Starting from scratch as a business owner can be a lonely calling, and sometimes you need a little inspiration to help you power through the day. Studying the success of those who’ve trodden the same entrepreneurial path by nurturing a business from infancy to full maturity is a great way of both sharpening your skills and boosting morale.
In this piece, we’ll pick out three innovative small business success stories for you to learn from. Study them wisely, apply the lessons to be learned, and you too could be running a business that inspires others down the line.
- Anita Roddick’s Incredible Entrepreneurial Journey
By the time of her sadly early death in 2007, Anita Roddick’s Body Shop chain of ethically orientated cosmetic stores had spread across the globe and revolutionised many aspects of modern retail with its focus on fair trade and the environment.
Though the company today employs over 22,000 people in more than sixty countries around the world, it started with just a few creams and hair products sold strictly locally. Anita’s commitment and passion, along with her incredibly savvy marketing and unconventional tactics along the way, have much to teach today’s generation of entrepreneurs.
- Anthea Cahill’s Approach To Delivering Tip-top Tea
Nothing beats a good cup of tea, but not everyone would have the vision to turn the tasty beverage into a thriving small business from scratch in just a few short years. That’s exactly what Anthea Cahill has managed to pull off with her RealChai business which has grown from selling tea in local markets to being Australia’s number one premium Chai tea.
Anthea’s commitment to building scalable systems in her business from the outset, along with her embracing of the possibilities e-commerce opens up, have helped her turn a personal passion into a convincing modern brand in near-record time.
- Minaal’s Transformation From Budding Idea To Fully-Fledged Travel Brand
Anyone who’s regularly schlepping through departure lounges in Australia or overseas knows that modern travel can be a frustrating affair. Having the right gear, however, goes a long way towards gracefully dealing with much of the minute-by-minute hassle.
The two-man Kiwi team behind Minaal felt the pain of a life on the road, and managed to turn their frustrations into a thriving travel bag business by leveraging the power of Kickstarter. Taking advantage of slick promotional campaigns and innovative use of the Asian supply chain, they’ve created and marketed an excellent product that’s loved by travellers worldwide.
Each of the small business success stories we’ve introduced were prepared to think outside the box at various stages of their then fledgling enterprises and put in the hard yards to transform an initial dream into reality. Using a combination of innovative thinking and good old-fashioned graft, they each proved that small business success is a goal worth striving for, and one that has the power to put a genuine dent in the universe over the long haul.
Follow their lead, research their stories in depth, and you’re sure to come across a host of inspiring takeaways you can put to use in your own business!
