Episode 38: How To Start A Business Inspired By Your Heritage with Dinzi Amobi of ULO Australia
Fiona invites Dinzi Amobi of ULO Australia as this week’s guest. In this longer podcast episode they talk about Dinzi switching careers from being a lawyer to running a small business that sells homewares, children’s and women’s clothing with prints inspired by her African heritage. Listen now as Dinzi shares her thoughts on the challenges of managing a business while raising twin toddlers, how the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement affects her as a Black female business owner and how her business - particularly ULO Woman - wants every woman to celebrate who they are and embrace how their own style with their clothing designs and fabric.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Introduction [2:30]
Catching up with Dinzi [7:11]
COVID's impact on the business [7:26]
Dinzi's law background [10:25]
How she started with ULO Australia [11:27]
Dinzi's upbringing [14:08]
On making business decisions [19:50]
Raising twins and running a business [27:48]
On the Black Lives Matter movement [36:03]
The business after restrictions life [47:00]
On celebrating women with ULO Women [50:51]
Mentor/Book/Course recommendations [58:34]
On hiring a studio for the business [1:01:25]
On changing anything for the business [1:04:29]
What Dinzi is most proud of [1:05:39]
Connect with Dinzi and ULO Australia [1:07:18]
Conclusion [1:10:06]
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode transcript:
I don't really plan very well. I just go with instinct. I ask for a lot of feedback. I speak to our customers. I create pieces that I like to wear, that I like my kids to wear. And I then try and translate that through our designs and collections to other people. So that's how we work. We're very like a fluid kind of set up, I guess.
Hello and welcome to Episode 38 of My Daily Business Coach podcast.
I am super excited to be hearing from just so many people who have recently found this podcast. So thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person who has reached out, sent an email, sent me a DM over on Instagram. I'm just at @mydailybusinesscoach. I started this podcast a few months ago to really help small business owners with frameworks and tactics and tips and insights and inspiration. And it is so lovely to hear that that's what it's doing. And it's doing its job. So thank you, thank you, thank you.
And if you're new to this podcast, make sure you go and check out all of the 37 episodes before this one as well. After you've listened to this, of course, there are just so many tips and insights and tactics and ideas and a lot of inspiration from small business owners that I interview.
So I do three different types of episodes. They come out twice a week. Every Tuesday is a tip. So it's just a quick tool, tip or tactic. And then every Thursday is a longer episode, and that's either a coaching episode just with me or an interview with a small business owner. And today I am bringing you an interview episode. And I'm really, really excited about the guest that I was lucky enough to chat to earlier this week.
Dinzi Amobi is a Melbourne-based designer and she's the founder of ULO Australia, which produces homeware, children's wear and hats and accessories and and most recently, women's wear - ULO Women. And so every single item is made on demand, which means there's no huge waste. And it's not this fast fashion sort of stuff. It's really a sustainable business where everything is designed and it's made with intention.
Now, I first came across Dinzi on Instagram and it was a couple of years ago. She's only been around for a few years, but it was kind of very early in her business journey. And I was immediately just captivated by her down to earth attitude and her love of bold, bright colours and clashing patterns and just the magnificent African fabrics, which are a huge part of her brand. And I bought my children's clothing from her and I've got this beautiful sunhat for my son at the moment, which he's wearing a lot. Sunshine is coming out in Melbourne, finally. And I've bought some of her women's designs lately. And I can tell you, hand on heart, they are 100 percent just so comfortable, so well-made. And she just has this knack of choosing patterns and prints that they just light you up. And every time you put it on, they make you feel good. You just feel like, yeah, like a colour can do that to you. And Dinzi actually talks about that in the podcast, how important it is to wear colour and to not feel ashamed about being bold or bright, especially, you know, as you get older or maybe, you know, your shape changes or other things like that.
Now, Dinzi was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and then she moved to London in the UK and then finally settled in Australia. She settled for now in Australia, first in Sydney and more recently in Melbourne, which is also where I live.
In this interview, we discuss what it was like growing up with, you know, somewhat strict African parents. We talk about her first career as a lawyer and how she manages to grow her business alongside looking after twin girls who are still toddlers. They are just two years old. And in this interview, Dinzi is just so giving and she so honestly talks about the challenges that have impacted her business in 2020, what it's like to be a relatively new business owner going through a pandemic. She also talks about her struggles around having children and being incredibly heartbreaking situation that she found herself in after a very difficult pregnancy. And what it was like to go through that and experience all of that, but also grow her business at the same time.
Also in this episode, which kind of gets deep in parts, we do talk about what it has been like as a black female business owner with the resurgence of Black Lives Matter and all of the things that that has thrown up and what impact that has had on her personally and professionally. She talks about she's married to a white Australian man and what it means for her children to be growing up with everything else going on. She is just so inspiring and her passion for what she does absolutely shines through in everything she discusses in this podcast.
Part of what I think really attracts people to loan definitely what attracted me in the first instance is just this down to earth, real fun and genuine tone of voice for the brand. It's for everyone. And as Dinzi mentions, the clothing that she designs, especially for ULO Women - I mean, for all everything that she designs is super comfortable, but for what she has designed with the woman's wear is just so comfortable. And I think that is something that fashion hasn't got right all the time. And what I love is that she's designing pieces that really everyone can wear, you know, whatever shape, whatever size, whatever age, whatever skin tone, whatever your style is, they just seem to suit everyone and this inclusivity is just really, really, really welcomed, particularly with a brand that features women's apparel as part of what they offer - that down to earth attitude and really the realness is also so present with Dinzi herself. And I just took away so much from our conversation. And I know that you will, too. She is just a delight to talk to, and I can't wait to catch up with her in real life when lockdown is finally over. If you don't already know ULO, definitely go and check them out after the interview at ULO Australia - www.uloaustralia.com. Or you can find them on Instagram @uloaustralia.
And if you're listening to this in real time, definitely make sure that you signed up to their newsletter because they're announcing something big next week. All right. For now, let's dive into today's interview with the incredible and brilliant Dinzi Amobi, founder of ULO Australia.
So welcome. I was so excited to have you on the podcast today, Dinzi, how are you?
Thank you, Fiona. I'm really, really well. I am much like all things considering. Thank you so much for having me on. I'm so excited.
Oh, I was super excited to have you here. So everyone would've just heard a little bit about you in the intro and how much I love everything that you do. How has 2020 been for you as a business owner? How has COVID kind of impacted what you're doing?
2020 has been a very interesting day for us with the business in particular. I mean, we've just been so fortunate this year and we've, you know, I hate to say, but we we've had a really good year because we've been able to stay quite lean. And I hate using the word, but we've been able to pivot and, you know, create products that are needed and people have enjoyed purchasing from us. So it's it's been one of those two years where we've had to cope with so many logistical issues and hurdles. And, of course, being based in Victoria under the restrictions, that's been very, very challenging. But nevertheless, I mean, what is it? October, we're still standing. So, yeah, it's been quite the year.
