WANT TO START A BUSINESSFIND OUT HOW BUILD GROW RUN HAS SUPPORTED

BUSINESSES FROM LENNOX HEAD TO TWEED HEADS

CONTAINS BUSINESS ADVICE AND WISDOM TO HELP YOU GET STARTED

1

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 20192020 Australians are both scared of failure (474 per cent of adults) and also think it is pretty easy to start a business (668 per cent of adults)

Yet most businesses fail in the first two years and this is likely because they havenrsquot understood

Their customer

They donrsquot have a plan for their business

They struggle with financial planning

Their business isnrsquot niche or different enough

Go figure

Help you with business planning

Support you with ways to research your customer

Provide working meetings offering support on things like copy creation and content planning

Identify the gaps in your knowledge and skills and signpost you to training or create a bespoke course on social media time management or marketing basics

BangalowBrunswick HeadsByron BayKingscliff Lennox HeadMullumbimbyMurwillumbahPottsvilleTweed Heads

Build Grow Run can support you in so many ways

You can read about the ways we have supported our clients in this book Donrsquot hesitate get in contact with us today Our service is provided at no cost to you The Australian Federal Government originally established the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service wwwemploymentgovauentrepreneurship-facilitators to target people who are 45+ but anyone can access our advice service

Ellie Corley and Phil Daly

About Build Grow Run (BGR) Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service ndash Richmond Tweed Heads

Running a business can be hard work but being your own boss can also be rewarding if you get the balance of working lsquoonrsquo and not lsquoinrsquo your business right Business doesnrsquot always have to be about chasing the dollar you may choose to run a purposeful business We know that being your own boss can be fulfilling but it can also be quite isolating We know because we have both been there Itrsquos often hard to know where to start but Build Grow Run is always here to help

Build Grown Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service is funded by the Australian Federal Government and delivered by PINNACLE Business Solutions to help you start your business and also reduce the barriers to your success when you get going As independent business advisers we exist to encourage entrepreneurship and support you with ideas for how to build your skillset and your business

We work with ParentsNext program providers ETC (as a NEIS provider) Sourdough Business Pathways and the various Chambers of Commerce throughout our area to either support or lsquocatchrsquo clients as they move through the support on offer for them and their business We offer support and advice lsquohandholdingrsquo act as a sounding board to entrepreneurs and to some clients offer a Business Coaching program

We operate across the following areas

2 3

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 20192020 Australians are both scared of failure (474 per cent of adults) and also think it is pretty easy to start a business (668 per cent of adults)

Yet most businesses fail in the first two years and this is likely because they havenrsquot understood

Their customer

They donrsquot have a plan for their business

They struggle with financial planning

Their business isnrsquot niche or different enough

Go figure

Help you with business planning

Support you with ways to research your customer

Provide working meetings offering support on things like copy creation and content planning

Identify the gaps in your knowledge and skills and signpost you to training or create a bespoke course on social media time management or marketing basics

BangalowBrunswick HeadsByron BayKingscliff Lennox HeadMullumbimbyMurwillumbahPottsvilleTweed Heads

Build Grow Run can support you in so many ways

You can read about the ways we have supported our clients in this book Donrsquot hesitate get in contact with us today Our service is provided at no cost to you The Australian Federal Government originally established the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service wwwemploymentgovauentrepreneurship-facilitators to target people who are 45+ but anyone can access our advice service

Ellie Corley and Phil Daly

About Build Grow Run (BGR) Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service ndash Richmond Tweed Heads

Running a business can be hard work but being your own boss can also be rewarding if you get the balance of working lsquoonrsquo and not lsquoinrsquo your business right Business doesnrsquot always have to be about chasing the dollar you may choose to run a purposeful business We know that being your own boss can be fulfilling but it can also be quite isolating We know because we have both been there Itrsquos often hard to know where to start but Build Grow Run is always here to help

Build Grown Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service is funded by the Australian Federal Government and delivered by PINNACLE Business Solutions to help you start your business and also reduce the barriers to your success when you get going As independent business advisers we exist to encourage entrepreneurship and support you with ideas for how to build your skillset and your business

We work with ParentsNext program providers ETC (as a NEIS provider) Sourdough Business Pathways and the various Chambers of Commerce throughout our area to either support or lsquocatchrsquo clients as they move through the support on offer for them and their business We offer support and advice lsquohandholdingrsquo act as a sounding board to entrepreneurs and to some clients offer a Business Coaching program

We operate across the following areas

2 3

Call them on 13 77 88 or book a call back via this e-form

In addition there is also resources and support for business in Australia at wwwbusinessgovau - a whole-of-government website for the Australian business community It is a simple and convenient entry point for information services and support to help businesses succeed in Australia

Support for businesses in Australia in areas such as informa-tion grants services and support from across government to help your business succeed

Businessgovau make it easier for you the entrepreneur to find information They collate information and resources from government into one website to reduce the number of websites you need to visit

The businessgovau website has been online for over 20 years and is regularly updated to meet the needs of businesses It is the Australian Governmentrsquos primary website for the business community

The website is for everyone in the Australian business com-munity including start-ups small and medium businesses family enterprises and business advisers

Their vision is that wwwbusinessgovau is your first port of call when you have questions about starting running or growing a business in Australia

HOW WE WORK WITH OUR CLIENTS

Listen to entrepreneurs being interviewed weekly by Phil on Bay-FM wwwbayfmorg lsquoByron Business People amp Lifestylersquo - Tuesdayrsquos 11am to 1pm or visit

You can also learn about what local state or federal government permits or regulations your business needs by contacting the Business Concierge service at Service NSW wwwmybusinessservicenswgovau

A Service NSW business concierge can

Help you with business planning

Identify licences and permits your business needs

Deal with councils and agencies

Connect you to support and advice

Our service is private personal and confidential We can support your business idea by acting as a sounding board a lsquohandholdingrsquo service for your business on business planning or when making any organisational changes Here are some sample areas where we can support and advise you

BUSINESS PLANNING ADVICE WITH AUSTRALIAN-MADE SOFTWARE

TIME MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT

CLARIFYING YOUR UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

ORGANISATIONAL ROLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT ADVICE

CHECKING THE FEASIBILITY OF YOUR BUSINESS IDEA

We can see you as little or as frequently as you like We agree what our contact looks like for each client once we understand your business and unique barriers Yoursquoll get some homework activities to undertake in-between meetings to keep you moving forward towards your vision and goals

Build Grow Run is available 10 am-5 pm every day of the working week

To register as a client with Build Grow Run wwwbuildgrowruncomau you donrsquot even have to have a business quite yet you can just have an ideahellipor you can have a business that needs to have a little bit of a kickstart A mature and thorough entrepreneur realises that external expert support is essential for business success now and in the future Start to build your support team now

Getting started is as simple as a five-minute form The Business Needs Analysis form on the HOME page at wwwbuildgrowruncomau helps us and you by prioritising your business development needs

In addition keep up to date with entrepreneurship across the northern rivers by following us on Facebook or Instagram buildgrowrun

HOP ONLINE HEREAND GET STARTED

GETSTARTED

TODAY

The Service NSW Business Concierge can also help you if your business has been impacted by the NSW bushfires 2019-20 andor in 2020 with COVID-19 (coronavirus)

4 5

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Natasha has a friend to thank for forwarding an email about Build Grow Runrsquos services ldquoI immediately thought that this was for merdquo says Natasha of the Entrepreneurship Facilita-tor Service that covers Richmond to Tweed Heads

She was at the point of nearly completing the NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) ldquoI was nervous about losing that hand-holdingrdquo Natasha says

