Advertisement

Five top tips for disruption

Just do it! That’s the key piece of advice from Australian start up Vinomofo which catapulted its wine business out of a suburban Adelaide garage to a national market and is now on the brink of overseas expansion.

May 06, 2016, updated May 06, 2016
Vinomofo founders, Andre Eikmeier and Justin Dry

Vinomofo founders, Andre Eikmeier and Justin Dry

Disruption is the buzz word on everyone’s lips as companies look to emulate the success of brands like Uber, AirBnB and others who have achieved exponential growth in what is being dubbed the “new economy”.

“Everyday it seems there is a new business emerging to change the way we do things. Disruption is everywhere,” said InDaily Publisher Amanda Pepe.

For South Australia, staring down an economic bust, there has never been a more important time to look at alternative models for growing new businesses.

Already home to much of the high-level discussion about business and policy in SA, InDaily will host a disrupters “how to” session on 23 June , bringing together a diverse group of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to talk about their experiences and share insights into how disruption can be done out of South Australia.

“Following our Business Index event in October last year, there was so much interest in what David Rohrsheim, General Manager of Uber in Australia and New Zealand, said as part of the panel,” Pepe said.

“We sensed a hunger among the state’s business leaders for more information about non-traditional business models.

“Disrupters is a satellite event for this year’s Business Index, focussing solely on transformational business models – in effect a ‘how to’ for local business leaders and entrepreneurs looking to make a difference to the SA business landscape, and a forum for robust debate and learning.

“People want to know how to take what they have and make it better, more successful and ideally more lucrative.”

A key speaker for Disrupters will be Vinomofo’s Andre Eikmeier who is currently on the road dealing with the expansion of his highly successful online business. There are many things Eikmeier and co-founder and joint CEO Justin Dry learned along the way as they built their idea for a wine workshop business model to a low-key retail site in an Adelaide garage to a hugely successful outfit that employs 100 staff, sells 3.5 million bottles of wine and turns over $50 million per annum.

We asked Dry to share his five top tips for disruption in the lead up to the InDaily Disrupters event:

Icon 01

Don’t be afraid to fail. It’ll teach you more than your successes.

Icon 02

Do it. Everyone has moments of doubt but very few people actually take the leap. Look at what is happening in other industries for opportunities within your own. We took inspiration from far and wide for Vinomofo.

Icon 03

Get to market as fast as you can and improve as you go. There is a time for ideas so even if you think yours is brilliant and unique, there are other smart people working on something similar. First mover advantage can be very powerful.

Icon 04

Make it a priority to create a great workplace culture. To do this make sure you align your team with your mission, vision and values and lead by example. Then communicate it at every opportunity.

Icon 05

Hire slow, fire fast. Great people make a business but one bad seed can ruin it.

Vinomofo recently announced a $25 million financial partnership with Australian capital and investment firm Blue Sky Venture Capital to grow the company internationally. Blue Sky will also join the Disrupters panel on June 23 along with Uber, Expr3ss! and new group Joust, looking to disrupt the financial sector.

InDaily presents Disrupters
on Thursday, 23 June at the Published Arthouse in Cannon Street, Adelaide.

Disrupters Article call to action banner Corners

 

Local News Matters
Advertisement
Copyright © 2024 InDaily.
All rights reserved.