My Business Podcast

Marty Halphen is a former solicitor turned business owner, who purchased a once small fruit home delivery service, The Fruit Box, and grew it from a total customer base of 300 to a staggering 30,000 orders each week! Marty credits much of his success to the guidance of customers, but says that implementing a corporate social responsibility scheme within his business is a defining factor in establishing its overall identity. “What we’ve done over that five or six years is we arranged for a food rescue program … However, we felt a little bit like an accidental tourist,” Marty explains, adding that the business’ need for refinement inspired The Fruit Box to do something meaningful. “We felt that if we had a very strong CSR platform, not only would we improve our identity, [but] it walks hand-in-hand with improving the profile of our business.” Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Marty outlines his journey of growth – from how he cracked the national market, to the techniques used to achieve repeat business – an

A number of employment matters and HR issues can have disastrous consequences for a business if not handled correctly. My Business speaks with specialist SME law firm Teddington Legal about how to solve some of the trickiest legal issues in business. Teddington Legal’s Mark Gardiner and Nicole Billett are problem-solvers standing at the forefront of the Australian legal system with expertise in immigration, business law, workplace relations and dispute resolution. Speaking to the My Business team, Mark openly admits legal information can be hard to find. However, by seeking professional advice and educating one’s self on their obligations, he says business owners can minimise their risk of potential legal repercussions in the future. Tune in to the My Business Podcast as Mark and Nicole broach common issues in the workplace – from unfair dismissal to health and safety for remote working employees, workplace bullying and the abolition of the 457 visa – as well as share their tips for employers to assist them i

“If you don’t know what you’re trying to get out of your website, then it makes our job harder. And it will cost more for you, for us, to come in there and help you understand,” says 2BInteractive co-founder Tim Barnett. “We’re web developers – we’re not business coaches or business development coaches. But at the end of the day, we sometimes are involved at that level because your website is so key to your business.” Indeed, website architecture can be a costly and time-consuming endeavour. Tim joins the My Business team to discuss the importance of having a business strategy and how having a plan in place helps web developers produce an end result that is satisfying to all. In this episode of the My Business Podcast, Tim also explains how he establishes a cost base for building websites, how he aids clientele through the construction process, as well as the story of his very own business and how it evolved from a single-channel to a multi-dimensional company. Enjoy the show! www.mybusiness.com.au

“I want criticism, I genuinely do, because you learn from that and that's value for our business,” says BridgeClimb founder Paul Cave, who notes that customer feedback has been an integral part of his success. “Every negative problem is communicable and I think that’s what people lose sight of – you can communicate if you’re prepared to!” Paul rejoins the My Business team to continue the interesting story of his unique business, as well as explain how he implements the feedback of each and every one of his 3.6 million customers within the business to improve and individualise every experience. Tune in now to hear why Paul reported himself to WorkCover to keep operations safe, how the business works hand in hand with the tourism industry to bring people into the country, and how BridgeClimb guests will be able to dance atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge! Enjoy the show!

An initial appointment with Jules Peacocke of Lily Jackson Hair & Makeup will set you back $300. And while that may raise your eyebrows, Jules explains how and why the price you charge needs to reflect the level of service you provide. “I see hairdressing as a profession – not an unskilled labour,” says Jules Clearly there is merit in Jules’ methods, as clients often book up to 12 months in advance. As such, it’s no wonder Lily Jackson Hair & Makeup is often called ‘Sydney’s best hairdresser’. Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Jules and partner Amajjika Kumara explain what it really means to operate at the high end of your industry, their approach to overcome the poor communication skills prevalent among young people and why the abolition of 457 visas spells disaster for their own industry and many others! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

A simple idea can lead to a complex journey. BridgeClimb has now had 3.6 million visitors go through its doors and is a major tourist draw for people around the world, but it wasn't always like this. Listen to Paul Cave, founder of BridgeClimb talk through how his dream to allow the general public to walk up an Aussie icon, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, turned into a 10-year journey dealing with new technology, unions and getting government legislation passed to bring his vision to life. Paul shares with us some of the unique challenges he faced, how he mentally dealt with them and the lessons he learned to build a business that, in his own words "if I'd known it was going to take 10 years, I never would've started". http://www.mybusiness.com.au

