1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: As we know, October Business Month underway, bringing over two 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: hundred events designed to help territory businesses grow and thrive. Now. 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: One of the headline speakers this year is Simon Griffiths, 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: co founder and CEO of Who Gives a Crap, a 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: company that's not only shaking up the toilet paper aisle, 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: but also changing lives around the globe. We know that 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: since launching in twenty twelve, Simon's company has donated over 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: half its profits to build toilets in developing countries, all 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: while scaling rapidly and staying true to its mission. Now, 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: Simon is going to be here on the twenty ninth 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: of October and joins me on the line. 12 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: Good morning, Simon, good morning, great to be here. 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Simon, you started 14 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: a toilet paper company to help build toilets. I'm not 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: exactly a conventional business idea. What sparked that moment for you? 16 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: Back in twenty twelve, I just love of. 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 2: Toilet paper, No, no, all seriousness. We came across this 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 2: statistic after spending a lot of time in low income 19 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,199 Speaker 2: countries that about at the time two point four billion 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: people didn't have access to adequate sanitation. And I think 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: if anyone sort of you know, spent time in Southeast 22 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 2: Asia or Africa or other parts of the world where 23 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: there's not great sanitation facilities, you're pretty familiar with this 24 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: problem and how kind of devastating it can be to 25 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: your holiday. Now, imagine trying to go to work or 26 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: go to school while you're kind of dealing with this, 27 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: you know, consistently throughout the year as well. And so 28 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 2: we realized that it was one of the most off 29 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: track of all of the development goals that existed in 30 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 2: the world because people weren't really talking about it. You know, 31 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: it's toilets, it's not some kind of sexy dinner party conversation. 32 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: And so we saw there was an opportunity to take 33 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: a product that everyone needs and use the profits to 34 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: help people in need. And that's how we got started 35 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: with Who Gives a Crap? 36 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: Sounds incredible. I mean, like, what's it been like to 37 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: see the company grow and to be able to sort 38 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: of stay true to giving fifty percent of those profits 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: to help others. 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty amazing. I mean we're you know, we're now 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 2: kind of getting pretty close to having about ten percent 42 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: market share of the Australian market, which is just amazing, 43 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: but I think even cooler to see the concept resonate 44 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 2: really well overseas. So our Australian business is now smaller 45 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: than our US and each of our US and our 46 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 2: UK businesses, so they're kind of thriving and going really 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 2: well in kind of Tesco and Waitros in the grocery 48 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: aisle of the UK, and in Whole Foods in the 49 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: US as well. So just amazing to see kind of 50 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: a you know, homegrown Australian idea resonate around the world 51 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: and be able to raise you know what's now close 52 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: to twenty million dollars for our charity partners that we've got, yeah, 53 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: in several different countries. 54 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: How cool. I mean, what's it like when you walk 55 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: down the toilet paper all and you're like, hey, there's 56 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: my toilet paper. 57 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: So that is a great feeling. Yeah, don't get me wrong. 58 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: I think the first time you do it is probably 59 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: the most special. The other one that is surprisingly wild 60 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 2: is when you see, you know, your box is being 61 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: used on the side of the road to put people's 62 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 2: recycling in, and when it happens in New York or London, 63 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: that's a pretty wild feeling to you know, yeah, kind 64 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: of on the other side of the world like that 65 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 2: as well. 66 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: What about if you rock up to an Airbnb and 67 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: they've got your toilet paper over the other side of 68 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: the world. 69 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, totally. I mean, now I think in a lot 70 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: of Airbnb's I'm sort of disappointed in Australia if I 71 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: go into the bathroom and it's not us that it's 72 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 2: kind of flipped it around a little bit, which is 73 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: a strange place to be, but just amazing to see 74 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: the concept resonate with so many different people and for 75 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: this item that no one I think thought too much 76 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 2: about before we came along to now be something that's 77 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: kind of sparking a conversation and also having an impact. 78 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: And is it correct that you're sort of expanded into 79 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: some other products as well, And I mean, we know 80 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: you've expanded greatly into major retailers. 81 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we've also so more recently gone into a 82 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: long time ago got into kitchen towers and tissues, and 83 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 2: then more recently into sponges, and then very recently into 84 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: garbage and pet waste. So they're actually some of my 85 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: favorite products. I think people often say, oh, you know, 86 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: what could you do to make garbage bags better? But actually, 87 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: I think everyone's had that horrible experience of using a 88 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 2: garbage bag that doesn't do its job properly, and that's 89 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: become more often than not, unfortunately. And so we went 90 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: about making a garbage bag that was really enjoyable to use, 91 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: and it's one of those things that the first time 92 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 2: use it go oh wow, you know I needed this, 93 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: But it's a really excellent customer experience. So I think 94 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: we try to find those products that are a bit boring, 95 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: that have been overlooked and haven't seen much innovation in 96 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 2: the past fifty years, and they're the places where we 97 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: can sort of lean in and create a product that's 98 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 2: really delightful from a customer perspective, and you know, put 99 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: some color and some pattern and make it a bit 100 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: more fun and hopefully, you know, much better to use 101 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 2: as well. 102 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: Simon, you are going to be here for October Business month, 103 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: you've got to be talking about your journey from idea 104 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: to global disruptor. What's one lesson that you've learned that 105 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,119 Speaker 1: you think every business big or small should hear. 106 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I'll be sharing kind of a few lessons, 107 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: But probably the biggest one that I think we think 108 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: about the most is this idea that doing good is 109 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: actually good for business, and the idea that you know, 110 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: our business wouldn't have been able to have been as 111 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: successful as it is both here and overseas if we 112 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: didn't give away half of our profits, and that goes 113 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 2: against you know, the physics of capitalism that I got 114 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: taught about at university, the idea that you need to 115 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: hold onto your profits to build a bigger business to 116 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: be more successful in the long run. I think we've 117 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: truly shown that you can be more successful by giving 118 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: your profits away rather than holding onto them. And that's 119 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: a very interesting idea when you start to think about, 120 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: you know what other innovations and where that can be 121 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 2: applied into other categories to make better businesses all around 122 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: the world, both in terms of their outcomes for yeholders, 123 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: but also in terms of the impact that it can 124 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 2: create for the world. 125 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: Well, Simon, really great to speak with you this morning. 126 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate your time, and you're going to be here 127 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: in Darwin of course on the twenty ninth for October 128 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: Business month, so plenty of opportunities still for people to 129 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: get along and hear more about the wonderful work that 130 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: you do. 131 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't wait, looking forward to it. I'll be 132 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: coming up from Melbourne, so i'd be love you to 133 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 2: get in that hot stum hopefully dry weather, but we'll see. 134 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: See Simon. It's warm, mate, it's not real dry. I 135 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: can only describe it as quite humid and sticky at 136 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: the moment. 137 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: Oh, that sounds great. 138 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: I'm you'll enjoy it. It'll be lovely for a change, Simon. 139 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: Great to speak with you. I really appreciate your time. 140 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 2: Thank you too, Thanks so much.