Balancing Business & Mum Life While Taking Over a Successful Business | Real Rad Food

You know and love Real Rad Food…but do you know the story behind it?

In this episode of That’s Fire Podcast, we sit down with the owner of Real Rad Food, a local favourite known and loved by many, to go behind the scenes of what it’s really like taking over an already successful business.

We dive into the highs, the challenges, and the pivots, and unpack what it takes to grow a brand while balancing mum life, business, and everything in between. From social media marketing and building a loyal customer base to staying grounded through it all, this episode is full of honest insights and real conversation.

Whether you’re a fan of Real Rad Food, a small business owner, or someone dreaming of starting your own thing, this episode is packed with value.

Listen now and hear the story behind the brand.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

People think success, oh my gosh, you're this amazing industry leader making all this money and like you've got all this brand awareness and all these customers and followers and I don't think that's necessarily the case for everyone. For me, success meant being flexible and present with my kids.

SPEAKER_03 0:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:14

Being in a job that I enjoy going to, um, that's fun, that I get to work with people who are my friends and that we get to have fun at work. You're trying to catch people's attention, right? And you only have like three seconds to do it in, and attention is dwindling, and you just people is people are scrolling, and then you add in that element of like, oh, I'm watching this, but do I trust it? Do I believe it? Do I you know there's just I don't know, it's yeah, it's it's tricky times, right?

SPEAKER_03 0:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

We're not sponsored by Almighty. Maybe you could supply some of your product and we could I could just chew on that.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Yes, I know I I should have brought some with me, but um I did, I wasn't actually at the factory before I came here, so I should have thought about it. Because we just released our Easter collection and it's pretty um.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Well, before you tell me about that, because I'm keen on hearing about that.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Um yeah, just tell us who you are and and what you do.

SPEAKER_02 1:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:12

So I'm Sarah. Um, I just touched that, sorry.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

That's right. I'm Sarah.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

It's gonna be like Um I own a company called Real Rad Food and Real Rad Food. Real Rad Food. Yeah, and that's pretty catchy.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Realradfood.com or index.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Yes. Um, and we make raw slices and functional food supplements, which are plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free. Um, and I guess mainly towards um women and just fitting into busy lifestyles and so they can create their own version of balance. So we've got the treat side with the slices, but then we also have the more health and wellness um supplement side as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

Awesome. And why women?

SPEAKER_02 1:57

Um, that's a very good question. So I actually didn't found the brand. I bought into the brand three years ago.

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Um, I I mean, I guess from a founder perspective, um, she was a woman and she saw a gap in the market of like um this is kind of the stuff we would like to see for her own personal journey as well.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

So I've just kind of carried that on. Yeah, carried the torch.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

Yeah, that's cool. Um, so you bought into a business.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

I did.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

So um I did go online and see that there was the couple that founded it, or so there no, there was one girl, Hannah. Hannah. And then you've come along. So tell me about that, tell me a little bit more about your journey so that you can go back as far as you want.

SPEAKER_02 2:43

Oh gosh, yes. Wow, I would go on no.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

And then how did you come about to and is Hannah still involved? I'm sort of keen on hearing that because that's sort of these kind of leadership journeys are interesting.

SPEAKER_02 2:56

Yes, yes, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:58

So um I bought the business with my husband. So he is a food technologist.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Uh huh. So the goal was originally with my Did that just mean he really likes to eat? Or probably.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

He's like, how can I create the products that I want to eat? Yes. Um So he the goal with buying a business was to get him back into the industry. He'd kind of gone a bit more um into like logging and other stuff. Right. Um and when this one came up, I had been a follower for a long time, loved the product. Got it. Yeah. Um, and I remember him handing me the thing saying, Oh, what about this one? I was like, Yes, this sounds great. Um, I saw it as an opportunity to have um a business where we could both um work in the business and have clear defined roles. I could be the more creative side, um, and he's more of like the spreadsheets, numbers, create a new product side.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:53

Um, yeah, so I guess that's how it came about. There was a very cut and dried transition with Hannah, the founder. Um, she was with us for, we did a little transition period for I think it was about three months, and then she um left to go pursue other things. Um, yeah, so it's just him and I now we've got a very small team. There's four of us.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

And so why have you done this kind of work before? Like in in a business before we were first, no?

SPEAKER_02 4:26

No, so this is our first business, and what a whopper.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Um, so my background originally I trained as a nurse.

SPEAKER_03 4:33

Right.

SPEAKER_02 4:33

Um, so absolutely no connection whatsoever. Um, I had to leave nursing when I had my children. Yeah. Um, just shift work wasn't very conducive to that. Um, I have four children, so that's free full on. I went to be a stay-at-home mum, and yeah, then when we bought the business, I thought, oh cool, I can do a few hours a week, and it's not turned into that at all. No, no, it's not. But that's okay. It's still flexible around the kids, too, as well, which is fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

So four kids. Yes. And you, what's your job in the business?

SPEAKER_02 5:06

What are the things that you uh so I kind of do all the like marketing side with like absolutely no background in marketing? So everything I've learned has been completely on the job.

SPEAKER_03 5:17

Awesome.

SPEAKER_02 5:18

Uh, and very much trial and error um with uh friends who are marketers who kind of help advise and step in when I need a bit of support.

SPEAKER_03 5:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

Um, yeah, so I guess I do like all the social media stuff, um uh emails, um, what else do I do? Website stuff, anything that's kind of on the marketing side, I do.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Wow. Um you're writing the copy for everything?

SPEAKER_02 5:46

I am at the moment. We did have a marketing contractor who was doing the content creation and the copywriting side. Um, she has stepped away to she's going a different direction with her business. So, and that's just been recently, so now it is all me doing it, uh, which is a bit of a juggle, but we're just kind of going day by day.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Yeah. So four kids, and you um how many hours are you spending on this business?

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Oh man, see that's really hard to say because I think when you're sell e-com and you have very big social presence, for me, a lot of our um followers and our customers are online in the evenings. So it's hard to say. I want to say between 30 and 40 hours a week. Yeah, yeah, because you can kind of I I have to have very strict boundaries in place. You know, weekends are family time, yeah. And you know, I will stick to that. I try not to do too much in the evenings, but it can be hard sometimes, just depends what we've got going on.

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Yeah. Yeah, if you've got inquiries and stuff coming in.

SPEAKER_02 6:49

Yeah, or we've done like a big launch and we need a you know, we need the engagement and things like that for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

Yep. Yeah, so that's that's a challenge for any kind of small family business is balancing that. But when you're the mum and you've you've how old are your kids?

SPEAKER_02 7:04

Um, I've got twins. Yeah. Uh a boy girl, they are eight and a half.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:09

And then I've got another girl who's just turned five and a boy who is about to turn three.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Okay, so none of them can help you DM people on social media.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

No, not at all. They they come and help in the factory in the school holidays, but normally it's packing orders. Oh yeah, sometimes eating definitely eating the slices or writing they'll they love writing little notes to put in like packages and things. So it's quite sweet.

