If you're in the mood for inspiration, this #girlboss interview brings it in bucketloads, or we should really say "tin loads"! Yes, this energetic and unstoppable babe decided to create a Tampon Business in her early 20's because she couldn't find what she wanted on the market. Yep, those all beautifully and conveniently packaged tampons in reusable and recyclable tins - solving that issue of our intimate products falling out of our handbags...yep, Mia started that Biz. And yes, her first customer was Woolworths!! Really she's almost an urban legend...and she hasn't stopped since.
WHAT'S YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH FOR WHAT YOU DO?
We make the ‘MOXIE’ brand of women’s personal care products – basically tampons and pads in super cute, purse-worthy and recyclable little tins, that keep them protected and from floating around in your handbag!
WE THINK STARTING A BUSINESS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE IS A VERY 'BALLSY' MOVE & YOU'VE HAD HUGE SUCCESS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE...WHAT WAS THE IMPACT ON YOUR FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS AS YOU WERE STARTING MOXIE?
It was challenging at the beginning because I really didn’t know anyone within my close social circle who had done or was doing anything similar – so whilst my close friends and immediate family were incredibly supportive, I felt a little isolated and didn’t really have a pool of contacts I could call on for advice or help from a business perspective. That said, my dad has always had his own business, as did my partner at the time (now my husband) so those two were always excellent supporters and sounding boards. I was also really very fortunate to have a really supportive business partner – we bounced off each-other and we still wrk incredibly well together to this day!
IN REFLECTION, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE BUSINESS WIN SO FAR AND WHY?
Almost twelve years later, I still can’t go past our initial ranging at woolworths. It was our first official buying meeting with a major retailer and we managed to secure ranging for our first three tampon lines in all stores. It was a pretty incredible feeling, and meant that we could make the most of our (very limited!) Marketing and PR budget, as we had national distribution right off the bat.
WHAT 3 QUALITIES DO YOU THINK #GIRLBOSSES NEED TO THRIVE IN BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
Guts, determination and courage (that’s actual what it means to have ‘Moxie’!)
WHEN YOU'RE NOT BUSY RUNNING YOUR EMPIRE, WHAT WILL WE FIND YOU DOING AND WITH WHOM?
I’m a bit of an ‘anything goes’ type of person, so I don’t have a set routine – I actually am not really a fan of routine (I even hate having to do ‘sets’ of the same exercise at the gym *blush*). I love ad-hoc catch ups with friends, walking the dog with my husband on a Sunday afternoon. And eating. I love eating! I love the idea of reading, but in recent years I prefer more to spend that time meeting someone new, or socialising, or just being around loved ones. I save reading for long trips on the plane.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
I always have a giggle when people say “So, what do you actually do all day?”
Some seem to think it’s a glam life of travel and interviews and long lunches. But in reality, it’s emptying out the bins, responding to emails, liaising with partners/distributors/buyers, to writing blog posts, to doing the 3pm office coffee run (once again, anything goes!).
WHAT'S BEEN THE HARDEST LESSON YOU'VE HAD TO LEARN IN RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS?
That you can’t do everything yourself, that you can’t be everywhere at once, and that you can’t be everything to everyone at the same time.
Q8. WHOSE ANOTHER #GIRLBOSS WHOSE INSPIRED YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY
Wow so many – I feel really lucky to have made good friends with them along the way, so we keep in touch a lot. Kate morris, the superwoman from online retailer Adore Beauty; Jess Thomas of Health Lab (no word of a lie, we’ve only recently just met but i think she’s a genius); Sophia Klumpp, who started the Afripads organisation (providing sustainable menstrual solutions to school girls in need), who we work with in Uganda – the list goes on (And on and on)…
YOU'RE ONE BUSY LADY; YOU'VE JUST LAUNCHED MOXIE BOX CLUB, YOU'VE LAUNCHED A BRAND AGENCY THE BRAND MAKETH & YOU'RE RENOVATING A HOUSE...WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE NEXT ON THE HORIZON?
Haha god knows… The Brand Maketh is really keeping me on my toes at the moment, but I’m absolutely loving it – it’s so fun to be able to apply my marketing skills to something other than Moxie, and to meet amazing start-ups along the way. I also sit on the board of Entrepreneurs Organisation and I’m just going into a new role, so the next few months will be me trying to get my heard around that. Ask me about the house in a year’s time. Or five,. Seriously. “Build a house”, they said. “It will be fun!” they said. Yikes, once is heaps for me thanks!
QUICK ANSWERS...
- COFFEE ORDER: Green Tea
- FAVOURITE BRAND AT THE MOMENT? Gucci! It’s really different and daring and seems to be a true reflection of it’s brand positioning and values. I love that about a brand (I mean, one that is true to itself rather than just being a ‘me too’). I think they really started a major trend in the fashion world (and probably beyond) by taking counterfeit Gucci designs and turning them into legitimate Gucci branded products. Genius!
- WHAT ARE YOU READING? Distributor contracts (not kidding)
- ARE YOU A TAKE-OUT, DINE OUT OR HOME COOKING BABE? All of the above! also love being cooked for (though who doesn’t?!)
- EARLY RISER OR NIGHT OWL? Notorious night owl
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1 WEIRD FACT ABOUT YOU? I’ll give you three:
I have a brown belt in combat karate. I put tomato sauce or taramasalata dip (it’s the greek in me) on everything. I hated the movie Titanic.
NOW WE LOVE TO GET SOME BEHIND THE SCENES ANSWERS FROM YOUR MAIN MAN - YOUR HUSBAND.
WHAT'S TWO THINGS ABOUT MIA THAT WOULD SURPRISE US?
- She is the proud owner of a Crossbow
- She can BOX and has a mean LEFT body rip
WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU'VE LEARNT ABOUT BUSINESS FROM MIA?
That doing the little things well will lead to success, particularly when it comes to 'attention to detail' around branding/packaging & marketing.
WHAT 3 WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE HER?
- Perfect
- Loyal & Loving
- Fashionable ; )
IF SHE WASN'T RUNNING HER BUSINESSES, WHAT ELSE COULD YOU SEE MIA THRIVING IN?
Consulting, mentoring and teaching the next generation of marketing.
WHAT'S ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT MIA WILL BE MODEST ABOUT BUT YOU'RE TOTALLY PROUD OF?
Her commitment to the Not for profit - Her pads for pads initiative in Uganda, and always finding time for her Friends and Family.
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