Mouth watering meats: Truck Norris Texas BBQ

Australia’s first all-female distilling company reports success

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

March 7, 2022 Australia’s first all-female distilling company, Clovendoe Distilling Co., reports success in the non-alcoholic beverages market with founder Catie Fry at the helm. Clovendoe Distilling Co. is Australia’s first mindful drinking beverage company, selling only low alcohol and non-alcohol spirits that are blended with over 20 Australian botanicals. Fry has overcome many challenges to make this launch happen. Not only do non-alcoholic beverages make up less than one per cent of the market, but the distilling industry is heavily male dominated. “In the early days, despite being a partner in Capricorn Distilling Co. and actively working, I was often considered only for the ‘more female’ appropriate tasks, rather than given an option to work alongside the men who were physically distilling,” Fry said. “So, I started making my non-alcoholics (Clovendoe Zero) in 2017 – however juggling motherhood and battling with self-confidence as a distiller, refrained from launching.” Fry is one of the few female distillers in Australia. She expresses how difficult the gender bias has been to overcome. “For me, it’s been a daunting and intimidating industry to be in, as a woman. I have worked extremely hard to deliver a profitable mindful drinking brand,” she said. “I believe I’ve had to work harder than my male colleagues to be taken seriously in the industry after often feeling a gender bias, in the way of condescending comments. “Funnily enough, it was through my experiences of gender bias that drove me to commercially launch Clovendoe; all the times I had been ignored and overlooked in the industry was what gave me the passion to launch my own company.” Clovendoe Distilling Co. is working towards offering female traineeships to help build the industry and make the profession of distilling as a female the norm. Since the launch of Clovendoe Distilling Co. in 2020, the non-alcoholic beverage market share has risen by 2.9 per cent in 2020, and IWSR is forecasting that the no- and low-alcohol volume in Australia will grow by 16 per cent by 2024. A recent study indicates that more Australians are giving up alcohol, stating that between 2016 and 2019 the proportion of people who were ex-drinkers increased from 7.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent – approximately 1.9 million people. The proportions of people drinking daily and weekly have been falling since 2004 and are now at the lowest point since 2001. Fry has also been surprised by the percentage of men purchasing Clovendoe. “Some of our most loyal and repeat customers are men, many of whom are not who I would have typically thought – I’m talking 30- and 50-year-old tradie types,” she said. Loyal fan, Keith Benson, said: “Since discovering Clovendoe Zero, I drink that throughout the week. I have cut my drinking down from six nights a week to one and have lost a tonne of weight.” To find out more, visit www.clovendoe.com.

Fashion for people with disabilities celebrated at Australian Fashion Week

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

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10 Aussie snow brands changing how you ski and snowboard

