything. If you enjoy these real, unfiltered startup stories, make sure to subscribe and follow the journey. Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories Real people. Real businesses. Real lessons. Follow their journey Instagram: http://instagram.com/annissatalksbusiness TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annissatalksbusiness Website: https://learn.lumosense.co.uk/annissa?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleARImyFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacpYeQyyy-sZbnY-NIO609X7WGtwr27-kiZ8SLkp1ZdUdiY_oQevYsmRMpjmg_aem_ItI4wVY0wbR0M-Z3lwEVrw Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to another solo episode of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. This episode is all about building income, mindset, and the reality behind growing a business from the ground up. In this episode I cover: • How I built my Airbnb portfolio and got started • The truth about Airbnb income and scaling properties • Creating multiple income streams in 2026 • The habits that actually make a difference (including my “secret napper” routine) • Why I believe in giving back and filling other people’s cups • Buying someone else a birthday cake (and why it matters) • Growing my content to over 400,000 views in the last 30 days • Why I’m now looking for sponsors and brand deals If you’re interested in Airbnb, making money online, building income streams, or growing a personal brand, this episode breaks it down in a real and honest way.

Welcome to Episode 8 of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. This week I sat down with Konnor Ewudzi - Love Island contestant, model, barber, and someone with a powerful story that goes far beyond reality TV. In this episode we cover: • What REALLY goes on behind the scenes of Love Island • How Konnor got into modelling and building his personal brand • The struggles he faced growing up, including dealing with dyslexia • How those challenges shaped his mindset and resilience • Why he’s running the London Marathon and raising money for charity • His connection to sickle cell awareness and giving back This isn’t just a Love Island episode - it’s about overcoming obstacles, building something from nothing, and using your platform for a bigger purpose. If you enjoy real, honest conversations with people building their own path, make sure to subscribe and follow along. Follow Konnor’s journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konnorewudzi?igsh=MTlhN3A4Z3I2Y2Jzcg== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@konnor_ewudzi?_r=1&_t=ZN-95622KG7zcc Snapchat: Konwoodz Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to another episode of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. In this episode, I sit down with Matt, the man behind Cub & Co - a multi-location coffee and clothing brand that’s been built through trial, error, and constant evolution. This one is real. No fluff. Just honest insight into what it actually takes to build and scale a brand. In this episode we cover: • The story behind Cub & Co and how it all started • The reality of opening (and closing) locations • Why Matt decided to rebrand - and what changed after • Running multiple sites with a small, tight team • Lessons learned from building both a coffee and clothing brand • Tips and advice for anyone starting their own clothing brand This isn’t about overnight success. It’s about adapting, learning, and building something that lasts. If you’re into business, startups, or building a brand from the ground up - this one’s for you Follow Cub&co’s journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubandco.uk?igsh=bjRoMnJ3Z3psMjMz Website: cubcornwall.co.uk Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to Episode 5 of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. In this episode I’m joined by Chanel from Chanel’s Cakery, an online cake business based in Cornwall that has built a huge following online and now ships cakes nationwide. At one point she had 800 people waiting on her website for a restock… and sold 2000 cakes in just 30 minutes. In this episode we cover: • How Chanel’s Cakery started • Building a loyal audience online • What happened during the viral cake restock • The reality of running a fast-growing food business • Shipping cakes across the UK • Advice for anyone wanting to start an online business This podcast is all about real startup stories from real people - not overnight success, but the journey behind building something from nothing. If you enjoy hearing how everyday people turn ideas into businesses, make sure to subscribe and follow the journey. Follow Chanel’s journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanelscakery?igsh=azN3cjExdWRiNWt6 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chanelscakery?_r=1&_t=ZN-94iAq5MoHVW Buy her cakes here www.chanelscakery.co.uk Follow my journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realstartup... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesbusiness...

Welcome to Episode 5 of Business Diaries - Real Startup Stories. In this episode I’m joined by Brett Barnes, who made the decision many people talk about… but very few actually do. He left employment behind to pursue content creation full time. But the reality of being your own boss isn’t always what people think. In this episode we cover: • Brett’s journey into social media and how it all started • The moment he decided to leave his 9-5 job • The risks and pressure of relying on content for income • The challenges of being your own boss • How social media has changed his life • What he’s working on right now and where he wants to go next This episode is about taking risks. It’s about betting on yourself. And it’s about understanding that building something of your own comes with real pressure, uncertainty, and responsibility. Social media might look easy from the outside. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot more to it. If you’ve ever thought about leaving your job, starting something online, or creating your own path - this episode is for you.