BYRON NATURE’S GIFT – http://byronnaturesgift.com.au/

 

Please supply a brief background about your business including when it started, your product/service base you offer, what is unique  bout your business/products/services.   

Byron Nature’s Gift is a family owned business established in 2004, offering boutique product with purity guaranteed. We believe fresh is best so our products are handmade in small batches daily, so that our clients get the maximum benefit with superior results from fresh antioxidants and vitamins. We care for our clients and their health and that is why we are continually adding certified organic ingredients to our already pure products. Because we make our products from scratch, they are enriched with a high concentration of nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxidants and marine extracts to enhance skin’s youthful appeal and delay signs
of ageing. We care for the environment and protect animals as none of the ingredients we use have been tested on or derived from animals.

As we grow we aim to maintain our high standards and quality control and continue to care for each and every one of our clients as well as the environment we
live in.

What are the three most important tasks or systems you developed for your business in the first twelve to eighteen months?

Developed formulas for products range
Sourced the packaging and the ingredients for products
Developed manufacturing processes

 What is the biggest challenge you have faced and solved to date?

Biggest challenge has been keeping the business going during setting up time as there are so many demands on the cash flow. Packaging is a ontinuous challenge because Australian market is only small in comparison to the rest of the world and in order to get up market packaging I have too buy packaging in big quantities.

The presentation of the products – packaging and labeling has been a challenge because it is so important to have products noticed and looking professional on the budget. I try and have things done locally but I had to go to Sydney to have the labels printed. It had taken few goes and quiet a bit of investment to get the labels sorted.

Website development, I started with website I built myself, later had it developed by web developer and it is being upgraded now again.

What areas of advice did you seek from THE NORTHERN RIVERS BEC?

In the past I have asked how to increase my sales, to see an accountant and most recently a solicitor to help me develop an agreement.

What advice proved very useful/valuable to you, and who provided this (which of our advisors)?

Northern Rivers BEC had very informative Accounting seminar presented by Action Coach (I think) which I found particularly helpful as it addressed  how to nalyse figures and find break even point. It was very useful and practical way to look at what is happening in the business.

A marketing workshop with Kym Kranen was also very helpful and we then formed a marketing group where we applied the knowledge gained from the workshop. With Kym’s help my business started to gain momentum. 

How else has THE NORTHERN RIVERS BEC assisted you and your business?

I am grateful that there is the local association to which I can turn and ask for the assistance and the advice in day to day running of my business. 

Do you have any quotes re THE NORTHERN RIVERS BEC involvement and assistance?

Whenever I have approached BEC for advice I have always been happy with their services.

What management skills or topics will be the top priority for you in the short and medium term?  

Sales and Marketing on the budget has been a constant challenge for me as I am in very competitive industry and as a small business operator I do not have thousands of dollars to spend on branding, promotion and advertising.

I have always found BEC personnel very helpful but not the people government employs to help small business owners.