1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:01,840 Speaker 1: Small businesses now. 2 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 2: They are the backbone of our country and I know 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: firsthand how tough it is, long hours, constant hurdles, and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 2: too often feeling like you're in it alone. And what 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 2: I keep hearing from you is that small business owners 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: don't feel heard. My team and I are paying close 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 2: attention to our small business community and the feedback that 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: comes to us through the Mental podcast. 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: Now, one thing is clear. 10 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 2: You want to hear from more businesses beyond Sydney, from 11 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: across the country, and especially those that are doing it tough. 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: That's why my team and I are launching the Small 13 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: Business call Out. The Small Business call Out, which will 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 2: be under the Mentor channel, will talk to business owners 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: all over the country every single week, no matter where 16 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: you are. 17 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: We want to hear from you. 18 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: What's working, what's not working, What do you need from 19 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: the government to actually succeed? What are the things can 20 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: you enlighten us about what it's like being in the 21 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: small business community. This is yours to make your voice count. 22 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: We want to hear from all industries, from those struggling, 23 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: from those who feel overlooked, or those who have something 24 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: to say but haven't had the platform to say it. 25 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: I'm going to continue hosting the Mental podcast, but the 26 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 2: Small Business call Out will be uploaded between episodes. So 27 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 2: let's get into this week's edition of the new Small 28 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: Business call Out. What is the name of your business 29 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: and in simple terms, what does your business do? 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, so my name is Mark. I'm from will Dura 31 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: Waste and Recycling and also bis and Waste and Recycling, 32 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 3: where a waste and recycling collection company is the bulk 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 3: of our business, and we provide services to domestic customers 34 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: all the way through to your big corporate customers and 35 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 3: everything in between, including mum and dad, more to medium 36 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 3: sized businesses. Yeah, and that includes general waste, cardboard, scrap, metal, 37 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 3: all those kind of different waste streams from the smallest 38 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 3: of customers from a two forty liter bin right through 39 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 3: to big hook bins. 40 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: And what inspired you to start your business? 41 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 3: There's a couple of different answers to that, and I'll 42 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 3: take you back to when I started. When I was 43 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 3: at school, I used to joke with some of my 44 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 3: mates that'll be a garbologist, not actually thinking that that 45 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: would ever actually happen. And then I was involved in 46 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 3: the transport industry for quite a few years, in demolition 47 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 3: and other aspects of transport, and the opportunity came to 48 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 3: work for a company in waste and I thought, oh yeah, 49 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 3: that'd be a great feeling. But it turned out to 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 3: be something that really resonated with me. And once you 51 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: get it in your blood, you can't get it out, 52 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 3: so to speak. And when our business started, me and 53 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 3: my wife could see a gap in the market. Only 54 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 3: had corporates in the market and was lacking a local competitor, 55 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 3: someone who could provide a premium service at a fair 56 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 3: price and build relationships with customers. And I guess that's 57 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 3: the opportunity we saw. And we started off with a 58 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 3: very small little truck and one hundred bins and you know, 59 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 3: the first six months very challenging. You think to yourself, 60 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: you know, have we made the wrong move here? You 61 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: know we've bitten off more than we can chew. You know, 62 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 3: this is this really going to work? And I guess 63 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 3: you just never give up and keep pushing forward, one 64 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: foot in front of the other and really set some 65 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 3: ambitious goals. And I guess that's got to where we 66 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: are today. I guess I'm a charismatic type and enthusiastic 67 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: about the business type of person, and I guess I'd 68 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: like to bring people on that journey with me. And 69 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 3: so it's been a hell of a ride and quite 70 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 3: a hell of a journey. And I guess you know 71 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 3: that doesn't happen on its own. You know, it takes 72 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: a lot of blood, sweat and tears and determination to 73 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 3: get there. And yeah, I guess you know, people that 74 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 3: are close to me will understand that that, you know, 75 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 3: I live and breathe it and yeah, that's it's it's 76 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 3: part of my life and part of my wife's life too. 77 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 3: She's heavily involved in the business. And yeah, perhaps it's 78 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 3: probably too involved in our lives, but it's got that's 79 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 3: the way it's got to be. It's got to be 80 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 3: your passion and you'll get more out of it. Turned 81 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 3: out to be accurate what we saw in the market. 82 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, where was your business founded and where is it located? 83 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, Maldura Waste and Recycling was founded in Moldura, 84 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: as the name suggests, and in the last twelve d eight 85 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 3: en months we've recently branched out into the Riverland area 86 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: and we rebranded the business as Bison Waste and Recycling. 