1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Small businesses now. They are the backbone of our country 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: and I know firsthand how tough it is. Long hours, 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: constant hurdles, and too often feeling like you're in it alone. 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: And what I keep hearing from you is that small 5 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: business owners don't feel heard. My team and I are 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: paying close attention to our small business community and the 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: feedback that comes to us through the Mental podcast. Now, 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: one thing is clear. You want to hear from more 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: businesses beyond Sydney, from across the country, and especially those 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: that are doing it tough. That's why my team and 11 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: I are launching the Small Business call Out. The Small 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: Business call Out, which will be under the Mental Channel, 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: will talk to business owners all over the country every 14 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: single week, no matter where you are. We want to 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: hear from you. What's working, what's not working, What do 16 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,959 Speaker 1: you need from the government to actually succeed? What other 17 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: things can you enlighten us about what it's like being 18 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: in the small business community. This is your chance to 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: make your voice count. We want to hear from all industries, 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: from those struggling, from those who feel overlooked, or those 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: who have something to say but haven't had the platform 22 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: to say it. I'm going to continue hosting the Mental podcast, 23 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: but the Small Business call Out will be uploaded between episodes. 24 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: So let's get into this week's edition of the new 25 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: Small Business call Out. What's the name of your business 26 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: and in simple terms, what does your business do? 27 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, the name of our business is Boxes for 28 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: Business in a simplest form, we do things like packaging 29 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: supplies and cardboard boxes. Basically, we make life easier for 30 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: businesses by providing the cardboard boxes and packaging they need 31 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: to peckt to a store and shift their goods. And 32 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: we offer both new and second hand boxes which reduce 33 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: waste and cut costs. And obviously all our boxes are 34 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: eco friendly, so that means customers are not only protecting 35 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: their goods but also protecting the planet. 36 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: How's your business doing right now? 37 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: Well, it's grown in recent years. We did start out 38 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: selling secondhand boxes, which is reuse of boxes, giving secondhand 39 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: boxes the second life and keeping them in circulation and 40 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: out of landfill, and that's more prominent these days than 41 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: it was in the past. But basically, cardboard itself is 42 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 2: eco friendly because it's recyclable, it's highegradable, it's made from 43 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: renewable resources and stuff like that, so it's all eco 44 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: friendly cardboard boxes. 45 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: Where was your business founded and where is it located? 46 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: Well, Boxes for Business started back in nineteen ninety two 47 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: on the north shore of Sydney. It was basically a 48 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: home business at the time and it was about selling 49 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 2: secondhand cardboard boxes out of the back of an old 50 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: Dodge truck. And you know, as demand grew, you know, 51 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: the business group, we moved to an old chuck shed 52 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 2: in Oxford Falls and then you know, various other locations 53 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: around Sydney after that where we've settled until we settled 54 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: in Pendle Hill where we are now, which is kind 55 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: of near Paramatta, which is I guess is the geographical 56 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: center of Sydney, so we've got easy access to businesses 57 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: across the city. 58 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: And what inspired you to start your business? 59 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: Well, I've always had a you know, an interest, a 60 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: passion for small business and entrepreneurship, and even as a 61 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: young kid I used to knock on doors of the 62 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: neighbors and say can I rake your leaves or can 63 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: I put your bin out or whatever? Or for money 64 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: of course, and then I've had you been involved and 65 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: run different businesses over the years. I had a window 66 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: cleaning business and also a sign writing business. And that 67 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: was back in the days when you know, signs were 68 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: painted by hand and I had clients like Honda and 69 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: you know, Votaphone and stuff like that. Then you know, 70 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: technology changed and you know, things evolved, and I moved on. 71 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: I ended up getting a job in a cardboard box 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: and packaging come so I actually, you know, I was 73 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: working there as general manager and I actually took over 74 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: the business rather than starting it. And since then, I've 75 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: you know, I've worked in guts out to you know, 76 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: try and make it into something that I'm quite proud 77 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: of where it is today. So we're based in Penderbille. 