Podcasts about Jewellery Quarter

Get ready for a festive feast of laughs and foodie insights! In this holiday special, Liam and Carl are joined by special guests Laura (Bite Your Brum) and Chris (The Fat Foodie) to dive into the highs, lows, and hidden gems of Birmingham's food scene in 2024.

In Episode #204 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar chats with Phil Etheridge from The Twang to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their second album, Jewellery Quarter. Originally released in 2009, Jewellery Quarter debuted at No. 20 on the UK charts and featured standout singles like Barney Rubble and Encouraging Sign. The album also delivered fan favourites such as Took the Fun and Back Where We Started, earning its status as a modern classic. This December, The Twang will release a special edition of the album—re-recorded, remastered, and available on vinyl for the first time ever. In this episode, Phil reflects on the album's creation, sharing insights into the writing and recording process, the excitement of the new vinyl release, new music and the band's upcoming live shows.  Or listen via YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS – Find The XS Noize Podcast's complete archive of episodes here. Previous XS Noize Podcast guests have included Gavin Friday, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Humanist, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, John Lydon, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Midge Ure, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, Sleaford Mods, The Brand New Heavies, Villagers, and many more.  

For episode 62 Birmingham's Most Rock & Roll Chef, Alex Claridge joins us again to discuss Mojo's Up Yours! Punk's Not Dead cd from March 2003.The cd's tracklisting is -1 - The Clash - 19772 - The Strokes - The Modern Age3 - The Adverts - One Chord Wonders4 - The Hives - Main Offender5 - Vic Godard/Subway Sect - Ambition6 - Hot Hot Heat - Get In Or Get Out7 - Erase Errata - Tongue Tied8 - X-Ray Spex - Identity9 - The Hunches - Lisa Told Me10 - Johnny Thunders - Chinese Rocks11 - Part Chimp - Cover Me12 - Undertones - True Confessions13 - The Catheters - Pale Horse14 - Sex Pistols - Submission15 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Our Time16 - Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden17 - ATV - Action Time Vision18 - The Libertines - The Boy Looked At Johnny19 - Buzzcocks - Orgasm Addict20 - Sleater-Kinney - Combat Rock21 - The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet22 - Mudhoney - Urban Guerilla23 - The Damned - Neat, Neat, Neat24 - The Warlocks - Caveman Rock25 - Iggy & The Stooges - Search & Destroy26 - Swearing At Motorists - Timing Is EverythingGo to Alex's restauranrt The Wilderness. you can book a table (a few months in advance!) for some amazing food here.Also, look out for Alex's new restaurant, the amazingly named Albatros Death Cult opening in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter later this year.Find Alex & The Wilderness on Instagram here and twitter here.Buy a copy of the cd from discogs here.Listen to all available songs on our ongoing Spotify playlist.Hosts - Ian Clarke & Colin Jackson-BrownRecorded/Edited/Mixed/Original music by Colin Jackson-Brown for We Dig PodcastsPart of the We Made This podcast network. https://twitter.com/wmt_network Twitter – https://twitter.com/thismonthsissue Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/freewiththismonthsissue/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/freewiththismonthsissue/ Find our other episodes at www.wedigpodcasts.com Find other We Made This shows & writing at www.wemadethisnetwork.com