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

May 18, 2022 Australians have been known to be an inventive bunch. Some of our most iconic creations include Vegemite, the Hills Hoist, cask wine (a personal favourite), and let’s not forget every tradies preferred mode of travel – the ute. But did you know that this inventive streak continues into the snow industry? Here’s our list of 10 unique Aussie snow brands that need to be on your radar, shaking up the local and global industry as we know it. Le Bent, style and function top to bottom Founded in 2010, LeBent is the brainchild of two Aussie mates and long-time ski bootfitters, Simon and Anthony. The duo’s first product was a technical snow sock made from a natural blend of Merino wool and bamboo. Fast forward to today, and they’ve continued with their Signature Blend love affair, extending it across socks, baselayers, midlayers, and accessories with an aim to blur the lines between luxurious comfort, performance, and style. XTM Performance, outerwear for all the family If you were tuned into the Winter Olympics earlier this year, you may have seen our next brand flash up on your screen. Founded in 1999, XTM Performance has been the official supplier to the Aussie Winter Olympic Team for over 15 years. Makes sense since one of their founders, Pete Forras is an Australian Olympian himself. The team at XTM designs wallet-friendly snow apparel for the whole family and can essentially dress you from head to toe, all whilst being 100% Carbon Neutral. On top of this, they recently pledged Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040, proving that affordability and sustainability don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Zone by Lydia Lassila, relaxed at the lodge Another Australian Olympian forging their own path in the retail world is Lydia Lassila. The 2010 Winter Olympics, gold-medal-winning, Aerial Skier. After retiring from elite sport, the loving Mum and quick-witted entrepreneur turned her sights on creating sustainable yoga accessories and apparel. Zone’s collection of activewear would not be out of place next to a crackling fireplace after a long day on the slopes. Made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton, the luxe activewear is self-described as “so comfy you won’t want to wear anything else” and to that, we say “challenge accepted”. Yuki Threads, urban mountain wear Just like LeBent, Yuki Threads was founded in 2010 by another Aussie duo. After spending back-to-back seasons between Mt Buller and Japan, Mitch and Lani saw an opportunity to create apparel that could bridge the gap between mountain and street style. Beginning with their iconic riding hoody, the collection now spans across outerwear and apparel. Yet another Aussie brand focusing on sustainability, the team at Yuki invests 1% for the planet, uses Fairtrade certified cotton, and partners with Eden Reforestation Projects. ROJO Outerwear, for women by women The oldest of all the brands on our list, ROJO has graced retail shelves since 1987. Realising there was a gap in the market for female-designed snow and surf-inspired clothing, Roe and Jo (get it…ROJO) took on the boys and ended up growing their simple passion for hand-crafted styles into a much-loved alpine lifestyle brand. Following their mantra “born in the mountains, lives by the ocean”, ROJO continues to deliver laid-back styles that are considered down to the finest detail so snow-loving girls and women can keep warm, dry, and comfortable on and off the mountain. Nobody’s Princess, the pants you need in your snow life Going from Aussie snow brand royalty to the new kid on the block, Nobody’s Princess is another Australian-owned snow brand made specifically for women. Sick of wearing ill-fitting ski and snowboard pants, founder Maria decided to take action into her own hands. Launching in 2020 with a crowd funder for design, production and manufacture, the much heralded (and needed) pants arrived earlier this year. Nobody’s Princess creates outerwear pants specifically made to fit more sizes, heights, and body shapes than any other on the market. With a size range up to AU 22, plus short and tall fit options, Maria’s mission is to instill confidence on the slopes for all women, starting with a good fit and plenty of comfort. SNOBODi, sustainable care Another new kid on the block, SNOBODi creator Hugh Wilcox wanted to design and create snow outerwear that could withstand the test of time. His goal – reduce the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill each year. Understanding that younger generations were fed up with the excessive consumption-driven behaviour of their older peers, the SNOWBODi collection aims at blending timeless design with durable performance features so you can wear it season, after season, after season. Snuph Wax, 100% philanthropy Taking a detour from apparel, next we have Snuph Wax. Snuph is all about making a difference. Whether that be the eco-ingredients of their iron-on, all-natural ski and snowboard wax that aims to stop harsh chemicals melting into our waterways. Or, their commitment to donating 100% of profits to help sick Aussie kids at Monash Children’s Hospital. Who would have thought one simple purchase of wax could make so much of a difference? Kyneee Snowboards, fun and functional Based out of Sydney, Kyneee is a small Australian-owned snowboard company whose goal is to make great products at good prices, without the unfounded marketing spin. The team at Kyneee was sick of seeing the big snowboard players pop up with the same tech under different names just so riders would upgrade their gear each year for no reason. So they took to making their own snowboards and haven’t looked back since. Rad Gloves, durable value Conceived in Victoria’s Falls Creek, Rad Gloves is all about making durable, stylish, fun snow gloves, that don’t cost an arm and a leg. With the notion that some of the harshest conditions can be found here at home, Rad Gloves’ design process includes plenty of on hill testing here in Aus. Presumably, this brand’s philosophy must be working with the team now successfully hitting US shores with their own NBA-inspired co-lab. Sontimer, eyewear for the snow Sparked from an idea to make quality goggles at an affordable price, Jindabyne local Stefan set to work on shaking up the Goggle industry, founding Sontimer in 2006. Tested in all types of snow conditions across Australia’s Snowy Mountains, Sontimer aims to prove that the all-important snow eyewear you buy can be stylish, functional, and durable without the exorbitant price tag. So that’s our list of 10 Aussie snow brands you need to know. After a tough two years, here’s hoping we can all get behind them this winter and show the world that Australian ingenuity is more than just vegemite and beachwear but a force to be reckoned with on the slopes.