78 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: You know where's the most rewarding part of being a 79 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: small business owner? 80 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 2: Well, there's a lot of things that are rewarding. I mean, 81 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: I guess, as I said earlier, like it must be 82 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 2: part of my DNA. I've always wanted to own and 83 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: run my own business and I don't really know why, 84 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 2: but here I am. But you know, there's lots of 85 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 2: areas of reward. I mean, I guess I went into 86 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 2: business initially thinking that, you know, I can be the 87 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: master of my own destiny and at least has the 88 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 2: illusion of that for a period of time. But even 89 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: things like you know, being able to set my own 90 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: goals and you know, work towards them, just on a 91 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: more general level, I actually enjoy, you know, providing people 92 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: jobs and you know, looking after employees and looking after 93 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: customers and providing great service. For me, part of it 94 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 2: is about It's not all about making money. It's integrity 95 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: and making sure I do the right thing by people. 96 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: We have signs up in our posters in our office 97 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: which say things like, you know, smile or you know, 98 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: treat others as you want them to treat you, or 99 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: do what we say we're going to do. So they're 100 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 2: not just words on the wall. That's how we try 101 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: and do business every day, because I've come across businesses 102 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: that you know, try and cut corners or try and 103 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: you know, over promise or even cheat their customers, and 104 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: it doesn't pay off from the long ones. So I guess, 105 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: you know, I get a lot of satisfaction and pride 106 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: from knowing that we've done our best to look after 107 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: our customers and our employees. I mean, even when it 108 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 2: comes to boxes, you know, as I mentioned earlier, I'm 109 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 2: proud of the fact that we're involved and contributes to sustainability, 110 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 2: but also the boxes part themselves. I get a kick 111 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: out of seeing all the different purposes and uses that 112 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: people use boxes for. I mean back in the day, 113 00:05:55,880 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: we even supplied boxes for Celebrity Apprentice when Mark Boris 114 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: was you know, at the realm, and so I think 115 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: the producers wanted boxes to put in and container to 116 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 2: make sure it was full. So there's a lot of 117 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: different rewards for running a small business. 118 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: What challenges have you faced as a small business owner 119 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: and how do they impact your business and how did 120 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: you overcome them? 121 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: Well, it's up and down to you the truth. There's 122 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 2: periods of struggle, then there's periods of success and stuff 123 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: like that. When running a business sometimes feels a bit 124 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 2: like you're one of those inflatable punching clowns that you know, 125 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: you punch it and it falls down, then it pops 126 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: back up. So sometimes things come out of the blue 127 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: curbles that knock you back down again, even when you 128 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: think you're standing still. So there's a lot of challenges 129 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: involved in small business. So you know, things like cash flow, 130 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: you know, getting money in you when sales dip or 131 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: when customers don't pay on time, and I've often had 132 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: to put my own money in to keep the business going, 133 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 2: to pay the employees, to pay someone my own bills. 134 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: And I know that's not just me, these other business 135 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: owners that I speak to that are doing the same thing. 136 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 2: There's also challenges with things like equipment and vehicle breakdowns 137 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 2: where you know, just the other week, my main forklift 138 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: broke down the middle of the driveway, blocking everything, and 139 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: we did our best to sort it out, but I 140 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: couldn't because I didn't realize when I went into business 141 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: how much of a maintenance guy i'd have to be 142 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 2: sometimes and that's not really my greatest strength. But more recently, 143 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: one of the things that's been on my mind is 144 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 2: workplace reforms that the government's introducing, and I'm not real 145 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: happy about some of them, and I feel it's a 146 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: bit imbalanced and you know, doesn't address some of the 147 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: problems that small business owners have. 148 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: What is the one thing you wish you knew before 149 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: you even started your business. 