Yeah, it is. It's so funny that you say that because today is the first day back at school, primary school. And my eldest went back and he's back that we play like the track that we played when he first started school the first day. And we play all the time whenever it's a bit sort of, you know, maybe there's a bit of anxiety or nerves around.
Can you tell us how you describe your business? And it's ULO. How would you describe it and what is it for people who may not have heard of it?
Yeah, sure. So, you know, it's actually a word in Igbo, which means 'home' and Igbo, the dialect that we speak - my late father spoke. We spoke Nigeria. So it means home and ULO is a lifestyle brand. It is a celebration of all the things that I loved growing up with in Nigeria.
And I still continue to love, which is the fabric called WACs Fabric Textiles. And it's really just a brand celebrating, you know, joy and trying to bring joy to others through our designs, through our lifestyle pieces. And yeah, it's really a celebration. It's a celebration of African culture and heritage and history. It's all of those things.
And you do it so well. I have your children's stuff. I have your face masks. And I just love those colours. And years and years ago, I lived in London and I used to buy a lot of that sort of Dutch fabric. And it was just it's just like nothing else out there, you know? Vivacious and fun.
So it's so good. But you didn't actually start in this. I mean, it would be I feel like from the outset as well. And obviously we'll get into this. I feel like if you just feel like people if I'm right something and when I look at your brand and the what you do and the way that you do it, you just seem to do it so well and it seems to come so naturally, you know, this is what it has been or in some sort of area like that. But you totally started in a different field. Is it law? Is that correct?
Yeah, correct. Yeah. I started as a lawyer. I trained as a lawyer in the U.K. and I worked in various banking institutions and hedge funds. And I did that kind of law for a long time in London and then then moved here to Australia and worked as a lawyer and a company secretary, actually, in Sydney and then Melbourne. So my background is law. So, yeah, I kind of just changed careers shortly before finding out I was pregnant, which is an interesting thing to do. So, yeah. No, my background is lawyer. Yeah.
Wow. And so what prompted you to start this. And did you did you do a huge amount of like market research to look at competitors? And I guess why did you want to start this and then how secondary to that did you think, oh, I'll be different to you know what's out in the market already?
Yeah, sure. So it goes back. A few years ago, we were living in Sydney and we were having a dinner party with some of our friends. And back in the day when you could have a dinner party and, you know, I just I said to my husband, I just want to, you know, I want to deck our table out. We had this, like, secondhand table in our dining room. And I just want to deck it out with the fabric that Mum would have used and make some nice place mats, napkins. Anyway, randomly, I went searching for a table sets and dinnerware, and I couldn't find anything that even came remotely close to what my mom would have used or any kind of colours or prints. And so I just created like a set of six napkins and placemats one evening before the dinner party. And then I just used them for this dinner. I thought, you know, and everyone commented when we were having dinner, "Oh these are really cool. Like, what's this fabric?" And, you know, then that led me to like talk about my, you know, my family and my background. And I just had this feeling of people really liked what was on the table. I wonder whether other people would like it.
Yeah. So it was a hobby. It was really a hobby. And I would work during the day as lawyer and then in the evenings I just do little bits of design. I bought myself a sewing machine. I'd sew some things, show my husband. He was kind of like, yeah, they actually look quite cool. So that's where it really stemmed from. Just doing a very small homewares collection for myself. And then I just thought, I wonder if other people would be interested because I hadn't seen it here in Australia.
And funnily enough, when I showed my family my designs, they also really like them. And which is quite interesting because I thought, well, you've seen the stuff well before, but I guess like my clashing prints idea had never really been done.
So that was quite nice to realise that my family also thought that what I was designing was quite unique and interesting. So, yeah, that's where it really kind of came from. And then from there, I just I did do a lot of market research and I was not when I did the market research, I was quite nervous because I thought, oh, my goodness, there's nothing like that on the market. Are people going to really like this because it's so different? And I just thought, I'll just go for it and see what happens.
I love that approach. And also, I love that you were sort of like like I love the origins of how it came about. You probably thought, oh, this is just, you know, this is maybe something I've grown up with or, you know, and your friends are like, oh, my gosh, what's this? Tell us about these. Yeah, I think in lots of business cases, people are like, oh, but is there even a market for that? Do people want? It's just such a stock standard, maybe part of our life. And you have mentioned, you know, even from the brand name in the origins with your father and you mentioned the way that you've grown up and he worked in London. Can you tell us a bit about the upbringing that you had and how you know, how did you feel confident to go from law, which is very stable? You know, my brother's a lawyer. My sister-in-law's a lawyer. It's very stable. You know, you earn good money. All of that stuff we brought up in a house that was like, that's fine if you want to just switch careers. What was your upbringing like?
I was raised a very traditional African family. I grew up in Nigeria up until the age of nine, and then we moved to London. My mum's half English, half Nigerian, and my father was Nigerian.
But we were raised in Lagos and my parents had really traditional careers.
And my father was a barrister and a diplomat in Japan. And my mother, well, is well, she is a GP and recently retired GP in London.
And so I had parents who had really traditional backgrounds. And so we were raised in a really happy, joyful home in Lagos, so close to my cousins. And, you know, my brothers and sisters, we were all such it was such a big family.
So, you know, there was a lot of laughter and a lot of joy in our house, which is very special. But it was about, you know, my father was like a traditional African man. So you go to school. You go to university. And then you get the job. And the job must be either kind of, you know, law or medicine or something like that. So I studied at King's College in London and I actually studied classics so ancient Greek, Latin and ancient history, which my father wasn't too impressed with because he was kind of like, what are you going to do with this afterwards?
And I did that because that was my passion. I love history. I loves everything about ancient history as well. In particular, I know Latin was really analytical language to learn. So I did that. And after I graduated from Kings, I thought, oh, goodness, what am I going to do with this degree? My father was right. I'm not like, what could I possibly do? And so I went on to study law afterwards and kind of took that very traditional route. You know, many people do it. It's a very comfortable route. You do. And good money. It's a great career. But I've always enjoyed designing, drawing, music. I like being creative. And I just found that the path I was going down didn't allow me to do that. And I think, you know, the older you get, you kind of really find what it is that you love. And it kind of that feeling was stirring inside of me. And I just I thought it was the best time to kind of take a leap of faith and see where this path could take me.
But my father passed away before I started the business. So I'm not sure what he would think. Think of it now. I hope I'm doing him proud. My mother, who is a very you know, she's a GP and that's been her life has been so supportive. My mom is so proud of what I'm doing. And she never once told me not to do this. She said, give it a go. And if it doesn't work out, you can always go back to law. So I've always had that in my head. And she's a very, very supportive person in my life. So it was interesting. I didn't expect her to be so flexible in her thinking.