87 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: The bison is on all our bins and on all 88 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 3: our trucks, and it's on everything, and a lot of 89 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 3: people ask what the bison is about, and that's my 90 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: favorite animal, but it also is a great branding eye 91 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 3: catcher that really draws people in. And so yeah, our 92 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 3: brand outside of Alldura is Bison waste and Recycling, which 93 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 3: is universal. Yeah, and it resonates with our core animal 94 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 3: that we have on all our bins. Yeah. 95 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: How is your business doing right now. 96 00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 3: At the moment, we're tracking Well, it's it's a consistent 97 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 3: business the waste industry, as is other core service industries. 98 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 3: So we don't see don't seem to see the ups 99 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 3: and downs that other industries experience. What I we have 100 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 3: a very broad range of customers and you know, I 101 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 3: get to talk to a lot of different people in 102 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 3: a lot of different places. And the economy is slow 103 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 3: has slowed, and there is people feeling the pain, particularly 104 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 3: with interest rates. So we see that and you know, 105 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 3: we work with customers through some of those challenges. But yeah, 106 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 3: as a whole, our business is tracking well. Yeah, it's 107 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 3: it's consistent. It's probably the best word to describe it, 108 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 3: but it is a consistent type industry. 109 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, what challenges have you faced as a small business 110 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: owner and how do they impact your business and how 111 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 2: did you overcome? Did they affect your family members, did 112 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: they affect your relationships, how did you solve them? 113 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, the challenges we've faced over the years has been 114 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 3: a few different ones. And obviously we started right at 115 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 3: the beginning of COVID, So one of the first challenges 116 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: we faced was lockdowns and things like that, being in Victoria, 117 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 3: and so the challenges to work through that was hard, 118 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: you know, and a lot of small businesses copped the 119 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: brunt of that, and a lot of our customers copped 120 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: the brunt of that, being cafes and restaurants and other 121 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 3: businesses that you know, we provide services too. And I 122 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 3: guess in small businesses, the key to survival is being 123 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 3: and it's also the I guess you're one up on 124 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: your competition is the ability to pivot very quickly in 125 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 3: a changing market, be able to read the play, understand 126 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 3: what that means for your businessiness, and respond to it 127 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: with an appropriate response or what you're offering to the market. 128 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 3: And we saw that happen with a lot of businesses, 129 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 3: with cafes and restaurants, they had to change the delivery 130 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: model to work with inside the boundaries they had, but 131 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 3: also remain sustainable and try and make a profit hard 132 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 3: in those times. So that's one of the challenges that's 133 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 3: definitely faced a lot of businesses, including our own, during 134 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 3: that time. And then I guess from another challenge that 135 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 3: has faced our business, where our businesses faced is the 136 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,719 Speaker 3: price of steel in the market. And a lot of 137 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 3: people go, how would that affect your business? But a 138 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 3: lot of our bins are made of steel, and so 139 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: our biggest cost is buying bins, whether the hook bins 140 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: or frontlift bins, they use up a lot of steel 141 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 3: and so we've seen a doubling in cost over the 142 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 3: last five years is in buying those products, so that 143 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 3: that's our capital doesn't go as far when we're buying products. 144 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 3: So that's been that's been an enormous challenge, especially when 145 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 3: you're growing very quickly to keep up with that. I 146 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 3: would say that's been an enormous challenge. The impact it 147 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: has on family, particularly my immediate family, is real. You know, 148 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 3: you see that, and there is sacrifices made by myself, 149 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 3: my wife, and my kids for the greater good of 150 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: the business. And you know, I guess you've got to 151 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: try and get the balance right with that, because you know, 152 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 3: without getting the balance right, it doesn't work. And one 153 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: of the things that we've found, so we only work 154 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: six days a week, not seven, so we've got one 155 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 3: day a week all the staff off. That way, you know, 156 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: you can do what you want to do with your 157 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 3: family and friends and have that time to you know, rejuvenate, relax, 158 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 3: rejuvenate for the week coming. So that's that's part of it, 159 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 3: you know, the making time for holidays and getaways, even 160 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: if it's only for three days or a week, and 161 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 3: even when you think you can't afford it or the 162 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: cash flow can't afford it, it's important to get that 163 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 3: time away. And holidays don't always have to be an 164 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 3: expensive holiday. They can be simply you know, get go 165 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: camping down the river for a few days or things 166 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 3: like that, and that helps reset, spend time together to 167 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 3: offset some of the other times when you may not 168 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 3: be around. So I found that and that helps prevent 169 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 3: burnout as well for myself. Burn out's a real thing 170 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 3: in small business. In really every small business owner would 171 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 3: understand that, and so you know, try and find the 172 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: thing that gets you rejuvenated and make a conscious effort 173 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 3: to lean on that. It definitely helps, and it also 174 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 3: helps the team around you, because if you're in burnout mode, 175 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 3: the team around you will notice that and it transfers 176 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 3: into your business. So for the greater good of everyone, 177 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 3: it's important to watch that and make sure you're on 178 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 3: top of it. So there's some of the challenges I 179 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 3: guess we've faced, and you know, the challenges that we're 180 