Suzanne Hoyne | Entrepreneur
Suzanne Hoyne
Phone: +61 413 886 184
Reviews
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25.01.2022 If you told me 11 years ago that I would be getting up at 3.30am every day and absolutely loving it, I would have said you were totally crazy!! But the secret is it has become a HABIT! In my corporate days I used to travel a lot and if I had to get up at 4am to get a flight - OMG it used to exhaust me & took me a week to recover. But now I seriously just jump out of bed... Habits make everything so much more efficient & your life becomes far less stressful. From my experience it takes 2-3 months for a habit to become automatic. Hint: When you're starting a new habit make it as easy as possible eg we started getting up at 3.30am in summer. Definitely easier to get up when its warm and not like the 4 degrees today See more
23.01.2022 Before we changed our system a mth ago, I was helping pack all the orders every morning, so I walked about 2.5kms & lifted b/w 5-16kgs for 90mins first thing in the morning, without even thinking about it. Perfect way to kickstart my day & stop the tuckshop arms . Now I need to find a new activity, before I get lazy like #dougthedog. He wasn’t happy when I made him come for a walk at 5.30am Any suggestions for someone who doesn’t actually like exercise, but does it so I eat everything I want?
23.01.2022 Do you know the old saying ''success breeds success''? Well I can you its certainly true!! One of my clients text me last night to say: "'...I thought last Christmas was great, but we are officially having our BEST MONTH EVER" ... Over the past few months, they have gone from 'we have nothing to sell & nobody wants our X' TO 'BEST MONTH EVER' So what changed? They had a plan & started celebrating the small wins along the way. Just little things like a supplier 'finally' confirmed a delivery date & they had enough money in the bank for the deposit for the next order.... Once you get a few little wins on the board, it starts to build your confidence and the momentum builds and the next thing you know, you're breaking all of your sales records. So instead of focusing on the things you haven't achieved yet, focus on the small wins and just watch the momentum build. Q4 is going to be huge- have you started planning yet? See more
19.01.2022 ummmmm this is a horrible thought! I went to see my gorgeous hairdresser Marilyn @manik_hair yesterday & since covid she's been running her salon solo. But last week she fell over and ripped all the tendons in the shoulders and now can’t lift her arms above her waist. OMG she can't work!!!... Luckily she could call in favor's from her hairdressing buddies so her clients don't need to show the world what their natural colour is (haha I've got age issues), but she might be out of action for a few weeks to a month. This is a long time for a small business!! For the first few years of our business as we were building it, we would put on staff to drive to expand our distribution, but Mark and I were doing everything else. So if I wasn't there nobody could order & that's pretty important obviously!! So even though we were strapped for cash, we put on a helper to work 6hrs per wk to start with. It was the best 'insurance' EVER!! Since then, I stopped worrying if anything ever happened to one of us or our parents, who are 1600kms away, we could leave the business & it could still function without us. So do you have an plan for your business if you weren't there? See more
19.01.2022 Are you are like most business owners and you keep increasing your range because you don't want to miss out of sales? The problem is: 1. you end up with too much cash tied up in stock, & you don't have enough cash for your best sellers 2. your warehouse is full, but its not the items customers want... 2. you dilute your marketing message and you actually end up selling less! So have a look at every single sku you've sold over the past 3 months and if you've got some items that have sold minimal - it might be time for a cull and put them on sale. Then you'll free up space in your warehouse and have some cash in the bank for fresh new stock that is turnover quickly. Its a great time of year to do this now, so you have enough cash for fresh stock for the Christmas trade Ps I've currently got a customer who has decreased his number of sku's by 66% and he is having the BEST month he's had in 4 years. See more
18.01.2022 Are you in business for followers or profit? I see a lot of businesses profits, and believe me when I say that just because a business has a big following, doesn't necessarily mean they're making a huge profit. Some of my most profitable clients are the ones with the smallest followings - because they care the most & build long lasting relationships with their customers.... So I urge you to look after the customers you currently do have: 1. Do you answer their DM's & emails? 2. Do you check if they loved their product when it arrived? 3. Do you tell them when new products are released that you think they'll like, based on previous purchases? 4. Do you thank them for showing your product to their friends and followers? 5. Do you wish them a happy birthday? 6. Do you send emails with info you think they'll like & not just try to sell something? Really know your ideal customers & treat them like a friend. Ps as an added bonus, treating customers like friends will not only build your business long term but you’ll feel happier See more