I was laughing because that is so similar, maybe not exactly the same, but at all. But my parents, we came out here, you know, like my parents didn't know anyone in Australia. We came out from England and they were Irish. But very much we had that. Exactly. You go to school, you get good grades, you go to university. And once you've done a university degree, then you can like have some freedom. Yeah. And so, yeah, my sisters a GP my eldest brother is a professor in psychology and my other brother was a CFO and now he's a lawyer. So I definitely like "Fiona, what are you going to do with your life?" I did an arts degree and I remember my mum would be like you got an arts degree. what are you gonna do? Work at a call centre for the rest of your life.
And I was like, oh, mum! but then when I actually went on and then when I started my business, my mom passed away a few years ago and right before, like one of the last email she sent me was. Have you heard of this book? It's called The Hundred Dollar Startup, I think could be really, really into it. She was sending me, you know, business ideas and all of a thing. So I feel like, yeah, even though they had that same sort of get to unique, you know, I think it was the same kind of idea maybe that your parents had, that at least you'd have something to fall back on. You'd have some sort of education at once. My parents used to always drummed into us once you got education, no one can take it away from you.
Absolutely. And it stood me in good stead. I've learnt so many skills through doing law and I've met so many interesting people. And actually some of my friends who are lawyers are the ones who give me advice and kind of help me with the business.
So I feel like it was, you know, I've gained from being having that career in my life.
And a friend of mine, Phoebe, who owns Sage and Clare, she did law as well. And she often talks about, oh, my gosh, I learned so much from the law degree that's been really beneficial with my business. Yes. Just a lot of communications and media and all of that. Sort of stuff, as well as commerce and that kind of commercial legality side of it. To touch on what you said before, I'm sure your parents are very proud of you. You had mentioned that ULO - you started it with homewares and you have adapted, so you offer, you know, kids apparel. And I think that's when I first got into you and I bought some stuff for my youngest. And I was just like, oh, my gosh, I need to just stop because I could just go crazy. I don't want you to. But then you moved onto an amazing women's collection and we were just talking before I hit record that just your top that I have is just the most comfortable thing. And I love it. I love how it looks. It feels like I'm just wearing, like, pyjamas. How did you make the decision to expand? Especially because you've got a small team. So was it the clear decision? I'm not going to just make comments now. I'm going to do kids and now I'm going to do women's. Did you actually make that happen? Because a lot of people have that idea, like, I'm gonna do this and they'll do this. I want to do this. And you've been able to do it, but do it in a way that's sustainable and it packs a punch for each of those different audience groups.
Yeah, definitely. I think I get back to the kind of ULO, which means home. And I've always started this brand wanting to create everyday pieces that would be used by everyday people in their homes and in their lives.
And I was really kind of designing for my home in particular.
So, you know, I designed the homewares collection, which was already beautiful and well received. And then I obviously had the girls, I had my twins, and it was quite funny. I was I was doing their washing one day. I do like buckets and buckets of washing. And I looked down and it was all beautiful, like, you know, pale pinks and blue, you know, all the nice seasonal colours and tons.
I just thought I'd love them to wear something that I would have worn. And I just played around with fabric to create some pieces for them, really. And I took them to the park one day and somebody said, oh, my goodness, like, where did you buy that from? And I really. And that just kind of grabbed me in the sense of.
Well, again, that's something that, you know, it's a very unique product and people haven't seen this fabric. And on the flip side, when I was playing around with I say playing around, but when I was, you know, the girls would be on the on the mat to not be playing with the fabrics and seeing what I could do. I watched my kids eyes and they were probably about three or four months or so. I like moved with the fabric and the colour. And they were really responding to it. And so I started to think about how important it is that colour is part of our lives, whether we're babies or, you know, adults, older people, you know, like colour is so important to us as people. And it really reflects who we are. And with the kids my age range, it was really just wanting to create beautiful pieces for kids to really embrace. Just being feeling bold and confident in themselves and only sticking out because as you know, like, well, our fabrics are just so unique that they really resonate.
So I designed the kids, my collection with sweetie, with my twins in mind, and really to just kind of, you know, share these pieces with other people.
And I didn't know whether people would like this stuff. I didn't know whether they want their kids to be wearing it. And so we were very mindful of how we made the collection and how we built the collection. That's what we've always done with everything that we make. You know, we pay attention to what our customers are saying and what they like and what they don't like because we are a small team. So we have to you know, we can't just make for the sake of making, you know, you make because people you know, people are going to like what you're creating.
And so that's that's where it came with the kids. And then, funnily enough, you know, Kids Buy went into a few stores that went into and then Bethany's Becky's store, Pinkie's and Preston and then to a couple of other stores, the Burrows and Brunswick.
And we you know, I went speak to the stockists, to all those shop owners, I, I asked them, you know, what's the feedback like? Are people buying it? Do they like it? What are people saying about it? And they're enough. All of them said, oh yeah, they like it, but they want it. They want to buy it themselves. You know, they're asking where it was, where where the pieces were asked to.
And by that point, I become quite confident enough that I could design maybe for like women perhaps. And so after talking to them, it was really interesting.
It was just this kind of resounding kind of, you know, yes, people want to wear this.
They really do. And I wear it. So I just decided to branch out into women's wear and create everyday pieces for women to enjoy and to be able to wear fabric. It really just brings joy and happiness into my life. And I'm hoping that that will translate to what we do with women. So I guess I'm on to that question really in the long way, but not in my production manager will just shoot me, would say I agree with what I'm about to say is what I don't really plan very well. I just go with instinct. I ask for a lot of feedback. I speak to our customers. I create pieces that I like to wear. I like my kids to wear. And I then try and translate that through are designs and collections to other people. So that's how we work. We're very like a fluid kind of setup, I guess.
I mean. Got it. It all makes sense. And I would be exactly like those people that were going into the store being like, I went this because when you put it out of like, oh my God, my God. And I think you put out like a teaser. And I was like, oh, gosh. Seven thirty is what I need to put my alarm. And then I realised it was like a week later or I think I could have I don't know. But I was like, oh my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. And I just love it. And I'll definitely be buying some more. So one of the things that you have mentioned and one of the reasons that I wanted to talk to you, as well as all your amazing just style and understanding about your business, was the fact that you do have twins. And I find that fascinating is I mean, I just find twins fascinating. I watch documentaries and stuff. And one of my really good friends, when I lived in London, we had a face on in London and one of my closest friends that had twins just before we had my son. So we were very much, you know, I'd get all the. Tammy Downs and and everything like that, and I saw she was running a business. I saw firsthand just how much work it was. And, you know, a baby is hard anytime. I mean, they're beautiful and lovely and all of that as well. I have fought a 14, 15 month old at the moment, so I've x baby and business, but I have obviously not done that anywhere close to people with twins. I just think. Hats off. And you mentioned before that. Did you just find out you were pregnant when you were starting the business or did you start the business and then find out you're pregnant? Or like, how did that work? Because I'm going on about it. But I feel like so many people would say that I'd be like, oh, gosh. Well, you know what? I should just stick with law. I should get to emulate. You did it. And so can you talk us through how you've been able to carry on and kind of what's worked, what doesn't? And I should also point out, I know they'll be people listening, things like why are you asking her, you know, asking your husband a partner? But I do think, especially at the start, if you're breastfeeding or even if you're formula feeding is still a lot of it goes with the mom. Absolutely. And so, yeah. How have you structured things to be able to raise twins and also have this really successful business?
