10 minute read
Women in Business - Cath Fowler
by Focus
WOMEN
IN BUSINESS
with CATH FOWLER
FROM THE DIGITAL LANEWAY
PAM
WILLIAMS
NIK & SHE
Can you tell us a little bit
about your business?
Nik & She is a leading fashion boutique stocking Australian and international labels. We’ve been open for 18 years now. Which I think is amazing for a small business.
But it hasn’t always been easy street. When we fi rst opened we were upstairs in the Palms Shopping Centre. Then we moved downstairs for a number of years, which is where the business grew considerably. But the rents were terribly high.
My husband, Lawrence, later purchased a small shop across the road. Which is where we remain today. We had to downsize as the shop was much smaller. So it took a few years to get the stock levels right, which is always hard when running a retail store.
After quite a few stressful years with my husband being very ill and needing a liver transplant which he got, things got back to normal and trade was great.
Unfortunately my husband passed away in 2011. Which was the same year my daughter Nikki was living in Noosa and had triplets. So I had many trips to help her with the babies. Which did add some challenges in running the business. Now over a decade later we have overcome so much. Together with my daughter Shelley and our amazing full time marketing/sales girl Jayde the business is pretty much known all over Australia online and in store.
What’s your favourite part of the work you do?
My lovely customers are defi nitely at the top of the list. Some days
What I have it’s very social in the found the most shop. Cups of tea, lots benefi cial for me is to of chats. Especially on a have a good hold of Sunday. my business fi nances I also love going as cash fl ow is o en to Sydney with my one of the biggest daughter Shelley. We challenges small go on a buying trip to businesses face. seek out new pieces for our collections. It gives us some time together which I value so much.
Who is your greatest infl uence in business?
Defi nitely my husband Lawrence Williams. He gave us the confi dence and space to keep going and we really wanted to make him proud of us. If he was here today he would have a smile from ear to ear. He was such an inspiration to everyone who knew him.
Have you always lived on the Coffs Coast?
Yes I’m a born and bred local. Having lived here my whole life. After an early career in nursing I feel so grateful to live in such a beautiful part of Australia where I’ve been able to have the chance to follow my dream. The shop is a passion of mine that I’ve had for such a long time.
What piece of advice would you give women making their way in the business world?
Follow your passion but with caution, as business ownership is not always easy. What I have found the most benefi cial for me is to have a good hold of my business fi nances as cash fl ow is often one of the biggest challenges small businesses face.
I like to ensure I keep money in the bank for peace of mind, as you never know what’s ahead of you. It’s great to have a huge year and think you have lots of money to spend. But after all these years I have learnt you want to always try and keep money aside for the next season.
During these hard times with Covid it’s so important. I also recommend having a good accountant to keep you in line. I have Melanie Zander from MJ Accountants who helps me do just that.
Where can people fi nd out more about your business?
nikandshe.com.au @nikandshe @nikandshe2450
Matt Snell established Simply Conveyancing on the Coffs Coast in 2002. He and his very experienced team are now celebrating a huge 20 year milestone in business as well as a new location! Simply Conveyancing holds a reputation as the best and most reliable conveyancer in the Coffs Coast Region. We chatted to Matt to find out more.
MATT
SNELL
SIMPLY CONVEYANCING
MATT
SNELL
SIMPLY CONVEYANCING
Where have you relocated to?
We are now located in a beautiful modern professional suite on the water at The Promenade, Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour.
What motivates you in your role and business?
The people I engage with every day, and having the opportunity to assist them with all of my 36+ years experience in the industry
How has your business evolved since it began?
Modern technology has greatly improved
our effi ciency, however we have always taken the time to consider the technology changes and ensure that we only embrace and implement the changes that will improve our client’s property transaction experience.
Describe how you got started in your business?
While working in the banking industry from the mid 1980’s, my only interest was to travel the world when I was much younger and experience as many wonders of the world as I could, returning to Australia after each journey very broke, but with no regrets. After travelling through 35+ amazing countries,
A er travelling our effi ciency, through 35+ such as Egypt and however we have amazing countries, Russia, I decided in my always taken the such as Egypt and mid 20’s to knuckle Russia, I decided in down and study Law. my mid 20’s to I was very lucky to be knuckle down and mentored by 3 great study Law. local Lawyers in their respective fi elds of Law, Michael Fishburn, John Watson and Chris O’Brien, which then spring-boarded me into my own business, with a focus on Customer Service fi rst and foremost
What is your greatest achievement?
