Unconventional Business

Camplify is a marketplace often likened to Airbnb for RVs. Founded in 2019, Camplify has grown to become Australia’s largest van sharing platform and is on a journey to revolutionise road trips.

In this episode, Justin Hales - CEO of Camplify dives into his journey from a career in technology and mining to founding a company built on the marketplace model. The conversation explores the challenges and strategies employed in the early stages of the business, the impact of the pandemic, and the expansion into international markets. Throughout the discussion, Justin emphasises the focus on customer satisfaction and how Camplify leverages feedback to improve user experience. He also shares insights on the sharing economy, consumer trust, startup lessons, and future plans for Camplify.

Key Episode Moments:

00:00 Acknowledgment of Country and Introduction

00:53 Meet Justin Hales, CEO of Camplify

01:24 Justin's Career Journey: From Mining to Marketplaces

07:31 The Birth of Camplify: An Airbnb for RVs

15:43 Challenges and Growth in the Sharing Economy

23:07 Understanding the Customer and Their Journey

24:25 Breaking Down Customer Demographics

26:01 Community Insights and Business Enablement

27:21 Expanding the Holiday Experience

29:05 Navigating the Impact of COVID-19

35:25 International Expansion and Market Strategies

42:01 Future Plans and Customer Barriers

44:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

What does it take to make a product go viral? Is it simply timing, luck or a knack for predicting future trends? You're in for a special treat as we hear from Christoper Thé, the mastermind and creator of the viral sensation that the New York Times crowned 'The World's Most Instagrammed Cake'.

We delve into Chrisopher's journey in the food business, how he came up with Australia's prized watermelon, strawberry and rose cake, his approach to creativity and his advice for small businesses.

Key Episode Moments:

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Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

With millions of disposable cups being discarded around the world every minute, Abigail Forsyth OAM, the innovative co-founder of KeepCup, had a simple idea. What if there was an alternative to single-use options? Born out of a desire for sustainability, this iconic Australian brand has revolutionised the way we think about eco-friendly products.

As a trailblazer in the sustainability space, Abigail discusses the changing landscape of consumer attitudes towards reusables and the challenges and triumphs of creating a whole new category. She shares valuable insights into the power of authentic brand messaging, fostering customer loyalty, and the importance of internal accountability in driving meaningful change. Listeners will gain valuable lessons on resilience, effective leadership, and unwavering dedication to a vision, even when the road to success isn't paved with immediate financial gains.

Key Episode Moments:

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Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

Historically, brand tracking and market research have remained exclusive to large corporations with budgets exceeding $100,000. But what if businesses of all sizes had an affordable way to prove the value of investing in brand? That was the question co-founders Connor Archbold and Matt Herbert asked themselves before starting Tracksuit in 2021 to democratise market research. Within three years, the rapidly growing start-up has hit an annual recurring revenue of more than $10 million, demonstrating the market’s appetite for affordable brand analytics.

In this insightful conversation, Connor shares his candid views on the start-up environment in Australia and New Zealand, unveils Tracksuit’s ambitions to achieve unicorn status, emphasises the increasing significance of brand awareness, and reveals the secret sauce of accelerating growth in the early days.

Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur or business leader you’ll walk away with insights, inspiration and practical advice from this episode.

Key episode moments:

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Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

What does it take to grow a brand from one small store in Darlinghurst to a household name serving up the best gelato in Australia (and arguably, the planet)?

In this live session at Mumbrella 360, Kat gets the inside scoop from Declan Lee - co-director and co-founder of Gelato Messina. We explore this iconic Aussie brand's journey from its early days to its widespread popularity, how it has cultivated a loyal following, dealt with the copycats and what exciting plans are on the cards next.

Key Episode Moments:

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

2.1 million appointments are booked on HotDoc every month with nearly 1 in 3 Australians using the platform to connect with their preferred doctor. What did it take to drive this kind of behaviour change and what does the future of Australia’s healthcare system look like?

In this episode of Unconventional Business, we take you on the transformative journey of Ben Hurst, CEO and Founder of HotDoc. From car park attendant to doctor, prison psychiatrist, New York novelist and finally - founder and entrepreneur, Ben shares what drove his career choices. We also explore the beginnings of the HotDoc platform, the impact of COVID on its growth, how the company thinks about differentiation, its future roadmap and a vision for Australia’s healthcare system.

