Unconventional Business

Camplify is a marketplace often likened to Airbnb for RVs. Founded in 2019, Camplify has grown to become Australia’s largest van sharing platform and is on a journey to revolutionise road trips.

In this episode, Justin Hales - CEO of Camplify dives into his journey from a career in technology and mining to founding a company built on the marketplace model. The conversation explores the challenges and strategies employed in the early stages of the business, the impact of the pandemic, and the expansion into international markets. Throughout the discussion, Justin emphasises the focus on customer satisfaction and how Camplify leverages feedback to improve user experience. He also shares insights on the sharing economy, consumer trust, startup lessons, and future plans for Camplify.

Key Episode Moments:
00:00 Acknowledgment of Country and Introduction
00:53 Meet Justin Hales, CEO of Camplify
01:24 Justin's Career Journey: From Mining to Marketplaces
07:31 The Birth of Camplify: An Airbnb for RVs
15:43 Challenges and Growth in the Sharing Economy
23:07 Understanding the Customer and Their Journey
24:25 Breaking Down Customer Demographics
26:01 Community Insights and Business Enablement
27:21 Expanding the Holiday Experience
29:05 Navigating the Impact of COVID-19
35:25 International Expansion and Market Strategies
42:01 Future Plans and Customer Barriers
44:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

What does it take to make a product go viral? Is it simply timing, luck or a knack for predicting future trends? You're in for a special treat as we hear from Christoper Thé, the mastermind and creator of the viral sensation that the New York Times crowned 'The World's Most Instagrammed Cake'.

We delve into Chrisopher's journey in the food business, how he came up with Australia's prized watermelon, strawberry and rose cake, his approach to creativity and his advice for small businesses.

Key Episode Moments:

Christopher early food memories, including his Indonesian upbringing and how it influenced his passion for food

Christopher's transition from studying psychology to pursuing a career in the food industry

Experiences working in commercial kitchens to starting his own business and the challenges faced early on

The concept of disruption in the pastry world and how Christopher approaches innovation while staying true to traditional flavours

The story of the iconic watermelon and strawberry cake and founding Black Star Pastry

Becoming a viral sensation on Instagram and the unexpected success it brought to the business

Insights on the creative process and the importance of customer experience and word of mouth

The evolution of food trends, customer expectations, and influence of social media on the food industry

Exiting Black Star and launching his new venture, Hearth, focusing on Australian native ingredients, sustainability, and food waste reduction

Collaborations and innovative approaches to creating unique culinary experiences

Lessons in business and entrepreneurship, including the significance of quality, iteration, the art of collaboration, customer understanding, and staying adaptable in a changing industry

The importance of creativity, sustainability, and nutrition in the future of food

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.
Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

With millions of disposable cups being discarded around the world every minute, Abigail Forsyth OAM, the innovative co-founder of KeepCup, had a simple idea. What if there was an alternative to single-use options? Born out of a desire for sustainability, this iconic Australian brand has revolutionised the way we think about eco-friendly products.

As a trailblazer in the sustainability space, Abigail discusses the changing landscape of consumer attitudes towards reusables and the challenges and triumphs of creating a whole new category. She shares valuable insights into the power of authentic brand messaging, fostering customer loyalty, and the importance of internal accountability in driving meaningful change. Listeners will gain valuable lessons on resilience, effective leadership, and unwavering dedication to a vision, even when the road to success isn't paved with immediate financial gains.

Key Episode Moments:

KeepCup’s origin story - what first sparked the idea

Abigail's transition from running cafes to founding a sustainable business

Developing a prototype and pitching to businesses

Winning KeepCup’s first ever contract

Market acceptance and the role of early adopters in promoting reusable cups

Influencing consumer behaviour and starting a movement

Navigating the pandemic with KeepCup's digital pivot, adapting to changing market dynamics

Ongoing product innovation

Expanding KeepCup into other countries - market entry strategies and experiences in international markets

Maintaining brand integrity and market relevance amid increasing competition in the reusable cup space

Staying true to the brand’s vision and building a genuine for-purpose business

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.
Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

Historically, brand tracking and market research have remained exclusive to large corporations with budgets exceeding $100,000. But what if businesses of all sizes had an affordable way to prove the value of investing in brand? That was the question co-founders Connor Archbold and Matt Herbert asked themselves before starting Tracksuit in 2021 to democratise market research. Within three years, the rapidly growing start-up has hit an annual recurring revenue of more than $10 million, demonstrating the market’s appetite for affordable brand analytics.

In this insightful conversation, Connor shares his candid views on the start-up environment in Australia and New Zealand, unveils Tracksuit’s ambitions to achieve unicorn status, emphasises the increasing significance of brand awareness, and reveals the secret sauce of accelerating growth in the early days.

Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur or business leader you’ll walk away with insights, inspiration and practical advice from this episode.

Key episode moments:

Exploring Connor's transition from lawyer to tech co-founder and what led to the birth of Tracksuit

The start-up ecosystem in Australia and New Zealand

The role of brand tracking in modern marketing

The importance of brand awareness and full funnel marketing in both B2B and B2C

Legacy brands and the power of reinvention

Case studies such as Heaps Normal and Eucalyptus, showcasing the power of brand tracking on business decisions and growth

How AI will impact the future of brand

Sustainable growth for start-ups - why focusing on community building and customer engagement is crucial

Embracing non-scalable strategies, and the evolving leadership challenges in a growing company

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If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.

Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.

What does it take to grow a brand from one small store in Darlinghurst to a household name serving up the best gelato in Australia (and arguably, the planet)?

In this live session at Mumbrella 360, Kat gets the inside scoop from Declan Lee - co-director and co-founder of Gelato Messina. We explore this iconic Aussie brand's journey from its early days to its widespread popularity, how it has cultivated a loyal following, dealt with the copycats and what exciting plans are on the cards next.

Key Episode Moments:

Declan's unique background and career journey from physiotherapy and DJ-ing to co-founding a gelato brand

The Gelato Messina story - early days and things falling into place

Vertical integration and buying a dairy farm

Redefining customer experience at every level

Pushing the limits of brand stretch and collaboration

Embracing creativity and innovation in product development

The importance of balancing a good product with a great experience

Building a winning culture for employees

Addressing competition and imitation in the market

Plans for international expansion and regional growth

Proactive community engagement and customer service focus to build brand advocates

Want more?
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you hit follow and subscribe so you’ll know when the next episode drops. Head to www.hubspot.com/podcasts/unconventional-business for more information.
Unconventional Business was written and produced by HubSpot Australia and VidPod.