1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Britney Saunders, and welcome to Big Business, the 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: place where business is far from boring. 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: And today I'm recording on a wobbicle land. Now. 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: This episode in particular that you're listening to is coming 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: out during the Chrissy Slash holiday break, and some podcasts 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: take a break during the Christmas break, but there's no 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: break for me when it comes to Big Business. I'm 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: coming out with these episodes, but I thought I would 9 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: mention I'm recording these from home and the quality may 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: not be exactly the same as when I'm in the studio, 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: but hopefully it will do. I thought it being the 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: end of the year, it would just be a perfect 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: time for me to do a goals of twenty twenty 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: four for me in my business journey. And I wouldn't say, like, 15 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: reflecting on all the years that I've been in business, 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: I don't think I've ever been one to write down 17 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: actual goals, and maybe I should. I wouldn't say that 18 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: I'm very like Woo Woo or spiritual, but I definitely 19 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: do believe in like manifesting and like you know, having 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: goals and dreams and working hard to make them happen. 21 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: I believe in manifesting in that kind of way, but 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: I've never really sat down and written, you know, I 23 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: want us to do this much in sales this year, 24 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: and I want to open this many stores and do. 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: This, that and the other. 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: I don't think I've ever written down like a goals list, 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: and I don't want this podcast episode to be like 28 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: a goals list either. It's more so just the vibe 29 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: I'm wanting to set for myself personally for twenty twenty five. 30 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: I've actually written down a note here on my phone 31 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: and I just realized I wrote my business goals for 32 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. It's twenty twenty five, love, But anyway, 33 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: let's just get straight into it. So my overall overall 34 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: goal for twenty twenty five, and I don't know how 35 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: to put this into words exactly, but I've just written 36 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: down here. 37 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: Enjoy it a little more. 38 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: I want that to be my theme for business in 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. And the reason for that is, Look, 40 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: I'm saying this now, and I can absolutely make this 41 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: my goal, but what's a bet I'm just gonna hustle 42 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: harder than I ever have in twenty twenty five, because 43 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: that's what I seem to do every single year, but 44 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to make this the theme of twenty twenty 45 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: five for me because I truly feel like all I 46 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: did in twenty twenty four especially is just hustled. And 47 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: it's a really tricky thing because obviously, if you're in 48 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: business and you own the business, and it's essentially all 49 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: up to you, like how much the business is going 50 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 1: to make and how many steps forward it's going to take. 51 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: If it's all on you, it's only natural that you're 52 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: going to want to go all in and just work 53 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: harder than you ever have before. But at some point, 54 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: especially with where I've gotten fate to at this stage, 55 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: I feel like, at some point I just want to 56 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: actually stop and enjoy it. 57 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: A little more. 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: So that is my overall theme for twenty twenty five, 59 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 1: enjoy it a little more. 60 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 2: And earlier this year. 61 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: I had Christian Hull on the pod to talk about 62 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: his business and how he shut it down, and Christian 63 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: follows me, and when I was chatting with him, the 64 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: conversation really stuck with me because he was saying, like, what. 65 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: The fuck are you doing? 66 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: Like I can't remember exactly what he said, but he said, 67 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: like go out there and enjoy it. And he was 68 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: making jokes saying like go and buy a Lamborghini or 69 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: some crazy car like that or whatever. But what he 70 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: was saying is like, you should enjoy this more like 71 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: everything that you've built. And I think I really want to. 72 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: And I've spoken about this in previous pods this year 73 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: as well, is like I have this like guilt when 74 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: it comes to sitting back and enjoying like all my. 75 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: Hard work kind of thing. And I don't know why 76 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: that is. 77 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm sure it stems from somewhere in my brain from 78 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: my childhood, but I genuinely don't ever have time off. 79 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: And I was joking about this on my other podcast 80 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: a few weeks back now on my because I get 81 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: like a pay slip every week from Fate. 82 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: And I've got hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. 