For nearly a year Natasha and Ellie Corley met anywhere from weekly to monthly ldquoWhen I have certain goals itrsquos good to meet regularlyrdquo explains Natasha ldquoAt other times we might not see each other for four to five weeksrdquo Natasha has benefitted from specific knowledge and coaching ldquoLately the focus has been on copywriting for the website and writing a media releaserdquo she says ldquoElliersquos knowledge on how to get your product out there and how to pitch has been so important Such a learning curverdquo

She has also benefited from the accountability that having an advisor can create ldquoEllie keeps me on trackrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos easy to feel lonely in your business so itrsquos lovely to be able to have someone to give help and positive feedbackrdquo

Elliersquos approach has been ideal for Natasha ldquoShe under-stands what I need and what the market needsrdquo Thanks to their ongoing relationship Natasha can now almost predict what Ellie might say ldquoAs I prepared answers to questions for a radio show I suspected she might think Irsquod overpreparedrdquo says Natasha with a smile

ldquoI was right she did and she was spot onrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

WHATrsquoS NEXT

This story was written just before the planned launch of Ayusa Tea a busy and exciting time for any business After launch Natasha plans to focus on developing additional blends as well as building up wholesale distribution She is highly motivated to continue to educate Australians on the benefits of Guayusa tea and to continue the good work of the charitable foundation associated with her brand Natasha is acutely conscious of balancing increasing demand for Ayusa with looking after the farmers who grow Guayusa ldquoWe donrsquot want to see it over commercialisedrdquo she says

Another continued focus will be the environmental sustainability of her brand She has worked hard to ensure that all packaging is recyclable biodegradable or otherwise eco-friendly

ADVICE TO OTHERS

STARTING A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH IS VERY DIFFERENT TO BUYING

AN EXISTING BUSINESS

IF LIKE I DID YOU START QUESTIONING WHETHER YOUR NEW BUSINESS IDEA IS WORTH

CONTINUING WITH MY ADVICE IS TO KEEP GOING AND ENSURE YOU HAVE SUPPORT AROUND YOU

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND OUTSOURCE YOUR WEAKNESSES YOU ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND IF YOU WEAR TOO MANY HATS YOUrsquoLL STRETCH YOURSELF TOO THINLY

LEARN TO LET GO WHEN SOMETHING SIMPLY CANrsquoT HAPPEN EVEN IF YOU HAVE INVESTED

TIME ENERGY AND MONEY INTO THOSE PLANS

wwwayusacomauInstagram AyusaTea

CREATION OF A MARKETING PLAN INCLUDING PITCH COACHING

MEDIA TRAININGMEDIA RELEASE PREP AND RADIO INTERVIEW PRACTICE

COPYWRITING REVIEWS AND ADVICE SESSIONS

CLARITY ABOUT THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE BUSINESS AND CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

AYUSA TEANatasha FairAmazonian Tea packed with Antioxidents

Natasha had a hunch that a six-month adventure with her family to Ecuador would spark a business idea She was right The family had stomach issues and Natasha was recommended to start drinking Guayusa tea ldquoItrsquos known in Ecuador as the lsquowellness tearsquo but is almost unknown in Australiardquo says Natasha Ninety-eight percent of Guayusa (pronounced lsquowhy-you-sarsquo) is grown in Ecuador ldquoItrsquos naturally caffeinated earthy and slightly sweetrdquo she says

While in Ecuador Natasha had the privilege of drinking the tea in an early morning tea ceremony and the opportunity to develop strong relationships with growers ldquoItrsquos grown on the edge of the Amazon rainforest among cacao trees as it has done for thousands of yearsrdquo she says Natasha knew that on returning from Ecuador she would relocate from Melbourne to Byron Bay ldquoI didnrsquot want to return to the rat racerdquo she says

Their storyHaving previously run a boutique toy store Natasha was not new to business but had never started one ldquoItrsquos harder to start a business than buying onerdquo says Natasha Natasha enrolled in NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme an Australian Government initiative for small business training) with the aim of creating a business plan

It also introduced her to just how many roles she would be filling prompting her to consider outsourcing ldquoMy husband works on the back-end aspects of the business and I have decided to outsource aspects like graphic design copywrit-ing and social media to South America when possiblerdquo

Natasha settled on two blends pure guayusa and cinnamon myrtle ldquoWe are so excited to blend guayusa with an Australian native plantrdquo she says A second very focused trip to Ecuador was the time for Natasha to sign supply agreements as well as establish a charitable foundation to ensure that Ayusa Tea will be giving back to the Ecuadorian community ldquoWe spoke with farmers and went into high schools to ask how we could helprdquo she says Fortunately this second trip happened just before COVID-19 halted travel but a pandemic was an unexpected stress so close to launching a new business ldquoFor about four weeks I was overwhelmedrdquo reflects Natasha

ldquoThen I re-grouped with Ellie and that gave me the boost I neededrdquo

6 7

Kim used the support of Build Grow Run during the early stage of COVID-19 ldquoSending a simple email to existing clients reassured them that we were open in line with restrictions and safe to attendrdquo says Kim

A theme throughout the year has been developing team culture ldquoIrsquove realised that conversation is different to conflict and that my staff are such an important reflection of the businessrdquo she says noting that her natural strength lies in dealing with tangible elements of her business rather than intangible aspects like teamwork ldquoIf there is cohesiveness internally everyone reaps the rewardsrdquo

This flowed into how Kim employs new staff ldquoWith Philrsquos encouragement Irsquove started using the STAR method of interviewing which uses the idea that past experiences give insight into future behaviourrdquo she says wwwbangalowphysiotherapycom

DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY AND PROCEDURES

MEASUREMENT OF CHANGES MADE INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF MARKETING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW OPERATING SYSTEMS

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

DEVELOPMENT OF WORKPLACE CULTURE INCLUDING FOR NEW EMPLOYEES

WHATrsquoS NEXT

A major goal for Kim is to continue increasing her marketing efforts ldquoI want to blog more often make better use of Facebook and be more consistent with newslettersrdquo she says Kim is considering offering home visits as a way of allowing business expansion without the need for a bigger footprint or moving her away from her current positioning within a medical centre

Expanding her physiotherapy team is an ongoing priority for Kim Kim is also planning ahead by mentoring and offering reception work to two current physiotherapy students

BROADENING MARKETING APPROACHES

ADVICE TO OTHERS

GET HELP ldquoWe all have strengths and weaknesses and itrsquos

ok to admit your weaknesses and seek business helprdquo

KEEP THINKING ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR OWN BUSINESS BUT DONrsquoT

RUSH TO MAKE CHANGE ldquoExplore new systems but make sure theyrsquoll work

before implementing themrdquo

STAY PURE TO YOUR TAGLINEldquoDonrsquot try to be everything stay true to what

yoursquove set out to do then grow thatrdquo

YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN ldquoYou never know everything either within your

profession or within businessrdquo

BANGALOW PHYSIOTHERAPYKim Snellgrove Quality care for your physical health planet

Kim bought Bangalow Physiotherapy in 2017 The business had already been operating for nearly two decades Bangalow Physiotherapy is the second business Kim has run having started a physiotherapy practice in Hawaii during fifteen years of living there ldquoBuying a business is very different to setting one uprdquo she says

ldquoTherersquos already a culture and there are systems set up And yoursquove bought goodwill which can easily walk out the

door when the previous owner leavesrdquo

Having just moved to Bangalow from Sydney and Brisbane where she was working for others Kim had to take time to develop connections within the community ldquoI didnrsquot even have family or friends hererdquo she says ldquoI wasnrsquot known at allrdquo

Their storyKim is heartened to see growth in her business and has worked hard at making changes in all aspects She undertook renovations of her rooms which are located within a medical practice She also introduced more electronic procedures within the back-end of her business and online booking options for clients

