Kaye Waterhouse takes the concept of music as a twist in starting her own yoga studio. Not deviating fully from traditional yoga, the owner of ‘Vital Beat Yoga,’ wanted it to be more inclusive for all women (and men, too!)

Kaye didn’t have any experience in running a business and had to learn everything from scratch. In this interview, she shared details on her marketing strategy and how she was able to pull it off.

Be inspired with her story and the many insightful things that came with it:

What is your vision for Vital Beat Yoga?

My vision for the studios is that we pride ourselves on providing a fun, accessible, [and] unintimidating yoga practice. We recognise that people come to yoga for a great variety of reasons; psychological, physical, or spiritual and any of these reasons are as valid as any other. Vital Beat is not an overtly spiritual or philosophical studio, we instead choose to share the real human experience and prefer to be on this journey with our students rather than trying to be “spiritual teachers”. We also believe that the core essence of yoga is joy, and one of the fastest ways to get there, is through music. Our community is supportive, inclusive, and empowering, and our teachers are warm, kind, humorous, and genuine. We seriously have the best students in Perth!

Why did you decide to start teaching yoga?

I was unable to find a yoga studio myself that I truly resonated with and I saw a gap for the kind of yoga that made people feel welcome even if they didn’t believe in deities and chakras, and was still an accepting place for those that did. I set out to do my teacher training with the intention of opening my own studio and opened the doors to our first space in May 2016, 6 months after returning from my training! I opened my second location in May 2018. 

What types of students does your studio serve?  Do you cater to women only?

Because of our music-driven studio, we attract quite a lot of beginners who have said they were otherwise “bored” or “intimidated” by a quieter practice. Two years ago I would have said 70% of our student base was beginners but now that many of those beginners have grown with us, that has dropped to about 30-40%. Because of the different class styles on offer (from very chill to very strong), we attract a huge variety of ages, our youngest being around 20 and our eldest are in their 60’s – we strongly encourage men to attend but the nature of western yoga is that it does serve many more women than men… so in light of that, and our family-orientated outer suburban locations, we also offer a creche serve, plus Mums n Bubs Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, and Kids Yoga classes.

How do you market your business?

There are 4 primary pillars to our marketing success;

1. Community: by looking after those closest to us (our students) most of our growth comes from word of mouth. Many (many!) of our students come to class because of (or with!) their friends and family. We also offer free community classes, donation-based charity classes, and Student Scholarships (memberships for those with financial barriers to yoga) as well as give generously to local community groups. This aligns with my personal mission for a Karmic Yoga studio but also helps develop brand awareness & reach. How we look after our students, from our “refresh” stations of tampons & hair ties, dry shampoo and breath mints, to free fruit, tea, and free kombucha on tap, is always top priority.
2. Technology driven marketing: I developed and launched a digital sales funnel that drives 80% of our new clientele to the studio through an incentivised voucher “trial” that, when people fall in love with the studio, converts to a direct debit membership. It’s been hugely successful in attracting clientele previously outside our reach and I can attribute our 60% growth in the last 6 months alone to that program! It also means almost 70% of our members are on direct debit, giving us more stability in our revenue projections.
3. We are very active on social media and connect authentically on there. I’m upfront about everything from business financial struggles to my pregnancy morning sickness (!) and I think our community appreciates that. I’m also not afraid to drop a few swear words either (Haha!) Mastering social media, from FB Lives to Instastories and IGTV, [have] elevated our brand online very quickly.
4. Collaborations and events: Hip Hop Yoga translates beautifully to public and live events (plus they’re super fun!). I teach (or send my staff to teach) at 12-15 events every year, from paid corporate gigs to charity jams. It gets us out in front of new crowds and allows people to truly experience the joy of beat-laced music-driven vinyasa yoga. Some things just need to be experienced! I’m also an Ambassador for Lululemon and work closely with them on events.

What makes Vital Beat Yoga different from other yoga studio in the area?

Music is a very important part of what we do and we put as much effort into playlist creation as the classes themselves. Music can help people shift away from the pressures of the day and into a relaxed state and promotes the production of dopamine (happiness!). Vital Beat is categorically a Hip Hop Yoga studio, that is, most of our tunes are urban & mainstream in nature; hip hop, RnB, Soul, Jazz, Funk, and Reggae but we also include acoustic, mantra and instrumental as a complement. The more intense the class, the more intense the music! There is no whale song and wind chimes at Vital Beat!