As great as London may be, it tends to be the place that most people go – and stay in – when they visit the UK. If you need event destinations outside the capital, consider these cities (which are easily accessible by air). Join Todd Bludworth in this Spotlight Episode as he explores the best place to host your next event with Pip MacFarlane. ● Edinburgh○ The Scottish capital is the perfect spot for history, spectacular views, and a traditional experience of Scotland○ Choose a venue in the historic Old Town, with the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, or the bustling, neoclassical New Town○ In the evenings, unwind with a scotch and classic Scottish dishes such as haggis, black pudding, or Scottish smoked salmon○ Looking for a fun bonding activity? Try traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing (pronounced kay-lee)● Manchester○ The UK's “second city”, Manchester, has a large international airport, so it's perfect for welcoming your global guests○ Vibrant city in the north of England○ Home to one of the world's best-known soccer clubs, Manchester United○ Great nightlife in Manchester, so ideal for unwinding after a busy day of meetings○ Also close to Liverpool, the music capital of the UK● Brighton○ 30 mins from London Gatwick Airport, one hour from central London○ Arty seaside town - not quite the Florida Keys, but a great example of a British seaside town○ May is Brighton Festival season, a big arts festival showcasing music, dance, theater, performance art, and more○ Brighton Pride takes place in August. Brighton is considered the “LGBTQ+ capital of the UK” and is known for its open-minded community and fun atmosphere○ Opt for an event venue on the seafront for views over the English Channel● Birmingham○ Birmingham is around an hour northwest of London by train (worth mentioning that all big cities are very reachable by train in the UK!)○ Huge, very multicultural city○ Head to Cadbury World to enjoy the most famous British chocolate○ Opt for the city center, cultural hub Digbeth or historic Jewellery Quarter for the best event venues in the middle of the action○ This is the place to be to sample a huge array of different cuisines● Belfast○ Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and just a short hop across the sea from Great Britain (the main island of the UK)○ It's a lot less busy than the big English cities, so ideal for a more laid-back atmosphere○ The Ballyhackamore district is the “brunch capital of Belfast”, earning it the nickname “Ballysnackamore.”○ The Titanic was built in Belfast in 1912, and there is a popular Titanic Museum○ If you want to make the most of your time in Northern Ireland, be sure to head out to Giant's Causeway, north of Belfast, for one of the country's most striking natural featuresLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://americanmeetings.com/podcast

Hello & a warm welcome back to the Birmingham food podcast breaking bread. Co-hosted by food-obsessed mates Liam & Carl, Breaking Bread gives you long-form interviews & discussions with the incredible people that make Brums food scene so unique. This week we break bread with Robert Wood. Award-winning bartender & owner of beautiful new Jewellery Quarter cocktail bar Atelier. An Awesome conversation about- Bartending, the best job in the world Sneakers, Lego & drinks, becoming obsessed Why cocktail bars are the way they are Why bar/restaurant owners need to re-evaluate everything that they do Robert's past bars, breaking the mould every time Working with amazing creative people at The Wilderness Opening his new bar Atelier Get Social With Rob Wood/Atelier Website- https://www.atelierbyrobertwood.com/ Rob Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/inrob.wetrust/ Atelier Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/atelierbyrobertwood/ Atelier Twitter- https://twitter.com/atelierjq Rob Twitter- https://twitter.com/inrobwetrust Breaking Bread Podcast Social Don't Miss Out On Where We're Stuffing Our Faces, What's Going On In Brum, Or Where The New Place You Need To Try Is. Sign Up For Free To Our New Fortnightly Newsletter Breaking Bread Bitesize https://breakingbreadpodcastuk.blog/breaking-bread-bitesize/ https://Instagram.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk/ https://twitter.com/PodcastBread https://facebook.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk For full show notes visit our Website https://breakingbreadpodcastuk.blog/

Writer Professor Thomas Glave has been in London and is returning on a train at night to his home city of Birmingham. Thomas was born in the Bronx and grew up there and in Kingston, Jamaica. His work has earned many honours, including the Lambda Literary Award in 2005 and 2008, an O. Henry Prize, a Fine Arts Center in Provincetown Fellowship, and a Fulbright fellowship to Jamaica. He's the author of Whose Song? and Other Stories, Words to Our Now: Imagination and Dissent, The Torturer's Wife, and Among the Bloodpeople: Politics and Flesh. Thomas has been Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor at MIT, a Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Warwick, a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge and writer-in-residence at the University of Liverpool. He lives in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. Producers: Rosie Boulton and Melvin Rickarby A Must Try Softer Production A co-commission between BBC Radio 3 and the Space with funding from Arts Council England.

