In this episode of the Ignition Podcast, Harry Phypers interviews Tom Giaconelli, Managing Director of Romans International, one of the most prestigious luxury car dealerships in the world. Tom shares his unique journey from a non-car enthusiast to becoming a pivotal force in the luxury car market. From helping his father’s business during tough times to revolutionizing its marketing and operations, Tom provides fascinating insights into working with the top 1%, making smart car investments, and running a family business.

Topics Discussed

• Tom's entry into Romans International
• The evolution of the car dealership into a luxury brand
• Insights into the luxury car market and 2025 investment tips
• Managing personal and professional life as a family business leader
• The emotional and artistic connection to cars

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Tom’s Early Life

03:00 Discovering Passion for Cars

05:30 Joining Romans International by Chance

07:45 Challenges of a Family Business

10:00 Marketing Transformation

12:30 Getting Into Buying and Selling Cars

15:00 Car Buying Trends in 2025

18:00 Advice for First-Time Buyers and Investors

21:00 What Sets Romans Apart

25:00 Tom’s Personal Favorites

28:30 Future of Romans International

31:00 Balancing Business and Family

34:00 Tom’s Personal Garage

37:00 Rapid-Fire Questions

• Buy What You Love: Investment in cars should be passion-driven first, profit-driven second.
• Marketing Matters: The importance of digital transformation in modern luxury sales.
• Focus on Excellence: Romans’ success comes from curating only the best cars with premium specs.
• Family Business Dynamics: Challenges and opportunities of working in a family-owned company.

• Romans International Website
• Follow Romans International on Instagram
• Connect with Harry Phypers on LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEO of Caterham Bob Laishley is on this extraordinary episode of The Ignition Podcast.

From Apprentice to CEO, Bob's career isn't one of flash glamour and fame. Bob is as humble as they come he's probably the same guy from the midlands who wanted to work hard, do right by his employer and get the job done.

No, pretending to be someone he's not, Bob is a true salt-of-the-earth guy who happened to end up at the right place at the right time.

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HOST: Harry Phypers

An Episode you'll LOVE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1J8vgIkpduuoXx2u5nRb2N?si=4d7025ccef134bd9

Follow us!

Website: https://www.ignitionpod.com

Instagram: @the.ignition.podcast

Tik Tok: @ignition_podcast

Contact me: harry@ignitionpod.com

Had a good time? Leave us a review—even one sentence helps! Please post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag us so I can thank you personally!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Buy me a coffee and help me make every episode as good as you deserve. (im also addicted to caffeine to it will help)

As always, thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this brief but powerful episode of The Ignition Podcast, we chat with Simon Squibb, a visionary entrepreneur who turned his struggle into a mission to help others. Kicked out of his home at 15, Simon has gone from surviving the streets to building and selling multi-million-pound businesses.

Now, he’s focused on helping 10 million people start their ventures, without charging a penny. Simon breaks down the misconceptions around “hard work,” the importance of risk, and why you don’t need money to start a business—just a clear purpose. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just looking for some life-changing advice, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

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HOST: Harry Phypers

Timeline:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 02:00 – Simon’s story: From homelessness to entrepreneur
• 05:30 – Why hard work isn’t the key to success
• 09:45 – The importance of taking risks in business
• 12:30 – How having no money can be an advantage
• 16:00 – Simon’s final advice for young entrepreneurs
• 18:00 – Wrap-up
• 
  

An Episode you'll LOVE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1J8vgIkpduuoXx2u5nRb2N?si=4d7025ccef134bd9

Follow us!

Website: https://www.ignitionpod.com

Instagram: @the.ignition.podcast

Tik Tok: @ignition_podcast

Contact me: harry@ignitionpod.com

Had a good time? Leave us a review—even one sentence helps! Please post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram and tag us so I can thank you personally!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST - Buy me a coffee

As always, thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.