SPEAKER_00 7:32

Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. Yeah, well, I I imagine I thought owning a business is kind of an aspirational goal, I think, for probably quite a few people, eh? Um nowadays. Because you can kind of do anything now, eh? Which before you kind of had to do a, you know, 50 years back you did but your d mum and dad did or whatever, and followed in the trade, and then um everything's kind of changed and changing quite fast. Um and so for you, why why own a business rather than go and get a part-time job somewhere or uh whatever the alternative might have been that you were thinking about.

SPEAKER_02 8:10

Yeah, it's it's interesting when you say um, you know, it's quite an aspirational thing to own a business because I feel like growing up that was never even entered my mind about owning a business. It was like my um family was very much the leave school, go to university, get a career, and then you stay in that career the whole time. Yes. So when I left in our song, my parents were like, oh. Um then when I was about to say I'm buying a business, they're like, oh yeah. Um but I think I trust that there is a path in my life and that this is where I'm supposed to go.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

Nice.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

Um and it felt I feel like it aligns and it and it sits well, I trust my gut.

SPEAKER_03 8:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Uh but yeah, I guess I guess for us it was having more of a control over work and life and having a young family and being able to be flexible and be present when they're little. Um and I guess these days too, being a stay-at-home mum is can be a really a real luxury in terms of rising living costs and things. So it kind of gave us the best of both worlds a little bit, and that I can be f I can still go on class trips. I kind of work it into my into my day, but yet I am still being able to bring in um enough to support my family. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Because that's the I don't know how to word this, but that's the challenge that it seems to face most parents, because it's it's almost like living today is too hard on one income. Um and then so then the sacrifice is mum goes to work, which is great. Um it's awesome that um that whole thing has shifted over the last however many you know, years where women can work and and earn a good living. But being able to structure what you've done, you bring some balance, eh, to that. So you're actually still present more maybe than do you think? Than other if you're having to work. Do you feel like you're more present or not?

SPEAKER_02 10:14

I think I think the perspective has changed. Yeah. I think for those moments where I get to be flexible and I get to go on class trips or I get to go take them to sport, whatever it is, I think those moments are so much more precious because they you're having to carve out that time and you're being intentional.

SPEAKER_03 10:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 10:33

Um and it just it you value well, not that you value it a lot more, because I'm sure that style mums do too. But I think it it gives a good balance too. Yeah. You know? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

I think there's something really awesome about small business. I'm not saying you're small. Your business is small. I'm saying that there is a real sweet spot when it's you and how many do you say are working in the business?

SPEAKER_02 11:01

Uh so my me, my husband, and two others.

SPEAKER_00 11:04

Two others?

SPEAKER_02 11:04

Yeah, so nice small team.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

You get to probably take your kids to school if you want to, pick them up if you want to.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

And probably your workers, do they have that kind of freedom as well?

SPEAKER_02 11:13

They do, yes, one of them. One of them's no kids, the other one has kids. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

And so there's there's that's gotta be like the ultimate, you know, in terms of the lifestyle. Yes, working for a fun brand.

SPEAKER_04 11:24

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

Um you obviously uh have a sort of a high belief system in terms of this you feel like it lines up with your what you believe in your purpose for your life and that kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_04 11:34

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

So it's kind of like um I guess in terms of moments of being grateful for what we have. That's like you're right on the sweet spot there, right? Yes, definitely. Um because the alternative, as you say, is go to university, get this degree that we think, nah. Yes. And then end up in a job. Yeah. And that's not always the case. Yeah. Some people end up doing stuff that they love for the rest of their lives. But I'm just kind of comparing the two.

SPEAKER_03 12:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:02

That's awesome. I love it. So yeah, talk about your um you talked about it kind of that you didn't use the word believe, but you were this idea of it sort of your purpose or your pathway. So talk about that a bit more. What is what what do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_02 12:19

Um I think I I'm probably a big control freak.

SPEAKER_03 12:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:25

Um and sometimes like sometimes there are things that happen in life, I feel like, where something pops up, an opportunity or a decision you have to make where it's not something you're expecting. Yeah. And I could have just been like, oh no, I'm gonna stay where I am because that's comfortable. Um I think I'm I quite contrary to I guess my control freak nature, is stepping out and trusting that that is it feels right, it aligns with my values and my beliefs, and I'm just going to like I I'm not quite sure where it's gonna take me, but I'm gonna trust and I'm gonna take that step and we're gonna figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 13:08

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:09

I love that. Yeah, that's that's great. And so, do you feel then? How many years ago did you do that? Or months ago?

SPEAKER_02 13:18

Uh, that would have been almost three years ago that we bought the business, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

So looking back over the last three years, if you'd known then the amount of work and trouble that a business brings.

unknown 13:29

Ah yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

Um, do you think with all that in do you regret it? Are you thinking that it's the best thing I've ever done?

SPEAKER_02 13:35

I think it depends how you look at it. Um, and I guess it's kind of talking at like I think of the word success.

SPEAKER_03 13:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Um and what that means to different people and the way you look at it. You know, people think success, oh my gosh, you're this amazing industry leader making all this money and like you've got all this brand awareness and all these customers and followers. And I don't think that's necessarily the case for everyone. Um for me, success meant being flexible and present with my kids.

SPEAKER_03 14:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Um, being in a job that I enjoy going to, um, that's fun, that I get to work with people who are my friends, and then we get to have fun at work.

SPEAKER_03 14:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

Um, yeah, so I think that looking back, I think that's a win.

SPEAKER_03 14:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:19

Um, the amount of personal growth uh that I've done over those three years has been absolutely incredible. I've learned so much stuff about myself.

SPEAKER_03 14:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

Uh but not only personally, I guess, but also the skills I've had to like learn along the way that are going to, you know, can take me in different directions if I wanted to. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

What kind of skills?

SPEAKER_02 14:45

Like anything marketing. I knew literally not I could spell marketing when I started, but and I kind of knew what it was, but that there's so much to it and what I've learned in those three years about marketing. Potentially, like if we decide to buy a different business or go s in a different direction, I now have that under my belt, those skills. Yeah. Um, that can take me that way. If I didn't want to go back to nursing or I didn't, you know. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:12

So what would you say with marketing then are some of the things when when you say marketing? Yes, what does it mean to you? What do you think are some of the core skills that someone would need to pick up or be able to delegate?

SPEAKER_02 15:27

Yeah, I've got or can't delegate.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Like you've uh uh you've built your brand around your personality and and your yourself, and not many businesses do that. Obviously, FLIR is similar in that respect. Um what would you say about that for people that are maybe afraid to do that?