What were your struggles starting up?

Everything!!! What I can tell you, is the things I’d never done before starting Vital Beat in 2016:

Never: run a business, hired staff, rented a commercial space, designed & fit out a premises (shout out to my handy husband), designed & built a website including all its copy, operated a CRM system, developed a business plan or a financial budget (yep I opened without either of these), tracked financials, marketed a business in a new community, or wrote contracts, policies & procedures, press releases, or social media strategies. All of which I now know how to do – having learned them out of necessity!

Can you tell us about your business plan?

1. Survive!
2. Develop insane financial literacy
3. Continue to build the business into a model that runs with low input**.

**I travelled around Australia for 4 months with my family when the first studio was just 12 months old and the business survived happily without my physical presence. This year we are selling our home in the Perth hills to live on a bus permanently as “nomads” and only be in Perth as much as the business requires, so the current iteration of the business plan is around the automation and self-sustaining capacity of a yoga studio. I believe it can be done! Success for me lies in the studios ability to run this way – my choices now much more reflect my dream lifestyle than a dream salary.

What style or pose of yoga do you recommend and why?

I have one pose that is the nemesis of my chronic anxiety and it’s a deeply relaxing yin pose called Reclined Deer Pose Twist. It’s a combination of a seated twist (very stabilising & balancing for the nervous system) and a forward fold (calming and down-regulating for an anxious mind). Whenever I have trouble sleeping, 5 minutes of this pose on each side helps my mind to settle (which as small business owner, can be very loud in my head with to do lists!)

The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’, which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (Means you can take a peek of your future) What part are you seeing?

I can see what we are building towards now, come to fruition. I live with my two children and husband (and dog!) off-the-grid in our 40ft coach, somewhere in Australia and I run the studios remotely, returning to Perth as needed. This also grants me the freedom to finish writing my book!

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘Vital Beat Yoga’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Sarah Toquero, Everybody Jungle Body owner and instructor

Just like any other business owner, Sarah Toquero, had her fair share of ups and downs. From letting go of something she used to be passionate about, she still managed to find another craft she successfully grew. This was all possible because it was fuelled with her advocacy of supporting women in the Perth community.

For Sarah, it doesn’t matter whether she has a family to take care of plus a full-time job she absolutely loves—since there’s a burning passion of wanting to share her fitness journey in her community, she was able to pull off a side gig, being a Jungle Body instructor. This hustle is for her as much as it is for her clients/attendees.

But, how did she do it?

Why did you decide to start this business?

I started Everybody Jungle Body as a result of [being] a participant for 6 years and loving the programs. In 2013, I was working part-time and started a raw food business. I was selling my products at markets and then became a regular stall at many of the Jungle Body instructor’s classes. I really loved the community spirit and the “vibe” of class participation.

In 2014, I made the hard decision to close my raw food business as I had really fallen out of love with it.  I then decided to become a Jungle Body instructor as I wanted to really harvest the same “vibe” and support women in my local community. It was also a good incentive to keep up my fitness routine.

Everybody Jungle Body runs classes 3 times per week and on top of that I work full-time in a government role. I really love my full-time job, so I’m not giving that up anytime soon.

What do you wish you knew when you started Everybody Jungle Body?

I wish I knew the positive impact having classes in my community would have. I would have started sooner if I did.

What is unique about EJB?

What makes EJB unique is that any age or fitness level can attend. Each program is set to amazing music and with only 4 moves per track; it’s really easy to pick up. There is not lock in contract either; you just pay as you go.

How do you empower women in the community?

By allowing them to have a safe space to exercise. No judgment! Just an hour all to themselves. No household chores to think about, no work, no kids calling “mum” every two minutes J. Just music, fun and some freedom.

What frustrates you as a career woman, a business owner, and a fitness professional?

Frustrations usually lie within myself; just not enough time in the day to get everything done. But I think every business owner feels this. I have set myself a task of outsourcing in 2019. If I don’t have the time, then I need to find someone who does, otherwise it’s poorly executed.