Aged care and disruption are not terms commonly found in the same sentence. Bringing them together has been a lucrative but highly challenging endeavour for Synovum Care Group’s founder Natasha Chadwick. Demonstrating that her disruptive idea in the aged care space has commercial sense and is viable long term has proved to be her biggest challenge – convincing lenders, valuers, industry leaders and even incoming staff of the value of what she is trying to achieve. “Yes, it’s a big risk, but if we don’t take the risk, who will? Someone’s got to – we’ve got to demonstrate that you can do it better,” Natasha says adamantly. Speaking exclusively on the My Business Podcast, Natasha discusses exactly how her model is changing the way aged care services are administered, keeping a tight lid on costs at a time when industry costs are soaring, and pursuing customer interests without the backing of your broader industry. Plus loads more! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

The head of Mood Media Australia, Steve Hughes, discusses the concept of experiential marketing and the clever ways businesses can revamp their in-store experience for their customers, the thing businesses most commonly get wrong in their messaging at the point-of-sale, and how low-cost technologies are revolutionising the buying experience for the modern consumer, plus much more. Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

When thinking about online stores and brick-and-mortar businesses, most would consider the two to be in opposition of each other. However, Zed Klingenberg, founder of the online tyre specialist store Tyroola, thinks otherwise. “For us, partnerships with retail chains … and with wholesalers is very, very important,” says Zed. Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Zed reveals what it takes to partner with retailer Supercheap Auto and the benefits of having a partnership with a big business, as well as educating customers on a product they didn’t know they wanted, how to get suppliers onboard an unknown idea and more! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

Tackling corporate social responsibility is always important, but according to Luke Baylis, SumoSalad CEO and co-founder, if business owners are going to make a difference in their community, you need to truly believe in what you’re doing in order to be successful. “You've got to have a genuine connection to your purpose. Our perspective is that it's a very important aspect of our business, but it has to be a sincere thing. It can't just be lip service like a lot of other businesses are doing,” says Luke. With over 100 stores nationwide, Luke reveals his attitudes on taking a stand in society and what that means for his business, how to get the right investor, finding the right franchisee, dismantling the concept of fast food to fit his business and more! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

Scott Bradley has been a partner at Rotor Studios, a full-service production agency for 20 years creating video content, and has seen technology advance around him. Yet despite working in this highly technological field, Scott doesn’t see himself as a “technological guru”; he regards technology as another tool in his belt. "It's been an evolving process over 20 years ... and the skills that I had 20 years ago, I still use," Scott says. Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Scott shares what innovation means to him off Rotor Studio’s win as Innovator of the Year at the Optus My Business Awards 2016, the importance of diversifying your revenue streams, how to find skilled staff, the importance of your business name and much more! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

There's a lot to learn from being in business, even more so from being a serial entrepreneur, as Mat Collett knows only too well after building and selling multiple companies. Going through the cycle of establishing, building, growing and then selling a business multiple times, often across very different industries, provides a wealth of experience and insight – experience which can be highly lucrative for anyone operating a business of his own. Speaking from the context of his current business, the innovative sunscreen maker of Solar D Sunscreen shares his experiences in whether patents and trademarks are worthy of investment or not, the best and worst times to undertake a capital raising, why regulation is ultimately good for businesses, and his tips for finding the right distributor. All this and much, much more. Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

When your business is totally reliant on the products of others, strategy becomes more important than ever, as Adina Jacobs of STM Goods knows only too well. As an accessories maker for personal technologies, STM Goods continually plays catch-up to the technology makers, balancing the need to have products available with the risk of investing in a new product that may be a massive flop. “We started off as a laptop bag brand, because when we started, there were no iPhones, no iPads, no other tablets – it was all about the laptop,” recalls Adina. Times have definitely changed, and so too has STM Goods’ range of products to keep up with the many devices rolled out. Adina shares with My Business her experiences of the delicacies of forecasting consumer demand, manufacturing for a global audience, insights into what makes a good product design, and why her business only joined the world of online sales in 2016. Plus loads more. Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

