James Murray-Wells
Age: 22
Company: glassesdirect.co.uk
If you remember one name from this year’s Young Guns, remember this one. Murray-Wells is just 22 but he’s shaking the optical industry to its foundations. Confused at how a pair of glasses – “essentially some wire and two pieces of glass” – could cost £250, Murray-Wells has exposed and broken the big optician’s hold on the market. Using the final instalment of his student loan he started selling glasses over the internet last September and has already sold 22,000 pairs, saving UK consumers £2m. With a first year turnover of £1m, Murray-Wells is focused on getting “very big, very fast” and is in talks for VC investment.