150 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: Well, there's a lot of sacrifices that I've made personally, 151 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: and a lot of other small businesses I know because 152 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: they're my main customer base. Other small businesses and I 153 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,239 Speaker 2: talk to them regularly, but things like you know, working 154 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 2: late nights, you know, skipping breaks, for going annual leave 155 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: or sick leave or things like that, or injecting my 156 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: own money into the business to keep it going and 157 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: stuff like that. There's a lot of sacrifices. In fact 158 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: that there's a joke amongst some of us business owners 159 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: which is the only legal way to earn less than 160 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: the award rate is to work for yourself. Every other 161 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: way it's illegal. But basically, you know, running a business 162 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 2: is not easy. And someone once told me the three 163 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: rules of business success, and they were number one, persist, 164 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: number two persist, and number three persist. So basically, overcoming 165 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: challenges is a lot to do with persistence and perseverance. 166 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously there's other factors as well, getting the 167 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 2: right advice, surrounding yourself with the right people, all that 168 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: sort of thing. But overcoming challenges, it's just like that 169 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 2: clown that I said, you know, popping back up again 170 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: when you get knocked down. That's a big part of 171 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 2: what we do. 172 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: You know, how confident are you in this train and 173 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: gup ability to support small businesses effectively. 174 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: Indigate that I'm not very confident at all. You know, 175 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 2: I look up some of the stats, and you know, 176 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: I've taken it upon myself to write to a number 177 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: of politicians and not just you know, one party, like 178 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: across the spectrum sort of thing, Labor, liberal, Independence, whoever, 179 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: whoever will listen. But you know, on the last budget, 180 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five budget, the 181 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: government's put out a small business statement and it says 182 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 2: they're delivering a better deal for small businesses. Now, when 183 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: I look at the figures, there's an organization called the 184 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: Australians Small Business and Family Enterprise Organization, and they've got 185 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 2: extensive documents, and in their documents it says things like, 186 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 2: at the moment, forty six percent of small businesses are 187 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: not making a profit and up to seventy five percent 188 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 2: of small business owners are earning less than the average 189 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 2: adult wage, and that's despite working longer hours than the 190 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: average employee. So that doesn't sound like delivering a better 191 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 2: deal to me. And then on top of that, there's 192 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 2: things like, sorry, there's things like the cost of living, 193 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: which drives up business costs. You know, electricity insurance, you know, 194 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 2: rent to all those sort of things. And then there's 195 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: workplace reforms, which I touched on before, which you know, 196 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: add more compliance, layers of compliance and stuff like that, 197 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 2: and just make doing business harder rather than simpler. So 198 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: I'm not very confident in the government, you know, supporting businesses. 199 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: As I said, I've written to plenty of a number 200 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 2: of employee Sorry, no, what do you call politicians and 201 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 2: stuff like that. And one of the documents I sent 202 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,719 Speaker 2: them was I sent you guys, was this document. It's 203 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: quite extensive. It didn't start out, you know, that wasn't 204 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 2: that's evolved into that. But I found that some politicians 205 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 2: don't even bother to get back to you, not even 206 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: to say, you know, thanks for your correspondence and stuff 207 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 2: like that. Some did reply, which I appreciate. It's always 208 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: good to hear back from various politicians. I had method 209 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: in my madness where I sort of tried to send 210 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: things to politicians that I thought were responsible for different 211 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: issues and you know, or had been involved at one 212 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 2: point in time. But sometimes the responses I've got, you know, 213 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: there was long delays, or it was a limited response. 