1 00:00:03,930 --> 00:00:07,320 Sean Aylmer: Welcome to the Fear & Greed business interview. I'm Sean Aylmer. 2 00:00:07,350 --> 00:00:10,679 Sean Aylmer: Something a little different today. My guest is dual Rugby 3 00:00:10,679 --> 00:00:13,949 Sean Aylmer: League and Rugby Union International Lote Tuqiri, one of the 4 00:00:13,950 --> 00:00:19,108 Sean Aylmer: most recognizable players across both codes. Since retiring, he's moved 5 00:00:19,110 --> 00:00:21,840 Sean Aylmer: into the business world as the co- founder of content 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:29,550 Sean Aylmer: marketing agency Hoozu. His latest venture is FanStands, F- a- n- S- t- a- n- d- 7 00:00:29,550 --> 00:00:33,809 Sean Aylmer: s, FanStands. A platform offering discounts on brands and services 8 00:00:34,049 --> 00:00:37,890 Sean Aylmer: and the opportunity to win VIP sporting experiences. I wanted 9 00:00:37,890 --> 00:00:40,200 Sean Aylmer: to talk to Lote about life after football, and how 10 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,590 Sean Aylmer: he's handled the transition to business. Lote Tuqiri, welcome to 11 00:00:43,590 --> 00:00:44,310 Sean Aylmer: Fear & Greed. 12 00:00:44,848 --> 00:00:47,129 Lote Tuqiri: Hey, mate. How are you guys? Thanks for having me. 13 00:00:47,370 --> 00:00:49,409 Sean Aylmer: No worries at all. I've got to ask you, first 14 00:00:49,409 --> 00:00:53,100 Sean Aylmer: up, what's it like being so high profile and playing 15 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:57,360 Sean Aylmer: football, in both League and Union, and then finding yourself 16 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,820 Sean Aylmer: in the business world? Are there many similarities? 17 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:04,230 Lote Tuqiri: Yeah, there is and there isn't. You got to start from the bottom again, 18 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:06,959 Lote Tuqiri: I guess. It's a learning process for me. I'm still 19 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,048 Lote Tuqiri: learning, as I did when I played both rugby codes 20 00:01:10,049 --> 00:01:14,370 Lote Tuqiri: for a long time. So I don't profess to know 21 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,870 Lote Tuqiri: everything. I'm learning all the time. I'm talking to mentors, 22 00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:22,649 Lote Tuqiri: I've got good people around me to help me out, 23 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:26,039 Lote Tuqiri: and I'm just trying to be like a sponge. I 24 00:01:26,039 --> 00:01:29,129 Lote Tuqiri: know I've been retired now for a little bit of 25 00:01:29,129 --> 00:01:31,050 Lote Tuqiri: time, but just trying to soak it all in. 26 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,770 Sean Aylmer: When you were playing sport at such a high level, 27 00:01:34,770 --> 00:01:37,200 Sean Aylmer: did you think much about life after sport? Did you 28 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,760 Sean Aylmer: think you'd become a business person? 29 00:01:39,450 --> 00:01:42,720 Lote Tuqiri: Obviously closer to the end of my career, I started 30 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,780 Lote Tuqiri: having thoughts around, what can I do, what do I 31 00:01:45,780 --> 00:01:50,490 Lote Tuqiri: like? And I think both rugby codes and professional sport 32 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:54,030 Lote Tuqiri: in general now do a lot for the young athlete 33 00:01:54,030 --> 00:01:56,849 Lote Tuqiri: now. I think when I was coming through, I came 34 00:01:56,849 --> 00:02:00,300 Lote Tuqiri: straight out of school, straight into a professional footy environment, 35 00:02:00,780 --> 00:02:04,109 Lote Tuqiri: and there wasn't really a lot offered at the time 36 00:02:04,109 --> 00:02:05,879 Lote Tuqiri: in the sense of you can do this, you can 37 00:02:05,879 --> 00:02:08,790 Lote Tuqiri: do that. It was pretty much just have all your 38 00:02:08,790 --> 00:02:12,750 