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 3: facing right now is small businesses are hurting. Some of 181 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 3: our customers are really hurting, and we're seeing a few businesses, 182 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: you know, not making it and that that's hard to 183 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 3: watch because a lot of businesses we've grown up with 184 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 3: or they've started when we did, or before us or 185 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 3: after us, and you build relationships with these people and 186 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 3: so you know, that's hard to watch. But there, you know, 187 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 3: there's challenges on that front, you know, on a personal level, 188 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 3: but also at a business level, because it's it's really 189 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 3: not what you want to say see happening. And some 190 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: of those challenges have been brought about by the state 191 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 3: of the government or the way the country is being run. 192 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 3: And perhaps you know that's that has been definitely an 193 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 3: influencing factor. 194 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, how confident are you in Australian government's ability to 195 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 2: support small businesses effectively. 196 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 3: I'm not a person that likes to complain much, and 197 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 3: I don't like to be a negative person. I'd really 198 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 3: like to be positive about things. However, my confidence in 199 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 3: the government to support small business is I would have 200 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 3: to say zero. I really don't see any support or help, 201 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 3: not just for my business, but for a lot of 202 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 3: other businesses. And it's a real shame to see because 203 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 3: I think, you know, the small businesses of this country 204 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 3: do a lot of heavy lifting, you know, paying a 205 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: lot of time acts and processing a lot of revenue 206 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 3: for the tax office, and employ a lot of people 207 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 3: in this country, you know, which ultimately puts money in 208 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 3: the government's pocket. And I don't see it being spent 209 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 3: effectively or used effectively, and it certainly does not come 210 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 3: back to help those that are that are generating it, 211 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: and that is disappointing to see. 212 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you could advise your strain government on one action 213 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 2: to take to better support small businesses, what would it be. 214 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 3: That's a really good question. And there's a couple of things, 215 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 3: and it doesn't necessarily gravitate around money, because at the 216 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 3: end of the day, a small business needs to be 217 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 3: profitable and stand on its own two feet. I am 218 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 3: a big believer of that. Handouts is not something that 219 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 3: I think which a lot of people gravitate too. And 220 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 3: yes they help, but you know, you shouldn't rely on those. 221 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 3: Something that I've found that I've been able to get 222 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 3: and it has helped me immensely. There's a few people 223 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 3: that are in similar businesses to what I'm in and 224 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 3: that are what I consider ten, fifteen, twenty years ahead 225 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 3: of me, and so I guess I lean on them 226 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 3: as a mentor and for support and or the term 227 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: trauma bonding, because when you're going through some challenges that 228 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 3: somebody else has been through, it really helps when you 229 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 3: can bounce that off somebody that understands it. So I 230 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 3: guess if there was like a mentorship program system collaboration 231 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 3: perhaps for industries or small businesses that was organized perhaps 232 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: by government organization, then I think that a lot of 233 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 3: people would get help out of that, because, like I 234 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: said earlier, it's not all about the money, but it's 235 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 3: about not feeling alone. I think in a small business 236 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 3: is everybody working as hard as me to achieve. The 237 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 3: answer is yes, people are working very hard in their 238 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 3: small businesses and you would never have believed how much 239 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 3: time and effort it would take to run a small business. 240 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 3: And maybe that's a good thing, because if you knew 241 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 3: that at the start, you may not start. But I think, 242 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: you know, if there was if there was have to 243 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 3: break it down to one thing. I think if there 244 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 3: was a mentorship program, that would be of great benefit, 245 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 3: and particularly for younger people wanting to start business. You know, 246 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 3: there's a lot of things that you might not understand. Yeah, 247 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 3: and I think getting people out of the real world 248 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 3: that have actually run businesses to be part of that program, 249 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 3: I think would be a really good way to make 250 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 3: that work. Not not just people that think they know 251 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: how business has run, but people that actually know our 252 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 3: businesses deliver. 253 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, what's the most rewarding part of being a small 254 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 2: business owner? 255 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 3: So the most rewarding parts for me, there's a few 256 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 3: different things that have really been a standout for me. 257 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 3: I feel the networking and the relationships that I've built 258 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 3: with other business owners and customers has been a great 259 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 3: part of it, and I feel that other business owners 260 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 3: enjoy that aspect. Of it as well, and part of 261 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 3: it can be because we're all going through similar challenges. 