Overview
Sydney is known for being a haven for unique thinkers. From music to food to philanthropy, the nation's largest city is filled with creatives who see the world — and how to navigate it — a little differently.
15 of these people, retailers with blossoming local businesses, recently participated in the City of Sydney's Retail Innovation Program. The program helped them grow their innovative concepts and, overall, nurture the city's locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes, charities and more. Out of this crew of local entrepreneurs, we spoke to four of them about changing the game and approaching business a little differently. These businesses have all managed to nail the core objective of fulfilling a purpose — and they've done so by figuring out what their defining feature is that sets them ahead of the pack and combats a problem in a unique way. Read on to learn how being part of the City of Sydney program aided them on their quest to challenge the status quo.
KOA RECOVERY: PERSONALISED, HOLISTIC CARE FOR EVERYONE
"We view recovery through the lens of personal experience which translates to a personalised approach which is not driven by commission."
After experiencing a back injury a few years ago, founder Shaun Button struggled with his recovery, physically and mentally. After heading to the US and experiencing recovery centres there that specialised in helping people with chronic pain and trauma, Button realised that Australia didn't have anything like it. So, he took matters into his own hands and started his own centre.
Combining years of research with Shaun's personal experience, Koa Recovery was created. The wellness centre is a breath of fresh air not only for those who want to treat their pain holistically but also those looking to maximise their athletic abilities. "We exist to enable every body without limits," says Button. Treatments use the latest scientific research and are personalised to each individual via therapies like cryotherapy, float therapy, electrical muscle stimulation and compression therapy. The centre is more than a physio or chiro, taking a full body and mind approach to recovery and performance.
Trent van der Jagt
CULTURE SCOUTS: TOURS OF THE REAL SYDNEY
"Seeing a gap in the market for neighbourhood tourism [is what inspired me]. There is so much to see beyond the tourist centre around our harbour."
Culture Scouts offers guided tours that hit the real and raw Sydney that's often left by the wayside in favour of the classic tourist traps. Started by Emilya Colliver, Culture Scouts began as a way to show tourists, residents and local companies alike the more authentic side of Sydney neighbourhoods that often goes unnoticed — from local art to heritage sites all with some bizarre historical anecdotes. Colliver, who says her company functions by "appreciating creativity in new ways", has made her business successful by trying different things to see what actually works. "Being innovative means consistently being curious with the world and not being afraid to try and try again."
MODSIE: AUTHENTIC, VERIFIED SECOND-HAND LUXURY
"Enabling our members to give a second life to the products they don't use anymore is our contribution to a more sustainable fashion consumption in Australia."
Ever bought a second-hand designer item, only to get it and realise it's, err… not quite real? Modsie has you covered. The second-hand fashion marketplace makes it easy to find authentic designer pieces by employing one-of-a-kind quality control. Joséphine de Parisot, who started the business after moving over from Paris, has her Masters in Intellectual Property Law and has worked with luxury brands to identify knockoffs — so she knows her stuff about counterfeit goods. "I wanted to pursue my passion for buying and selling pre-owned fashion products, but realised that there was no specialised, secured marketplace in Australia," she says. Thus, Modsie was born.
On top of providing a safe shopping environment for luxury goods, Modsie is also pushing to create a more sustainable mindset within the fashion industry. "We really want brands to adapt and see the huge opportunity in the second-hand market for their own products, instead of [seeing] the second-hand economy [as] a parallel market," explains de Parisot. In the future, Modsie is looking to partner with brands to encourage their customers to sell items they no longer use via the platform.
Trent van der Jagt
THE FREEDOM HUB: DEDICATED TO STOPPING SLAVERY AND SUPPORTING VICTIMS
"We are creating an opportunity for every Australian to do something about ending modern slavery in Australia and overseas."
A non-profit focusing on eradicating human trafficking and slavery, The Freedom Hub runs two cafes (in Waterloo and on the Gold Coast) and a store in order to raise money for and educate survivors. It also provides training to help businesses be more ethical and comply with the Modern Slavery Act. Founder Sally Irwin created the organisation after working in Berlin supporting trafficked women and realising that thousands of trafficking survivors needed assistance in Australia, too.
The cafe offers loads of ethically sourced classic breakfast dishes, teas and coffee and the shop sells a wholly ethical, slavery-free retail range — "our supply chain is audited for slavery," explains Irwin. 100 percent of profits go directly to helping survivors in Australia — in particular, running an education program for them. So, your morning coffee isn't just giving you a boost — it's serving a much greater purpose. Irwin says a truly innovative thing about The Freedom Hub is that they "put people before profit", and the Survivor School is the epitome of that attitude. Not only an education program which helps survivors learn life, personal and workforce skills, it also works to support them and provide a community they can depend on as they rebuild their lives.
Learn more about the City of Sydney Retail Innovation Program here.
Top Image: Culture Scouts by Trent van der Jagt.