Lote Tuqiri: time playing footy, and then your downtime is looking at 39 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:16,530 Lote Tuqiri: film, looking at video, or recovering, and you're pretty much 40 00:02:16,530 --> 00:02:20,429 Lote Tuqiri: tired after that. But it's really encouraged around guys doing 41 00:02:20,429 --> 00:02:23,699 Lote Tuqiri: something now, which is really good, and I'm probably a 42 00:02:23,699 --> 00:02:28,590 Lote Tuqiri: little bit jealous about some of those opportunities afforded to 43 00:02:28,590 --> 00:02:31,590 Lote Tuqiri: younger guys now, that it's an actual thing that they 44 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:32,520 Lote Tuqiri: have to do and need to do. 45 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,048 Sean Aylmer: Yeah. Okay. So tell me about FanStands. How did you become involved 46 00:02:37,049 --> 00:02:37,320 Sean Aylmer: in it? 47 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:42,479 Lote Tuqiri: Yeah. So there's obviously a few things going around. We 48 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,980 Lote Tuqiri: noticed there's been a good response to reward programs and 49 00:02:46,980 --> 00:02:52,710 Lote Tuqiri: members benefits programs, and we wanted to have something similar 50 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,369 Lote Tuqiri: for members that we created, this members benefits program, but 51 00:02:56,429 --> 00:03:00,810 Lote Tuqiri: our prizes, with me having the sporting background and my 52 00:03:00,810 --> 00:03:04,650 Lote Tuqiri: partners, we just wanted to offer the everyday punter a 53 00:03:04,650 --> 00:03:07,168 Lote Tuqiri: chance to go to some of these big sporting experience. 54 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,359 Lote Tuqiri: I know they've probably been hijacked a little bit by 55 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,809 Lote Tuqiri: corporate, and there's nothing wrong with that, but to give 56 00:03:12,990 --> 00:03:16,590 Lote Tuqiri: the average everyday punter the chance to go to a big 57 00:03:16,590 --> 00:03:22,830 Lote Tuqiri: sporting experience, say a big UFC fight in Vegas, the 58 00:03:22,830 --> 00:03:26,280 Lote Tuqiri: Ashes at Lords, the Super Bowl, the list goes on. 59 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,758 Lote Tuqiri: So we want to scale it up as big as 60 00:03:29,758 --> 00:03:34,530 Lote Tuqiri: we can, to offer our members not only great benefits, 61 00:03:34,859 --> 00:03:39,300 Lote Tuqiri: but also your chance to go to some of these 62 00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:42,600 Lote Tuqiri: major sporting events, for not just yourself but your mates, 63 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,150 Lote Tuqiri: you can go with your crew. So it's been great 64 00:03:45,150 --> 00:03:47,340 Lote Tuqiri: that we can actually offer those experiences. 65 00:03:47,849 --> 00:03:49,500 Sean Aylmer: Stay with me, Lote. We'll be back in a minute. 66 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,290 Sean Aylmer: I'm speaking to Lote Tuqiri, sporting legend and the co- 67 00:03:58,290 --> 00:04:02,670 Sean Aylmer: founder of Hoozu and FanStands. So how's the model work? People 68 00:04:02,670 --> 00:04:08,790 Sean Aylmer: subscribe to FanStands, and you have partners whereby your members 69 00:04:08,790 --> 00:04:11,759 Sean Aylmer: can then get discounts on groceries, fuel, that sort of 70 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:12,660 Sean Aylmer: thing. Is that right? 71 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,470 Lote Tuqiri: That's right, mate. So it's real simple. Sign up and gain access to 72 00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:22,650 Lote Tuqiri: FanStand rewards. You just go to the website, fanstands.com.au, and you start 73 00:04:22,650 --> 00:04:26,878 Lote Tuqiri: saving straight away. You can get discounts on our reward partners. 