Michele White PPRBSA has her gallery and workshop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. Here she chats to Tim Saunders about what inspires her and her working practice. http://www.creativecoverage.co.uk/craftspeople/item/1287-michele-white-rbsa

Hello & welcome to Breaking Bread the Birmingham food podcast presented by food-obsessed mates Liam & Carl. This week we speak about all things beer & brewing with mega-talented Chris Small. Founder & brewer at one of Brums most exciting breweries, Burning Soul Brewery in the Jewellery Quarter. A great story, and a super interesting chat all about the brewing process, how the percentage and hops affect the beer and how a burning passion lead to Burning Soul. Social https://burningsoulbrewing.com/ https://twitter.com/BurningSoulBrew https://www.instagram.com/burningsoulbrewing/ https://www.facebook.com/burningsoulbrewery Breaking Bread Podcast Social https://Instagram.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk/ https://twitter.com/PodcastBread https://facebook.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk For full show notes visit our Website https://breakingbreadpodcastuk.blog/ Logo designed by Cardiff based artist now accepting commissions https://instagram.com/arlunydd/

Rue Jay is an entrepreneur, businessman, DJ & party starter - a guy who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected, successful & well connected figures to come out of Birmingham. He has achieved success worldwide as his RockNRolla brand went on a maiden voyage to everywhere from Ibiza to even the more obscure countries including South Korea. This is a full life story so far podcast, as we detail Rue's journey from his humble beginnings growing up in a working class environment in Birmingham's Nechells area, to being taken under the wing of Eddie Boulton with brands including Steering Wheel & Spin, before he then went on his own path with legendary brands RockNRolla and OurHouse. The second half of the podcast moves on to his entrepreneurial ventures into hospitality, tattoos, property and interior design with The Funky Bear and The New Masons restaurants & bars, Vivid Ink shops in Sutton, Derby and Stafford, villas in Spain & the R&R projects that involve him working alongside the likes of England international and Premier League star Jack Grealish. There's an abundance of wise words and knowledge in here on the importance of manifestation, visualisation, overall mindset when operating at this level, work ethic, networking, remaining humble, taking calculated risks, the reality of occasionally being ruthless in competitive dog-eat-dog arenas, standing out from the crowd with branding and marketing, adapting and evolving since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK and the added determination to grow the empire since he has settled down with his lovely partner Lou and his daughter Romy. This episode is in partnership with local independent jewellers Goldtaste. The two brothers Lex & Lou are based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter district, but they ship their products worldwide. Goldtaste is one of the most unique jewellery brands on the market as they take classic jewellery recipes, then they mash them up and remix them to the taste of the 21st century. Rings - Gold Chains - Sovereigns - Pendants - Grillz. Worn by Skepta, Kurupt FM & viral Instagram satirist Munya Chawawa. The brothers have built this business from scratch and are continuing to grow their empire - so make sure you show some love to independent businesses. Goldtaste website: https://goldtaste.co.uk Goldtaste Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldtasteuk/ Goldtaste Grillz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldtastegrillz/ Vivid Ink Sutton, Stafford & Derby: https://www.instagram.com/vividinksutton/ https://www.instagram.com/vividinkstaffs/ https://www.instagram.com/vividink.derby/ The Funky Bear: https://thefunkybear.co.uk R&R Interior Design: https://www.instagram.com/rr_interior_design/

Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter is our destination for this fascinating episode on metal manufacturing.  We take our appliances for granted. We press buttons, switch on the power and expect our laboursaving devices to do the rest. But the industrial processes behind the manufacture of this equipment carries thousands of hidden parts made of metal and plastic, built by different companies across multiple borders. This episode focuses on C. Brandauer & Co Limited, a state-of-the-art metal-stamping components business, which despite its ultramodern systems has been in existence since 1862! It’s a tradition which harks back to the Midlands’ earliest industrial heritage. But what are the challenges facing the company now? How are they navigating the pandemic? Are they making more of something and less of something else since Covid began? And in exporting to 22 countries, what effect does Brexit have on them? LISTEN to a compelling conversation with CEO Rowan Crozier. Jonny Gould’s SME Walkabout is brought to you in association with BOOST&Co.

