Idea Exchange American Express

In this episode, how an ex-punk rocker turned corporate brewer left it all behind to start one of Australia’s most successful craft breweries.

“We want to be that brewery that adds massive value to every single one of our stakeholders.”

Jamie Cook is the co-founder of Stone & Wood, one of one of Australia’s most loved and awarded craft beer brands. Founded in Byron Bay in 2008, Stone & Wood exceeded annual production of 12 million litres in just its tenth year of operations … to put that into perspective, only one other beer has come close to this feat in recent history.

In this generous chat Jamie Cook shares, where the idea for Stone & Wood came from, how he and his partners got the original idea to market, how they financed the business in those early days (sold the business 6-months in, only to buy it back!), the importance of branding and more...

 

 

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In this episode, how a Year 10 dropout saw a film that changed the entire direction of his career … in fact, of his life.

James Bartle is the founder of Outland Denim, the denim brand making jeans differently and setting a new standard in the highly exploitative fashion industry.

Driven by a desire to curb the trafficking of young girls in the multi-billion commercial sex trade, James created Outland Denim to generate training and employment opportunities for women vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Ten years on, the Outland Denim brand can be found in some of the world’s largest department stores, employing over 100 women, and is seen worn by the likes of Megan Markle and Leonardo diCaprio.

 

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In this episode, how a 19-year old kid from Melbourne’s outer suburbs started his entrepreneurial journey with one impossible idea … to create a bottle of water to help end the World Water Crisis. That idea has now grown to over 50 products across water, personal care and baby care, and seen him awarded Victoria’s Young Australian of the Year.

What began as an impossible idea, dreamt up by Daniel Flynn, his best mate Jarryd, and girlfriend Justine, is now backed by a passionate team of 55, and a consumer movement of tens of thousands.

‘Consumer movement’ could sound like a fluffy, throw-away phrase. But picture this ... for 5 years, the major supermarkets in Australia had said no to Thankyou . Then, one day, Daniel and his team launched a viral video that led to a seminal moment in Thankyou’s growth, when thousands of people began petitioning the supermarkets.

Fast-forward to the present day and the Thankyou brand can be found in over 6,000 outlets nationally, it boasts the #1 and #2 hand wash in Australia, but most importantly, it’s given $7.1 million profit to water, sanitation, and maternal health programs in third-world countries.

I caught up with the very humble Daniel Flynn in his busy Melbourne office.

“The reality for any business owner is … you see the mess. And you’re there every day to grind it out, to move it forward. There’s been moments where we’ve been given awards and at the same time the phones running hot, emails are going nuts and you’re thinking ‘Man, I just can’t wait to get through the day!’” - Daniel Flynn, Thankyou

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Hear how Carman’s Muesli founder Carolyn Creswell bought the business for $1,000 when

she was just 18, and turned it into Australia’s most loved muesli brand that now produces

60 SKUs sold in 35 countries.

Once a home-operated muesli company whose products were available in a few cafes

around Melbourne, Carolyn Creswell has turned the humble operation into a thriving

multi-million dollar business.

Her brand, Carman’s Muesli, is now Australia’s number 1 selling muesli brand with 60

product SKUs selling across the globe.

Along the journey, she’s been named Telstra’s Business Woman of the Year, and Ernst &

Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

But, as you’re about to find out, the growth of this FMCG juggernaut hasn’t all been smooth

sailing, as Carolyn navigated her way through almost going broke, as well as losing a major

supermarket client, overnight, without any notice.

“My mantra is simple … I’m constantly asking ‘How can we be better?’” - Carolyn Creswell

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In this episode, the story of a young Swedish farm girl who moved to Australia when she

was 22, and with little command of the English language, managed to create a global

stationary business that now has over 100 stores in 5 countries employing up to 1,000

people in the busy time … plus an online store selling to 147 countries.

Kristina Karlsson is the founder and Creative Director of Kikki-K … a global Swedish design

and stationery business she launched in 2001 when she cleverly managed to convince her

then partner (now husband) Paul, to sell his home and max out all his credit cards in order

to bring her dream to life.

Well, her power of persuasion worked a treat, as Kikki-K is now a household name on the

Australian stationary scene … a brand, that in Kristina’s own words is ‘empowering and

inspiring stationery lovers everywhere to live their best life’.

But, as you’re about to find out, the growth of this retail juggernaut hasn’t all been smooth

sailing, as Kristina juggled opening up stores in multiple countries, with the pressures of

family life and growing her dream business.

I caught up with her at Kikki-K’s inner-Melbourne headquarters.

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In this episode, how a young teenager with a love for brands went on to create, in record time, a household name in the Australian underwear market.

Ben Goodfellow loves brands. In fact, from a very early age, when other kids were swapping footy cards, Ben was sitting at the kitchen table, with his Dad, talking branding. Well it’s paid off, as he’s now responsible for the iconic Tradie underwear brand. Launched in 2010, what started off as an underwear range for men, has quickly expanded into an empire of categories including women’s underwear, workwear, babywear, tools and beauty.

Thanks to some clever marketing, and a never-say-die attitude, Ben’s business has experienced 45% growth year-on-year, employing over 50 staff and will turnover in excess of $100 million this financial year.

I caught up with the tall, and highly enthusiastic Ben in the boardroom of his outer Melbourne headquarters and distribution centre surrounded by all sorts of men’s and women’s apparel.

“I had to make the strategic decision that all this profit is just dead money … it’s not going to be around in the future. You’ve got to have courage, but you’ve got to back your gut instincts as well.” Ben Goodfellow - Tradies

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Showpo’s Jane Lu on building a $30M fashion empire whilst having the time of her life | #5

In this episode, how a 22 year-old electrician noticed what many home and business

owners have known for a long time. That if you booked a sparky to do a job, you weren’t

100% sure that they’d actually arrive on time … if at all! So, he set about creating

Platinum Electricians, a franchise group that has WOWing the customer at the front and

centre of every business transaction. And it’s been so successful, it will turn over $60

million this year!

“We have a 21 step customer mantra that all our franchisees implement whenever they go onsite. It’s sole aim is to WOW our customers so they talk about us to others and remain with us for a very long time. It’s our point-of-difference in a crowded market place.”

Joshua Nicholls - Platinum Electricians

 

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In this episode, how a love of mountain-biking, combined with a passion for building strong communities, led to the creation of an 8-figure online store, along with a swag of industry awards and recognition at the highest level of eCommerce in Australia.

Mountain Bikes Direct is a very unconventional business. And co-founder Jen Geale is a very unconventional business owner.

And that's what makes this story so very interesting.

You see, this 8-figure business which started in 2012 sells Australia's largest range of mountain bike parts, clothing and accessories, yet has no physical shop-front, all the staff work remotely from the comfort of their own homes across three countries, if you're a customer you wont find a number to call if you have a question or complaint... yet the customer service offering is exceptional, and on their biggest sales day ever, Jen and her family were kicking back on the beach!

In her role as General Manager, Jen says her goal is to ensure a high level of Kum-ba-yah across the business!

Tim catches up with Mountain Bike Direct's wonderfully enthusiastic GM as she sat relaxed, cross-legged on her couch in her Gold Coast home, which doubles as the business's office (hubby Michael was quietly working away upstairs) where she talked openly.

"For some people, being all-consumed by the business, giving it everything and not sleeping... that may be where they want to be; and that's fine. Its not what I wanted to do, its not what we wanted to do, its simply just not our version of success" Jen Geale - MTB Direct

 

 

 

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Idea Exchange by American Express