83 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: Of hours of annual leave and I've never I've never 84 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: used one hour of my annual eve and I've got 85 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: it sitting there like just like all of our other 86 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: team members at FATE, and I've never used one hour. 87 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: I don't think AJ has either. And I went on 88 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: one holiday in twenty twenty four was to my cousin's 89 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,679 Speaker 1: wedding in Bali, and I just went and AJ stayed home. 90 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: So that was my one week. 91 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: Where I was away, and even then I didn't use 92 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: any of the annual leave. 93 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: I don't know what it is, like. 94 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: I think it's like a business owner thing, but I 95 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: just feel extreme guilt if I ever take time off, 96 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: which is weird to say, because I'm sure all of 97 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: you listening will be like, what the fuck? Like take 98 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: the time off, girl, like enjoy everything that you've made. 99 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: But it might just be like an owner's guilt or something. 100 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: But I've never just taken a day off to like 101 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: take a day off, And I think this is why 102 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: I want my theme of twenty twenty five to be 103 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: enjoy it a little more, just because I want to 104 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: get rid of that guilt of you know, I just 105 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: feel like I can't stop and enjoy what I'm doing 106 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: because I then think I can't just take a day 107 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: off to sit around the house and just sit on 108 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: the back deck, because then imagine all the things that 109 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: I could be doing at work. 110 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: And I think this is a. 111 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: Really unhealthy habit that I have developed and that I'm 112 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: sure a lot of other business owners have, Like I'm 113 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: sure it's a common thing, but I want to change 114 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: that in twenty twenty five. I think we all know 115 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: that life is truly short and no one is ever 116 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: guaranteed tomorrow. And I think that's one of the scary 117 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: things about owning a business and building a business is 118 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: you are so invested in it, like it is my 119 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: every thought, it is my every part of my being, 120 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: and so you're just so concentrated on like always working 121 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: on something new, or taking the next step with your 122 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: business and growing it to the next point and smashing 123 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: out another sales goal, whatever it is. But then at 124 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: the same time, like at some point us as owners, 125 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: we do have to stop and enjoy where we are 126 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:01,799 Speaker 1: and like reap the benefits of all the hard. 127 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 2: Work that we've done it. 128 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: Maybe it would be taking a day off to sit 129 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: on my back deck and swim in the pool or 130 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: something like. I've never done that, and I would feel 131 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: so much guilt if. 132 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 2: I did do that. 133 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: But again, like life is sure, no one's guaranteed tomorrow, 134 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: and why are we working so hard if we're not 135 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: enjoying any moment of it? And I really want that 136 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: to be my theme of twenty twenty five. But let's 137 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: see what happens when twenty twenty five comes around, because 138 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: it truly is just so hard when you feel like 139 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: you're the leader of your entire team and you're the 140 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: leader of your business. 141 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: You feel like. 142 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 1: You can't stop and just do nothing or just like 143 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: relax or just go away for a week, because I 144 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: truly feel guilty. But I genuinely want to try and 145 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: do more of that in twenty twenty five. There are 146 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: a lot of other things that I want to do, 147 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: Like I obviously want to keep growing my business, and 148 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: I'm sure I'm just going to go out there and 149 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: work even harder in twenty twenty five, but i'd love 150 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: to say that I'm not going to, and that I'd 151 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: like to just smooth sale. 152 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: For a year and just really enjoy where we are. 153 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 2: I'm sure I'll end up working harder than ever before. 154 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: Another thing that I. 155 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: Really want to do in my business in twenty twenty five, 156 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: which I feel like we're kind of always doing, but 157 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: something that I want to put a massive focus on 158 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty five is just taking a good look 159 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: over our company and all the people that we have 160 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: in our company and all the positions that we have. 161 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: We're huge now, Like we've got sixty something employees. I'm 162 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: pretty sure it could even be seventy something. And that's exciting, 163 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: and it's also scary because you never want your business 164 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: to get to the point where you hear the saying 165 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: all the time like you've got too many chefs in 166 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: the kitchen. We've obviously grown so much and needed all 167 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: these people in our company to sustain the growth or 168 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: to keep the operations running smoothly. But another thing that 169 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: I I really want to do, just like, given the 170 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: size of our company in twenty twenty five, I just 171 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: want to really refine all of the people and their 172 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: positions in our company. Like I just want to look 173 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: a lot into the operational side of our