We are joined by Mick Maguire from Jewellery Quarter gym to discuss mental heath in sport and the positive impact sport has on the community.Also do not forget to check out our new sponsor coming soon: https://www.healthxcel.co.ukWho are we?The Black Country Blokes consists of 4 regular guys, speaking about all issues related to being a man in today's society.It is not just designed to focus on the mental health and well-being of men though, as it will also give our mothers, sisters, daughters and female peers an opportunity to understand us better too. We are dedicated to keeping this 100% authentic and raw. We are not polished, perfect individuals and our views remain our own, but what we do want to do is, is remove the stigma and speak about the taboo subjects openly and honestly.Furthermore, want to empower people to be happy and fulfilled and to overcome their own thoughts that could limit their potential in life.The group consists of the following guys:Kev Dillon a head coach at the Lions Amateur Boxing club. Someone who has been boxing since the age of 3, but sadly lost his eyesight at a very young age leaving him with only 7% vision in his right eye. This is known as 3/60 vision. He has been a poster child for adversity, dealing with anxiety and depression for a lot of his life. However, he has never folded or let his circumstances stop him pursuing his goals. He is now a proud father, husband and respected coach helping 100s of boys, girls, men and women of all ages. Furthermore, Kev's vision of the BCB podcast was to have a show exposing all the struggles and the victories that men go through, to let those listening know that they are not alone. Check his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClofpY6MBQPrISQ53HHxxUAAren Deu is a proud husband who hosts the sister podcast Find Your Voice which is an empowering self-help podcast, providing listeners with the tools to overcome their current, or past, circumstances and take control of their lives. This initially came about due to Aren struggling for over 20+ years with anxiety, causing him to miss opportunities, experiences and just suffer in silence. A similar vision to Kev and the other 2 hosts, Aren's focus is on making people find their own happiness and fulfilment in the midst of a fast paced, social media driven society. An ex-social worker, project manager, personal trainer and now successful property investor Aren's passions find in inspiring people to overcome their adversities and recognise that the only limits we hold are in our mind.Lee Cadman is a father to Lilly-May, Alfie and Calla-Rose. Calla-Rose has a life limiting disability and since her diagnosis Lee's life has never been the same. He is a proud husband and considers himself your everyday working man with the hopes of improving the lives of his own family and others. Sadly depression and anxiety has taken its toll on Lee, on many occasions, but he has found true power and resolve in talking. Talking has become Lee's medicine, and he always states that we should remember in our darkest moments you are not being buried you are being planted.Craig Pinches is a writer, producer, performer and label owner. His background is rap, but if you explore the projects he's been involved with and you quickly realise you can't do justice to his versatility by simply calling him a rapper. He has a passion for music and expression through the written and spoken word that projects through his performances. His music is not only a passion but a vehicle that enables him to help people in need though either positive lyrics or by broadcasting areas of concern within humanity. Check his work at: http://rizeordemizerecords.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/bcb. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we're in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter to discover the story of the J.W. Evans silver factory with the founder's grandson Tony Evans. Listen on to find out what life would have been like working here during the factory's heyday in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the difference between die sinkers and drop stampers and how this industrial treasure house came to be under the care of English Heritage today. To find out more or book a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/j-w-evans-silver-factory

Ten years ago, Rob Halliday-Stein wanted to buy some gold online. But it proved harder than he expected, with few websites offering a straightforward service and transparent pricing.   So, using his background in e-commerce and a contact in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, he set up his own website selling gold directly to customers.    Bullion By Post is now the UK’s leading online bullion retailer with annual sales of £125 million.    Rob has also set up an online jewellery business targetted at men buying gifts and established the immersive technology company, Holosphere.    I met Rob at Bullion by Post’s offices in Birmingham.    We discussed gold’s enduring appeal, why fear and uncertainty are good for business and how he ensures the gold doesn’t get lost in the post.   Behind The Balance Sheet is a business podcast, presented by Julie-Anna Needham. Each episode features an interview with a founder or leader. We hear about their business, discover what inspires them and find out what keeps them awake at night.

Just a few yards from the Chamberlain Clock at the heart of the Jewellery Quarter is a street that encapsulates the social and economic history of this distinctive and important district.  It is Vittoria Street.  Seemingly a quiet backwater in the midst of this busy area, yet does Vittoria Street have an intriguing history that tells us much about the stages of development of the Jewellery Quarter, its historical buildings, its manufacturers and the lives of its residents, poor as well as wealthy. Keywords: Vittoria Street, Carl Chinn, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter

HELLO FOODIES, Carl and I are back again this week. We start by talking about some of the delicious meals Carl has been cooking at home. Not as much home cooked food this week, as we have been eating out lots lately. One of the meals we had was at Lasan in the Jewellery Quarter. They have launched a brand new weekend feast menu and we were kindly invited to try it. Lasan Social https://lasan.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-3t-5qh4gIVLbvtCh3M-QiOEAAYASAAEgIhQvD_BwE https://www.instagram.com/lasan/ https://www.facebook.com/LasanIndian/ Breaking Bread Podcast Social https://Instagram.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk/ https://twitter.com/PodcastBread https://facebook.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk For Full show notes visit our Website https://breakingbreadpodcastuk.blog/ Logo designed by cardiff based artist now accepting commissions https://instagram.com/arlunydd/ music is royalty free track i will not let you let me down by joshwoodwardfreemusicarchive.org/music/Josh_Woodward/ edited by liam Haughey under creative license 3 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

HELLO FOODIES, Carl and I are back again this week. We start by talking about some of the delicious meals Carl has been cooking at home. Not as much home cooked food this week, as we have been eating out lots lately. One of the meals we had was at Lasan in the Jewellery Quarter. They have launched a brand new weekend feast menu and we were kindly invited to try it. Full Episode out Monday

HELLO FOODIES, This episode we are breaking bread with Maninder, head chocolatier from the fantastic The Chocolate Quarter in The Jewellery Quarter. A haven for chocolate lovers, with their hand crafted chocolates and their very popular bean to bar chocolate experiences. A recent change to school curriculum, means that kids need to learn all about the Biology, Economics, Cultivation, Ethics, and Science behind cacao and the chocolate making process. The Chocolate Quarter have been approached by schools to visit and provide interactive, educational and fun sessions all about chocolate. To do this The Chocolate Quarter have started a Go Fund Me page to help purchase the equipment they need to get started. You can donate to that page here https://uk.gofundme.com/help-us-educate-children-about-chocolate Visit The Chocolate Quarter at https://www.thechocolatequarter.com https://www.instagram.com/thechocolatequarter/ https://www.facebook.com/chocolatequarter/ This Podcast Was Organised by Alex From BrumliciousPR https://www.instagram.com/brumliciouspr/ Breaking Bread Podcast Social https://Instagram.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk/ https://twitter.com/PodcastBread https://facebook.com/breakingbreadpodcastuk For Full show notes visit our Website https://breakingbreadpodcastuk.blog/ Logo designed by cardiff based artist now accepting commissions https://instagram.com/arlunydd/ music is royalty free track i will not let you let me down by joshwoodwardfreemusicarchive.org/music/Josh_Woodward/ edited by liam Haughey under creative license 3 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

HELLO FOODIES, This is a preview of this Mondays episode. An episode where we are breaking bread with Maninder, head chocolatier from the fantastic The Chocolate Quarter in The Jewellery Quarter. A haven for chocolate lovers, with their hand crafted chocolates and their very popular bean to bar chocolate experiences. A recent change to school curriculum, means that kids need to learn all about the Biology, Economics, Cultivation, Ethics, and Science behind cacao and the chocolate making process. The Chocolate Quarter have been approached by schools to visit and provide interactive, educational and fun sessions all about chocolate. To do this The Chocolate Quarter have started a Go Fund Me page to help purchase the equipment they need to get started. You can donate to that page here https://uk.gofundme.com/help-us-educate-children-about-chocolate Visit The Chocolate Quarter at https://www.thechocolatequarter.com https://www.instagram.com/thechocolatequarter/ https://www.facebook.com/chocolatequarter/ This Podcast Was Organised by Alex From BrumliciousPR https://www.instagram.com/brumliciouspr/ music is- 12 Months by [friendzoned] | https://soundcloud.com/friendzonedbeats Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

