Troy Trewin

Grow A Small Business Podcast

Business EN ↓ 785 episodes

Our weekly 30 minute podcast helps you, a small business owner with 5 to 30 team members, take your company to the next level. The Grow A Small Business community, weekly cast, blog and leadership email supports leaders get through the pain of growth. With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.

Author

Troy Trewin

Episodes

Aged 30 in 2015 and with only $300 in startup capital, started SafeStack, and diversified into online education in 2020. Within 5 months, had 4,000+ learners, $280,000 in annual revenues and 8 FTE (Laura Bell) 07.03.2021 22:15

In this episode, I interview Laura Bell, the Founder, and CEO of SafeStack Academy , a boutique cybersecurity company with a team that now stretches across New Zealand and Australia. With over a decade of experience in software development and information security, Laura specializes in bringing security survival skills, practices, and culture into fast-paced businesses and organizations of every s...

Aged 30 in 2010, incorporated Employsure to provide much needed workplace relations advice. Got first client in 2011 and now has in excess of 28,000 clients, $200 Million in annual turnover, and 1,050 FTE (Edward Mallett) 03.03.2021 52:31

In this episode, I interview Edward Mallett, the Founder and Managing Director of Employsure, a leading specialist workplace relations consultancy based in Australia and New Zealand. Employsure is part of the Peninsula Group of Companies, the largest worldwide provider of employment law consultancy services and related insurance cover to businesses. They work directly alongside businesses, helping...

In her 40s, started The Mind Lab to help people gain knowledge and practical skills for today's rapidly evolving world. From a small incubator with 5 FTE, to now being an award-winning and profitable social enterprise with 80 FTE (Frances Valintine) 28.02.2021 43:56

In this episode, I interview Frances Valintine, the Founder, and CEO of The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab . The Mind Lab is a platform that empowers students, schools, teachers, and principals to develop contemporary knowledge and practical skills for today's rapidly evolving world and the future of work. Frances was named one of the top 50 movers and shakers in technology education and awarded a...

Aged 32 in 2019, started Dashdot with a few properties that led into losses but didn't give up and now averages $120,000 a month in collected fees and projects to hit $1.5 Million by the end of 2020. Grew FTE from 2 to the current 6 (Goose McGrath) 24.02.2021 46:59

In this episode, I interview Goose McGrath, the CEO at dashdot Buyers Agents , a buyers agency service that specializes in sourcing investment and homeowner properties that are under market value, with net positive yields, strong capital growth prospects, and that have value add potential through various instruments including subdivisions and renovations. Their core mission is to help business own...

Started Valocity which was rapidly adopted by big banks in New Zealand, Australia, India and Singapore within 6 years to become an industry leader, and grew it organically from a small team to the current almost 100 FTE (Carmen Vicelich) 22.02.2021 22:40

In this episode, I interview Carmen Vicelich, the award-winning founder and Global CEO of Valocity Global , a company that harnesses technology and data to transform and create new and connected digital ecosystems, streamlining the mortgage lending and valuation processes around the world and automating workflow from end to end. Carmen is an entrepreneurial powerhouse passionate about leveraging d...

Initially worked for different PR firms to gain experience and in 2012, aged 23, started her own PR business with nothing but her laptop and tons of passion and creativity. Was the only FTE and now has 4 (Alessandra Pollina) 17.02.2021 30:32

In this episode, I interview Alessandra Pollina, the Founder, and CEO of Quotable Media Co (Formerly Pollina PR), a Boston-based public relations, marketing, and media agency with a passion for supporting female entrepreneurs. Alessandra is also the host of Quotable: a female millennial entrepreneur podcast. She works with business owners and entrepreneurs to build their brand and their business t...

From accounting and finance to digital models and intellectual property expert with a rockstar remote team of 6. How digital models can help a small business owner grow their business and still maintain some freedom (Renée Hasseldine) 14.02.2021 23:07

In this episode, I interview Renée Hasseldine, the Founder and CEO of the Think RAPT System, an award-winning system that distills consults, experts, and teams' unique intellectual property into Visual Models. Renée helps experts, consultants, and thought leaders scale up their businesses by developing their intellectual property. More specifically, she works with them to co-create their unique me...

Aged 22 in 2002, started a fitness business with 1 gym and within 3 years grew it to 5 with each generating in excess of $300,000 a year in revenue. Exited the business in 2015 and now helps people live life with passion and purpose (Craig Schulze) 10.02.2021 42:13

In this episode, I interview Craig Schulze, the Founder of The One Shot Movement , an author, speaker, investor, podcast host, and lifestyle coach. He is a successful global businessman with a wide range of skills and experiences. He launched The One Shot Movement in 2020 with a vision and mission to help inspire and educate people to live life with passion and purpose. His book, "You've Got One S...

