1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Britney Saunders and welcome to Big Business, the 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: place where business is far from boring. And today I'm 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: recording on gadigl Land. Now I somehow managed to build 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: an empire from the garage underneath my house and I'm 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: here to share it all with you, from the winds, 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: the huge mistakes and the funny moments in between. So, 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: whether you're in business already or not in the game 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: at all, maybe you're just after some inspo, or you 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: simply want to hear the team, this is the podcast 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: for you now. Coming up on today's episode, I'm very 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: excited for this one because I'm joined by a very 12 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 1: special guest and I almost feel as if though you 13 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: have definitely bought a product that this guest has created. 14 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: I feel like at one point in everyone's lifetime you 15 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: would have owned one of these products. I am joined 16 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: by the founder and CEO of Lannolips and iconic Australian brand, 17 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: Kirston Carryoll. Kirsten's sellout success took off in the early 18 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: two thousands after a long haul flight left her lips 19 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: cracked and dry, with a bag full of balms and 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: not a single one that could keep her lips hydrated. 21 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: She remembered using Lanolin as a small child on her 22 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: grandparents sheep farm. Her dad called it Nature's wonder moisturizer. 23 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: On that flight, carry All decided to bring Lanelin back. Now. 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: Lanolips is a global, multimillion dollar sensation with an impressive 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: cult following. Even celebs like gg Ha Did, Drew Barrymore, 26 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: Sienna Miller, and Miranda Kerr can't get enough. The brand's 27 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: hero product, which is the original one oh one ointment 28 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: multipurpose superbum, has the powerful ability to hold four hundred 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: times its weight in water and is sold globally at 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: a staggering rate of one tube per minute. I know 31 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: in my lifetime I've had a multitude of Lano Lips 32 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: products lying around in the bottom of my handbag. And 33 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to be chatting with you today, Kirsten. 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm glad to be here. 35 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm sitting with a business icon. You're 36 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: like royalty in the business. 37 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: World to me. Oh gosh, thank you. 38 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: The story of Lano Lips is so inspiring and I 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: love that you just came in with a bag of 40 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: Lanno Lips goodies for me. 41 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for that. 42 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: I'll be taking that back to the office and sharing 43 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: it around. I feel as if, though, at some point 44 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: in everyone's life that's probably listening to this episode and 45 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: following me on social media, there's been a Lanno Lips 46 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: in your bag at some point, you know, throughout your life. 47 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: It's such an iconic staple. And I think my first 48 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: ever memory of seeing Lano Lips was when I was 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: a teenager and you were in David Jones. Yeah. I 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: think that's like my first memory of going to David 51 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: Jones with my mum in the beauty section and I'd 52 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: always see Lanno Lips there, Like that's my first memory. 53 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: This is like ten plus years ago. 54 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've always been there actually. 55 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. So it's such an iconic brand that I feel 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: like everyone knows. And Lanno Lips has just celebrated it's 57 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: fifteenth birthday. 58 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, which is amazing. 59 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, So happy birthday to Lane you, Happy birthday to 60 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: you do. Yeah. 61 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 3: It's pretty wild, actually, that part. I can't believe it's 62 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 3: been fifteen years. 63 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you first started Lanner Lips, which was obviously 64 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: quite some time ago. Now, what was your mindset at 65 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: that time, and did you see yourself doing this for 66 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: fifteen years and did you see it becoming this iconic brand? 67 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: Like what was your mindset around that time? 68 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 3: I was really product first driven, like I just wanted 69 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: to create this amazing product. I didn't have a huge 70 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 3: vision at the beginning because there weren't many people who 71 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 3: had done an indie brand before me that I had 72 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: read about, or like, now you can see lots of 73 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 3: stories about people who had done it before, and you 74 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 3: can see you can kind of imagine the pathway it 75 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: can go on, Whereas I just knew brands were in 76 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 3: stores that was it. So I didn't really know what 77 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 3: was going to happen next. So I was very naive, 78 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 3: and I think a lot of founders kind of have 79 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: that naivete and if you overthink things, you never do 80 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 3: them anyway. And I think if you were an overthinker 81 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: and you're not overplanner and everything has to be perfect 82 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,839 Speaker 3: and that it's not for you because you'll psych yourself out. 83 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 3: So I think that was actually pretty good in the beginning. 84 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 3: But I did want to create an iconic brand. I 85 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 3: knew I wanted to create something that would hopefully live forever, 86 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 3: and I wanted to create a staple product that was 87 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 3: really for everyone and not just in a particular moment 88 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: or place in time. I wanted it to be something 89 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: that anyone could have. 90 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I absolutely love that, And I love that you 91 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: say how you were naive going into business, and I 92 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: think a lot of successful business owners will say the 93 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: same thing. Is like, I know, I'm the same. When 94 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: I started Fate my clothing brand. It wasn't this, Oh, 95 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to have this brand and it's going to 96 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: look like this and it's going to be amazing. You 97 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: just kind of go in almost blind. But I think 98 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: that's the beauty of it. And I think one thing 99 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: that a lot of founders and entrepreneurs that are starting 100 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: up in today's times is they may be more likely 101 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: to overthink everything because there's so much out there now 102 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: for them to compare themselves to. 103 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: I think that's exactly right. And I feel like all 104 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 3: of my lessons learned, I reckon ninety percent of my 105 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 3: business lessons learned and personal happy by making mistakes, and 106 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: you improve by doing something the wrong way. And if 107 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 3: you don't, if you try to avoid all about you vote. 108 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: A lot of lesson learning. 109 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 3: Yes, And I think that the best entrepreneurs are often 110 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 3: on their second or third business. And that's why because 111 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 3: they do one, they learn all this and then they 112 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 3: go the next one they learn a bit more, and 113 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 3: than the third one they. 114 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: Get it right, fourth or whatever. 115 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, but I think going into business on your first 116 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 3: time and having a pathway and following all of that, 117 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 3: that's just doesn't exist. 