TORQUE UP

• Building PowerShack: How Two Wholesalers Took Over TikTok

  Steve and Frank from PowerShack join Will and Jay for one of the most entertaining episodes yet.From running a small Essex wholesaler to becoming viral TikTok stars, the lads from Blackwall Electrical Supplies talk openly about business, burnout, buying groups and the power of social media in the electrical trade.🟢 How PowerShack built a following by mixing humour with hard graft⚫️ Why old school wholesaling is changing faster than anyone expected🟢 What manufacturers and contractors can learn from social media⚫️ Why buying groups like the EIB are changing the game for independentsIt’s real talk from the trade’s new generation of wholesalers who aren’t afraid to mix banter with business.🎙 Hosted by Will Winter and Jay Whyte🎧 Sponsored by C A U K – trusted test and measurement solutions built for professionals📩 Sponsorship and guest enquiries: [email protected]#TorqueUpPodcast #PowerShack #Electricians #Wholesalers #ElectricalIndustry #CAUK #TradesTalk #ElectricalLife #TikTokElectricians #UKConstruction #Navitas⏱️ Chapters00:00 Intro and sponsor read – Chauvin Arnoux01:00 The long drive from Essex and car crash stories04:00 How Blackwall Electrical Supplies became PowerShack06:00 Family business roots and early wholesaling days08:00 Working with friends and keeping it professional12:00 The politics of the electrical industry16:00 Sales reps, service standards and lost professionalism18:00 Trade mornings and the value of counter staff20:00 Why manufacturers can’t give installation advice23:00 The hidden risk in imported cable25:00 Price pressure and the impact on independents27:00 How PowerShack use social media to stay relevant30:00 Wholesalers choosing visibility over e-commerce32:00 Manufacturers, marketing and TikTok influence34:00 Collaborations between independents37:00 The role of buying groups and joining the EIB39:00 From burnout to building community42:00 Why the EIB feels different from other groups45:00 Is traditional marketing dead47:00 The rise of storytelling and authenticity online49:00 The real ROI of content creation52:00 Building a PowerShack studio and future plans55:00 Final thoughts – having fun while building the brand

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• Halloween Special: Burnout, AI and the Future of Wholesalers

  t’s the Halloween Special of the Torque Up Podcast and this one hits close to home.Will, Jay and Jimbo sit down for an unfiltered talk about what’s really haunting the trade. From burnout and stress to AI, TikTok and the future of UK wholesalers – this episode dives deep into the issues every electrician, manufacturer and wholesaler is facing right now.🟢 Are we all just working too hard for too little⚫️ Can AI really help the trade or will it replace it🟢 What happens to wholesalers if the new budget fails⚫️ Why cutting corners and chasing price is the real horror storyPlug in and power up with the Torque Up crew.Sponsored by CAUK – trusted test and measurement solutions built for professionals.🎙 Hosted by Will Winter, Jay Whyte and Jimbo Chapman📩 For sponsorship or guest enquiries: [email protected]#TorqueUpPodcast #Electricians #Wholesalers #ElectricalIndustry #CAUK #TradesTalk #ElectricalLife #AIElectricians #ConstructionUK #Navitas00:00 Intro and sponsor read01:00 Getting life back on track and managing stress03:00 Jimbo’s Sunday reset routine05:00 The guilt of taking time off07:00 Balancing business, family and content creation10:00 Why everyone feels burnt out12:00 Short form content and the TikTok effect15:00 Buying electrical gear online17:00 Doomscrolling and mental overload18:00 Meta glasses, ChatGPT and the rise of AI21:00 Using AI without losing creativity27:00 DIY disasters and accountability in the trade31:00 Unsafe products and scary shortcuts33:00 Sponsor message – CAUK34:00 What’s really happening with wholesalers36:00 Regional gaps and stalled projects39:00 Inflation, politics and the cost of materials43:00 How independents will be hit hardest49:00 Solar growth and the risk of overtrading52:00 Manufacturers vs wholesalers54:00 Online pricing and the race to the bottom58:00 Final thoughts and wrap up⏱️ Episode Chapters

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• EP 25 | Luke Freeman: Going Solo, Building a Brand & Staying Booked for Months

  Luke Freeman joins Will Winter and Jay to talk about life as a self-employed electrician, how he built Freeman Electrical from scratch, and what it takes to stay booked two months ahead after just one year in business.From early graft and nightmare hotels to navigating apprenticeships and growing a loyal client base, this episode is packed with honesty, laughs, and lessons every electrician can relate to.Luke opens up about his journey, social media strategy, and the mindset that’s helped him turn hard work into opportunity — proving that with drive, consistency, and the right attitude, anything’s possible in this trade.Chauvin Arnoux UK — Industry-leading test and measurement solutions for professionals.🔗 cauk.netNavitas Circuit Protection — Precision-engineered consumer units, RCBOs and SPDs built for professionals.🔗 navitascp.co.uk🎧 Follow @TorqueUp on Instagram and YouTube📲 instagram.com/torqueup🎥 youtube.com/@TorqueUp⚡ Sponsored by🧰 Connect with Us

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• EP | 24 From Apprentice to Director: Stephen “Compo” Comparetto and the Future of Wholesaling

  n this powerful episode of the Torque Up Podcast Will and Jay sit down with Stephen “Compo” Comparetto, director and shareholder at 7 Core Electrical, to pull back the curtain on the world of electrical wholesalers.Compo’s story is one of true grassroots grit. From starting out on the tools to leading a multi million pound independent wholesaler, he shares the highs, the challenges, and the bold decisions that shaped his career including a management buyout (MBO) and a major buying group switch.This conversation goes beyond business. We explore:🟢 The real role wholesalers play in supporting electricians every day⚫️ How buying groups influence the trade and why changes matter🟢 The risks and rewards of going through an MBO⚫️ The pressures politics and economics place on the wholesale sector🟢 What it takes to rise from apprentice to director in the UK electrical industryIf you are an electrician, wholesaler, or anyone connected to the trade, this episode gives you the insider view you will not hear anywhere else.👉 Sponsored by Chauvin Arnoux UK, experts in test and measurement solutions trusted worldwide.Subscribe now and do not miss this deep dive into the business and politics of UK electrical wholesaling.#TorqueUpPodcast #NavitasCP #7CoreElectrical #ElectricalWholesaler #ElectricianLife #AllAboutPower

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• EP | 23 BIG BRANDS ARE LYING TO YOU | SPDs, BS 7671 & The Truth They Don’t Want You to Know

  BIG BRANDS ARE LYING TO YOU | SPDs, BS 7671 & The Truth They Do Not Want You To Know🎙️ Torque Up Podcast | Episode 23 | With Kirsty JohnsonBig brands are controlling the industry and installers are paying the price.In this explosive episode, we sit down with Kirsty Johnson, Technical Director at Surge Protection Devices Ltd and member of the JPEL committee, to reveal what is really happening behind the scenes of BS 7671, SPDs and product marketing.If you are an electrician, contractor, wholesaler or trainer, this episode will change the way you think about the industry.🟢 The hidden politics shaping BS 7671 and JPEL decisions⚫ The truth about SPDs and why busbar fed installs can be unsafe🟢 How big brands influence installers and wholesalers through marketing⚫ The conflict between best practice, safety and commercial agendas🟢 Why RCBOs are changing the way we protect circuits⚫ How electricians can protect themselves and their customers🎥 Watch on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@TorqueUp🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://spotify.com/TorqueUp🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/TorqueUpWhat You Will Learn In This EpisodeListen To More Episodes

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