Aged 34 in 2012, left her marketing job to set up a British-made only gift business. Combined her brick and mortar store with eCommerce, doubled her sales year on year for the first 3 years, and grew from 1 FTE to 3 (Kate Tompsett) 07.02.2021 26:51

In this episode, I interview Kate Tompsett, the Owner at Happy & Glorious , a small family-run business that sells a variety of British-made gifts. Inspired by the wonderful products that are made in Britain, Kate set-up the business in 2012 when she was 34 to support British manufacturing, applaud British talent, and keep her carbon footprint to a minimum. In 2015 she opened a store in Ashford, a...

Worked as a medical rep and later started a marketing firm aged 27 to help medical practices. Earned £115K in year 1 using only a laptop and investing her time doing everything solo. Now has team of 5 and hit £220K in year 2 (Lucy Nelson) 04.02.2021 20:10

In this episode, I interview Lucy Nelson, the Founder, Director, and CEO at 2xN Limited , a healthcare marketing, and business development agency. Lucy is also the Founder and Personal Trainer at The Life Plan , where they provide customized fitness, nutrition, and wellness online. She is an expert at managing branding, strategy, and opportunity for clients looking to grow in their sector. Her str...

After earlier start-up success started a sales-training focused online business in 2020. From 1.5 FTE in 2019 to now 20. During COVID applicants skyrocketed from 100 per month to over 1,000 each month (Joseph Fung) 31.01.2021 42:06

In this episode, I interview Joseph Fung, the Founder, and CEO of Uvaro , an online tech sales training program that has no-upfront-tuition offering. Joseph is a serial entrepreneur who's launched six startups and gone through a few successful exits. In 2013, his startup TribeHR was acquired by NetSuite, which ended up being acquired by Oracle four years later. He is also the founder of Kiite , a...

Aged 25 in 2006, started a physio business in a 4✕4 meter room. Now has 14 practices, 12 franchisees and 270 team members. Almost went bankrupt with only $2 at the bank and have achieved 200% growth per annum for the last 3 years (Jonathan Moody) 29.01.2021 1:05:12

In this episode, I interview Jonathan Moody, the Founder, CEO at Physio Inq , a physiotherapy and allied healthcare company. Physio Inq provides a range of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and exercise physiology services both in-clinic and via mobile practitioners, the latter specializing in disability and aged care. Trained as a physiotherapist, Jonathan is an allied health...

Global brand name whisperer and best-selling author on the subject of creating great brand names that can drive businesses to great success. The key criteria of a great brand name and the proper process to use in naming a brand (Louise Karch) 24.01.2021 30:41

In this episode, I interview Louise Karch, the global name whisperer and author of the award-winning book Word Glue: Find Your Million Dollar Brand Name . Louise has been naming break out brands for the past decade and has doubled the revenues of entrepreneurs on two continents. She has worked for Seth Godin, the #1 marketing expert, and Richard Bolles the #1 career genius and best-selling author...

Aged 32 in 2007 with 2 kids under 3, 2 mortgages launched a unique business for kids in fitness and entertainment. 1 FTE to 10 with 100 contractors providing 1,300 classes each week to 15,000 kids in 5 States (Donna McColl) 17.01.2021 33:14

In this episode, I interview Donna McColl, the Director at Happy Feet Fitness , a children's educational fitness program for 20 months to 5-year-olds. It was created by Donna and her husband Cam McColl after her husband had nagged her for ten years. She was 32 with two kids (9 and 3) and two mortgages when they started it in 2007. The business grew from one full-time employee to ten with 100 contr...

Left school aged 16, uni late 20s, took over husbands' 1-person law firm in 2012 with $460k in debt - paid it off in 3 years. 1 FTE to 14 in 2 offices, $500k to $2m+ sales p.a. and works 10 hours a week with 8 weeks holidays (Caralee Fontenele) 13.01.2021 53:31

In this episode, I interview Caralee Fontenele, the founder and director of Collective Family Law , a Gold Coast and Brisbane-based law firm specializing in family law. Caralee left school at age 16, went to uni in her late 20s, and in 2012 aged 34, graduated in law. She started working in her husband's one-person law firm and he soon gave up leaving the business in $460,000 debt, which she worked...

Aged 40 in 2013 quit law to look after their sick child for 2 years. For great flexibility, managed her family physio business, rebranded, opened a 2nd site, acquired a 3rd. Grew sales 130% in 5 years. 8 FTE to now 22 (Trisha Cashmere) 10.01.2021 38:30

In this episode, I interview Trisha Cashmere, the Managing Director of The Healthy Body Company , an allied health professional services business that focuses on supporting its clients to be healthy and active through life. In 2013, Trisha quit corporate law to look after her sick child for a couple of years. In 2015, aged 42, she took over managing her husband's physio practice and soon after add...

Best-selling author on demand-side sales and innovation answering questions from 3 business owners. Created more than 3,500 products & services, from Patriot Missle to the fuel arrow in your car telling you which side the tank is on (Bob Moesta) 06.01.2021 38:30

In this episode, I had a follow-up chat with Bob Moesta, the Founder, President, and CEO of the Re-Wired Group . The Re-Wired Group specializes in Demand-Side Innovation and they help companies and individuals grow by enabling innovation from the Demand-Side; Changing buying and consumption behavior. They identify, design, and execute marketing, selling, and buying systems for growth and focus on...