118 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: No, and it very well made for some you know. 119 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: And I guess if you or I were to start 120 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: a business today from scratch, because of our experience, we 121 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: would have more of a I guess, a clear plan, yes, 122 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: But the beauty of business is kind of just going 123 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: for it. 124 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. You just get started, Yes, get put one foot 125 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 3: in front of the other. I mean, the whole idea 126 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 3: is I think Zuckerberg that famous quote move fast and 127 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 3: break things. 128 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: There's a lot to be said for that. You just 129 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: get started, Like. 130 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, making it perfect and never launching is the biggest 131 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: mistake of all. 132 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: Yes, And I think it is that that holds people 133 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: back in the first place, like they're just they have 134 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: that fear. 135 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 3: And if you're like that, don't start a business. Go 136 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 3: and work for an amazing company, get an amazing salary, 137 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 3: there's some great careers you don't need to start. You 138 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 3: don't need to start a business. It can be amazing 139 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 3: and easier the other way around. Yeah, if you're going 140 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 3: to be like overplanning and not worry and worrying and 141 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: risk averse and all of that, just don't start a business. 142 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 3: Go and work for someone and have an amazing career 143 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 3: without all that risk. 144 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: It's all about finding what it is exactly that you 145 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: want to do and also what you're good at. 146 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: Yep. I finally, yep, I love that. 147 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: I love meeting other owners because I feel like we 148 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: all just get it. 149 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, hearing you say like the language, Yeah, and. 150 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: Learning from mistakes, like that's the only way I've learned 151 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: how to do anything, just by fucking up and. 152 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 3: Knowing my being slapped. Honestly, that's the best way to learn. 153 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more. In those early days, what were 154 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: some of the challenges that you did face in those 155 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: startup days? 156 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: There's a lot. 157 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 3: I mean every step there was a mistake along the way. 158 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 3: I mean small little things in the very very beginning, 159 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 3: Like our first color range we had four colors. We 160 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: launched with the one on one ointment and four tinted balms. 161 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 3: They're still our original tinted balm formula today. But I 162 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 3: developed these colors. I was super into beauty, and I 163 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 3: developed these beautiful Like there was a beautiful coral which 164 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: on the lips it basically make accord at sunshine because 165 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 3: you put it on and it's basically it lit up 166 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: your whole face. 167 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: It was this magical color. 168 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: I had a red, which was like the perfect cherry 169 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: bitten lips red. And there was another color which was 170 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 3: like the perfect kind of nude but with a little 171 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: bit of a Layolaiki undertone. It was just like the 172 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 3: perfect kind of nineties nud. There were awesome colors, but 173 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: in the tube on the counter consumer looking at them, 174 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 3: they just didn't get them. Yeah, because they were just 175 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 3: they didn't have what they what I now know to 176 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: be called shelf appeal. So it doesn't matter what it 177 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: looks like on the lips if you can't get that 178 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 3: first sale, if you can't get them to buy it 179 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: to begin with, it doesn't actually matter if it's the 180 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 3: best color in the world. 181 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 2: So I learned a lot. That was a big I 182 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: think the other fig I keep. 183 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 3: I remember this the other day we had about two 184 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: or three years in, we had a disaster where retailers 185 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 3: started to call us and say, your tubes are sticky, 186 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: and I'm like, what's going on, Like, well, how can 187 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 3: the tubes be STICKI are they dirtier? Sticky fingers touching up. 188 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 3: We didn't have boxes at the time, and then just 189 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 3: selling like just the tubes. So no, it was like 190 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 3: it was like a hand craym or our. We had 191 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,239 Speaker 3: lip balms and the tubes were getting sticky. Yeah, exactly, 192 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 3: it was just the chube. We didn't have boxes, yeah, 193 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 3: which we now have obviously, But and then I started 194 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 3: checking our samples and they were sticky too, And I 195 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: didn't know what was going on until I realized despite 196 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 3: all our stability testings, by all the prepreparation, lanelin is 197 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 3: really really dense and thick, and you wouldn't think it 198 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 3: can go through plastic. 199 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: But it does. 200 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. 201 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 3: So we had all these products, like there was a 202 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: whole bunch of lip balms in this product called dry 203 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 3: Skin Cell of Gold Moment, which is still our hero 204 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: product today. It's amazing, but it was so dense and 205 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 3: thick it's slowly sleep seeping through the plastic. 206 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: Wow. 207 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 3: And U stability test. When you manufacture anything, you probably 208 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 3: know you go through whether it's three to six months, 209 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 3: stability testing, and that includes compatibility testing with materials. So 210 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 3: that should have come up, but it didn't because it 211 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 3: just took so long to happen. So we basically had 212 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 3: this disaster where we're recalling thousands and thousands of products 213 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 3: where the landin was going going through the wall of 214 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 3: the tube. So then I learned about something, you know, 215 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: like these high density plastic materials with like an inner 216 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 3: wall inside this layer of plastic, and that solved that. 217 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 3: But that was an absolute commercial disaster. That was hundreds 218 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 3: of thousands of dollars worth of stock. So you know, 219 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 3: there's lots of little examples, like that's splitting tubes. You know, 220 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 3: the little crimp. 221 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: At the top of the tube. 222 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that popping open, that can pop open. 223 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 3: We had a situation we were putting eighty thousand units 224 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 3: of them on the front cover of L magazine and 225 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 3: I knew the editor at the time, and it was 226 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 3: a brand new product and the tube was being stuck 227 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 3: on the front of the magazine. 228 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: Oh, like an actual gift, Like, yeah, it was a 229 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: front magazine. 