In January 2021, COVID forced serial entrepreneur Wayne Hamlet’s event hire business into liquidation. Two months later, he declared bankruptcy, losing everything, and took a job as a real estate agent. Not one for giving up, Wayne launched an idea with huge potential. In fact, if you’re a business owner, then you need it. It’s as simple as that! It’s a ridiculously inspiring episode 598 of The (13 year-old, award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing podcast with host Timbo Reid.

A little more about Smile Fred’s Wayne Hamlet …

If you’re a long time listener, you’ll know I tend not to interview owners of businesses in the start-up phase. There’s plenty of other podcasts doing that, plus I want to make sure you only get learnings from established business owners, who’ve got the runs on the board.

However, today’s guest is in start-up mode. So why’d I break the rules?

Because Wayne Hamlet’s story is super inspiring, and I actually want to give him a leg up.

He’s a serial entrepreneur who’s not afraid to have a crack. Unfortunately to date, after starting three businesses, his efforts have been rewarded with little more than experience.

Making matters worse, in January 2021, COVID forced his event hire business into liquidation. Two months later, he declared bankruptcy, losing everything, and took a job as a real estate agent.

Not one for giving up, at the age of 50, Wayne and his wife decided to roll the dice one more time and start Smile Fred, an online greeting card and gift box business that makes it ridiculously simple for you to send personalised cards and gifts within 5-minutes from wherever you are. An idea that every single one of us could use to show gratitude to our clients, suppliers, staff … anyone! Basically, it’s a business idea that makes the world a better place.

By the way, this chat may contain a trigger for some of you, as Wayne’s business journey certainly hasn’t been all roses. Who’s has?! If you’re doing it tough, and don’t have anyone to download to, then please call Lifeline or your local mental wellbeing support service.

Now … Instead of starting with Wayne answering a question, take a listen to the audio from this video that appears on Smile Fred’s website. It not only explains how Smile Fred works, but why it exists and a little bit of Wayne’s back story.

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30. How to overcome imposter syndrome