Was there a time in your career or business when you felt like you wanted to give up? What did you do to move past it?

Giving up….ask anyone that knows me and they will probably say I’m too stubborn to give up. When I fell out of love with my raw food business, I knew it was time to move on. I have been instructing Jungle Body for over 3 years now and I’m still loving it. Each class is different, so you never get bored. We are blessed with really great support from our Jungle Body head office and I think that helps with it never becoming mundane.

What was your vision when you started? Is it different today?

My vision was to create a comfortable exercise space for women in my community, I guess that vision remains today. If anything it would also now be to create positive mental health changes in my participants. You can never under estimate the power of belonging and friendship. These values have really been exposed in my Jungle Body participants.

What makes EJB successful?

EJB is successful because I’m very real. I laugh a lot, I openly admit to making mistakes and I often forget my moves in the middle of track. We usually just laugh and carry on. I’m only human J

If you could give one fitness advice, what would it be?

Find a friend to exercise with. [It] keeps you both accountable and it’s less intimidating starting something new with a friend.

The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’, which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (Means you can take a peek of your future) What part are you seeing?

The magic light bulb would see me on the South of France with a wine in my hand and a cheeseboard…..I will get to tick it off my bucket list.

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘Everybody Jungle Body’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Erin Madeley, founder and event manager of Perth Makers Market

In honor of Women’s Month this March, we put the spotlight on some women of Perth who have paved the way for other women to thrive within the community.  In the entrepreneur world, it is challenging to break into the industry; hence community support is very important. In this entry, we are proud to put the highlight on one of Perth’s own girl boss, Erin Madeley, the founder and event manager of Perth Makers Market. It hosts women entrepreneurs in Perth by giving them a space to sell and exhibit their handmade products.

Take a look on what she has to say:

How did you get the idea or concept for this business?

I come from a background of being a stallholder at markets myself. I used to get very frustrated with how many of the markets in Perth were run at the time. It was difficult to get a stall at many markets as they consistently had the same businesses attending, or alternatively I was selling a high quality handmade item alongside imported items and couldn’t compete on price. At the time of starting Perth Makers Market, I wasn’t happy in my job at the time and was looking for something different to do. I’d had the idea for a while so [I] spoke to a friend of mine in the Eastern States who was running a market and asked how much of her time it took up to get an idea of workload, and after falling in love with the space at Heathcote Cultural Precinct, I asked them about hiring the site for an artisan market. After that the rest is history!

What was your mission at the outset?

My mission has always [been] to be able to provide a high quality platform for WA artistans to sell their goods to the public. I have always been committed to supporting students and emerging artists, so we incorporated discounts for them into our pricing. I also saw running my own business as an opportunity to give back to the community so we partner with non-profit organisations for them to fundraise and we also give free spaces to non-profit organisations so they can raise awareness for their causes and fundraise.

What is unique about Perth Makers Market?

I think for us, it is that we are definitely a community. Our stallholders are a wonderful bunch and are all very supportive of one another. What also makes us unique is our mission to give back to the wider community as well as supporting our artists and makers. We are also passionate about educating our stallholders so they have the tools they need to have their handmade business be successful. We offer low cost workshops for them to attend which gives them the opportunity to learn at an affordable rate.

How do you empower women in the community?

For many women, being a stallholder at a market is their first foray into the business world. Many of our stallholders start their business as a hobby, then look to turn it into a business when they realise the potential. For some women the reason they’re starting their handmade business is that they have realised through having children and taking a step back from the “standard” workforce that they’d rather work in an area that they’re passionate in and have more flexibility around their children. For women like this being a stallholder with Perth Makers Market helps them to grow their business and by taking advantage of the learning opportunities we provide their able to grow their businesses.

How do you make it profitable? (This is just to give budding entrepreneurs some ideas.)