17.01.2022 I can hear you say ''Don't be silly, I can't afford a board of directors!" I agree BUT.... My best thing about my corporate days (especially adidas) were the people on the executive committee. We were all like minded, passionate, career focused people all with our own specialties. And I absolutely loved mixing with the Chairman/CEO, the Product Director, Marketing Director, Sales Director, HR director, Operations Director etc (I was the CFO) & collectively we wer...e earning $3m+. So when we started our own business, it was just Mark and I & OMG what a shock. We had to do everything. Where were all the experts? Who can I brainstorm with? Obviously we couldn't afford a $3m payroll, so I made a list (I love a list haha) of all the a advisors / Directors positions that we needed in our company and I 'filled' them. And I called them all Directors because it sounds so much bigger and more important than our tiny company was, but we have big dreams. Some of these positions are paid & some aren't. I've got the best marketer in Asia Pacific as my Marketing Director, the best Operations Director in all of Australia's retail stores & my 2 Chairmen/mentors are multi mulit self made millionaires. Most importantly my sister is my HR Director as she is far more diplomatic & politically correct than me & if I'm having a bad day, she lifts me up within a minute. We don't all sit down together like a normal board meeting & they probably don't even know I call them my Directors. But I absolutely rely on them heavily & they’re the reason for my success. Who do you have in your life that can fill some of Directorships? If you don't have any, then you'll have to pay - I guarantee it will be money well spent See more
15.01.2022 Do you wonder what to post everyday or what to do a story about? Are you sick of just posting another picture of your product and no idea what caption to write? I suggest you really get into the head of your target customer & think like they do. ... What questions do they have? How does your product solve their problems? Show them who you are and why you created your product. It doesn't have to have anything to do with your product, it can be you adding value within the industry Be different!! Don't just be like everyone else I do roll plays with my clients where I pretend I'm a potential customer & after about 10mins of me asking questions - they have a months worth of content ideas. So find a mentor or ask someone who is your perfect customer for 15 mins of their time for a free xxx & ask them a thousand questions. Their answers will contain fantastic inspiration for you. If you need a hand please just reach out via DM or email Have a great day everyone See more
14.01.2022 Feeling 'scared' isn't fun by any stretch of the imagination, BUT that horrible bored, unsettled, unfulfilled feeling is far worse. So do it scared! In 2009 when we left the comfort of our corporate jobs with great incomes & moved to Byron Bay with no friends or family to start a business we knew nothing about - we were really scared. Believe me, terrified!!... BUT the alternative was doing the SAME type of job, for the same type of companies, with the same type of boring middle aged men, having the same type of conversations for the next 20 years!! Pushing through that scared feeling has been one of the VERY BEST things Mark and I have ever done. So now I choose scared every day of the week. Who's with me? See more
11.01.2022 Knowing what you 'really' want (and I don't mean just money) makes it far easier to build the business of your dreams. Some people want status and a $20m beachfront mansion - so they build an empire with thousands of employees, some people want to save the planet - so they build eco friendly products, some want to be creative & and have more family time - so they build an online business where they work part time. There's no right or wrong. Their your dreams and a...mbitions. Your business is just the vehicle to achieve your dreams. I can help you build your business in the quickest way possible, BUT you need to know what you really want to achieve first. Happy glorious Sunday everyone See more
09.01.2022 If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you'll have a zillion ideas and you start one thing, but then get distracted when the next million dollar idea pops into your head. So the best way to work out where to start is by creating a list with 4 columns: 1. list ALL your ideas ... 2. How much revenue will each idea generate per month 3. how long will it take to achieve this revenue eg development time, new supplier etc 4. After set up time, how much time per month is required to sell the item eg can you sell to your current customers or is it a new target market The aim is to focus on the highest revenue per month in the least amount of time. Once you see your list, it will make it clear what your priorities should be and then you can focus on the big wins. If you would like a copy of my template please just send me a DM and I'll email you a copy See more
07.01.2022 DREAM BIG!!! What do your customers really want or need? What problems do they have? How can you help solve that?... Once you focus on solving a problem, EVERYTHING falls into place. When you're brainstorming don't worry about the HOW. Once you are100% focused on solving a problem THEN the 'how' becomes the easy part. I've seen clients faces absolutely light up when we've dug deep into what their customers really want and need & they go from overwhelmed and stuck to clear and focused. And that's when their businesses really start to grow. Its fantastic to watch and be part of (and that's why I love coaching) See more
07.01.2022 Most people would say definitely "NO WAY. NEVER!'' I totally get that attitude, believe me I do & I used to be like that. But I changed my attitude and starting thinking more about 'how can I help this customer?' instead of 'what could I lose' & seriously I watched our business grow.... Eg. One day a customer asked if we did pastries, but we're a healthy brand so we only have a really limited vegan range (definitely not what this guy was looking for ), so I suggested he contact our biggest competitor, who I know does great, sugar filled pastries ie exactly what he was looking for. I'll admit I was very nervous suggesting them, because 'what if he also liked their sourdough and rolls that we're supplying him', but I did it anyway. Because if I was him, I would just want someone to tell me who are the best & I would totally appreciate the help. This customer is still with us 5 yrs later & he is so loyal. He often says we're the most helpful supplier he has & he would never leave! Really good customer service and help is RARE these days, so if you offer it, you stand out from the crowd & your customers will keep coming back. So try it, think 'if I was this customer, what would I really want?
