Congratulations to the both of you on the release of your new Ebook How to Launch Your Startup. Tell us, what can we expect from the read?
Sarah Schoeller: An insightful look into our business journey, tips from our ourselves and our stall holders, marketing strategy made simple, plus a handy one-page checklist to launching and a resource toolkit to make business a little bit easier.
Marissa Bowden: We started The Village Markets launching with nine stalls in 2008, when culture on the Gold Coast just really wasn’t cutting the mustard. Fast forward and nine years later TVM has become a much loved creative community and award winning business, provided a platform for over 1000 small businesses and featured in some pretty great publications such as Collective Hub and BBC Travel. We feel like we have a lot to share with other emerging entrepreneurs from our own experience.
What prompted you to put all of your experience and knowledge on paper, so to speak?
SS: It includes all the things we wish we knew when starting out and is designed to make the task of starting out a little less daunting.
MB: We’ve always been passionate about small business and community which is evident in our existing business, the eBook is an extension of this.
Not only have The Village Markets become overwhelmingly successful, you’ve also created a platform that has helped a number of brands launch into the international stage. Did you ever think you’d be playing such a huge role in the success of your stallholders?
MB: It’s one of the greatest joys of what we do! We absolutely love sharing the journey with our stallholders, from their very first stall and launching their business, to seeing them succeed on the international stage. We’ve had some incredible success stories come out of TVM and we are still in touch with a lot of brands that started out with us. We have started TVM Talks events, which allow us to further celebrate some of these success stories and share their insights with our community in a relaxed evening event setting, to hopefully inspire others in the process.
SS: Watching the success of others is seriously one of the best parts of our job, along with our close community. We’re passionate about celebrating the wins of our community and can’t but help be so proud of their achievements. It’s amazing to have been a stepping stone in others success stories and we hope to inspire as many people as possible.
You first started TVM back in 2008 – what are the biggest changes you’ve seen over the past nine years?
MB: We started The Village Markets launching with nine stalls in 2008, when culture on the Gold Coast just really wasn’t cutting the mustard. Fast forward and nine years later TVM has become a much loved creative community and award winning business, provided a platform for over 1000 small businesses and featured in some pretty great publications such as Collective Hub and BBC Travel. We feel like we have a lot to share with other emerging entrepreneurs from our own experience.
SS: The one thing we used to hear over and over was that the ‘Gold Coast has no culture’, and it’s amazing to finally be able to say that we no longer hear that. The Gold Coast is thriving thanks to the entrepreneurial sprit and there’s not a week that goes by without the opening of a new venue or launch of a new event. Locals have embraced the growth and shift on the coast wholeheartedly and it’s been this support that’s seen so many new businesses emerge from the city.
What inspires you both?
MB: Positive and encouraging people. The TVM community. My Family.
SS: Working for myself in a business that I love, friends, family and peers.
What changes would you like to see on the Gold Coast?
MB: More support from the Gold Coast City Council.
SS: Support from Council to embrace events that support economic development and culture on the Coast and improved public transport.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
MB: Beautiful Gold Coast weather, coffee, family and friends, strolling TVM and listening to some live tunes…and maybe a margarita or two!
SS: A dip in the ocean with my family and lunch and shopping with friends at TVM.
What are some words of wisdom that you choose to live by?
MB: Be grateful, everyday. Love what you do.
Finally, only a Gold Coast local would know that …
SS: We’re the lucky ones… we live and work in paradise.
MB: We really do have it all.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up …
MB: A yoga class with Clare Merrifield at Essence of Living
SS: Coffee at The Bread Social
Relax …
MB: at our local beach, Palm Beach. Coffee (or vino on sunset!) in hand.
SS: With a picnic and swim at Cougal Cascades
Indulge …
MB: A cut and colour (and delicious Chai) at Edwards and Co, Budds Beach.
SS: A massage at White Stone Massage, Burleigh.
Dine …
MB: a long lunch at Rick Shores – bug rolls, cocktails and that view!
SS: Etsu for the best Japanese and cocktails in town!
Be inspired …
MB: The Village Markets! Inspiration is in abundance with the Gold Coasts best creatives, designers, collectors, musicians and culture seekers in one location.
SS: TVM of course! Meet the makers, unearth serious local talent and discover our amazing community of creatives.
The Village Markets are held at Burleigh Heads State School on the first and third Sunday of each month. Keen to get your hands on Sarah and Marissa’s new Ebook ‘How to Launch a Startup’? Head over here.