The first thing I did when starting Perth Makers Market was sit down and write a business plan. I looked at all the costs and from there worked out what I would need to charge to not only cover my costs, but also to build in some contingency and to also pay myself a wage. My goal starting my own business was to be able to leave my “regular” job so I needed to be able to replace most of that income. The biggest thing to make it profitable was that in the first year every dollar the business earned went straight back into the business, to build the business, rather than paying myself a wage. At the time I was able to do this due to still having a “day” job and I know not everyone can do this, but I was able to. The other thing that is vital to making a business profitable is sticking to my business plan as much as I can in relation to what I was/was not budgeting for. Not only that, but also reviewing income and expenditures regularly to see if I was sticking to my plans, and if not, were the expenses necessary/reasonable and going from there.

How do you market it?

We have a widespread and comprehensive marketing strategy. For us we find that online advertising does seem to give us the best ROI, especially as it is easy to see and measure success. We also make sure that we have physical flyers that we can provide to our stallholders to pass out to their customers.

To what do you attribute your success?

When Perth Makers Market started there was no other strictly locally handmade only market running in Perth. There were Design Markets, Vintage Markets, Retro Markets and markets that have a bit of everything. By any market that was promoting itself as a handmade market wasn’t actually strictly handmade when you actually went and shopped. That is our point of difference. We are very strict with who we do/do not accept and should we find someone who sneaks in a product that they’ve not made themselves, we won’t have them back in the future. I think also making sure that we are bright, fun (not just online, but also when you come to a market), friendly, approachable and above all, honest has helped to make us the success we are today.

What were the struggles you encountered in building Perth Makers Market along the way and how did you overcome these?

There have been many things over the last few years that have been a struggle. In the first year it was going without sleep! My kids were 2 & 4 when I started and I worked 3 days a week. It meant that work on my business was at night once the kids were in bed, so I didn’t go to sleep before 2am any night that year. I’ve had to learn to approach things with a more “business” mindset rather than my natural disposition of just doing things out of the kindness of my heart for free, as otherwise Perth Makers Market would no longer exist. I’ve also had to grow a thicker skin and try not to take things to heart so much after being publicly defamed and also sent malicious and threatening e-mails from people who were unhappy with us enforcing our terms and conditions. The reality is that in business you cannot please everyone and trying to do so will just make you become really unhappy. For me overcoming these things has been through support from my friends and family, as well as regular appointments with my psychologist who helps me keep on top of my anxiety (which would be debilitating otherwise).

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Make sure you have a plan and a goal in mind when starting your business. It doesn’t have to include everything under the sun, but you should at least have some goals in mind so you know what you are working towards. And make sure that your pricing is set so that you can actually pay yourself!

The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’, which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (Means you can take a peek of your future) What part are you seeing?

I hope I’m seeing more people supporting the local handmade community, and that we have been able to help many handmade businesses turn their passions into a full time job. I hope to see Perth Makers Market partnering with local businesses and non-profit organisations to help the community as well.

Indeed, the path towards reaching your goals isn’t an easy one but resources like this- Perth Makers Market- make the journey worth it. If you’re a budding entrepreneur and you know in yourself that you can make it in the business world, we encourage you to join market events such as this. Big things come from small beginnings. You just need to have the courage to go out of your comfort zone and explore possible resources.

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘Perth Makers Market’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Toni Coates, owner of The Coat Box

The idea of decluttering and reorganising comes with the New Year. Removing the clutter from your home and organising your life can leave you with an environment filled with things you love and you actually use. For some of us, it somehow gives us a clean slate to start with and the idea that something is truly working for you.

Whether you have been inspired by Feng Shui, minimalism or the recent trend, the “KonMari method,” learn a thing or two from a Perth Girl boss herself:

What is ‘The Coat Box” all about? (What’s your inspiration for your business name?)

The Coat Box is a Professional Organising Business. I help people declutter and organise their homes or areas in the home where clutter and disorganisation is causing my clients stress or anxiety, or physically impeding the use of space in the home. The Business name I must admit is a little quirky! It was inspired by my surname (Coates) and my partner and kids’ surname (Box). As a family owned and run business, it just made sense – and could also sound like a kind of storage item.

What pushed you to start this kind of business?

