1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the fate staff discount. I never thought 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: that this would be a question that I would get asked, 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: but surprisingly I've had this question come up quite a lot, 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 1: like in my comments and in my dms over the years, 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: and I don't think I've ever done an episode about it. 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: It's getting to the point where Big with Big Business, 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: where we have done so many episodes that I'm like, 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: I can't remember if I've actually touched on this in 9 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: detail of maybe I have in passing, but I got 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: a DM in our Big Business podcast DMS from Billy, which, 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: by the way, I know I say this every time. 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: But if you have a question you would like me 13 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: to answer, please send it to me on Instagram on 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: our Big Business Podcast Instagram account. 15 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 2: It's quite a. 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: Small account compared to my normal account, and we monitor 17 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: the dms every single day, myself, April and producer. So 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: if you've got a question that you would like me 19 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: to answer about anything, it could be about me. It 20 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: could be about fate, it could be about business in general. 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: It could be about an idea that you have. It 22 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: could even be a question that you have, maybe about 23 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: something that you're dealing with at work. 24 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 2: Send us a DM because. 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: I love being able to give people what they want 26 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: here on the pod. So this message comes from Billy, 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: and she says, longtime listener of High Scrollers, new listener 28 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: of Big Business here. Thanks Billy. And for anyone that 29 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: doesn't know, I have two podcasts, obviously Big Business here, 30 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: and then I have High Scrollers with one of my 31 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: great friends, Matt. We also do two episodes every week 32 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: over there, and it's just the unfiltered version of my 33 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: life and my friendship with Matt. It's just like a 34 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: good laugh. So if you don't listen to High Scrollers, 35 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: shout out to Scrollers. Onto Billy's question, she says, have 36 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: you spoken on the pod about staff wearing fate clothes 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: to work? Do staff get an allow wants to spend 38 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: on clothes? Are they gifted? Does this differ between head 39 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: office staff and store staff given store staff are facing 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: customers every day, And have. 41 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: I spoken about this on the pod? 42 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: I can't remember, but I'm here to talk about it 43 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: again and it's a great topic. So do staff get 44 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: an allowance to spend on clothes? No, they don't, although 45 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: that is something that I would maybe want to explore 46 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: down the track because you've You've mentioned like the difference 47 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: between head office staff and store staff, and our store 48 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: staff obviously facing our customers every day. But no, we 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: don't have any type of allowance set up. But what 50 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: we've had ever since the beginning of Fate is a 51 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: fifty percent staff discount. 52 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: Now. 53 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: I implemented that back when we started Fate and I 54 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: hired my very first employee, and it's stayed and stuck 55 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: that way. I feel like basically everything else that I 56 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: did in the early days of Faith it has been changed, 57 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: you know, because when you start out, you just make 58 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: all the wrong decisions and you set up things in 59 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: the complete wrong way, which is so normal with business. 60 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: And the fifty staff discount is one that I haven't changed. 61 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 2: It's stuck through all these years. 62 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 1: So when it comes to our staff head offers, warehouse 63 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: and retail, there is no obligation whatsoever that our staff 64 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: have to shop with Fate or wear Fate or anything 65 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: like that. But I think naturally, you know, if people 66 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: are applying to work at Fate, there's always a high 67 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: chance that they may already know and love the brand, 68 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: and maybe they have a few pieces. 69 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: In their wardrobe, or if they don't. 70 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: They've probably heard of us, especially because we're based in Newcastle, 71 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: Like it's quite a small city here. I don't know 72 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: what the population is. Where's Producer X when I need him? Newcastle, 73 00:03:53,840 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: New South Wales population let's see it says this any 74 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: of Newcastle LGA in twenty twenty four is approximately one 75 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy six thousand people. But then further out, 76 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: like the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Area is significantly larger, with 77 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: the population exceeding six hundred and eighty thousands, thousand, encompassing 78 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: surrounding regions. 79 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: So it's actually more than I thought. 80 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: But being a newie brand, and you know, especially all 81 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: of our head office team being based here in Neui, 82 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: the chances are when we're hiring someone they know about us, 83 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: they've heard about us, and there's a chance that they've 84 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: probably got a fate piece in their wardrobe. Would I 85 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: be upset if they didn't. Absolutely not. I do not 86 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: expect that at all. And when it comes to our 87 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: office team and warehouse team, obviously the warehouse team wear 88 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: whatever you are most comfy in, which most of the 89 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: time is active where and a baggy, oversized shirt or 90 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: a hoodie in winter. It's just all about comfort in 91 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: the warehouse. As for our head office, wear whatever you want. 92 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: I could not care if people just show up head 93 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: to toe in Fate or one day they're in dish 94 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: or the next day they're in verged girl. Like. There's 95 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: no obligations for staff to wear Fate at work. If 96 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: they do, of course I'm going to absolutely love that, 97 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: But it's literally not a part of like, we don't 98 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: have a uniform. You can wear activewear, you can wear 99 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: whatever you want, you can wear any brand you want. 100 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: And obviously then it's a little bit different for our 101 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: retail teams because, like you've said, Billy, our retail teams 102 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: are facing our customers every day now when someone comes 103 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: and starts in one of our retail stores. 