Owner To Owner Podcast

Cactus Country https://www.cactuscountry.com.au/ was inspired by John's dad who while traveling in England saw the Chelsea flower show. When he came back to Australia, he came back with the vision of tourism being something that would eventuate in Australia. Everybody told him it would not work, especially given we are three hours north of Melbourne in the middle of nowhere. Everyone said 'you are mad'. So he was always on the back foot in a sense but got to prove everybody wrong. Probably in hindsight made him even more determined because I think he loves the challenge. He started with a quarter acre and bought a large collection from South Australia and traveled the world in the 50s collecting cacti and succulents, bringing them back to Australia at a time where there were no restrictions on what you could bring in. John described the last few years at Cactus Country as "nuts".  In the episode John talks about;The transformation from a cacti farm to a large tourism-based destinations businessThe day to day challenges of finding staff to run the businessHow the business managed and thrived during Covid19How they used social media and PR so successfullyHow they diversified their revenue streamsThe opportunities for collaborating with other businesses to the benefit of both businesses and the local economy and region https://richglenoliveoil.com/ and @Cafe3641The opportunities in social media for regional businesses @murrayfarmgatetrailThe dynamics of working in a family businessSuccession planning and transitioning from one generation to the next Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Jo Palmer saw an emerging opportunity to reshape the outsourcing industry. Where outsourcing had traditionally used offshore personnel Jo saw the opportunity to match highly skilled and underutilised  people based in regional Australia with local businesses needing help.She founded Pointer Remote Roles https://www.pointerremoteroles.com.au/ about 3 years ago.In this episode we cover;How the business idea came to her at a BBQ when she realized that I had all these very clever girlfriends who had married farmers and were not putting their skills and experiences that they had gained over their careers before moving to farmsHer own professional background and business experienceHow outsourcing helps businesses and business ownersThe difference in outsourcing locally vs offshoreHow local outsourcing helps local communitiesWhat work you should outsource and what you shouldn'tHow to go about working out what you should and shouldn't outsourceThe opportunities for living and working in regional AustraliaStopping the  'brain drain' from regional AustraliaWhat business owners need to do to make the most of outsourcingRunning a global business from anywhereWork flexibilityNew ways of workingNew ways of employing Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Matt Vitale is a co-founder of Birchal https://www.birchal.com , a leading Australian equity crowdfunding platform.Equity crowdfunding is a fast growing alternative source of finance for small business.In this episode we cover;Matt's professional career leading up to co-founding BirchalHis own hands-on experience as a small business ownerHow one of these small businesses led to Matt (and his wife) competing in the world BBQ championships in the USA What crowdfunding is How crowdfunding works Which businesses can take the most advantage of crowdfunding, and why businesses with a consumer-facing business model are  well placed to take advantageWhy customers are so important in the processThe process and timeline for raising crowdfunding What the owners of a business need to know and do if they want to raise crowdfundingWhat changes once you have some investors in the business Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

