Episode 50: On Utilising Yoga for business, bucking trends and working through grief while Running A Small Shoe Business - An Interview with Kerryn Moscicski of Radical Yes
In this interview episode, Fiona talks to Kerryn Moscicski of Radical Yes about starting her own business, together with her partner, Leo, that offers flat shoe liberation and in their own words, “making flat shoes for modern women who like to move and be moved”. Listen now as Fiona and Kerryn discuss how teaching yoga helps Kerryn personally, the importance of transparency in her business, and how she wants Radical Yes to be a multigenerational business.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Introduction
Catching up
What's the story behind the business name?
What was your upbringing like?
On yoga and designing shoes
On selling the products
On the business' design and manufacturing process
Advice for people who want to share their knowledge with others
What worked and what didn't work for your business?
Did you have mentors, courses or books that helped you?
Would you have done something different if you were starting out now?
What tech tools do you use for Radical Yes?
What are you most proud of from your journey?
What's next for you? Where can people connect with you?
Conclusion
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode transcript:
Hello and welcome to episode 50 of the My Daily Business Coach podcast! My goodness, 50 episodes! This really goes to show if you want to do something, just get started. I cannot believe how much I am enjoying making this podcast and, from the feedback I receive (thank you!!) how much everyone else is enjoying it too.
So, today I am bringing you an interview episode and it’s with a woman I find really interesting and inspiring on so many levels, professional as well as personal.
Kerryn Moscicski (mo-shisky) is the founder of Radical Yes, which is a company she runs together with her partner, Leo, in Melbourne, Australia. Radical Yes offers flat shoe liberation and in their own words, they “make flat shoes for modern women who like to move and be moved”.
Now, I first met Kerryn when she came to work with me, I think in 2018, but I had been aware of Radical Yes for years prior. I was following them on Instagram and I was always so inspired by her energy and her enthusiasm for making products women actually felt great in.
I have worked in the fashion world for a large part of my career, either as an editor for fashion magazines, writing fashion features for newspapers across the UK, UAE, NZ, US and Australia or working in-house in marketing fashion accessories and apparel. And, I do know how much fashion can feed on a people’s insecurities and on the idea of always keeping up with the next trend or the next big thing.
What I love and what I guess initially attracted me to follow Radical Yes is their approach to style. It’s all about products that last and products that enable you to feel free, to dance, and walk and run and go out and feel confident, in terms of looking great, but also in terms of feeling good. They create products that do both - they are cool as well as comfortable - and that’s not always easy. Now, Kerryn herself also comes from a fashion background, and as she shares in this interview, she was raised in a family where her parents were also part of that industry. What I love is that Kerryn found a way to create a product-based business that merges her interest in fashion and style with her ethics and her values. And she has to be one of the best examples for humanising your brand in a way that feels honest and real and warm and approachable. If you don’t already follow Radical Yes, go and add them now on Instyagtam (@radicalyes) to see what I mean.
In this interview, we also discuss the intense grief that Kerryn has had to work through and live with after losing her mother to cancer and how this has impacted how she works and how she has set up her business to enable her to have the lifestyle that she wants, having the time and freedom to raise two children with Leo, as well as practice yoga as often as possible.
We also discuss how gracious and generous Kerryn is (something she’s very humble about), in that she has helped so many other fashion brands and people studying fashion to gain insights into an industry that can often appear very closed to outsiders or people just starting their journey. To have the knowledge and wisdom from someone with Kerryn’s incredible wealth of experience is priceless and I have heard her name mentioned many times by small business owners, as someone who has given mentorship and help without expectation.
I loved chatting to Kerryn. She is one of the most transparent and real and courageous and positive people I’ve had the pleasure to working with and I know this interview will be so helpful to so many of you listening.
So here it is, This is my chat with the beautiful Kerryn Moscicki, founder of Radical Yes.
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I was super excited to be speaking to Kerryn today, how are you, Kerryn? Welcome.
Oh, thanks. Thanks for having me. I'm very excited to speak to you.
Always love chatting with you, but how can you tell us first? I mean, this has been a incredible year on so many levels. And, you know, one thing that I've been asking small business owners this year is how are you feeling about 2020 right now? And what kind of impact has COVID had on your life and your business?
Well, I know I think that the thing I keep saying this year is like, what a time to be alive. Right? Like, it's been a massive year of learnings and weirdly growth for us in a way that I wouldn't have expected when the pandemic first hit. So in those early weeks of March, when, you know, the world sort of realised what we were facing as a collective, Leo and I just kind of made a pact as business owners to go down swinging. So we were just like we just decided that, you know, if life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade. And so we doubled our ad spend and we use the down time out of the physical store to start making content videos, which was something we'd been wanting to do for a really long time anyway. So I guess it was kind of like trying to find opportunity in crisis.
So and in many ways, because we don’t wholesale and we've got a very simple business model quite intentionally, like we work exclusively direct consumer in stock quantities that we're always really comfortable with the level of risk that we have. So we felt we didn't have the kind of exposure that we were saying other businesses around us have that wholesale. So that was kind of a blessing. I guess it was something that we'd been working on for years of being direct consumer. And it kind of protected us in a lot of ways.
And obviously, as well, there was such a shift to online shopping. So with the rising tide, the little boats rise, too. So for us, you know, we've actually had a really phenomenal year and a lot of ways. But also for me, like I've really enjoyed having time at home with my kids because I've been working ever since I was born, you know, pretty much as I went to day-care when he was three months old. And I just I don't think I ever really fully understood what they did all day at school. And it was such a kind of blessing to be able to see what they get up to and and to understand what what their day to day is in ways that I wouldn't have been able to do if this had never happened. And so for me, it kind of undid a lot of mother guilt, I guess, that I'd had about not spending enough time with them and being too career and driven, you know, career focussed. So so I guess, you know, like everything in life is always, you know, silver linings. And I definitely think it's been a difficult year. I really miss my dad and my family from lock down that that's been really tough. But coming out the other side of it now and I guess having zero cases like the elation and the optimism is is so great to to be feeling that.
So yeah, I sort of feel like we're coming through something pretty big, right?