SPEAKER_02 15:46

Yeah, this is really interesting. Um, we are a bit of a different brand in that we have a face um and a and a business owner, a founder who who shows up online quite a bit. Um I think it's a testament to the community that was built. Um, they are so loyal and they love following along the journey. Um, and I think knowing who those people are, what motivates them, the kinds of things they're interested in is so important, and that helps guide like the products we release and and all of our marketing. Um and yeah, I think showing up on social media for me, it has been a big lesson. Like when we bought Real Rad Food, I didn't even know how to make a reel. I I am um a millennial, I s watch on social media, I don't normally do anything on there, but I've had to learn all of that. Um I I think personality-wise, I I am an extrovert. I love connecting with other people, I love sharing my story and journey in the hopes that um someone else takes some kind of value or feels less alone in the world. Um or maybe will like take that step forward where they're like, oh, I'm not so sure, but no, I'm gonna trust. That's great. Uh so it it's a double-edged sword in that you want to share the journey and be vulnerable and authentic, but then you have to kind of weigh up the boundaries of how far you go and how much you share. Um so that was a big lesson. Uh, and obviously that kind of sharing is not for everyone. Um, but I guess it's like, yeah, building that community, figuring out how to connect with them, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:30

Yeah. It's a little bit off track, but I often I often I often think about AI and like I I'm talking to my team about the this idea I have is that social media is dead or that at some point it's gonna die because I feel like people are scrolling less.

SPEAKER_02 17:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:53

Maybe not your target audience, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 17:55

No, probably not.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

But and then you think, man, maybe one day the internet's gonna die. Because um, like the podcast may be the last frontier, because hopefully we're real, although you can fake this now as well. Well, but there's gonna come a time when you just do not know is that company real? Is yeah the marketing to me online are they actually a real thing?

SPEAKER_04 18:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

And I don't know how far off that is before we look at the whole internet and go, I don't know. Yeah, what is real in that now, you know? Yeah. Um it's funny how it's sort of maybe a a weirdest a weird view, but I think personality brands are really important because I think at the end of the day, people will look at you yourself and go, I she's real, like I know her.

SPEAKER_04 18:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Um, that's the brand of the I can I can see her on the website, and that I can see her there, it's the same person.

SPEAKER_03 18:50

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:51

But it's my hope for Flair as well that having the fact that I'm real and authentic in front of people, they get to see that we're real business. For those that are accounting us for the first time, we'll be able to make the assessment, oh, this is a legitimate product.

SPEAKER_02 19:03

Yeah, yeah, AI is so interesting. Um, I think that there is way more of that on the internet, especially on like social media. And it's I find the same thing like as a consumer that it's like, oh, what do I trust? Like what's real and what is like not, yeah. And I don't know what that's gonna look like in the future in terms of there's just that added element of you're trying to catch people's attention, right? And you only have like three seconds to do it in, and attention is dwindling, and you just people is people are scrolling, and then you add in that element of like, oh, I'm watching this, but do I trust it? Do I believe it? Do I you know there's this I don't know, it's yeah, it's it's tricky times, yeah. It's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

Yeah, that whole social media thing, because I don't I don't know about you, but I'm I mean we're all over it, but I don't I don't use it. Yeah, I don't go on it. Yeah, I haven't gone on it for years. I've got an account that we post on and stuff, but I don't I don't have other people do that for me, you know.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, yes. I know. I mean you can spend hours, right? Just being like, and before you know it's a rabbit hole, you've spent hours doing it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

But that being said, for those that are follow, I would never have someone else be me. You know, no, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

And um yeah, it's just interesting, eh? Like, yeah I'm I I I'm just I guess what I'm saying is I like I like what you're doing because your audience know that it's your product.

SPEAKER_04 20:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 20:28

It's you and your husband or whatever, eh? Yes. And you care about it, you're in you're in you care about the the quality and obviously developing products and you but you're behind it.

SPEAKER_02 20:39

Yes. We're real people that are also going through that journey, I think, too, with our audience as well. You know, there are probably things that I'm going that's going on in in my health and wellness journey or my journey as a mum or life, and same with my staff, um, that people can relate to and they see themselves as well. Um yeah, and I think with social media too, everyone's wanting that connection, which is so weird that instead of doing this, everyone's like, I need connection, let me go online. Yes. Um, so I think we kind of bring that as well, that connection. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

So talk about your products.

SPEAKER_04 21:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:19

So I look at so I'm a bit of a health nut. Um one of my earliest jobs was in a health at a health food company. Um and sort of from that built a sort of a health ethos right through my life that carries on today. Um and so my first thing when I look at your product, your website would be is this legitimately you know, is it are are they legitimate?

SPEAKER_04 21:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

Um yeah, talk talk a bit about your product, just be a little bit sort of um you know, um shameless at the moment. Um what is unique about what you guys do? Why do why do your audience love? Love your product.

SPEAKER_02 22:01

Yeah, okay. So I mean, I see our businesses, we have kind of two almost like separate sides to it. So we've got the raw slice side, which we make um, we hand make in our Papmo East factory.

SPEAKER_03 22:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 22:15

Um and then we've got like our supplement side. Um, so kind of I guess different, but I like the fact that I think you I think in life it's all about balance. Yeah. Having you can have one and the other, it's making a better for you decision, I guess. So that's kind of how we market our slices in that we use whole foods, they're all natural. The way we process them um is that they are better, they're raw and um they're better for your gut.

SPEAKER_03 22:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

Uh, we don't use refined sugar. So you're, you know, compared to supermarket treats, you're not gonna get that massive sugar crash.

SPEAKER_03 22:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:51

So while yes, it is like a treat, I guess, it's gonna be the better choice.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

What's the sugar replacement?

SPEAKER_02 22:58

Um, we use stevia and coconut sugar, so just the unrefined.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

Yeah, nice.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

Um, yeah, so and more like nutrient dense because it's more of a nut-based um product. And then, yeah, the supplement side, all of our supplements have adaptogens in them. Have you heard of it? I've heard the name.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

I have no idea what that means.

SPEAKER_02 23:16

What they mean? Okay, so basically they're herbs and amino acids that um if you take them over time, uh help with body function bodily functions.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

Um, so different our different products work different in different ways. So our rad sleep is a hot chocolate powder. Um, it has things like L-thenine and passion flour in it, which help promote um relaxation. If you are like me and you've got a really busy mind that struggles to switch off, um, I find that really helpful and calming in the evenings to take. And that just puts me in a better position to then like go to sleep. Yeah, nice. Um, so uh as opposed to say like your um traditional medicine, I guess, in in like sleeping tablets and things, which will literally put you to sleep. These ones kind of like set you up, the more natural set you up for a better sleep.

