The Entrepreneur Experiment

Lorraine Heskin, founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, reflects on her entrepreneurial journey from a humble 25-seater café to a thriving national brand. She candidly shares the challenges of starting without investors and emphasizes the power of community support and strong team dynamics. Lorraine discusses the importance of strategic branding, customer relationships, and the vital role of personal values in business. Her insights into balancing personal well-being with growth highlight the human side of entrepreneurship, inspiring aspiring business owners to trust their instincts.

Laura Bonner discusses the vital importance of mental fitness, likening therapy to essential workouts for the mind. She highlights the rejuvenating power of retreats that combine therapy, yoga, and meditation. The conversation shifts to redefining value, urging a focus on quality over quantity in life and legacy. Bonner emphasizes that true success is rooted in being a great person rather than just a great business professional. It's a candid exploration of perspective, healing, and the importance of authentic connections.

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Rory King, the founder of Rory’s Travel Club- a radically simple subscription business that’s quietly revolutionising travel in Ireland and beyond. With no investors, no fancy app, and no startup playbook, Rory turned a €10 Facebook idea into a thriving travel club with over 200,000 members, a 10-person team, and a blueprint to reach one million users. From sleeping in his car outside Applegreen Petrol Station to traveling to Sri Lanka with his customers, Rory shares his unfiltered journey of hustle, honesty, and high-impact email marketing. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a profitable business without venture capital - or how to make email sexy again - this episode is your masterclass. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 💡 How Rory validated his idea with a €10 PayPal experiment on Facebook 📬 Why email marketing (done right) is still king—with 70% open rates 🚀 The low-cost, high-impact subscription model fueling explosive growth 🤝 How Rory builds loyalty through real-life connection and 1:1 interaction 🌍 The plan to scale from Ireland to Scotland, the UK, and beyond 🎯 Why keeping the annual fee at €12 is part of the growth strategy 🧠 Repurposing old content + smart social media strategies 🔄 Retention, recurring revenue, and the beauty of a no-commission model 🛏️ How 5-star hotels and top travel brands now come to him with deals ☕ From sports science grad to group trip leader: Rory’s real entrepreneurial journey   Links & Resources: Rory’s Travel Club Follow Rory on Instagram: @rorystravelclub Email Marketing Tool Rory Recommends: ActiveCampaign ___ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ___ Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee 