The business world had changed between her time in Hawaii and buying Bangalow Physiotherapy ldquoIn Hawaii Irsquod walk in each morning to find a pile of referrals faxed from the local doctorsrdquo she says ldquoNow I still get referrals from GPs but therersquos also a whole world of direct marketing to learn aboutrdquo Kim brought solid expertise in physiotherapy to her business She completed her Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy on her return to Australia and had followed her childhood passion for dancing and gymnastics by working in a practice that focussed on the physiotherapy and rehabilitation needs of dancers

Now her business is eclectic in clientele Though Kim loves direct client work she would like to step back a little from day-to-day client consultations in order to work on her business She has one loyal physiotherapist working for her but is hampered in plans for further growth by an Australian-wide shortage of physiotherapists

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Kim has benefitted from Build Grow Runrsquos entrepreneurship facilitation for over a year She became aware of the Australian Federal government initiative through attending a breakfast meeting with the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce She immediately recognised the potential benefit ldquoIrsquom a physiotherapistrdquo she says ldquoI donrsquot have a business degreerdquo

In the two years between purchasing the business and starting meeting Phil Daly Kim had already made lots of changes ldquoI renovated the rooms changed how the business was being marketed and shifted processes from paper to electronicrdquo she says

ldquoPhil helped me understand that I need to measure the impact of these changes and

make decisions accordinglyrdquo8 9

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

ADVICE TO OTHERS

STEP BACK AND TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE DOING IN 10 YEARSrsquo TIME

LIFE KEEPS HAPPENING ndash STAFF MEMBERS GET SICK YOU NEED OTHER PEOPLE TRAINED READY TO STEP UP ndash THIS ALL TAKES TIME AND MONEY

KEEP PLANNING AND ADJUSTING

BUSINESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING LET YOUR IDEAS WASH OVER YOU GIVE IT TIME TO SINK IN

AND THEN SEE WHAT COMES UP IN YOUR HEART

DONrsquoT HESITATE TO CONSULT A SERVICE LIKE BUILD GROW RUN

wwwbraincarecomauFacebook BrainCareTweedHeads

BUSINESS PLANNING

WORKING ON RATHER THAN ONLY IN THE BUSINESS

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND COHESION STRATEGIES

Since being referred to Build Grow Run six months ago Nerida has met with Phil Daly a number of times

ldquoWe meet onlinerdquo she says something that was partly prompted by COVID-19 but also fits perfectly with her busy life Phil has provided a sounding board and advice on whole-business development as well as specific issues ldquoThe main work for me was to start stepping back more and think about the businessrdquo says Nerida

ldquoI want to be less caught up in the everyday activity and be able to work on the business rather than always being in the businessrdquo

This has led to Nerida starting work on a business plan ldquoThe aim is to think more broadly about where I want to gordquo she says She has also sought advice about teamwork ldquoMy whole team now meet every week rather than once a fortnightrdquo she says ldquoWe have beautiful clinical meetings where we focus on every clientrdquo

Neridarsquos work with Phil has encouraged her to step back from any tendency to micromanage her staff

ldquoI now step back a bit more trusting their professionalismrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Nerida is ready to start formalising her business plan using MAUS techniques and software

Further formalised research on the science of her practice is something that she and her team are keen to consider Nerida wants to see brain training become less niche and better accepted within the medical and disability fields Business planning now will help Brain Care respond to increased demand in the future

Ensure that more people can use the science of brain training in order to help improve their lives

WHATrsquoS NEXT

BRAIN CARENerida Saunders Train your brain change your life

Nerida Saunders questioned her psychology career after becoming disillusioned with the narrow range of treatment strategies available for conditions such as dementia post-traumatic stress disorder addiction autism and head injury Fortunately she heard about novel ways of using neurofeedback and neuromodulation treatment technology and measurement that won an Australian Museum Eureka Science Prize ldquoWe contacted them immediatelyrdquo recalls Nerida This contact eventually led her to the work of Professor Yuri Kropotov and investing $250000 in setting up a laboratory in Tweed Heads

Brain Care has been operating since 2002 Nerida works with people of all ages and conditions using neuromodulation techniques ndash referred to as lsquobrain trainingrsquo - that follow internationally acclaimed protocols The treatment takes advantage of the brainrsquos natural neuroplasticity a word describing its ability to develop new pathways ldquoOur assessments can see transmission of information through the brain in thousandths of a secondrdquo Nerida explains

Their story ldquoThe treatment is then amazingly simple While the client watches a movie the quality of sound and vision changes depending on the brainwave patterns that are happening encouraging the brain to learn which patterns are bestrdquo

Neridarsquos research using similar technology showed a reduction in substance use and improvements in memory for Vietnam Veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder This research was published in an international scientific journal More portable technology enabled Brain Care to move to their current premises Nerida continues to be involved in direct client care as well as managing her team which includes other psychologists neurocoaches (a term of Brain Carersquos creation) counsellors administrators NDIS coordinators and Pipi a golden retriever who is much loved by staff and clients alike

Neridarsquos work has helped many people reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life Like Brock a 12-year old boy with autism whose violent behaviour has reduced along with increased ability to communicate And 12-year old Susan who has completely reduced seizure activity since completing a course of brain training

COVID-19 has brought border closure impacts for staff and clients as well as traffic issues given that the clinic is less than a kilometre from the border It has also created an unexpected benefit ldquoI have only been coming into the clinic one day a week and see clients online the rest of the weekrdquo she says ldquoAs devastating as Covid has been it has given me a chance to step back and thatrsquos been positive We have just now opened up a clinic in Robina for Queenslanders who were not keen to cross into NSW rdquo

10 11

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

Lizrsquos lsquonext thingrsquo is to consolidate her virtual practice ap-proach using telehealth technology She is encouraged by the positive response received from busy clients who have otherwise struggled to attend regular appoint-ments She plans to undertake marketing specific to this approach and is well advanced in a website refresh prioritising search engine optimisation and the capacity for online products and services so Liz can continue to support her client between appointments

Liz is now growing the number of staff she supports and implementing systems to scale her practice all with the goal of providing her clients with exceptional service

ADVICE TO OTHERS

ANYONE CAN START A BUSINESS BUT MY ADVICE IS TO INVEST TIME AND MONEY

TO DO IT PROPERLY

IDENTIFYING SPECIFICS OF YOUR BUSINESS PLAN SERVICES AND IDEAL CLIENTS IS THE KEY

TO DEVELOPING A MARKETING PLAN

BUSINESS ADVICE DOESNrsquoT MEAN THAT SOMEONE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO IT WILL HELP BRING OUT THE ANSWERS FROM WITHIN

wwwdnagroupcomauInstagram dnanutritiongroup

IDENTIFICATION OF AND MARKETING PLANNING FOR IDEAL CLIENTS

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SERVICE DELIVERY METHODS

TECHNOLOGY SOURCING FOR THE DELIVERY OF TELEHEALTH

BUSINESS PLANNING INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH CREATING SCALABLE SYSTEMS

Phil has helped Liz identify her ideal client group and then develop a marketing plan With his advice she has moved to establishing systems for online client support as an additional service to individual consultations Phil has also assisted with the nuts and bolts of technology and systems for online consultations

Business planning is an overarching theme ldquoIrsquove never had a business planrdquo says Liz ldquoIrsquom still building it but I have the foundation tools now to approach it with confidencerdquo

Liz feels frustrated that she didnrsquot take the time to seek external formal business assistance ten years ago but now she has found Build Grow Run she sees the connection as a longer-term relationship ldquoWe were checking in intensively at the startrdquo she says ldquoAnd now I have someone who knows my business to consult as neededrdquo

