Welcome back to another episode of The New Normal! In today's episode, we delve into the world of Saigon Brew with our special guests, Dylan and David. They share their heartening journey of building Saigon Brew, their brainchild set to redefine how Australians experience Vietnamese coffee.
Saigon Brew isn't just a coffee company; it's a vessel for sharing their Vietnamese heritage and reconnecting with their roots. Through this venture, they hope to educate Australians about Vietnamese culture and, in turn, contribute to their families and the broader community.
Visit Saigon Brew at https://saigonbrew.com.au/
Follow them on IG! @saigonbrew
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join Anthony as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Joseph Guo, founder of Minimis Technologies, is a trailblazer in the arena of minimalist design and innovative functionality.
On this episode we explore his quest to revolutionize how athletes interact with technology, breaking free from the constraints of phones and watches with a standalone heads-up display catered especially for triathletes.
From the social media strategies to the intricate balance of personal life and a remote international team, Joseph shares his experience and the values that drive him: fairness, honesty, creativity, and, above all, minimalism. He reflects on his passage from a law background to embracing a tech-driven, entrepreneurial path, and how customer feedback has sharply focused their product development.
We'll also delve into the challenges of pre-launch marketing, the nuances of building a brand identity, and the insights gained from Kickstarter crowd-funding. Joseph's multicultural team, which spans countries and expertise, symbolizes the evolving dynamics of global collaboration and the pursuit of excellence.
So, as we unpack the ethos behind Minimus Glass and the vision to merge sleek design with unfettered utility, prepare to be inspired by a story that epitomizes what it means to live minimally, yet mightily.
Visit Joseph at https://minimis.life/
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Welcome back to another episode of The New Normal! In today's episode, we delve into the world of Far East Alchemy with our special guest, Alric and Ophie. We'll uncover the secrets and challenges faced in this fascinating industry. From the importance of mental health and finding balance in a side hustle-driven world to the struggles of supply chain issues and quality control, there's so much to explore. Join us as we discuss the intersection of business, lifestyle, and Asian representation in the sports supplement industry. So sit back, relax, and get ready for an insightful conversation on Far East Alchemy on The New Normal!
Visit Far East Alchemy at https://fareastalchemy.com/
Follow them on IG! @fareastalchemy
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Jason's story isn't just one of fashion and business savvy; it's a tale of cultural heritage, resilience, and the drive to overcome obstacles. With a background that includes Cambodian roots, a childhood immersed in Australia's clothing factories, and a divergence from his family's expectations, Jason's diverse experiences have shaped his unique approach to entrepreneurship.
We'll delve into how Jason leveraged customer feedback to design products that resonate with a niche market, his strategic marketing moves, and how his brand navigates the complexities of international distribution. Get ready to explore the implications of privacy laws on advertising, the importance of diversity in branding, and the evolution of men's swimwear, which respects both style and sustainability.
Join us as we uncover the layers of the multifaceted journey that brought The Lifestyle Co to life. From its inception amidst a global crisis to carving out space on retail shelves and crafting a diverse and inclusive brand identity, Jason's insights are a masterclass in adaptability and innovation. So, let's dive in and meet the mastermind behind The Lifestyle Co.
Visit Jason at https://www.thelifestyleco.com.au/
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Friska is a dynamic individual with an impressive background in corporate life spanning over a decade. Having held high-profile roles in engineering, mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure within large organizations, Friska experienced the demanding nature of the industry firsthand. The constant traveling and hectic schedule took a toll on her personal life, causing her to miss precious moments like birthdays and weddings. Determined to find a better way to balance work and personal life, Friska embarked on a soul-searching journey when her last corporate role came to an end.
Visit Friska at her website: https://www.freshbyfriska.com/
Or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/friska/
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TIMESTAMPS
[03:57] Corporate veteran seeks more control, takes leap.
[06:41] "Reflection on corporate route, safe paychecks, change."
[11:08] Focus on what you can control and seek clarity in change.
[13:45] Fresh-inspired name, linked to past success.