To be lucky enough to become a Dad to my 3 kids, Taylah, Liam and Amelia. I know this is a very boring cliched statement, but it has truly allowed me to develop my coping skills with most circumstances of delicious chaos with my kids or taking on the challenge of
any complex property matter on behalf of my client.
What is your business’s greatest asset?
My Team!! I am just merely the puppet!!
What have you learnt about creating an environment where your team can succeed?
It is difficult because there are so many moving parts creating and sustaining a successful team, but I believe it all comes down to the attitude and emotional intelligence/maturity of each team member, including the Owner. It only takes one team member with a poor attitude, in a small business, to bring a business down. As the Owner, you have to be constantly aware and accept that you cannot solve all the problems of the world, some employees are just not on the same page as yourself, so you must address and resolve the issue as soon as you possibly
Ensure that can, don’t let it fester. your team are Just be prepared to be constantly playing completely exhausted a proactive role with the constant effort with all clients, of keeping your Team rather than a humming along!! Do reactive role. not despair though or beat yourself up, it is just part of the gig as the Owner, the rewards will come if you are patient and stick to the reasons as to why you created the business in the first place, your dream.
How do you measure success in business?
When the phones are not ringing!! Funny statement I know, but if my clients are not ringing requesting an update on their property transaction, I know that our team has been doing their job by keeping our clients up to date. Ensure that your team are constantly playing a proactive role with all clients, rather than a reactive role.
What experience was needed to get you to where you are today?
Practising a strong positive empathetic Customer Service attitude.
What have you learnt about building relationships in business?
It is the most important skill in your business, and you must ensure that you, as the Owner, develop and maintain genuine professional and respectful relationships not only with your clients but also with such people as your office cleaner, courier and the person that makes your morning coffee. Being friendly and polite to anyone really doesn’t take too much effort.
Matt, being a local of 50 years, I can imagine you have seen many changes here on the Coffs Coast – what have you observed in your industry over 20 years as a business owner in your field?
Our industry used to provide for a lot of face-to-face contact with many of our peers and associated service providers, which allowed friendships to form with people you may not have had the chance to meet otherwise. Dramatic improvements in modern technology such as electronic settlements, scanning and emails makes face-to-face contact very rare now, hindering casual social interaction or genuine friendships forming, like the ‘good old days’, I think that is a shame…
Continued over...
What makes Simply Conveyancing unique compared to your competitors?
Over the past 20 years we have always genuinely endeavoured to place Customer Service fi rst however, we are not perfect, we have not always got it right, we have defi nitely dropped the ball in the past but we have always learnt from such experiences and endeavoured to improve our Service accordingly.
What helps you fi nd balance between work and life commitments?
Time with my 3 wonderful kids and my Charity work.
Is there a particular quote that you live by?
Has to be ‘Be Curious, not Judgemental’ Walt Whitman.
How will you embrace change in 2022?
A very open mind, the world has changed dramatically and permanently over the past 2 years.
What do you enjoy most about the Coffs
Firstly, my
Charity work comes in a very distant Coast? but solid second to The ocean, the hanging out with my 3 rivers, rock formations, amazing kids, the love our headlands and and support of my rainforests… all children inspires me spectacular, cleansing every day. and soul fulfi lling. I know you’re a very
humble person, and don’t like to talk about yourself much or your charitable works – can you touch on this and how important this has become within your business?
Firstly, my Charity work comes in a very distant but solid second to hanging out with my 3 amazing kids, the love and support of my children inspires me every day. Since 2016 I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to give back to our local Community, and I have also had the great privilege of connecting with many other kind, selfl ess people in our local Community who have the same desire. Firstly, we do not rely on grants for the humanitarian work that we carry out, it is all funded by many kindhearted members of our local Community. Our focus is supporting homeless youth, youth at risk and unfortunate members of our local Community. To date we have been able to achieve many wonderful contributions to our local Community, such as raising over $120,000 since 2016 to support local homeless youth projects… prepared, home cooked and delivered over 1,000 meals since August 2021… shopped, purchased, individually wrapped and delivered Christmas presents to 91 local kids on Christmas Eve 2021, and many more contributions to our local Community. It is such a pleasure to be involved with so many selfl ess local Community Members giving back to their local Community.
And fi nally, if you could invite three business people to lunch, who would they be and why would you invite them?
Sorry, but it has to be my 3 kids, Taylah, Liam and Amelia. They are the most hilarious, supportive, kind, generous, insightful, loving and inspiring people that I know on the planet.
What’s the best way for other businesses or readers to connect with you?
I can be contacted on my mobile 0405 386 165, but it is always best to text me fi rst.