214 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: Sometimes it was just copy and paste from for example, 215 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: that document the small Business statement, and it didn't really 216 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 2: address the specifics concerns that I'd raised, And that's one 217 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 2: of my concerns, Like you hear a lot about small business, 218 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: and you hear a lot about, you know, at least 219 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 2: with workplace, protecting employees rights and stuff like that. And 220 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: just to make it clear, I'm or for protecting employees' rights, 221 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 2: and I don't think people should be mistreated. But I 222 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: think it's out of kilter, it's out of balance, and 223 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 2: the focus tends to be more on how we're going 224 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: to help employees and protect them, and that begs the 225 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: question who are you protecting them from? You must be 226 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 2: protecting them from employers, small business owners, they must be 227 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: the bad guys. And that's the mess, the narrative that's 228 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: going out there, and I'm sick of that because you know, 229 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 2: I provide employment like many other small businesses, I provide 230 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: services and goods to the community and stuff like that 231 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: which are beneficial. So I think the government is overlooking 232 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: the whole range of issues because if small business owners 233 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: don't speak up, no one's going to do it on 234 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 2: their behalf. Like I used to sit back and do 235 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 2: nothing like many small business owners do, and think that 236 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 2: it was all going to sort itself out in the 237 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 2: wash and there'd be some common sense and stuff like that. 238 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: But I realized, I'm not saying politicians are bad or whatever, 239 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 2: just sometimes I don't think they understand, you know, some 240 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 2: of the issues related to small business. They've not had 241 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 2: any real world experience and running a business, and yet 242 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 2: they're making decisions about it, and I don't think that's 243 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: a good thing. I was told, you know, in one 244 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 2: response by politician, that they've had extensive consultation with employer 245 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 2: groups about some of the reforms that have introduced. But 246 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 2: you articles I read online and even you know what 247 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: I heard on Q and A back in May last year, 248 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 2: said that there wasn't proper consultation, you know. So it's 249 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: kind of hard to know what to believe sometimes. But 250 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 2: it's interesting you asked about raising voices because when I 251 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: was thinking about this interview, I remembered a movie I 252 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 2: used to watch with I've got three daughters, and when 253 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 2: they were young girls, they used to love Legally Blonde 254 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 2: with Reese Witherspoon, and there's Legally Blonde one and Legally 255 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: Blonde two, and she's like a blonde lawyer and stuff 256 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 2: like that. And she's standing up in front of Congress 257 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: and legally blonde too, and she uses a haircut as 258 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 2: a metaphor for speaking to the government. And she goes 259 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 2: on to tell a story about how, you know, she 260 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: booked an appointment at it exclusive so long, and you know, 261 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: she was really excited about it, and she turned up 262 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 2: and she sat in the chair and was waiting for 263 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 2: the things to be done. And then the colorist proceeded 264 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 2: to put the wrong color in the hair, and then 265 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: after that, the shampoo girl washed the hair with the 266 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 2: wrong shampoo. I guess it wasn't designed for colored hair 267 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 2: or whatever. But then she said the stylist a bob 268 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 2: with bangs, which she said was all wrong for her. 269 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 2: And she said her initial reaction was to feel anger, 270 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: but then she realized that her anger was misdirected because 271 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 2: she just sat there and let it all happen. She 272 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: said she'd forgot to use her voice, and so she's 273 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 2: encouraging people to use their voice, you know. And that's 274 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: what I'd encourage all small business owners do, to speak 275 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: up about their concerns. It might not be exactly the 276 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: same as mine, but I know there are some common ones. 277 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: You know, small businesses are struggling in a number of areas, 278 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 2: and I think small business owners should speak otherwise, you know, 279 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: to put it in el Wood's words, small businesses in 280 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 2: this country is in for a really bad haircut. So 281 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 2: that's how I put it. 282 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: If you could advise Australian governor on one action to 283 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: take to better support small businesses, what would it be. 284 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 2: I've been on a journey, as I said, I've been 285 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: writing to various politicians. I appeared like just to ask 286 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: a question at the opportunity to appear on Q and 287 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: A or ABS to just ask, you know. Firstly asked 288 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: the minister who was the Minister for Employment Workplace Relations 289 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: at the time Tony worked. I asked him a question 290 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: about how they're going to support small businesses and make 291 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 