From the first time I ever lived on my own, I became quite fussy about tidiness and organisation. This only grew as I got older and especially after I had children. When we moved into our current home, I had to become creative in the way things are stored and also somewhat ruthless with decluttering as my home has little storage available.  I came to the realisation that I actually really enjoy decluttering and organising and was pretty good at it! Why not help others with their home? I know that a lot of people struggle with clutter and disorganisation so I could help others at the same time as doing something I enjoy. Also as a Mum of 3 young daughters, running my own business with hours I could make suit our lifestyle meant I could still be home on weekends and after school to spend time with my family and do all the mum stuff (like driving back and forth from dance lessons!).

How are you able to go the extra mile for your clients?

My service is a very personal one. I’m working in people’s homes with their personal belongings so a high level of respect, compassion, understanding and empathy is a must. Every one of my clients is different and every home is different. Sometimes I may need to work closely with a client who suffers from mental or physical illness or perhaps with a client who has lost a spouse or loved one. Or maybe it’s a time poor family who are overwhelmed and just need some help and support. I’m a naturally friendly person so I find that after the initial questions, I like to just chat with my clients, listen to them and try my best to relate to them and their situation. In any, job it’s necessary to maintain a level of professionalism but it’s also ok to share something of yourself!

What are the struggles you encountered in building your business along the way and how did you overcome these?

Well! Funny story – when I started working on putting my business together I got unexpectedly pregnant with my 3^rd child! This put the brakes on for a couple of years but I stayed focused and continued trying to learn as much as I could for when I could “officially” start work. I’ve now been in business for 2 years.

Also as a business run from home and on a budget I opted to build my own website – this was a big learning curve! I managed to get it sorted though and with some great advice from a wonderful client on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) my site is now ranking high on Google search and this has improved my business exponentially!

Please share some valuable tips to our readers about decluttering and organising.

If you’re considering doing some decluttering and organising, depending on the time available and how motivated you are, start with the area that most frustrates you, or is most pressing – such as a cluttered kitchen that you have trouble working in, or a wardrobe where you have trouble finding what you’re looking for!

For those who are more hesitant or overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, maybe find something smaller, a drawer or just one of the kitchen cupboards. Then it doesn’t take as long and the visible results can boost your confidence and motivation.

Very importantly, go into any project with the aim to declutter first, then organise the items left back into the storage space. Try not to keep buying more and more storage as this can actually add to the clutter.

Don’t be afraid of empty space! People often see empty space and have the urge to fill it with something, don’t get pulled in by this feeling, instead, look at the space and try to appreciate it, one day you may need it.

Last but definitely not least, don’t be afraid to seek help, there are professional organisers all over Australia (and the world). Our professional Industry body IOPO (Institute of Professional Organisers International) has a database on their website you can search to find an organiser in your area.

The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’, which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (Means you can take a peek of your future) What part are you seeing?

Oh this is a hard one – there’s so much I’d love to see! My hope is that I could look forward to a time in the future when my business is still strong and successful, my family is happy and healthy and my daughters are growing up into smart, sensible and strong young women – one of the other big reasons for starting my business is to help support my family and be a good role model for my girls, so I’m really hoping this is in that illuminated future!

Organising and decluttering go far beyond improving the aesthetics of your home or work space. It’s essential to both your physical and mental wellbeing.  Find a way (and time) to start somewhere and just like what Toni said, if you’re not sure where to start, find something smaller. You got this!

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘The Coat Box’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Soul Finance Group’s Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2018

We’re a matter of days away from 2019, but let’s not hop on to that just yet. December is a great time to look back at the previous months and take stock of what truly resonated with our readers. Many online publications have compiled their best-of lists for 2018, and we want to get in on the action. So we took a look at which articles on Soul Finance Group blog were most popular this year.

Here are the 10 blog posts that made the cut:

10. Different Ways to Observe/Celebrate Australia Day

Celebrating Australia Day has been a tradition amongst Aussie people and they sure constantly look for ways to commemorate it. In this post, we listed ways on how to maximise it including the good ol’ BBQ party.

9. Ways to Consolidate Your Debt and How It Works

Juggling debts can be tricky, and time and time again, we always advice our clients (especially if it works in their financial situation) to consolidate their debts. Doing so could make it easier to manage and potentially save them money on interest.