SPEAKER_03 24:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:10

Uh, and then same with our um rad protein powder that it was created around hormonal balance. Um, so definitely more women for that one. So healthy cycles, yeah, helps with stress and energy.

SPEAKER_03 24:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:25

Um, and we've got rad greens, which is gut health. Um, so that's helping with prebiotics, um, digestion, bloating. Um, it also helps with skin conditions. Um, and then we've got our rad bull mixes, which are similar to our slices in that they don't have adaptogens in them.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

The ball there's a ball.

SPEAKER_02 24:46

The the balls, yeah, the pre-mix. So you just add coconut cream to them.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

That's cool.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

Yeah, which is great. Um, they're great for healthy snacks. They're not date-based, so they don't go hard. They're quite soft and and moist. Um, I find them great for my kids' lunch boxes because I think as a mum, there's such a battle with convenience and nutrition. Yeah. Um, and a lot of the stuff you can put in your like kids' lunch boxes can be biscuits, chips, you know, like the supermarket stuff.

SPEAKER_03 25:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:17

And I get that they want to have that sweet stuff and they want to have you want to put something in there that they're gonna eat. Um, but how about we make it more nutritious? Um, that's gonna give them energy rather than a sugar crash.

unknown 25:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:28

So I guess that's what that's your marketing sort of your spot, isn't it? It's not that, hey, don't eat any any sli slices, don't eat this kind of stuff. But it's more, hey, if you're gonna put something in your kids thing, or if you're gonna have a little healthy snake yourself, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Um make it a better option.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Make it slightly better, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:45

Yeah. And having, I guess giving people the option of creating their own version of balance, whatever that looks like.

SPEAKER_00 25:51

I love it.

SPEAKER_02 25:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

That ball pre-balls.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Yes, rad balls, we call them.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Rad balls.

SPEAKER_02 25:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

And it's uh so it's like a powdery thing in a bag, is that what it is?

SPEAKER_02 26:03

Yes, it is um uh basically like any kind of baking pre-mix. Uh we use a nut base.

SPEAKER_03 26:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:09

Um, and you just add a quarter cup of coconut cream, mix it all together. You can it's quite versatile. You can roll them into balls, you could bake them into cookies. Um, we've used them for like um bases for like cheesecakes or uh, you know, the sky's the limit with that one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:29

We have um quite a growing collection of grandchildren.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:33

And so my wife often has stuff in the in the pantry. And then the problem is I will because I'm as they're quite healthy, but I get to the end of a hard day and I'm like, I just feel like it something. Yes. And something like that sounds good because the alternative would be I'm going down to the supermarket to borrow myself a trumpet or something.

SPEAKER_02 26:51

Yeah, especially when you're kind of at that point where you're like, I want something.

SPEAKER_00 26:55

I need something now, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:56

Yeah, need something now, and like that's the first thing you owe to. Um slices and rambles are great in that you can freeze them. Yeah. So you can have them there so when the moment hits, you can just go and grab what you need.

SPEAKER_00 27:06

Is it like cookie dough where you could you could just, you know, the how kids like they make up the cookies and don't actually bake them? I'll just add it. Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 27:14

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 27:15

All right.

SPEAKER_02 27:16

Yeah, yeah, pretty good.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

That's nice. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 27:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:20

Yes, so um mums would be buying this for themselves, their families, and school lunch boxes, yeah, that kind of stuff. Yeah, that's cool. So what's your favourite what's your favourite product and what would be the product that sells the most?

SPEAKER_02 27:34

Oh, that's such a good question. Um, definitely I can tell you the product that sells the most would be our mixed slice box. What is that? So that is our um slice range. It's basically a sample box where you get one of each flavour, so six different flavors.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 27:48

And then we do sell them in single flavour boxes, but uh everyone that goes really well. Everyone loves that to put on the um in the freezer. We just released our Esther collection, so often we'll do limited edition drops throughout the year.

SPEAKER_03 28:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

Where for a couple of weeks we create a new flavour or a few new flavours and sell that. So that's going really well at the moment. And I guess for my oh my favourite one, I feel like it changes.

SPEAKER_03 28:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:15

It's like asking to pick my favourite child. Like, I don't know how I do that. Um, I think for me at the moment would be rad sleep. Um Rad sleep. Yes, which is the sleepy hot chocolate you can have in the evenings. I think as a busy mum, I'm always on the go. So anything I can do to help me relax and de-stress and have a good night's sleep, I'm all for. But yeah, it just changes.

SPEAKER_00 28:38

Kids, you could give that to kids, the the hot chocolate, seeky hot chocolate.

SPEAKER_02 28:42

That one we our our advice on that one is to check with their health provider first, purely just the um because the adaptogens in them with the because they are a functional herb.

SPEAKER_00 28:51

Because you could add whiskey to it as well.

SPEAKER_02 28:53

Yes. Isn't that what they used to do back in the day? Like a teaspoon of whiskey. Oh my god. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:59

They were so wise back then.

SPEAKER_02 29:02

Oh my goodness, yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:04

Oh, that's that's good. And um, so what your husband obviously he's a food technologist. Yes. Um, what does he like making the most? What is when you guys start product developing, what really pushes?

SPEAKER_02 29:20

I think definitely the slice and the rad ball side, purely because we can make them and test them in our factory. The supplement side, um, we have to, it's a bit more difficult because of the adaptogens in them. We need kind of more uh nutritionist scientist input into that one. Uh, and we can't make them at our factory.

SPEAKER_03 29:45

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_02 29:45

So I guess we have a little bit more control with the slices and the rad balls. Um, poor guy, I feel bad for him. It's it's me being like, or the team being like, oh, let's make this. Here you go, Hugh. Yeah, yeah. So we we come up with the fun ideas along with our community, and then Hugh's gotta go and figure out how to do it.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

Where do we get this made? What happened?

SPEAKER_02 30:04

Yeah, you're like, how am I gonna make this? And but I think he really enjoys that, I guess the numbers and the spreadsheet side of things of like how like the problem solving. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:15

There's a product my wife bought the other week which was for the grandkids, but I ate most of it. Um I think it was probably quite unhealthy, maybe, but it was a fruit ball.

SPEAKER_04 30:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 30:24

And it was just fruit, and then I think they said they sweetened it with so it was apple juice and some other stuff, but there was no sugar in it.

SPEAKER_02 30:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 30:33

Oh man, those were yummy.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

Were they? Yes. I was like fruit, yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:37

It's probably just got the natural fruit sweetener, you know, from the I don't know how it goes with the whole glycemic index because it was probably just packed full of fruit juice.

SPEAKER_02 30:45

Yes. But um But it tastes good.

SPEAKER_00 30:48

They taste great, yeah. I know I thought they were healthy.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Yeah, yeah, that's uh it's so interesting, I think, when you look at what's on the shelves these days and people's perception of what's healthy and what's not. Um because I think it's uh marketing, it's interesting what you can and can't say.