Yes, I definitely and I should say and you would have heard this in the intro, that you are based in Melbourne. And when you mentioned Leo, Leo is your partner in life and business. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Yeah. And so I totally hear you on that. And actually, it was really fascinating. I feel like this is globally, but I had always had a respect for teachers like, you know, my dad was a teacher at one point. But I feel like with this I was like, oh, my God, I'm how do I do it, how I do it, how they do it. And listening to Zoom calls, because my brother, my brother, my son, my eldest is in grade one. And so listening to this room call with his teacher with these kids just kept interrupting her and they kept saying, like to want to say, like, I doing the same thing and she was just magical. I was like, oh, God, it takes a certain type of person to to be like that. But yeah, I hear you and so many so and congratulations for like getting here as well as you have like. But can you tell us a bit more about radical. Yes. So people have just heard how much they love it and how great I think you are in your business in the intro. But if no one if people are listening to it that are kind of new to it, how do you describe the business? And also how did you come up with the name? Because it's a very cool name - Radical Yes
Well, our elevator pitch, I guess, is that Radical Yes makes flat shoes for modern women who like to move and be moved. So the way that that translates in our products is that we make shoes that are modern and considered and what we like to call IRL useful shoes in real life shoes. I guess and we we really try the law, we believe that our business is intensively customer-centric, so I'm constantly listening to feedback from our community about the products and how they've been used.
And that's one of the reasons as well that we choose to be direct consumer because I find working directly with the customer much more beneficial in a design perspective than it is working with retailers for distribution. So I guess that's probably one of the unique things about our business, not that the direct consumers unique anymore, that we've made a pretty strong decision in the past to be DTC, and it does mean that it's a much slower growth trajectory. But I'm actually really comfortable with that.
And yes, I bought one for myself and one from my husband. So, yeah, I love that. I think slowly it's amazing.
Yeah. So that's that's like not just a business philosophy, but it's really Leo and I’s kind of life philosophy in that, you know, we just let the business grow organically and we work within our resources with everything we do. So with our family, with our cash flow, we just we're probably pretty measured with our risk and probably different types of entrepreneurs, probably, you know, may have backed stock differently to the way we have or run the business differently to the way we have. But lifestyle is extremely important to us, and it's one of the reasons that we work for ourselves in that we don't want to live to work.
We we work to live so we can work on a number of hours a week. And I guess that's part of the whole philosophy is just like trying to be measured at all times with everything we do. And that's from, I guess, many years of learning what has worked and hasn't worked for us as partners and also for our family as well. So, yeah, that's that's kind of the philosophy, I guess.
But the name is an interesting one. The name came to me in the bath where all my best ideas are conjured up. And I was reading a book at the time by a very famous yoga teacher that I've worked with. And she talks about the idea of giving a radical and subversive act because it's an invitation to mind your true self and to kind of step outside of the external narrative of what's going on and listen to yourself.
So this idea of continuously seeking true self - it's a process that's very important to me as a yoga practitioner and just as a creative person. Essentially, I try and live with my life without any compromises. And so that's the radical part. Like, I try and make sure everything I'm doing is coming from a place of true self. And the “yes” is actually in honour of my mom, who passed away a few years before the business has started. And yeah. So she was just the most incredible, like, hugely positive, confident, vivacious woman. She was massive, just huge light and a beacon for lots of people. And she honestly, she was just the most positive person. And she had this habit of always going, yes. It could just be like getting the paper in the morning. She says, well, when my son was born, you know, just I guess so she honestly would say like 20 times a day. So this is for mom. And the business was sort of built on, I guess there's a lot of her energy and in her honour and a lot of ways because before she died of cancer and so I promised her that I would really be grateful for every single day and really try my hardest to live my truest life. So that's the Yes.
And I feel like when you were saying, you know, she's incredible and hugely positive and confident and vivacious. I mean, I feel like you're describing yourself as well. Like when when you said that, I was like, oh, my gosh, that's exactly how you are. So I'm a chip off the old block, And I'm so sorry to hear that. I also have lost my mum also. But it sounds like your mom was a pretty incredible person. And I would love to talk a bit more about what what it was like growing up for you and if your parents were in this industry. I mean, when you said even just what you just said before, about like the philosophy behind it and hasten slowly and what you want out of life and not letting the business consume everything that you and Leo do or consume your whole family time, I'm wondering, is that something that was in your upbringing? Were your parents small business owners? Were they very much into yoga or the creative sectors or like philosophy? Did your upbringing that you had influence what you're doing now?
Yeah, well, my dad's an accountant. My parents were very much like small businesses. Too scary. Don't even consider it. My dad worked for Sports Girl for twenty five years as the CFO.
And so, yeah, Sports Girl for anyone listening outside of Australia was like the biggest, coolest ever shop to be between like a teenager and, maybe early 20s and it's still around and I remember when I started at the high school that I went to, I only need one other person. And when I went to orientation because it was an hour and a half from my house, I just didn't have any friends there. And when we went to orientation, everyone had a Sports Girl T-shirts and everyone had the plaid shorts from Sports Girl. And I was desperate for it. And so that Christmas, my sister bought me those so that I could wear them in the first day of you seven like camp and ever be thankful because she helped me so much.
I should put it back in now. Like if I were watching it anyway I shouldn't. Yeah. Look so yeah my dad worked in Sports Girl and he was the CFO. So my Saturdays were spent, you know, going into the Redfern Road headquarters in Camberwell and it was just magical to me, like the magic of the buying offices and all the products up on train tracks and then and kind of wandering around because Dad would be working. And then, you know, that was at the time that I was still manufacturing locally and there was a factory in Redfern road. And you could go downstairs. And it's actually for sports craft and sports girl. And all the materials were there and the rise of the sewing machines of I mean, to me it was just like a magic wonderland.
And so from when I was 14 and nine months, I started working for Sports Girl. Like as soon as I was allowed, I was just like, please, can I wear it? Work. Hey, Dad, I loved it. I loved all of it. And so I used to answer the phone on Saturday mornings at the Redfern head office. And then when I was 16, I was I was allowed to work in the stores because you had to be so nice to work in the stores. And I worked at the flagship in Collins Street when it opened and I was downstairs in shoe department and I said, we can manage that. Then when I was 17, we had. Right. And I was the shoe manager. So that obviously was that was my formative years. And it was definitely a huge part of my life. And watching what my dad went through with that business definitely formed so much of my life, but mum, mum stayed home with us and but she was a really amazing seamstress and hugely ambitious as well in her own ways.
And she would she would take me after school, we'd go to Leanne Croft and like an afternoon outing for us was going to Leanne Croft, choosing patterns and materials and going home. She was amazing. And she loved materials. And she was really obsessive about the handle of textiles. And she collected fabrics from all over the place. And she also had this huge sewing room at home. And so, again, like, I guess it was just that influence that mum had an amazing, amazing eye. She's very sophisticated woman and she don't. But it was weird because she had come from a very poor background and she sort of met my dad, who's from Sandringham and was like, right, I'm I'm leaving Heidelberg and I'm like going to make something of myself over here. So that was kind of a thing. Clothes were very much an indicator of that success to her, I guess, and being able to present herself in a certain way. And she was just such an amazing dresser that was just, you know, we talked about clothes non-stop. So for sure, like this love of garments and fashion obviously had a huge impact on me.
