A man's idea conceived during a haircut has blossomed into a business worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Tech-savvy John Wylde was visiting his local barbers when he realised they needed a new website.
From £100 Fix to £250k Turnover
The 29-year-old from Chester enlisted the help of his high school friend Sam Spridgeon, also from Chester, and offered to fix the business's problem for £100. Seeing how well they collaborated, the duo continued beyond that single project. Alongside the website, they implemented Google Ads campaigns and digital marketing strategies that, they claim, transformed the business.
Within three years, John said the barber's website had generated an impressive £48,000 in sales, demonstrating that the results spoke for themselves. Fast forward to today, and the pair offer these services to a wide range of clients, including several in Liverpool. Now known as Spectra Media, the pair employ a team of 10 specialists and are on track to achieve a turnover of £250,000 per annum, despite very humble beginnings.
Humble Beginnings and a Pivotal Client
The pair launched their business in 2014, initially creating vinyl decals and stickers for cars from a garage. While the venture showed promise, it was the chance opportunity in the barbershop that completely changed the company's direction.
Soon afterwards, boxing promoter Andy Sampson became their first major client, commissioning them for branding, website design, digital marketing and lead generation. The success of that project gave the young entrepreneurs the confidence and credibility to take the business to the next level.
Sam, a 29-year-old dad-to-be, told the ECHO: "We started with nothing and used our salaries from other jobs to pay for our start - we never thought we would get to here. I love working with John. We are opposites when it comes to how we operate and who we are, but it works so well. That first major client put us on the map and got us our first office. It was the turning point."
John added: "Neither of us takes any nonsense from the other, because you can't blag someone who's known you for years. It also helps that Sam's strengths are completely different to mine, so we've got each other covered. We hype each other up, push each other, and never let the other put out something that is 'just average'."
Growth and Recognition
Over the following years, the agency continued to grow steadily, building its reputation. However, the biggest breakthrough came in 2023 when they secured a major contract with LCM in Ellesmere Port. This contract allowed both founders to leave their jobs and commit to the agency full-time for the first time.
Their success has not gone unnoticed, having been recognised through numerous awards. Spectra Media was named Business Marketing Agency of the Year in 2023 and received the Chamber of Commerce Innovation in Business Award. Meanwhile, Sam's entrepreneurial achievements earned him a nomination for Downtown in Business' Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
John said: "It's been an amazing journey and one that's grown beyond our wildest dreams. What started as a small scale operation in Sam's grandad's garage has become an award winning agency with incredible numbers. We're really excited about the future with even bigger growth plans and the new academy. We're truly grateful to all of our clients who have been part of the journey."
Liverpool Clients
Some of those clients include businesses with their roots firmly placed in the city. The first being Premier White Collar Boxing, the charity boxing concept that puts on hundreds of events with thousands of competitors, and Primal Live, the Liverpool charity song contest. John also worked previously with Royal Albert Dock.
Sam said: "Whilst we're from Chester, we've helped many Liverpool businesses and love working with Scousers. Andy Sampson from Premier White Collar Boxing was our first big client who got us going and has been with us ever since. He's loyal and a great guy, a proper Scouser. He also uses us for Primal Live. It's clients like him that are the reason we are where we are today."