AFTERPAY AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK 2022: THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA IS FIRST NATIONS FASHION

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

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Nurch rewards program aims to support ECEC sector through period of rising inflation

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

Australian families continue to be financially stretched by the rising cost of living with early childhood education and care (ECEC) a significant additional cost amongst the increases in fuel, groceries and more. Nurch Childcare Loyalty Rewards is helping to try and ease the strain by assisting enrolled families with points that can be put toward everyday spending. “As the ECEC sector’s only loyalty rewards program, our mission to support children, their families and the teams that own and operate ECEC centres is one which is unique.” Kara Smyth, General Manager and Cofounder of Nurch Childcare Loyalty Rewards said. “Nurch is currently available across a network of 39 centres and the positive feedback it is receiving emboldens us to continue forward towards our goals.” “By participating in our program families are able to reduce their household spending while centres are able to offer a value-added differentiator to their competitors that can help attract and retain enrollments, which in turn helps keep the centre running well, educators in employment and creates a consistent learning environment for the children” Nurch received well at partner centres A parent of a partner centre says that while her family expenses are considerable, the most important aspect of ECEC is that her children are happy and in the right learning environment. “I have three children attending an AMAZE Education service,” said a parent from Gaven. “We recently moved and despite having a centre fifteen minutes from our house we choose to drive 45 minutes each way so they can stay at AMAZE.” “The educators are like our extended family”, the Gaven parent said, “My husband and I earn full-time wages but daycare is considerable expense, and while the CCS changes have helped, Nurch is a big help that will help to cover a portion of the $450 we spend in groceries each week or the never-ending clothes costs that come with having young boys”. “By allowing families to earn a minimum of one point per dollar spent on childcare gap fees, Nurch allocates points that are then redeemable at over 100 Australian retailers,” Ms Kara McCarthy, Centre Director at Amaze Education Gaven said. “Simply put, while families are paying out of pocket expenses on childcare, they’re receiving money to spend on everyday items. We are deeply humbled how we can help families navigate this difficult period.” Using Nurch points to reduce overall household spending a big plus for families According to the ABS, inflation is now annualising at around 5.1 per cent, the highest rate of increase since 2009 with particular moves in transport, housing and education costs. In a recent survey of Nurch members, 80 percent of respondents said that they see value in the loyalty rewards program, with 49 per cent confirming they use the loyalty rewards program to reduce their household and children related spending. Lucy Cook, General Manager and Cofounder at AMAZE Education said “Our number one priority is the welfare of our children and families.” “Nurch has given us the perfect opportunity to give back to families for a bill they have to pay. We are even able to include bonus points for public holidays. The fact that the program is automatically reinvesting part of our marketing spend to benefit enrolled families first is a smart business model and no-brainer for us.” This view was echoed by Nadine Ross, General Manager at Imagine Childcare who noted that they had seen the dual benefit of supporting families with costs but also an increase in overall enrolment as families elect to choose a centre with Nurch as part of their offer. “We currently have 26 centres that offer Nurch and more to launch soon. The feedback from families and centre directors has been overwhelmingly positive,” Ms Ross said. “We have seen an overall increase throughout these centres, even through COVID. Our occupancy increased by three percent, compared to 2019, and I attribute this success to our educators, sales team and the Nurch program. It’s the winning combination. Families love that they can choose how they spend their points with the trend at the moment being that they like to use the points to buy groceries.” To learn more about the Nurch rewards program please visit the website, here.