2: sure that the policies they introduce support not only the 292 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 2: workers but also the small businesses that employed them. I 293 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 2: didn't really get the response that I'd hoped for. You know. 294 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 2: I gave an example about the right to disconnect and 295 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 2: how you know that is all about protecting employees, you know, 296 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: personal time outside of work hours, which is fair enough, 297 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: but it doesn't address all the personal stuff that employees 298 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 2: sometimes do during work time, you know, which kind of 299 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: balances the equation out and the employee. The minister really basically, 300 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: you know, misrepresented the situation. Whether he just used poor 301 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 2: words or whatever, I'm not sure. But if there was 302 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: one thing I'd say to politicians, and the opportunity to 303 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 2: pier a second time. When Q and A back in 304 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: November and I said, I think you should listen and 305 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 2: address business concerns, and I go, you know, that was 306 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 2: not long after the US election, and I said, you know, 307 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 2: part of the reason some of the commentators thought Trump 308 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 2: won is because he had appealed to the working class 309 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 2: people who felt ignored when they raised their concerns. And 310 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 2: I've felt the same when I've raised concerns was various politicians. 311 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: They sometimes don't get back to you, or they don't 312 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 2: answer your specific concerns, or they give a limited response 313 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: or copy and paste, you know, and stuff like that. So, 314 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 2: for example, one of the things that I'm concerned about 315 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 2: is payday super where you know, employees will be required 316 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 2: to pay super to employees every payday. And you know 317 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: that's obviously to help employees make sure that they don't 318 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 2: miss out on any stupor and to bolce to their 319 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: retirement funds and things like that. It's all very well, 320 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: but it doesn't address the cash flow challenges of small 321 00:16:54,920 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: businesses who often have credit terms or you know, you know, 322 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 2: customs haven't paid on time. So it's basically we've got 323 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 2: to pay money out more often when it hasn't actually 324 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 2: come in sometimes and when I've tried to ask politicians, 325 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: you know, how they're addressing that, they've sid skepped it. 326 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 2: And one of the things I've done is I've sent 327 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 2: you guys a box. But it was a little box, 328 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 2: and I had a label on the side that said 329 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: Pandora's Box. And basically that was like a symbolic gesture 330 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: to say, hey, this is how some politicians are treating 331 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: these issues, is that they don't want to open it 332 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: because they think it's like Pandora's box. Even things like 333 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: wages there for example, And it's the imbalance that I'm 334 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 2: more concerned about, Like they're targeting, you know, employees who 335 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 2: aren't paying their employees deliberately, and that is wrong, you know. 336 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 2: But on the other hand, they're not targeting the wages 337 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 2: theft of employees when they deliberately chuck a city, or 338 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: do personal stuff during work hours. I've even heard on 339 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: the radio where people are bringing in and they're saying, oh, 340 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: you know, I told my boss I was in a meeting, 341 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 2: but I went for a swim, or I played gold 342 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 2: for I did this, and that that's just as much 343 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 2: rageous theft as a boss, you know, not paying their 344 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: employee properly. And I decided to check out the figures 345 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: for this sort of thing, and I discovered that the 346 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: figures related to unjustified absentees and you know, with checking 347 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 2: sickies and you know, doing personal stuff during unapproved personal 348 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 2: stuff during business hours was actually higher and at the 349 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 2: very best equal to the amount that you know was 350 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 2: employers weren't paying employees. So if it's more, why isn't 351 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 2: the government paying attention, that's affecting the economy, it's affecting 352 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 2: small business owners, it's affecting other employers. So I guess 353 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 2: i'd say, you know, sorry, it's been a long answer, 354 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 2: But to go back to question again, I'd ask politicians 355 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 2: to bring balance to the situations, to balance the situation 356 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 2: between both employees and employers. Because some of the organizations 357 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: that are responsible for dealing with this. The course themselves 358 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 2: called fair Work. So to me, fair is a two 359 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 2: way street, you know, it's not one sided. And I 360 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: read a report recently on the what's called the Secure 361 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 2: Job is Better Paybill, and there was findings that are 362 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 2: viewed with findings, and one of the findings was that 363 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: Australia has an adversarial industrial relations system and it said 364 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: where you know, business groups and unions are often fighting 365 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 2: over various workplace rules and regulations and stuff like that. 366 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 2: But I think the government actually contributes to that by 367 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: not having a balanced approach to the situation. As we 368 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: said at the beginning, it's also important to speak to 369 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 2: other small business owners because we share common struggles sometimes 370 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 2: or we share common goals and stuff like that, and 371 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 2: by working together, I think we can achieve more. So 372 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 2: it's not just about speaking up, it's also about multiple 373 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,199 Speaker 2: people speaking up because I found, you know, I'm just 374 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: one guy, you know, you know, as I said on 375 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 2: Q and A once, I'm just a regular guy trying 376 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: to have a go, you know, and I'm I'm not 377 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 2: used to being on TV or doing interviews or whatever. 378 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 2: And sometimes that's easy for the government to ignore. That's 379 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: one of the reasons why I spoke to the New 380 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 2: South Wales Small Business Chamber because they carry more weight 381 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 2: than you know, for example, someone like me. But I 382 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 2: also wanted to go on Q and A, you know, 383 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 2: to use that platform, you know, to raise awareness of 384 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 2: some of these issues. And I'd encourage other people to 385 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: write to you know, their local member or to write 386 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 2: to a particular minister that's involved with a certain aspect 387 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 2: of small business and stuff like that, because you know, 388 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 2: it's important and as I said, you know, getting help 389 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 2: when you need it. The Australian Small Business and Family 390 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: Enterprise Organization they sent me some various links to various 391 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 2: information so that at least you're more knowledgeable about what 392 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,479 Speaker 2: to do and what not to do and stuff like that. 393 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,239 Speaker 2: And even organizations like Business New South Wales like they 394 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 2: send circulars out sometimes newsletters, and sometimes I read them 395 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 2: and I discover something I wasn't a previously and that 396 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: helps me, you know, change the way I do things 397 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 2: or do things better. 398 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: What is the one thing you wish more people knew 399 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: about your business? 400 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 2: Well, I guess I just wish more people knew about 401 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 2: my business. And you know the way that we help 402 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: businesses run smoothly, but with the eco friendly cardboard boxes 403 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 2: and handy packaging suppliers that we offer. I mean, we've 404 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 2: got an easy online ordering system to make it simplify 405 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 2: the process. And our aim is to grow our business 406 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 2: and to reach more businesses and to expand our product 407 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 2: range and make it as easy as possible for businesses 408 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 2: to get the boxes and the packaging they need. You know, 409 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: I'm also proud of the fact that, you know, we 410 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 2: contribute to sustainability and you know, help raise awareness of 411 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 2: the environment and those kinds of issues because we provide 412 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 2: practical solutions for businesses. So we're not only helping them 413 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 2: protect their goods, we're helping them, you know, support the 414 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 2: environment and stuff like that, which is a worthy cause. 415 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: Let us know where can people find you and your business? 416 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 2: Yep, Well, we're trying to strengthen our online presence. That's 417 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 2: one of the goals for this year. So people can 418 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 2: find us at our website, which is Boxes for Business 419 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 2: dot com dot Au so it's b O X f 420 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: O R b U s I n ews dot com 421 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 2: dot Au. But also on our socials and you can 422 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 2: access our socials through our website, you know, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram. 423 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 2: One of the things on our agenda this year is 424 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: we're almost there, but we're releasing a number of promotional 425 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 2: videos and things like that to promote things that we 426 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 2: do and answer frequently asked questions and things like that. 427 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 2: So I guess I'm saying watch this space. If you do, 428 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 2: go on to the socials. But a lot of people, 429 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 2: you know, we supply the cordboard boxes and packaging supplies online, 430 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: so people can go online and have a look and 431 00:22:48,359 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 2: see whether we've got the sort of things that they needs. 432 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: Don't don't do