WHATrsquoS NEXT

DNA NUTRITION Liz ForsythChanging nutrition culture to encourage individuals to strive for optimum health

Liz Forsyth was unusual in her university cohort because she always intended to use her degree in dietetics within an entrepreneurial framework ldquoIt wasnrsquot a common aimrdquo she says ldquoI was the square peg in the round holerdquo

Liz has been in business since graduating twenty years ago and after initially combining private practice with employ-ment private nutrition consulting has been her sole source of income for the past fifteen years

While she is highly experienced working across all aspects of nutrition in health and disease her speciality is metabolic health working with clients to both prevent and reduce chronic diseases caused by unhealthy eating and excess weight ldquoI show people how to make a lifestyle through a therapeutic lower carbohydrate approachrdquo she says ldquoThis can help individuals improve diabetes blood pressure and cholesterol levelsrdquo

Their storyMost of Lizrsquos clients have come as referrals from GP clinics and she currently works across six different medical centres across the Tweed and Gold Coast In all between direct client work and her management of a strong team Liz estimates her business has helped well over 10000 clients

Liz has also done corporate consulting as part of company wellness programs travelling from Rockhampton to Sydney providing screening and nutrition checks for employees This role includes advising individuals as well as considering the impact of changes at a corporate level

ldquoIrsquove never had to think about business planning or marketing as suchrdquo Liz reflects ldquoI have a lot of long term clients as well as new referrals so I got to the point of seeing patients six days a week but having no time to put into the businessrdquo

Moving to doing more telehealth was a decision Liz made last year so she was already investigating the technology before COVID-19 hit COVID has provided an unexpected pressure valve for Liz who not only runs her business single-handed but has three children including a toddler COVID meant that business slowed down

ldquoIt gave me some time to breathe and re-evaluaterdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Liz first consulted Build Grow Run the Entrepreneurship Facilitator service covering the region from Richmond to Tweed Heads in March She had been looking for business advice and support but had been unable to find a service ldquoI knew years ago that I needed some support and direction but Irsquod been too busyrdquo Liz says

Liz heard about Build Grow Run an Australian Government initiative from a webinar run by another dietician Her early sessions with Phil Daly were emotive as well as constructive ldquoI started at a point of feeling overwhelmed so Phil had to put up with a tear or twordquo she says

ldquoIrsquom counselling patients all day so it was amazing to have someone listen to merdquo

12 13

Matt has also created connections with other services like Sourdough Business Pathways and The Village Well an independent investor community which is something that is always an aim of Build Grow Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitation service whose service is free to businesses from Richmond to Tweed Heads

ldquoIrsquom still a work in progressrdquo he says ldquoWhen I follow the advice of doing a brain-dump and prioritising exercise every Sunday the week is awesomerdquo he says ldquoBut there are weeks when I donrsquot and then Irsquom hit by a tsunamirdquo

Most helpful has been the opportunity to talk things through ldquoIrsquom someone who has to verbalise and draw pictures I need to hear my thoughts said out loudrdquo says Matt ldquoTalking with Ellie or Phil helps me unpack decompress and see a clearer path for what I need to dordquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

CONFIDENCE TO HELP OVERCOME SELF-DOUBT

CONNECTIONS TO OTHERS WITHIN THE LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

CREATING MORE TIME THROUGH PRIORITISATION

Mattrsquos immediate goal is to step out of the kitchen He is training staff so he can work on the business rather than in it You know yoursquove got a great business when you can walk away and it will still operaterdquo he says

From the outset Mattrsquos goal was to sell his business within five years ldquoAs much as I love it Herbidoor will benefit from having someone who can take it to the next levelrdquo he says

ADVICE TO OTHERS

START WITH THE END IN MIND ldquoIs this something yoursquore going to do for the rest

of your life or a stepping stonerdquo

TAKE ACTION JUST GET IN THERE AND DO IT ldquoEven if that direction is not the right one it will still

get you further than you are alreadyrdquo

IF YOUrsquoVE GOT SOMETHING YOU THINK OTHERS WILL LIKE PUT IT IN FRONT OF THEM

ldquoThen curate it give it a cuddlerdquo

DONrsquoT FEAR MISTAKESldquoThey are your biggest lessonrdquo

wwwherbidoorcomInstagram HerbiDoor

WHATrsquoS NEXT

HERBIDOORMatt GossProviding you with fresh plant-based comfort food delivered directly to your door

Matt Goss started his vegan food delivery service in early 2018 before he had a business name or a logo He hadnrsquot even trialled all his recipes ldquoIrsquom the sort of person that just takes actionrdquo he says ldquoI put a post in a local Facebook group with a link to a MailChimp form and within 48 hours I had my first orderrdquo The business was prompted by Matt joining his wife Amanda in following a vegan diet ldquoHerbidoor aims to offer vegan comfort foodrdquo he says ldquoA lot of people eat a vegan diet thinking that itrsquos healthy but itrsquos not as simple as cutting meat out of your existing dietrdquo

Fortunately Matt likes a challenge as only three months in Herbidoor was featured on Channel 7 and orders took off ldquoIt was great but too much too soonrdquo he says As a result Matt made mistakes ldquoI didnrsquot have enough infrastructure and technology in place to help me keep trackrdquo he says ldquoI didnrsquot realise how much changes when you cook in batches of a hundred instead of eightrdquo

Their storyHerbidoor was then voted the 2018 Best Delivery Service on the Gold Coast ldquoI had to pull back in as I wasnrsquot copingrdquo he says Mattrsquos first attempt to outsource and hire staff was not successful so he went back to trying to do it all himself ldquoI got the point of cooking until 300 AM then starting deliveries at 600 AMrdquo he says ldquoThere were moments of me being in the foetal position on the floorrdquo

Matt moved his business from his local clubrsquos kitchen in Pottsville to custom premises on the Gold Coast He now has systems staff and capacity to expand again offering deliveries outside South East Queensland to Victoria ACT Adelaide and most of NSW

He knows the business has the potential to grow further including into wholesale Matt is now determined to take new steps in a manageable way including considering that a re-brand may be required for wholesale compared with home delivery

As COVID-19 progresses Matt feels fortunate to both live and work within lsquothe bubblersquo that has been created across the NSW-Queensland border As a new dad Matt is grate-ful for the support of his wife ldquoBeing a dad is rad and much easier than running a businessrdquo he laughs ldquoBut I appreciate my sleep when I can get itrdquo

Matt first heard of the Australian government initiative Build Grow Run provider of the Australian governmentrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service an Australian govern-ment initiative at his local cafeacute ldquoMy eyes were drawn to a poster underneath the counterrdquo he recalls When Matt first met with Ellie he was at a point of overwhelm ldquoEllie knew as soon as she looked at me that I needed helprdquo he says

ldquoBuild Grow Run has helped me manage my task load through time management

and prioritisingrdquo

ldquoThey gave me assurance that I was doing the right thing which is just whatrsquos needed when

self-doubt starts kicking inrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

14 15

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

WHATrsquoS NEXT

ADVICE TO OTHERSBE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR CORE

FOUNDATIONAL VALUES ldquoMake time to write a value and vision statement

that resonates with who you truly arerdquo

UTILISE SERVICES LIKE BUILD GROW RUN ldquoEllie and Phil bring complementary skills and both

have invaluable advice to offerrdquo

CREATE A MANIFESTO FOR YOUR COMPANY SO THAT YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE

AUTHENTICALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING ldquoTry the iVALUE App ndash it helps with all these processesrdquo

wwwchildreninfinitegamecom wwwivaluetoday

BUSINESS AND MARKETING PLANNING

PRIORITISATION OF MARKETING AND NETWORKING ACTIVITIES

FUTURE PLANNING

Jane heard of Build Grow Run through her position as a Board Member of the Northern Rivers Community Foundation a charity supporting those less fortunate in the region