SPEAKER_00 31:09

Um that's interesting though, with marketing. Because I I've that's my background. And you definitely got a big responsibility not to be misleading saying things that aren't true. Yeah, and um you can't get away with it. Customers eventually see through that kind of stuff. But I think with food in particular, the people just say a lot of the stuff in the supermarket's just terrible for you, but they don't, you know.

SPEAKER_02 31:40

I think it's interesting, I think it's an maybe like an education thing too, and you don't know what you don't know, right? Like you kind of are hearing what people want you to hear. And if you are not sure how to read, say, like a nutritional panel, you're not really sure what's in it or um what is a good benchmark, right? You see, oh, 14, what does that mean? Like, is that good? Is it not good?

SPEAKER_00 32:03

Yeah, and fat-free is often marketed as a good thing, whereas you know, fat can Yeah, fat-free normally means more sugar. Yeah, it's way more sugar because the fat gives the flavour.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's always a balance, a trade-off.

SPEAKER_00 32:13

And the fat, the problem with fat is that it oxidizes, so it goes off.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

And so that's why the fat. How okay, so go there. How how you guys handle that in your product?

SPEAKER_02 32:24

Um, I guess so, for example, our rabble mixes, I mean, everything has a shelf life, right? Where the the I guess most of the fat you get from that is the coconut cream.

SPEAKER_03 32:36

Yeah, right. Um that you can add later. Yeah, later.

SPEAKER_02 32:40

And I mean, you could make it um higher protein or I guess less of that fat, I suppose. If you could replace the coconut cream, you could add yogurt, you could add whatever liquidy stuff you want to make the right texture.

SPEAKER_00 32:56

But that's a good way to do food because the problem that I see with a whole food system is you can't have too much, you can't have fat in the food because that'll make the food go off.

SPEAKER_04 33:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:06

And then that doesn't work for the whole supply chain of made in China or states and then put it on a chip for three months and a month, whatever it is, and then it's, you know, it's sort of six months old before you get to eat it. Yes. So it's gotta not go off ever. Yeah. Take the fat out, fill it full of sugar, right?

SPEAKER_02 33:22

Yes, yeah. Or like the um artificial, like the preservatives and things.

SPEAKER_00 33:27

And you've got to add the preservatives.

SPEAKER_02 33:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:29

So that's what's broken. So the closer we can get to a food source, the better. Um, ultimately. Um but what you've done with that, well, I understand with the balls in a bag.

SPEAKER_02 33:42

I know, I know. We have a lot of fun with that. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_00 33:47

Um, what's it called again? Brad balls.

SPEAKER_02 33:50

Yeah, I know we're gonna, we're about to release some new flavours of that and we do like a battle, we call it battle of the balls.

SPEAKER_00 33:55

Yeah. If you wanted to sell to guys, just call it balls in a bag and balls in a bag. They will buy it. Seriously.

SPEAKER_02 34:02

Just for novelty factors for the night. I'm like, I've got to try that. Balls in a bag. You buzz are very easy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:08

Very funny. As long as it's funny. Um so with your balls in a bag. If you that's great because you've taken the effectively the fat gets added later.

SPEAKER_04 34:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

And so you get a healthy healthier, healthier alternative, which um so I'll I'll have a look at that on your site later. Yeah. Um it's good.

SPEAKER_02 34:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:27

I like that because then you can just make it up when you're feeling snackish and go.

SPEAKER_02 34:31

Yes, exactly. And it lasts longer, right? You can chuck it in the pantry and it's there when you need it. Or we just make them up and put them in the freezer.

SPEAKER_00 34:37

And so you could replace, you said, the with the yogurt?

SPEAKER_02 34:40

Yeah, you could probably replace the coconut cream with the yogurt. It might give you a different texture, but I mean that would probably increase the protein.

SPEAKER_00 34:47

Because the protein is a is a thing, eh?

SPEAKER_02 34:49

Yeah, yeah. Oh, we will often, um, when I make mine, I will often like add a little bit more of the liquid and then add some protein powder to it to help build up that protein. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:59

What you're talking about there, I don't think a lot of women or men would understand is the the amount of protein we actually need.

SPEAKER_04 35:05

Correct.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

And our diets don't typically, unless we're carnivore and eating a lot of meat or a lot of yogurt, yeah, we don't get a lot of pro enough protein.

SPEAKER_03 35:15

Yeah, correct.

SPEAKER_00 35:16

Um, so what's so you've got selling the protein powder?

SPEAKER_02 35:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 35:21

Are you putting protein that protein powder into any of your products as well?

SPEAKER_02 35:25

Or are you just we have in the past. We've done um an almond butter protein ball. Um, we are looking at doing more of that because I think that um consumers are cottoning on to um how important protein is in our diet.

SPEAKER_03 35:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 35:41

And so there is more of that demand. I mean, you see all the like protein coffees and all those kinds of things.

SPEAKER_00 35:46

Um protein coffee?

SPEAKER_02 35:47

Yeah, I think there's protein coffees out, like in a can. I don't know, I'm sure there'd be some out. I don't know who does them, but that's cool. Yeah. I'm sure that I feel like there's protein everything these days.

SPEAKER_00 35:57

Oh, yeah. Okay. A lot of this everything cut protein is full of sugar though. It's like really sweet.

SPEAKER_02 36:03

Yeah, it is interesting. I think you have to um yeah, get knowledgeable and educate yourself on what to look for in terms of the nutrition panel and like the ingredients. Um, because yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

Yeah, protein balls in a bag would go away.

SPEAKER_02 36:17

Protein balls in a bag, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:19

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's interesting. People are becoming more aware of those kind of things.

SPEAKER_02 36:25

Yeah, yeah, for sure. And I think post-COVID too, where everyone was like, all of a sudden there's this like big health crisis, and you're kind of looking at staying healthy and those kinds of and people cutting on to um what we're consuming and like the processed food and and and educating themselves and and figuring out what works best for them. And I think what we're trying to do is is provide a better option. Yeah. Better option. Hopefully we get too.

SPEAKER_00 36:53

Do people um do you have you thought about creating?

SPEAKER_02 36:57

Creating. Ah, yes. Um, we personally haven't. I know that there's stuff on the market for it.

SPEAKER_03 37:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:04

Um, we the way we kind of market our um, I guess, supplements is more about convenience and um busy mums and fitting into those lifestyles rather than the hey, take this for the gym.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

You know, so you can't create yeah, we don't need to go there. But I I will just for a second.