Well, have I done it? Just make it up as I go along. Yes. So to answer your first question will touch on your first point.
I actually left my full time job because, you know, I just decided I wanted to go down this path and I'd been doing late at night and it was just becoming a bit exhausting trying to do two jobs. And I was quite confident and what I was starting to create. So I quit my job and then six weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. And then four weeks later, I found out we were having twins. So that was not ideal. I think my husband went like the colour of, I don't know, custard or something.
Like he was just like sick. And we had, you know, we'd been trying for a very long time to have kids. And it looked like I wasn't probably going to be able to do it naturally. And I'm sure you won't mind me sharing this. But so really, to find out that we were having twins was such a shock to us.
And it was a very strange time because here I was about to make a change in my life, my career.
And also, I must add that I decided to pursue it because I come to the realisation that, okay, I might not be able to have kids naturally. And so let me just try and build this business. And let me try and do something this year that I'm gonna be proud of. And so weirdly, that happened. And then we found out I was pregnant with twins.
And so that was all quite a weird few months. And then I launched the website. When I was about 10 weeks pregnant with literally with my mom, with my head in a bucket, like I still remember the day my husband was the one who press launch because on the website, because I was just feeling so well. And then we had a really, really difficult pregnancy, very difficult. Mary lost them at 19 weeks and they're identical twins, which obviously comes with lots of complications. And I unfortunately did have all those complications.
And so during pregnancy, I wasn't able to do too much because I just had to focus on looking after myself and staying positive. And, you know, we were told that they would arrive when they were 26 weeks. I mean, I spent six weeks pregnant. So we had a very tough pregnancy. And in fact, we ended up getting to 36 weeks, which I didn't know how. I don't know how we managed it. We're very, very lucky.
And when they were born, I then went into intensive care because I was very unwell and it was a very dangerous time to me.
So, yeah, three days after they were born, I was intensive care and they were okay. Oh. It was quite an experience. So I guess the reason why I'm sharing all of this was because it wasn't easy for them to arrive, for them to get here with us. And we are all well and safe. And, you know, doing so well, they're actually like miracles. I hate to use that word, but that's what they are. I always look at them and I think I don't know how you will hear. And I'm here, too.
But after having that very difficult pregnancy, nothing faced me, Fiona. Nothing. And I especially being very, very well, I'm being told that, you know, I might not make it through the night.
And I just remember thinking when I came out of intensive care that after having that experience, you know, nothing fazes you. And life is very short. And I can actually say that now because I've experienced a time in my life. You know, it wasn't looking like it was going to be kind to end. But life is very short. And so it's a juggle to, you know, run a business with twins.
We know when we came out of hospital and I took a few months off, a few weeks off, but I think three months after we came out of hospital, I was doing a photo shoot at the next election.
And I've always worked. So I've always done ULO whilst they slept so well, say, naps or in the evenings. And I know there are lots of mums out there. Oh, of course she did. You know, I like it easy. Moms just like, oh, I work when they nap when they sleep. But that's what I did in small bits. I was being very kind to myself because, you know, it's something that I built and I had with me before they arrived. And I sure as hell was I let it go. And so they you know, I've just had to not fit them into my life. I've had to fit these two passions, being a mom and running this business together. I've had to just piece it all together. I make it up to her as well.
Like, there are weeks that are just a disaster.
And I'm laughing because I feel, you know, I think disaster and I'm a Virgo, so I like routine. I've always like routine. When the girls arrived, that just went out the window. And it's take me about a year and a half. I mean, that just turned to that's taking me about two years to come to the realisation that, you know, you can't plan ahead and you can't be so set in your ways and your routine and your schedule.
So you make do with what you have. And also experiencing, you know, that terrible pregnancy and what happened afterwards. I just have this burning desire to just keep going and I really believe in what I'm doing. So I just try and make it work. And also, you know, I just I make it up so I don't read books about how to parent. I don't listen to, I don't know, down four rooms. I don't really listen to other people's advice because I'm just doing it the way I think I should be doing it and making it up. And I think that's how it works me, because, you know, there's nobody there saying, well, you're doing it wrong. I just I just go with the flow and I. I make it up and that's how we we manage. And also, I should say that my husband has watched me grow this business from a dining table before they arrived. And so he said very confidently, you've got to continue this business because it's your passion. So he helps a lot. You know, he he picks them up sometimes from childcare. He helps on the weekends when I have to go to the studio and we really share it. We share the responsibility as we really should.
Yes. Yes. Yes, you should. Oh, there's so many. Oh, my goodness. I just I mean, I thought, wow, you're amazing before that. But my God, you just never know. Like, you don't know. You can look at people on Instagram or whatever, and you just have no idea. If I remember we had my son in London got pregnant really easily. I honestly was one of those smug people that was like, I can have another baby whenever I, you know, better. And then I just kept putting it off and putting it off. And then when we went to have another baby, it it didn't happen. And it took us a long time. It took three days and all sorts of stuff and all sorts of doctors and help and naturopathy and everybody is Melodia and everything and giving me advice if you just need to relax. You know, all along that you just don't know. I remember somebody somewhere I was talking at an event and someone else in your life is just perfect, isn't it. I was thinking, oh my gosh. And we've had a miscarriage. And I just was like, you have no idea. So yeah, you just don't know. You do what's coming.
And you just have to be very grateful, in fact, for what you have. So when I'm really tired on the weekends with them or I'm just having one of these really bad weeks where they just how I just I have to remind myself how lucky I am to even have them. Yes.
Oh, my God. I did it, too. When I'm up in the middle of night, I'm like, remember how many times you remember?
Yeah. Remember the times when you cried that you thought you wouldn't be able to have kids? Remember and remember that there are lots of women out there who are suffering.
Oh, hats off. Let me give you a hug. One day we'll be able to hug across. So, my goodness, you've gone through so much in your life. And they're still young, like how old are they?
Yeah. Correct. So the last eight weeks I've been with me and my husband. But yeah. At home.
