Latest articles by Jody Clarke
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My first million: how to turn a hangover into £3.5m
Features Mike Anstey's idea for salon entertainment came to him on a visit to the hairdresser following a heavy night. And it soon became clear that he'd spotted a profitable gap in the market.
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Why Russians could soon be queuing for bread again
Features Supermarkets are playing the ultimate 'get out of jail free' card - the poor summer weather - to explain the soaring cost of food. But this problem spreads far beyond flood-prone Britain. And that means grocery bills aren't about to fall any time soon.
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My first million: Tim Leatherman, Leatherman Tool Group
Features The story of the eight years Tim Leatherman spent trying to get his invention onto the market is a must-read for any budding entrepreneur.
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My first million: Nick Laing, Steppes Travel
Features Lots of people go travelling hoping for a life-changing experience. Nick Laing may be one of the few to have actually had one.
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Why Royal Mail can't deliver
Features Wondering exactly why your mail's even later than usual? Jody Clarke looks at why postal workers have gone on strike and whether the Royal Mail can overcome such hurdles in its drive to modernise.
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My first million: Gary Frank, The Fabulous Bakin’ Boys
Features The tale of how Gary Frank turned himself around and started The Fabulous Bakin’ Boys is compelling – if a little far-fetched.
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My first million: Bruce Hodgson, Artichoke
Features With a baby on the way, quitting a reliable job in the army to make furniture may not have seemed the best of ideas. But thanks to some good advice and a couple of strokes of luck, the Bruce Hodgson's business is now worth £3.1bn.
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Is Ireland heading for recession?
Features It's the headline that every homeowner dreads and what readers of the Irish Times woke up to last Monday: 'Property asking prices down 10%'. And the cracks in the Irish property market run deeper into the rest of the economy than most would have hoped, says Jody Clarke.
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Probably the best stock to buy right now
Features Cheap, growth orientated and defensive, BHP Billiton is probably the best stock on the London market to put your money in right now. Jody Clarke explains why.
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Why Africa could be your next great investment
Features Despite the corruption, violence and poverty we read about in the news, Africa's markets are actually doing rather well. Jody Clarke picks the best Africa investments - including a cheap and easy way to get into Nigeria.
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My first million: Mike Clare, Dreams
Features Sibling rivalry may not seem the most solid foundation for a business – but it’s proved a useful motivating force for Mike Clare, the founder of bed retailer Dreams.
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My first million: Justine Cather, Burnt Sugar
Features Although warned that she was spending too much on fancy packaging for her high-end confectionary, it was Justine Cather's brightly coloured boxes of sweets that caught the eye of a Harvey Nichols buyer.
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My first million: Sally Preston, Babylicious
Features Despite an initial run of bad luck, a combination of high quality and convenience turned out to be a winning formula for Sally Preston's baby food business.
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My first million: Amir Chen, Apostrophe
Features Amir Chen reveals why he turned his back on a successful career in banking in order to bring Parisienne cafe culture to the streets of London.
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Will Canada's housing boom last?
Features House prices have risen by an impressive 9.8% across Canada in the past year, boosted by economic hotspot Alberta. Will next year see similar increases?
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Should you crash the wine party?
Features The soon-to-be launched Wine Asset Managers may seem like a good idea for those who want to cash in on the wine bonanza of recent years but lack the expert knowledge. But investors should be wary.
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Czech refugee who rose from the grave
Features When he arrived in the UK, Jan Telensky had just £2 and had to sleep in Dunstable cemetery. The property tycoon now owns hundreds of flats in London and Prague - and the world's most environmentally-friendly resort.
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My first million: Mark Humphrey
Features Profile of Mark Humphrey who got his bespoke interior design business off the ground with a little help from Ringo Starr and his friend George Harrison.
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Is the East European property bubble set to burst?
Features Ignore the unscrupulous property agents who promise massive captial appreciation and exaggerated rates of return on Eastern Europan properties. This bubble is in danger of overheating.
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Risky ways to save on your mortgage
Features With interest rates likely to rise again, homeowners will be looking for ways to save money on their mortgages. A foreign currency is one option, but a very risky one.
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My first million: Pepita Diamond of Wrapit
Features Pepita Diamond blames the fact that she eloped in her early 20s on her 'unnatural fascination' with weddings. But her obsession has paid off - in the form of her £8m a year wedding list service, Wrapit.
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My first million: Andrew Valentine of Streetcar
Features Andrew Valentine and Brett Akker decided to go into business when they were students, and ended up pioneering a cheap, convenient alternative to car ownership.
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My first million: Emma Barnett of Essential Escapes
Features Having spotted a gap in the market for a luxury tour operator dealing specifically with spas, Emma Barnett started out with just £60,000 and help from her family.
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How Rachel Lowe survived a Dragons' Den mauling
Features Despite a humbling experience on national television, entrepreneur Rachel Lowe of RTL Games went on to make a success of her taxi driving-inspired board game.
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