SPEAKER_02 37:25

No, it's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 37:27

Well, the creatine has this bad reputation as being like a gym thing. But it's just and women need it um as much as guys. It's very good for your your brain health. Um, it doesn't really make you buff. Um, it definitely um helps with your recovery. Um but I mean I encourage you to do some research on it. Um my wife who was very hesitant, who's um 50 ish um just swears by it and tells all of all her girlfriends at a similar age to get on it. Um so if menopausal woman, I think basically everybody can benefit from it. It's fantastic. And if you're in the States, um a lot of the creatine is just full of because creatine doesn't have much of a flavor, it's got no flavour.

SPEAKER_02 38:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:16

Or some people won't don't like it because it's tastes sort of sandy.

SPEAKER_02 38:19

Yes. Um yes, I have seen lots of those like um creatine gummies.

SPEAKER_00 38:23

Yeah, creatine gummies, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:26

That whole like um novelty, like, oh it's a lily.

SPEAKER_00 38:28

Yeah, you know, there's not enough creatine in it to actually make any difference.

SPEAKER_02 38:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:31

Um so just uh just a thought. I did I buy all our creatine from a place called um I think it's nothing naughty.

SPEAKER_02 38:38

Uh yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

SPEAKER_00 38:40

Um and because they just don't add anything to it and stuff. So I just had a thought.

SPEAKER_04 38:44

It could be Yes.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

Because it's such a big market. Anyway, I've done my done my uh little spin on that. I don't want to tell you how to do your business. So uh it's probably completely out of out of what you should be doing. Um that's cool.

SPEAKER_02 38:57

Tell me about just across New Zealand or do you export or so slices obviously we make them and freeze them. So we are only able to ship those domestically in New Zealand and we do do nationwide.

SPEAKER_03 39:09

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 39:10

Um, and then we also uh can wholesale those as well. So we have there's an arena in Auckland, there's little boutique cafes and stuff from nationwide that will stock them.

SPEAKER_03 39:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:19

Um, our other things we do ship internationally. We've got a few that things that go to um Australia. Uh I feel like the furthest we've been is maybe like Norway or somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

Can you like your balls in a bag they could go? Yep, balls in a bag can go.

SPEAKER_02 39:36

Yep, balls in a bag. Yeah, they definitely can.

SPEAKER_00 39:39

We've just renamed it. You're right, you'll get some demand. You'll be able to do that.

SPEAKER_02 39:43

Yeah, I'll know if people have come from here, they'll be like, have you got the balls in the bag? That's right. That was Mike, got it.

SPEAKER_00 39:49

Yeah. Yeah, so that's cold. Um so South Ireland?

SPEAKER_02 39:55

Yes. Yeah. Yep, South Island.

SPEAKER_00 39:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Um, I mean, it'd be amazing to get more into a like Australia across the ditch.

SPEAKER_00 40:02

Yeah, Australia's. Man, Australia's love. You think Australias hate us kiwis. When we first started marking to Australia, I'll tell you a funny story. We tried launching in Australia, I don't know how many years back, say five or seven years back, and I took New Zealand off the website. There was nothing about New Zealand. I was trying like, oh, we've got to hide who we are.

SPEAKER_03 40:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:20

Within a month, I was like, oh my god, stuffed that up. They were like, no, we love. Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:26

Oh, I yeah, I feel like there's like this um everyone's like, oh, Australians. It's almost but in jokey kind of way, you know, like I still think we're like buddies.

SPEAKER_00 40:36

Yeah, no, deep down buts.

SPEAKER_02 40:37

Buddies or like siblings that kind of fight sometimes, but really deep down.

SPEAKER_00 40:40

Yeah. So a healthy product from New Zealand. Yeah. That's just not one to market.

SPEAKER_02 40:45

I know, and yeah, and that's made locally. Yeah. Yeah, it would be cool.

SPEAKER_00 40:50

You might just need to set up a um balls in a bag factory over there or something.

SPEAKER_02 40:55

Maybe that's the way to go.

SPEAKER_00 40:56

Real range food factory over there.

SPEAKER_02 40:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:58

What would you say uh I mean you talked about your kids and stuff. Tell me what would be the biggest challenges that you for women to do what you've done? What have they got to overcome?

SPEAKER_02 41:10

Or um yeah, um, I think there's probably, if you looked, there's a lot more female business owners and founders around than perhaps what you realise. And I think a lot of brands perhaps are owned by females or run by females, but they don't have the face marketing, you know. So you kind of don't know.

SPEAKER_00 41:33

Because I probably made it sound like there's nobody don't know.

SPEAKER_02 41:35

Yeah, yeah, so they're definitely. I mean, I um as a mum, I think, and a as a a busy mum.

SPEAKER_03 41:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:43

Um it's I for me, it's it needs to I need to figure out what it is I want out of it. And yes. And and trust and imagine the life I'm trying to create for myself and for my family, and figuring out how to do that, which is not always easy.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

It's not. That's and so it's a challenge for guys as well. Um, man, you can have I had a hard week last week, there's just a whole bunch of stuff. People think, oh, business is easy.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

It's really easy. No, and it all looks so lovely online, you know, but like the behind the scenes.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

You can have you can wake up on a Monday morning. I don't know about you what time you wake up, but probably earlier than me.

SPEAKER_02 42:24

Very early.

SPEAKER_00 42:24

Um, but you can have a significant business problem by seven in the morning, you know, on a Monday.

SPEAKER_02 42:28

I I try to be really good about not checking my phone and my emails because if I do that at breakfast time and I then I feel like I'm putting out fires constantly and I'm not present. So for me, that has always been like a non-negotiable like I want to make sure I'm with my kids. And also that they're not seeing me on my phone all the time, on my computer all the time.

SPEAKER_03 42:47

Yes, I like that.

SPEAKER_02 42:48

Um it's kind of I guess having the balance of you know, like it's seeing me work or seeing us work and what that looks like, but also being present and not being on a phone all the time. Because they see so much of that already.

SPEAKER_00 43:06

Yeah. Um they model it later and they go off, mum's on the phone, right?

SPEAKER_02 43:09

Yeah, and I I don't want to be that parent that oh, I can't go see mum because she's on her phone or she's busy.

SPEAKER_00 43:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:14

Like I want to know that they can come to me and that I am present and listening and giving them my full attention and they're feeling heard and seen. And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:23

That's good. Yeah, I'd say that's a massive challenge for you, probably.

SPEAKER_02 43:27

Yes, it is a very much a balancing act, and there are times when things don't get done and work, um, or they have to wait, or there's been like maybe a missed opportunity potentially.

SPEAKER_00 43:40

But those are tough calls, though.

SPEAKER_02 43:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:43

Those are tough calls because what you're saying actually is I'm trading off opportunities and speed to do things faster, which means growing faster potentially. Yes with Being present.

SPEAKER_02 44:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:01

Or choosing at times to be more present than you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:05

And for me, like I want when I'm on I'm 70 or 80 or whatever, I think that if I look back on my life, I don't want to be like, oh man, I worked really hard. I spent so many hours working on this business and yeah, I loved it and it gave me a creative outlet. I think I'm gonna look around my table, see all my kids and my grandkids, and be like, man, I'm so glad that I got to spend that time with them and that I was present with them. Yeah, so love that.

