Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I'll have a conversation with Ben Crowley, the founder of online supplements retailer Bulk Nutrients. While teaching English in Japan, Ben saw a gap in the market with Australian customers paying so much more for protein powders and other fitness products. He launched his first business in Tasmania and quickly lost his entire $10,000 savings in a supply order. Almost giving up, he...

In this episode, I'll have a conversation with Ben De Jong, the co-founder of The Cut, a digital-first agency with well established creative branding skills that helps people create great Shopify websites. The Cut is actually Perth's only Shopify Plus partner and Shopify expert partner. Ben and his business partner started the agency back in 2009 after they both moved back from London. Over a 6 ye...

In this episode, I'll have a conversation with Sam Reid, the co-founder of Willie Smith's Cider. Willie Smith's is a partnership between himself and Andrew Smith, a fourth-generation apple farmer in the Huon Valley. When the two met, Sam had been working at Diageo, one of the largest drinks business in the world, and was looking to do something different. While Andrew had some excess juicing apple...

In 1984 as a young, naive cafe worker in Hobart Rod took the leap to run his own small cafe more than 200km away in Launceston, Tasmania. Investing heavily in the team and culture, they now have two award-winning restaurants and recently added 7 premium accommodation rooms above one of them on the Tamar River. Listen to Rod speak about his small business journey and how adapting to the marketing a...

Above a little cafe in Hobart in 2015 James and one of his brothers spent a year testing and arguing about business ideas to pursue. Biteable was one of the first they thought of but being analytical, they wanted to exhaust the list before circling back and getting serious. Six months into it they brought on the third co-founder, a good friend, and raised $1.1m investment. A genuine SaaS (Software...

In mid-2013, using $1,000 start-up capital, Tim and his wife Bec founded Flat Tummy Tea (FTT). The online-only business sells a tea which helps 18 - 35 year old women reduce bloating. After Bec tried some competing products at the time, none worked and were more aimed at helping weight-loss - not digestion and bloating. This cast has many great lessons on why marketing, according to the late Peter...

A few months ago Brendan stepped down as General Manager (GM) of Hobart Brewing Co. (HBC), but remains a Director and shareholder. He knew the next chapter of growth the business needed was going to require different skills and experience to what he had, and some fresh blood. In late 2014 Brendan met co-founder and Head Brewer, then they brought on-board three other founding shareholders to set up...

In a humble interview Matthew shares how he was kicked out of university, after some time off in the Tasmanian wilderness got back then took 6.5 years to complete a four year degree to become a pharmacist. In 2005 he started working in a pharmacy in Launceston, Tasmania and soon after was invited to buy-in. Taking on considerable personal debt to do so, Matthew and his three business partners then...

The Importer furniture business in Tasmania has three stores and up to 30 team members, up from an original eight. In 2004 Charles Beaumont took over running the business from his parents, soon after his father became ill and passed away.  This cast covers: how our ego can get in the way when leading a business; smarter methods to fund growth; humble leadership; transitioning a family business fro...

Our 30 minute weekly 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...