And we used to make work patterns together and do all kinds of stuff. So. So that's that was my permission to be creative, I guess, from that work I did with mom in the early days, but she went on to study Italian and was about to do a doctorate before she passed away.
Yeah, well, yeah. Oh, my gosh. That background both from your mom and your dad and I am with you. My thing with my mom used to be going to Lynn Craft and sitting and flipping through the butter. It was all the books and the Vogue books. Yeah. The vocal patterns and are just. Oh, oh, I totally I feel like so much of that is missing now because I just go online and everything. But that sounds incredible. So I can very much see how you ended up doing what you're doing. But yeah, all in when you were just talking before you mentioned how you were in the bath and you were reading this book by this yoga woman and I noticed. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm wondering, you know, like that that is a huge part of your what you do. And before you started your business, you were doing a lot of yoga space and retail seems a bit removed from yoga, even though, you know, there's so many like athleisure kind of companies and stuff coming out with yoga, but it's just kind of different to it. So I'm just wondering, how did you move into designing shoes and having a retail space when you were also in the yoga realm? Like, was it just pure or was it how did that come about? I mean, you had the experience from being in the manager of sports Girls shoes when you're going to come about.
Well, from there, like obviously after I finished my degree, I studied business and I finished my degree. And then I worked in a lot of different production jobs in fashion. So at one time I lived in Sydney and I was doing eyewear for a big wholesaler up there for about four years. And then I came back home to Melbourne. My mum was done well and I was working for a couple of different wholesale, again, like manufacturing footwear and working as a product developer. So but actually, in a lot of ways, the yoga is what kind of really saved me after mum passed away because Mum and I were really, really close, like best friends sort of thing. And like, I'm the only daughter for children and the youngest. So I think I came to yoga because by the time, I just felt very burnt out. I was in the space of a few years. I'd like moved back from a really great but really big job in Sydney doing product development and travelling a lot. And I'd gotten married and then I had Max at 31 and then I lost my mom at 33. And looking back, I just think I was just really exhausted. And so but after I, you know, I just sort of recap and going around in circles. But after I finished my business degree, I was travelling just all the time for work, you know, and which sounds awesome. And don't get me wrong, Fiona, I had an awesome time and I travelled with some really amazing, interesting people and I was given opportunities I never would have been able to afford travelling by myself and I was really I had a really good time in a long time. But after I had Max, I felt really just tired. And I guess I was a bit confused by, like, the competing demands of motherhood and, you know, pretty big jobs in fashion that are very much like all in. And so I remember going to a trade fair and I was in New York and Max was five months old and it was my first trip overseas without him. And I was still breastfeeding and I was determined to keep breastfeeding him when I got back. So I had to keep expressing like every three hours. It was revolting.
So I was on a plane expressing every three hours on my way to New York for on a 24-hour flight and then doing a trade fair and trying to talk to people. And it just it just shouldn't have been there. Like, it was ridiculous to even attempt it. But I was just so hellbent on not giving up what I thought was, you know, my my kind of agency, I guess, within, you know, motherhood. And I didn't I just I just didn't want to not work. I really struggled with it. And so, yeah, I struggled with those competing responsibilities, ambitions. Of course, I just tried to do everything. And when you try to do everything, everything tends to fall apart. So that's when I came to yoga. And also, you know, because with Mum passing away. You need to you need to acknowledge it and work in theory, because otherwise it comes back and it will haunt you until you deal with that kind of thing, which I'm sure you.
I remember I saw a grief counsellor and she said, it's great. You're saying maybe. Those either will come out now or it'll come out in a year or to come out in 10 years because you're not dealing with it. She was like I say, people come in after 12 years of one parent dying or somebody close to dying. And she's like, I haven't dealt with it. They've just pushed it and pushed it, then pushed it out. So I think it's amazing what you can OK.
It really is a physical manifestation grief. It's very different, I think, to anything else, which is kind of weird when you think about the pandemic, because I was talking to someone about the fact that we're sort of going through a kind of grief in a lot of ways. And it's the same stages. It's like, you know, denial and anger and resentment. And so maybe that's another reason that, I guess, is what we're going through with the pandemic to me, I've just felt like, yeah, but life goes on, you know, and I guess it's the same thing that happens when you lose someone really close to you.
You do gain a strength because you learn, first of all, like how precious life is and how fleeting it is. So you just got to ride the waves down. And so, yeah, I guess that that helped us with the pandemic, too. But getting back to that whole yoga thing and that's another reason I have a practise, because we that I honestly, I would be a nut job. And I think a lot of people need to practise it to keep themselves grounded. And I think when you find that thing, whatever it is, and doesn't have to be yoga, it could be anything, could be painting or, I mean, whatever, it's just having that purpose outside of, I guess, work and family and something that brings you back to yourself that you can find flowing. And so for me, it's my practise. And so that's what led me to doing yoga teacher training. And I took a year out and I did teach yoga and I loved it. I love teaching and I loved sharing a space with people and helping them connect and find quiet. And I really did love it.
But after a year, I also found that I had all this creative energy. I wasn't bored. It's not the right word, but I, I just felt like I was unresolved in what I wanted to do with other projects and. And I have always worked together, we've always done little projects here and there.. So we kind of met through thick and yes. So we just started mucking around with stuff as we do. And then at the same time, I was contacted by an old man who had been a manufacturer for one of the footwear wholesalers I worked for, and he offered to fund a business for us, essentially by manufacturing any range that I wanted. And he was going to give me $120 payment. And so the deal was it was like, Kerryn, you got design it. You're really you're really good at making products. You design the product, I'll make it for you and you sell it. And then once you sell it, you pay me back. But he's crazy. He's awesome. But yeah, say he was very encouraging of me and the way the business began that we serendipity and we have its name serendipity in honour of that path that we found ourselves on.
Because like I often say, the business kind of just wanted to be born like I was never, ever someone that was going to work for myself when I was, you know, when I had these big jobs and I had a good salary. And you'd be like, no way. I'm not going to work for myself. I don't want that stress. I don't want to lose that money. I don't want I want my salary. And but weirdly, it's just like all these things just kept happening serendipitously, pointing me in this direction. And I think through the practise of being honest with myself, this is where I ended up. And look, the good thing, too, was that I gave my dad and I something to focus on together after mom had passed away. And I feel like I've said before many times that I feel like she did add up for both of us. So because it does it has this kind of otherworldly manifestation that I can only put down to things that that she's conjured up for me.