230 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: It's a front cover mount Wow. 231 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 3: And I got sent the retention sample, which she always 232 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 3: gets sent one from each batch before they sent out 233 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 3: the full. 234 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 2: Batch, and I squeezed the tube. 235 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: I always like squeeze it, and it just popped open 236 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 3: and all the bomb just comes oozing out. And I 237 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: squeezed the other one and it happened again, and I 238 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: was like, oh my god, I'm gonna have eighty thousand 239 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: l magazines in every newspaper in Australia and every lip 240 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 3: barm is gonna pop and it's going to ruin every 241 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 3: magazine and every newspaper underneath it, and I'm going to 242 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: get sued not And it was just an absolute huge 243 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 3: disaster and it had all been made, so what Yeah, 244 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 3: it was there. So I had to throw down to 245 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 3: Melbourne the next morning. My manufacturer was there. I sat 246 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 3: down with them and they had to rerun all the 247 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 3: tubes through the cremping machine again at a higher heat. 248 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 3: And I've never done that before and hopefully we'll never 249 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 3: do it again. It looked really ugly because the tubes 250 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 3: were kind of double crimped, but I just sat there 251 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 3: because they weren't. 252 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: Going to do it. 253 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 3: They were kind of like, it's not right. Anyway they 254 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 3: did it. 255 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: I was there all day. They looked pretty weird. 256 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: But you had to do it. 257 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 2: Really lucky that that. 258 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 3: Tube did not go on the front cover of that 259 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: magazine two thousands of newsagents in Australia. 260 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: Wow, that would have been a disaster. One of the 261 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 1: biggest things that I have learned in my business journey 262 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: so far, which is about six years, is there's never 263 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: not going to be something going wrong. 264 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, like absolutely all the time. 265 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: Like you might have a tiny little stint where everything 266 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: seems to be going perfectly and running smoothly. Yeah, But 267 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: I think as well, especially because of social media, and 268 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 1: like I'll say, even I'm guilty of this, Like on 269 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: social media, running businesses just looks like fun and events 270 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: and this, that and the other. Like we do kind 271 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: of paint this picture on social media that business is 272 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: fine and easy and nothing ever really goes wrong. But 273 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: I'd say in reality, it's quite the opposite. 274 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 3: Everything goes wrong all the time, and the bigger you get, 275 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 3: the more your job is basically problem solving. 276 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: Yes, I couldn't agree more. And so my next question 277 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: was going to be, like, in contrast, asked, you know 278 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: what are I guess some challenges that you face more 279 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: so recently, and now that your business is, you know, 280 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: fifteen years in, how different is it to those early days. 281 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: Obviously by this point you have probably worked out a 282 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: lot of those manufacturing issues and kind of really streamlined that. 283 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 3: The manufacturing stuff overall. Yes, we've got a head around. 284 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 3: I think you can have big problems with big retailers now. 285 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 3: I think we have about eighty to ninety percent of 286 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 3: our business through retailers. 287 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: So yes, not data. 288 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: See. 289 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, and working with retailers is an art. It's not 290 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 3: a science, and an art. 291 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: I've always been fascinated by it, and especially seeing like 292 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: new businesses popping up and all of a sudden they're 293 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: in Priceline and I'm like, how. 294 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 2: This all work? 295 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, So you are or a just stupid You meet 296 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 3: with a retailer somehow, through a friend or a contact, 297 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 3: you get a meeting if you're lucky. Often they don't 298 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 3: do meetings anymore because of Zoom, but it's their job 299 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 3: to look at new brands, so you do. 300 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: It can happen. 301 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: It's not out of the question to get a new 302 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 3: meeting with the retailer and then a few months later 303 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 3: they might say we're interested. And then the window that 304 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 3: they're going to launch you is another six months time. 305 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 3: And then obviously there's a lot of regulatory stuff, but 306 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: mostly and a lot of negotiating, and you've got to 307 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 3: negotiate the terms and that includes things like marketing, spend 308 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 3: with them, and percentages back if they pay early, all 309 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 3: sorts of things. There's about ten things you have to negotiate. 310 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: And don't you pay for the marketing within pay everything? Yeah? 311 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: And then i've heard even in like supermarkets, if you 312 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: want that front shelf that like faces like on the end, like, 313 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: you've got to pay to be there. 314 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, there are shelf space fees. Yeah. 315 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 3: And then if you look at any retailer that does 316 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: seasonal thirty percent off or two to three, we pay 317 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 3: all the margins that they lose for that we pay for. 318 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 3: So retailer agreements are critically important. It's really important to 319 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 3: get those right and it can work. You just have 320 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 3: to know what you're doing when you're negotiating them and 321 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 3: working with retailers. There's a percentage you put aside in 322 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 3: your head that costs you on top of the margin 323 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 3: that they take to actually work with them. So getting 324 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 3: that's rights really important. And the other thing that's important 325 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 3: is often with retailers they are in a no risk 326 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 3: situation when it comes to the agreement you do, so 327 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 3: they whether you like it or not, and they're word 328 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 3: it in different ways, but basically, if your stock doesn't sell, 329 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 3: often you will have to take it back or they 330 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: will charge you back or something like that. So it 331 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: means that they be always they always win. They always win. 332 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 3: I tell you honestly, they always win, and I love them. 333 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 3: But no shade to all the retailers love and a door. 334 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 3: There are a few that much simpler, but overall there's 335 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: a lot of little tricks. The trick is and one 336 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 3: I think that brought me back to your original question 337 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 3: is to challenges now is there was a big retailer 338 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: we started to work with and they were really bullish 339 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 3: about quantities and doors that they wanted to roll out to. 340 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 3: It was a very big retailer. There was a around 341 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 3: three thousand stores and they wanted to do large quantities 342 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 3: across all stores. And we just knew that we've been 343 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 3: in the business fifteen years. We know where we say where, 344 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 3: we don't, what's normal, what's what? And we did pull 345 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 3: it back a bit, but we didn't probably pull it 346 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 3: back as much as we should have or could have. 347 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: And then on their side, they messed out the rollout 348 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 3: and it didn't go in properly. It didn't go in 349 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 3: early enough, and they got the sales figures and they 350 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 3: weren't high because it hadn't rolled out. But then the 351 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 3: band counters in a different department make a decision that 352 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 3: they're pulling you out literally after two weeks of being 353 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 3: in and we weren't even in properly. 