Crate Day is making gift-giving easier this Father's Day

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

Men are notorious for being difficult to buy gifts for, so Vicky Brown decided to create the best possible gift for men when she launched her unique gift hamper business, Crate Day. According to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) in conjunction with Roy Morgan (2021), Australians were estimated to spend $800 million on Father's Day presents, with the average gift costing $93. In a separate survey conducted by Brown, many women found buying gifts for men difficult. She also surveyed over 200 Australian men to find out what they want in a gift, with the results indicating that they wanted something practical and of high quality. "Seventy per cent of women whom I asked if they found buying gifts for men difficult said, yes - something I have felt for a very long time," she says. "I felt as though I needed to come up with a concept that men would love receiving - an eco-friendly box [crate] of everything men love - and a fun memorable experience women want to give." The handmade wooden crates are filled with high quality products (95 per cent Australian) based on the research into men's gifting, while offering a fun and memorable experience as they are completely sealed and can only be opened with the supplied pry bar. In the same survey, it was revealed that 57 per cent of participants are interested in beer related products and 45 per cent like to receive barbeque products. "The findings from my research into men's gifts was really interesting. The most important factor to receiving a gift for men is to be of high quality and something they could use; when I asked women the same question, they said they look for gifts that are memorable and of high quality," Brown adds. During the July 2021 launch, the increasingly popular crates were a go-to gift for over 250 gift-givers last Father's Day including Daniel Mantzakos who says, "I got a crate delivered for my dad on Father's Day, he loved it, he's even keeping the crate for storage," while another Crate Day fan says "the novelty of the crate is perfect, my dad absolutely loved his Father's Day crate". Delivered anywhere in Australia, there is an option to handpick products to 'build your own' or choose the 'done for you' crates.

For four years, doctors told Jade nothing was wrong with her daughter. They were wrong.

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

But it took four years for her concerns to be taken seriously, and for doctors to find what was making her little girl so sick she told her mum she 'didn't want to be here anymore'. As Amalos told 9Honey, Sienna had become so ill she stopped growing dropping from the 75th percentile to the fifth, and that within one six-month period she contracted glandular fever, Influenza A and whooping cough, passing all of these on to her younger sister, Mya. The mum, then living in regional Victoria, first noticed Sienna would come down with viruses after starting kindergarten, which left her with high fevers, mouth ulcers and stomach pains. READ MORE: Mum blasted for letting vegetarian child eat meat at party At first she put these down to bad luck, but when the same symptoms kept repeating every four-six weeks, Amalos suspected more was going on. "It started to seem odd to me that she was getting the same virus every four-six weeks. She'd get high fevers, up to 42°C at times and I'd be carrying her into the doctors completely out of it and slumped over in my arms," Amalos said. I would be really alarmed, but it would be the same thing every time. They'd say, 'There's nothing wrong, there's no infection, we can't see anything happening it must just be a virus'." READ MORE: A letter to parents facing their first Christmas without a child Amalos was also concerned about Sienna's size. While all her classmates had shot up, her daughter had stayed the same size. The pain of her mouth ulcers also made it difficult for her to eat, and she was concerned she was underweight. Although doctors took blood tests, they could never find any cause for her symptoms. Estimating the family paid 'thousands' in private doctor's fees to try to find answers, Amalos said no one could tell them what was wrong. "It was just a constant, not being heard. We were in and out of emergency because her temps were so high and she was getting dehydrated and they'd send her home," Amalos said. After three years, when Sienna was 'sleeping all the time' and had started to lose weight, Amalos drove her to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, three hours from their home. "I sick of everyone ignoring me and sending me home. I thought she's going to die and no one's going to have done anything. I can't sit around and watch her be this sick and do nothing," she said. READ MORE: Brisbane mum dies a year after cancer diagnosis on day she gave birth "The doctor who saw her felt her stomach and said, 'She's really sick, she needs to be admitted'. They discovered her spleen and her liver were severely enlarged." Doctors immediately started testing for things such as leukemia, which thankfully came back negative. Once these had been ruled out, they looked to Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis Syndrome (PFAPA), a rare condition that can occur in childhood, usually between the ages of two and five. Although she'd not heard of it before, Amalos said it explained all the symptoms. But their long road to answers took its toll on Sienna. "She'd just lie there crying, saying, 'I don't want to be here anymore. What's the point of living if it feels like this all the time?'" The family had also lost a lot of friends, as the fevers would hit suddenly and they'd have to cancel parties and playdates on short notice. Eventually, the invites stopped. Not to mention the 'huge amounts' of school she'd missed out in. Not long after being diagnosed, Sienna underwent a tonsillectomy , which can reduce symptoms in some patients. While her fevers have subsided, she continues to experience 'feverless flares'. The family has also relocated to Queensland, hoping the warmer weather will help her. Amalos says it's hoped Sienna, now 10, may grow out of the condition, as can sometimes happen, though as it's such a rare condition it's not known what the future holds. One thing Amalos is sure of is that her 'mum instinct' helped her push back against the constant dismissals. Something she urges other parents to follow. "The biggest message for other mums going through this is to just keep going, even if you're constantly being pushed back. I knew something was going on, I had to keep fighting it and fighting it and it was so lonely, for so long. But it was worth it in the end," she shared. "If you think something is wrong, you know your kid better than anyone, don't let anyone tell you differently. Just don't stop." For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Couples therapist says not celebrating Valentine’s Day is a sign of an unhappy marriage.