I know. I love that. My sister and I both have, like, what do you call it, like an icon, I guess, like a thing that we see in the in the natural world. And we both believe, like, my sister has a thing and she's like, whenever I say that it's mom and dad being and I have a certain bird and I know it sounds crazy, but I know, like, that bird is always around when big things are happening and all four of them will be in a row, these little signs. And so, yeah, I don't feel like that's weird what you just said. And so I think it's amazing that you had these opportunities and that it all kind of came together. And I know that one of the things, you know, I think is also about your business is that you kind of bucked the trend. And what I mean by that is I worked in fashion, retail, everything, retailers that sell shoes. And that's very much a trend, especially with shoes, because they're a higher frequency purchase. Like we when I was doing some research back in the day at this company, I think it was like in Australia, women buy shoes like seven times a year on average, which is interesting because I wouldn't say that I buy seven pairs of shoes, but it's much higher than, say, like a bag that you might buy once every three years. And so I'm wondering, because these big companies I've worked, you know, they've had trend forecasters and all of that, and you've gone against that. Not that your things aren't on trend. They're awesome, but they're very much like you mentioned before, you have a flat shoe. You don't do the high heels or doing this because Rihanna's is just put out a film clip that has her and you have these very kind of effortlessly cool, flat, comfortable shoes that can just be worn season after season after season. And I'm wondering, firstly, congratulations on being able to have a successful business in that space. But did you ever worry these aren't going to sell or it's narrowing down too much or that somehow people would want something else? And did you ever feel any pressure, especially because you've come from a fashion background, to kind of get in the normal apparel or fashion game where there is a trend trend coming out? And, you know, you've got to kind of stick to that and then get the next trend or the next trend?
Yeah, well, trends is what I'd come from, you know, so that that role of like being the trend forecaster and presenting collections that way, I like presenting trends and things to buyers to try and convince them on the styling we're putting forward. That's that was totally what my job was. So maybe that informs my approach in some ways that this approach was no longer going to be so relevant in a lot of ways. And maybe as a forecaster, too, I felt that trend early on that women would no longer really wearing heels, like even in corporate roles. It's become so ubiquitous, I guess, and it seems obvious now. But back when we started eight years ago, I was still kind of a big deal to wear like trainers with a suit and a stylish way. Or, you know, I like a more casual shoe with a more formal outfit, so I guess it's a kind of aesthetic that we have that you know, you either get it or you don't, which which is good. I think like I think the product ranges should be a bit divisive because you can't be all things to all people. And as soon as you try to be all things to all people, you're basically casting your net too wide. And second of all, you start to just look a bit unclear what you're about.
So to answer your question, yes, I did worry that I wouldn't sell. I wore I still worry endlessly this day. It's a huge gamble. Every collection, maybe a little less now that we've got a bigger audience. But the truth of the fashion business is that you do a little bit live and die by your last season. And, you know, my dad would often say to me, it's not the shoes you sell, it’s the ones that you live with, it determines how you're going. And so it's all about closing stocks. And, you know, it's a it's a hard business and it is a gamble.
So the hardest thing about fashion is that your product changes each season and that's where, you know, it becomes the sustainability questions because every season you're starting from scratch. And if you think about other industries where you have sort of a a widget that you can market and it doesn't really change, that's that's one of the hardest things about the fashion industry, is it's run by novelty and people love newness. So it's hard. So I guess what we've tried to do is we've tried to build solid styles we can consistently repeat on and customers come to us when they're ready to update. And we're sort of given each style, I guess it's own specific names and they've all been in the business for quite some time and people know them by name. And, you know, but our customers are so great because they're happy to go across styling. So we sort of say that we've got one into the collection is kind of shop one and is athletic. And we sort of they're all that's how we categorise it, I guess. And we've got different class groups within that. I think having a boundaries is a great thing. And I think having a boundary on it, just being flat shoes has really given the business a strong identity and an anchor over the years. So I certainly have no I don't miss it at all. I had to manufacture and and I don't think people wear them. And I only want to make things that people love and really, really well, you know, and that's, I guess, one of the things we're trying to understand what our customers want and then splice that a little bit with what's happening in the market. So we're current without being too trend driven. For us, that’s the trick of making things feel a bit effortless. And then for people coming back to us, I guess, each season, because I know they know our silhouettes and like we sort of show how we wear them, install them, and people respond to that, too. But yeah, I think those days of trend forecasters and trend report is saying, what's next? You know, I really over because if you look at like, you know, everyone references and in those big companies and everything looks the same and people people know how it works now, like customers understand what how it works. And in fact, I actually think the trends are driven from customers, not from not from trend forecasters. You need to get out in the world and say what people are wearing and really feeling. And then that's that's when you're going to make a more relevant product, I think.
Yeah, I completely agree. And I feel like in that last role that I had with the kind of accessories brand, everyone, I never wore heels. I'm tall as well. So I feel like I'm never going to wear heels because I have a lot of kind of short friends and they would wear heels. And I was like, I'm going to be like two feet above everybody. But I also know that at that last place, we would all wear like trainers or flat shoes to work. And then we'd have heels under our desk to, you know, put on when you had to go to a meeting. Yeah, really, it was hard. Like, I'd be like, oh, God, the meetings on that floor, that's really annoying because I have to wear these heels all the way up to that floor. So, yeah, I completely I completely hear you on that front and I can hear you as well with the whole trend forecasting thing. I just think it's the customers. Like, we have so much access to our customers now. They're telling us, like you said before, you work a lot with your clients. You got a really loyal client base as well. But like to ask, what do you what are you loving? What are you hiding?
I love like hearing people's response and then so many ideas we've gotten from customers telling us, like, actually what they want. And that's I think that's a pretty unique thing. And if, you know, I'm a fashion business, I guess because a lot of the time people think. I don't want to say it's a bit like that whole you can't sit here thing like yeah, like I know what's trending, so I'll tell you words like, well actually that's your customer. That's a person with the gold makes the rules, right? I don't think it means that you have to compromise. I think if it's something that like I want to put forward that I'm concerned customers want understand, then I do my damndest to explain it to them. And so they can say how I wear things, because that's ultimately, I guess, where some of the designs come from.
So it is something that's a bit too forward that people like. Oh, no, I'm not into that nine times out of ten, if I'm in the store, I can totally explain it to them and I'll be like, wow, I really get it now. I understand it. I'm with you. Yes, I. I guess that's the privilege of having a shop, you know, because I love working on the shop floor. Like to me that's just the see it. And I look in that way. I really love retail and I've always loved selling. So I guess I just like, you know, we've actually got the 50 made it called Green Velvet Curtain Store. it's like the theatre, you know, like the theatre, right? Yes. And I do. I feel that energy in the store and but that's where we get a lot of ideas, like customers coming in and just being really honest. And they tell me everything, Fiona. Yeah. But especially about the shoes. And that's how we've just we've listened and gotten better and listened and just really made a point of listening and invested in the product based on what people wanted from us. So that's come through.