354 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: How do you find like having your product? Obviously you've 355 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: been doing it for a very long time being stopped 356 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: in other retail stores, But how I guess, especially in 357 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: those early days when you first went out into retail, 358 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: did you feel a certain way about your products being 359 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: displayed and it was kind of out of your control 360 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: and the fact that they were going to be sold 361 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: by someone else who wasn't I guess directly working for 362 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: your company in repending your brand, did you have any 363 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: worries or fears around that, not about. 364 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 3: The people selling it, but certainly the shelf presence and 365 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 3: what it looks like is out of your control. So 366 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 3: you have to be very very careful and This is 367 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 3: where the product boxes come into play. Like to make 368 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 3: your box a little billboard for your products really important. 369 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 3: You can't just have this really minimalist box with product 370 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 3: name on the front because no one will know what 371 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: it is, like it has to sell itself. 372 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you that's on you as well to have 373 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,119 Speaker 1: all those retails stands. 374 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 3: And you have to pay for the units. Yep, the 375 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 3: retail stands. 376 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: When you first launched into retail, Like, what was the 377 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: first retailer that you went into? 378 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 3: So we launched consecutively across off bunch at the same time, 379 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 3: So we were doing Priceline, David Jones Meyer, and Pharmacy 380 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 3: all at the same time. 381 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: When we don't Wow, did you find in those early days? 382 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: Did you ever go into any of the stores to 383 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: check out your stands? 384 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? I would hide. I've never to this day. 385 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 3: I still will never go in and say, oh my god, 386 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 3: product Like I never do it because you get a 387 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 3: really different response. Like I like to walk in and 388 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 3: say pretty much generally say nothing. But if I was 389 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 3: to ask us, I work for the brand, there's a 390 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 3: product missing here? Do you have it out the back? 391 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: Like I will do a stands. Yeah, and you get 392 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 3: a very different response, Like if you know, they'll give 393 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 3: you a really honest view of the brand or of whatever, 394 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 3: but if they know it's a founder, you won't get 395 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 3: the same response. So I always don't ever say I'm 396 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 3: the founder, but I always go in and tidy upstands. 397 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: I would. 398 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 2: I did it on the weekend. 399 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 3: I was in Mecca and I was like fussing around 400 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 3: at the Beauty to Go and making boxes look good. 401 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: I know sometimes even when you're walking just through like 402 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: the beauty island coals or whatever, and you can see 403 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: how messy some of them are, Like I want to 404 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: grab it and eating it up for the brandy. 405 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: They would love it. 406 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 3: I get photos of friends that got one on the weekend. 407 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 3: She was in France and we were in Sephora. She's like, 408 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 3: my daughter tied it up your stand for you. I'm like, thanks, 409 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:45,360 Speaker 3: really helpful. 410 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like I would be exactly the same. 411 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 1: One thing that you did mention to us when we 412 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: were emailing you to get you on the podcast is 413 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: you mentioned the words building a forever brand. What does 414 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: that mean to you? 415 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 3: A forever brand is a brand that is around forever. 416 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 3: Like I think if you look around to the brands 417 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 3: we all know today, there aren't that many that were 418 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 3: around one hundred years ago and will be around in 419 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 3: the next one hundred years. Brands often have a life cycle, 420 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 3: or they're built for the moment. Yes, And I think 421 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 3: when you start a brand you have to be really 422 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 3: clear what's your intention. Is it to build a brand 423 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 3: or is it to make money? And you can build 424 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 3: a brand and make money, but you can also go 425 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 3: in for the quick buck, and that's okay too, in 426 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 3: which case, if you're building a brand just to make 427 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 3: a quick buck, make it of the moment, really scream 428 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 3: the colors of the generation, make it super culturally sharp, 429 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 3: and then making money, then get out because in whatever 430 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 3: year's time, you're going to have to recalibrate what that 431 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 3: looks like. But I didn't want to do it that 432 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 3: way because I'm a brand builder at heart. I'm not 433 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 3: really a salesperson. So for me, I wanted to create something. 434 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 3: You know, I was really inspired by the Coca Colas 435 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 3: or the Nikes, and I know every brand person probably 436 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 3: says that, so it's pretty cringey. But I did want 437 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 3: to have a brand that would be around beyond me. Yeah, 438 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 3: and not just be a niche brand or a cult 439 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 3: brand that would actually move through time and take some 440 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 3: meeting with it, and you still have to update it 441 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 3: a little bit, but overall stands by itself pretty well. 442 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I love that. I've actually met quite a 443 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 1: few people. I mean, I live in Newcastle, so I 444 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: don't get out much, but when I do come to 445 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: Sydney and I've gone to events and stuff, it's been 446 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: great to meet with other owners and hear their stories 447 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: and advice, and quite literally, just last year, I met 448 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: a founder of quite an established, big brand and he 449 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: was saying to me, so, what's your exit strategy? 450 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 2: Right? 451 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,239 Speaker 1: He's like, what's your exit strategy? And I'm like, what 452 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: do you mean? What's my exit strategy? Like I'd obviously 453 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: heard the term before, but it had never crossed my mind. 454 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: But that's something that I should be thinking about. And 455 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: then I've met a few other people over the years 456 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: and I've met people that have said, oh, I build 457 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: businesses like up to their peak, and then I egg like, 458 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: that's their whole strategy. 459 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 3: I can tell when I look at a brand, I 460 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 3: can generally tell if that's what's their strategy. Yeah, wow, 461 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 3: you can really, I can spot it in a minute 462 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 3: that they're just a brand for the moment. 