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

It seems like most people love to hate Valentine’s Day. Celebrated on February 14, there’s something about the stuffed teddy bears, set restaurant menus, and flower deliveries that seem to get on our nerves more so than whatever is being peddled around Christmas or Easter. But relationship expert Dee Tozer says that in her experience, love it or hate it, embracing the day as a couple might be the key to a happy relationship, or even saving a marriage. “It is my responsibility, and personal investment, to check in with my couples at 12 months and 2 years, post working with me. Ninety-four per cent (non-infidelity), 96 per cent, after infidelity — report they are doing well and haven’t looked back,” says Dr Tozer. There may be plenty of readers who don’t agree with this, however in her 35 years of repairing relationships and marriages, Dr Tozer has identified a direct correlation between not celebrating Valentine’s Day and being in an unhappy marriage. In fact, she claims of the 5,000+ couples she’s worked with, there has been an almost non-existent interest in even acknowledging the day. “Over my 30 years in the profession — of the 5,000 unhappy couples that I have helped to repair and revitalise their relationships, there is one standout; almost 100 per cent did not acknowledge — let alone celebrate — Valentine’s day,” Dr Tozer says. But first, if you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day, here are 10 practical gifts you can purchase for your partner. Story continues below. Australia’s leading couples therapist — Dee Tozer Here are the most common reasons Dr Tozer has heard as to why couples in crisis don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. 1. Couples that feel the day is over-commercialised and resist acknowledging it. When asked by Dr Tozer why the couples she works with don’t want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, they list off Hallmark cards, flowers etc. with distaste. But couldn’t the same be said of Christmas or Easter? Many believe the holiday was created by Hallmark to attract sales in the 80s, much like Mother’s Day. But you might be surprised to know that the history of the day dates back to 5th century Romans, however, it has been widely celebrated as a day of romance since about the 14th century. While the origin of the tradition is mostly religious, so too is Christmas, Easter and even Father’s Day — all of which are celebrated with greeting cards and the giving of gifts. The difference? It’s a rare thing to not celebrate those. 2. Couples who lose sight of their foundations forget that Valentine’s Day helps them rekindle the spark. The endless need to compromise; the overwhelming stresses of work and kids can definitely contribute to ‘killing the vibe’. “I sometimes compare a relationship to a merry-go-round, it’s fun but loses its excitement with each lap. It’s easy to lose sight of why they got on the ride in the first place,” says Dr Tozer. “The priority to dedicate time to indulge in each other’s love is diluted to the point where not celebrating that love becomes the norm.” Dee Tozer talking to one of her couples. Image: Supplied. 3. Parent couples who focus too much attention on their children. A crucial part of some marriages is the ability to balance parenting. Now, this in itself is a task to master — a parenting balance that allows each person to feel revitalised, and in turn, free their mindset and redirect their attention to each other. Unfortunately, a common reality for couples is that one or both parents are exhausted or feel undervalued, possibly even resentful. Focusing on children is unavoidable but as an aside, they often also don’t celebrate wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, only celebrating kid’s births, kid’s birthdays, kid’s achievements. 4. Misconceptions, envy and couples that are on different wavelengths. As old-fashioned as it seems, there is a general consensus among lovers that Valentine’s Day is about husbands pursuing wives. “I have heard from hundreds of women, on or around Valentine’s Day, how hurt they were to see work colleagues receiving flowers, gifts sent to the office on Valentine’s Day but they didn’t get anything,” Dr Tozer reflects. “However, in the same retrospect, I’ve heard from a lot of men (perhaps 100 — not hundreds) that they sent flowers and were not even thanked for them, or put to the interpretation from their wives that they ‘just want sex’.” Whether this is true or not, isn’t that the idea of Valentine’s Day — to express your love for your other half? So, why you should celebrate Valentine’s Day From Dr Tozer’s experience, it’s easy for couples to develop resentment and focus on each other’s negatives — flaws, faults and deficiencies with criticism dominating their relationship. The mindset shift to positively celebrate their affection for each other is major. How to shift out of the negative sentiment around celebrating their love is not the easiest to do without the right help or guidance; To honour the couple’s bond and loving togetherness, maintain emotional warmth and enhance or reignite their romantic spark — keeping love alive is the overall goal. “A key part of what I do with couples in crisis is guide them in how to honour each other — what that means, and how to overcome their blockages to this after years of toxic interactions. I am fully pro celebrating Valentine’s Day, and you should be, too.” Dee Tozer is one of the world’s most successful qualified, experienced couples psychologists of almost 35 years, and an up to 96 per cent success of building stronger relationships. She is a published author and master coach for couples in crisis because of infidelity, compulsive behaviours and substance overuse or abuse.