I think that's awesome. And also I think it's so great. You mentioned before that you're doing more content and I know that you explain on your Instagram as well, like you're always kind of doing these videos that are like, hey, this is why I've done it this way, or this is why it's designed this way or this thing that you might not have thought of when you’re putting the shoe on. I think they're amazing. So you're giving that same experience online as well. Can you talk us through, like, the design and manufacturing process? Because it's kind of one thing to be like, oh, and then we may choose, but how does that actually work? And I know it's changed since you began and how did you even find someone? And then also when you've had to change things along the way, like what's that like to move especially, you know, offshore manufacturing?
Yeah, offshore manufacturing is really challenging. And it is really even before the pandemic that was that's always challenging because it's it's hard unless you're there a lot to really stay on top of what's happening. And I found that difficult. And but our first maker, we worked with him for five years and he as I said, he came to us from a previous role ahead in the industry.
And in a lot of ways, that relationship probably went on about two years longer than it should have, because ultimately we had conflicting values. And it was sort of like I was trying to produce something in small conscious quantities that was very high in price value ratio. And then his other customers were like really major chains like Novo, some very high volume, fast moving retailers with different price value ratios to us. So, yeah, that that became really difficult as as the years went on. And the volume challenge is a challenge that we continue to have. But I guess the way that we've overcome that is we try to make it worthwhile for our factories by repeating the same styles because they get experience and productivity gains. So the more they make a style and get good at it, they get faster and then they can make the same style quickly. And then I sort of that in that way they make more money from each stall because their economies of scale are better and things like that. And it's the same with that last investments because we use the same loss on repayed. So we just try and be as customers. But it is difficult. The volume out of China, it really it is challenging. And before the pandemic, we had started to think about looking to other regions and Leo's actually his family is Spanish, part-Spanish. So he speaks Spanish, Spanish. So we're thinking, oh, maybe we can manufacture in Portugal, Spain or you know.
But of course, the pandemic kind of wrap that up. Yeah, but we actually found our current supplier through a contact Leo had who was working at country writing procurement at the time, that he had a huge background in the industry beyond country road. And he's tooling for it. And he's like a mentor to me as well.
He's a great guy, but he helped us monumentally take our business up about ten levels because he took us to a manufacturer who is extremely skilled and skilled in way in areas that a previous manufacturer wasn't. So things like opening outsole moulds and really technical components, things that really just weren't available to us previously and shoes are really complex category and they're really fraught with QC, is it really difficult to make? A lot can go wrong, even like you do one production and then you make another production and there'll be a tweak, something small that goes wrong. So, you know, it's tricky. It's not an easy path. But I love how connected our customers are to their shoes. And you don't see it with other accessories like they're on your body and literally the foundation to how you walk through life. So this is kind of a really powerful emotional connection that women have to a good pair of shoes that I find really special and I love helping people find.
And the thing that I'd add is that you have to stay on top of your supply chain relationship all at all times and just be brutally honest about the product that you're bringing to market. So I think, like, I kept making excuses for my maker because we had such a long standing relationship and I, I just didn't want to believe that it was anything but the best quality, and I just got to a point where I couldn't ignore the things like the QC issues that we were having and, you know, he was used to managing these like 1000 run or even be got like ten thousand unit productions. And then he's doing out of a hundred and things were just going wrong. And so I guess my lesson there was that if you supply is not meeting quality standards, you have to move on really quickly and not. Like, you just have to stay still on top of it, if there's consistent problems, you just have to make a call to move on because it's too detrimental to your business and reputation.
I think to find a good maker, you have to reach out to people and ask questions. And that's what we did. We just kept asking people for help that we knew in the industry and asking for introductions. But you know, what's so great now is companies are so transparent, especially overseas companies like you can go on to Everlane's website and you can look up what all of their manufacturers are or you can go on to. I mean, there's so many different places you can find the names of manufacturers. So even if you didn't even know anything, know the web is there, like and if you're sleuthy about where you're looking, I think it is possible to find great manufacturers on your own terms. Definitely. But but we really do lean on industry contacts for sure.
Yeah. Oh well, I love that. I love them, Everlane. And I think Patagonia's as well.
There are so many brands are now I mean, we know you can see that as it's called me Piazzi and it's up on the website and it's just part of being transparent and. Yeah, and actually the Patagonia book, I think even has a listing of some of the factories. It's the volume thing. It's always the volume.
Yeah, it is. And like that's always going to be the compromise with people where they like like often people will sort of be saying, you know, they come to me with like an idea for a business. And, you know, nowadays, which is amazing. Everyone wants a sustainable economic environment and all of these things. And I'm like, well, then your price point is going to have to come up, because unfortunately, right now, like, we can't necessarily get everything with this mass market in order. Like you can slowly, slowly. But I think, yeah, people like if you're going to do this amount, then yes, we can cater and do these things for you. But otherwise it's going to be a hard slog at the start to get everything you want when it comes to manufacturing. And like the industry here, I worked at it at a clothing factory in my. Yeah. And and I remember when I first interviewed the guy who was a family friend, he'd been doing it for about, came out from Italy at 14, became a tailor, did all of that, and he's in his 70s now. And I worked with him and I asked him about stuff and he was like, it's not even necessarily that we don't have, you know, the margin, but we don't necessarily have people to fix the machines here. Like, you know, that knowledge.
There's no there's no machine component. I mean, to do to do footwear manufacturing with the styles that we do would literally be impossible in Australia. We have to manufacture the machinery doesn't exist anymore.
Yeah, it's so it's so crazy. But one thing that I love about you amongst many things is that you have you know, even now you've been so transparent, so open, and you you're so honest with feedback and you're so helpful to others. And I've heard that from many people, including clients. I've heard it from just other people who are like, oh, my God, Kerryn, dramatically. This is so amazing because you're always giving, like advice or counselling people in the same field as the collective closets. It's just one example. And this is not something that a lot of people do like a lot of people, they do it. They don't actually do it. And you're just so open, so transparent, including the challenges and wins that you've had. But how do you do this and why is it important to you? And I guess also to that, do you have advice for people out there who are like, I'd love to share my knowledge, but I don't really know where I would even start?
Yeah, well, I guess yeah, there's a few things like I mean, I really enjoy teaching and I really enjoy communicating, connecting with people. I love talking to people. And, you know, I especially love talking about fashion because obviously it's a huge part of my life. And now I've spent, you know, 20 plus years in the industry. I feel like I've learnt so much and I feel like, you know, I've got a lot to share. And I kind of feel like there's sort of a bit of an obligation in a way to kind of share your knowledge. No obligation, because that makes it sound like it's a burden. But you just get so much out of it. You learn so much about yourself with sharing. And that, to me, is really valuable because then you can say how far along you've come. But with RMIT, we did a really cool capstone project with their fashion merchandising students and their also the master fashion student.
