Grow A Small Business Podcast Jay Patey on Scaling Pigeon Whole Bakers from a Tiny Hobart Café to an $8M Bakery Supplying MONA, Building a 50+ Team, Shifting to Daylight Hours & How Word-of-Mouth and People-First Culture Created a Beloved Tasmanian Brand. (Episode 668 - Jay Patey)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Jay Patey, founder of Pigeon Whole Bakers, who shares his journey from launching a small Hobart café in 2008 to building an $8M bakery with over 50 staff. Jay dives into the power of word-of-mouth marketing, the decision to expand into wholesale, and creating a beloved Tasmanian brand that now supplies major outlets like MONA and Hill Street stores. He opens up about the challenges of fast growth, how shifting to daylight production transformed team wellbeing, and why a people-first culture is key to long-term success. Jay also reflects on lessons learned from nearly two decades in business and offers valuable advice for other small business owners. It's a raw, honest, and inspiring story of resilience, purpose, and sustainable growth.
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Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:
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What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Jay Patey, the hardest thing in growing a small business is dealing with the unknown and the lack of control over unexpected challenges. Despite careful planning, unforeseen issues can arise that test resilience and patience. He highlights that growth is a long-term journey requiring adaptability and the ability to navigate uncertainty.
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What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Jay Patey mentioned that the business book which helped him the most was "2 Second Lean" by Paul Akers. He appreciated its focus on improving workflow efficiency, organization, and lean manufacturing principles—particularly relevant as he set up their new bakery production space to be streamlined and future-proofed.
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Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Jay Patey specifically recommended the Grow A Small Business Podcast as a valuable resource. He mentioned that he listens to it religiously and finds it insightful for learning from other business owners' growth journeys and challenges.
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What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Jay Patey recommends using subscription-based software tools to grow a small business, particularly those that streamline operations. He highlights tools like Xero for accounting, a robust time and attendance system integrated with payroll, and Square for point of sale (POS), which also connects with their website. These tools have helped improve efficiency and reduce administrative overhead
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What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Jay Patey would advise himself on day one to "strap in for the ride" and recognize that he had no real idea of what lay ahead. He reflects that he was quite naïve at the start and never imagined the business would grow as much as it has, emphasizing the importance of being mentally prepared for a long, challenging, and evolving journey.
Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.
Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: If you're playing in the A-League, you need A-League players every day – Jay Patey Patience and resilience are the real fuel behind sustainable growth – Jay Patey Growing a business isn't a sprint; it's a marathon with hills, storms, and surprises – Jay Patey