463 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: They're going to sell in eight years. 464 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 3: Then some poor private equity company or cosmetic think it's 465 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 3: going to get to the next level and the brand's 466 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 3: just going to die, like you can just tell. 467 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: But then they say I remember I said to this person, like, 468 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: what do you mean exit strategy? And we'll talk a 469 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: little bit more about personal branding because this kind of 470 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: leads into it. But I feel like my business doesn't 471 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,400 Speaker 1: really exist without me. And I said to this guy, 472 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: I said, what do you mean exit? Like who's going 473 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: to buy it and take over it? And he's like 474 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: who cares. He's like, just let them take it, like 475 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: let them figure out that they can't run it without 476 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: you kind of thing. And I was like, oh shit. 477 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: And then I'm saying to my partner, should we have 478 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: an exit strategy of some sort? But I think that 479 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: comes back to the difference of what you said. If 480 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: someone's starting a business because it's their passion project and 481 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: they really want to build something special, which I feel 482 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,239 Speaker 1: like is what I have done as well, versus just 483 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: wanting to build something to sell, sell, sell, sell, sell 484 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 1: and make money. 485 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 3: Out of it, yeah, just selling stuff. 486 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: Yeah. And on this topic, I think one of the 487 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: most interesting things that I'd love to chat to you 488 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: about is, especially in twenty twenty four, the way social 489 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: media is right now, we hear a lot about personal branding, 490 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: and nowadays a lot of founders of popular businesses also 491 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: have a really strong personal brand, and I guess I 492 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: myself am an example of that of having this really 493 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: strong online profile and then I've obviously built my business 494 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: using that. But I think the thing that's so amazing 495 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: and fascinating is that Lano Lips hasn't been built obviously 496 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: off any kind of personal brand. It has quite literally 497 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: been built as a brand. And so you obviously started 498 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: Lanno Lips before social media was really a thing, Like. 499 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 3: Personal profiles didn't exist, Like you had a brand's story, yes, 500 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 3: and there was a person behind that and we had 501 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 3: that in a really authentic way yep, and we still do. 502 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 3: But I have founder lead brands in the way it 503 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 3: is now didn't exist. I didn't even think about it. 504 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 3: And I think if you want a brand, a forever brand, 505 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 3: then it's a really big risk to have found a 506 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 3: lead because you're going to die and then what yeah, 507 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 3: I think that's one thing that if I important, the 508 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 3: brand goes first. 509 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's one thing that I try to 510 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 1: do and have tried to do. I still feel like 511 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,719 Speaker 1: I'm a baby in my business journey, but trying to 512 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: separate myself from the brand so that it kind of 513 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 1: is its own thing on its own and not just 514 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: me and people you know, shopping with us because of me. 515 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 2: That haven't naturally happened. 516 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 3: When if the product's really good and the product provide 517 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 3: something to the customer that nothing else is doing that. 518 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, it will, it will happen. 519 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, but yeah, it's it is risky because then what 520 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 3: if you don't want to, Like what if you want 521 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 3: to sleep in what if you don't want to work 522 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 3: that week? And you know, if it's all reliant on 523 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 3: your activity and it's pushing yourself out there every day, 524 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 3: and yeah, that's exhausting. I wouldn't want to, like I've 525 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 3: often gone on. Maybe I should have built my profile more, but. 526 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 2: I don't want to. 527 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: I think it's a great thing. 528 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 3: I don't really it's not all interesting to me and 529 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 3: I want the brand, Yeah, I want it to be 530 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 3: brand led. 531 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: So when social media did obviously rise and come to 532 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: its peak, and then we saw the snapchats, the Instagram, 533 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,199 Speaker 1: the TikTok everything come out. Did you find that you 534 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: had to shift your brand strategy it all around social 535 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: media because obviously you built it before social media was 536 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: the way that it is. 537 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 3: Yes, so I think a lot of brands are designed 538 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 3: now to look good on social media first, and that 539 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 3: wasn't even on our radar. So we certainly had to 540 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 3: redesign and we did just a few years in actually 541 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 3: the brand Suddenly I was just like, this isn't the 542 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 3: branding that's going to take us to the next level, 543 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 3: and I wanted something that would last for much longer 544 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 3: than a trend cycle. 545 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 2: So we redesigned and we we were also really. 546 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 3: Eaten up by dealing with retailers and the time and 547 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 3: money all of that took where we just didn't have 548 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:13,199 Speaker 3: the resources, the time, the energy to jump into the 549 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,959 Speaker 3: social media space as fast as you need to. And 550 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 3: I think that was a real challenge for about four 551 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 3: or five years because it was a really good time 552 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 3: to be on social at that time, Like it was 553 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,160 Speaker 3: a really cheap recruitment process. It was a really good 554 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 3: way to grow awareness really easily. And we were we 555 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 3: were doing it, but it would have been great to 556 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 3: have had the business model flipped where we were like, 557 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 3: so it weren't relying on retailers that we could use 558 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 3: the energy and money to go into social. So that 559 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 3: was a pretty big business challenge for us since even 560 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 3: our eventually, if you look at what they call the 561 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 3: omnichannel approach and percentage online versus percentage in store with 562 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 3: pretty much the same now as what those Instagram brand 563 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 3: the native Instagram brands are, but it took about eight 564 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 3: years to kind of. 565 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 2: Get to that face. 566 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 3: But we were also on the flip side developing a 567 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 3: business model in store that was really successful. So a 568 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 3: lot of Instagram brands can't do that part. So we 569 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,199 Speaker 3: had an advantage on something that they were trying to do. 570 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 3: And sometimes it works, sometimes it didn't. 571 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 2: So I just look at it. It is what it was. 572 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 3: At the time, it was certainly something which I knew 573 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 3: was happening, and I was frustrated. But also there's always 574 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 3: any thing, like it's not just about Instagram starting like 575 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 3: brands that were like the hot brands on Instagram five 576 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 3: years ago, they're not now, And there's another hot one 577 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 3: and Instagram hasn't changed. It's just trend cycles will always happen. 