So that was in the marketing, the second one. But the capstone project was great because the students had to respond to our footwear brand with garments and then Leo and I had to judge their projects, which was brutal and such a brilliant experience. But both projects are such an eye opener. And then with the marketing students, we were working with them, they also had to give us like a marketing plan.
And what was so interesting was how the brand is perceived versus what you think you’re communicating with the world and there is just golden nuggets that you can't you just can't get into because it's so I'm biased and they're just like looking at your brand kind of coal face value and it's awesome. You get such interesting perspectives. So I love that. And especially because you know in a teaching environment, it's not it's not necessarily about being commercial size a bit more of a free for all kind of thinking that goes on. And for me, like once again, it's just been a great opportunity to get different perspectives and different ideas and ways to run the business and sort of take that on and think about, OK, like they’re perceiving the message this way. Like, is that what we really meant when we were saying and we you know, I just just interesting things like that. So I guess to me, as well as a business owner, I just want to see other people succeed and and enjoy having a business with Collective Closets. I mean, I just love those women. I could couldn't speak highly enough of them because they they've just got that same positive energy of just being like. Rolling with the punches, but wanting so badly to make that business work, and I just I really understand that. So I've got a lot of time for those ladies. And and again, to me, I'm always learning from them as well. So it's it's a symbiotic relationship. And I always feel like that with with all those kinds of. Mentoring or projects or whatever, I'm sure you have this with your work, it's just it's so rewarding when you say that you've given people some advice and maybe it's helped them. And I can't think of anything more rewarding, really. That's why I love teaching yoga, too.
I totally, totally agree. And I mentioned that if you want to check out the interview with Collective Closets, it's after this one. Of course, it's a really good one. Twenty two. And you can you can hear them talk about how much Kerryn has helped them as well. Yeah. I love I love all of that. Did Leo and you disagree at all when you were judging things we like. Oh gosh. How do we get on the same page?
Leo got a far more commercial eye than I do. I think so. Yeah. We did have a bit of a tug of war at various points. That was really cool, actually, because with the capstone that actually made a video and it was I should put it up on the YouTube because I literally am crying last night when we had to like I because I really wanted all of them to win but that I could only give it to one of them. And I was working with the court and I'm like, how we find another prize for each group because I put so much work in and yeah, but they made a video.
I just really I guess it was again, like a good reflection back to me of what? Of what brings me joy and saying people enjoying their work and being creative. That just brings me endless joy.
So I love that. I love it and I love you are so creative yourself as well. And I love in your article. Yes. You have, you know, not just on shoes. You've done cool T-shirts of which I own and bags which I own. And these at one point. And what was that like going into other categories and what worked and what didn't work for you? And it was a certain amount of time that you had the business before. You were like, let's add to this. And I guess also in this to anyone listening who's thinking, OK, maybe we need to add to our collection or get a different category. What advice would you give to those, do you think? You can just do one thing and one thing is enough. What do you think? Do you have to have a few different things, a few different options for people?
Well, I would say our advice always, of course, to hasten slowly and so what in what I what we had to do was really look at the resources of our business. And we had to ask ourselves every time we had it on a category like, was that going to mean for our cash flow, our marketing messages, all the things we need to explain to customers, the number of suppliers I had to work with, the freight, logistics that would need to change to cater for this product. And also, I like really being honest with yourself. And what's your ability to be an expert on this product that you're bringing to market? Like if you start adding all these categories, can you really offer something of true value or you just kind of chuck in stuff in which does happen to be in fashion, as you probably appreciate?
So, you know, if it's a small add on as well, like, you know, just a couple of skis, like for us, we keep trying to hang around with that. We should put some socks in. Right. And it's like we really could it'd be great. It matches. But is it going to contribute enough revenue to make the whole thing worthwhile, like all of the pain that you go through in bringing a product to market? When you look at the margin, is it really worth it? Maybe sometimes it is, but when I've looked back over the years, we've added on things. And like I'm an absolute classic for that. It's just like layering on, layering on lots of different things, because I'd fall into the trap of thinking, you know, if we're busy, we're being successful because we're just busy and things are happening and we're busy. But actually busy can also just mean complicated.
And also overstretched and fragmented messaging and not enough cash flow. And, you know, so it comes back to that beautiful 80-20 rule. And we did through a process of really like because we did have sunglasses and we had and people love the sunglasses and they were very beautiful because we do have good mix is a but we had made an effort to to commit to the shoes. And now where we've arrived now is that one hundred percent wear footwear brand with a strong focus on footwear. But where it gets tricky is I don't want to have massive footwear range like because for a really big footwear ranges there. First of all, they're expensive to produce and they're bulky in stock and storage.
I feel like the range should be tight enough that you don't need lots and lots of SKUs. So that sort of makes it hard to keep growing in a way. That's where we have the bags, which, as you know, we've got the North Star Clutch, which everyone loves.
I cannot have to stop you there because I own two bags. One, my husband just used it the other day. We kind of use it as like the well, it's just huge and amazing. And we love it for lots of different things. But the North Star is it called the North Star Clutch. The North Star clutch. Oh, my God. I love and I'm not even just saying that, like, oh, good. It looks good. And I go for a walk with the dogs pretty much every morning. And I was like, this is good. I can have my keys, my phone, my dog tags, everything. And now it's like 24/7. That's my only bag. And my husband had actually just bought me a bag for my birthday just before that. And so often he's like, oh, how can we don't use that bag? And the bag is lovely that he bought me, but it's a bit too dressy. This is absolutely perfect for everything I like. I'm like, oh my gosh, every single person, especially if you're running around with kids or other things, you just need it. It's going to change you.
And it's like it's huggable. I just walk around with that on all the time of tired and I just feel it's a little protection, like a little like a little warrior that comes with you and protects your heart.
Because I had another feeling because I'm really bad with my glasses, my earrings. Yeah. And so I'll have earrings on and then I'll pick up my youngest from childcare. I'll be like, oh gosh, a bit of earrings off before yanks and I chuck them into that bag and I just feel like it's very protective.
Look, we have we have been developing a bit further on bags because there is they do sort of match the shoes and we might we might we only do nylon bags and we make shoes in nylon as well. So it's making some more sense. But I think if my advice to people with a starting a business is really just to focus on one like really type thing and just put all your resources into one area, don't try and spread yourself too thin. If I could go back in time, I think the t shirts are a bit different because they're locally made. It takes me two weeks to get them. It's just one style. And it's a nice way for people to be able to buy into the brand without having to buy, you know, a two hundred dollar plus pair of shoes. So again, it's kind of that price architecture thing and having opportunities to be the brand in different ways.
