We interviewed some amazing entrepreneurs in 2007. Here’s a handful of extracts from those interviews, making up some of the best business quotes of the year:

Simon Woodroffe:

“True entrepreneurs overcome their genuine insecurities to have a go instead of looking back with regret on the big idea they never did anything about.”

“The holy grail of retailing is to deliver to everybody what rich people have.”

Stelios:

On the abolition of CGT: “The government used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.” Stelios on the abolition of VCT

“What criteria do I apply before starting a new business? [places forefinger into the air and starts to smile] which way the winds blowing, ha ha ha!”

“People think I’ll set up a company, call it easy something and Stelios will buy me off. It works both ways. Then of course, what do these people do? They go to the press and cry…” Stelios denies being a bully when it comes to protecting the easy brand

“I’m a proud young individual and I want to be able to put something in place on my own. I don’t want people saying ‘well you had £800m behind you’

The Apprenticer winner Tim Campbell on leaving Amstrad to start-up on his own:

“I’ve never wanted to be a Sir Alan clone. I’m happy with my management style and I know he’s happy with his – but there’s room for more than one way of doing things".

John Bird :

“You’ve got to be somebody who takes risks – with your money and other people’s – but you can’t get frightened. I don’t lose any sleep over the risks I take. In fact I wouldn’t describe myself as a risk taker – I’m reckless.”

Mike Clare , Dreams:

"We had a choice between selling sofas and selling beds. Beds took up less space so we could stock more. Also people aren’t as fussy about the look of a bed. They’re easier to sell – so that’s what we went with.”

Martin Webb :

“Being an entrepreneur is the new rock’n’roll.”

"When I started I got loads of money on credit cards. It’s never recommended but as a pragmatic practical step then why not? If you think you’ll be able to pay it back quickly, then do it.”

Karen Darby , founder of Simply Switch and Startups Awards judge, on business should hold no fears:

“People thought I was brave starting a business at 22, but I thought ‘where’s the bravery?’ It’s not my cash and if it’s all goes wrong I’ll just go and get a job.”

Lastminute.com founder Brent Hoberman on why it’s great to be back in business:

“You always think it’s the giant companies that will do what you are doing, but they find it harder to move on a dime, as Bill Gates said. They don’t take risks.”

Kanya King , founder of MOBO, thinks there’s nothing wrong with a bit of creativity early on:

“I’m a big believer in ‘fake it until you make it’.

Wagamama founder Alan Yow reveals the 'natural process' that led him to start restuarant chain Hakkasan:

“I’ll have 10 in my mind and these babies will either go away or become stronger and grow components. I’ll get more confident as they get stronger to the extent I’ll convince myself it’s sensible enough to say out loud.”

TV Dragon Peter Jones proving he's just as scary in real life:

“You wouldn’t ask your bank manager for a loan dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and you shouldn’t expect me to invest if you don’t know what is appropriate to wear.”

David Tang OBE tells it like it is:

 “I’ve never met anyone with an MBA who was remotely intelligent! I can’t stand this whole idea that being educated or knowing more people makes you successful – it’s all about the product.”

Sir James Dyson, extract from How They Started:

“Having well engineered products does the work for you –it speaks for itself. Engineering and design are the driving forces behind everything I do.”

Peter Boizot, Pizza Express: 

 “The world was my oyster! I believed I could go as far as I could. I like doing my own thing so took well to being my own boss. I don’t regret anything and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Lord Karan Bilimoria, Cobra Beer:

“Never ever go forward with an idea without actually testing it out on the consumer first.”

Richard Reed, Innocent Drinks:

“We were hopelessly naive. We stopped working with just a month’s pay to keep us going, but it was nine months before we were up and running.”

Michael Birch, Bebo: 

"If you’re too corporate the social network society will backlash against you,”