Are you a shoe enthusiast? particularly fond of Nike 110's? If so, this episode is tailor-made for you. Join James as he sits down with Charlie McDonough and Sam Byrne, from Liverpool's iconic shoe store- Block P.

Charlie discovered the lucrative potential of the resale industry after profiting from a shoe sale on Depop. After becoming a Depop Community Leader in Liverpool, Charlie was fueled with inspiration for the city's admiration for Nike 110's. Taking a bold leap, Charlie founded Block P, and with the support of colleague and investor Sam, the two have forged a powerful partnership dedicated to the business’s success.

In this engaging conversation, Charlie and Sam recount their adventures traveling across Europe in pursuit of the finest 110's to bring back to their Liverpool store. They also delve into the challenges of launching their own line of products, sharing the relentless efforts required to achieve the quality they desire.

A highlight of their journey has been designing and selling their own 110 slippers—a resellers' dream come true, with demand skyrocketing. What's next for these ambitious entrepreneurs? Listen in to discover their plans for the future and how they continue to fuel their passion for growth.

#liverpool

#fashion

#shoes

In this captivating episode, James sits down with the talented independent Liverpool singer-songwriter Anthony Russell, as he gears up for the launch of his second album Street Songs on 12 April 2025. Known for his soulful voice and heartfelt performances, Anthony takes us on a journey through his life and career, sharing the pivotal moments that shaped his path.

Anthony opens up about his experience on the British talent show, X Factor, and the immense impact it had on his life. He credits the unwavering support from One Direction's Louis Tomlinson as a crucial element that helped him navigate through some of his darkest times. With sincerity and courage, Anthony discusses his upbringing in a challenging environment where drink and drugs were a constant presence, and how these experiences influenced his music and aspirations.

Despite the hurdles, Anthony's determination has never wavered. His incredible journey has taken him to stages around the world, including a recent performance in the Caribbean for Chopard Jewellery. In this episode, he reveals how the encouragement and belief of others have been instrumental in helping him take life one day at a time, ultimately transforming him into the artist and person he is today.

What exactly is wealth management, and how can it benefit you?

In this weeks episode, James delves into the realm of wealth management with John Price, founder and owner of Modus Wealth Management in Liverpool.

John shares his insights into the wealth management industry, detailing his journey from climbing the corporate ladder to his time at the prestigious Coutts, where he became the second youngest Executive Director outside of London.

Despite his success, John realised that his Liverpudlian values and perspectives were increasingly at odds with the corporate environment. Taking the bold decision to take a 100% pay cut to start his own business from his spare bedroom, the business has since expanded to a team of nine and has recently been awarded Professional Services Business of the Year.

https://www.modus-wealth.co.uk

#podcast #wealth #liverpool

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint, James interviews Michael Achilleos, the founder and owner of Grael, a premier luxury footwear restoration and cleaning company located in the vibrant Baltic Triangle of Liverpool.

Mike recounts his journey from running a successful fish and chips shop to realising it was time for a change. As he neared the sale of his business, uncertainty about his next steps began to weigh on him. However, a fortunate search on Google sparked the idea of starting his luxury footwear restoration company.

Now, with a thriving team by his side, Mike is restoring shoes for local celebrities, footballers, and clients from all over the UK. He shares his vision for the company and reveals some exciting plans he has in store.

www.grael.co.uk

.Have you ever been curious about how to purchase a house in the UK? Are you feeling daunted by mortgage jargon and APRs?

Join Alex Leppard, the owner of the award-winning mortgage brokerage AL Mortgages, as he discusses everything mortgage-related with James. Alex shares his journey from being an advisor at Barclays Bank to becoming the owner of one of the fastest-growing mortgage brokerage firms in the North West. The home-buying process can be quite overwhelming, particularly for first-time buyers. Alex breaks down the steps of mortgage broking to simplify the process and enhance understanding. With changing high APR rates, could this be the new norm?

#business #podcast #mortgage

In this weeks episode of The Founders Blueprint podcast, James dives into the inspiring journey of Roxanne Twomey, founder and owner of School of Rox in Liverpool. Roxanne share's her transformative experience of juggling multiple part-time jobs to then ultimately realising the importance of pursuing her true passion - teaching music

From a young age, Roxanne was immersed in the arts, with early interests in boxing, singing, and piano. At just 16, she began teaching music lessons from home, turning a childhood love into a thriving side hustle while completing her studies. With a commitment to excellence and a desire to support her community, she built a loyal clientele, proving that passion and hard work can lead to success.

Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of balancing work, education, and personal interests. Plus, hear about the exciting achievement of how Roxanne has published her very own Beginners Guide to the Piano this year.

Welcome to episode 18 of The Founders Blueprint. In this week's episode, James engages in a conversation with Joe Campbell, the founder and creator of Culture City, one of Liverpool's fastest-growing corporate film, photography, and design companies.

Joe reflects on his college days, uncertain of where his journey would take him—whether it would lead him to join a band or venture into filmmaking. One thing he was certain of was his love for picking up a camera and capturing people living their best lives. But how could he transform this passion into a thriving business?

With an impressive portfolio that includes collaborations with Nike and the UK Government, Joe shares his experiences working with musician Jamie Webster on his own film, as well as the challenges and successes of running a film business.

www.culturecity.co.uk

In this episode of The Founders Blueprint, James is joined by Georgia and Jade Morgan, the founders and business owners of Propel PR in Liverpool.

With backgrounds in journalism and fashion, the sisters joined forces in 2019 to establish their own business and have never looked back. Their extensive understanding of building positive client relationships and delivering exactly what clients desire has allowed their business to thrive continuously. They share their insights on what it takes to run a successful PR company and discuss one of their recent events—the launch of the esteemed The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie.

The sisters reveal that while their jobs may appear glamorous, the countless hours of hard work behind the scenes tell a different story... they discuss how they manage their workloads while operating a successful business that is available around the clock as well as being busy Mums.

www.propelpr.co.uk