business and 174 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: just be across the board. Like I can get so 175 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: caught up in moving forward and opening the next door 176 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: and creating all this content for our social media that 177 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: I sometimes I guess I don't spend enough time looking 178 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: at the back end of our business. But I just 179 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: really want to go through the company with a fine 180 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 1: tooth comb make sure we've got all the right people 181 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: in the right positions. I want to work closely, especially 182 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: with all of our I don't like to say like 183 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 1: high level management people in our company, but I guess 184 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: everyone that's the boss of someone in our company, and 185 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: we've got a lot of those people now. I want 186 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: to work closely with them and make sure all their 187 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: teams are doing really well, and just be really across 188 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: the board in terms of staff, because I've always said 189 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 1: I never want Fait to become so big that it's 190 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: out of my control, and if I kept growing at 191 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: the pace that we are growing at now, it could 192 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: definitely lead that way. 193 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 2: And I'm sure that's what happens with a lot of businesses. 194 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: You go from starting it yourself having one employee to five, ten, 195 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: twenty thirty, forty fifty sixty, and then I'm sure once 196 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: it gets up into one hundred and something or even 197 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: more like it can become out of your own control 198 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: because the company essentially grows bigger than you do, and 199 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: the teams grow bigger than you do, and all of 200 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: a sudden, you've got all these chefs in the kitchen 201 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: and you feel like you're not the head chef anymore, 202 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: and you're not kind. 203 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 2: Of across everything. 204 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: So I'd like to spend twenty twenty five just doing 205 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: a deep dive into our company. I mean, I'm so 206 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: involved already as it is. I'm saying this now when 207 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: I already know everything that's going on, but I'd just 208 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: like to make sure we've got all the right people 209 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: in the right positions and make sure it's just like 210 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: everyone's on the right track. And you know, looking at 211 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: all of our stores individually, there's just a lot and 212 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: I'd like to just be across the board in twenty 213 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: twenty five because on the last two to three years 214 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: of US has just been grow, grow, grow, grow, Grow. 215 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: So now I'm at this really good position, I kind 216 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: of want to make sure everything's locked. So there are 217 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: two huge goals for me for twenty twenty five. Number 218 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: one is enjoying it a little more, and number two 219 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: is just taking a good look and making sure everything's 220 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: running smoothly. Like I think that's what I mean when 221 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: I'm saying what I've just been talking about. And the 222 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: third goal for me is do more community involved activations, 223 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: whether they're in real life or online. We started our 224 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: Fate Society Facebook group in twenty twenty four, which I've 225 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: spoken about in previous episodes, and it is the best 226 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: thing that we've done in a long time, and if 227 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: you don't know what it is, we just essentially started 228 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: a community group on Facebook. It's like a free like 229 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: it's free for us to run and free for people 230 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: to join, which is absolutely amazing. And it's a group 231 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 1: where we can communicate with our community directly. 232 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: On a day to day basis. 233 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: And it's great because it's a forum where everyone can 234 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: post as well, so it just opens up the conversation 235 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: and it has all of the same people that are 236 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: you know, have something in common, which is loving our 237 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: business and our brands and our clothes. It allows us 238 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: to have a space where we can all connect and 239 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: be together rather than it just being like a one 240 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: way line of us as a brand communicating to our 241 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: customers through EEDM, through email marketing, through our social media. Instead, 242 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: we've got this fantastic group where everyone's involved in the conversation. 243 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: And we started this group in I don't know if 244 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: it was like February or March of twenty twenty four, 245 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: and it was just this little idea, like I'd seen 246 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: a bunch of other brands have their community groups, and 247 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: I thought, let's just start one of these. And the 248 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: goal was let's get to ten thousand members, like eventually 249 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: that was our big goal when we started the group, 250 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: and now we're at I think forty thousand members and 251 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: it's just gone off the chain, like it's become a 252 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: full time job like within our office, and we absolutely 253 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: love it also equally as full on and through that group, 254 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: we've done so many things throughout the year, like I 255 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: really should have kept like a note of all the 256 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: things that we've done in there, Like we've done giveaways. 