I'm still in my bag obsession. I place that up. It's unisex because I bought it. I was like, that's a call-back, but you get that. And I was like, oh yeah, I could totally buy them for all sorts of people. And honestly, I'm not even just joking that I'm using that. I've had one other bag in my whole life and I’ve worked in a bags company that and I buy bags a lot. That one other bag that has done me as well as that bag like where I'm just it's the bag. We're definitely going to link to the North Star clutch in this podcast. I know you have helped. We've touched on it, but you have helped so many other people in the small business world, locally, internationally, whatever. And even just so I feel like you help other people.
I often use you as an example what I'm doing, talking like when I'm speaking at trade shows, I often bring up your stuff and I'm like, here's an example of how to humanise your brand without feeling sales-y or gimmicky or anything. I think you've done it very well and you've taught a lot of people. But what has helped you? What do you think? You've mentioned certain people like the guy that your husband and you talk to about the QC process and getting a bit of your first maker, your dad and your mum. But like, what else do you hope to building a business? Have there been any mentors or courses or books that have helped you?
Well, definitely my yoga practise. I mean, and all of the teachers I've had in my yoga have certainly equipped to be an entrepreneur because you do have to be. Yeah, I think that was one of the reasons that maybe yoga came to me so that I could end up going on this path, because prior to that, I just wouldn't have had the courage and I wouldn't have had the self-awareness to be able to be, I guess, fearless enough to do this, because, as you know, it's really scary running a business.
So one of my favourite teachers in that regard is a Buddhist monk, actually, from Ameria.
And she has these really cool podcasts and talks and stuff. And she talks a lot about this idea of like always being in process. So this is the task that we sort of all face ourselves like as human beings. We are always in flux. Right? And particularly if you're a human being, running a small business, you are always in flux. So the task is that you have to get used to that. You have to find a way.
To manage that and overcome that, and there's lots of different practises, things like not attachment and impermanence, and obviously I know impermanence pretty intimately from like I was literally with mom when she passed away. And so really understanding that life is just one breath here and not here. And it's all in the breath. For me, that is just such a grounding like things that really stressful. It's just like this is just a day and it's going to pass. And all you can do is like take full responsibility for where you are and full responsibility for, like all your actions. So I guess a lot of yoga teachers have really influenced my ability to do this. It's hard to run a business, which is a funny thing to say, but it's it's definitely something I've leaned on heavily to get me through this.
But another person, of course, that you know, I love is my Mike Michalowicz I'm obsessed with profit first, because when you introduced that book to us, when I was working with you and doing mentoring with you like that fundamentally changed the way we were doing business, like flipped our business completely on its head. And, you know, we went from being a loss making exercise for a number of years to now like we've had the past 16 months. It's only been one month, but we didn't make a profit. I know. And it's all thanks to, you know, that intensive work that we did do together.
And you introducing me to Mike Michalowicz and your work. But I could not if you want to run a business and you don't know how to write a now, which I thought that I did because I had pretty senior roles, but until it's your own money, you just can't understand what it's like to be bleeding money left, right and center, trying to get a business up and running. And yeah, like that was that was profound, the difference that that made. So if you are thinking of starting a business, you must you must read Mike Michalowicz, Profit First, don't you think.
I completely I completely think that as well. So many people, you know, I've been in exec roles and stuff, but it's completely different when you're looking at, you know, when you're an exec role and it's not your money. I'd be looking at like billions of dollars, like the move this year, not blah, blah, blah. But you just don't have the attachment when it's your own money. And it's like, OK, that's really going to impact our mortgage repayments. Yes. Then, of course, going to be so much more interested in it. And also, I think a lot of people, particularly creative people, can tend to say, oh, I'm bad at numbers, the finance and the business.
It's like if you want to have a business, you need to take responsibility for the money or don't have a business being creative because like it get someone that can really be in your business as well and help you because it's money like it's serious, you know, it's it's whether you make it or break it, I think.
I can appreciate that because I had, you know, the same experiences, you know, like a bank very close to the edge of losing the business. So I guess in some ways I'm grateful for that experience because I'll never, ever let myself get into that position ever again. If being over resourced and under revenue.
Yes. And I love also what you talked about with the breath and the focusing and and I think it can be really hard for somebody who hasn't dealt with grief before to understand that unfortunately, we all will deal with it at some point. It's just a matter of time. I sat with my father when he died. My sister and I sat there for hours and and it was literally it was the most incredible thing as well. Look, it's it's beautiful, but it's like a this in a lot of ways to achieve the same. Yeah. And to see that whole it's like that book when they think it's called When Breath Becomes Air. Mm. Oh it's very true. But it's very, it's a very I think what you've just said there, it's beautiful what you said. It's, I thank you because you can just sometimes get caught up in the, the stress and the drama and everything else and then you calm down.
Yeah. It's just perspective isn't it. I mean. Is everything like it is, it is very stressful running a business. Don't get me wrong, but so you have to you have to have tools of how to manage your stress because it is stressful. But I think the greatest one is just perspective and remembering it will pass like.
So it's just it's interesting perspective is a really great thing. But I would love to know and you mentioned a couple of the things that you would change, you know, namely not stressing to have all these different categories or trying to do everything at once. But what is one other thing, I guess, that you would share with people that you would have done differently if you were just starting out now?
Well, I would probably I mean, look, in shoes we can't manufacture locally, really, like in in the same way that we do. But I wish that we could if I could change anything about the way we started the business that way when Leo and I started the business, it would be that we chose a product that we could manufacture locally. And who knows, as we continue on our journey, I'm sure things will transpire and we will change things. But I'd probably also not have been in such a rush to open up retail stores because they are very, very expensive burden on a small business. And if they're not trading it, it can be very difficult. But I sort of let my lesson with that when I had three locations going at once, when I sort of had a pop up shop at the Quamby market for a couple of years. And then I had a pop up shop in Melbourne Central in this one particular point. And then I had locations where I had big design market going and all these things. It was just like, oh my God, stop. What are you doing? Like, slow down. So I guess, you know, from the early years, maybe, maybe that's one thing. But I also think I would pay I would have given a lot more weight to becoming a commerce expert much earlier in the pace than what we did. I think we were brand building, but we weren't focused on the opportunity enough of what online could be. And we could have saved ourselves a lot of time if we had that same thing, really, if not diving into bricks and mortar and instead spending more time being e-commerce experts, which is what we sort of spent the last two, three years doing. And it might have progressed just a little faster. But I try not to regret anything. I try not to. You only can unveil the lotus leaf as it is.
On that then, I know that you guys and we've talked about your video, your content and everything, and people can definitely check you check that out on reticle. Yes. And Instagram, which is just radical. Yes. Or one word. And of course, we'll link to that in the show notes. But what other platforms or tech tools do not live with that when it comes to Radical Yes.
