Tag Archives: retail

Retailing Two-Wheeled Joy: Linc Biggins, ScootaCo – Episode 51

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Linc Biggins is a longtime petrolhead, driving, riding and modifying vehicles on two wheels and four for as long as he can remember. after discovering the simple joy (and lack of expense) of commuting to work on a 50cc scooter, Linc decided to open a shop dedicated to the sit-down two-wheel market. The result, ScootaCo, is Cairns’ largest dedicated motor scooter retail and service store.

I had occasion to use ScootaCo’s services myself after the tyre inflation valves on The Foxy Lady, my 150cc scooter, gave way, and I got chatting with Linc about his business. The next step was, naturally, to interview him for the podcast!

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A Friendly Local Game Store in the Tropics: Mick Archer, The Wicked Goblin – Episode 35

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Opening a friendly local game store in an out-of-the-way, tropical tourist town might seem downright crazy, but Cairns boy Mick Archer has not only done it, he’s made The Wicked Goblin a success. He focuses his store on the people who play tabletop games as much as, if not more so than, the products themselves.

Exterior of Wicked Goblin friendly local game store

The exterior of The Wicked Goblin.

In my latest location recording, Mick and I chat about his background in both gaming and hospitality, how Mick built his war chest for The Wicked Goblin and the importance of not just having friends and family in your corner but also having a true partnership in your business.

Thank you again, Adam at Sprue Grey, for your questions! I hope my chat with Mick helps you open your own Friendly Local Store soon!

Please stick around after the interview for an update on my own paid to play progress!

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Pursuing Sweet Dreams of a Bakery Career: Vanessa Musi – Episode 29 / Brazen Episode 2

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UPDATE 13 June 2014: Vanessa has just unveiled her new web site where she offers coaching to fellow foodies looking to start their own businesses!

It’s my pleasure to announce that the second episode of The Paid to Play Podcast produced in conjunction with Brazen Careerist is live – and it’s also my pleasure to announce the all new home of The Paid to Play Podcast, here on paidtoplay.com.au!

My guest for this episode is Vanessa Musi, who is on the way to opening her own bakery, the Edit Bakery, specialising in gluten- and sugar-free pastries. We had a fantastic chat about Vanessa’s journey all the way around the world from Mexico to the US!

Pursuing Sweet Dreams of a Bakery Career (Podcast) – The Brazen Careerist

As with the first episode, can I ask you all to write your comments on the Brazen Careerist blog post, please?

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Episode 14: Brad Russell, Earth Toys

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It’s one thing to start a business in order to sell a product, yet another to believe in the product and its benefits. But Brad Russell, the co-owner and operator of Earth Toys with his wife Bree, lives and breathes a whole philosophy of play that seems absent from most places that sell toys.

earth-toys-interior-2016-3In my fifth location interview, I visited Earth Toys, a shop in the middle of Cairns, to talk with Brad about how he and Bree set their business up and how it’s going, but came away not just with that but also a hefty slice of Brad himself.

Brad is a great guy to talk with: Always relaxed, always intelligent and always very insightful. Relax and let this one sink in!

And once you’ve finished this episode, drop in and see Brad when you’re next in the area. You’ll probably leave with something you hadn’t thought about buying before, but with a view on playing – and living – that you’d never considered before.

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Episode 3: Mal and Amy, KerSplatt! Comics & Collectables

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I bring you two interviews for the price of one download; a great pair of interviews with Malcolm Semmens and Amy Milligan, owner-operators of KerSplatt! Comics and Collectables, Cairns’ only dedicated comic book store and fast becoming a second home for the geek population of Cairns!

Amy Milligan and Mal Semmens.

I ask Mal and Amy just how much work they’ve done to turn a random idea into an operating business, how they balance selling their hobby and indulging in it – and in what new ways opening and managing a shop can actually be fun!

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