8. Confessions of a Working Mum

This is a pretty sentimental entry for me as it was very personal and I showed a vulnerable side of me. This blog aimed to become relatable to my audience (working mums specifically) who are struggling to keep it together. It was also written in honour of the Women’s Month so I figured why not create something that will resonate with them.

7. How does the cash rate affect your home loan?

Not everyone is well-versed in the finance industry. As a Finance broker, part of my job is educating my clients about what they need to know in regards to their finance. Every month, there’s always news about the RBA and how it can affect a homeowner’s loan. I thought of dedicating a post explaining it so they are well-informed and know what the next steps they can do.

6. Why You Need to Talk to Your Lender Now

In this blog post, I shared with my clients how they can talk to their lender and why they need to do so. A lot of homeowners might be intimidated by the idea of talking to their lender, but it doesn’t have to be. With the help of their trusted Finance broker, I highly encourage them to call their bank and see if they can haggle for a better deal.

5. The Illuminate Series: ‘The Gifting Pot’

I launched a series this year called “The Illuminate Series” where I feature one Perth-based small business monthly. My goal is to highlight these small businesses and encourage readers to take the plunge if they have dreams of starting on their own.

4. The Illuminate Series: ‘Fusion Biz Babes’

This is the 2^nd entry for the series I started last September. I tried to introduce to the audience each small business via questions I asked them. One of the constant question I always include is this: “The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’ which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (means you can take a peek of your future ) What part are you seeing?” The answers are interesting and inspiring!

3. 2018 Personal Finance Apps for Australians

This was a bit fun to write since I could also use the apps myself. A lot of us are looking for ways to make our lives a little easier so these finance apps are a huge help!

2. Beating the Holiday Rush: Gifts We Love from These Perth Businessowners

I won’t grow tired supporting my fellow girlbosses especially in my local community! Hence, I made this a part of my blog entries where I personally recommend small businesses in Perth where people can get their Holiday presents from. Turns out people loved the post!

1. First Time Home Buying: Your Questions Answered

The 2018 top most read blog post on Soul Finance Group! This post shared some simple and efficient ways in purchasing your very first own home. The process can be really overwhelming and complicated especially for first timers and my job is to help them with that.

Those are the top 10! Excited for what 2019 will bring! In the meantime, Soul Finance Group  will continue to offer you informative and educational content related to anything mortgage and finance. Happy New Year!

Disclaimer:

Credit Representative Number 486927 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328.

This article provides general information only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial situation will need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. Subject to lenders terms and conditions, fees and charges and eligibility criteria apply.

The post Soul Finance Group’s 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2018 appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Gia Le, founder and owner of Elite Property Campaigns

The real estate industry and the digital marketing world both have a competitive nature. Gia Le, founder and owner of EPC, was able to cut through the clutter and established a brand that has a huge potential.

True enough, being just 2 years in business, Elite Property Campaigns are serving their clients with the highest of quality and delivering the vision they initially set.

“Can you share a little bit of information about what you do in your business and what makes you stand out amongst your competitors?”

Elite Property Campaigns is a digital marketing agency and we collaborate with some of Perth’s most recognisable real estate brands, delivering innovative digital solutions with international reach. As the Founder and Business Owner, I set the vision for the company, empower my team to innovate and most importantly, make sure we don’t go broke.

We are the only marketing agency in Western Australia that specialises in property with a data driven approach to create our campaigns by researching information from the ABS Census to make informed and educated strategies which deliver results.

“What made you decide to branch out on your own and build Elite Property Campaigns?”

I excelled in Finance in my earlier career with a keen eye for analytics, then started in real estate when I decided to use a digital strategy to gain traction. I sold 20 homes in my first of real estate and realised there was a huge niche in the market that was not being met by any marketer or digital agency. I combined my passion for digital marketing with data analysis and within that afternoon of telling my colleague about my business, I had 2 paying clients.

“What is your leadership style?”

I would like to think it is a combination of:

• Transformational where I encourage them to innovate through mental stimulation
• Democratic because I do listen to their input and recommendations before making a final decision
• Charismatic because I like to make my team laugh

“What were the struggles you encountered in building your business along the way and how did you approach these?”

