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

Invented the only product in the world which can air transport live fish with oxygen, a dangerous good. 3 other businesses in the group. Profit growing 5-7% each year. 2 FTE to 65 now 12 after strategic refocus (Gavin Hodgins) 06.12.2020 56:55

In this episode, I interview Gavin Hodgins, the CEO at FloatPac Pty Ltd , a company that offers technologies to a diverse range of pioneering ideas and products across air, land, and sea. The company was founded in 1982 and the founders were making lift bags for the Australian army, pioneering high-frequency welding. Gavin started out in the company in 2002 as a welder aged 22 and is now the group...

In 2011 after the divorce, kept the business with 6 stores and added franchisees, expanded to 24 stores in 4 States with 12 franchises. Taking over aged 52 grew from 20 to 65 FTE, sales $7M to $27M. Funded growth from profits (Daph Crowhurst) 02.12.2020 25:15

In this episode, I interview Daph Crowhurst, the Managing Director at Crowies Paints , a fast-expanding retailer of paints. In 2019, Daph was named Telstra's SA Business Woman of the Year. She got into the industry by buying three paint stores in 1996 with her husband and they grew that to six stores until their divorce in 2011. Aged 52, she decided to keep the business and grow it. She started o...

In 2007 aged 19 started a writing business, travelled the world for a few years, living off $22k pa from her award-winning blog. Back home doubled revenue for three years, peaking at $249k pa. Writer, author, speaker and trainer (Emily Gowor) 29.11.2020 38:47

In this episode, I interview Emily Gowor , an inspirational writer, author, and speaker. Aged 19 in 2007, Emily launched her writing business, traveling around the world in her early 20s, writing an award-winning blog, staying with friends, and living on $22,000 a year in earnings. In her mid-20s, she settled back in Australia and doubled her revenue three years in a row to hit over $100,000 per a...

Left a $220k corporate biotech job to start a business in 2014 aged 48, with a massive mortgage. Business partner got sick, never returned so sold for $1m to a listed company. Office across from her kids' school. 2 FTE to 6 (Michelle Gallaher) 25.11.2020 1:23:45

In this episode, I interview Michelle Gallaher, a Melbourne-based award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate for the Australian health technology sector and for women in science, technology, engineering maths, and medicine (STEMM). As CEO of Opyl Ltd (ASX:OPL), a company working at the intersection of social media, clinical trials, health data, and artificial intelligence, Michelle is a sou...

Helped 10,000 small businesses grow with their SaaS 13-month programme, 70-80% success rate, dropped fees from $2k USD to $300 a month, 1 FTE to 40 in 14 countries. Aged 22 in 2005, accidentally fired herself from corporate (Carissa Reiniger) 22.11.2020 42:35

In this episode, I interview Carissa Reiniger , the Founder, and CEO of Small Business Silver Lining , a company that helps more small business owners make money doing what they love by building more profitable and sustainable businesses. They believe strongly in the power of small business to generate sustainable economic development and to create economic justice. Their work has been featured in...

Productivity increases 7%-23%, team engagement up threefold and retention from 5.4 to 9.4 years - why wouldn't you consider an ESOP, Employee Share Ownership Plan. ESOP Subject Matter Expert talks other benefits, costs and time (Craig West) 18.11.2020 25:11

In this episode, I interview Craig West , the Founder, and CEO of Succession Plus , author, keynote speaker, strategic adviser, and leading authority on Succession and Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOP). Craig is a strategic accountant who has over 25 years' experience advising business owners. His background as a CPA in public practice has provided invaluable experience in the key issues of co...

Sales growing 267% pa, aged 38 quit to be the 1 FTE, now 9 over 4 years in a disruptive legal firm that only has lawyers with 20+ years experience, no juniors and an obsession on culture and putting value for clients first (Mellissa Larkin) 15.11.2020 51:49

In this episode, I interview Mellissa Larkin, the Founder, and CEO of Peripheral Blue , a company that has been disrupting the way companies receive legal and consulting services by giving clients access to top tier, responsive legal and advisory services in a flexible and affordable way. Peripheral Blue provides legal advice and business advisory services to clients of all sizes including SMEs an...

Making $250k USD pa in 2008, 3 years in as a virtual assistant, after pivoting from selling Egyptian rugs on eBay. Second pivot in 2010 pivot added online courses & team members - sales now 60% courses, 30% services & 10% affiliates (Michelle Dale) 11.11.2020 17:27

In this episode, I interview Michelle Dale, the Founder, and CEO of Virtual Miss Friday and 1nSourcing™ , the alternative virtual assistant service for digital entrepreneurs. Virtual Miss Friday is an online business consultancy and academy with built-in virtual assistant services while 1nSourcing is a service that specializes in serving 6 and 7 figure business owners. Originally from the UK, Mich...