Feeling like she needed support reaching the target audiences for her project Jane has been working with Ellie Corley from the Australian Federal government Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service that covers the region from Richmond to Tweed The first focus was on creation of a business plan Jane found that using the structure of MAUS system templates helped streamline this process

Through regulars meetings with Ellie Jane has developed her marketing plan ldquoThrough my work internationally I have established interest from organisations to screen the film and use the Apprdquo says Jane ldquoBut it is great to work with Ellie to prioritise in order the tasks on a regular basisrdquo

Jane feels that her contact with Build Grow Run has been invaluable ldquoItrsquos helped me focus on the key areas I need to explore to create strong foundations for the projectrdquo she says ldquoIt has reinforced that a critical part of developing an enterprise is to create your foundational values and then build your organisation with your team around those valuesrdquo

In perfect synchronicity with the messages from her film and app Jane reflects on the importance of working with people who have similar clear and focused interests

ldquoItrsquos tapping into the power of human connectionrdquo she says

This story was written as Jane approached the culmination of her work on the documentary film and the resilience app The iVALUE app is now available for beta-testing and Jane is in the final stages editing of the film with discussions happening to develop program and funding partners to host premiere screenings around the world

Now Janersquos focus is addressing the four markets for the iVALUE Project ndash a tool for psychologists and family therapists for school wellbeing counsellors and teachers for community facilitators and for individual families Though these milestones are significant they are just the start of Janersquos work to help young people and families build resilience through the use of these innovative tools for personal family and community transformation

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

WHATrsquoS NEXT

IVALUE APP AND CHILDREN AND THE INFINITE GAME FILM

Jane HanckelHelping young people create infinite mindsets

Jane Hanckel is an educator film-maker author social en-trepreneur and now app-developer In all these endeavours Janersquos main aim is to empower young people and families with innovative tools for personal family and community transformation

She is currently close to launching the social impact documentary film CHILDREN and The INFINITE GAME a 60-minute film to help young people develop infinite mindsets The film follows four inspirational Generation Z young people as well as visionary futurists educators and wellbeing experts from Australia and around the globe

The social impact initiative of the film is the iVALUE Project an App and School and Family Action Toolkit to empower wellbeing and resilience in young people and families using a values based approach to enhance regular meaningful based communication ldquoThe App helps you create a shared vision for your family to give you more power over how you live your liferdquo says Jane

Their storyldquoIt breaks down the process of creating vision and value statements for the family into an easily doable processrdquo Jane became aware in her early years of high school that our education system doesnrsquot serve the majority of students

Her resolve to develop innovative tools and resources for young peoplersquos wellbeing came after she found a success-ful alternative for her young teenage daughter who had been experiencing depression as a result of a dysfunctional schooling system

Since 2004 Jane has been speaking at conferences both in Australia and internationally running professional devel-opment and early childhood programs across Australia and writing three books Parenting as an Art Growing Greener Children and Spontaneous Acts of Love

In 2019 she brought together her extensive experiences to focus on the film and iVALUE Project At the time of writing Jane is about to present a preview of the film and the Beta Test version of the App at the international FUSION CITIES conference hosted by the City of London Jane has had both interest from the City of London and local schools to pilot the iVALUE Project

Jane has just received an outstanding endorsement from Australiarsquos Psychologist of the Year 2019 Dr Peta Stapleton Associate Professor Bond University The iVALUE Project is well placed to address the unique challenges faced by young people and families in these times of disruption post COVID

all under the banner of InspirED Foundation for Creative Intelligence

16 17

ldquoThis was really clarifyingrdquo says Horst Ellie then focussed on the idea of collaborations with local partners By creating a template for how to structure approaches Horst was able to take on this task with relish leading to a successful collaboration with Cape Byron Distillery the home of Brookiersquos Gin Horst created custom flavours ndash including Rainforest Spring using gin-soaked native Davidson plums ndash that were launched by both collaborators at the 2019 Sample Food Festival

The third part of Horstrsquos advice from BGR has been reaching out to media partners to help convey the story and products of Knox amp Aya to a wider audience ldquoBuild Grow Run has helped me consolidate my brand identityrdquo says Horst ldquoTheyrsquove built templates for collaboration and media outreach Irsquove connected with local businesses and I know therersquos a place I can go for supportrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

The next challenge for Horst is prioritising multiple opportunities for further growth Should he focus on increasing national sales or further broaden his product range Should he continue to develop direct-to-consumer sales (piloted during COVID-19) or focus on strengthening distributor networks

A continued priority for Horst is to further reduce Knox amp Ayarsquos environmental footprint The main priority for the near future is sourcing more ingredients locally

Horst is also reviewing his participation in local markets weighing up the unpredictability of weather and sales against the benefits of opportunities for community engagement

In keeping with Horstrsquos plan to ensure he is not the sole knowledge holder within the business he is starting to consider employment of a full-time staff member

ADVICE TO OTHERS

DO SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT MAKE SURE THAT OTHERS ARE

PASSIONATE ABOUT IT TOO

FOCUS ON SALES DONrsquoT RELY ON THE IDEA THAT CUSTOMERS WILL COME TO YOU

AIM HIGH BUT DONrsquoT WAIT FOR PERFECTION UNTIL YOU START

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUPPORT FROM SOMEONE LIKE BUILD GROW RUN WHO HAVE

DEEP KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF SUPPORTING MANY BUSINESSES

wwwknoxandayacomInstagram knoxandaya

BRAND IDENTITY CONSOLIDATION

SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION INCLUDING CREATION OF A TEMPLATE FOR FUTURE APPROACHES

COACHING FOR MEDIA PROFILE RAISING

WHATrsquoS NEXT

KNOX amp AYAHorst ThomsonIndulgent dairy-free foods that are good for people and our planet

Horst and Nadine Thomson first started making dairy-free ice cream at home for their daughters after food sensitivities meant family outings became treat-free zones

Fast forward a few years and Horst was made redundant from his work in online healthcare service delivery He decided to make a wholesome and delicious coconut milk ice cream that was the opposite of the dairy-free lsquofrankenfoodsrsquo he had seen appearing on shop shelves

Horst turned to crowdfunding to finance initial equipment leasing and ingredient purchases Potential funders were consulted about their preference for flavours garnering support from their first ever customers ldquoNo-one wanted the t-shirts or launch party tickets we were offeringrdquo says Horst ldquoBut everyone wanted ice creamrdquo

Their storyKnox amp Aya ice cream based on coconut milk was initially sold in tubs from select local stores as well as by-the-scoop at local markets ldquoI aimed to find a new store or two each weekrdquo says Horst who gradually spread his reach through the Byron Shire then outwards to Ballina Lismore Nimbin then north through the Gold Coast to Brisbane

At this stage Horst was doing every single task including distribution Before long Nadine left her work to join the ice cream production Being contacted by a well-known health food store in Sydney prompted him to find a distributor

The contact came through Knox amp Ayarsquos presence on Instagram ldquoI have zero marketing background so there wasnrsquot any strategy to my social media postingrdquo says Horst ldquoI simply told the story of what we were doing A post of me hand-painting a sign for a market was a real hitrdquo

Recently Knox amp Aya expanded their product line to include vegan yogurt and cheese ldquoBranching out into savoury products feels balanced as not everything in life is sweetrdquo says Horst In keeping with his ethos of producing food that is good for both people and the planet Horst keeps a careful eye on Knox amp Ayarsquos environmental impact The Billinudgel manufacturing site for Knox amp Aya has 22 kilowatts of solar panels producing up to 90 percent of power needs and perhaps best of all Horst can cycle to work