Oh my gosh. So massive, massive, massive year for business and for your life with twins and everything else. And the other thing I wanted to touch on is that, you know, we've discussed your heritage and growing up in Nigeria and how your parents influence things. And obviously, African wax prints are a huge part of your business. And you've talked about why you love them and how they're so fantastic. This year has been a huge, huge, huge. And so many things that are universally important have come to the fore, like climate change and corruption and power and health and and even access to health and people who don't have access to health and community and racism. And on that last point, you know, we've seen a real resurgence of Black Lives Matter and which we should. An absolute horrific. Schism that exists across the globe and it's always been there. But it's in so many more people seem to be talking about it and more aware of it. And for someone like myself, you know, unspoken privileges that I hold because I'm a white woman in living in Australia and obviously here in Australia, we have so many issues with huge gaps between people who have Aboriginal backgrounds and people who are non Aboriginal. Yeah. Did you feel as a brand that sells items that have an African print and background, did you feel suddenly responsible for speaking on this topic?
I mean, it was a really interesting time for me, as I well, I'll say this. It was an interesting time for me as a black woman, as a black sister.
You know, I have an older brother who lives in America and he has a young, you know, my nephew who's 11 years old.
And when the terrible tragedy happened to George Floyd, I remember watching the scenes on TV.
And I was I was so taken aback by what happened and just shocked really even just talk about it. Now, it's quite it's quite moving to me.
And then, of course, what we saw after that tragedy was the rise in the Black Lives Matter. And I it was very interesting. I don't think I've ever received as many messages on social media and emails from people that some customers and some that I've never met before, but really ask my opinion on what's been going on. And, you know, how can what can they do to make, you know, to learn a bit more and educate themselves and their needs? And it was quite overwhelming for me, because as a black woman with a you know, with a black family and black men in my family, it was you trying to deal with it, you know, from a personal stance. And then you obviously feel that you have to say something because of your business are not on your own.
So, you know, I'm on social media and I'm very open on social media that I actually came off social media for a while because I had to really understand what was going on and process what was happening. And then it wasn't until a customer sent me an email and she asked me three or four points. And I shared this on social media at the time. And they were so poignant to me. And, you know, one of her questions was, you know, what can we do to change this? And how do we educate ourselves on what are your thoughts and how do you think this is all going to have really, really important questions.
But they were so, you know, they were quite loaded. And I felt, you know, I myself, as a black woman, I'm learning every day, you know?
And so it was it was a very weird time for me as a as a business. I know what to say and what not to say. And then that's when I just decided I came out and I said something on social media about my opinions.
But what I will say is what happened earlier this year was really quite. Was such a tragedy.
And my opinion is that it didn't just affect, you know black people affected people of all race because we all have to learn and we have to do better. And, you know, I as someone with kids, my first thinking was, well, what can I do to make sure that I teach my kids correctly and that I educate them as well?
Because, you know, they're mixed race and that, you know, it's it's up to us as parents to teach the young kids who really will be shouldering this as well as they're growing up. And so that's really the learning, like what can we all do as a community? Globally to move forward and it's very small steps, but, you know, I said to you, I know what I was talking to a friend and I said, I too need to know. I said on social media that I found it very overwhelming that I had all these new followers who were following me. And I knew why they were following me, because there was this rise up in supporting black owned businesses.
And it was really it was tremendous. It was really tremendous to feel the support. But, you know, I also said in my post that, you know, take the time to really learn about these businesses that you're now starting to support, take the time to speak to the owners and have conversations with them, because you can. People can talk to me. I do my own Instagram. I talk to my customers. And I talk to lovely people who contact me all the time. But take the time to really see if you like what it is that they're making because you don't just support because there's a movement at the moment.
But really, you know, really take the time to just see what they are doing and what they are creating really inspires you and that you really love and you want to buy from them and you want to support them. And so that's you know, that's kind of been my stance on it as a business owner, where I'm so incredibly grateful for that.
But, you know, at the same time, you know, I just want people, whoever they are, to love what we're doing because of what we are doing and not because of the fact that I'm black, I'm a black business.
I know that, you know. And it's been really wonderful to talk to so many people and have these conversations. I've had some quite remarkable conversations with some of my friends who I've known for years and years and years who said to me they never felt comfortable. They didn't even feel comfortable asking me these questions. And so I think what happened at the beginning of this year, as terrible as it was, has allowed people to open up this dialogue and start to feel comfortable about talking about this in the same way that as a black person, you do feel, you know, sometimes you feel like you don't want. You can't talk about it. But what I've experienced, nevertheless, is that people were talking to me. And those are people that I've known me for years and years and why I'm having these conversations that I've never even had to have with them. Sometimes, you know, you don't you don't really want to have the conversation because you think you should know me. But actually, they're asking because they want to know. They want to learn and they want to. I think people feel right now that they want to try and fix this and mend this and albeit that it's going to take more than a movement. It's going to take leaders. It's going to take strong personalities. It's going to take communities to come together. I think just having conversations with your friends starts that yet.
I completely, completely agree. And I think. Yeah. As someone who is white, I mean, there's so much to unlearn and learn. And I feel like, you know, my best friend, Sri Lankan and my husband's family is from India. And yeah, I was like, you know, this best friend since we were in the seven. Like, it's 20 something years that we've been like. And we were having conversations for the first time that she was like, this is awkward. It's like, this is awkward. But yeah, let's have this with my husband as well. It was like, oh, my goodness. He he you know, he dealt with a lot of racism. And I think it's really it's it's awful that it had to happen in that way. But I think it has pushed everything to the surface and be like, okay, this is happening. This has been happening.
Absolutely. And also fear and I should say that, you know, I'm married to a white Australian. And when that you know, when the Black Lives movement was happening, we had conversations, we had debates, we had discussions at home because we then realised that we've been you know, we do a little bit. We're married and we're family now. We have kids, but we came from different parts and different worlds. And so I felt it was very weird. It was a time when, like my husband and I, we were talking because he's a white man and I'm a black woman.
So even in this house where we were having those conversations and dialogues and I think that's important to know as a mixed race couple, even we're talking about it around our dinner table.
Yes, same in our household. And I think it is things that you just it's realising that privilege is in on my behalf, that privilege. Is it just every single part of the world. You know, like, Stephen, questions and things that my husband gets asked that I've never been asked. No one's ever. Are you from now? Where are you really from? You know, those kind of feelings. But. And so I think it's really, really important to talk about it. So thank you. And thank you for talking about it.
And I know that I hope I answered it. OK, just past it.
