Sisters in Success

Sisters in Success

By Joni Leimgruber

Going into business with family is a dangerous game to play. These three sets of sisters have done it bravely, successfully and creatively.

Stylidium Designs - Jan and Robyn

What is your business?

We create Australian inspired designs for textiles.


How did the business begin?

Jan was getting married and searched high and low for the right fabric for her wedding dress. She couldnt find anything she was happy with so we decided to design it ourselves. It took us 70 long, hard hours but by the end of it, Jan had a beautiful elegant and simple dress to wed in. That experience planted a seed and in 2001 we founded Stylidium Designs.


What is the biggest bonus of working together?

We have complementary strengths that have really helped in the development of the business. We get to laugh a lot too! It has been great for our relationship which has definitely been strengthened along the way. We have a lot of respect for each other.


What has been the hardest aspect?

The juggling act has been pretty tough. Robyn lives in Queensland and Jan is in Sydney. Add to that children and full time jobs and life becomes pretty busy. Weve had to resist the urge to collapse at the end of the day but the rewards of challenging and expressing our creativity has been worth the extra effort.


Why do you do it?

We love to create. The process of creating is absolutely our heart and soul. We also have a passion for Australian flora. Were both inspired by nature, arts and culture. Striving for success hasnt really been a conscious thought, just the drive for excellence and to be the best we can be.


How do your parents feel about the business?

They were delighted when we told them we were going into business together. Theyve also given us a great foundation - strong moral and ethical values. This has meant that we both work to a similar standard and any issues are resolved quickly. Our parents instilled values of honesty, integrity and hard work in us as well as the ability to enjoy a little nonsense now and then.


Any advice?

Be prepared for the roller coaster ride and be prepared to face the hard stuff as well as the fun stuff. As with all partnerships, define the strengths and weaknesses of each and try to fill the gaps. Laugh, dont take anything too seriously and make sure you learn from each other. Enjoy the relationship.

www.stylidiumdesigns.com.au


Simply Original Fine Foods - Natalie and Sarah

What is your business?

A cooking school and purveyor of fine foods.


How did it begin?

We began Simply Original Fine Foods when we noticed that there werent the high quality deli style food products we wanted to buy. The business gradually evolved to include food demonstrations and a cooking school.


What is the biggest bonus of working together?

I guess together were a complete package. Our skills complement each other. Natalie is an amateur chef and dedicated foodie and Sarah (who is also a dedicated foodie and chef) doubles as the company's bakery mistress. Weve also learned to appreciate each others differences and the fact that we both have different skills that complement each other.


What has been the hardest aspect?

Balancing family life with work has been hard. Sometimes we have to consciously switch off from talking about the business.


Why do you do it?

We have a passion for fine, fresh food made from simple, original ingredients hence the name! We enjoy having an outlet that differs to what were used to doing every day and it also allows us to explore our creative side.


How do your parents feel about the business?

Theyve been supportive of our choices and help us in any way that they can. Our family has always been food oriented. Our greatest mentor was our aunt with whom we spent many a school holiday. We would cook up a storm and eagerly absorb all the lessons she dished out. This gave us a solid grounding for preparing and cooking simple, wholesome food.


Any advice?

Make sure you are both committed to making it work and that you set the ground rules early on about how you will work together. Also, keep the lines of communication open. We openly acknowledge that we have very different personalities and instead of these differences presenting a challenge, we have an open communication rule; we both give the other the opportunity to be heard, then we make our decision objectively and with the best interests of the company at heart.

www.simplyoriginal.com.au


Koolaman Designs - Lisa and Stacey

What is your business?

We produce a range of beautiful hand stamped silver jewellery and pendants.


How did it begin?

We started the business in September 2007 when we realised we needed to find a way to bring in some extra income. The farm, Koolaman Station, was struggling in the drought. So, while raising six children between us and living 450 kilometres apart, we founded Koolaman Designs.


What is the biggest bonus of working together?

We have an excuse to see each other more regularly and stay a few days for an extended business meeting! Koolaman goes with us wherever we go. Weve tried to have days where we ring and talk with no mention of the business but this has proven unsuccessful. Koolaman is our 7th baby and it always comes up in conversation. The flexibility of the business, being mainly online, is also a huge plus. It means were available for our children, rather than having to go back to work at set hours and on set days.


What has been the hardest aspect?

That would be finding time! Having children is the most wonderful stage, but it is also one of the most demanding. The idea of the business is to allow us more time to spend with family. Its a delicate balance between business and family life. Funding the business and maintaining cash flow in the initial stages were also challenging. We used our baby bonuses and credit cards to fund the business in the early days.


Why do you do it?

We were looking for something we could do together, to earn a little extra cash, despite the fact we live 450 kilometres apart. We loved the idea of having a pendant with our childrens names and birth dates stamped on it. We wanted to create something that was unique and not mass produced.


How do your parents feel about the business?

They were the original inspiration. Weve grown up watching our mother and grandmother and other family members, creating, sewing or painting beautiful things and we knew as soon as we started practising our stamping skills on kitchen spoons that this was the perfect business for us. They were very positive when they saw our pendants and were very excited for us. The distance factor was something that everyone questioned but it has worked out well. Our parents were very supportive and helped us out when they could by babysitting when we had to travel.


Any advice?

Go for it! Create your business plan, be realistic with your cash flow forecasts and ask questions. Use your family and friends networks to share ideas and source opinions. Make sure you surround yourself with positive supportive people and take their constructive criticism on board. Its also really important to draw on each other strengths and support each other. We had to be able to step into the others shoes and complete their tasks when they were juggling new babies or simply didnt have the time.

www.Koolamandesigns.com.au