[16:12] Forced to adapt, turned to speaking.
[21:20] Writing about commonly asked questions and topics.
[24:24] Asian-Westernized speaker attracts broader market, warm reception
[27:06] Asking for feedback helped identify strengths.
[30:01] Confident pricing, time wasters filtered out.
[35:09] Evergreen book distills years of experience.
[39:05] Guide to Future Fit Organisation: Transform and Adapt
[41:27] One experience opened doors to more opportunities.
[43:19] Stylish wardrobe advice for busy moms.
[46:29] Balancing work and relaxation for better control.
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Pop quiz - when was The Facebook launched? How about LinkedIn?
How does social media affect your perspective of the world and how important is it in business?
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Jolynn is the innovative mind behind Bobbleware, a side hustle she started at the end of 2019 while working a full-time job in the city. Her daily urban life, involving morning coffees in her keep cup and bubble tea lunches, sparked an idea that turned into the birth of Bobbleware. After noticing the absence of eco-friendly options for bubble tea drinkers, Jolynn envisioned a reusable cup tailored to accommodate the popular beverage. She spent seven months refining the concept in response to the widespread use of single-use packaging, resulting in a more sustainable solution for bubble tea lovers in Australia.
Visit Bobbleware at https://www.bobbleware.com/
Or at Instagram @bobbleware
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TIMESTAMPS
[03:43] Soggy paper straws, transparent cups are missed.
[06:56] Bobbleware: eco-friendly solution for bubble tea.
[14:17] Starting Out
[20:31] Accelerator Program
[23:42] Starting a Shopify store, YouTube was essential, networking and mentorship help.
[31:01] Timing and demand lead to new strategy.
[44:26] Put yourself in buyer's shoes to help.
[48:17] Grateful for journey with life partner
[55:39] Contributing to the planet, joy through bubble tea
[59:58] Turning point, crossing line, uncertain future.
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Two privileged (and grateful) lads talk about financial freedom and how many is imaginary.
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Louisa is the founder of Acrylique, ultra premium press-on nails that give you an instant salon-style manicure in 5 minutes! Join us on Louisa's journey through investment banking, solo founding a business while juggling an intensive career, growing the business, and her life philosophy from solo travelling.
Visit Acrylique at https://www.acrylique.co/
Follow them on Instagram https://instagram.com/acryliqueofficial
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TIMESTAMPS
[02:27] Introduction
[09:02] Law/Comm
[11:41] Investment Banking
[23:38] Leaning on network
[29:20] Launching Acrylique
[48:17] Scaling the Business
[54:28] Personal brand
[59:35] Connecting with people
[1:03:15] Solo travelling
[1:06:45] Finding connection in unfamiliar places creates home.
[1:13:12] Stay open, be curious, travel, reflect.
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Anthony and Will reflects on how restarting the poddy has been, and what they have taken away from their guests so far. Time flies!
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Ply is the founder and owner of Nemprints Screenprinting and Embroidery. Ply takes us on a journey, starting with his humble beginnings making clothes for dance crews, which eventually led to their foray into the world of screen printing. We'll hear how he sold his car to buy his first press and embarked on their screen printing adventure, complete with some hilarious mishaps along the way.
Visit Ply at https://www.nemprints.com.au/
Follow the Intsagram @nemprints.au
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[03:22] Founder of Nemprint Screen Printing and Embroidery.
[06:30] First encounter with screen printing.
[10:37] The start of business
[16:57] Learning screen printing, evolving technology, mastering craft.
[24:11] Unexpected events create challenges for small businesses.
[27:13] Printing all day and night.
[33:00] COVID
[40:35] Quality and relationships are key for business.
[59:41] Growing the business.
[1:01:11] Entrepreneurship: Freedom, Hard work, Unexpected Challenges
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Without pulling out a dictionary, what exactly is the difference between accountability and responsibility, and is it related to being an accountant?
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Dancer turned dietitian turned seaweed queen. Sarah Leung is the founder of Alg Seaweed, sustainable seaweed seasonings and snacks to elevate your meals.