578 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 3: And that was going back to my Forever brand as 579 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 3: I didn't want to be stuck in that trend cycle 580 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 3: and on that hamster wheel of having to keep up 581 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 3: and always be relevant. And it's good to be relevant, 582 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 3: but it's really good. 583 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: It's really great to be just under that radar a 584 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 2: little bit. Let that battle happen above you. 585 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 3: And then you just cruise along and be always around, 586 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 3: always in a handbag. You go and you buy all 587 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,640 Speaker 3: these other little brands, but you'll always also have Exactly 588 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 3: and that for me is my safe space. 589 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 2: I love that. 590 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: Do you remember the first time that lantno Lips started 591 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: to work with influencers at all? 592 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 3: Actually, when we rebranded, we did a shoot with Nadia Fairfax, 593 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 3: I think. 594 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 2: When she was twenty two. 595 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,880 Speaker 3: It was like one of her first campaign shoots and 596 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 3: it was great and we did get traction from it. 597 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 3: It's very different to how you would work with an 598 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 3: influencer now. I'm completely different. 599 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: It's very just transactional now, and it is transactional. 600 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 2: It's kind of lost its authenticity in some way. 601 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, and then we get these template contents back sometimes 602 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: and I'm like, Oh, you're gonna hold up the box 603 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 3: and then you're gonna open it, and then you're gonna shop, 604 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: and then it's very gonna put it's amazing. 605 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 2: I was just like, can we I don't know. 606 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 3: I die aleut of it because I love pop culture 607 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 3: like I certainly huge, Like I'm a culture vulture basically, 608 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 3: So I see the formats, I know what's working, and 609 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 3: if I see it again and again and again, I 610 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 3: get really bored myself. So I say to my team 611 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 3: when we do something, if it just can we just 612 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: make something a little bit? 613 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: You know. 614 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 3: I brief my agency in this morning actually on something 615 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 3: we're launching in September, and I just said, I just 616 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 3: don't want to do it this way hold up the box. 617 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 3: I just can we just do it this way instead? 618 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 3: And we talk through a few concepts. So I do 619 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 3: like to try to be a bit different in that 620 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 3: space and try not. 621 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 2: To because people will scroll past. 622 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: I think that consumers have also become far more switched 623 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: on over the last five years. 624 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I have. 625 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: Before I was doing what I'm doing now, I was 626 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: an influencer myself, and I was that influencer holding up 627 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: the products, you know, getting paid to do it right 628 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,679 Speaker 1: and tag in the caption kind of thing. And I 629 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: feel like back then, you could do that and it 630 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: would generate a load of sales for a business because 631 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: an influencer has plugged something, Whereas now I think because 632 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 1: consumers are far more switched on, they've kind of seen 633 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: it all. They do kind of get sick of that 634 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 1: sponsored content if they see it. 635 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 3: And I think it's yeah, I think they naturally adapt 636 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 3: and they know it's sponsored and they switch off. 637 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 1: So I feel like brands do have to now think 638 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: outside the box if they are going to be doing 639 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: something with influencers or an event. Otherwise consumers just go, 640 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: I've seen this event a hundred times with all the 641 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: same influences there. 642 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, one thing's for sure in marketing is change. It 643 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 3: will always change. And I really hate it when people 644 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 3: resist it or when people like won't embrace it, or 645 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 3: they like, well, I went, that's just stupid. I'm like, well, 646 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 3: this is how it is now. Yeah, Like when TikTok 647 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 3: first come along, I'm like, this is just how it 648 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 3: is now. Yeah, I just have to do it, and 649 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 3: they're like, oh, I don't know. 650 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: I felt the same way about TikTok, because when it 651 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: first came out, I thought it was more like a 652 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: kid's kind of dancing ape, you know, and then I'm like, oh, 653 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: another app like but you have to jump on board 654 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: and you have to adapt to it. 655 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 2: Yep. 656 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: And I think if you're going to be in business, 657 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: you have to be willing for things to change constantly. 658 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I actually love change. I think that's what's kept 659 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 3: me afloat too. And you have to go, yeah, I 660 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 3: mean I get bored with stuff. I get bored with 661 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 3: doing it the same way I genuinely do. And I 662 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 3: think that's a big strength. 663 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 2: Yes. 664 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 3: God, we had a big celebrity actually about two months ago. 665 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: You've just reminded me. 666 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 3: I shouldn't say who it is, but she's a big 667 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 3: American celebrity. She was out here. We sent us a 668 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 3: land of Lips, and she absolutely freaking loved it, and 669 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 3: she did TikTok. 670 00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 2: She did like two. 671 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 3: Dedicated Instagram video is completely unpaid talking about just like 672 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 3: oh my god, like, oh my god, you guys, you guys, 673 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 3: it's the best thing ever. 674 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: Ela. 675 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:11,719 Speaker 3: It was amazing. I was just like, oh my god, 676 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 3: but nothing happened and I was like, Wow, that's so weird. 677 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 3: She's got whatever million followers, and I couldn't have bought 678 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,959 Speaker 3: that had I tried, and literally not much happened. So 679 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 3: I went through her channel and I realized every single 680 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 3: video was that. 681 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 2: It was just oh my god, you guys this concealer. 682 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: You won't believe it. It's just I don't know, people 683 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 2: just get bored. 684 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not the same anymore. Influences you have to 685 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: change in products. Absolutely. Being a brand that has been 686 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: around for fifteen years, how important would you say community 687 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: is to you? 688 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 3: It is extremely important, and I think building a community 689 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 3: takes a lot of effort. 690 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 2: I don't think like. 691 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 3: We've always had our Dieha fans, even from the very 692 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 3: very beginning before formal communities existed, and we have really 693 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: been lucky to have them and keep them. But in 694 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 3: terms of nurturing a community via social it's critically important 695 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 3: because people want to feel like they're part of a tribe. 