Well, obviously, Shopify is a big one because that runs an online store on the point of sale and it runs a lot inventory. Also, Asana is brilliant for managing customer service. So because we we have a bit of a small team that helps us with customer service. So everyone and logistics, everyone being able to look at the same thing in Asana is brilliant and definitely a godsend because we have a lot of customer service management because of exchanges with online store shopping. So that would without Asana would just be really difficult. And Xero, obviously, you have to have zero for managing your books, like I don't know how or mild or whatever you need. You need some kind of computing software, I guess, but that would be the main ones.
I think as far as tech, we actually try and keep it really minimal, Fiona, because we used to have at one point we had tried Geko for our inventory management and we had Shopify and then we had like I was looking at this is part of Mike Michalowicz work actually. I was looking at our computer software cost centre. And I'm like, how are we spending a thousand dollars a month on computer software like that? We yeah. So I halved it. So I cut off like, you know, even like the extra Gmail addresses and things like that. I'm really ruthless with not adding on too much unnecessarily. So try and keep up subscriptions really came.
Yeah I, I love that as well. And I also went through that process of like oh my God, look at the things you subscribe to that I didn't even remember subscribing to. Yeah. You might think, I had multiple Netflix is that I'd set up one for my dad that I was paying for and. Oh, my God, he might have used that once in the hospital room, like just things I was I was like, oh God. But I also think at the start of this pandemic, Mike Michalowicz went on and did some like lives. And one of the things that he said, which goes to your point, is that he was saying, you know, one of the things you need to do is really cut down your expenses right now in this pandemic and figure out things. And one of the questions someone had said was, well, how do I know all my subscriptions? Because the banks actually make it really hard to find that stuff out. And if you haven't done your Xero properly, you might not realise all the subscriptions. So one thing that he suggested was to cancel your credit card. So cancel your business credit card check, and then you will get all of these people contacting me because I like your payment hasn't gone through and then you can decide. So that's just a tip.
I know he's amazing in his vision, isn't he? Like, that seems like a huge amount of work to me to cancel a credit card. But still, like, if you really committed to cutting your costs and if you really don't have that visibility, then absolutely.
I think it's a good place to start. That's a smart thing to do. Then you would suddenly say all the stuff that you're paying for. I can imagine what you're proud of because I have worked with you, as you said, but also from just the outset. And just the type of person you are, you're just lovely. And I think you're doing your mother and father very proud, very similar to how your mom sounded and your dad, you know, just really ambitious and driven and positive and wonderful. But what are you most proud of from your journey - owning and running Radical Yes.
Well, like, I think it's that we stayed true to the path and we stuck it out even when I had an account inside of me a few years ago. Like, how long are you going to be willing to work 50 hours a week for the same amount of money you'd get pulling beers for 20 hours a week at the pub and like really made me feel really like, “oh, man, am I crazy. Like, am I actually crazy?” But we didn't you know, we stuck it out and just kept being committed to improving constantly and improving ourselves as business owners and improving the product constantly. And I'm really proud of that because it's been a good example, I think, for our kids saying us being entrepreneurs and being true to our creativity. And they've seen us work really hard as they've grown up. Not that I necessarily want them to be people that are obsessed with working hard, because I don't I don't think that's the point. But it's more just that, like if you're committed to your creativity, that you can carve a life for yourself. And it's possible. And like they're in the business with us in so many ways. Max is my Saturday morning cameraman. He's my 12 year old and he is really good at it. He's actually a really good cameraman. And then I pay him to do that now.
So it's like a Saturday morning job, I believe, on books. I am. It's really cute. And yeah. So I'm really proud of that, that it inspires them. And also my baby son, he loves our shop and he always something else is coming up soon and we are talking like should we continue with the store which we don't always always like. We have to keep the shop. Mom, I love our shop so he loves it. So yes, I feel like we've really made a family business in a lot of things. And we often do talk about the business being multigenerational and being able to be passed on. I'm trying to build something that that can be passed on because that's certainly something that would be, I think, fantastic for them as an opportunity.
And Max loves fashion and clothes and got us down the same thing to him that my mom did. So, yeah, I'm proud of of having a family business.
Oh, that is so wonderful. And, you know, when Max win some award for his feature length documentary, we'll be back. Well, you started it. It all started at my mom's store. And so what's next for you and where can people connect with you? What's the best place for them to connect, especially if they're listening to this? They're like, oh, my gosh, I just had to tell her that.
Please, yeah, please connect with me. I love it. I love hearing from people all DMs. Always great on insta, obviously. So that's just a @radicalyes, you'll get me. It's all smoke and mirrors that as anyone running. Yeah. It's just me being like this is what's so amazing. We have access to all sorts of people. I know. Right. It's so cool. It's great. But that's probably all they can, they can email me as well which is the you know through the yes@radicalyes.com.au.
Coming up next for us, we have got a really cool echo snak, a programme that we've been working on with the new maker out of Sri Lanka that I'm super excited and proud about that also through my mentor and contact we were speaking about before and also we have done a little extension on our bag programme, but I'm pretty excited about that.
We've also developed an amazing new outsole which I'm super pumped about. We've been doing so much work on our product in terms of just constant new iterations and new improvements. And yeah, so and then one other thing that's coming up, actually, that's coming out the weekend - This weekend for the podcast is for the cyber weekend promotion we're actually doing with every order a Hasten Slowly T-shirt as a gift with purchase know.
And we're also giving five dollars from everybody to our not for profit partner with success who are now called Ready Set, I should say, to get them muddled with a new name. It's called Ready Set and one they help women dress and get back into the workforce to help.
Yeah, it's not just women. They help men and women get back into the workforce, disenfranchised jobseekers, people that don't have, you know, professional attire and training and things like that. So they are a really great community course that we've worked with for a number of years. But we thought we'd use that promotional weekend for something a bit different. We don't have a big sale, but we are having like all these great reasons to shop instead. So, yeah, I think it's going be really cool. I'm very pumped about that.
We're really excited for you and also should if the store back open and running a very recent changes here in Melbourne. Now can people come if they're in North Melbourne or near Queensberry Street is definitely they can come to Queensberry Street and they can get a pastry from bread club, which is perhaps the best bakery in Melbourne. And so it's a really lovely synergy.
But yeah, we've been open now for two weeks and we were just trading Friday, Saturday, Sunday for the main time while things are still, you know, on sort of precautionary measures and just also so we can kind of control the flow of people through the store and things like that and just be working safely for both our staff and customers and stuff. So, yeah, we’re just doing Friday, Saturday, Sunday until the end of the year. And then we're going to have a look at our hours finished next year and see if we start opening a little more next year.
So much stuff happening and we'll add links to all of that, including the location and all of that in the show notes. But it has been so wonderful. Thank you so much. You’re just a breath of fresh air. And I feel like even when I just watch you,stalk you on Insta, it's just like, oh, it's so effortlessly wonderful and cool outfits and stuff. You always just write and you just write. So thank you so much.
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.
