Market research is essential for anyone looking to go into business, according to East Victoria Park business owner Shellie Attwood. “Don't just open something without looking around in the neighbourhood to see what is already there,” she advised. Shellie is the owner of Greenbunch, a florist, café and plant store along the popular hospitality...
For Ami Hackett, turning her ‘holiday job’ into a business launched her into the unknown, but keeping her business skills current helped her steer it through rough waters. Ami opened her self-named boat detailing and management business, Ami Marine, in Success in 2004 after an early career on the land in the wool industry. The marine business now...
Many small businesses start as a hobby business or ‘side hustle’ which you might run in your spare time while holding a job with another employer. Setting your own hours and being your own boss might sound like a dream when you’re working while running a business on the side – but it’s important to make an informed decision before you decide to...
As a former school principal for more than 10 years, Orlando dos Santos always encouraged staff and students to achieve their dreams. When he identified a need within the community after witnessing a lot of pet stress, he knew it was time for him to achieve his own dreams. With more than 50 years of experience in dog training under his belt...
Feeling confident in your abilities is a strong starting point when you’re considering running your own business. Jarrod Whitbourne was able to manage demanding FIFO shifts as a boilermaker while completing an accounting degree - a juggling act that first gave him confidence in his business capabilities. With 10 years of industry experience and a...
At a recent Founders, Leaders and Lawyers business event hosted by HHG Legal, I had the opportunity to catch up with Michael Malone, WA entrepreneurial legend and founder of iiNet. If you are not familiar with the story, Michael was finishing his studies at UWA in 1993 and realised that the end of university, meant the end of his internet access...
If you have a great idea for a new product, you’re at the start of an exciting but complex business journey. From developing your idea to testing demand in the market and finding the right manufacturer, here’s your guide to the steps involved in turning your idea into a new product available for sale. Step 1: Develop your idea Developing any new...
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently announced changes to how your employees can calculate tax deductions if they work from home. Here’s your guide to the changes. Millions of Australians work from home for some or all of their working week. If your business is structured to have your employees working from home at some stage, they...
Focusing on how to make use of surplus product has created a win-win situation for gourmet soup business, the Suppa Club. Founder David Kane set out to provide a product for those who craved pure, whole-foods, with the comfort of home-style cooking without the hassle, which gave rise to the Suppa Club. Focus on producing a ‘no-waste’ product David...
Like many people, Claire Sly’s fondest childhood memories are at her nanna’s house. She spent weekends with her grandparents, and her nanna always encouraged her to set up a ‘shop’ in the pantry to keep out of mischief. Her nanna would patiently wander around the living room, basket in hand, collecting her weekly 'shopping' from Claire and paying...
As an avid cook passionate about local produce, when Rom Blount moved to Collie in WA’s South West, she couldn’t find a shop that met her needs: a one stop shop where she could buy all the goodies she needed to make a great meal. Not one to let a small challenge put her off her culinary creations, Rom decided to start her own small business with...
Lou Corteen’s journey into the world of food manufacturing began with a simple compliment. “A friend raved about my green tomato chutney and told me I should sell it. I thought, ‘Yeah, OK, that’s what I’m going to do,” Lou recalls with a laugh. From that spark, Urban Forager was born, starting as a small venture at local farmers markets. Lou’s...