“I’m so positive about small business that even my blood group is positive!” jokes former Australian small business minister and Efic ambassador Bruce Billson. Having operated his own family business before moving into politics, Bruce is all too familiar with the everyday challenges facing SMEs. Post-politics, he remains dedicated to advocating for them and connecting them with various support channels to keep the wheels of growth turning. He is now an ambassador for export finance agency Efic and the executive chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia, among a number of roles all geared towards assisting and encouraging Aussie SMEs. In a wide-ranging chat on the My Business Podcast, Bruce explores how business owners can better influence policymakers, his fervent support for Efic in enabling SMEs to overcome export finance barriers, and the lessons businesses can learn from his time in government. Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

How are SMEs reacting to wage stagnation at home and Donald Trump’s policies in the US affecting business sentiment? Are most business owners expecting more or less money in their pockets in the year ahead? We asked Andy Scott, head of research at Momentum Intelligence, to outline the results of the latest quarterly Australian SME Business Sentiment Index. Speaking exclusively on the My Business Podcast, Andy reveals some interesting trends emerging around: • The take-home pay of business owners • Differences in outlook from employers and their employees • Hiring intentions • Overall economic sentiment And more! Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

While a business model may work well overseas, there’s no telling how well it will work here in Australia. Justin McDonell, co-founder of Anytime Fitness Australia, faced this concern in 2008. Since then, Anytime Fitness Australia has grown to 450 locations nationally, with ambitious plans for ongoing growth. “The franchise relationship, it’s like a marriage. There’s good and bad times, but generally, it should be good,” says Justin. Justin shares how he launched and grew the Anytime Fitness franchise in Australia and helped adapt the 24-hour gym concept to the local market, his plans to diversify the business using multiple sub-brands, and how the prominent business has achieved such rapid expansion in a highly competitive industry. Find out all this and more on this episode of the My Business Podcast! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

Guy Williams, of The Training Guys, has seen people management at its worst. A business leader, or senior manager, disaffected with their role because the task of leading a team takes them away from what they do best. And try as they might to get a handle on the task, they can’t get a handle on it. “Practice doesn’t make perfect: practice makes permanent,” says Guy. So how can you change things up to deliver the desired productivity gains for your team? What strategies can you employ to minimise distractions? How can you salvage a disaffected manager in your business before they give up and quit? Find out on this episode of the My Business Podcast! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

“We had a second shop, which we sold. It was great, it was making money and was fine – we actually didn’t like it,” says Stu White, CEO and ‘flower lover’ at Jodie McGregor Flowers. Maintaining growth is a key element for any business owner, but for Jodie McGregor Flowers, growing their brand isn't necessarily tied to growing their number of stores. Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Stu and Jodie explore life after being named the Optus My Business Awards 2016 Retail Business of the Year, ensuring your customers are happy above all else, how to choose the right growth strategy for your business and its customers, as well as dealing with disgruntled people who have it out for you… plus lots more. Enjoy the show! http://www.mybusiness.com.au

What does it take to create a great product? How can you get your new invention to market? These are the types of issues Robert Tiller, CEO of Tiller Design, deals with on a daily basis. Tiller Design is a product design and development business that helps budding entrepreneurs and established businesses take their new product ideas from concept to reality. “The project conspires to destroy a concept”, Robert says, adding that this is why project management is so crucial to keep everything on track. Speaking on the My Business Podcast, Robert explores some of the facets involved in developing a prototype and taking the product to market, the weird and wonderful inventions he has worked on, his insights into becoming an effective project manager, diversifying your methods of payment such as taking equity stakes instead of cash and much more. http://www.mybusiness.com.au

“The smaller sites … were actually cannibalising some of our larger stores,” explains John Sammut, CEO of Flower Power. The prominent Sydney-based chain of 10 large-format garden centres is a thriving second-generation family business. Yet despite its established roots – pun intended – Flower Power continues to evolve its retail and product offerings to ensure it remains at the forefront of its industry. In an exclusive media appearance on the My Business Podcast, John discusses how his business has boosted growth by reducing store numbers, developed a 355,000-strong loyalty program, competed effectively against major competitor Bunnings and much, much more! http://www.mybusiness.com.au