Building the infrastructure to your business is tough because there is no precedence and you’re moving into zones where you lack certain skills like managing cashflow, marketing or sales. The key is to recognise these weaknesses and I invested very heavily into areas where I didn’t have the skills or experience to build the necessary infrastructure for the business. Never see growing your business as an expense, it’s an investment.

“With the Holidays season, how are you gearing up in terms of running your business and also leading/managing your employees?”

We are shutting down for 2 weeks so the next month will be extremely busy and challenging both mentally and physically. I’m regularly checking in with each staff member to ensure they’re happy, engaged and productive. I actually don’t have an office and my Executive Assistant sits on the opposite end of the office so I walk to her about 10 times a day – making me highly visible to the team which encourages them to create dialogue with myself. It’s about creating visibility and being approachable.

“The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’ which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (means you can take a peek of your future ) What part are you seeing?”

In five years, I’ll be seeing all the young graduates I’ve made an impact on in their professional careers. Many would have gone onto creating spectacular careers with other agencies because they’ve received the training EPC has given them and most importantly, they will be champions of the culture we shared with them.

I’ll also be extremely proud for knowing EPC set a new precedence in the way we market real estate and raising industry standards, meaning to list a property realestate.com.au is simply not enough.

Starting your own business is no easy task. You just got to have the heart and passion to make it work. Like what Gia said, “never see growing your business as an expense, it’s an investment.” Identify your weaknesses and areas where you struggle. Find the right resources and work on these. If you’re hungry for success, no amount of excuses should stop you.

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘Elite Property Campaigns’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Ashley Matkovic, founder of Fusion Biz Babes

We are now in the second installment of our campaign, “The Illuminate Series,” where we highlight one Perth small business every month in the hopes of inspiring our readers to take the plunge and start something they’ve long been wanting to do. (If you want to read our first installment, click here.)

Here at Soul Finance Group, we’re a big believer in entrepreneurship. There are a myriad number of benefits—it gives you more control over your financial future and more social capital than almost anything else in the modern times. We consider it one of the best routes to self-empowerment and social change that we know of, giving women the ability to excel on their own terms instead of being trapped in the limbo of a toxic work environment.

Hence, we now put the spotlight on Ashley Matkovic, founder of Fusion Biz Babes. With a growing community she built from scratch, we’re curious as how she was able pull it off!

“Tell us about your business and what makes you unique amongst others in your industry.”

Fusion Biz Babes is a welcoming community for female business owners in Perth. The main point of difference is that we put genuine relationship building before making sales.  No-one likes a million biz cards being thrown at them right!

I wanted to create a safe, welcoming and FUN space for women in business to meet, connect and share experiences & expertise – because we all know being in business for ourselves is not always easy.

Since launching The Fusion Membership in March 2017, we have now grown to 140+ members, where we meet in-person at regular events, and strengthen those connections in our online Facebook group.

“Why did you decide to start Fusion Biz Babes?”

I am on a mission to make networking fun again!  Surrounding yourself with likeminded people who are motivated, empowering, and supportive is the KEY to success.

So, I started Fusion Biz Babes as a less daunting way to get around the right people.  To eliminate the awkwardness that sometimes comes along with networking, and cut through the small talk to drive real conversations.  I want our members to look forward to getting out there and building their network, rather than it just being another thing on their to-do list.

“How do you learn?”

I am an audio learner.  I go on a run and throw on my fave podcast (loving Entrepreneur On Fire and the Foundr Podcast.) I jump in the car and pop on an audiobook (currently listening to Oversubscribed by Daniel Priestley.)  Even if I’m just doing the dishes or having a shower, I will pop on a Masterclass and listen and learn – multi-tasking at its finest!

Ashley, in her element

“What was your/were your greatest struggle/s in building this empire, so far?”

Definitely would have to be mindset.  I struggled with putting myself out there, worrying what others would think, and having those imposter syndrome thoughts of who am I to be doing this.  I keep on top of my mindset by constantly working on strengthening it – through investing in personal development such as coaches, kinesiology, podcasts, courses, events, seminars, books.

Surrounding myself with the right people who pick me up, give me a pep talk or a butt-kicking when needed helps too!

“What are your motivations to keep going?”