SPEAKER_00 44:30

Well, I really appreciate that focus. That's good. It gets harder because your kids are young, believe it or not.

SPEAKER_02 44:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 44:35

And you've still got all your evenings potentially.

SPEAKER_02 44:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 44:38

So that goes away.

SPEAKER_02 44:39

Yes, yeah. And I think that I'm making the most of the fit because they they still think I'm cool. Yeah. And they want to spend time with me. I know there's gonna be a point where they're gonna be like, no, Mum.

SPEAKER_00 44:47

Yeah. No. You're not cool anymore.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

No, I don't want to hang out with you. No, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 44:51

You're going to bed at 10 and they're still awake. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:53

Oh my gosh. Or they're like, we'll come and help you at the factory, but you've got to pay us.

SPEAKER_03 44:57

Yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_02 44:58

We demand this much. Yeah. But at the moment, they just do it for snacks.

SPEAKER_03 45:02

Yeah. That's the ultimate. Yeah. You're too stuff at your kids.

SPEAKER_02 45:06

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They help load the caribbean, they get a slice.

SPEAKER_00 45:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:11

Yeah. Yeah, it's cute.

SPEAKER_00 45:13

That's good. Well, well done for to keep having that in mind. It's a challenge for guys as well.

SPEAKER_03 45:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

Uh, I know my wife and I were talking about it this week, and she was like, Man, you've got to be careful. You're running fast. And she said to me, We get the leftovers.

SPEAKER_02 45:25

Yeah. And it's so easy, I think, to burn out as well. And then you're no good to anyone, your business or your family.

SPEAKER_00 45:31

And it's I hate I hate hearing it when she says it just winds me up. Yeah. But she's right. But it doesn't mean I like it, you know. No. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:38

It's this need to like be busy and keep up and you know, and I just because you feed the machine.

SPEAKER_00 45:43

If you're not growing, the reality is if you're not growing, everything's everything's growing. We're sort of wired everything has to grow for it to make sense.

SPEAKER_03 45:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:52

Because if everything's inflating in value, you've got to be growing the thing to keep ahead of everything. It's a weird system we have, develop for ourselves. Um so if the business isn't growing, you're going backwards compared to someone.

SPEAKER_02 46:04

Yeah, exactly. Um that can be quite stressful. I think if you are constantly keeping your eye on what everyone else is doing, you're like, all your focus is over here when if you just like ignore what they're doing, forge your own path, focus here.

SPEAKER_00 46:17

And that's the key. If your product's unique enough, you can just do your bit really well.

SPEAKER_02 46:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:21

And then take the time to spend time with the kids and stuff. And I think that's like the ultimate balance. So well done.

SPEAKER_02 46:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:27

And if you get as you grow, because you'll have to, yes. You just need to, you'll be delegating some of that stuff.

SPEAKER_02 46:33

Yeah, and I mean, like, yeah, our team will grow. Um, Carly, who was our last hire, she came on the end of last year. So probably looking at hiring another person this year.

SPEAKER_03 46:42

So also.

SPEAKER_02 46:44

But I like keeping the team small. I I think that's what makes it fun, and we've got such a great culture.

SPEAKER_03 46:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 46:50

I like that. I want work to be a fun and supportive place. So that's the ultimate. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:54

I feel like we're in the sweet spot.

SPEAKER_00 46:56

Yeah, you are.

SPEAKER_02 46:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:58

Yeah. And you can do that with a bigger organization, but it does the moment you've got people between you and your people, yeah. Um, that it just gets harder. It gets harder. Yeah.

unknown 47:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:09

Yeah. So just before we sort of get closer to winding up, just going right back to you bought the business off someone. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 47:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:19

Um, but I haven't experienced that before. I haven't spoken to anybody who's experienced that before. Sort of what were some of the challenges around that transition?

SPEAKER_02 47:28

Yeah, I think um we're probably a little bit unique in that I bought a business who was uh very much a face brand. Um a lot of people will have followed Hannah's journey um as she created the business and to take that on was massive and very much a challenge transitioning. Not only did I not have, I guess, the background in marketing and social media and things, but then to like switch from one person to another and have to um not only like build that community, but like nurture them when I'm like an outsider coming in. Uh so that was quite a process. And even just the imposter syndrome, you know, like those limiting beliefs, those thoughts of like I'm not her, I'm not doing it right. It's taken it took a long time, I think, for me to feel like the business is aligned more to what I believe in and what I value and felt more mine rather than me taking over someone else's stuff. I mean, I liken it to it happens so quickly. So, you know, one day you go visit this business that this person has put their blood, sweat, and tears into, and like this factory that's amazing and the staff and all this stuff that she owns. And then literally overnight, you walk in there and you own all the stuff, but like you didn't pick it. No one it doesn't feel like yours. So it took a long time for that feeling to come.

SPEAKER_00 48:55

So, how much of that feeling is like we've just bought a house in my old place? I planted every plant, I touched everything. I know where all the pipes in the ground were and all the the water and all the, you know, it felt like my place. At this place, I haven't really touched many of the plants yet. Um I don't know where any of the pipes in the ground are. I'm I'm wondering whether I'm gonna have to touch and feel everything for before it starts to feel like mine.

SPEAKER_04 49:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 49:21

How much of that is true for the business, but how and how much of it so how much of it is buying new things for the factory versus just changing the language or changing the culture? Um, what what was important for you to make it feel like yours?

SPEAKER_02 49:36

Um, I don't feel like we physically purchased anything to make it feel like us, like we didn't replace any furniture or anything. No, I think it was more like a mindset shift.

SPEAKER_03 49:45

Got it.

SPEAKER_02 49:46

Um, and very much um kind of moving away from the, oh, this is what the founder built, this is her stuff, and moving in to be like, okay, so she founded at the beginning, but I'm founding the becoming.

SPEAKER_03 50:00

Yeah. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02 50:01

Yeah. So it was kind of shifting that mindset of let's not focus on the past, let's focus on where we're going. And I now own this. Yeah. Where do I want it to go? Not where potentially she was going in the past, where she thought it was gonna go. It was, yeah, where we're gonna go.

SPEAKER_00 50:16

And so what did you have to do to go decide well where we're gonna go? And yeah.

SPEAKER_02 50:21

Yeah, I guess um connecting with the community, I think, was important for me.

SPEAKER_03 50:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 50:28

Um feeling like they knew who I was. Um, I mean, I guess it's like meeting a new friend, you know, like, hey, I'm so-and-so, this is what I'm into. And it was very much connecting into that community, I think was the biggest part for me. Um, and the customer base. And yeah, rather than and then yeah, making those relationships, obviously. Uh Kelsey, who makes our slices, she was the original uh worker that stayed on, employee that stayed on, um, and building that rapport with her.