James Grugeon is the founder of The Good Beer Co. https://thegoodbeerco.com.au/.Covid-19 heavily impacted the business but he found a way to adapt and thrive.The Good Beer Co. is a social enterprise that exists to create and sell good beers to fund and support good causes.It works with and supports award winning breweries and is committed to creating award winning and popular beers like;Great Barrier Beer for the Australian Marine Conservation SocietyPale Tale for RSPCA QueenslandLove Beer for the Australian Marriage Equality campaign,andGreat Get Together Pale Ale for the Jo Cox Foundation.In this episode we talk with James about;His personal background in business, charities and social enterprise, both in the UK and here in AustraliaThe history of The Good Beer Co.How to build partnerships between companies and social enterprisesThe critical role of  businesses, particularly for-purpose businesses, in tackling really thorny challenges like climate changeThe brilliant Australian craft beer industryHis latest campaign A Good Beer Always HelpsThis campaign supports the local  independent craft industry by gifting a case of 16 independent beers to essential workers including nurses, police, aged care workers and  many others who have been dealing directly with  the spread and impacts of Covid-19The struggle of bootstrapping a small businessSocial EntrepreneurshipCollaborations  Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Marketing is one of the greatest challenges facing small business owners.In this episode Tim Reid, host of Australia's number one marketing podcast, Small Business Big Marketing https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/ talks about how to overcome the fear that many owners have about marketing.This fear is driven by 3 limiting beliefs;Marketing costs too muchMarketing takes too longThey themselves lack the knowledgeHe explains how owners can overcome these 3 limiting beliefs and start achieving greater success.Tim's methodology for taking advantage of opportunities and achieving marketing success is simple. He calls it 'Helpful Marketing'.Like never before all the tools exist to run low cost and effective marketing programs. So forget all the jargon you've ever heard. Implementing 'Helpful Marketing' involves;Listening to prospective clients and customers to hear (and understand) what problems they have and what questions they need answers to.Solving problems and answering questions for your clients and customers.Writing down the answers to common questions down in your marketing and  on your website in your FAQ section.Continuously and actively asking clients and customers about the problems and questions they have.Some other really helpful and practical tips Tim had to make your marketing successful;Adopt a helpful mindset.Review your brand and all the different marketing touchpoints for consistency.Understanding the difference between Push and Pull marketing.Allocating regular time.Learn to love it and treat it as a hobby.Don't persist with any marketing that isn't working.Social Media is only part of the marketing mix, it's not all your marketing.And if you only had 20 minutes a day for marketing Tim suggests you FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR EXISTING AND PAST CLIENT BASE - there are always  latent opportunities in there! Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Deb and Jon just scored a major international coup. Deb was recently selected as the leading artist to feature in a new sculpture park @Taipeimuseum.Jon and Deb struck this global deal from Australia during Covid19.How did they do that? Why shouldn't other creatives aspire to the same?  Deb and Jon have worked worked closely and effectively for many years to bring Deb's creative business to it's full potential. They bring their unique and rich experiences to this discussion on a business approach to creative pursuits.We cover;#thebusinessofcreativity#possibility#personalbranding#thinkingglobally#businessandart#regionalarts#creativezeal Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Bec talks about how Tielka got started and where it is today. There were up's and down's along the way. She talks openly about her personal approach to dealing with the challenges that arose when personal and business priorities intersected. It's a family business and we also talk about how to get the most from the unique talents of business and family partners,Tielka participated in GrowCoastal, a food accelerator program, run by the Innovation Centre at SCU Sippy Downs for food businesses that show high potential for growth, product innovation and entrepreneurial tenacity,There are exciting times ahead for the tea industry and Tielka.We also cover;#organictea#tearituals#startups#seachange#incubators#regionalaustralia#movingabusinessfromonestatetoanotherandonlymissingacoupleofbeats #ruralandregionalaustralia#communityradio#sme#smallbusinesses Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Joe Formichella runs the small business banking team at Bendigo Bank, Australia's fifth-largest bank.Joe is a highly experienced, career business banker. He does an excellent job of outlining how best to deal with your bank, (even if it's not Bendigo :)).In these challenging times the keys are to;Communicate with your banker so they know how you personally as well as the business are going i.e. don't stick your head in the sandDemonstrate that you as an owner are pro-actively adapting your business e.g. by cutting unnecessary expenses  or finding new ways to produce and sell your product or serviceDemonstrate that you are using any spare time created by a slowing business to undertake planning to give your business the best chance of success. Your chances of securing the help you might need from your bank will be enhanced when it is clear you have a solid business plan and you as owner understand deeply how the business operates and where the future opportunities areSpecificallyJoe reinforced the need for a; Robust business planClear description of the purpose of a new loan or lending assistance when discussing finance with your bankDetailed summary of historical  financial performance and credible forecasts for your business to establish viability and serviceability. He noted however that given current challenges his bank, at least, understood that your current financial performance may be severely affected by uncontrollable, external influences and would take that into account in their assessmenthttps://www.bendigobank.com.au  Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

The indigenous business sector is growing fast and includes a wide range array of types and sizes of businesses. First Australians Capital is at the forefront, playing a leading role in helping startup and established businesses to fulfil their potential.This week we talk with Leah Armstrong (Managing Director) & Jane Pound (Executive Director) from www.firstaustralianscapital.orgOver the past four years FAC have worked with nearly 400 businesses across Australia, with a demonstrated track record that businesses supported by FAC report better resilience, stronger revenue growth, a blue-print for expansion and increased employment opportunities. In our discussion we cover;the exciting prospects ahead in #indigenousbusinessthe different ways FAC helps #Indigenousentrepreneurssome of the exciting #smallbusiness and #startups FAC are working withthe 65,000 years of ingenuity & sophisticated networked governance underpinning #indigbizhow non-indigenous can learn from indigenous businessthe opening up of new productive agricultural land from new #agventuresthe services and capital @firstaustralianscapital  can access for new #indigeneousbusinesses #sobahbeer #NGALI #Indigenousfashion  @blackduckfoods Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

@carlyflecknoe has been busy since moving to Halls Gap a few years back. With her husband she co-founded @dotandfrankie & @raccoltopizza. She headed up the Halls Gap music festival . Carly also spearheaded #madethegrampiansway to showcase the best products and produce in the region.  She's done this in collaboration with @thegrampians. The objective of the campaign is to draw consumers attention to and support local produce #buylocalShe loves being involved and is passionate about the place she lives in.In our discussion we cover;Jumping in 'boots & all'The change from a big city and a corporate job  to life in Halls Gap  with  a family and a few small businesses  to runHow #smallbusiness  is a pathway for other potential tree-changersHow #regionalbusinesses   are so vital to creating jobs and  learning and skill development opportunities for youth and young adultsHer favorite networking  groups @likemindedbitchesdrinkingwine and @ladystartupcreating your own #selfemploymentopportunities in #regionalaustralia, #treechange #jobcreationBrought to you by;@kerrcapital@smallbusinessmentoringservice  Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au