74 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:32,130 Lote Tuqiri: We've got hundreds of vendors across e-commerce, travel, retail, sports accommodation, fashion, 75 00:04:32,130 --> 00:04:37,320 Lote Tuqiri: and electronics. Our packages start at $14.95 a month, which 76 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,750 Lote Tuqiri: is a cost of half a beer or a coffee 77 00:04:39,750 --> 00:04:43,049 Lote Tuqiri: a week, and you can cancel at any time. So 78 00:04:43,049 --> 00:04:46,770 Lote Tuqiri: you're not locked in. It's not like one of the 79 00:04:46,770 --> 00:04:48,509 Lote Tuqiri: old gym memberships where you have to lock in for 80 00:04:48,510 --> 00:04:51,300 Lote Tuqiri: 18 months to two years. You can jump out at 81 00:04:51,300 --> 00:04:54,420 Lote Tuqiri: any time. But if you can want to join now, 82 00:04:54,779 --> 00:04:58,950 Lote Tuqiri: you can get your first 14 days free on FanStands rewards, 83 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:00,569 Lote Tuqiri: and just go to fanstands.com.au. 84 00:05:02,129 --> 00:05:06,600 Sean Aylmer: Okay. And then in terms of those bigger rewards, the UFC, 85 00:05:06,630 --> 00:05:10,140 Sean Aylmer: et cetera, is that more of a competition where you 86 00:05:10,140 --> 00:05:11,970 Sean Aylmer: go into a prize draw? How does that work? 87 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,080 Lote Tuqiri: Yeah. So you become a member, and then you accumulate 88 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,870 Lote Tuqiri: month on month. So the longer you stay a member, 89 00:05:19,349 --> 00:05:22,859 Lote Tuqiri: you get more tickets into the next draw. So we 90 00:05:22,859 --> 00:05:27,450 Lote Tuqiri: have smaller draws before we offer a big one. So 91 00:05:27,930 --> 00:05:31,140 Lote Tuqiri: we've got State of Origin, State of Origin 3, had 92 00:05:31,140 --> 00:05:34,109 Lote Tuqiri: some great winners go to that. We have a draw 93 00:05:34,110 --> 00:05:37,889 Lote Tuqiri: coming up pretty soon for the Magpies versus Port Power games, 94 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,409 Lote Tuqiri: the top of the table clash, for four as well. 95 00:05:40,410 --> 00:05:44,250 Lote Tuqiri: So in between the bigger ones, we have smaller ones 96 00:05:44,250 --> 00:05:47,339 Lote Tuqiri: like that. We want to keep our members up to 97 00:05:47,339 --> 00:05:50,010 Lote Tuqiri: date and offering them things all the time, rather than 98 00:05:50,010 --> 00:05:52,140 Lote Tuqiri: just the run of the mill. 99 00:05:52,559 --> 00:05:52,919 Sean Aylmer: What's the response been like so far, Lote? 100 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:58,139 Lote Tuqiri: The response has been pretty good. We're tracking all right. 101 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:02,490 Lote Tuqiri: We've only been live for four months. We received a 102 00:06:02,490 --> 00:06:06,420 Lote Tuqiri: hell of a response. So members are growing, and our 103 00:06:06,420 --> 00:06:09,868 Lote Tuqiri: retail partners are growing with our discounts. So the social following's 104 00:06:10,260 --> 00:06:12,359 Lote Tuqiri: in the thousands, and we're just trying to get that, 105 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,779 Lote Tuqiri: we've been hitting the socials pretty hard. But the bigger 106 00:06:15,870 --> 00:06:19,200 Lote Tuqiri: it becomes, I guess, I think it builds on itself, 107 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:23,279 Lote Tuqiri: and the bigger and better prizes we can reward our 108 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:24,150 Lote Tuqiri: members with. 109 00:06:24,870 --> 00:06:28,559 Sean Aylmer: Okay. Now, your other business is Hoozu, which is an 110 00:06:28,559 --> 00:06:33,210 Sean Aylmer: influencer marketing platform working with influencers across TikTok, Instagram, that sort 111 00:06:33,210 --> 00:06:35,909 Sean Aylmer: of thing. I'm not quite sure how to ask this 112 00:06:35,910 --> 00:06:39,000 Sean Aylmer: question, but you worked very hard over many years, you 113 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,140 Sean Aylmer: built a profile through sport, you're incredibly successful in two 114 00:06:43,140 --> 00:06:46,410 Sean Aylmer: sports. When you look at some of the influencers on 115 00:06:46,410 --> 00:06:49,109 Sean Aylmer: TikTok and things like that, does it amaze you that 116 00:06:49,110 --> 00:06:53,579 Sean Aylmer: they are influencers given their background, or the heritage perhaps 117 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,681 Sean Aylmer: isn't quite as rich as yours? 