The one VERY surprising features of ALL unhappy couples’ love-life: ‘They have no interest in this and it’s alarming’

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

Aussie couples coach Dee Tozer has worked with more than 5,000 couples The Melbourne therapist says all couples should celebrate Valentine’s Day She claims those who don’t are likely unhappy in their relationship An Australian couples therapist claims celebrating Valentine’s Day could save your relationship down the track. Dee Tozer, from Melbourne, who has more than 30 years experience, says of the 5,000 struggling couples she’s worked with nearly all of them had no interest in celebrating the day. Among her client sessions, she’s noticed four common reasons why couples choose not to acknowledge the annual day. ‘It is my responsibility, and personal investment, to check in with my couples at 12 months and two years, post working with me. Ninety-four per cent (non-infidelity), 96 per cent, after infidelity — report they are doing well and haven’t looked back,’ says Dr Tozer told Mamamia. Dee Tozer (pictured, centre), from Melbourne, who has more than 30 years experience, says of the 5,000 couples she’s worked with nearly all of them had no interest in celebrating Valentine’s Day While many believe Valentine’s Day is now over-commercialised and used as a ploy to make money, the day traces back to 5th century Romans but wasn’t linked to romance until the 14th century. Some couples may believe love should be celebrated each day and not limited to just one day of the year, when cards, chocolates and roses are hiked up in price. But those who don’t acknowledge the day are also at risk of feeling left out. Dr Tozer also believes Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for couples to focus on their relationship and celebrate their love. ‘I sometimes compare a relationship to a merry-go-round, it’s fun but loses its excitement with each lap. It’s easy to lose sight of why they got on the ride in the first place,’ she said. ‘The priority to dedicate time to indulge in each other’s love is diluted to the point where not celebrating that love becomes the norm.’ Keeping your wits about you in the early stages of a relationship means being aware of red flags — or the signs that something isn’t right. Australian dating and relationship expert Louanne Ward understands how easy it is to let emotion take over and ignore signals that things might not be as they seem. She said many people ignore these warnings and enter into a relationship that might not be suitable despite the fact red flags were there from the outset Some common indicators include: 1. Rushing a relationship 2. They are on social media but have no photos 3. They pursue you but tell you they don’t know what they want 4. Watch for sudden outbursts of anger 5. One person controls the contact 6. They keep you at arm’s length and won’t commit 7. Sex is always a topic of conversation 8. Constantly telling small lies Couples with children often have little to no time for themselves, let alone romance — they are usually focusing all their energy on the kids’ schedules. When juggling work, kids, family, social activities, sporting practice, parents can be left exhausted by the end of the week. Valentine’s Day gives couples an excuse to get a babysitter, go out to dinner and spoil each other. Dr Tozer believes Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for couples to focus on their relationship and celebrate their love. ‘I sometimes compare a relationship to a merry-go-round, it’s fun but loses its excitement with each lap. It’s easy to lose sight of why they got on the ride in the first place,’ she said (stock image) Dr Tozer claims she’s heard various complaints from both men and women regarding how they act in response to common misconceptions. For instance, some may argue Valentine’s Day is about husband’s pursuing wives, when the day should be about celebrating the relationship as a whole. Dr Tozer says she’s heard men complain they’ve bought their partner flowers and gifts without receiving even a thank you in return, while women may believe their partner just wants sex.