Horst Thomson attended the first event ever hosted by Build Grow Run one of 23 Entrepreneur Facilitators appointed by the Australian Government to supply trusted advice for growing and new business ldquoIrsquom not naturally the sort of person who will talk to everyone at a partyrdquo he says ldquoBut I knew I needed to be able to talk with others at a similar stage in their businesses

A key realisation was that even if another business is very different on the surface there are still commonalities ldquoNo matter what the business is yoursquove all got marketing customer relationships input and output costsrdquo he says He sought specific marketing assistance from Ellie Corley Horst explains that their focus has been three-fold

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Firstly Ellie encouraged Horst to consult his customers as a method of

focussing his elevator pitch 18 19

Rod already had a good customer list but wasnrsquot putting these connections to good use ldquoI made changes to my newsletter structure and started sending regular updaterdquo he says

ldquoThrough this one change Irsquom getting ten to twenty new subscribers every weekrdquo

ldquoHaving someone from outside see into your business and give you directionrdquo is how Rod sums up his experience of Build Grow Run a federal government initiative that covers businesses from Richmond to Tweed

Rod is now approaching his business in a whole new way setting sales targets and considering outsourcing some of the many tasks that are involved in his dynamic business A one-page version of his business plan now sits on Rodrsquos desk ldquoI consult it every single dayrdquo he says

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

NEWSLETTER CREATION TO HELP WITH SALES AND CONNECTIONS

BUSINESS PLANNING ndash A FULL PLAN AND A QUICK REFERENCE ONE-PAGE VERSION

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

CONFIDENCE TO PUT HIMSELF INTO HIS MARKETING

Rodrsquos next plans involve expanding his product range to include sunscreen zinc and then swimwear and possibly activewear Hersquos also focussed on following up with his marketing plan Hersquos really enjoying enacting his current three-month plan Motivated by seeing results and finding the structure inspirational for his creativity he is also looking forward to creating the next one Rod plans to keep developing collaborations with other organisations who share his values Some of these like Shark Girl are ongoing while others are time-limited like a focussed project opposing oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight

ADVICE TO OTHERS

DONrsquoT GIVE UP ldquoItrsquos not easy to do your own thing so there

will be times when you feel down and question yourself Push through and be strongrdquo

MAKE SURE YOUrsquoRE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING

ldquoThis will help you get through any tough timesrdquo

PLANNING IS SO IMPORTANT ldquoAs a creative person I have so many ideas and

planning helps me pull it all into placerdquo

SEEK ASSISTANCE EARLY ON ldquoIf I regret anything it is that I should have

looked for advice earlier it would have made my life easierrdquo

wwwpanamunaprojectcomauInstagram panamunaproject

WHATrsquoS NEXT

PANAMUNA PROJECTRod XimenesConscious minds creating eco-friendly surf gear

Panamuna Project is an example of a business idea that needed to find the right time and place Rod Ximenes was inspired to protect our oceans during a surfing trip to Bali in 2007 ldquoIt was my dream to surf the perfect wave but I was shocked by how much plastic was in the oceanrdquo he says

Rodrsquos first approach to developing a line of sustainable surf clothing started in 2011 but as a young father working full-time in hospitality the timing was not right On moving from Melbourne to Tweed Heads a few years later Rod reignited his passion for Panamuna After working the market scene he opened a shop front on the Gold Coast but was hampered by rapidly increasing rents ldquoIt was a good experience and helped us create a community of like-minded customers but wasnrsquot sustainable in terms of costsrdquo says Rod

He then created what Panamuna Project is today an online independent surf label where protecting the ocean is at the heart of every business decision

Their story ldquoWe use organic cotton make surfboard covers from op-

shopped fabric and send important messages via every item someone wearsrdquo he says

ldquoWe use no plastic and source locallyrdquo

As Rod was establishing his online sales he had to find new ways to continue connections with customers something that came naturally when he had face-to-face contact

Collaborations with like-minded people happened naturally ldquoShark Girl found us thanks to our shark print that had the message lsquoSave those who canrsquot save themselvesrsquordquo Rod says

Rod has a business partner who assists in the background but on a day-to-day basis he does almost every task ldquoUntil recently I created all the designs managed all the marketing and printed packaged and posted every t-shirtrdquo says Rod Even in among all this Rod still surfs almost every day continuing to draw inspiration from his love of the ocean

If Rod was to nominate one regret it would be that he didnrsquot seek business advices earlier

ldquoI learned how to run a business via lsquoDr Googlersquordquo he says

ldquoThis was definitely the hard wayrdquo COVID-19 prompted him to find Build Grow Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service ldquoI looked into assistance the government was offering small business and saw a linkrdquo he recalls Rod saw Phil Daly first and started creating a business plan He then started meeting with Ellie Corley focussing on marketing ldquoIrsquom not comfortable in front of the camerardquo says Rod ldquoBut with Elliersquos encouragement I put a video introducing myself on social media and got so many messages that I know it was the right thing to dordquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

20 21

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

WHATrsquoS NEXT

ADVICE TO OTHERSFOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

ldquoIt sounds clicheacuted and some say not to do thisrdquo says Tim ldquoBut I set out to do what I enjoy and turned it into a businessrdquo

MAKE YOUR OWN LUCKldquoPeople say that I am so lucky but every cent Irsquove made

is from my own blood sweat and tearsrdquo says Tim

FIND A NICHE THAT YOUrsquoRE COMFORTABLE SPENDING LOTS OF TIME ON THEN BE OPEN

TO OPPORTUNITIES

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES LIKE BUILD GROW RUN

ldquoItrsquos a government initiative and itrsquos free so why not give it a gordquo

wwwunderwatercomauInstagram underwateraustralasia

GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE WITH EMPLOYMENT OF FIRST SUBSTANTIAL STAFF MEMBER

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

Tim first heard of Build Grow Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service through a Facebook post by Ellie He had previously tried business mentoring with another organisation but found that his length of business experience somehow gave the impression that he didnrsquot need help

Yet Tim knew he needed support including to start stepping back from every aspect of the business

ldquoI needed to extract myself from the day-to-dayrdquo he says

Taking this step was pivotal to Tim being available to take ad-vantage of new opportunities Phil proved to be an indepen-dent soundboard for Timrsquos ideas ldquoYou canrsquot talk with friends and even when your life partner is involved you canrsquot have every conversation being about businessrdquo he says

Phil also suggested a mentorship through Sourdough which Tim has found invaluable ldquoA lot has on simply reaffirmed what I already knowrdquo says Tim ldquoBut that in itself is very helpfulrdquo Tim is someone who is always analysing and review-ing his business Even someone this dedicated to evaluating his business over two decades benefits from external assis-tance ldquoThey helped me pull my finger outrdquo he says straight-forwardly ldquoThey were like a conduit to turning the thoughts I had into realityrdquo

Tim has been working towards Underwaterrsquos new web-site launch Part of this will be resuming blogging with Wendy his wife managing this content

He is also focussed on plans to change accountants accounting software and the overall structure of his business Capitalising on new distribution agreements for innovative products like bifocal lenses that stick onto goggles and underwater drones and scooters is another priority

Tim is also starting to think about the future ldquoWe work seven days a weekrdquo says Tim of himself and Wandy ldquoItrsquos time to think about exit strategiesrdquo

SUPPORT TO STEP BACK FROM DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS

AN INDEPENDENT SOUNDING BOARD

WHATrsquoS NEXT

UNDERWATERTim HochgrebeEverything underwater ndash dive in explore discover

Tim Hochgrebe finds it hard to sum up his business in a catchy tagline Thatrsquos largely because like an octopus Underwater has many arms Initially qualified as a biologist in his homeland of Germany Tim came to Sydney to complete a PhD His passion for diving shared with his partner in business and life Wandy led to them developing Underwater

ldquoOur first idea was to start a diversrsquo retreatrdquo says Tim ldquoThis was 1999 when digital videography had just started so I picked up a video camerardquo Moving to Byron Bay they created a bed amp breakfast specifically for divers visiting the region They saw the potential for promoting this accommodation by creating the first online directory for divers hand coding the site as it grew

Their story ldquoYou need to remember that this was before Google and

social mediardquo laughs Tim

ldquoFor many years our website was simply an online yellow pages for diving We made an income from listings and writing diving articlesrdquo Selling books via the directory came next and then a period of travelling around Australia on hosted dive trips a bit like todayrsquos influencers before the term existed Tim had always shared his underwater photography knowledge but didnrsquot want to compete with dive shops So he started selling niche products

Today the Underwater showroom displays cool gadgets and high tech like sea scooters underwater drones and GPS-activating lifesaving devices Underwater has recently gained exclusive distribution rights to some lines

A final arm of the octopus is Timrsquos involvement with under-water photography events All this came from Timrsquos passion for diving Throughout his aim has been to forge new part-nerships and see what this can bring ldquoI open doors slowly but then go for itrdquo Tim describes his approach ldquoI do take risks but I always have an exit strategyrdquo

Though ninety-five percent of sales were already online COVID restrictions to travel combined with general un-certainty to hit the business hard In response Tim delayed planned restructuring but the pandemic also prompted two positive pivots

ldquoWe were tired of running the bed and breakfast so we changed to offering the house for long term rentrdquo says Tim ldquoAnd we have shifted to marketing underwater drones for commercial applications rather than purely recreationrdquo

22 23

Louise then started consulting Ellie Corley about marketing ldquoShe helped with my elevator pitch and most importantly she helped me stand strong about my role as a businesswomanrdquo Louise says ldquoIrsquom naturally quite humble but Ellie encouraged me to take the word lsquojustrsquo out of my descriptions of myselfrdquo

Her contact with Build Grow Run who offer free advice to businesses in the Richmond to Tweed area ldquoHelped me change from being a hobby to a businessrdquo says Louise ldquoTheir services are priceless whether yoursquore just starting or have been in business for one two or ten yearsrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

CONFIDENCE IN HERSELF AND HER BUSINESS IDEAS

UNDERSTANDINGTHE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE OUTCOMES

THE PERFECTION OF AN ELEVATOR PITCH

In many ways itrsquos time for Louise to take stock Itrsquos time to capitalise on the momentum created by her AusMumpreneur award ldquoMy sales tripled after being featured in media arising from the awardsrdquo says Louise Further media might be on the horizon ldquoIrsquove been approached by Netflix about being involved in a series on clean beautyrdquo she reveals

If COVID-19 had not hit Wondery Skin Food might now be on sale in the United Kingdom where Louise lived until 2003 ldquoThat might now happen in 2021rdquo she says

ADVICE TO OTHERS

THE QUICKER YOU START FROM WHERE YOU ARE THE FASTER YOUrsquoLL GET

TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE ldquoUntil I was given a deadline I was waiting for

a perfect moment that may have never arrivedrdquo

MAKE CONNECTIONS ldquoIrsquove learned so much and gained so much business from being present in helpful Facebook groupsrdquo

LISTEN TO OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD ldquoI had three people tell me that my idea for a logo wasnrsquot going

to work so I went with a simpler designrdquo

wwwwonderyskinfoodcomauInstagram wondery_skin_food

WHATrsquoS NEXT

WONDERY SKIN FOODLouise DukeLetrsquos start a natural makeup revolution

Louise Dukersquos business is an unexpected outcome of a seri-ous health scare ldquoI had an aggressive melanomardquo she says ldquoA doctor told me the spot on my lower back was fine but luckily a friend saw it and encouraged me to seek a second opinionrdquo The news was not good and just before Christmas in 2018 Louise had life-saving surgery to remove the mela-noma as well as lymph nodes

During her recovery Louise started experimenting with making makeup using all-natural ingredients ldquoI was reading about the huge number of chemicals you put on your body each day even before breakfastrdquo says Louise Louise gave herself $2000 to set up

ldquoIt was an amount I could afford to lose if the idea was not successfulrdquo

Their storyAfter launching in September 2019 it was soon obvious her money had been well invested ldquoInitially it was friends buying then I did a couple of marketsrdquo she says ldquoThen I did a Black Friday sale and things took off from thererdquo Offering some products as a prize for a womenrsquos business event was the prompt Louise needed to solidify her branding and embrace herself as a business owner

Wondery Skin Food was unintentionally perfectly posi-tioned for a COVID-19 plagued world ldquoI was already set up for e-commerce and my products are small and light so packaging is easyrdquo she says ldquoSales did take a hit initially and I was gutted that my new business might not survive but Motherrsquos Day was my saving grace and every month since then has been bigger than the lastrdquo

Further growth came when Louise was nominated for the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards

ldquoI was a finalist in the Emerging category and won silver in Customer Servicerdquo Louise says proudly

Her success brought media coverage in local national and international publications

Louise first had contact with Build Grow Run around the time of the launch of Wondery Skin Food As well as following Build Grow Runrsquos Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service a federal government initiative on Facebook she saw Phil Daly to start mapping out a business plan

ldquoIrsquom creative not business-minded so I tend to wing itrdquo she says

ldquoI confess to feeling a bit intimidated before my first meeting but I quickly got over that once I got startedrdquo

BUILD GROW RUN ADVICE

24 25

BE FLUID

ADAMrsquoS BEST ADVICE TO BUSINESSES

What are your three measures to keep your business successful and keep going ldquoAside from the basics strategy staffing and all the structural stuff Irsquod say choose the right advisor and mentor For me business is kind of sandpit in which to explore your own personal expansion Itrsquos a place to grow and learn and learn about yourself as much as anything else Understand where your genius lies and recognise that we all have different skills and abilities Work to where your flow is where you have fun and lose your sense of time - thatrsquos the genius space And the more that your business can facilitate you working in that space the more you can work in that place day to day thatrsquos where yoursquoll find the sweet spot I believe a good mentor can reflect these things back to you and help you stay in your flow

In summaryhellip find your flow get in your genius zone and find a mentor

Wersquod love to hear from people who either got start-ups or want to invest in start-ups wersquore growing a network of investors through the Venture Organic site wwwventureorganiccom

ldquoFor me having been a coach and mentor for 15 years or so its always important to have a sound business strategy in place However recently we have all learnt the importance of being able to pivot and I now believe that the more fluid we are in our approach the better Its great to have an outcome to focus on but adopting an open mind as to how you achieve that outcome is the crucial thing You become experimental and discover new ways of doing things Thatrsquos an important mindset to bring into a businessrdquo

ASK FOR HELP

ldquoWhen we get stuck itrsquos typically because we come up against the limits of our ignorance When a business owner is prepared to grow and learn and ask for extra help or overcome emotional blocks thatrsquos when they might just winrdquo

BE HAPPY

ldquoDonrsquot forget businesses arenrsquot all about money and logical thinking that thatrsquos a pretty boring place to come from A happy business owner executing on a plan or a strategy or a business that can have a positive impact on other people if not the world is a recipe for a happy life and success Itrsquos also important from a personal well-being point of view because letrsquos face it running a business is going to take a lot out you so some intrinsic joy and motivation can balance that outrdquo

wwwventureorganiccom

INTERVIEWWITH

Adam GibsonFounder Venture Organic

Adam Gibson is an entrepreneur who previously ran several fitness centres in Australia Now he looks after an entity called Venture Organic Venture Organic helps support businesses create a healthy organic food system and itrsquos where he has been applying all those lessons he learnt early on in his business career in the start-up sector