696 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 3: They want to belong and belonging to a tribe is 697 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 3: part of human nature, you know, That's what kept us 698 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 3: alive back in the cave Manday. So I think if 699 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 3: you can develop that part of a tribe, mentality for 700 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 3: a brand or that's really golden key. We're still working 701 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 3: on all of that. I think some brands have just 702 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 3: naturally done it super well. And if you can build 703 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 3: that part of a tribe mentality like a Taylor Swift 704 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:29,959 Speaker 3: is a brilliant example. 705 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 2: You're a swifty Yeah, part of that tribe. But you know, 706 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 2: people also move in and out of tribes. 707 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 3: You know, they grow in, they grow out. They're like, 708 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 3: I don't know that, it's like fashion changes. So yeah, 709 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 3: building a community is critically important. Absolutely. I think you've 710 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 3: done that really well. 711 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. So I think that ties back into the whole 712 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 1: personal brand thing. And whilst you know, having this personal 713 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: brand tied to your actual brand can be a lot 714 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 1: more risky and scary and you're kind of putting everything 715 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 1: on you, it also does come obviously with its benefit. Yeah, 716 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: And so I think that's one strength of mind and 717 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: that I've been able to do is through my personal brand, 718 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: I've been able to build a community for my brand. 719 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: Well, you're the leader of your tribe. Need a leader, No, 720 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 2: you're just true. They need a leader of a tribe. 721 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 2: So I think that's brilliant. 722 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 1: What do you think is more important new customers or existing. 723 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 3: It's one hundred percent easier to keep an existing customer 724 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 3: than recruit a new one. Definitely, if I was to 725 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 3: pick one of the two, I would keep the new 726 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 3: because it's cheaper and easier. So and that comes down 727 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 3: to having an amazing product. You can anyone can buy 728 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 3: a new customer. You can go on Instagram and Facebook 729 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 3: and buy ads and recruit that way, but that is 730 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 3: really expensive. And then if the product they're getting their 731 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 3: hands shit, then they're not going to come back. So 732 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 3: I think it goes down to having a great product 733 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 3: and then keeping that customer much much easier. Doesn't mean 734 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 3: I don't want to grow, It doesn't mean we don't 735 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 3: want to build new customers. But it's just a hamster 736 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 3: wheel of recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. Whereas if you 737 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 3: have a great product, that's going to make your life 738 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 3: a whole lot easier. 739 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I couldn't agree more. And speaking of communities, how 740 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: much influence does your community and your customers have on 741 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: lanner lips? Have you ever taken on board feedback from 742 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: customers and you know, improved something because of your community feedback? 743 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 3: Always so I'm always getting emails from my team, Oh 744 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 3: there was this review and line I know when I've 745 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 3: got it, Like, there's been about ten of them. So 746 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 3: we all reviews are our biggest we get, we get 747 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 3: social noise, and we get you know, the social feedback. 748 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 3: It drives everything we do customer feedback and what they're 749 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 3: asking for. And then every now and then we'll do 750 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 3: something that no one asks for and sometimes it works 751 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 3: and sometimes it doesn't. That we've changed a lot of 752 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 3: things in our products over the years because of customer feedback. 753 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love that. I think it's important for business 754 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: owners to never forget that. 755 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 756 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people can get in their 757 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 1: own head about their own brand and think, no, this 758 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: is my brand, I'm doing it this way. 759 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. 760 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 1: But I think if you lean into your community or 761 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: you can do oh yeah. 762 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 3: You can have it your way, but also take on feedback. 763 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 3: And if you're of that as a leader, you're not 764 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 3: going to build a team because you're not going to 765 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 3: listen to them. Like it's just a really bad trait. 766 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 3: If you're like that, full stop, I. 767 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: Couldn't agree more. Well, to wrap up, what would you 768 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 1: say are some of the most significant milestones or achievements 769 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 1: that you have had in the last fifteen years. And 770 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: I know that's a massive question, but any noteworthy moments 771 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 1: or was there a moment in the last fifteen years 772 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: where you thought, Yep, this is it. I have done it. 773 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: I've made it. 774 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 3: The last two years have been phenomenal for us, and 775 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 3: I think just wrapping up a year, a financial year 776 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 3: and looking at what we've achieved in terms of growth 777 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 3: with the teams, you know, there have been a few 778 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 3: moments from as the exec suite we've just gone, Wow, 779 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 3: what the what that was? 780 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 2: How did we do that? 781 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 3: That was amazing? Launching in the US was really really 782 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 3: huge for us. We waited a very long time to 783 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 3: go to the US. 784 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: We've done so many cool things. I've obviously been stalking 785 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: like all the accounts in your accounts and it's just 786 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: so cool just to see all that activations. And you 787 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: did a collab with Messina, and then there was like 788 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 1: these doughnuts great, yeah, doughnuts stands and like all this 789 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 1: cool stuff. Like I just look at that and think, wow, 790 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 1: like that's amazing. 791 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,320 Speaker 2: At the highlights, Brittany. 792 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's a lot more that goes instead of. 793 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:19,320 Speaker 3: It's not that, but in terms of business landmarks, launching 794 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 3: the US was amazing and I guess the first week 795 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 3: we got our sales figures when we first launched was 796 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 3: pretty phenomenal. This little lip bum thing that no one 797 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 3: thought would do much, and we did our first week. 798 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:30,879 Speaker 3: I think it was forty thousand dollars in price line 799 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 3: or something, which was us so much at the time. 800 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:33,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. Wow. 801 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 3: And that was just a huge relief moment because I'd 802 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 3: worked for so long to develop and it was finally 803 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 3: in the world because. 804 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 1: You actually developed it for like how many. 805 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 3: Six years of developments and it was just like wowly 806 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:45,280 Speaker 3: launched and at work that was huge. 807 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. Every time we launched a new. 808 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 3: New market and I meet these people in an amazing 809 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 3: new culture and they accept the brand, that's really fantastic. 