257 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: Everyone in our group gets early access like a sneak 258 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: peek to everything new that we're coming out with. We've 259 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: done some secret launchers specifically in the group. We did 260 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: our Fate community event in Newcastle just a couple of 261 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: months ago, where we like hosted an influencer style event, 262 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: but it was for customers only and we sold the 263 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: tickets through that group. And it's just been amazing to 264 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: be involved with our community in such a different way 265 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: than we have in any previous years. And I just 266 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: see us really honing in more on customer focused and 267 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: community focused activations, whether it be exclusive collections or in 268 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: person meetups, giveaways, competitions, just anything and everything. I can 269 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: really see us steering in that direct action in twenty 270 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: twenty five because I think there's just so much value obviously. 271 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 2: In your own community. 272 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: The emphasis has always been on influencers, like for so 273 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: many years, and I obviously know that myself, being an 274 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: ex influencer myself. Someone actually said to me the other day, 275 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: I would still classify you as an influencer, and I 276 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: was like really, and it got me thinking, like, what 277 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: makes someone an influencer? I would definitely say I could 278 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: still call myself an influential person. I could influence someone 279 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: to do something, But I don't see myself as an 280 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: influencer anymore because I'm not getting paid to promote other 281 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: brands like I was. But who knows what is the 282 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: real definition of influencer. I think that everyone can have 283 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: their own interpretation of what that means. But yeah, the 284 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: social media and brands has been so much about influencer 285 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: marketing over the years, and we dabbled our toes in 286 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: community based activations and getting them more involved in twenty 287 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 1: twenty four, and I just feel like it's the way 288 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: I can see this entire industry moving is getting your 289 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: community and your customers involved more. And we did our 290 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: first ever influence a brand troup in twenty twenty four, 291 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: but we took seven customers instead and it was just 292 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: the best thing ever. So I can definitely see us 293 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: involving our community more and I think that's really what 294 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: makes our brand special. So those are my three goals 295 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty five. So number one, enjoying it a 296 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: little more. Number two, just having a great understanding of 297 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: the ins and outs of our entire business, from everyone's 298 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: roles to our financials, looking at our stores and how 299 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: they're all doing, understanding the operations, Like I just want 300 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: to make sure and I already am across absolutely every 301 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: nook and cranny in the business, but I want to 302 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: make sure I never lose side of that, especially if 303 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: we do continue growing into twenty twenty five, because again, 304 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: like the business is becoming quite big, like it's gone 305 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: from little old me by myself to sixty plus people. 306 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: So it's just really important if your business is growing 307 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: in that kind of way, that you don't lose sight 308 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: of everything that's going on and you understand, you know, 309 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: every part of your business. I think that's just really important. 310 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: And Thirdly, doing more community involved activations, whatever they may be, 311 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: they're my three main goals, and I thought I would 312 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: do this episode and I'm going to come back to it. 313 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: I should do a follow up episode at the end 314 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty five and see just how well I 315 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: did all of these three things. And like I said 316 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: at the start of this episode, I have a billion 317 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: goals that I should probably write down. I feel like 318 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: I should definitely write them down. 319 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 2: I feel like I just. 320 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: Go into I mean, all the years just blend together, 321 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: don't they. Like it's so interesting how differently you see 322 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: time and days and weeks and months, going from like 323 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: when I used to work in nine to five to 324 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: now running a business like it's. 325 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: It's all the same to me. And I think it's 326 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 2: important for us as business. 327 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: Owners to have some sort of goal, whether it's individual, 328 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: itemized goals or just a theme. Like my theme of 329 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: the year is enjoying it a little more. I think 330 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: it's really important to have these goals and just to 331 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: be mindful when. 332 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: Moving into a new year with business. And that's about 333 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 2: it for me. 334 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: This has been a little bonus holiday season episode, and 335 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: I'll have episodes coming out every single week throughout this period. 336 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: So thanks for listening, and I'll see you in my 337 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,119 Speaker 1: next episode.