At 16, he began building websites. At 18, he became a regular at the gym. At 20, he started sewing and screen-printing workout apparel in his garage. By 26, when most adults are only on the cusps of their careers, Ben Francis had already launched a viral gym clothing line, served as its CEO, and stepped down in favor of a more creative role in the wildly successful company. Today, the Gymshark founder works alongside 190 staff, including the high school buddies who partnered with him to launch the brand, bringing this unmistakable apparel line to customers in more than 130 countries. And while it seems like this former pizza delivery boy magically rocketed to entrepreneurial stardom overnight (OK, he sort of did), his success can be traced back to a dedication to community building and an innate understanding of social media influencer marketing, long before it was a thing. But it all started with amateur website building, a love for fitness, and a whole lot of YouTube. Years before he was a CEO, Francis longed to make a name for himself in the fitness space. But the closest thing he had to investors were people calling to order a pizza, so establishing a clothing brand couldn’t have seemed less attainable. Not to be discouraged by limited funds, Francis and his high school friends began a workout supplement drop-shipping business and quickly realized that there was an opening in the workout apparel market. Dressing a bodybuilder and a skinny, weight-lifting newbie are two totally different jobs, especially when you’re going for form-hugging designs fit for a workout. Francis and friends, however, believed they could create a line that would be sleek, modern, and appealing to gymgoers of any body type. “And so,” Francis says, “I bought a screen printer and a sewing machine and started to make the clothes by hand.” The designs were an overnight sensation. “People were seeing the clothes, and they were so iconic and unique, that it sort of started to spread like wildfire,” Francis says. But the real secret sauce was the passion he and his friends had for YouTube. Influencing Influencers In the early 2010s, YouTube was rising fast. People passionate about everything from movies to knitting, gaming to, yes, fitness, were creating video content and building communities around shared interests. Francis and his friends were among the millions who joined online followings based on their hobbies, but stuck around for the personalities in the videos. One such fitness YouTuber who held their attention was Lex Griffin of Lex Fitness, whose channel now has over 440,000 followers. Another was Chris Lavado, whose channel has 65,000 subscribers today. Realizing they could leverage the followings of others, Francis and his friends pursued a business strategy that put them on the map, and that they still use today. They sent samples to Griffin, Lavado and other fitness YouTubers they admired, and hoped for a stamp of approval—and a video to prove it. While the term “influencer marketing” has only recently entered into the pop consciousness, the principle has been around as long as marketing. Attracting the favor of a wealthy or influential person by showering them in gifts that define a brand is as a classic move, a point Francis illustrated by sharing some history of his hometown of Birmingham, UK. For hundreds of years, the Jewellery Quarter in central Birmingham has been a hub for opulent accessories. Many jewelers open businesses in the Quarter, and the competition is fierce. But historically, there was one way to ensure that a brand’s name would be on everyone’s lips: become the first choice of royalty. Frances explained that this principle of vying for favor worked then and still works now. “They would provide a bunch of free jewelry to royalty so that people would associate that jewelry with the royalty and then hopefully back to the brand and go buy it,” he says. “It’s no different to what influencer marketing is nowadays.” “I think it’s worked forever, and as far as I’m aware, I think it’ll always work.” And so, like an ambitious jeweler in the 1700s, Francis sent off his product to curry favor with those who had the power to make his brand catch fire. And it worked. “They absolutely loved it, and they’re still with us today,” he says. “That started, I guess, what you’d now call an influencer market for us.” Today, Francis continues to leverage the audiences of athletes through an ambassador program that now includes such personalities as bodybuilder Matt Ogus, lifestyle and fitness vlogger Nikki Blackketter, and weightlifter Whitney Simmons. Because of Francis’s early success in harnessing an influencer-generated market, Gymshark has never relied on investors for capital. “We never needed investment,” he says. “So why complicate things?” Francis recognizes, though, that there was also a component of luck at work. He entered the world of social media influencer marketing when it was still a young idea, and those with followings weren’t inundated daily with products in search of a boost. “I do think it’s a hell of a lot more difficult than when we first started,” he admits. “It’s a completely different place now.” But if he were to launch a new business today, a venture he says would be a fun challenge with the vastly changed online landscape, he knows exactly where he would focus his attention. “Product is king at the end of the day,” he says. “I would focus on creating an absolutely brilliant and a gorgeous product because I think from that, it’s like a snowball effect.” He believes that by designing a remarkable, unique, and stunning product, anyone can rise above the cacophony online. “If you get someone’s attention with a genuinely brilliant product, people will wear it, people will use it, and people will talk about it.” But for now, Francis is focused on the current community he has built. Fostering Community Growing up, Francis loved attending events and expos in his hometown and dreamed of the day he would not only participate, but host his own. His belief in the power of person-to-person advertising was instilled in him as a young expo attendee and has continued to stick with him into his mid-20s. “Even though the world is becoming ever more online, and 99.9 percent of what we do is online, there is always space for that human connection, and I think that’s really, really important, and it’s a real important thing to Gymshark.” So in Gymshark’s very early days, when an opportunity to participate in an expo presented itself, Francis says that nothing could have stopped him from finding a way to join. When he reached out to one of the coordinators to find out how much it would cost to get