The top 11 lessons to mastering the art of crowdfunding

By Kiera Elliot • 08 Oct, 2023

There is an art to crowdfunding. The daunting yet exhilarating public experiment that can make or break your business venture. But behind the nerves, preparation, and tight deadlines, crowdfunding is an incredibly business-savvy concept; one that in just 1 to 60 days will help you determine: If there is sufficient demand for your product How much people are willing to pay for your product If you will have the capital to support your bottomline and kickstart your production and, If you’re up to running a business; crowdfunding is a high pressure test – do you have what it takes? Someone who is very well-versed in crowdfunding is Maria Baker, the founder of the revolutionary women’s snow apparel brand, Nobody’s Princess. maria baker Image: Maria Baker, founder at Nobody’s Princess Snow Apparel “Without using an external agency or crowdfunding specialist, my startup was solely funded through two rounds of crowdfunding. The first raised $10,000 via Indiegogo, followed by almost $100,000 via Kickstarter”, says Maria. “While the audience was primarily Australia & New Zealand, it reached over 1 million people from all over the world. I achieved this success by problem solving – I did it, and you can, too”. nobody's princess Image: Nobody's Princess crowdfunding campaign A big believer of the process and as a twice-successful crowdfunder, Maria shares with us her top 11 lessons to a successful crowdfunding campaign. 11 tips for a successful crowdfunding campaign 1. Is some money ok or is it all or nothing? When it comes to crowdfunding, you are either fully funded or you’re not funded at all. If your campaign doesn’t reach its monetary target, those who have backed you are refunded their money and you are back to square one. Set a realistic goal that you can achieve in a timely manner. Ask for the bare minimum you need, remembering that the target can be exceeded. 2. Set a deadline and work backwards Once you have your product or idea ready, announce the campaign six months prior. Leading up to the campaign for too long can work against you. This also extends to how long you want to run your campaign for. Maria says, “I felt 30 days was sufficient given the large funding goal. There was enough time to raise the entire amount without dragging it out too long or losing momentum; And also enough time to assess the situation and pivot, if we needed to”, she continues, “ In the last 48 hours, we raised almost $42,000. It’s not over, until it’s over”. 3. Budgeting for your Crowdfunding Do your homework. Research all of your costs – manufacturing, shipping, postage, shipping bags, and an online platform for tracking your fulfillment. Are you likely to pay taxes? Do you plan on doing marketing? Looking at an overall figure is always confronting however crowdfunding works as a PR & marketing campaign – on steroids, all while raising capital. Setting a budget early will enable you to set and manage a realistic target which is crucial to your potential success. Another thing to consider with any crowdfunding platform is fees. Kickstarter has a 5% fee, and payment processing fees (between 3% and 5%) if your campaign is successful. If funding isn’t successful, there are no fees. For example, if you’re looking at raising $100k, be mindful that via Kickstarter you may pay up to $5k in fees. But it depends on the platform. 4. Time is money Consider how much time and money you’re willing to invest in the venture – especially if going into debt. You will need time to spruik your offer via multiple platforms and be willing to be available to respond to questions and concerns. Being present for your potential buyers is the best way to convert sales. Spending money on Facebook or Google Ads will help to push the reach/exposure of your campaign, but keep in mind that the world is a talkative place and Facebook communities, Reddit, and forums can be great sources of promotion and traffic. If you have money to spend – video is king, spend it here. People are visual creatures so you’ll need great, high-quality images and infographics, not just good words. 5. Get support. You really can't do it alone Crowdfunding is like working a 24 hours a day, 30-day shift. Consider who your audience is, and where they are located – are they in different or multiple time zones? Is there someone who can support you with engagement while you get some rest? Maria reflects on how she invested in external resources to help her with content creation and planning on social media to help relieve some time. In the 3-4 months leading into the campaign, she also gained the support of a local PR agency to help her with a strategy and building a profile. Support doesn’t need to come professionally. Family & friends can be more helpful than you realize. This is the time to ask for help, and message people individually. Your family & friends want to see you succeed and are already invested in you. Whether they are contributing small or large amounts towards the monetary value of your campaign, sharing and promoting it for you, helping with stock processes… Every support line gives you the confidence to concentrate on what you need to do to succeed. 