Food, dragons, music and how to beat stocks and shares… with a cello

Cellist, yogi, writer, music school owner, wholefoods entrepreneur and café designer… where does TARA-LEE BYRNE, boss of Wicked Wholefoods, find the time? Here, she tells us how to get things done, earn 400% investment returns (with strings attached) and get your gallstones removed ‘with palatial care’ for €400.

Aren’t you a bit too busy?

When I was a child, my parents had me doing piano and cello lessons, ballet, orchestra, choir, hockey and drama seven days a week. I never had a day off and knew no different. My days were always full and I never had time to be bored. This became my default setting…

How was Dragons’ Den for you?

I entered to get free advertising for Wicked Wholefoods. As a start-up I could never have afforded eight minutes of prime-time TV publicity. The following months were our best sales months since launching a year before. I had zero intention of parting with any percentage of my company at that stage. I knew asking for €125k for 15% was never going to happen.

Were the judges presidential? Are you going for vote for any of them?

I shall be saving my vote for someone who knows the difference between a cashew nut and a coconut.

How are sales going?

It’s been a whirlwind since securing corporate accounts with Google and Twitter. We recently made the easy decision to pull out of the retail space and move sales online. A whopping 90% of our stockists do not pay within our 30 days credit terms. Multiples are the worst culprits.

How did you get started?

I had an incredible mentor. I personally funded the initial stages and secured a bank loan of €75,000. The local enterprise offices in Clare were instrumental in their support.

You’re creative director for Copia Green cafe in Killaloe…

It’s a passion project to dispel the myth that healthy food is bland in flavour and only for Birkenstock wearing tree-huggers who do yoga and wear bamboo pants.

Ever get time to play the cello?

Careful planning is required to schedule concert tours and recordings at least a year or two in advance. I’m also director of the Munster Music Academy in Killaloe. We have 90 students and six teachers, including me.

What’s next?

I’m currently writing a children’s book based on all my passions: music, travelling, food and cultural diversity.

Were you ever ripped off?

Daily – I live in Ireland. The worst was paying €4,500 last year to extend a 20ft connection to the gas mains for our commercial kitchens.

Top deal?

I start each day with 20 minutes’ meditation with my favourite app, Calm. The best €35 I ever spent.

Pension?

Ask any musician and you’ll be greeted with a hearty guffaw. My investments are my instruments.

Top tip?

Invest in stringed instruments – they appreciate year on year like a fine wine. My cello has appreciated over 400%. Why do you think Japanese banks buy Stradivarius violins?

Health insurance?

When living in India I electrocuted myself, was hit by a car and knocked off my scooter, hospitalised for 10 days with dysentery and chronic dehydration, caught dengue fever [mosquito-borne tropical disease] and was bitten by a spider in my sleep. But, no, I don’t have health cover. Instead I invest in my health with food and lifestyle choices. I’ve travelled overseas for serious medical treatments such as getting kidney stones removed. There was a four-month waiting list to go privately and it was going to cost me €12,000. Instead I flew to Jordan to a private hospital and received palatial care for €400.

What would you do if you became taoiseach tomorrow?

Introduce food education and mindfulness into the school curriculum and medical degree syllabus.