262 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 3: Even though it's different businesses, similar challenges pop up. So 263 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 3: I think the networking and they're getting to know other 264 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 3: people and their business has been really really rewarding. The 265 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 3: other parts that I feel is important and has been 266 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 3: really rewarding is watching, particularly in our situation, when people 267 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 3: choose to spend local and support local industry, watching that 268 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 3: dollar go around in other local businesses to build a 269 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 3: circular economy that stays and supports the people that live here. 270 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 3: That's been really cool to watch happen, and you know, 271 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 3: great to be a part of it and promote it, 272 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 3: and you know to the point where you know, we 273 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 3: get a lot of our bins manufactured hook bins manufactured 274 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 3: in Maldura. So then you watch that dollar go around 275 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 3: and you know, there's lots of different ways you can 276 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 3: spend your money, and you can find cheaper ways, and 277 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 3: it usually means supporting offshore, out of town companies, whereas 278 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,479 Speaker 3: if you can spend it a little bit extra and 279 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 3: support the local economy, you can watch how that supports 280 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 3: lots of different sporting clubs, you know, different industries and 281 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 3: you know, actually supports real people and that that's probably 282 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 3: one of the more exciting things about it. And I 283 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 3: guess watching your staff grow as well when they come 284 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 3: on board. You know, some of them have had no 285 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 3: experience in the industry that we're in, and then they 286 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 3: learn and absorb and take all the information on and 287 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 3: make it their own. Watching people grow, I think that 288 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 3: that's a really cool thing to watch as well. And 289 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 3: see them develop and turn into better versions of themselves. 290 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 3: I think that's really that's been really good as well, 291 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 3: and that helps, you know, having that attitude I think 292 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 3: helps build better team culture and better team. 293 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: What is the one thing you wish more people knew 294 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 2: about your business? What is one thing you wish you 295 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 2: knew before you even started your business. 296 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. One of the misconceptions in the industry that we're 297 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 3: in is that the bigger, the bigger the business or 298 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 3: the corporation, shall we say, the better service you would 299 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 3: get or they'll be there in your time of need. 300 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,959 Speaker 3: And that is probably the biggest misconception I see in 301 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,719 Speaker 3: our industry. And the easy way to test that if 302 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 3: you're a business owner and you've got a waste provider, 303 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 3: call them on a Saturday night at ten thirty and 304 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 3: see who answers and see who will help you out 305 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: when you really need them the most, and then you 306 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 3: will know who the business, the business that will actually 307 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:44,719 Speaker 3: respond or preempt or have the ability to answer your 308 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 3: questions versus the bigger companies, which they will leave you 309 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 3: high and dry because yeah, they don't have any invested 310 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 3: interest in supporting the customer. And so I guess that's 311 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 3: probably one of the biggest things I'd want people to 312 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 3: know about our business is that it's a relationship. We're 313 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 3: there for you, and service is what we do. Also, 314 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 3: another thing that I wish customers knew is you don't 315 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 3: need to sign a contract or a service agreement for 316 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 3: a rubbish bin. It's not needed. We don't have them. Ah, 317 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 3: you don't need to sign one ever, And that's. 318 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:28,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 319 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 3: I wish people knew what they were signing when they 320 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 3: were signing contracts for a rubbish bin. And I guess 321 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 3: over time we do educate the customers on that and 322 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 3: people learn through different different ways on that front, but 323 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 3: eventually people do come with realization that they do not 324 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 3: need that and it's certainly not for their benefit. Yeah, 325 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 3: So sorry, that's two answers to the question. But yeah, 326 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 3: but yeah, that in our industry getting contracts, you know, 327 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 3: people use all sorts of tactics to get customers signed 328 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 3: up in a contract for a rubbish bin. And people 329 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 3: think that that's a fixed price service for that period 330 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 3: of the contract, and it's not. It's written in a 331 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:19,199 Speaker 3: way that benefits the provider and they can shift the 332 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 3: goalpost when it suits them, but the customer has to 333 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 3: stay for the journey and that can be up to 334 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 3: four and five years. And yeah, the amount of people 335 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 3: that I talk to and deal with on a regular 336 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 3: basis that wish they'd never signed that or didn't know 337 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 3: they were signing that. Yeah, it's it's it's sad to 338 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 3: see in the industry and that and that's why we've 339 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 3: we've gone down the path of no contracts for any 340 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 3: of our bins. Build a relationship with the customer and 341 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 3: give them a fair price and fair and good service 342 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 3: and rely on that. 343 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, where can people find you and your business? 344 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: Let us know. 345 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're very active on our socials, So on Facebook 346 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 3: or Instagram. If you find us on there, you'll find 347 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 3: a lot of content there that some of it's interesting, 348 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 3: some of it's funny, but there's a lot about our 349 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 3: business on there, or our website is quite easy to find. 350 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 3: If you google Modial Waste and Recycling, you'll find us there. 351 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 3: You'll also see all our five star reviews from our 352 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 3: valued customers. Have a read through them that tells you 353 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 3: more about our business than you need to hear from me, 354 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 3: and compare it with our competitors. You know, and hear 355 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 3: it from the Hear it from the people that actually 356 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 3: get to experience it.