Gymshark a spot, he was quoted a price far more than they were able to afford at the time. But as Francis likes to emphasize, he plans hyper long-term and hyper short-term and lets the rest in between work itself out. “This was 12 months in advance of the show, and I was like, ‘Right, yeah. We’ll have it. We’ll get that, and we’ll just sort of make it work,’” he says. “It was our dream to go to an event like that.” And go they did, beginning a successful string of expo appearances that were initially in the UK, but rapidly branched out internationally until, eventually, they stopped going to expos and started hosting them. “I literally think, ‘Let’s make the product that I love,’ and by default, I think other people would love, and let’s create the event that I would love to go to, and by default, I think that other people would really enjoy to go,” he says. He also says that when it comes to events, making a profit is not the immediate goal. Just like the early days spent working a screen printer in a garage, Francis’s motivation is simply a desire to create something awesome. Something he loves. “We just sort of think, ‘Right, what would we really, really love to go to? Let’s go make it happen. Let’s forget about the profit and loss at that point for that event. Let’s just go make something really, really cool.’” But rapidly gaining a dedicated following, especially when selling a physical product, has its challenges. Francis says that Gymshark’s biggest challenge at the moment is keeping up with demand, especially when YouTube influencers or expo attendees are hyping them. “We definitely made massive improvements in the last six to 12 months, but there’s still a long, long way to go,” he says. Part of the Gymshark’s effort to keep up with growth meant Francis himself coming to terms with his right role within the company. As CEO, he quickly came to realize that he was in a position that he was not suited to fill. “We were growing so fast, and the role of the CEO is very people oriented,” he says. “I’m very much an introverted person. I’m much more suited, and work better, in either a very small team or on my own where I can really dive into a project, focus on that thing and make it really special. “As we were growing bigger, it became more and more evident to me that the CEO really needs to be a lot more of a strategist and a lot more of a people person than what I am.” So Francis made the difficult decision that it would be best for him to step into the role of Chief Brand Officer instead. But the transfer of CEO power didn’t just happen overnight, which he feels helped build trust among himself and the staff. It happened over a period of about a year as Steve Hewitt, the current CEO, slowly took on more and more until he finally stepped fully into the role. Of course, passing leadership on to someone else is always a humbling and challenging process, but it’s one that Francis has come to embrace as an opportunity to become more fully himself. “I think it’s very important to be self-aware and to understand what you are good at what you’re not good at,” he says. “I’m a massive, massive believer of that.” Today, Francis has the freedom to focus on product and vision, gathering small teams together to pursue new designs and strategies for the future. So what’s next for Gymshark? Francis says that they are always pursuing innovation and are currently in the process of designing new fabrics, as well as looking to branch out of the strictly apparel space. And in an effort to keep avid followers and fans of the brand up to date, Francis has recently launched a vlog series of his own, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Gymshark and into his world. In the 10 years since Francis started creating amateur websites from home, his world has utterly transformed. But many things remain the same: a love of fitness, a passion for social media, and an unbreakable bond with his high school friends turned business partners. The Gymshark brand invites each customer and avid follower to “Be a visionary.” And Francis is asking nothing of his followers that he hasn’t done himself. After all, where would Gymshark be without an enthusiastic pizza delivery boy who had the vision to buy a screen printer, and the boldness to show the world what he could create? Ben Francis’s Tips for Success Launching a brand new product on your own or starting your own business is never easy. No matter how large or small the venture, it requires vision, courage, and determination. But Ben Francis believes that there are three things any beginning entrepreneur can do to improve their chances of success. Surround Yourself With Support Francis says he was once asked to share a story about a time when he was told that he couldn’t do something. He paused to think, but his mind came up blank. “That never happened, because I never surrounded myself with those people,” he says. Starting a business is a challenge, but with the support of people who inspire and motivate you, Francis believes that mountains are reduced back into molehills. Embrace Self-Awareness Being honest with yourself and clear about who you truly are is one of Francis’s crucial steps to success. “Self-awareness is key,” he says. “I think it’s massive. You can only kid yourself for so long.” Without the ability to identify which skills you have in abundance and which you lack, you’ll be unable to build a team around you that complements your abilities and improves upon them. Play to Your Strengths Once you’ve identified your strengths and weaknesses, Francis insists on the importance of allowing them to guide your decisions. “Could I do an operational…role for a little bit? Absolutely. I’m reasonably intelligent. I could manage,” he says. “But would I be able to do it for a sustained period really, really well? Absolutely not.” Rather than forcing yourself to be something you’re not, Francis encourages all entrepreneurs to be honest about their strengths and find ways to play to them, even if that means relinquishing, as he did, the title of CEO. Key Takeaways How interests in building websites, going to the gym, and sewing and screen printing combined to help him launch a wildly successful business How connecting with YouTube influencers helped Gymshark take off On using events to build community The biggest challenge Gymshark faces right now Why Ben traded the role of CEO for Chief Brand Officer On separating personal brand from company brand Why Gymshark has never taken investments What he would do if he were to start a totally new ecommerce brand today What his personal life is like now that he’s a successful business owner What’s next for Gymshark

