Success stories from past SAYES participants.
At last shoes
For the past 10 years, Lauren Whiting has known the pain of ill-fitting shoes. With size 13 feet she has experienced the difficulty of finding shoes to fit her larger than average size. In early 2007 she put her physiotherapy career on hold and booked a trip to Italy in search of beautiful big shoes. A few months later at last shoes was born! Lauren’s boutique online shoe store is located at www.atlastshoes.com.au, and caters specifically for women with size 10-14 feet. “We stock stylish Italian designed and made shoes ranging from courts, flats and boots to evening and bridal shoes”.
For the past 10 years, Lauren Whiting has known the pain of ill-fitting shoes. With size 13 feet she has experienced the difficulty of finding shoes to fit her larger than average size. In early 2007 she put her physiotherapy career on hold and booked a trip to Italy in search of beautiful big shoes. A few months later at last shoes was born! Lauren’s boutique online shoe store is located at www.atlastshoes.com.au, and caters specifically for women with size 10-14 feet. “We stock stylish Italian designed and made shoes ranging from courts, flats and boots to evening and bridal shoes”.
Lauren Whiting
at last shoes
at last shoes
bananablue
I have been in business for the last 7 years. I started Simply Fresh which was an online fruit store, but soon realised that I needed to expand into offering a full supermarket range. I then sought investors and restructured the business. I established a partnership with the Chapley Retail Group who own several supermarkets and shopping centres. We then launched Simply Fresh as www.bananablue.com.au. The company has grown significantly and now employs 30 staff, SAYES helped in developing direction and realising potential through the help of GSI Consulting to develop a business plan.
Emma Hack
I have been running my business for 8 years and it wasn’t doing so well when I started SAYES. Everyone knew of my work but I was not busy and I had no money to put into advertising. One of my close friends was applying for SAYES and I thought I may as well do the same to see if it could help. Turns out it was a big help. Andrew Russo was my mentor and was such a huge support in strategically turning my business around overnight, and the business plan made me recognise what was and wasn’t working for me. I have now worked throughout the world and regularly interstate with my body art career, my hair and make-up side to my business is booming and I exhibit twice a year here in Adelaide and in Sydney. I am also currently in negotiations with art galleries for representation of my exhibitions, a personal dream for some time.
Emma Hack
www.emmahack.com.au
www.emmahack.com.au
heidi who? photos
heidi who? photos started four years ago. I’d been working as a photographer for three years, and wanted to take my passion to the next level. As a freelance photographer, I was commissioned for everything from weddings to product photography. I also worked for News Limited, as a staff photographer, even photographing the Commonwealth Games! August 2007 I made the move to go full time with heidi who? photos. I am now living my dream – getting paid to travel and to take photos. SAYES helped me to align this dream with the focus of my business – location photography, specialising in travel and tourism. Through workshops, sponsor help, networking, mentoring and speaking with other participants I learned the in’s and out’s of what’s needed to own a successful business.
Kwik Kat Enterprises
An invaluable business mentor opened my eyes to a world of new possibilities. His advice was that as an athlete I had a unique opportunity and a small window of time to set up my long term career so that following my retirement as an athlete I could have a successful business. Hence, Kwik Kat Enterprises was established in 1999 providing services to help improve the performance of organisations, teams and individuals through keynote presentation, team building events and health & wellbeing programs. SAYES was an integral part to developing my business. It provided me with an outstanding business mentor and I learnt the importance of having a comprehensive business plan. We all share the same highs and lows in business and SAYES allows us to refer business to each other.