07.01.2022 Followers and likes don't pay your bills, but consistent connection with your customer does. I'm all about numbers, so lets compare these real examples: Co A: started 2016, 1-2 posts pd, 5-15 stories pd, $4.5m sales Co B: started 2016, 1 post pa, 16-20 stories pd, $2m sales... Co C: started 2017, 1-2 post pd, 10-15 stories pd, $1.5m sales Co D: started 2018, 1 post pd, 20 stories pd, $1m sales Our business was started 20+yrs ago, so our brand and customer connection was established long before social media even existed. But we did it by visiting every single store & calling (not texting) every single chef, every single day and building relationships & standing in stores for days with our tray of samples trying to get people to try it. I'll be honest and say that I find a lot of oversharing on socials far to much information for me. BUT I also know that it works! Just look at the numbers above. Whether you like it or not, you have to get in front of your customers and connect. So if you're being really honest, how consistent are you? If you want better results, what can you improve? See more
05.01.2022 This was me in feb 2010, 6 mths after we started our business. OMG I still remember that horrible sleep deprivation & total brain fog. I was surviving on about 3hrs sleep per night and I'm someone who NEEDS sleep. We managed to just scrape through our first summer in Byron and it was soooo hot & humid, we were making a thousand mistakes a day, everything was taking way too long, Mark and I were fighting like cats and dogs, the business wasn't making much money and... we had no help. But we had BIG DREAMS! Does this sound like you? I just want to give you a big virtual hug and say: 1. Everyone with big goals goes through doubt, rejection and grind. With every 100 rejections, you'll have someone tell you they absolutely love your product and it changed their life. And that gives you BELIEF and HOPE. And if you have HOPE, you have EVERYTHING. Never ever lose HOPE. 2. Keep chipping away & moving forward. You'll work out what works and more importantly what doesn't 3. Stay in the game. If you're in the game great things can happen. If you quit ..... it's over. 4. Break your goals down into smaller chunks and focus on 1 important task at a time. Don't get distracted. 4. Ask for help. We all think our business is unique, but you aren't reinventing the wheel, lots of people have been where you are before - so learn from their experience See more
04.01.2022 Do you calculate ROI (return on investment) every time you're going to outlay cash for a big investment? Eg: you've outgrown your current space and you need to rent a bigger warehouse & its going to cost $500pw. Assuming your gross profit is 50%, that means you have to sell an additional $1,000 every single week just to pay the rent. ... Otherwise you're income will be less than before. So the aim is to increase profit at the end of the day and not just pay the rent, so I would ask myself "do I think I can increase sales by at least $2,000 per wk if I had extra space, stock etc" If the answer is "no" then I wouldn't do it. It might take a few months to build up the extra sales, but that has to the target and focus. The same thought process applies to employing staff, equipment, vehicles, anything really!! Have a great day everybody See more
03.01.2022 This is why I absolutely love coaching. I love being able to help my clients feel 'confident and unstoppable'. Thanks so much for the email @Vivconway, you definitely made my day.... If your business is making you feel a bit overwhelmed & you're thinking 'there must be an easier way', then it sounds like you need help developing a plan. If so, please send me a DM and I see if I can help. I've only got one 1:1 coaching spot available for the rest of 2020 PS love this photo @shauntunny @theartofsurfing See more