Birmingham‘s Jewellery Quarter is famed nationally and internationally but locally its importance can be taken for granted or even overlooked as can that of the jewellery trade itself which has a long-standing connection with our city. That lack of attention is not a new phenomenon. By the mid-nineteenth century, jewellery making was regarded as one of the four main Birmingham trades. Along with the brass trade and the manufacture of guns and buttons it flourished above the rest but very little was written about it. That is surprising for such an important industry which remains prominent in modern Birmingham and which has such a fascinating history covering more than 200 years. Well-known historian of Birmingham, Carl Chinn click to collection explores the stories of the Quarter and the lives of the men and women whose history is created the area is unique heritage. Keywords: Jewellery Quarter, Victorian, Carl Chinn, Industry

Aktar Islam is an award-winning English chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur. In May 2018, he opened Opheem in Summer Row, Birmingham. It is the sixth restaurants Aktar has established in and around Birmingham and the first for which he has had 100% creative control. Opheem has a 70-cover restaurant with a sleek bar on Summer Row near the city’s iconic Jewellery Quarter. It celebrates the culinary heritage of India and showcases Aktar’s passion for progressive Indian gastronomy while delving into the country’s ancient culinary traditions. Opheem champions the subcontinent’s distinctive flavours, spices, textures, taste balances and applies modern techniques and flair. Aktar became a household name in 2009 when his skills in the kitchen put his former restaurant Lasan on the map as the first Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom to be selected as the "Best Local Restaurant" by Gordon Ramsay on Channel 4's The F Word. In June 2011, the chef cemented his culinary credentials by winning BBC Two’s Great British Menu.

We’re excited to announce that Samuel Boulton – The Vermouth Ambassador is in the process of opening his own bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The […] The post The Vanguard Bar, coming soon | Short Sips appeared first on Bartender HQ, Cocktails, Bar Culture and More..

Carl Chinn takes us on a walk along Frederick Street in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham. We start at the foot of the clock tower erected by local people to celebrate one of Birmingham’s heroes, Joseph Chamberlain, on his return from South Africa in 1904. As we move along the street, Carl introduces us to the men and women whose lives were lived in the Quarter and who made it globally famous. Here are the Fattorini’s, famed makers of medals, badges and insignia and the silver factory of J.W. Evans whose workshops have remained unchanged for over a century. The short journey ends among the fascinating exhibits of the Pen Museum where Carl meets Bob Stanyard and Colin Giles. They discuss how Birmingham’s makers produced more than 20 million pens every week in the 1870s and how these cheap but precisely engineered nibs spread writing and the written word around the world. KEYWORDS: Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, Speeches, Pen Industry, Pen Museum, Medal Making, Joseph Chamberlain, Carl Chinn, Walks, Books

Episode 3 of Two Jonnies: Morning Breath. Recorded in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham on 14th July 2013 Jonny Pearson and Chris Stokes have a debate on whether Condiments can be used as a filling for a sandwich....

Episode 2 of Two Jonnies: Morning Breath. Recorded in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham on 14th July 2013 Kebab Review of Pizza Quarter Takeaway, plus Police activity....