I Started a Business

Sisters Bec and Narelle Thompson, the duo behind Cubbyhouse Canteen, share how their beloved parkside café in Armadale has grown over 15 years into a purpose-driven brand loved by families across Australia.

What started as a community hub built on connection, kindness and coffee has evolved into something much bigger with their gingerbread cookies now stocked in all Victorian Woolworths and over 500 independent stores nationwide.

In this episode, we chat about their journey from café life to retail, the stamina it takes to stay in the game, and the lessons they’ve learned about community, partnership and trusting your gut. They also open up about their collaboration with Kids Helpline, staying true to their values as they scale and what it really means to build a business with heart.

And yes… we did eat cookies on air. 🍪

@cubbyhousecanteen

cubbyhousecanteen.com.au

What happens when a personal health diagnosis sparks a business idea that not only reshapes your family’s life but also helps others reimagine their own health journeys. In this month’s episode, Rosie sits down with Simon Brosolo, co-founder of Nuvie Saunas, to explore his journey from leading digital transformation and growth strategy at a corporate consultancy to building a science-led wellness brand.

Simon shares how his wife Alana’s healing journey pushed them to rethink their approach to health and discover the power of sauna therapy. That personal experience became the foundation for Nuvie Saunas, a brand focused on health optimisation and science-backed wellness. If you’ve ever wondered how personal challenges can fuel innovation or why saunas might just be the key to better sleep, mood and longevity, this episode is for you.

@nuvie.saunas

nuvie.com.au

This month's podcast features Daz, who made the leap from the poker tables through startups and textbook publishing to building Hatch Agency, a growth agency helping small ecommerce businesses with their biggest challenge: what comes after the initial launch.

We chat about calculated risks, their innovative Website as a Service (WaaS) model that's solving cash flow problems, the partnership that started at the gym and some hard won lessons from years of business building. Plus, a fun quick fire round where we bond over watching Netflix at 3x speed and you'll have to listen to find out who his dream client really is. Essential listening for anyone serious about business growth.

@hatch.launch

gohatch.com.au

In this episode, we chat with Tiffany Yuan, the woman behind SUL - a skincare brand dedicated to helping people feel confident in their own skin.

Tiffany shares how her love for skincare, partly inspired by her mum - led her to leave the corporate grind and dive headfirst into running a skincare brand. We chat about passion, community, and how CLIK Collective helped bring SULSKIN’s click-and-collect to life. She also spills on her go-to products, daily routine, and what it’s really like behind the scenes. Plus, we wrap things up with a fun round of this or that. 

@SUL.SKIN

sulskin.com

In this episode, we chat with Tim Devlin, co-founder of Atypical - a coffee brand built on a shared love of Asian coffee and a desire to do things differently.

Tim shares how a chat over coffee (how ironic) sparked a partnership with Zac, a passionate roaster, and later Mohini, whose design skills brought the brand to life. From sourcing unique coffees direct from origin to packaging them in reusable tins, Atypical is all about flavour and standing out in a crowded market. We dive into the slow burn of cafe partnerships, how they oversee every step from harvest to home delivery and how they’re building a coffee community one brew at a time.

@atypicalcoffee_

Website: atypical.coffee

Just Surprise Me helps people show love and gratitude through curated gift boxes filled with locally made goodness.

Cathy Shaw first discovered the brand while ordering gifts for her husband’s business - so when she found out the owner was moving on, she didn’t hesitate to put her hand up. She focused on learning the ropes and keeping the business’ trusted suppliers and charm intact. Now running the show, Cathy’s kept the magic alive while embracing the flexibility at CLIK Collective and showing up at markets to stay connected with her suppliers. She shares her love of local produce and markets, the power of face-to-face connections, and why supporting Aussie-made is a non-negotiable.

justsurpriseme.com.au

@justsurpriseme_

Mini Hippo curates thoughtful, fun, and functional food storage solutions for busy families.

In this episode, founder Megan Mallen shares how maternity leave, and a single product she couldn’t find in Australia - sparked a bold leap into business. With no background in retail or business, Megan started out by cold calling toy stores with boxes of stock in her car and went on to form trusted partnerships with fellow mums across the globe. She talks about building a business from scratch without a playbook, and how her experience as an emergency nurse gave her the resilience, perspective, and people skills to grow a brand that reflects her 

@minihippoau

minihippo.com.au

Alexium redefines sales training, empowering professionals with the tools to communicate, connect, and close with confidence.  

In this episode, Alex shares how his experience as a car salesman at leading dealerships ignited his passion for helping others grow. Taking the leap in 2019, he launched Alexium - just before the world was turned upside down by COVID. With mentorship, resilience, and a belief in the power of relationships, he navigated the challenges, built 10 courses in 10 months, and embraces AI to transform business operations. He opens up about the highs, the setbacks, and the lessons that shaped his success, plus, how one simple decision to join CLIK Collective made all the difference.

@alexium.com.au

alexium.com.au

Toybox Tales reimagines the purpose of toys, curating a collection that inspires learning, development, and a sense of nostalgia for all ages.

In this episode, Sarah and Chris Haines share how becoming parents reshaped their understanding of toys, leading them to focus on education and meaningful play. They open up about the challenges of transforming an analogue retail store into a thriving online business while maintaining the personal, face-to-face interactions they value so deeply. With their daughter Elsie as the ultimate product tester, they share the importance of seeing toys through a child’s eyes, along with some funny stories along the way. 

@toyboxtalesau

toyboxtales.com.au

Redefining meaningful gifting, MiniGem Comfort crafts purpose-driven packs designed to bring calm and connection during life’s most challenging times.

In this episode, Minaret shares how MiniGem Comfort began with small, thoughtful items for her brother during his stays in psychiatric hospitals, sparking the idea to craft products that soothe the senses and evoke a feeling of home. She opens up about the challenges of rebranding to better connect with her audience and trusting her instincts while navigating the complexities of business growth. With a focus on creating gifts that truly last, she reveals her plans to refresh MiniGem Comfort’s look, launch exciting new products, and reach more people in need of comfort and care.

@minigemcomfort
minigemcomfort.com.au