FREEDOM!  On 6^th October 2017 (1 year ago!) I achieved my ultimate dream of becoming my own boss.  After almost 3 years of side-hustling I had finally built Fusion Biz Babes to the point where I could quit my day job and support myself working full time on the business.

To be able to choose HOW I spend my days, WHO I work with, WHAT projects I work on, and WHEN I work has been a huge source of happiness for me, as freedom is one of my top values.

Anytime I am having a tough day, I remind myself I would much rather be facing these challenges, than working for someone else!

“The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’ which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. (means you can take a peek of your future ) What part are you seeing?”

Great question!  I’ve never been to a psychic for the exact reason that I don’t want to know!  I’d rather live it and feel it as it happens.

But if I had to answer, I would probably say family… how many kiddies will I have and what will they be like!?!?

Thank you again to Ashley for accepting our invitation to get featured in our series! If you wish to grow your network, you might want to consider reaching out to Ashley and check her business, Fusion Biz Babes.

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘Fusion Biz Babes’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.

Hey ladies, and gents! We are officially launching our “Illuminate series” where we feature small businesses in Perth once a month. Our goal is to highlight (or illuminate!) the success stories of each brand and how were they able to pull it off, especially in such a competitive market!

And since it’s Father’s day this weekend, what better way to kick it off than to start with something about gifts. Yes, we are talking about Perth’s gift concierge, Lyn Uniewicz, owner of The Gifting Pot.

“What is ‘The Gifting Pot’ all about?”

The Gifting Pot is a boutique gifting service, that has personality. [It] offers and delivers quality, sustainable, and on trend gifts with real values. I didn’t want to be a “cookie cutter” gifting business. I wanted to set myself apart from the conventional hamper or gift box, and create a meaningful and practical gift that continues to give, is remembered, and “keeps growing for some time to come.”

So, this is why I focus the gifts based around garden pots and seeds.  Every gift pot starts with a beautiful garden pot and custom seeds, creating a gift that is remembered, is environmentally-friendly, and continues to give when the seeds are planted. It’s why we call it “The gift that keeps growing.”

“The gift that keeps growing”

“Why did you build/create it?”

I have always loved gifting! I love seeing people enjoy the gifts that I have given or presented to them! After scouting the net for a really special personalised gift and not finding what I was looking for, I felt the market was lacking a thirst for unique quality products with a bit of flair and so this is where my desire to become involved in gifting began and the Gifting Pot “seed” was planted.

“How were you able to pull it off?”

I invest[ed] a lot of time researching and sourcing quality gifts. I work[ed] with some amazing local and interstate suppliers, who support and encourage my journey.

(Of course, we did not pass up the opportunity to ask Lyn about gifts for Father’s Day!)

“Can you provide sample gifts for Father’s Day at every price point?”

All gifts pots range from $99 – $200 and are all customised, and thoughtfully curated, offering something for everyone, whether corporate or personal.

With Father’s Day coming up, we have customised some gift pots that we know Dad will love!

Whether Dad is a coffee or tea lover or enjoys a cold beer or a nice glass of red, we’ve got you covered!

Our standard gift pot starts at $99 and there are many products to choose from! Check us out on Facebook or Instagram for all the details and options; but remember that orders close this Friday.

(So, hurry up guys! Today’s the last day!)

A sample Father’s day gift

“What is your illuminating realization as a business owner so far?”

It’s not always easy working for yourself.  You have to keep self-motivated, be organized, and manage your time well.  It’s about having the right attitude and the passion for what you do and make continual progress everyday. Have a vision, make a plan, and work on it everyday and just be the best you can be!

“The future ahead of you is dark. You are holding a ‘magic light bulb’ which has the power to illuminate any part in your future. What part are you seeing?”

I like this one!!! I’m seeing freedom, doing things how I want to do them and having fun…lots of fun along the way!! and live the best life that I can live!

(We might make this the official and constant question for this series.)

 There you have it! If you don’t have the luxury of time to curate a meaningful gift this Father’s day, be sure to check out Lyn on her social media channels. Her website is still on the work so watch out for that!

And to all the Fathers out there, we send you our sincerest greetings. Enjoy your day!

The post The Illuminate Series: ‘The Gifting Pot’ appeared first on Soul Finance Group.