104 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: Again, there's no. 105 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: Rule set in place that says you must be wearing 106 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: Fate on the floor. The only rule, I guess that 107 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: we have is that if you're not wearing Fate, it 108 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: just has to be something plain and simple. So, for example, 109 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: it probably would not be the greatest if someone came 110 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: to work in a Camilla, you know, bright bold colored 111 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: dress or a Sabi T shirt that has all their 112 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: logos over it. All that we ask and request is 113 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: so fine. If you don't have Fate pieces to wear 114 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: to work, that is fine. But if you could just 115 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: wear something plain, like there's plain colors, simple pieces, and 116 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: I guess that works really well for us, given that 117 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: a lot of what we do is like just you 118 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: care basics anyway, So we have no issue with that, 119 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: and we don't want to put pressure on staff that 120 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: they must like buy a whole new Fate wardrobe before 121 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: they do their first shift. 122 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: Kind of thing. 123 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: So that's the kind of rule I guess we have 124 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: in place for uniform and grooming, not that it's really 125 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: a rule, it's like, just come in something plain, as 126 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: long as it isn't something that's boldly a country Road 127 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: t shirt with their logo on it. Now, in saying that, 128 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: whilst we don't have the expectation in place that everyone 129 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: must wear Fate when they're working in store, I think 130 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: just naturally, the team that we have working in our stores, 131 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: they're very passionate about Fate. I feel like you've got 132 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: to be passionate about Fate and the brand and what 133 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: we do to work in our stores and. 134 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: Get amongst the community. 135 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: So again, like naturally, everyone's going to want to wear 136 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: Fate and represent our brand when they're on the floor, 137 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: and then of course. 138 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: Tying in them getting fifty percent off. 139 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: The chances are pretty high that when they come on 140 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: board and we're coming out with new things, they're going 141 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: to get excited and want to purchase things to wear anyway, 142 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: like not just to work, but in their day to 143 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: day wardrobe. So I feel like, nine times out of ten, 144 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: if you were to walk into a Fate store, the 145 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: Fate staff would probably be wearing a full fit of Fate, 146 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: if not half of their outfit. But you know, it's 147 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: fine if someone does show up in something else one day. 148 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: I guess I wouldn't want to put that pressure on 149 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: staff to like have a whole wardrobe that they can 150 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: rotate through every single week to ensure their head to 151 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: toe in Fate. And actually, I don't know if me 152 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: saying this is like an unpopular opinion, like they're very well, 153 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: maybe a lot of fashion brands out there that would say, 154 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, you must, you must, And it does intrigue 155 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: me the idea of, like, I don't know, having an 156 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: allowance because it's that would be a whole thing that 157 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: you need to set up. But I was even talking 158 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: to one of my friends the other day who is 159 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: setting up a retail store, and she was talking about 160 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: maybe like having a rack out the back, like an 161 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: in store wardrobe kind of thing for staff to chuck 162 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: random things on. And when she said that, I was like, Oh, 163 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: that actually sounds like a really cool idea. So now 164 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: that you've kind of mentioned that, Billy, and then I 165 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: was talking to my friend, I'm like, maybe we could 166 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: implement something else. But to answer your question, no, we 167 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: don't have the expectation that everyone must wear Fate at work, 168 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: even our teams that are working on the floor. Of course, 169 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 1: it's amazing when we go in store and we see 170 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: our teams and. 171 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: They've styled up their outfits. 172 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: I have always loved seeing how our retail teams style 173 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: Fate in their own way, and they put together some 174 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: outfits that I would never think to style that way, 175 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: and I really love seeing that. But the expectation isn't there, 176 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: and people might think I'm crazy for not having that expectation, 177 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: because of course, like we want people to walk in 178 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: and see our brand immediately on our staff, but I'm 179 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: not going to put the pressure on my staff to 180 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: wear the clothes, especially if I'm not giving them the 181 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: clothes for free, if that makes sense. 182 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,199 Speaker 2: But I do like the. 183 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: Idea of having a wardrobe out the back, but again 184 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, how would I manage that? I don't know 185 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: and backrooms of stores are notoriously tiny. But Billy, thanks 186 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: so much for sending through your DM and I'll be 187 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: back next week with the main episode.