Sarah takes us on a fascinating journey from her early aspirations of starting her own business to her success in the food industry. We'll delve into her experiences as she navigates the challenges of scaling a business, balancing motherhood, and her quest to bring awareness to the importance of iodine in our diets. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, health, and the power of food.
Visit Alg Seaweed: https://algseaweed.com/
Follow on Instagram here: @Alg_Seaweed
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Timestamps
[4:11] Private Practice Dietitian
[14:16] Dancer turned nutritionist becomes food brand founder.
[20:08] Starting Alg Seaweed
[32:07] Benefits of Seaweed
[42:33] Mission and Vision
[49:15] Developing the Product
[55:42] Scaling the Business
[1:01:34] Expanding into Retail
[1:04:44] Hot tips
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Tess, a physiotherapy graduate with a passion for health, found herself in the sleepwear industry unexpectedly. Attracted by the idea of personalisation in sleepwear, Tess eventually delved deeper into the realm of sleep and its impact on overall well-being. Recognizing the significance of sleep hygiene, she realised the importance of sleepwear in promoting a good night's rest. While her brand is not focused on scientific aspects, Tess firmly believes that sleepwear plays a crucial role in ensuring comfortable and restful sleep. After all, everyone needs to sleep in something.
Visit Tess at https://midnightmischief.com.au
Follow her on IG @midnightmischiefsleepwear and @tessnguyen_
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Time Stamps
[01:22] Affordable luxury sleepwear with personalisation options
[04:50] Gift giving
[07:39] Rise of Ecommerce
[12:35] How Midnight Mischief started
[15:57] New experiences, challenges, and fear of change
[19:54] Discrimination in Australia: a changing perspective
[20:47] Some Asians believe Australia is racially biased
[24:12] Building the brand and inspiring others to achieve their goals
[27:15] Building a team
[30:37] Partnership key for business growth and support
[36:20] Trust decline, influencer marketing growth, new generation
[40:15] Shift from disorganised to organised business routine
[43:15] Pyjama brand seeks to fill market gap
[45:28] Seize opportunities, take action, create possibilities
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
Vivian has always enjoyed drinking coffee, but she wouldn't consider herself an expert. She typically has one or two coffees a day and has a coffee machine at home. Recently, she began using a coffee subscription from Melbourne, which allows her to try different beans each month. However, she noticed that all the beans she had been receiving were from Ethiopia and Colombia, and she couldn't recall seeing any coffee from her home country of Vietnam.
Curiosity got the best of her, and she decided to visit a local cafe to see if they had any Vietnamese coffee. To her surprise, the barista informed her that Vietnamese coffee is not known for its quality and is rarely stocked in coffee shops. This response puzzled Vivian because she had experienced Vietnamese specialty coffee in her visits back home and knew that the coffee scene in Vietnam was booming. Intrigued by this disconnect, she became determined to showcase the beauty and excellence of Vietnamese coffee, even if it meant challenging prevailing perceptions in the coffee world.
Visit Vivian at vietcoffeeproject.com.au
Follow her on IG @vietcoffeeproject
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Time Stamps
[02:20] Limited availability of Vietnamese coffee
[06:03] Childhood
[11:30] Changed career from hospitality to tech
[18:00] Hard process finding coffee farmers for export.
[22:18] Phin filter: versatile brewing tool for any coffee.
[24:14] Started Instagram early, building in public.
[29:42] Building brand, connecting with the right people.
[32:25] Struggle of small business ownership.
[34:55] Work Life balance.
[38:01] Unfair advantage.
[42:47] Personal identity, standing out in an oversaturated coffee market.
[46:09] Expanding Viet Coffee Project.
[53:27] Advice
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Welcome to The New Normal, where we aim to celebrate, support and inspire fellow Asian Australians founders, entrepreneurs and operators through meaningful storytelling. Join us - Anthony and Will - as we share the stories of those who took the journey to change and evolve, to those who dared to challenge the status quo and to those who never settle and constantly seek The New Normal.
Follow and connect with us on Instagram: @thenewnormal_official