I think everybody should be passionate about it. And, you know, like you say, with children, like that's where it's going to start. Like, we've got to change the way everything from school books. And actually, on that note, for anyone that's listening, that has children. There is a First Nations bedtime stories challenge that is happening in November. So you can literally just Google First Nations bedtime stories. And it is about, yeah, just getting young people from prep to six to really be things, maybe even kindergarten to 6th to be thinking about, you know, Aboriginal stories and making some stories rather than a stock standard. Things from England where we buy from.
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.
And so, like I said, 2020 has been a huge year and coronavirus is just impacting business in so many ways, and especially here in Melbourne. And we are still in severe lockdown. We were sort of saying before we got on the call that back, my God, when is it going to end? It started in mid-March. It's like, come on, let us have a things that you have been forced to do with your business because of lockdown. I mean, and know you've got a studio that work with and it's not like you had all these stores or physical shops or things.But had there been things that you've changed in the business that you think you'll keep for the business even after restrictions lift?
Yes. Yes, they have, actually. So a few things, one.
Just the communication I've had with my team and really learning how to be a good communicator. That is something that, you know, when I started the business, I started it on my own. And so all the ideas were in my head. I never had to share them with anybody. And, you know, as the business grinds people, you know, the team has grown slightly. And so being so far apart from each other, we've had to really learn how to communicate. And I've had to learn how to communicate and try and get my ideas out and, you know, communicate ideas. So that's definitely something that, you know, we want to continue to do and be, you know, really resourceful as a team and cheque in and make sure everyone's well and healthy, because I think the norm was you just go to work, be expected to do a job, and then, you know, you don't even you know, it's just health and well-being of the team is so important.
So really having communication around that and making sure that everyone is well and that they're working as well as they can and they're comfortable with how they're working with the business itself.
We launched womenswear in June and we did it with a made to order system. So we had fabric then because we make every piece ourselves, we we make as we receive orders.
And that has led to a significant reduction of waste. We only make what people want to buy and what they will cherish. And that's definitely something that we are going to continue to do. Gone are the days, I think, of making huge collections and having clothing, just sitting around and having to sell, sell, sell. What we're trying to do is really engage with our customers and ask them, you know, do you like this? What do you think about it? We do want to buy and really getting our customers and our community involved in the process and being very open about what we do because we are such a small team. I think recently I've just decided that we're just going to you know, we're going to be very transparent about how we work and we're going to be proud of who we are, which is a three woman team during this and, you know, making sure that we only make what people buy.
So that's definitely a that's not a change. It's always something that we wanted to do. But this year has been probably the year that we've learnt that we have to continue that way. So, yeah, just the way we produce is very important. And also just just being transparent about who we are. You know, I talk on it's my business account, like with know as me, I don't pretend to be any more than what we are ever.
I'd never have wanted to do that. And I think that's the way know you know, we're able to start building our community and engaging with people.
And I want to continue to do that, you know, just being very open and transparent and really bringing our community along with the design and the production process and asking them, like, what is it you want? I mean, two weeks ago, I put out a poll. I said, which dress do you like? What fabrics do you like? And we just we had all these responses and it was so exciting, you know, to hear what people like and what is it that they would like to see from us.
So really engaging with audience and our customers and our community, that's that's at the forefront of what we're always going to do. It has to be. Must be. Yeah.
Well, so many good, good tips. And one of the things he said was that you do your social media and, you know, you just you are who you are and you don't time pretend to be something else. And I mean, one of the things that comes across hugely in your social media, my amateur's. No, I mean, social media is collected. Absolutely. I what are the things that also draw you me to your brand was just your style. You've got this Jeff Cole effortlessly style. And I know it really is. It reminds me of, you know, some friends that I have that still live in London and just that London cool, like just loosely call. And I think every city in the world has their own style. But I've spent five years living in London and I just loved people watching. Like, from there, I moved there when I was 21. Like literally two days after my 21st birthday. And I live there on it. I know when a one way ticket and then I move back with my husband and my son there. And I just think the way that you dress and put things together, it's just it's just that cool, genuine style, very relaxed, cool. But the other thing that I love is that you've been able to pull that into your brand, which is obviously why I've got to put your stuff, because I'm like, OK, give me a bit of that. But I love that your brand celebrates women of. Well, I mean, in children and home stuff, but the older women you love celebrating women of all ages and shapes and skin tones and and your apparel looks great on everybody. And you have had chats about, you know, I've put on a lot of weight in the last few years, and I think I was a bit like, oh, gosh, is it going to fit in? And it fits and it's lovely and it's really comfortable. And I think it's the way that you design things. Looks good on everyone. Short Taulbee, little, whatever. Yeah. What advice would you give to someone who's listening to this and then maybe they go cheque you out and they like, oh, I love it. I love this bold pattern and colourful stuff, but I'm too old or I'm too big or I'm too sort of too that. What sort of advice would you give to them.
You're never too old. You're never too big. You never too short. You never. You're never too thin. Never anything. Ever. Listen, I know women was so passion about this.
You know, I created a woman because I. I wear this fabric. And as a mom, I wanted to just continue to wear something comfortable but bright and colourful because, you know, we all need a bit of colour in our lives as far as I'm concerned. And I just created basic, simple shapes for women to just throw on because I'm sick of having the girls are sick of just wearing out at night leggings and just, you know, you don't invest in yourself anymore when you're a mother or, you know, you just or as you get older, you if you're not a mother and you want you know, you've got other responsibilities, I feel like investing in yourself, you know, kind of falls by the wayside. But it was for me anyway, and clothing to me is a really important part of who I am. It's how I express myself. So I think, you know, people do get shot when I walk down the road and I'm wearing like bright green zingy pants and a striped tie, it's just looks mad. But rice is my that's just my style.
But what I would say is I created this collection and I will continue to create pieces for every woman to wear. And you're never you're never anything. My mom. Where's my stuff? My sister. Where's my stuff? And my kids are wearing the kids wear. So, you know, my grandmother, who is 89 and the hair, she's wearing my stuff. So, you know, I you know, we don't discriminate. And that's also I don't know if you've seen piano. I'm so passionate about our customers when we've had so many women send us photos of themselves wearing our pieces.
Yes. It's like a wedding dress or something the other day. Yeah.
Yeah. I you know, and I just. And they send these to us with these lovely messages and I add them onto our social media because people need to see real women wearing these clothes because it's one thing seeing me, you know, a black woman with an afro wearing this print. And you probably, you know, it's quite intimidating. Can I wear this? This is something that I feel comfortable. Well, you know, but people I, I share our custom and photos. I obviously asked for their permission because I think women just need to be celebrated. I think we need to see all sorts of women on social media wearing these bright, colourful clothes. And you're never anything never think that you are to use more to beg or anything for our clothing. We also have made pieces and we've had to you know, we custom made some pieces for customers because they've written to us and said, I love the pants, but could you make, you know, the waistband a little bit larger? Or could you make the pant a little bit shorter? Because I'm sure, you know, I'm shorter? Or would you do you know, a larger size, larger sizes? Definitely something we want to do. We've invested so much time in the last few months and looking into doing that because, you know, we've realised women, you know, who are larger than what we have available at the moment want to wear our stuff. But we're a small business. So we have to it's small steps, one at a time. The first step is seeing whether people like what we're doing, which I think we've got the thumbs up. And the next step is how to become even more inclusive and broaden our customer base and our audience and our community. But what I would say to answer your question is you'll never anything.