6. Think B2B and B2C Are you planning on getting third-party suppliers on board? This is a great opportunity to sell some bulk products while reaching your target. Prepare meetings with potential stockists prior to the campaign and encourage them to purchase during the campaign at a discounted rate using the platform. Post-campaign is also an incredible sales tool to show interested businesses that may want to invest in you. They need to know that your idea or product is in demand, so the crowdfunding process speaks for itself – deliver the results, and your potential suppliers can’t argue. 7. Fake it until you make it! There is often a negative connotation around “Imposter Syndrome”, but if you own it – it can positively work in your favor. Have your website, social media, and any other online presence working with genuine interactions before you launch – people love to research and your company/brand/idea will be their prime topic. Building loyalty is important, so establishing that you’ve been around and look like a full-fledged business (even if you’re not quite there, yet) is crucial to earning that trust. Maria points out, “Only you know how small you [your business] really is when you’re starting up; having a brand is a great way to reinvent yourself in a business sense. Your followers will see what you show them – so show them how grand you are, will, or can be”. 8. Think about fulfilment, updates and post campaigns. The funding is only part of it Remember, you need to show you are a viable and trustworthy business. Be prepared for the moment when you reach your target; you should already have the systems in place to fulfil the expectations of your backers. This includes research on how you will fulfil your product or service post campaign – do you need an ecommerce platform, shipping account? Do you need warehouse space and help? Provide consistent updates via email and social media – communication is key to give your backers piece-of-mind that they’ll get what they have invested in. 9. Be Human No one is going to be as passionate about your business, product idea, and crowdfunding journey, as you. Be the face: live and breathe your product. Delegate the ‘behind-the-scenes jobs’ so that you can concentrate on creating conversations. Your backers want to get to know YOU – not just the product/service. Their faith in what you’re offering only goes as far as their faith in you, so it’s important to get comfortable being in front of a camera, writing authentic updates, and being prepared to share the highs and the lows. Having a trusting group of backers means when something goes wrong (like delays) they will stick with you because they are emotionally connected to another human being – you. 10. Analytics are everything Most crowdfunding platforms have great analytics and allow you to create UTM (Unique Tracking Management) web addresses so you can post in different locations and see where your traffic is coming from. Get comfortable with setting up Google Analytics too – you’ll get great insight as to where your traffic is coming from, and you’ll see conversions if you do run ads. Heatmaps (like Hotjar) help you work out earlier what is and isn’t working on your crowdfunding landing page – making tweaks to your content along the way is crucial – you’ll soon realize what is and isn’t valuable, and where your potential backers are running into pain points. This is also a great tool to use on your website prior to the campaign to help you nut out the nitty gritty details before designing your landing page. 11. More than capital Lastly, but probably one of the most valuable tips to consider in your decision to pursue crowdfunding is that backers of a successful crowdfunder are an accepted format of “mini investors”. The [Australian] Government (or private businesses] often releases State and National business grants to support small business. Most grants need a ‘matched or equal contribution’ to the amount you are applying for. Capital raised via crowdfunding acts as equal contributions, meaning you’ll be already one step ahead. View Maria’s Nobody’s Princess Snow Apparel converting Kickstarter page here.

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