About Venture OrganicldquoVenture Organic believe every person should be eating organic food as itrsquos so important to human health Its focus is catalysing a transition towards healthier food systems and that means regenerative farming sustainability organics and a plethora of things Itrsquos about the good use of land to put healthy food on the table Venture Organic works with start-ups in the innovation space that can play a catalytic role and finds great businesses that can have a profound impact in the regenerative spacerdquo

How do you work with Build Grow Run the Entrepreneurship Facilitator ServiceldquoI recently worked with Build Grow Run on a biodiversity focused incubator where business meets biodiversity called Wild Idea I didnrsquot realise the role of biodiversity and species preservation and how healthy ecosystems are needed to produce food itrsquos a fun-damental part of any healthy farm We had over 71 businesses from around Australia come on board for a COVID lockdown type incubator all virtual and online We had some great mentors and Ellie Corley from Build Grow Run was one of themrdquo

Why come to Build Grow RunldquoIn terms of advice therersquos a pool of advisors and specialists around this area Build Grow Runrsquos service is important because of the nature of the economy here we havenrsquot got any big industries other than tourism which has its ups and downs with COVID etc and so everyone needs to be creating business to be able to stay in the region sustainably Having a mentoring ecosystem itrsquos just magic I never had this level of support when I started my business The level of help available is simply next levelrdquo

Whatrsquos the biggest opportunity right now for start-ups and innovators in todayrsquos world obvious-ly given COVID and any other crisis that comes at usldquoIf we keep producing food via our current agricultural systems then we have about 57 harvests left globally (Source World Health Organisation) before the whole system crashes Our food production isnrsquot working yet at the same time our global population is shooting up towards 10 billion in the next 15-20 years We have a very big crisis looming on a global scale but also a very big op-portunity Last year there hundreds of billions of dollarsrsquo worth of investment in ag-tech in the start-up world in the US typically but itrsquos focused around more industrial agriculture rather than looking at more natural systems like regenerative agriculture which have some profound yet simple solutions to this crisis We need smart systems on the ground that have business viability attached to them and smart thinking applied So for me without a doubt one of the biggest opportunities right now is to feed the world and specifically bringing natural regenerative systems into the business of feeding the world Therersquos a host of places and start-ups can play a role from the consumer understanding of that concept and helping people make healthier better choices right through to managing stock on the property to the way we grow vegetables and so on There is a plethora of opportunity aheadrdquo

26 27

Why do you think programs like the Entrepreneurship Facilitator service and Build Grow Runrsquos service are so importantLiza ndash ldquoEntrepreneurs want that extra support they might need to upskill or could be passionate about their business idea but they may not know all the intricacies of how to get there eg How to forecast market their business and turn their business into something real Between ETC and Build Grow Run we fill those gapsrdquo

Can you just give me a snapshot of the type of businesses that you work withFrank ndash ldquoThere is such diversity from lawyers to a naturopath to ceramists people who just want to set up a maintenance business Whatever work you want to do therersquos somebody in NEIS whorsquos trying to do that for themselves and succeedrdquo

How do people get on boardLiza ndash ldquoThe shorter two-week course lsquoExploring being my own bossrdquo is a regular session For the accredited training pathway ETC offers Certificate 3 in Micro Business Operations delivered over 12 weeks The training covers the foundation of small business including administration market research promotion legal taxation and financial aspects of running your own business complemented by guest speakers When they first start theyrsquore a little nervous and overwhelmed but at the end of it the feedback is that theyrsquore confident and grateful for the support Once participants have completed the training component and commenced their business they receive 12 months of ongoing mentoring that Frank and I deliver on the North Coastrdquo

What are the biggest opportunities for people thinking of starting their own businessFrank ndash ldquoPeople may have been a little bit dismayed with COVID coming in but what wersquore finding is people who are starting their business in COVID are resilient because they have had to look further afield to get the successes and the results that they wanted to So itrsquos made me think a little bit deeper to find out what works because theyrsquore thinking out of the box theyrsquore looking where the next customer comes from how they can successfully show their product or their service in a changing environmentrdquo

REACH OUT THERE IS PLENTY OF SUPPORT HERE TO HELP YOU

DO YOUR MARKET RESEARCH LOOK AT YOUR COMPETITORS LOOK AT THE INDUSTRY AND GET INTO THE MINDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS AND FULFIL THEIR NEEDS

GET ON BOARD WITH AND HAVE AN ONLINE ASPECT TO YOUR BUSINESS WHETHER YOUrsquoRE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROVIDER

YOUR BEST ADVICE TO BUSINESS START-UPS TODAY

Get in touchVisit the ETC website for more information or contact Frank or Liza directly for further information

Frank McWilliamsBusiness Coach amp Training Advisor frankmcwilliamsetcltdcomauMobile 0436 858 032 | Phone 1800 007 400

Liza LyttleNEIS Trainer amp Business CoachlizalyttleetcltdcomauMobile0419 101 360 | Phone 1800 007 400

wwwetcltdcomau

INTERVIEWWITH

Liza Lyttle Trainer and Business Coach amp Frank Mc Williams Business Coach and Training Advisor

What is the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) programFrank ndash ldquoNew Business Assistance with NEIS provides personalised support to help people pursue self-employment and start a small business ETC offers accredited training Certificate III in Micro Business Operations (BSB30315) and personalised mentoring in the North Coast region Applicants may be eligible for a NEIS Allowance payable up to 39 weeks and if eligible NEIS Rental Assistance for up to 26 weeks The criteria includes being at least 18 years of age not an overseas visitor on a working holiday or an overseas student studying in Australia ETC deliver regular ldquoDiscovery Sessionsrdquo information sessions to see whether your business is viable and for you to find out whether the program is for you

Liza ndash ldquoPreviously people that apply for NEIS wouldnrsquot have run a business before The Federal Government has recently made some changes and now there are opportunities for people whorsquove run a micro-business of up to four people The NEIS program itself can be applied for at any time of the yearrdquo

The government announced changes to expand the NEIS program This includes

From 15 October 2020 people can access NEIS and start their own business if they are working 25 hours per week or less This will enable people with part-time work study or caring responsibilities to participate in the program on a part-time basis

From 7 December 2020 existing micro-business owners impacted by COVID-19 can access NEIS if they need help to keep their business running or refocus their operations to meet new areas of demand

How do you work with Build Grow RunLiza ndash ldquoMany clients finish the program with ETC and progress to the Build Grow Run pathway that continues to offer support and further guidance Being a small business can be quite isolating particularly in COVID times itrsquos important to have that support network We are proud to be part of such a supportive ecosystem here in the Tweed to Richmond area Sometimes we receive direct referrals from Build Grow Runrdquo

Ellie comments ldquo Yes thatrsquos right itrsquos a great partnership We are working with one client at the moment which is an Amazonian Tea a first in Australia called Ayusa She went through the NEIS program We have been working with her to get her to launch shersquos launched now and we guided her through that launch helping her set up a website et cetera

28 29

CONTACT US

Complete a business needs formWe then call you to set up an appointment to see you and discuss your needs in more detail This initial meeting takes an hour

Our office HABITAT - 32 Fullerton Lane Byron Bay NSW 2481

LETrsquoS GETSTARTED

Phil DalyPhilbuildgrowruncomau0412 667 864

Ellie CorleyElliebuildgrowruncomau0475 841 664

Check out our client video here to see the types of people we work with

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

wwwbuildgrowruncomau buildgrowrun

Thanks for reading this e-book Stories as told by clients written by Vivienne PearsonGraphic design - Studio MariusE-Book Project Manager - Ellie CorleyDelivered by PINNACLE Business Solutions