Sells hot sauce to Americans and chili vodka to Russians. In 2012, aged 34, couldn't find sauce hot enough in Australia, made her own. 1 FTE to 5, sales doubled every year hitting $1m in 2019. Raised $2m from equity crowdfunding (Renae Bunster) 03.01.2021 47:10

In this episode, I interview Renae Bunster, the Founder and Global President of Bunsters Hot Sauces . An ex Television journalist, Renae fell in love with hot sauces while in Mexico in 2011. She couldn't find anything hot enough back in Australia so she started making her own at home in 2012 aged 34. She now sells her hot sauce all around Australia and in America through Amazon and is about to sel...

Aged 34 & 5 months pregnant, in 2009 quit cushy corporate job for greater flexibility. 2 years in, dropped all clients to focus on mentoring, memberships and online courses. 1 FTE to 3, just cracked $1m sales p.a. and 75% net profit (Kate Toon) 30.12.2020 25:59

In this episode, I interview Kate Toon, an award-winning SEO copywriter and SEO consultant and speaker with over two decades of experience in all things advertising, digital, and writing. She has worked with big brands such as Sanitarium, eHarmony, Curash, and Kmart. She has helped countless small businesses produce great content and improve their copywriting and SEO. She's also the founder of The...

In 2008 2 brothers in NZ started an online toolkit for teachers. $30m AUD sales p.a., 80%+ gross profit, 30%+ operating profit. 2 FTE, now 180. Grew 18 to 58 countries in last year. Funded by bootstrapping until sold 80% in 2017 (Alex Burke) 27.12.2020 44:38

In this episode, I interview Alex Burke, the visionary CEO of New Zealand EduTech company, Education Perfect (EP) . A passionate storyteller, Alex boasts an enviable twenty-year track record in driving technical excellence and team-building across multiple industries, including airlines, banking, government, telco, education, and retail. He was previously the CEO of Tigerspike, a technology servic...

On maternity leave, aged 32 quit her corporate dental job, opened 1st site with a $5k loan from her husband. From 2 FTE, now 17 and $3.2m annual sales across 4 sites (Dr. Sonia Sonia) 23.12.2020 35:27

In this episode, I interview Dr. Sonia Sonia, the Founder, and CEO of Kallangur Dental Surger y, a successful dental practice. In late 2013, aged 32 and while on maternity leave, Sonia decided to go on her own after everyone told her not to. She promptly quit a corporate job in a dental chain and with a $5,000 loan from her husband, opened her first clinic. She now has up to four locations. She al...

At 19yo worked in her dad's financial planning firm, started her own in 2008 then another to focus on advising millennials. $250k to $2m recurring revenue, sold to ex-husband. 5 FTE to 18. Has sold 3 companies for $2m+ each (Sarah Riegelhuth) 20.12.2020 46:37

In this episode, I interview Sarah Riegelhuth, the Founder and CEO of Growmotely , the first all-in-one platform for sourcing, growing and managing remote teams. Sarah is also a serial entrepreneur, professional speaker, published author and investor in startups, having founded 8 companies since 2009. She's personally fueled by a passion for changing the status quo of how we work, conscious cultur...

Aged 15, still in high school, started a lawn mowing business, grew to 150 FTE, $10m USD annual sales and sold 18 years later. Then launched 'the Uber for lawn mowing' app, now has 200,000 customers, 22 FTE and $20m sales p.a. (Bryan Clayton) 16.12.2020 42:59

In this episode, I interview Bryan Clayton, the Founder, and CEO of GreenPal, a web and mobile app that instantly connects homeowners with home service professionals. Bryan started out in business In 1994 when he was just 15 and while in high school. He started a lawn mowing business and grew that to one of the largest in the state of Tennessee with 150 full-time employees and $10 Million in annua...

Australia is the harshest country when businesses go under. Some simple and low cost ways to protect your business if your customers do - Insolvency, Administration & Receivership. Improved laws in Australia 1 Jan 2021 (Jennifer O'Farrell) 13.12.2020 35:46

In this episode, I interview Jennifer O'Farrell , a Senior Associate at Dobson Mitchell Allport . Jennifer is a commercial litigation and dispute resolution lawyer. She has a particular interest in insolvency, personal property securities, administrative and local government law. She began her legal career as a judge's associate in the Federal Court of Australia. In that role, she gained experi...

Aged 54 left a toxic government, bought a specialist business in bras & products for women after breast cancer surgery, having survived it herself. Largest range in Australia, double sales in 6 years and grew from 1.8 FTE to 6 (Gillian Horton) 09.12.2020 41:11

In this episode, I interview Gillian Horton, the owner of Colleen's Lingerie and Swimwear and the Co-Owner of Treat Me Treasure Me . Colleen's offers post-surgery pocketed bras and swimwear along with a wide range of large cup and front opening bras; gifts; turbans; wigs and beautiful leisurewear. After treatment for breast cancer, Gillian got back to a toxic government job in 2013 and one day loo...