118 00:06:55,681 --> 00:07:01,020 Lote Tuqiri: I know, I know. And I guess some of the older crew, say the 119 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,409 Lote Tuqiri: Gen X-ers and the ones further back, think to themselves 120 00:07:05,460 --> 00:07:09,118 Lote Tuqiri: how they worked hard for so long to get to where they are, 121 00:07:09,809 --> 00:07:15,930 Lote Tuqiri: and then... Well, this is a new way the kids communicate. 122 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,240 Lote Tuqiri: I've got a few kids, and they are on these platforms, 123 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,259 Lote Tuqiri: and they do support some of these influencers. Whether they 124 00:07:25,259 --> 00:07:28,800 Lote Tuqiri: influence in a good way or a bad way, they're still influencing. And I 125 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,510 Lote Tuqiri: think from the Hoozu angle, we got into it a fair while 126 00:07:33,510 --> 00:07:35,730 Lote Tuqiri: ago now, it's ten years old now, and I think 127 00:07:35,730 --> 00:07:38,760 Lote Tuqiri: we're probably one of the leading influencer marketing agencies in 128 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,719 Lote Tuqiri: that space. And I'm very proud to be a part 129 00:07:42,719 --> 00:07:47,370 Lote Tuqiri: of that. We've got some 15 staff. Natalie Giddings, who's our CEO, 130 00:07:47,789 --> 00:07:52,050 Lote Tuqiri: has really done well with her expertise in that field. 131 00:07:52,770 --> 00:07:57,570 Lote Tuqiri: We work with brands like Bunnings, Supercheap Auto, Emma Sleep 132 00:07:57,809 --> 00:08:00,839 Lote Tuqiri: is a big one with us lately. So just trying 133 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:06,180 Lote Tuqiri: to keep them happy and produce revenue for them and 134 00:08:06,630 --> 00:08:10,920 Lote Tuqiri: have a way to communicate to the younger demographic, which 135 00:08:10,980 --> 00:08:13,410 Lote Tuqiri: is where they buy, which is a hell of a 136 00:08:13,410 --> 00:08:16,170 Lote Tuqiri: lot different to what I did back in the day. 137 00:08:17,010 --> 00:08:18,000 Lote Tuqiri: I'm still using cash. 138 00:08:22,980 --> 00:08:23,970 Sean Aylmer: Yeah. Lote, you've got to be beyond cash by now. 139 00:08:24,119 --> 00:08:26,700 Lote Tuqiri: I'm not that old. You're right. But I actually don't 140 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:26,941 Lote Tuqiri: mind using cash. 141 00:08:26,941 --> 00:08:30,870 Sean Aylmer: Yeah. I've got to say, if you don't want to spend 142 00:08:30,870 --> 00:08:33,300 Sean Aylmer: too much money, hand cash over, because it actually hurts 143 00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:36,088 Sean Aylmer: a lot more than tapping a card, I find. 144 00:08:38,849 --> 00:08:38,850 Lote Tuqiri: It does. 145 00:08:38,850 --> 00:08:41,309 Sean Aylmer: Maybe that's how it works. Lote Tuqiri, thank you very much for talking 146 00:08:41,309 --> 00:08:41,879 Sean Aylmer: to Fear & Greed. 147 00:08:42,779 --> 00:08:44,429 Lote Tuqiri: I appreciate it, guys. Thank you very much, mate. 148 00:08:45,929 --> 00:08:50,100 Sean Aylmer: That was Lote Tuqiri, sporting legend and the Co-Founder of Hoozu and FanStands. 149 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,830 Sean Aylmer: This is the Fear & Greed business interview. Join us every 150 00:08:52,830 --> 00:08:55,649 Sean Aylmer: morning for the full episode of Fear & Greed, Australia's most 151 00:08:55,650 --> 00:08:58,768 Sean Aylmer: popular business podcast. I'm Sean Aylmer. Enjoy your day.