With 600 students in 10 countries, her online courses grew 214% in the last 6 months. Quit corporate to start a consulting business in marketing/branding/strategy, sick of selling her time moved to online courses in mid-2018 (Emily Osmond) 08.11.2020 38:56

In this episode, I interview Emily Osmond , an international marketing coach, speaker, and podcast host. She is the founder and editor of Australian interiors blog GetinMyHome . Her podcast, The Emily Osmond Show , shares practical strategies and candid real stories of entrepreneurs to help other entrepreneurs make marketing, mindset, and money their superpowers. Aged 27, she left the marketing wo...

Demand-side sales and innovation can unlock huge growth opportunities by understanding your customers' Struggling Moments, their Jobs To Be Done and their 3 Motivations for Progress. Professor and Subject Matter Expert (Bob Moesta) 04.11.2020 32:04

In this episode, I interview 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 fast, high-impac...

Quit hairdressing in 1993 aged 21 to pursue her passion, now has 9 FTE and 100 contractors providing mobile massage and beauty services in 800 4 & 5 star hotels around Australia. From $20k in year 1 to now $2m (Kym Power) 01.11.2020 31:34

In this episode, I interview Kym Power, the Founder of Rejuvenators Health Massage , Australia's largest professional mobile massage company. Kym passionately believes in holistic wellness, self-care, and taking personal responsibility for one's health and life success. In 1993, aged 21, she quit hairdressing for the love of providing massages. Now 27 years later, her mobile massage business is in...

Won Australiasian business plan in high school, 2 years later in 2008, aged 19 launched a dog daycare, grooming & sitting business. 1 to 29 FTE. Out for 6 months due to burnout/brain infection made her let go - business boomed (Rhiannon Beach) 28.10.2020 46:46

In this episode, I interview Rhiannon Beach, the Founder of Pups4Fun , Canberra's leading dog daycare and dog adventure center specializing in behavior-based service. Pups4Fun offers daycare, playgroups, and out and about excursions, activities usually associated with children. Rhiannon was ahead of the curve when she started Pups4Fun, tapping into the sentiment that animals in a household were no...

While at uni came second in a business competition with a wearable product, bought his business partners out, raised $1m+ USD investment, merged with a similar company now with 40 FTE and an 8-9 figure valuation (Devin Miller) 25.10.2020 38:45

In this episode, Troy interviews Devin Miller, the founder, CEO, and managing partner of Miller IP Law , a law firm that focuses on helping startups and small businesses with patents (inventions), trademarks (brands), and copyrights (creatives). He built his first multi-million dollar startup when he was still in law school in 2013 as part of a competition. After getting involved in startups, he w...

Largest vegan website in the world with 8,000 cruelty-free SKUs, quit corporate aged 38, started a business with a purpose in 2014. 2 FTE to 40+, sales from $60k to now $20m pa. Saved 30 tonnes of plastic with minimal packaging (Julie Mathers) 21.10.2020 46:01

In this episode, I interview Julie Mathers, the ethical Founder, and CEO of BCorp Certified Flora & Fauna , the world's largest self-funded vegan and cruelty-free product website. She launched the business in late 2014, aged 38. Flora & Fauna has done more than 8,000 SKUs and they have a warehouse and small retail shop located in inland Sydney. Julie is very driven when it comes to our planet, ani...

In 1989 aged 35 bought 4,500 acres of Byron Bay rainforest and Macadamia trees, 10 years later started the cereal business, now exporting to 12 countries, 2 FTE to 70 and grew 10%-100% p.a. (Pam Brook) 18.10.2020 38:55

In this episode, I interview Pam Brook, the co-founder of Brookfarm , Australia's leading producer of gourmet macadamia products known for its Macadamia Mueslis, Walkabout Mixes, etc. With some friends, Pam and her husband Martin bought 4,500 acres of rainforest with Macadamia trees in beautiful Byron Bay in 1989. Ten years later, they moved from Sydney to finally start their business. Since no on...

Online sales growing 2-3% per WEEK currently after flipping sales from 90% wholesale to now 89% online. Leading ethical beauty brand turned a $500k investment to a loan. FTE from 1 to 9 to 2.5 and spend $50k a month on FB ads (Anna Ross) 14.10.2020 48:30

In this episode, I interview Anna Ross, the Founder, and CEO of Kester Black , an Australian-made, cruelty-free and vegan lipstick, and nail polish brand. She is also the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Arné Skincare . Anna started out with a small jewelry business in Melbourne in 2009 when she was just 19 years old. To increase her product range, she added nail polish which soon tripled reven...

