Yahoo News Meet Birmingham businessman aged 22 who went from selling fruit pastels to product Ja Rule loves
Jack was 'gutted' when he failed to get into his dream university, he had no idea his future lay in the bright glare of neon lights. The 22-year-old from Stirchley is the founder of NeonCow, a company specialising in personalised LED neon signs that American rappers Post Malone and Ja Rule are raving about.
Jack always had entrepreneurial bones ever since he sold fruit pastels and Lucozade bottles at school. After missing out on university and going through his first ever break-up, he channelled his disappointment into making his first LED neon sign at his mother's kitchen table.
This hobby grew into a successful business where Jack left his comfortable property finance job to make the glowing signs full time. Major international brands such as Harvey Nichols and SEGA came knocking and NeonCow began shipping to clients around the world.
Join our Best of Brum WhatsApp community here
So how did a Stirchley lad go from his mother's kitchen table to supplying for Gymshark? "I grew up in Stirchley and was lucky enough to be exposed to the business world," Jack Quddus said. "I helped out in my nan and grandad's shop, I learnt how to talk to people.
"When I was in year ten I sold fruit pastels and Lucozades in school. I always wanted to get into banking and finance and tried to get into Aston University to do Economics. But I missed out on one grade, I was gutted.
"You look back thinking if I got that grade would my life be different?" This setback, coupled with his first ever break-up, pushed Jack into a blue period of his life. The then 20-year-old wanted a neon sign for his bedroom but noticed most companies would not personalise it to his taste.
A lightbulb moment occurred where Jack decided to make his own at his mother's kitchen table. He favoured LED for it's recyclable, energy-efficient and affordable qualities and patched together his first ever neon sign.
He said: "I landed my dream job in property finance and for three months everyday after work I practiced, practiced and practiced. I made my first neon sign and then more, I posted them online then businesses started to take notice.
"Other businesses caught on asking 'Jack can you make this' and I built a nice name in Stirchley then Birmingham. It concreted in my mind that there's something here.
"I did deliveries in the evening and seeing my customers reaction to their logos or words lit up, that drives me. I made them in my mum's kitchen and she made a joke saying she still has the drilling holes in her chopping board."
Major American rappers including Post Malone and Ja Rule came knocking. Jack's biggest shock was when gaming giant SEGA, who he grew up playing, were introduced to him by Fluid as his next client.
Just four months into going full time with NeonCow, other clients on his roster include Gymshark, Smirnoff, Harvey Nichols, Gordon's, Captain Morgan and Mama Roux's. He also has international clients from Vancouver, New York, Gambia and Madrid.
The humble entrepreneur is not blinded by big names however, priding himself on working with the food and hospitality industry too. He once made a sign of a couple's favourite song lyric on their wedding day, the bride moved to tears when it was unveiled.
He said: "It is surreal that I'm just a young lad from Stirchley and you hear names like that associated with your brand. It is a testament to the work I put in behind the scene.
"I don't get star struck by the names and do the best I can for every single one. I want to continue building a product built by the people, I do polls on Instagram stories about what customers care about the most with the signs."
What is his advice for future Birmingham entrepreneurs? Jack said: "Just start, there is no better time to start than today."
Follow more inspirational business stories here
Win a £200 Wickes voucher to celebrate the launch of Kimberley Walsh's new paint. The competition will close at midnight on Sunday, June 2 and the 10 winners will be selected at random. Good luck!