You know, we are all everyone. I'm just so passionate about this. This fabric this cloth is worn by so many women in my family across various generations. And so for us, it is a pleasure to make these designs for any woman who wants to wear them. So, you know, if ever anyone is feeling a bit.
Nervous? We're not sure. Or want some help. They can always email us. We are also doing lots of videos and we're going to be a bit more interactive with how we design and produce. And, you know, we're updating our Web site this week to include some of these tools to help women feel comfortable to purchase from us. And I think, Fiona, you sent me a message saying you love how our size we don't have this. I put the size on each garment behind the label at the back of the label like that.
I like to think to be like, this is so great.
We intentionally did that because I hate wearing clothes. And then by accident, attack sticks out and you see what size I am. I just you know, I just size sizing and size guides, just that you have to have them when you're selling clothing. But they just they don't serve customers well. So we're trying to like. See how we can, you know, help our customers choose. Wow. And I hope by putting our sizing on the back of our labels, we were showing people that size doesn't matter to us. Okay. And only you and I need to know what size you are. That's why I quit. That's why we did that.
Yeah. It was brilliant. I was like, oh, because I went to look at you. I was gonna order another one. Which one was the of the five that I got. And I was like, oh my gosh, you have it on underneath that. Like just a small thing that makes such a big difference because it's not there staring at you all the time, particularly if you're like me. I put on weight. I've always been a certain size my whole life until the last few years. And it's like. So it's just constant reminder. And I think just small things like that really make a difference. So thank you. It's great that the person who is going to wear it. Frankie, we've talked about your business a lot, and it's such a great business. And what has helped you? Like you've talked about, you know, obviously your mindset and you've got a great partner and you've got a great team and your family are very supportive. You've been any sort of mentors or courses or books or anything else that you'd recommend to people who might be listening to this, who are also in the kind of earlier stages of their business or any stage, really?
Well, fair enough, cause I follow you.
Everything you're doing and I'm in your Facebook group, and I think your an incredible resource for me as a business owner in terms of resources, I read a lot.
So I read a lot of business magazines, but I also listen to a lot of podcasts and I really listen to, you know, I like to listen podcasts where you learn about how somebody started their business, what mistakes that they make. What would they do differently? And it's very similar. You know, I always listen to your podcast, Ferreyra, because you always have really interesting people who've achieved amazing things. So those sorts of resources are really good for me because I'm always on the go. So I can always just listen to the headphones in or whatever the other resource is, just talking to people, talking to other business owners and talking to our retail partners. So, you know, all stock, as I regularly keep in touch them not to know about, not just about you, but ready to like learn about their businesses and how they've done how they've built their businesses. I think you can learn so much from other people. So not to podcasts, you know, just talking and engaging with other business writers and social media as well. I like people have been so kind, just like giving advice. And yeah, that's this is sort of the resources I've been using.
Yeah. I think it's great. I mean and thank you as well. I'll pay you later. Thank you for mentioning as well talking to your stockists, because I think when I work with a lot of small bee societies and a lot of product base and they might have stocks that I will talk about. Okay, how often are you talking to your stock? It's like, how often are you even just giving them information so they can sell your stuff better? You know, maybe they don't know where it's made or they don't know some cool thing about the cut or they don't know something else that could actually help them install sell stuff. So I think it's really that you talk to them on a regular basis about their business as well, because I think that's just such a you know, you can have someone that has a product in 20 different stores and they're not talking to them regularly. And you're like, oh, my God, that's 20 people who have successful businesses. And think so.
Yeah. And it's a great way to, like, build community as well.
Yeah. Huge. Have there been any kind of parts of the business that you've had to up skill on? So obviously being a lawyer, you've got some great information at your fingertips from from being a practising lawyer, but they've been anything else that you've had to sort of dive in or like things like financial skills or even the fact that you have a studio and you had to get into some sort of commercial contract, I'm sure, to rent that out. Yeah, sort of fees. Have you had to kind of upscale and have you got tips for other people about, you know, even hiring a place like a studio for their business?
Yeah. The studio was a huge investment for us because we need just needs the space in order to produce and come together as a team. So that's been really useful. But with that comes a cost. And so, you know, I think for me personally, learning how to invest in what your team needs at the time is really important. And so budgeting, costings, all of those things is something that I've really had to learn and obviously really important. When you run a business and I've done that through you, just engaging with a friend of mine, actually using accounts of small businesses. So just learning from her. And that's been a huge fine. You know, finances all don't really go well together. I'm good on the legal things. So finance is something I've definitely had to learn on. And budgeting costs things, especially in this time, each time that we were going through. And just when you were small business, she just you know, you manage with what you have but know when to invest. So this space was incredibly important to us. We're actually now just kind of branching out and expanding our studio this year. Well, in the next couple of weeks and so just really learning when to make those decisions is something that I've had to learn. But I've I've learnt through talking to other business owners, and if I'm not sure about something, just speaking to them and just getting their opinion. But, yeah, I would say, you know, if you're thinking of starting a business, really just understand your numbers and be very clear about, you know, your vision, your goals and, you know, makes your numbers align with that. That's huge because you can have this wonderful idea. But if you just don't have you know, the numbers don't align, then you need to kind of rework your idea. You know, I suppose that's what I would say to anybody who's is once a saw business and also just go with your gut, like really invest in yourself. You know, I've done a few courses myself as a small business owner. And that's huge. Investing in yourself. Huge.
Yeah. I completely, completely agree. I guess you often forget that when you're in a corporate environment or any major company, they'll have a training budget. You know, every like when I was head of marketing at a budget for you know, I think there's like 16 or 19 people in my team. You know, they all had a budget, too. OK. You want to do an Instagram call. So you want to do this. And I think Shotaro own business. We forget that. You know, like when I was I mean, I think I did a management course and it was maybe it cost the business three or four thousand dollars. And, you know, I didn't think anything because it's like, well, they're paying for it. And then you forget that you still need to keep that going when you run your own business, perhaps even more so because you don't have, like a whole team around you that has the skills like H.R. department and the legal department and everything else. I think it's really important that you bring up that you've done some courses in investing that time and money in yourself as well as a small business owner. But on that note, what would be like the one thing that you might have done differently if you were starting out now or, you know, things that maybe you'd not regretted at all, but maybe that you learnt from that? Perhaps you might have changed if you were doing it again.
I think being having confidence in myself, so, you know, you hit the nail on the head when you said you really have to as a small business owner, you really have to do you know a lot yourself and really just kind of I think I would have invested in myself a lot earlier and just really learn things before, you know, trying to get other people on board and listening to their ideas.
Because I think when you try and bring in the professionals first, not out, your ideas could get clouded by other people's opinions.
So I think I would have just had more confidence in the way I wants to go and the vision I had for the business.
I think confidence is a good thing for anyone starting out. Like to have more, of course, but then you only really get it from learning. You know, you only really get it from doing something and then being like, oh, OK, this is what I do differently. And so finally, I guess, what are you most proud of from your journey owning and running your small business?
Well, in 2020, I'm proud that we're still standing. I'm proud that we're still able to be here.
I'm you know, and talk about the business and share our story with you, because I think it's a small business that's huge in 2020. And I'm really, really proud of the fact that we're growing our community. And people were just really enjoying what we're designing. And that's that's amazing. As we grow, you know, as we grow our collections and our prints and everything else. And also, you know, what I'm really, really proud of is that I still have somebody in my team who's been with me since day one who is not here. She is our production manager. And she just helps me with everything with design and production. And I'm really proud that I've been able to just cling on to her and have her on this journey with me, because I don't you know, it's very easy as a small business. I say you do everything and a lot of stuff you have to do. But it's not just me that's making this happen. And it's I think that Sassone, one of my proudest things over the last couple of years is that the person who has been on this journey we've made from the very beginning is still is still with me and is growing and developing a larger part and role in this business. So I'm really proud of that.
And obviously, it's testament to you as a business owner that she stuck around, you know, so well done that, pop, and well done on everything. Like it's just a beautiful business. And I would love for people to cheque it out if they haven't already. So where can people connect with you and what's kind of coming up next for you?
Yeah, sure. So I'm always on Instagram. As I said, I do my Instagram, surround people, message their messaging me and I always reply so you can connect to me through that and they can, you know, send us an email at hello@uloaustralia.com and check out all our connections online. What's next? Well, Fiona, we're just about to launch a whole new rainbow of prints. Our first launch was obviously just the three prints because we wanted to make sure that people liked what we were doing before we, you know, scattered them with lots of colour and print. This time round for summer, we have got some beautiful designs arriving. So skirts and clocks and smock dresses, everything that's just gonna be comfortable to wear through the summer and a whole spectrum of fabric and colour and print from Ghana, Tanzania, Nairobi, Nigeria, everywhere.
So everything will be, you know, we'll release everything by social media, but mostly through our these letters say people should sign up to our mailing list if they want to hear about the latest prints. And everything's going to be very limited collections. So very limited pieces. I think there's one fabric that's arrived and we can only make 30 dresses. So they're very unique. And I'm really, really excited to be launching all this colour in summer and hopefully bring a bit joy to 2020.
Yes, definitely. Definitely get the email list, cause that's I think when I'm staying at the start. When you said we are launching and I was like, oh my gosh, I know that they won't have, you know, a huge amount of everything will you know, they won't have endless supplies of demand.
Absolutely not. No. Lots of print, but very limited or kind of collection. Yeah.
Yes. So definitely get on the list. And I think you had mentioned the social media, but not handled. So if you're listening. It's you. Oh, and in Australia, one word. And of course, you put that into the short notice. But thank you so much for being on the podcast. Didn't the I just find what you're doing so inspiring and I love your actual product as well. And it's really high quality. And yeah, I can't wait to see where it goes.
Well, thank you for to a couple of things. Thank you for having me on your podcast. It's been a joy to talk to you today. Secondly, thank you so much for all your support with. No. And you are always championing little business, and I'm really, really grateful for that. So I'm ready. I feel like we said before before we started recording. I feel like I know you and I really am grateful for the support. So I thank you.
Oh, you're so welcome. It's such a good one. Thank you so much.
What an amazing small business owner and an amazing story of how you can follow your passion and it can actually work out. And taking a leap of faith and going from this security of something like a law career into the unknown, but making that work for you. And I think one of the reasons that it has worked is that Lindsay is just so passionate about what she does and she's so genuine. And all of that comes across in her brand communications. So definitely go and check out ULO Australia, you can go online – uloaustralia.com. Or you can also just visit @uloaustralia on Instagram and liked into said cheque out that and go send her D.M. and maybe tell her what you found most fascinating about her story or most helpful. The things that really stood out to me. I mean there were so many gems in that interview with DIDs, but the things that really stood out for me was, number one, the fact that, you know, she had this really hard journey towards motherhood and then a hard journey, you know, during pregnancy and then straight after as well and almost losing her life. My goodness. But she didn't falter on her dreams and her own goals and her passion. And I think it's amazing also that she had that support of her partner to say, you know, don't don't just let this go. And and that she could hear it in her voice. She was like, I wasn't going to let that go. And I think sometimes we can think maybe not just motherhood, but all sorts of life experiences for men as well. And people identify as men. You know, there's all sorts of experiences that can come up like, you know, you've got to look after an elderly parent or you've got to do this so we don't have the money or, you know, the economy is not good or all sorts of things that can come up and can slowly chip away at our goals and their costs. Yes. Sometimes you just won't be able to do everything that you want at the right time. But I think it's really important. What I loved was that she talked about I was really passionate about this. I really believed in it. And I wanted to keep it going. The other thing that I love that she talked about was getting customer feedback, you know, both from her stockings, but also direct from the consumer and from her audience on social media, taking polls, asking them, allowing them to be part of the journey. And I think that, again, can be something that we think, oh, we should hide this away until it's perfect or until it's ready to launch. And I think what Din's does really well is that she takes people on that journey. You know, right now I've seen on her Instagram story is sort of like these are the fabrics. Which one do you like more? And she talked about that. And I think it's really important from a branding perspective. You know, people feeling like they're part of a community, part of your journey, part of your story. But I also think from a, you know, customer insights perspective and a marketing and understanding what's going to work for your business is just incredible. So, yeah, absolutely love talking to Dinzi. If you are new to also. Definitely. Go and cheque it out. And yeah. If you're new to this podcast. Thank you so much for listening. As always, you'll be able to buy in the show notes over at mydailybusinesscoach.com/podcast/38 as this is episode 38.
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All right. Take care. Bye.
Thanks for listening to My Daily Business Coach podcast. If you want to get in touch, you can do that at mydailybusinesscoach.com or hit me up on Instagram at @mydailybusinesscoach.
My Daily Business Coach
Website: mydailybusinesscoach.com
Instagram: @mydailybusinesscoach
Email: hello@mydailybusinesscoach.com
ULO Australia
Website: https://uloaustralia.com/
Instagram: @uloaustralia
Email: hello@uloaustralia.com