Key Episode Moments:

The iOS App Review Ben mentioned:

★★★★★

I'm deaf, vocally impaired and along with PTSD and BPD. With HotDoc I can make my own appointment, get reminded, have the office of my Dr get in touch when it needs to be changed - and all done via the app and email. I just want to thank you for helping me become more independent and able to function.. 5 stars

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted in Australia annually. Organisations like Food Bank, Second Bite and Oz Harvest are helping re-direct millions of kilos every year but that still accounts for only about 1.1% according to Katy Barfield.

So, what brings a bar owner in Melbourne on a journey to completely re-imagine the future of food waste and disrupt the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry in the process?

In this episode of Unconventional Business, we sit down with Katy Barfield, Founder and CEO of Yume Foods. We explore how Yume is reshaping the future of food waste by bringing scale to purpose, what it takes to build, automate and create efficiencies for complex processes and why Katy believes in a social enterprise model instead of not-for-profit.

Key Episode Moments:

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

In season three of HubSpot's Unconventional Business we delve into the journey of Australia's third technology unicorn, Airwallex, and learn how the scaling company is disrupting the banking and financial services sector.

We're joined by Luke Latham, Managing Director and GM of Airwallex ANZ, and explore Luke's diverse career background (from AWS to MILKRUN) and the importance of a builder's mindset in challenging and disruptive industries.

On the show, Luke takes us on the journey of how Airwallex became a global disruptor in such a short space of time, where the company's growth (they now have over 100,000 customers worldwide) stems from, and insight into how the founders and leadership team think, build and go to market.

You'll leave the episode with valuable lessons for businesses aiming to disrupt traditional sectors and prioritise customer-centric practices, and insight into the significance of trust-building, and broader trends in the fintech industry.

Key Episode Moments:

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot ANZ, Catherine Sumner and Amiria MacKinnon, and VidPod.

Boden Westover, SVP Marketing at me&u and former VP Marketing at Mr Yum, joins us on the pod for a candid chat on the intersection of technology and customer service in the hospitality world.

Boden shares his perspective on why marketers need to hone their focus on retention, and how the brilliant minds in the marketing team at me&u are innovating to drive retention, loyalty and uncover new revenue streams. We cover the much-discussed merger of Australia's top two mobile ordering companies in me&u and Mr Yum to form one true market leader, Boden's advice for marketers today and so much more.

Podcast Show notes: Unconventional Business - Season 3 Episode 2

Host Kat Warboys, Senior Marketing Director APAC for HubSpot interviews

Boden Westover, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Marketing at Me&U.

Boden's background includes experience in fast-growth startups, ed tech, and sports technology.

This episode of Unconventional Business delves into the dynamic landscape of hospitality tech, the power of personalised customer experiences, the role of data-driven marketing strategies in driving growth and loyalty, and what a spicy marg has to do with this.

Key Episode Moments

Company Background:

me&u is a platform offering sales and marketing tools and services for hospitality brands.

Notable acquisition of My Guest List and subsidiary company Sprout, enhancing technology offerings for the industry.

The focus on personalised customer experiences through data capture and application.

Navigating the Pandemic:

The impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry and Mr. Yum's pivot to pick up and delivery services.

Strategic move towards supporting local venues and reducing fees for customers.

Industry Evolution:

The evolution of hospitality tech post-pandemic, emphasizing seamless customer experiences and operational efficiency.

me&u's successful pivot and integration within the tech ecosystem to enhance user experience.

Future of Hospitality Tech:

The trend towards consolidation and integration in the hospitality tech space.

The importance of data-driven, personalised marketing strategies to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

Insights and Takeaways:

Boden highlights the importance of brand marketing in the age of AI and the evolving role of the CMO.

The significance of tailored customer experiences and leveraging data for effective marketing campaigns.

The impact of technology integration and partnership in transforming the hospitality industry.

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot ANZ, Catherine Sumner and Amiria MacKinnon, and VidPod (www.vidpod.com.au).

Unconventional Business is back, with season 3 coming May 14th.

Follow the show and get ready to hear from some of our best homegrown challenger brands, including Airwallex, Tracksuit, me&u, HotDoc, Gelato Messina and more.