In this Mentor Moment from episode 370, Nadia Adan shares how she left a high-paying corporate job in finance to launch her own car dealership, Ashford Motors, just before the pandemic. With grit, intuition, and a flair for social media, Nadia built a thriving business from scratch—even as others called her a "backstreet garage." This short episode is packed with powerful insights on betting on yourself, overcoming cultural expectations, and building a brand with both heart and hustle. ___________________ Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this powerful episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets Sean Brett – the unstoppable founder behind Steeltech Sheds. From painting houses with no experience to dominating Galway’s coal market and eventually building Ireland’s leading steel shed business, Sean shares a rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey packed with grit, hustle, and heart. With no formal education beyond the age of 14 and a background shaped by dyslexia and adversity, Sean embodies the very essence of resilience. He opens up about cold calling his way to success, reinventing himself through personal development, and why not caring what others think is the greatest entrepreneurial mindset of all. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves, questioned their path, or needed a reminder that the best businesses often start with zero resources and pure belief. 🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Sean’s first “Eureka” ad that kickstarted his painting business 🚛 How he went from one bag of coal to Galway’s biggest coal distributor 🏗 The origin story of Steeltech Sheds – and the pints-fuelled brainstorming that led to the name 🧠 Why overcoming dyslexia became one of his greatest strengths 🧰 The surprising power of rejection and how it built his sales resilience 📉 What he did when orders dried up overnight during the crash—and how expansion saved him 🎯 The marketing lessons he learned that still hold true today 🧍 Why being the face of your brand matters more than ever in the age of AI 💬 “If you could not care what other people think about you, your life would be so much happier, better, successful.” 🔗 Links & Resources: Steeltech Sheds — Learn more about Sean’s business: https://www.steeltechsheds.ie/  The Entrepreneur Experiment Newsletter — Stay updated with new episodes and insights: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1   --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this bite-sized Mentor Moment from Episode 384, David Jelly, founder of Property Bridges, joins Gary Fox to dissect two of Ireland’s biggest challenges: why people aren’t investing — despite sitting on billions in cash — and why startups struggle to retain talent in a post-COVID world. From cultural mindsets to broken incentives, David gets honest about what needs to change. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just trying to make sense of Ireland’s economic contradictions, this moment will provide some useful food for thought on investing in Ireland, and how to shape your team in our hybrid working world.  ------ Visit my partners:  Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this inspiring episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan—the powerhouse duo behind Ella & Jo, one of Ireland’s fastest-growing beauty brands. From a single product and two simultaneous pregnancies to a global business stocked in Boots, Dunnes Stores and over 400 pharmacies, their story is anything but ordinary. Charlene and Niamh open up about how they built Ella & Jo from the West of Ireland, how they define success on their own terms, and why authenticity, connection, and community are at the heart of everything they do. Whether you’re a solo founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or building a business while juggling parenthood—this episode will leave you fired up, grounded, and full of ideas. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 💡 The serendipitous start to Charlene & Niamh’s partnership 👩‍🔬 From skin clinic and bridal makeup to co-founders of a global beauty brand 🧴 How a single brush cleanser idea turned into an award-winning product range 🌍 Building a global brand from the West of Ireland 💬 Why your business doesn’t have to be born in Dublin, London, or NYC 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Growing a business while growing a family—simultaneous pregnancies and startup hustle 🧘 The importance of defining your own version of success 🌟 How coaching and self-acceptance helped shape their leadership styles 📦 Behind the scenes of product development: the 9-month launch timeline 🤝 The role of trust, community, and social media in scaling Ella & Jo 🧠 How to stay creatively inspired while managing the demands of entrepreneurship Links & Resources:  💻 Ella & Jo Website: https://ellaandjo.ie  📸 Charlene Flanagan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleneflanagan_  👩‍⚕️ Niamh Ryan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niamhryan_skin/  🛍️ Buy Ella & Jo at Boots Ireland: https://www.boots.ie/ella-and-jo  📚 Going for Growth – Women entrepreneurs programme: https://goingforgrowth.com/  --- Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this Mentor Moment from Episode 355 of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Barry Napier shares hard-won wisdom on how founders need to evolve as their companies scale. From letting go of control to building a culture of trust and accountability, Barry reflects on how he went from “hard work and chaos” to leading with clarity and self-awareness. If you're a founder feeling the weight of doing it all, this is a must-watch moment on what it really means to grow — not just your company, but yourself. Full Episode: The Entrepreneur Experiment Episode 355

In a fascinating conversation, John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo and key player in Ireland's tech scene, shares insights from scaling Ergo to over €200 million without outside investment. He discusses the emotional decision to step down as CEO and how he aims to give back by mentoring startups. Purdy also highlights the traits of effective founders, the importance of cultural fit in partnerships, and how AI is set to reshape industries. His journey illustrates the blend of resilience, empathy, and strategic thinking needed for entrepreneurial success.

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Keilidh Cashell — one of Ireland’s most recognisable beauty creators turned entrepreneur and founder of Kash Beauty. With over 2 million followers on TikTok and a loyal global audience, Keilidh opens up about what it really takes to build a brand in the public eye. From creating makeup looks in her bedroom to leading a business stocked internationally, Keilidh shares the highs, the challenges, and the moments where she questioned it all. She talks burnout, stepping back from content creation to become a better CEO, and learning how to lead a team while staying true to her creative core. This is an unfiltered look at the business behind the brand — and the mindset shift required to scale beyond just being the face of it. Whether you're a content creator dreaming of launching your own product or a founder navigating what growth actually feels like, this one is a must-listen. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 💄 How Keilidh transitioned from makeup influencer to founder of Kash Beauty 🌍 Scaling a brand globally while staying rooted in authenticity 🎥 The pressure of building a business while millions watch online 🧠 Burnout, boundaries and taking a step back to lead better 📦 Why she focused on product and customer experience before anything else 💬 Learning how to hire, manage and make tough business calls 🧪 Creating products that go viral and deliver results 💡 “At the start, it was all vibes — no plan.” 🔑 What it really means to build something bigger than yourself Links & Resources: Follow Keilidh on YouTube: @KeilidhMua  Follow Keilidh on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keilidhmua Follow Keilidh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keilidhmua/  Shop Kash Beauty: https://www.kashbeauty.com/  Kash Beauty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kash_beauty/ --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee