Trade Entrepreneur Podcast

David meets Lee Mayers, owner of Villlage Fireplaces & Stoves, in the Isle of Man. In this episode, they talk about: - Going from a solo tradesman to a leading a team - How Manx customers are different from those in the UK - His hopes for the future of the solid fuel industry

David meets Lee Mayers, owner of Villlage Fireplaces & Stoves, in the Isle of Man. In this episode, they talk about: - Going from a solo tradesman to a leading a team - How Manx customers are different from those in the UK - His hopes for the future of the solid fuel industry

David looks back at lessons learned in 2024 - and how it's helping him shape his future at Mr Soot. For details on the Business Masterclass, visit  https://mr-soot.com/product/business-masterclass-trade-secrets-revealed/

It’s the heat loss recovery system which took an industry by surprise - and  confounded sceptics. In this espiode, Will Burrows tell David about Recoheat’s journey, and their plans for the future.

Mike Woods trained at our Mr Soot Training Centre earlier this year. He’s now a HETAS approved sweep and facing his first ‘silly season’. In this interview, Mike talks about his background, why he swapped careers, and what he’s expecting over the autumn and winter months.

When non-league Marine Football Club were drawn against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, it transformed the Merseyside team. Their Commercial Manager Cara Leach joins David to discuss how they're now engaging with local businesses to provide a real hub for the community.

In this episode, founder of Flue & Ducting, Ryan Hancock, talks about his background, how he brought Duraflue to the UK, and the moment he thought his business would close for good. This episode is brought to you in conjunction with Fireplace Specialist Magazine -  the official and only independent trade magazine supporting the industry . Read the latest edition at www.fireplacespecialistmagaz...

Yorkshire marketing professional Gary Walker traded black tie dinners for black hands when he trained as a HETAS approved chimney sweep. He talks to David about his first 'silly season' and how his background is giving his brand the marketing edge. The Trade Entrepreneur episode is brought to you in conjunction with Advance Chimney Cameras - the quality CCTV flue inspection equipment use...

Byron Schramm left his chimney business in Colorado behind for six months - and set out for a European adventure. David catches up with him on the British leg of his tour to discuss chimneys, entrepreneurship and the work-life balance ‘myth’. This episode is brought to you in association with Rodstation chimney rods - the equipment used by professional sweeps internationally. Visit www.rodstation....

Marketing expert Daniel Ezzatvar researched the construction sector for his Masters Degree. He tells David how he’s now using that as a springboard to help bridge the white-blue collar divide across the sector. This episode is brought to you in conjunction with Fireplace Specialist Magazine -  the official and only independent trade magazine supporting the industry . Read the latest edition at www...

James Archer went from one-man-in-his-shed to being the face of one of the UK’s best known stove brands. But as Clock Woodburners underwent a meteoric rise, James found it a challenge to adapt to these new pressures. In a frank interview with David, James talks about how he started out in the industry, the secret behind Clock’s success, and his plans for the future.

“He liked it so much he bought the company!” In this episode, Liam Hobbs, of More Than Loft Ladders, tells David how he went from being a franchisee to buying the business outright. It’s a fascinating story from someone who has a real entrepreneurial spirit who only really acted on it a bit later in life. 

Essex chimney sweep Joe Gomez sat the US chimney sweep exams - and passed. He now wants to help improve standards here in the UK. In this episode he talks to David about his experiences in America…

Sixth-generation sweep Josh Firkins joins David for an indepth discussion about the future of chimney sweeping, and how he feels trade associations have got it wrong...

In a follow up to last year's interview about whether to grown his one-man band, Wilts chimney sweep Alastair Kemp returns to the show to reflect on what he did next...

With a sluggish economy, the UK needs small businesses to drive growth. So why are some unable to meet even their own aspirations? In this episode, David reveals a key issue which the Government needs to sort out ASAP...

Focusing solely on your business means potentially missing out on opportunities. In this episode, David outlines how 'outside' interests beyond your day-to-day work can help you and your business...

Cashflow can be tricky in a seasonal business. But there are some steps you can take to counteract that, as David discusses in this episode...

Expanding your business can be challenging, but having a scarcity mindset can strangle any idea at birth. In this episode, David looks at how overcoming this is vital if you want to grow...

It's clear we're in choppy financial waters - and adapting to survive can be a necessity. In this episode, David looks at how you can grow even when the economy is shrinking...

Too many people are scared of failure. But it's actually an essential ingredient to any success story. In this episode, David explains why we need to redefine our relationship with it...

When Ray Kroc travelled to a small restaurant in California, little did he know it would be the first step towards creating a global brand. This week, David reveals why you too should watch 'The Founder' - the story of McDonald's

It's tempting to let routines slide, but the key to success often relies on the repetition of tasks which, ultimately, lead you towards your goals...

Many want to expand, but when it comes to the crunch. many tradespeople just can't do it. Is it down to circumstances, or is there something else at play? In this episode, David looks at the 5 reasons why many one-person bands remain stuck...

As business owners, it's easy to believe customers care about the same things you do. It's rarely the case. In this episode, David reveals the 5 things customers really couldn't care less about...