810 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 2: I love that launching a new. 811 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 3: Market's is great fun for me because they're culturally so 812 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 3: diverse and around land in a different cultural market. It's 813 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,120 Speaker 3: not always doesn't always work. Yeah wow, So that's been 814 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 3: great too. 815 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:10,240 Speaker 1: Oh Lovely, And what is your vision for the future 816 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: of Lanner Lips And do you have anything that you 817 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 1: can share with us, any innovations I know We've already 818 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 1: spoken about this being a forever brand. You want it 819 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 1: to live beyond you. Where do you see it going? 820 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 3: So definitely would like to have be here a lip 821 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 3: product around the world in every market we can get into. 822 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 3: We will launch two new products early next year which 823 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 3: are new products for us. 824 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:37,320 Speaker 2: But I think. 825 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:40,399 Speaker 3: It's more so about what we've done in Australia rolling 826 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:42,440 Speaker 3: that around the world, Like we've got a really wonderful 827 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,400 Speaker 3: awareness here. People have known us for fifteen years and 828 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 3: then some markets we've only been there for one or two. 829 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:50,760 Speaker 3: So it's just really about going into a current market's 830 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 3: deeper and launching a new markets and building an iconic 831 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:57,280 Speaker 3: clip around around the world. I know it sounds really diffulent. 832 00:35:57,360 --> 00:35:58,919 Speaker 1: I feel like you're definitely going to do it because 833 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 1: you've kind of already done it. It's just a matter 834 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 1: of time before the whole world knows about it. 835 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 2: I don't know. 836 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 3: I'm always looking at what's not done rather than done. 837 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 3: I'm sure you're the same. 838 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, there's never enough that you can achieve. I 839 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 1: think like it's just never do. 840 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,399 Speaker 2: You ever sit down and put yourself on the back And. 841 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 1: I don't, but I really try to. But I'm sure 842 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:18,839 Speaker 1: you're the same. Like when you're in it and it's 843 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: all happening, it's always just what can I do next? Yeah, 844 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: like we're not doing enough, Like I don't have enough 845 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: hours in the day. 846 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 2: But I think that's what drives an entrepreneur. 847 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 3: Like I think when we did that first price line figures, 848 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 3: I remember going, enjoy this moment, Enjoy this moment, Enjoy 849 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 3: this moment, because in the next five minutes, I'm going 850 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:35,720 Speaker 3: to be thinking of a problem. 851 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 1: I know, and people always say, wow, isn't this amazing, 852 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:40,320 Speaker 1: Like you open this store and you're making this amount 853 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 1: of money in the first day, and it's not until 854 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:44,319 Speaker 1: I guess other people bring it up. 855 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,240 Speaker 2: To you that you go on, you go, oh shit, Yeah. 856 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 1: I probably should have like celebrated that a little bit more. 857 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:51,319 Speaker 2: It's really hard to see what it looks like when 858 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 2: you're in it. 859 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, because there's just go, go, go, like there's no 860 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 1: end in sight. 861 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 862 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 1: Well, this has been wonderful chatting with you, and thank 863 00:36:58,600 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 1: you so much for coming on. I feel like I 864 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 1: wish I could just take your brain and put it 865 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 1: in mine. 866 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 3: No, you loans, You've got so much in your head 867 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 3: that I don't. I think it's great everyone. I learned 868 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 3: so much from everybody around me. I mean I'm particular 869 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:12,879 Speaker 3: people who have been digital native like you. I think 870 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:13,600 Speaker 3: it's amazing. 871 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh thanks gratuations. 872 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 1: I wrap up my episodes with a tip of the week. 873 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 1: It doesn't have to be about business. It can be 874 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:25,600 Speaker 1: about life. It can be any tip. Do you have 875 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:27,279 Speaker 1: a tip that you would like to share with us 876 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 1: about life, business, or anything in between? 877 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,320 Speaker 3: Oh, my god, almost this morning. Don't put your earrings 878 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 3: on in the bathroom ever? 879 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 1: Did you drop? 880 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:35,720 Speaker 2: Almost? 881 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 3: You know, when you drop an airring over the scenk 882 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 3: and me so and every time, I don't like, this 883 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:41,240 Speaker 3: is a mistake. 884 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 2: This is a mistake, this mistake. 885 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:43,879 Speaker 1: Life flushes before your eyes. 886 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 3: Correct So never, you know, walk away from the sink 887 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:48,839 Speaker 3: when you put your earrings in. Also, one of the 888 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,719 Speaker 3: pugest things that's helped me negotiate my interpersonal relationships is 889 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:55,399 Speaker 3: judging people and their actions, not their words. So it's 890 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 3: been really a step change for me and how I 891 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 3: walk through the world and respond to people. Like people 892 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:02,839 Speaker 3: can say whatever they want to say. The words are 893 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 3: easy to say that the actions that people do is 894 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:10,839 Speaker 3: who people are, So that's been a big match now 895 00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 3: that helps me through life. 896 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:13,400 Speaker 1: I love that. I'm going to be right in that 897 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:17,359 Speaker 1: one day remembering it. Thank you so much, Kostin, thanks 898 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 1: for having me. I feel like everyone would already know. 899 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 1: But where can people find you? And Lanno Lips. 900 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 2: We are in Mecca. We love, love love Mecca. 901 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:29,840 Speaker 3: We love them all, actually love Sephora, Pricelang, David Jones. 902 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:31,919 Speaker 1: Just about everywhere and anywhere anyway. 903 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 2: You buy awesome kiddie products and a website. 904 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 1: It's a fun fact that you're is it one oh 905 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 1: one ointment? 906 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 2: Is that what it is? Yes? So we saw one 907 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:41,439 Speaker 2: now every thirty seconds in the world. 908 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,640 Speaker 1: Wow. And the coolest thing about the one O one 909 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,440 Speaker 1: ointment is the reason why it's called that is because 910 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: there is one hundred and one ways that you can 911 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: use it. 912 00:38:49,239 --> 00:38:50,120 Speaker 2: Yes, we have a list. 913 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:51,840 Speaker 3: Is In fact, when I named it, it was kind of 914 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,239 Speaker 3: the double one tanda, like you know when you learn something, 915 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 3: it's just like learning like math one O one. It 916 00:38:56,640 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 3: was more like the basic, the fundamental, so it had 917 00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 3: that meaning, but also the one on one uses as well. 918 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 1: We obviously won't run through all of those, but people 919 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:04,520 Speaker 1: can't find that online I'm sure. 920 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 2: I'm sure they can. This has been great. 921 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, thank you,