Pricing consultant with 20 years' experience at the world-leading pricing firm with 1,400 staff talks about the importance of smart pricing in growing a small business, shares tips and resources for owners (Christoph Petzoldt) 11.10.2020 29:17

In this episode, I interview Christoph Petzoldt, the Managing Partner of Simon-Kucher's Australia/New Zealand operations. Chris has 20 years of management consulting experience across all industries and his work focuses on strategic marketing, portfolio/bundle design, and pricing optimization. He has conducted more than 80 consulting projects in Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Oceania, and So...

nvestment on Shark Tank fell through, next month online sales exploded to $200k - the $100k+ profit from that funded the growth and after 6 years still owns 100% of the business, about to be stocked in 2,600 stores (Kate Johansson) 07.10.2020 39:16

In this episode, I interview Kate Johansson, the Founder and Managing Director of Koja Health , an Australian company that produces a range of healthy foods that are rich in nutrients, fiber, and plant-based protein, without the excess sugar and artificial additives found in so many others. In 2014, aged 27, Kate started the business by producing and selling healthy protein bars, the only all-natu...

Grew 60-300% p.a. after her business partner exited 3 years ago and totally transformed herself and the business, landed a big investor from Shark Tank in 2015, expanded from 1 to 16 products and now launching in the USA (Rachael Ferguson) 04.10.2020 39:57

In this episode, I interview Rachael Ferguson, the Co-Founder, and CEO of SynxBody and the Founder of Elite Sports Podiatry. She's also a podiatry industry expert who educates her clients and the community about common (and not so common!) podiatry-related complaints. In 2011, aged 28 and with a three-year-old, Rachael started a podiatry product business with her business partner while they were b...

Joined 2 friends in a garden shed, over 16 years grew sales 10-15% p.a., put family and balance first from day one, uses a T-rex email for big sales, shafted overnight by a Big 4 bank and appearing on The Block almost bankrupt him (Luke Chant) 30.09.2020 42:24

In this episode, I interview Luke Chant, the Founder, and CEO of Hotwire Heating, a wholesale distribution company that imports underfloor heating and heated towel rails, and distributes them all over Australia. Hotwire is the recommended floor heating (and/or) heated towel rail supplier for installers and some of the biggest tile and electrical suppliers in the industry. Hotwire has been featured...

Youngest franchisor in Australia at age 27, got to 35 franchisees and sold out after 13 years. Started 6 businesses, travelled the world with the family, started an online business which did $1m in its first 16 months at 65% profit (Tina Tower) 27.09.2020 51:31

In this episode, I interview Tina Tower, an Australian businesswoman, entrepreneur, author, world traveler, and high-performance business consultant. In 2014, Tina was the winner of the Australian Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year award and was named by Huffington Post as one of the Top 10 Aussie Women to watch in business. In 2004 and aged 20, Tina quit her job as a primary school teacher...

With 45% of female small business owners NOT contributing to their own superannuation she has a mission to change this. In 2005 left a corporate career to coach female owners, a big focus on pricing and overall healthy numbers (Ingrid Thompson) 20.09.2020 41:07

In this episode, I interview Ingrid Thompson, the Founder of Healthy Numbers, a training, coaching, and consulting business for business startups and entrepreneurs. She is also the host of the "So You Want to Start a Business" podcast where she interviews entrepreneurs and leaders who think big and who take action to create business success, financial independence, and to make a difference in the...

In 2003 went 5 years as the founder and 1 FTE, peaked at 40 in 2011, due to a downturn in coal dropped to 12, and now has 32 FTE providing environmental consult. Invested a lot in a great team and culture (Patrice Brown) 13.09.2020 30:32

In this episode, I interview Patrice Brown, the Founder, and CEO of CQG Consulting, a professional consultancy that delivers practical, creative, and cost-effective environmental and development solutions throughout regional Australia and South East Asia. She is a corporate environmental advisor with over 30 years' experience in industrial and environmental management. Aged 42 in 2003, Patrice le...

Aged 27 in 2014 skipped an MBA to get experience from her own business - empowering local food & beverage companies. Went from 1 to a team of 4, 50% growth p.a. over the 6 years and funded mostly from profits (Kim Bryden) 06.09.2020 44:30

In this episode, I interview Kim Bryden, CEO, and Founder of Cureate, a social enterprise based in Washington DC that aims to empower the food and beverage supply to meet the changing consumer demand. Kim has over 10 years of experience working in the food and beverage industry, and she helps small businesses build diversified revenue streams and identify new market opportunities. In 2014, aged...

In 1966 started in a servo, bought a truck, built a fuel distribution business, poor exit with business partner, with new partner grew defunct distributor from 1 to 30 FTE, $0 to $80m sales & 100m litres pa 2001 sold for 5x profit (John Trewin) 30.08.2020 44:25

In this episode, I interview John Trewin , the previous co-owner of Advanced Petroleum. At the age of 29 in 1966, John got his first job off the farm in a petrol station, bought a truck, grew the fuel distribution company, and added a business partner (which didn't end well a few years later) While he was taking some time out of the distribution game, he was approached to rebuild another distribut...