EE423 - From 25-Seater Café to National Brand: The Gourmet Food Parlour Story

In this Mentor Moment, economist Stephen Kinsella joins Gary Fox to break down the patterns behind economic booms and busts - and why the seeds of the next crisis are often sown during the good times. Stephen explains the theory of financial instability, the role of credit, and how euphoria can quickly turn to fear. He also explores what could trigger Ireland’s next major economic shock and how global forces shape our future. If you’re a founder, investor, or simply curious about what’s coming next, this is essential listening. To listen to the full episode with Stephen, look for episode 363.  ----- 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/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dean Klatt, the Australian founder of Seed Golf, who built a global direct-to-consumer golf brand… from Carlow. Dean shares the story of how he reverse-engineered premium golf balls, bootstrapped his way to international markets, and took on billion-dollar brands without a cent spent on advertising in the early days. From wind tunnels in rural Ireland to handwritten letters to YouTubers, this episode is a masterclass in strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and challenger brand building. If you’re a founder aiming to disrupt a traditional industry or simply love a good “from zero to one” story, this is a must-listen. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: ⛳ The unconventional path from golf distributor in Australia to founder of Seed Golf in Ireland 🚀 How Dean designed a high-performance golf ball using university labs, 3D printing, and wind tunnels 🧠 The strategy behind creating a digital-native, direct-to-consumer brand 🌍 Going global from day one: leveraging Irish brand identity and organic word-of-mouth 🎥 Why early influencer marketing worked without a budget — and how they seeded (literally) the market 🏗️ The two-year product development phase and how Dean overcame self-doubt 🎯 "If the big brands zig, we zag" — building a challenger brand with authenticity 🏆 Winning Golf Digest awards 3 years in a row and what that means for future growth 🛍️ What makes golf balls the perfect D2C product: consumable, shippable, repeatable 💬 "Our customers were giving away the golf balls they bought just to tell others about us — that’s when I knew we were onto something." – Dean Klatt 🔗 Resources & Links Seed Golf Website: https://seedgolf.com/ Follow Seed Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedgolfco Peter Finch Golf YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/peterfinchgolf ----- 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/3HHwSMo

In this bite-sized Mentor Moment, DC Cahalane shares how a late diagnosis of ADHD transformed his understanding of himself — and his work. From battling procrastination to embracing what he once saw as flaws, DC opens up about the mental health rollercoaster that led to a powerful realization: ADHD wasn’t a limitation, it was a lens. He unpacks why traditional productivity hacks failed him, how understanding brain chemistry changed everything, and why every founder — diagnosed or not — should read Faster Than Normal. 💡 A must-listen for anyone navigating self-doubt, burnout, or that feeling of being “all or nothing.” This is your reminder that the way your brain works might just be your superpower. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: Episode 364 – Inside the Venture Capital Brain --- 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/3HHwSMo  

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets Anthony Gallagher - the man behind Petstop, Ireland’s most successful independent pet retailer. From sweeping floors at Penneys to nearly selling his dot-com startup for $42 million (before it all collapsed), Anthony’s story is packed with lessons on grit, resilience, and building something that lasts. He shares how he bounced back from financial ruin using pure hustle, delivered pet food himself during lockdowns, and quietly scaled Petstop to €40 million in annual revenue—all while competing head-to-head with global giants. This is a masterclass in staying the course, putting people first, and never underestimating the power of showing up - week after week, store after store. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🐾 How Anthony grew Petstop to €40M without external takeovers 💥 The $42M dot-com deal that collapsed overnight 📦 Using his son’s communion money to pay staff - and bouncing back 🧠 Competing (and winning) against multinationals like Maxi Zoo 🏪 The importance of location in retail—and why he still visits every store 🚚 Scaling delivery by literally driving orders to customers 🔁 Building a team with 20+ years’ loyalty 🐕 Why launching private-label brands like Nádúr changed the game 💡 How being “too early” can kill a great idea (and why timing is everything) Resources & Mentions: Anthony's business: https://www.petstop.ie/  Private-label brand: Nádúr Lifestyle pet range: Alice & Co Irish-made treats company backed by Anthony: Green Treat: https://green-treat.com/  ----- 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/3HHwSMo

What do you do when your business is on the brink of collapse? For Gary Lavin, it meant getting in his car and personally selling into 3,500 stores in 18 months. In this raw and honest moment, Gary shares how fear became his biggest motivator, why most people skip the hard (but essential) work of selling, and how doubling your store count can double your business — if you're willing to do the legwork. This is a must-listen for any founder struggling to grow or hesitant to sell. ----- 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/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Lorraine Heskin, the trailblazing founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, one of Ireland’s most successful independent hospitality groups. Lorraine shares her journey from selling Irish foods on the streets of Manhattan to opening a tiny 25-seater café off a side street in Dun Laoghaire - without investors, key money, or a culinary background. She reveals how she grew a brand that now spans restaurants, catering, corporate hospitality, and even cross-country expansion, all while maintaining a fierce loyalty to her team, her customers, and her values. This conversation is a masterclass in brand-building, resilience, and trusting your instincts - especially when the world tells you otherwise. Whether you're in food, retail, or simply thinking about taking the leap to start your own business, Lorraine’s story will light a fire under you. ----- 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 365 with Laura Bonner, founder of The Muff Liquor Company, she opens up about the mental practices that keep her grounded in business and life. Laura shares her unapologetic belief in therapy, the importance of taking time to reset, and why legacy isn’t about being a great business person—but a great person. It’s a raw, real reflection on healing, perspective, and purpose from one of the most authentic voices we’ve featured. ---- 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 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