SPEAKER_03 50:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:00

Um, yeah, and then I think just it was just time and constantly catching those thoughts of when I whatever was self-doubt. Yeah, that self-doubt. And being like, no, I'm gonna reframe that.

SPEAKER_00 51:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:12

That's not, I'm not gonna believe that because that's not true.

SPEAKER_00 51:14

Good.

SPEAKER_02 51:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:15

So it sounds like you said it's about the relationships with your staff, with your customers, understanding what they want and need, that kind of stuff. And um and just not believing those negative talks, self-talk. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. The way you reframed it from the beginning to the becoming.

SPEAKER_02 51:34

The becoming, yeah. And I think that's good. I think mindset, I know lots of people call it like woo-woo, but I'm a big believer in that what you are telling yourself, you know, it's that reticular activating thing, you know. Yeah, the more you tell you, the more you see it. So the more you're focusing on the negative things, the things you are not doing or think you should be doing, the more you're gonna go down that way if you're thinking the other way then.

unknown 51:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:58

We actually talked about this in the last podcast with um with um Josh Turner. Yeah. Um thing I said to him is we often see the world. We often see the we don't see the world how it is, we see the world how we feel it is.

SPEAKER_04 52:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 52:15

And we can so often see the world and think it's terrible and think it's bad or whatever, or I'm not able, I'm not worthy, yeah, or I'm not capable.

SPEAKER_03 52:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:25

And literally this it's nothing like anything physically changes, but you just change what you believe. Yes. And every the whole magically, the entire world just changes. Yeah. And it's crazy, eh?

SPEAKER_02 52:36

Yes, I I mean I for me, it was like becoming a mother. Like as soon as that baby is born, your entire perception on the world and like what you believe in completely changes. And it's all what you're telling yourself and it's all the language you're using. And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:51

And so as a leader, you have to be speaking to yourself really well.

SPEAKER_04 52:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:57

You have to forgive yourself for a whole bunch of stuff. Yes. And you have to speak at the moment you start talking negatively to yourself, you're it's the staff pick up on it. Yes. Everybody around you, you're like, everyone's like, what the hell's going on, man?

SPEAKER_02 53:11

Yes, they know hey, the negative energy comes in and they're like, oh, she's in a bad move. I'm like, oh yeah, I know it's really important. I feel like that for definitely team morale and being a good leader is coming in and being positive. But also, you know, you get stressed, you have a bad sleep, you know, being like it's okay too. It's life. And I think, yeah, it's it's important that you're cheering, you're your own biggest cheerleader, yeah, you know, instead of getting that external validation, like you can do it.

SPEAKER_00 53:40

Yeah. And so choosing our feelings, as a leader, you you learn how to choose your feelings a bit, I think. It's that sort of resilience thing of I'm gonna be okay today and I'm gonna handle this, that kind of stuff. Um we're involved in um outside of this, I'm involved in sort of in a drug recovery thing. And I often think, you know, we we eat and drink and medicate ourselves, just change how we feel.

SPEAKER_02 54:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:05

So why not just change how we feel?

SPEAKER_02 54:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:07

You know, and so often it's waking up and going, okay, I need and I'm I need to do a feelings check. Yeah. I need to take some time to meditate or whatever and just check my feelings because we've got some stuff I need to achieve today.

SPEAKER_02 54:19

Yeah, and I think it's yeah, I think we're really good in society now. We don't like sitting in the awkward, uncomfortable feelings. Like that's when you like self-medicate, you're doom scrolling, you know, like to regulate yourself.

SPEAKER_03 54:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:31

I think I think as a business owner, you need to get really good at sitting in those like oh feelings of being uncomfortable because it happens a lot.

SPEAKER_03 54:39

All the time.

SPEAKER_02 54:40

Yeah, and I think as humans, we also we love focusing on the negative. And I I feel like for me it's it's still like a daily reminder of like, no, we're not going to do that, we're going to go this way.

SPEAKER_03 54:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:52

And I feel like for everyone, that's an ongoing thing.

SPEAKER_00 54:54

Yeah. Stick to focus. Yeah. We're not hot, are we anymore? Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02 55:02

Try not to scull this.

SPEAKER_00 55:03

Yeah. So, with all that said then, what keeps you grounded when when everything's full on?

SPEAKER_02 55:11

I guess two things that I do, definitely my kids. Um, a lot of the time, if I'm really worked up, I'm like, why am I doing this? Like, who am I doing this for? Like, look at my kids. They're happy, they're healthy, they're they've got a present present parents, like in the grand scheme of things. And then the other thing I really like to do is I have a little like a playbook that my business coaches help me set up. And in that is um kind of like, I think we're really good at reflecting in hindsight, but not so much in the future and where we want to go. So I've set out like a year from now, looking back a year from now, what have I done? Like, what have I achieved to move me to where I want to be? And then I have my like my business goals. So whenever I'm feeling like I can refer back to this, yeah. Um, and it helps me stay focused and know where I'm going.

SPEAKER_00 56:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 56:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:09

That's good. I like that. I know Josh Turner talked about that, eh? Um, can't remember the language he's looked at, but we he talks about how we often look at the gap.

SPEAKER_04 56:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:18

And he had another D word, which was the opposite of a gap. The gains.

SPEAKER_02 56:22

Ah, yes.

SPEAKER_00 56:23

Yeah, there we go.

SPEAKER_02 56:24

Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 56:25

And um, I'm trying to do that more to sort of look at the gains rather than the gaps, especially with my leadership team and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 56:30

Yeah. And it's having that reminder A of like daily reminders of like where I'm going, where am I going? Don't worry about that. It's done. Can't change it, can't control it.

SPEAKER_00 56:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 56:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:40

Well, great chat. Thanks for coming over.

SPEAKER_02 56:42

Thank you. Thank you, Bumi. Yeah. Great.

SPEAKER_00 56:44

It's a pleasure. Yeah. So, website again?

SPEAKER_02 56:47

Uh, realradfood.co.nz.

SPEAKER_00 56:50

Realradfood.co.nz.

SPEAKER_02 56:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 56:53

And they can buy stuff online.

SPEAKER_02 56:54

Correct. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok as well, real radfood.

SPEAKER_00 56:58

Insta on Instagram and TikTok. That's great.

SPEAKER_02 57:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:01

Um, yeah. So thanks, Heaps. It's been great. Great chatting. Um all the best of your business. I hope it's um just continues to succeed. Yes. But not so much that you don't. I hope it never gets too out of control. So you can listen. Yes, yes, I mean, like balance. Balance. Balance, being a present parent. Yeah. Balance for both of us. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Thank you. Cool. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 57:23

Thanks, right.